Surge, the dynamic scale-up program powered by Peak XV Partners (formerly known as Sequoia India & Southeast Asia), has ushered in its ninth cohort, welcoming 32 founders steering 13 startups into its intensive program. What sets this cohort apart is its international flavor; while previous Surge cohorts predominantly featured startups from India and Southeast Asia, the ninth edition has expanded its horizons. It includes two startups from Australia, complementing the seven from India and four from Southeast Asia.
This diverse group of startups in the ninth cohort places a special emphasis on deeptech and artificial intelligence (AI), venturing into sectors like advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, climatetech, and healthtech. “As we start new company-building journeys with our Surge 09 founders, it is clear that we are witnessing the growth of AI and deeptech innovation, as well as the talent in these sectors emerging from Asia,” remarked Rajan Anandan, Managing Director of Peak XV and Surge.
The Surge program offers an array of resources, including company-building workshops, a global curriculum, potential seed funding of up to $3 million, and access to a vast network of mentors and successful entrepreneurs. The primary goal is to provide mentorship, funding opportunities, and a conducive environment for early-stage startups across India, Southeast Asia, and now Australia.
Surge’s impact is increasingly evident with each new cohort. With this ninth batch, the program has added an impressive 330 founders and 140 startups across 16 different sectors to its growing portfolio in less than five years. Since its launch in 2019, startups that have been part of Surge have collectively raised approximately $2 billion in follow-on funding rounds, a testament to the program’s success.
In the program’s early days, the investment per startup was around $1 million to $2 million, but this has since increased to $3 million. Several noteworthy startups from previous Surge cohorts have made their mark, including Classplus, Plum, Scaler Academy, and Khatabook. The ninth cohort comprises a diverse array of startups, with a few worth highlighting.
Semiconductor companies Mindgrove and InCore are among the members, as well as climatetech startup Newtrace and deeptech startup Ethereal Machines, which specializes in precision engineering components. Elivaas, a traveltech firm, and ZeroK, an AI platform, also joined this cohort. One particularly notable addition is the Australian company Relevance AI, a machine-learning startup with a mission to help companies build an AI workforce capable of automating workflows without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
Singapore-based Pix.ai is another standout participant in the ninth cohort. This company focuses on aiding creators in producing high-quality anime art with the help of an AI-powered art generator.
The latest Surge cohort demonstrates the program’s continued commitment to nurturing innovative startups across a wide range of sectors, propelling them toward sustainable growth and meaningful contributions to their respective industries. As the startup ecosystem in Asia continues to flourish, Surge plays a pivotal role in identifying, nurturing, and supporting the next generation of groundbreaking companies. With diverse sectors and international representation, Surge’s ninth cohort exemplifies the program’s adaptability and commitment to fostering innovation.