Introduction:

Angel investors are individuals who fund new businesses using their own money, while providing guidance. They are the individuals who support the company when they are nothing more than a presentation and a dream. India’s startup landscape is flourishing, with opportunities in every sector from tech to health and finance. 

In 2026, these angel investors will be more important than ever in helping young entrepreneurs build the next wave of successful companies. Here are the top 10 angle investors expected to be more prominent in 2026. They’ve either started or headed major companies and backed startups with innovative ideas. 

Kunal Shah

• Notable Investments: Razorpay, Spinny, Unacademy.

Kunal Shah is an entrepreneur who invests in companies that help tackle daily life concerns. He built FreeCharge, a mobile recharge app that he later sold for millions. Kunal launched CRED, a financing platform that rewards users for managing credit cards. Kunal Shah bets on startups that use tech to make life simple. 

He has made investments in sectors like fintech, consumer apps and e-commerce. His advice on user experience and growth strategies helps new founders. Shah believes in backing firms that think big and have products that are far better than the current alternative.

Anupam Mittal

• Notable Investments: Ola, Druva, BigBasket.

With the founding of the Shaadi.com platform, Anupam Mittal became a household name. It is a website for people seeking life partners online. He’s a popular name on Shark Tank India, where he invests in aspiring business owners. His investments largely include consumer brands, tech tools and health products.

Anupam strictly evaluates businesses, focusing heavily on the Founder’s ability to execute. Mittal will continue to guide startups through challenges like marketing and scaling up in 2026. He has expanded his portfolio into generative AI. Mittal understands Indian consumers and is willing to wait for companies to generate revenue while building lasting businesses.

Rohit Bansal

• Notable Investments: Urban Company, Mamaearth, Shadowfax.

Rohit Bansal is a co-founder of Snapdeal, one of India’s largest e-commerce companies. The company demonstrated to him a lot about online shopping and logistics. He also runs Titan Capital with Kunal Bahl, through which they invest in young companies in retail, tech, and services. 

Rohit Bansal focuses on founders who are passionate and can adapt to market changes. His investments have helped startups in areas like food delivery and edtech. Bansal’s network and knowledge of market trends make him one of the top angel investors across India. He turned Snapdeal into a household name by building strong teams and efficient operations.

Anand Chandrasekharan

• Notable Investments: DealShare, NoBroker, Yulu.

Anand has a background in product development from having worked at big tech firms like Facebook and Snapdeal. He also held the leadership role at General Catalyst. This experience helps him grasp how to create apps that users adore. He is also a well-regarded investor who primarily invests in startups in the area of AI, software and digital tools. 

Chandrasekharan is looking for disruptive startups that can scale globally. By 2026, his tech know-how will be ever more critical as India’s startups increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to tackle challenges in health and business. Anand also advises on product design and user feedback, guiding these companies to grow fast. His investments often target teams with strong technical skills.

Amrish Rau

• Notable Investments: MPL, Locus, Mosambee.

Amrish Rau is the head of Pine Labs, a platform that offers payment solutions to merchants and business owners. He was also associated with another fintech player, PayU. Amrish mainly focuses on investing in financial technology. He sees vast potential in India’s digital economy. 

He invests in startups attempting to make banking, insurance and payments more affordable and safer. Amrish shares what he’s learned about the fintech space with young founders so that they can more easily through regulations and competition. 

Ashneer Grover

• Notable Investments: Bira 91, Zeta, Pocket FM.

Ashneer Grover is well-known as the co-founder of BharatPe, an online transaction app provider to local shops and business owners in India. On Shark Tank India, his straightforward approach brought him more attention. He focuses on investing in financial technology, everyday consumer tools and other sectors, ranging from wellness to transportation solutions. His investment portfolio is growing with companies that he expects to do well in challenging business conditions. He also offers practical advice on how to obtain funds and manage daily operations. 

Rajan Anandan

• Notable Investments: Unacademy, MapMyIndia.

Rajan Anandan formerly held key roles at Google India and Microsoft India.  He is now managing director at Peak XV Partners. Rajan believes that deeptech will be the next big wave in India. His investment portfolio mainly includes software, AI, and space tech or semiconductor startups. He motivates the company to stop thinking about being an alternative for other companies in India and instead focus on becoming a global leader. 

He helps companies expand beyond India, using his international connections. To increase India’s presence on the world’s technology stage, he could focus on high-growth industries in 2026. Anandan also offers an invaluable resource for ambitious founders who want to know what’s wise in terms of partnerships and funding rounds.

Lakshmi Narayanan

• Notable Investments: Agnikul Cosmos, Bugworks Research.

Lakshmi Narayanan helped co-found Cognizant, a leading IT service provider. He supports tech and software startups, mainly those in enterprise solutions. Narayan is a fan of math-heavy and science-heavy startups, such as advanced edtech,  quantum computing and biotechnology.

His expertise in building global businesses could help Indian startups compete against the world. He is a scaling expert who helps companies go from 10 employees to the thousands. He helps founders in operations, governance, and management, with the experience and strategies he used to turn Cognizant into a powerhouse.

Utsav Somani

• Notable Investments: BharatPe, Jupiter.

Utsav Somani is an influential investor who led AngelList in India and now leads the iSeed fund. He invests in early-stage startups across fintech, health, and consumer goods. Utsav seeks community-led growth, where the users of the product are also its biggest marketers. 

Utsav is extremely well-networked and is famous for connecting founders with resources. His fresh eye is set to bring in investments into areas on the cutting edge, such as Web3 or blockchain, and biotech. He often helps with fundraising and strategy. He created a network where his portfolio founders help each other hire and solve problems.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma

• Notable Investments: Josh Talks, The Ken.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, also known as VSS, is the founder of Paytm. He built Paytm from scratch and made it India’s largest digital payments platform. His investments are in fintech and digital services companies that democratize finance, such as lending apps and insurance tech. He has experience with regulatory obstacles and intense competition, and draws on this experience to mentor young founders. His story is an inspiration for more startups venturing into the digital space. 

Conclusion:

These are the top 10 angel investors delivering funds, experience, networks and a vision to founders starting new businesses. India will be home to more startups in the future with the help of angel investors. Together, their combined effect may help India become a startup superpower with more unicorns and global players. The article mentioned angel investors who are investing and defining the future of business in India.

FAQs:

Who is an angel investor?

An angel investor is a person who invests their own money in early-stage startups.

Why are angel investors important for startups?

They provide funding, guidance, and valuable industry experience to help startups grow.

How are angel investors different from venture capitalists?

Angel investors use their personal money, while venture capitalists invest in pooled funds.

How do angel investors choose startups to invest in?

They look at the business idea, market size, team quality, and future growth.

Can first-time founders get funding from angel investors?

Yes, many angel investors support first-time founders with strong ideas.

Do angel investors help startups beyond money?

Yes, they often offer mentorship, strategic advice, and networking support.

Which sectors attract the most angel investors in India?

Fintech, e-commerce, SaaS, healthtech, and edtech are popular sectors.

How much do angel investors usually invest in India?

The investment amount can range from a few lakhs to several crores.

Can startups contact angel investors directly?

Yes, founders can reach out through networking events, startup platforms, or referrals.