Three Indian Companies, which include Yatra.com; an online travel portal, BuzzInTown.com which is an event-oriented social network, and advertising company Emnet Samsara Media, have been identified by the Intel Capital to invest its $17 million in them. The announcement was made on Thursday by Intel Capital, which is actually the venture capital unit of Nasdaq-listed Intel Corporation. The company further reported that it is bullish on country’s investment prospects.

The Intel Capital, President, Mr Arvind Sodhani, said that they are rapidly investing in opportunities that they find suitable and are excited about the investment prospects in the country. The $250 million Intel Capital India Technology Fund would provide the funding for the said investment.

Mr Sodhani also reported that the fund has already invested $125 million so far in the country. The fund would also focus on alternate sources of energy other than investing in technology companies.

Mr. Sodhani said that in 2007, the VC unit invested about $640 million globally. He further added, “I will not be surprised if by the end of this year we end up investing over $500 million globally.”

The Intel Capital India, Managing Director, Mr Sudheer Kuppam, said that they are interested in promoting eco-friendly technology that could generate alternative power in order to compliment the current energy situation in the country. “We are eyeing the solar energy sector and wish to invest in such companies,” he added.

 The company is also eyeing to invest in WiMax networks and is presently waiting for the government to speed up the process of spectrum allocation.