# Bala Deshpande

> Bala Deshpande is a funding round investor at New Enterprise Associates backing Retail. See 6 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [New Enterprise Associates](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/new-enterprise-associates)
- Location: Mumbai, India
- Total investments: 6
- Lead investor: 50%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brdeshpandesimafore

Bala Deshpande is a funding round investor at New Enterprise Associates in Mumbai focused on Retail and Shopping. Bala joined New Enterprise Associates India Pvt. Ltd. (NEA India) in 2008 as Senior Managing Director based out of its Mumbai office. Since that time NEA India’s assets under management have grown from ~$100mn to over ~$350mn. Under Bala’s leadership NEA has invested in several companies like Air Works, FSS, InTarvo, Intellisys, Naaptol, Nova,Trishe and Vishwa. Her private equity experience has seen the full cycle from nurturing young companies to executing multiple exits including IPO’s, buy-backs, strategic sales, and capital market divestments. She is also an Independent Director Board Member of Future Retail and Info Edge who are listed on National Stock Exchange and Leaders in their sectors.Prior to joining NEA, Bala was with ICICI Venture (a leading Indian venture capital private equity investor), where she used her operational experience to identify opportunities for investment and played a strategic role in shaping the future of the investee companies. Whilst at ICICI Venture, she was a Director on the boards of several companies including Aaj Tak, Shoppers Stop, Nagarjuna Construction, Air Deccan, TechProcess Solutions etc. Prior to ICICI Venture, Bala worked across functions like sales, distribution and brand management with leading multinational companies such as Bestfoods, Cadburys, and ICI.Bala is passionate about social development and inclusion. To this end, she is on the Advisor Board of few transformational enterprises like TRRAIN and iVolunteer.

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retail | 1 | 17% |
| Shopping | 1 | 17% |
| Wellness | 1 | 17% |
| Fertility | 1 | 17% |
| Health Care | 1 | 17% |

8 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Funding Round | 3 | 50% |
| Series B | 1 | 17% |
| Series C | 1 | 17% |
| Series D | 1 | 17% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Naaptol | Koku Gamer is an online platform that offers gaming related news, editorials, reviews, previews, and other content. It was launched in March 2009. | $15M |  | Sep 10, 2018 |  |
| Naaptol | Koku Gamer is an online platform that offers gaming related news, editorials, reviews, previews, and other content. It was launched in March 2009. | $51.7M | Series D | Nov 24, 2015 |  |
| Naaptol | Koku Gamer is an online platform that offers gaming related news, editorials, reviews, previews, and other content. It was launched in March 2009. | $21M | Series C | Apr 28, 2015 |  |
| IndiaHomes | IndiaHomes is a leading real estate advisory that enables home buyers to make the best informed decisions when it comes to buying a property in India and abroad | $50M |  | Dec 02, 2014 |  |
| IndiaHomes | IndiaHomes is a leading real estate advisory that enables home buyers to make the best informed decisions when it comes to buying a property in India and abroad | $24.8M |  | Apr 16, 2014 |  |
| Naaptol | Koku Gamer is an online platform that offers gaming related news, editorials, reviews, previews, and other content. It was launched in March 2009. | $25M | Series B | Oct 20, 2011 |  |

6 of 6 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Canaan Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/canaan-partners) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [Mitsui & Co](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/mitsui) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [Silicon Valley Bank](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/silicon-valley-bank) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [Foundation Capital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/foundation-capital) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Helion Venture Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/helion-venture-partners) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## About New Enterprise Associates

VC Fund · Menlo Park, United States

New Enterprise Associates is a venture capital firm that invests in technology and healthcare startups. The firm engages with entrepreneurs at various stages of business development, providing support from initial funding to public offerings. The company focuses on the technology and healthcare industries.

5 contacts available at New Enterprise Associates.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alex Sharata | Associate | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alex-sharata |
| Anthony Florence | General Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/tony-florence |
| Bala Deshpande | Sr. Managing Director, India | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bala-deshpande |
| Hilarie Koplow-McAdams | Venture Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/hilarie-koplow-mcadams |
| Jay Graf | Venture Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/jay-graf |

## Similar investors

### Similar stage
- [Bpifrance](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bpifrance) — VC Fund
- [SFC Capital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/startup-funding-club) — VC Fund
- [HTGF (High-Tech Gruenderfonds)](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/high-tech-gr%C3%BCnderfonds) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Bala Deshpande invest in?

Bala Deshpande invests primarily in Retail, Shopping and Wellness startups, most often at Funding Round and Series B stage. Most of the 6 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in India. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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