Former Matrix Partner Rahul Chaudhary Exits to Launch New Venture

Rahul Chaudhary, who joined venture capital firm Matrix Partners India in February 2023, has departed the company to pursue a new entrepreneurial venture, according to industry sources. Chaudhary’s exit reportedly occurred in January 2024.

From Co-founding Treebo to Venture Capital

Prior to joining Matrix, Chaudhary co-founded Treebo, a hotel aggregation platform, where he spent nearly seven years. He currently serves on the company’s board of directors alongside co-founders Sidharth Gupta and Kadam Jeet Jain. Interestingly, Matrix Partners India is an early investor in Treebo.

Investment Activity at Matrix

During his time at Matrix, Chaudhary witnessed the launch of a $450 million fund, which was later expanded to $525 million. This fund has invested in over a dozen startups, including Neysa, InPrime, Krutrim SI Designs, Aampe, Atomic Work, Wootz.work, Stable Money, and Scapia.

New Venture Details Under Wraps

While the specifics of Chaudhary’s new venture remain undisclosed, and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, his departure adds him to a growing list of VCs venturing out on their own in 2024.

VC Exodus: A Trend in 2024

Chaudhary joins a string of venture capitalists who have left their firms this year to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. In March, Sameer Brij Verma, managing director of Nexus Venture Partners, exited to launch a multi-stage fund. Similarly, Peak XV’s Piyush Gupta and Lightspeed’s partners Vaibhav Agrawal and Abhishek Nag all departed in April. Agrawal plans to establish his own venture firm, while Nag joined Mumbai-based 360 One to lead early-stage investments. Most recently, Anand Chandrasekaran left US-based General Catalyst to focus on his AI startup, Crescendo.

Chaudhary’s departure from Matrix and his foray into entrepreneurship reflect a growing trend within the venture capital landscape in 2024.