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What is the story about?
Global investor Prosus sees India as a long-term growth engine and plans to scale up its exposure sharply, with investments in the country potentially rising to $50 billion over the next four years, the company’s CEO Fabricio Bloisi said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The global technology investor currently has around $10 billion invested in India but believes it is “just getting started” in one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
“India is growing at 7.5%, it’s already the fourth-largest economy, and it’s using technology in ways very few countries do — especially in digital identity and payments,” Bloisi told CNBC-TV18. “We think India has at least 10 years of strong growth ahead, and Prosus wants to be one of the companies helping power that journey.”
IPO momentum and a maturing ecosystem
2025 marked a milestone year for Prosus in India, with several portfolio companies tapping the public markets. Bloisi said the wave of IPOs validated the group’s long-held “ecosystem thesis” — where portfolio companies support each other through shared technology, capital and operational expertise.
Payments firm PayU, he noted, is now profitable and has emerged as one of the strongest players in India’s digital payments space. Other recent listings, including Misho and Urban Company, are “just getting started,” according to Bloisi, while more IPOs are in the pipeline for 2026.
Prosus-backed companies such as Swiggy, Ixigo and HappyDo are also scaling rapidly. Bloisi said Prosus recently received approval to increase its stake in HappyDo beyond 20%, highlighting its conviction in fast-growing consumer internet businesses.
“It’s not only about investing capital,” he said. “It’s about building an ecosystem where companies help each other grow faster, using international knowledge, technology and now AI.”
AI becomes the next big focus
Artificial intelligence will be central to Prosus’ next phase in India. Bloisi said the group is stepping up investments in AI-native companies and plans to set up an AI lab in India in 2026, similar to its existing AI initiatives in Europe.
“We don’t need to wait for the next AI disruption — it’s already here,” he said, pointing to AI agents and intelligent assistants as technologies capable of reshaping businesses today. “In three or four years, every company will be AI-first.”
Prosus is also working with the Indian government on the upcoming AI Summit in February under the “AI for All” initiative, aimed at promoting AI-led growth and job creation. Bloisi said further announcements around AI labs, innovation hubs and investments are expected around the summit.
Profitability, quick commerce and regulation
Addressing concerns around profitability in consumer internet businesses, Bloisi said the picture has improved significantly over the past year. PayU is profitable, while Swiggy’s core food delivery business has also turned profitable, even as the company continues to invest aggressively in quick commerce.
“Food delivery is a mature business with a long runway,” he said. “Quick commerce is newer and needs two to three years of investment. We are not investing in a bubble — these will be profitable companies.”
On regulatory scrutiny around quick commerce, including restrictions on advertising ultra-fast deliveries, Bloisi said some moderation was inevitable after a period of intense competition and heavy spending.
“This will lead to more balanced execution and lower losses,” he said, adding that the business remains strong in India compared to most global markets.
India among Prosus’ top priorities
While Prosus continues to invest across Europe and Latin America, Bloisi said India stands out for the speed, ambition and resilience of its entrepreneurs.
“I love the grit of Indian companies,” he said. “They move fast and scale fast. India is definitely one of our most important markets, and you’ll see much more from us here in 2026.”
Prosus expects to announce additional investments, AI initiatives and IPO plans through the year, reinforcing India’s position at the centre of its global growth strategy.
The global technology investor currently has around $10 billion invested in India but believes it is “just getting started” in one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
“India is growing at 7.5%, it’s already the fourth-largest economy, and it’s using technology in ways very few countries do — especially in digital identity and payments,” Bloisi told CNBC-TV18. “We think India has at least 10 years of strong growth ahead, and Prosus wants to be one of the companies helping power that journey.”
IPO momentum and a maturing ecosystem
2025 marked a milestone year for Prosus in India, with several portfolio companies tapping the public markets. Bloisi said the wave of IPOs validated the group’s long-held “ecosystem thesis” — where portfolio companies support each other through shared technology, capital and operational expertise.
Payments firm PayU, he noted, is now profitable and has emerged as one of the strongest players in India’s digital payments space. Other recent listings, including Misho and Urban Company, are “just getting started,” according to Bloisi, while more IPOs are in the pipeline for 2026.
Prosus-backed companies such as Swiggy, Ixigo and HappyDo are also scaling rapidly. Bloisi said Prosus recently received approval to increase its stake in HappyDo beyond 20%, highlighting its conviction in fast-growing consumer internet businesses.
“It’s not only about investing capital,” he said. “It’s about building an ecosystem where companies help each other grow faster, using international knowledge, technology and now AI.”
AI becomes the next big focus
Artificial intelligence will be central to Prosus’ next phase in India. Bloisi said the group is stepping up investments in AI-native companies and plans to set up an AI lab in India in 2026, similar to its existing AI initiatives in Europe.
“We don’t need to wait for the next AI disruption — it’s already here,” he said, pointing to AI agents and intelligent assistants as technologies capable of reshaping businesses today. “In three or four years, every company will be AI-first.”
Prosus is also working with the Indian government on the upcoming AI Summit in February under the “AI for All” initiative, aimed at promoting AI-led growth and job creation. Bloisi said further announcements around AI labs, innovation hubs and investments are expected around the summit.
Profitability, quick commerce and regulation
Addressing concerns around profitability in consumer internet businesses, Bloisi said the picture has improved significantly over the past year. PayU is profitable, while Swiggy’s core food delivery business has also turned profitable, even as the company continues to invest aggressively in quick commerce.
“Food delivery is a mature business with a long runway,” he said. “Quick commerce is newer and needs two to three years of investment. We are not investing in a bubble — these will be profitable companies.”
On regulatory scrutiny around quick commerce, including restrictions on advertising ultra-fast deliveries, Bloisi said some moderation was inevitable after a period of intense competition and heavy spending.
“This will lead to more balanced execution and lower losses,” he said, adding that the business remains strong in India compared to most global markets.
India among Prosus’ top priorities
While Prosus continues to invest across Europe and Latin America, Bloisi said India stands out for the speed, ambition and resilience of its entrepreneurs.
“I love the grit of Indian companies,” he said. “They move fast and scale fast. India is definitely one of our most important markets, and you’ll see much more from us here in 2026.”
Prosus expects to announce additional investments, AI initiatives and IPO plans through the year, reinforcing India’s position at the centre of its global growth strategy.
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