Article Title: Peak XV Partners Faces Leadership Shakeup Amid Strategic Shift Towards AI
Peak XV Partners, a prominent venture capital firm operating in India and Southeast Asia, is undergoing significant leadership changes as it intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) investments and expands its presence in the United States. The firm recently announced the departure of three senior partners: Ashish Agrawal, Ishaan Mittal, and Tejeshwi Sharma.
Managing Director Shailendra Singh attributed these departures to internal disagreements, emphasizing the firm’s commitment to moving forward without delving into specific details. Singh noted that such transitions are not uncommon in large, multi-stage venture firms and expressed confidence in the firm’s ability to maintain continuity. He highlighted that multiple general partners and operating partners are already involved across many of the firm’s portfolio companies, ensuring a smooth transition of board seats previously held by the departing partners.
The departing partners have been instrumental in shaping Peak XV’s investment landscape. Agrawal, with over 13 years at the firm, led investments in fintech, consumer, and software sectors, including Groww, a notable IPO exit in 2025. Mittal and Sharma, with nine and seven years at the firm respectively, collaborated with Agrawal on various early- and growth-stage investments, contributing significantly to the firm’s portfolio development over the past decade.
In a LinkedIn post, Agrawal announced his decision to take the entrepreneurial plunge by teaming up with Mittal and Sharma to establish a new venture capital firm. He expressed gratitude towards Peak XV’s leadership for a truly wonderful partnership.
To bolster its leadership team, Peak XV has promoted Abhishek Mohan to general partner and elevated Saipriya Sarangan to chief operating officer, overseeing firm-wide operations.
These leadership changes coincide with a remarkable year for Peak XV’s portfolio exits. Five of its companies—Groww, Pine Labs, Meesho, Wakefit, and Capillary Technologies—went public in November and December 2025, generating approximately ₹300 billion (around $3.33 billion) in unrealized, mark-to-market gains, along with about ₹28 billion (approximately $310.61 million) in realized gains from share sales during the IPOs.
Over the past year, Peak XV has experienced a broader turnover in its senior ranks. Long-time investment leaders such as Harshjit Sethi and Shailesh Lakhani exited the India team, while Abheek Anand and Pieter Kemps departed from the firm’s Southeast Asia operations. Additionally, there have been leadership changes across marketing, policy, and operations teams.
Singh addressed market perceptions regarding the departures of partners who led significant exits, stating that the firm’s success is not dependent on any single individual. He emphasized that many of the firm’s most significant outcomes have been led by long-tenured partners who remain with Peak XV.
Currently, Peak XV boasts seven general partners, along with multiple partners and principals. The firm, which separated from Sequoia Capital in 2023, manages over $10 billion in capital across 16 funds and has invested in more than 400 companies. Its portfolio includes over 35 initial public offerings and several mergers and acquisitions to date.
As part of its strategic shift, Peak XV is deepening its focus on AI investments, having made approximately 80 AI-related investments. The firm is also preparing to open a U.S. office within the next 90 days to expand its global footprint, while continuing to view India as its largest and most important market.
Singh highlighted the transformative potential of AI in venture investing, emphasizing the need for investors with deep technical understanding. He stated that Peak XV is looking to add more AI-native talent, including researchers and engineers with backgrounds in machine learning and large-scale model development.
In summary, Peak XV Partners is navigating a period of significant transition, marked by leadership changes and a strategic emphasis on AI investments. The firm remains committed to its core markets and is actively positioning itself to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the AI sector.
