Bessemer hires Cisco’s Pankaj Mitra to lead AI, Cybersecurity bets
Mitra, who brings more than 25 years of experience across corporate investing and product strategy, joins from Cisco, where he led M&A and investment efforts for the tech giant’s global customer experiences unit as well as its India operations.
Global venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners has appointed Pankaj Mitra as a partner in its India investment team, where he will focus on opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI), enterprise technology, and cybersecurity.
Mitra, who brings more than 25 years of experience across corporate investing and product strategy, joins from Cisco, where he led M&A (mergers and acquisition) and investment efforts for the tech giant’s global customer experiences unit as well as its India operations.
His track record includes early bets on startups such as Fiddler, Uniphore, and Whatfix.
The move comes amid a wave of generative AI adoption across industries, as both global tech giants and emerging startups race to define the next era of computing. “The ongoing AI platform shift offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for builders,” said Mitra. “Bessemer is uniquely positioned to back these founders with its depth and global network.”
Before Cisco, Mitra was a key member of Infosys’s $500 million innovation fund, backing companies such as drone-maker Ideaforge and fitness wearable firm Whoop. Earlier, he held roles at VMware and Deloitte, and holds degrees from IIT Kharagpur and UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
His appointment follows Bessemer’s recent $350 million India-focused fund, announced in March, which targets AI, fintech, digital health, and enterprise-tech.
“Pankaj brings a unique blend of investing acumen and deep sectoral understanding,” said Vishal Gupta, a partner at the firm. “His addition strengthens our ability to identify and support transformative founders in India.”
Bessemer has been active in India for over two decades with notable investments in Swiggy, Urban Company, Mediassist, and Perfios. More recent bets include startups like Boldfit, Easebuzz, and Shopdeck.
With over $18 billion in assets under management and a global portfolio that spans Shopify, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, Bessemer is now sharpening its focus on India’s maturing startup ecosystem as the AI wave reshapes business models.
Edited by Megha Reddy