Big Data firm Antuit raises $56M from Goldman Sachs & Zodius Capital

Singapore-headquartered Big Data and analytics firm Antuit Holdings Pte Ltd, set up by an Indian origin founder and with office in Bangalore, has raised $56 million (Rs 345 crore) led by Goldman Sachs with participation of existing seed investor Zodius Capital.

As per the deal, Goldman Sachs' managing directors Ankur Sahu and Vishal Bakshi will join the Antuit board.

Antuit offers an Analytics-as-a-Service model which integrates people, products and methodologies in two core areas: supply chain & operations and sales & marketing. Some of its clients include Avon, Fonterra, Hyatt and Orix Corporation.

The funding will support further global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions. It already has offices in New York, Seattle, Singapore, Bangalore and Auckland.

"Goldman Sachs brings us not only capital, but also deep expertise around how to grow into such a company and a global network of corporate relationships," Arijit Sengupta, founder and CEO, Antuit, said.

The company was founded in 2013 by Sengupta, a management graduate from IIM-Ahmedabad, who has previously worked at Accenture, Daksh eServices, IBM and WNS Global Services. In August 2013, the firm had raised $3 million from Zodius Capital and other individual investors.

Tech-focused venture investment firm Zodius Capital is promoted by Neeraj Bhargava, former CEO of business process outsourcing firm WNS, along with Gautam Patel and Shilpa Kulkarni. Bhargava, who co-founded WNS Global Services in 2002, led the BPO company for a US listing. He was also the first investor in Deep Kalra founded-MakeMyTrip, the first Indian internet company to have gone public in the US.

"Antuit's modular solutions uniquely combine an understanding of industry, business and data science to deliver better revenues, cost efficiencies and investment decisions for customers," said Bhargava, who chairs Antuit board.

Last year Zodius said it is partnering financial services firm Avendus Capital, through its alternative asset management subsidiary, to invest $400-500 million in firms in the high growth digital and SMAC (Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud) based business services.

The fund christened Zodius Capital II is a follow-up to the previous fund Zodius Capital I, which focused on early-stage investments and build-outs in the technology sector. Its current portfolio companies include Group FMG, ZyFin, Antuit and Enki Professional (backed and helped develop the True School of Music). Zodius Capital II will invest primarily in late-stage and pre-IPO companies with a differentiated investment strategy.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)