Mirae Asset Venture India, the private investment platform of South Korea–based Mirae Asset Financial Group, has named Puneet Kumar as its new Chief Executive Officer, strengthening its leadership amid renewed focus on India’s startup ecosystem.
Kumar joins Mirae Asset Venture India from Steadview Capital, where he served as Managing Director. His appointment follows the departure of former head Ashish Dave in mid-2025 and signals a strategic push to scale the firm’s private investing operations in the country.
In his new role, Kumar will refine the firm’s investment strategy, expand collaboration with Mirae Asset’s global venture platforms, and reinforce its position as a long-term capital partner for Indian founders and co-investors. The firm is targeting opportunities across sectors including consumer technology, artificial intelligence, and deep tech.
Mirae Asset Venture India has been an active investor in the Indian startup landscape, backing companies including stock-trading platform Dhan, online grocer BigBasket, logistics startup Shadowfax, and social media firm ShareChat.
The appointment also comes as Mirae Asset deepens its India-focused technology investments. Recently, South Korean gaming major Krafton announced an India-focused technology fund in partnership with Naver and Mirae Asset, with a significant portion of the capital to be managed by the Indian venture team.
As of November 30, 2025, Mirae Asset’s private investing business in India managed assets worth over ₹1,477 crore across two investment vehicles. The firm plans to expand this portfolio over the coming years.
During his tenure at Steadview Capital, Kumar played a key role in investments in more than 30 private companies, including Zomato, Nykaa, Freshworks, and Innovaccer, with several of those portfolio companies eventually listing publicly.
Prior to Steadview, Kumar was a vice president at Nexus Venture Partners, where he worked closely with enterprise software and consumer technology startups, including Rapido.
His move reflects a broader leadership reshuffle across India’s venture capital industry, as firms adapt to shifting market conditions, capital cycles, and evolving founder needs.
