Startup Originals Team
Kriti Gupta, vice president at Peak XV Partners, is set to leave the venture capital firm after around five years, marking another senior-level transition at one of India’s leading VC platforms.
Gupta plans to take some time away from work before deciding on her next career move. Peak XV has confirmed that she will transition out of the firm in the coming months by mutual agreement.
The development comes as Peak XV continues to navigate a period of leadership changes. Several senior executives and investment professionals have departed the firm over the past two years, adding to the broader churn among senior venture capital investors in India.
What Happened?
Gupta joined Peak XV after building experience across investment banking, startups and venture capital. She studied engineering at IIT Bombay and later completed an MBA at Harvard Business School. Before joining Peak XV, she worked at Deutsche Bank and spent time with venture capital firms focused on India.
At Peak XV, Gupta has worked as a vice president and has focused on identifying and supporting founders. Her profile describes her investment interest in founders with strong problem-solving abilities, passion and a deep understanding of the industries they are trying to change.
Her departure is expected to take place over the coming months rather than immediately. The firm and Gupta have agreed on the transition, while her next professional step remains undecided.
Key Details
Gupta’s exit follows a series of high-profile departures from Peak XV. In early 2026, managing directors Ashish Agrawal, Ishaan Mittal and Tejeshwi Sharma left the firm to pursue a new venture capital platform.
The firm has also seen other senior exits in recent years, including managing director Harshjit Sethi, who resigned in 2025. Industry reports have linked the broader leadership churn to disagreements around economics, carried interest and the future structure of the partnership, although the circumstances surrounding Gupta’s departure have not been publicly linked to those issues.
Peak XV’s latest leadership changes come at a significant point for the firm. In February 2026, it announced that it had closed $1.3 billion in new capital commitments across its India Seed, India Venture and APAC funds. The firm said the capital would support investments across multiple stages and geographies.
The new funds also underline Peak XV’s continued focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, fintech and consumer technology, even as the firm manages changes within its investment team.
Why This Matters
The departure is notable because investment professionals at the vice-president level play an important role in sourcing startups, evaluating opportunities and working with portfolio companies.
For Peak XV, maintaining continuity across its investment teams will be important as it deploys capital from its newer funds. The firm has recently increased its focus on AI and other technology opportunities across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
The repeated movement of senior investors also reflects a wider change in India’s venture capital industry. As successful startups mature and generate large exits, experienced investors increasingly have opportunities to launch their own funds, join other investment platforms or move into operating roles.
However, Gupta’s next move is not yet known, and there is no indication that she plans to immediately join another venture capital firm.
Company Background
Peak XV Partners is a global venture capital firm that began in 2006 as Sequoia Capital India before expanding into Southeast Asia. It became an independent firm under the Peak XV name in 2023 following Sequoia Capital’s restructuring into separate businesses.
The firm currently says it has more than $10 billion in assets under management, over 450 investments and 36 IPOs across five countries. Its portfolio includes companies such as Zomato, Groww, Meesho, Razorpay and CRED.
Peak XV invests across multiple stages and sectors, including AI, enterprise software, fintech, consumer technology, healthcare and deep tech. Its early-stage Surge programme also provides capital and operational support to startups.
Industry Impact
Gupta’s exit adds to the ongoing movement of experienced investors within India’s startup ecosystem. Senior VC professionals often carry extensive founder networks and sector expertise, making their departures relevant not only to their firms but also to the wider startup market.
For founders backed by Peak XV, the key question will be whether changes among investment professionals affect existing relationships and portfolio support. Peak XV has previously stated that its operating teams would continue supporting founders despite organisational changes.
At the broader industry level, the exits highlight how India’s venture capital market is evolving. Established investors are increasingly creating independent funds, while large VC firms are simultaneously building new teams and raising fresh pools of capital.
Future Plans
For Peak XV, the immediate priority remains deploying its newly raised capital and supporting startups across India, APAC and other global technology markets. The firm announced $1.3 billion in new commitments in February 2026 and highlighted AI as a major area of opportunity.
For Gupta, the next chapter remains open. She is expected to take some time off after leaving Peak XV before deciding on her next career move.
Conclusion
Kriti Gupta’s planned departure from Peak XV Partners adds another senior-level transition to the venture capital firm’s ongoing leadership reshuffle. After around five years with the firm, Gupta is expected to step away in the coming months and take a break before considering her next opportunity.
While her next move is yet to be announced, Peak XV continues to expand its investment platform, having recently secured $1.3 billion in new capital commitments. The firm’s ability to retain investment talent and maintain continuity will remain important as it enters its next phase of growth.
