Women investors, Google India chief back genetic testing startup

BENGALURU: Men dominate venture capital and angel investment industries, but a handful of women tech entrepreneurs in India are taking steps to change that notion.

Tech entrepreneurs and investors Aarti Grover, Meera Kaul and Sarah Dhar have teamed up with Google India managing director Rajan Anandan and other angel investors to invest about Rs 7 crore in genetic-testing startup Mapmygenome.

The Hyderabad-based startup does gene mapping for Indians to discover their propensity for various illnesses, similar to the service provided Googlebacked DNA analysis company, 23andMe, in the United States. Founded by Anu Acharya, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Mapmygenome will use the funding to scale up its service, hire talent and for research and development.