Smile Group Appoints Former AstraZeneca India MD to Lead New Healthtech Venture Builder

In this new role, Bedi is expected to partner with and invest in health tech startups and global companies looking to enter or expand in the Asia healthtech market.

Smile Group, a tech-focused investor and operator, has named Gagandeep Singh Bedi as Managing Partner to spearhead its newly launched Healthtech Venture Building Unit.

Bedi previously served as the managing director of AstraZeneca Pharma India.

According to the company, Smile Group plans to leverage its full-stack model, combining capital investment with operational expertise, to build ventures and scale companies across Asia.

With nearly 25 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Bedi has held leadership roles at global pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Baxter, and Eli Lilly. He has contributed to team building and formulating market strategy across India, Africa, and other international markets.

During his tenure at AstraZeneca India, Bedi played a key role in the company’s revival, overseeing a threefold increase in its market capitalisation to $1 billion and supporting India’s COVID-19 vaccine response.

Sharing his perspective on the new role, Gagandeep Singh Bedi said, “Smile Group’s strong track record in scaling impactful, tech-forward ventures across Asia is something I’ve always deeply respected. Their unique approach, combining capital with deep operational support, resonates strongly with my focus on partnering with mission-driven startup founders and globally ambitious companies looking to enter or expand in Asia.”

Smile Group noted that Bedi has been actively involved in India’s startup landscape, supporting initiatives such as the India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre to advance clinical tech adoption, a partnership with IIT Kanpur’s SIIC for dementia care innovation, and early-stage investments in Healthtech ventures focused on acute coronary syndrome and lung cancer.

“With AI in healthcare becoming a $50 billion opportunity across APAC, and India’s market growing at 42% annually, the pace of change in healthtech is phenomenal…his (Bedi’s) rare combination of corporate leadership and deep engagement with the startup ecosystem makes him the ideal person to work with our founders and lead this initiative,” said Harish Bahl, founder and CEO of Smile Group.

In this new role, Bedi is expected to partner with and invest in health tech startups and global companies looking to enter or expand in the Asia healthtech market.

Headquartered in Singapore with operational roots in New Delhi, Smile Group builds and scales tech ventures in high-growth markets. It has launched successful ventures such as Zupee (real-money gaming), SingleInterface (SaaS), and Tyroo (media SaaS), and invested in global companies such as Airbnb, SpaceX, Animoca Brands, and Hive.

Previously, Smile Group exited Quasar Media (acquired by WPP Digital in 2007) and SVG Media (acquired by Dentsu Aegis). It also supports global brand expansion in Asia, having worked with firms like Airbnb, Yahoo, and Ogilvy.

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