Anjali Bansal: The Avaana Capital Founder and Climate Tech Investor
Anjali Bansal, the founder of Avaana Capital, is one of India's leading investors in climate tech and sustainability, bringing a unique focus on impact investing and sustainable businesses.
Who is Anjali Bansal?
Anjali Bansal is the founder and Managing Partner of Avaana Capital, India's first climate tech and sustainability-focused venture capital fund. She's also a former McKinsey partner and has extensive experience in strategy, sustainability, and impact investing.
Investment Philosophy
Anjali Bansal's investment approach focuses on climate tech and sustainability:
1. Climate Tech Focus - Companies solving climate challenges - Sustainability-focused businesses - Environmental impact - Climate innovation
2. Impact and Returns - Combining impact with returns - Sustainable business models - Long-term value creation - Environmental and financial returns
3. Technology Innovation - Climate technology solutions - Innovation in sustainability - Scalable climate solutions - Technology-enabled impact
4. Market Opportunity - Large addressable markets - Growing climate tech sector - Policy tailwinds - Global opportunities
How She Evaluates Companies
1. Climate Impact - Environmental impact potential - Climate problem being solved - Measurable impact metrics - Sustainability focus - Long-term environmental value
2. Business Model - Sustainable unit economics - Path to profitability - Scalable business model - Defensible position - Market opportunity
3. Technology and Innovation - Climate technology innovation - Technical differentiation - Scalability of solution - Defensible technology - Innovation in sustainability
4. Founder Quality - Passion for climate solutions - Execution capability - Long-term vision - Commitment to impact - Ability to scale
Notable Investments
Anjali Bansal has invested in various climate tech companies:
Clean Energy: - Solar energy solutions - Renewable energy platforms - Energy storage - Clean energy technology
Sustainability: - Sustainable agriculture - Circular economy - Waste management - Sustainable materials
Climate Tech: - Carbon capture - Climate monitoring - Environmental technology - Climate solutions
How to Prepare for Anjali Bansal
1. Demonstrate Climate Impact - Show environmental impact potential - Quantify climate benefits - Present impact metrics - Demonstrate sustainability focus - Show long-term environmental value
2. Prepare Your Pitch - Clear climate problem being solved - Technology solution - Market opportunity - Business model and unit economics - Impact metrics and vision
3. Show Business Viability - Sustainable unit economics - Path to profitability - Scalable business model - Market opportunity - Defensible position
4. Demonstrate Innovation - Climate technology innovation - Technical differentiation - Scalable solution - Defensible technology - Unique approach
5. Network and Warm Introductions - Get introduced through climate tech network - Attend climate tech events - Connect with Avaana portfolio - Engage with sustainability ecosystem
Key Insights
What Makes Her Unique: - Focus on climate tech and sustainability - Combining impact with returns - Climate tech expertise - Sustainability focus
What She Looks For: - Climate impact potential - Sustainable business models - Technology innovation - Large market opportunities
Red Flags: - Lack of clear climate impact - Unsustainable business model - Weak technology - Small market opportunity
Investment Criteria
Must-Haves: - Clear climate impact - Sustainable business model - Technology innovation - Large market opportunity
Nice-to-Haves: - Measurable impact metrics - Policy tailwinds - Global expansion potential - Strong unit economics
The Anjali Bansal Approach
On Climate Tech: "Climate tech is not just about impact—it's about building sustainable, profitable businesses that solve real problems."
On Impact: "Impact and returns are not mutually exclusive. The best climate tech companies create both."
On Sustainability: "Sustainability is the future. Companies that don't adapt will be left behind."
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Focus on Impact - Climate impact is central to the investment thesis
- Build Sustainable Businesses - Combine impact with profitability
- Innovate in Climate Tech - Technology innovation is crucial
- Think Long-Term - Climate solutions require long-term thinking
- Measure Impact - Quantify and measure your environmental impact
How to Get Her Attention
1. Show Climate Impact - Demonstrate clear climate benefits - Quantify environmental impact - Present impact metrics - Show sustainability focus
2. Demonstrate Business Viability - Show sustainable unit economics - Present path to profitability - Display scalable business model - Prove market opportunity
3. Warm Introductions - Get introduced through climate tech network - Attend climate tech events - Connect with Avaana portfolio - Engage with sustainability ecosystem
The Climate Tech Opportunity
Market Trends: - Growing climate tech sector - Policy tailwinds - Increasing climate awareness - Global opportunities - Large addressable markets
Key Sectors: - Clean energy - Sustainable agriculture - Circular economy - Waste management - Climate monitoring
Conclusion
Anjali Bansal represents a new generation of investors in India—ones who focus on climate tech and sustainability while building profitable businesses. Her combination of impact focus and business acumen makes her an invaluable investor for climate tech startups.
For entrepreneurs, getting Anjali Bansal as an investor means gaining not just capital, but also expertise in climate tech and sustainability. Her focus on combining impact with returns can help startups build sustainable businesses that create both environmental and financial value.
At Janteera Ventures, we appreciate investors like Anjali Bansal who focus on climate tech and sustainability. Her emphasis on combining impact with returns aligns with our belief that the best companies solve real problems while building sustainable, profitable businesses.