National, August 2, 2024: BlackSoil, a leading alternative credit platform, disbursed more than INR 220 Crores ($28 million) in Q1FY25. The Company invested in 7 new businesses, bringing its total transactions to 10, and successfully exited from 5 companies during this period. BlackSoil’s Assets Under Management (AUM) demonstrated impressive growth, surging by 40% year-on-year.
Key highlights:
- AUM grew 40% YoY
- 7 new investments, 5 successful exits
- Notable new investments: Celebal Technologies, Leverage Edu, JCB Salons
- Notable exits: Cashe, PlayShifu, WEGoT
- Top sector investments: Consumer (36%), FIs (34%) & SaaS / DeepTech / IoT (29%)
- 70% EBITDA positive portfolio
BlackSoil continues to emphasise portfolio diversification as a key strategy. In Q1FY25, investments were strategically allocated across high-growth sectors – 36% in Consumer, 34% in Financial Institutions (FI), and 29% in SaaS / DeepTech / IoT.
On the Company’s performance, Ankur Bansal, Co-Founder and Director of BlackSoil, highlighted, “Our Q1 FY25 results underscore BlackSoil’s strategic vision and adaptability, as we continue to identify and capitalize on emerging market opportunities. The 40% year-on-year growth in our AUM is a testament to the strength of our investment strategy and the quality of our portfolio companies. We are dedicated to fuelling innovation and growth across diverse sectors, while maintaining a balanced approach to risk and return. Our success in executing strategic exits alongside new investments demonstrates our agility in navigating market dynamics”.
BlackSoil’s notable new investments in Q1 FY25 included Celebal Technologies, a rapidly growing IT services provider, Leverage Edu, an AI-enabled student counselling platform, and JCB Salons, a premium consumer service brand in the beauty and wellness sector. The Company also successfully exited from five investments, including Cashe, PlayShifu, WEGoT, Mahaveer Finance, realising significant returns.
The strength of BlackSoil’s portfolio was further evidenced by the achievements of its investee companies. In Q1FY25, BlackSoil’s portfolio companies collectively raised INR 541 Crores ($67 million), with 70% of the portfolio maintaining EBITDA positive status. This robust performance across the portfolio reinforces BlackSoil’s reputation as a discerning investor in high-potential ventures.
Looking ahead, BlackSoil remains positioned to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the alternative credit space, leveraging its expertise in identifying and nurturing high-growth companies across diverse sectors.
