MICRO VC FUND
$1.5 trillion wealth transfer is coming. How India’s next-gen HNIs are rebuilding family portfolios
Next-generation HNIs are reshaping family portfolios with greater diversification, formal asset allocation and global exposure. Motilal Oswal Private Wealth's Akash Hariani discusses private markets, pre-IPO investing, Indian equities, overseas assets and portfolio strategies for the next decade.
Uber layoffs impact India; RMG ban, a year on
Happy Thursday! Uber is cutting jobs in India as part of a sweeping global restructuring. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
High AI stakes push Indian VCs to rejig funding playbooks
Average investments in AI startups have increased to $3-5 million at the seed level and upwards of $10 million in Series A rounds, said investors. For other startups, it is $2-4 million at the seed stage and $5-8 million in Series A.
Shastra VC launches $100 million fund to back deeptech, AI startups
The Bengaluru-based firm said the new vehicle will invest between $500,000 and $3 million in IP-led firms across these sectors. The launch marks a scale-up for the investor, formerly known as Veda VC, which deployed around $55 million across its first two funds.
More micro VCs take shape as domestic investors up exposure
Micro VCs are early-stage vehicles with fund sizes ranging from as low as Rs 50 crore to a maximum of Rs 250-300 crore. These firms, which typically back startups that are in the pre-seed, seed and early Series-A stage and are single partner-focused, have added to the diversity of risk-capital investing in Indian startups. Micro-VC managers say the smaller fund size helps them stay close to their portfolios, make more concentrated bets and achieve meaningful returns without depending on billion-dollar exits.
Top deck churn in 2025; Micro-VCs on the rise
Happy Monday! The Indian startup and tech ecosystem saw continued reshuffling of the top deck all year. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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Artha India Ventures secures first close of Rs 250 crore for micro-VC fund
This second micro-VC fund of the family office will invest in 36 seed-stage startups across premium consumption, fintech infrastructure, applied AI, and deep tech.
VC firm AJVC raises Rs 165 crore in maiden fund; crosses Rs 100 crore target
Launched in August 2024, the fund has made 25 investments in startups across AI, B2B, consumer brands, and consumer tech sectors.
Artha’s Select Fund closes at Rs 432 crore to back top portfolio startups
Artha India Ventures has successfully closed its Artha Select Fund at Rs 432 crore, exceeding its initial target. The fund will invest in 12-14 startups, focusing on spacetech, fintech infrastructure, premium consumer goods, and applied AI, with investments around Rs 20 crore each. Indian family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals are the primary capital source.
Year in Review: VC firms sit on a pile of cash but wary of backing startups
India's VC landscape is experiencing a shift. Despite raising $2.5 billion in 2024, investments remain cautious, totalling $10.9 billion. Executive churn is high, with senior figures leaving established firms. Smaller funds are stepping up early-stage investments as global giants pull back. This cautious approach marks a reset from the 2021 boom, impacting deal flow and investment strategies.
Gemba Capital ropes in banking expert Somak Ghosh in its advisory board
Ghosh brings more than 30 years of experience across corporate and development banking, venture capital. He started his career in 1993 and spent a decade with ICICI, Reliance and Rabo India before joining Yes Bank as group president in 2004.
Gemba Capital ropes in Ranjeet Pratap Singh as consumer tech venture advisor
In his advisory role, Singh will guide Gemba Capital’s investment team in evaluating consumer tech deals and mentor portfolio companies with his invaluable insights and expertise.
Behind the rise of micro VCs and founder-led funds in India
Amid a reset in the tech funding ecosystem, large investors are being cautious. This is facilitating the growth of micro venture capitalists. The past month has seen two new micro-VCs spring up– Volt VC, an Ahmedabad-based, Sebi-registered category II alternative investment fund (AIF), and AJVC, founded by Aviral Bhatnagar.
Micro venture capital firm Volt VC launches Rs 45 crore inaugural fund
It plans to invest this money in 20-25 consumer-focused startups at the pre-seed stage across sectors. Investments will be in the range of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore. The fund is expected to close within the next three to four months. This development comes amid a wave of new domestic funds and micro venture capital firms emerging in India, which are backing startups at very early stages with smaller cheques compared to established VC firms.
Festive fever for quick commerce; new micro VC fund
Happy Monday! More shoppers are turning to quick commerce for their festive needs compared to previous years This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Micro VCs find solid ground as the venture landscape reshapes
Aviral Bhatnagar introduced a Rs 100 crore fund under AJVC to back early-stage Indian startups. The fund will focus on pre-seed stage investments, with plans to invest in over 30 startups in the next three to four years, taking advantage of opportunities as larger VCs shift towards safer investments.
Gemba Capital launches second fund of Rs 250 crore to invest in platform-first businesses over the next three years
The second fund will invest in nearly 30 early-stage platform-first businesses across three focus sectors – fintech, consumer tech and B2B platforms with first cheque of Rs 5 crores and 30% reserve ratio for making follow-on investments.
IVCA’s VC Council for 2024–26 to focus on boosting micro-VCs
The IVCA VC Council, led by industry experts, aims to elevate the Indian start-up ecosystem by fostering innovation, supporting micro-VCs.
Dangers of democratisation in startup investing
The risk of democratisation in the venture is the creation of thousands of over-funded, under-governed startups that have to go through the wringer of proof points and future rounds.
IVCA launches #VC101 learning programme for first-time fund managers
With this learning programme, IVCA aims to further boost the ecosystem for venture capital in India.
Eximius Ventures launches gaming syndicate, makes first investment
The aim is to invest exclusively in gaming companies and Eximius wants to facilitate the flow of capital into this industry.
Why HNI investors are flocking to startups
Today, India is the 3rd largest startup ecosystem after the US and China, with more than 60K startups, which is bound to attract global capital to India.
Micro VC Eximius Ventures $10 million maiden fund
Categorised as a micro venture capital fund, which typically has a corpus of less than $30 million, Eximius is part of a growing group of such investors
Fund of funds for small businesses to be launched soon: MSME secretary AK Sharma
“Most of the formalities are over.. in a very short while we will go to the market and invite private equity firms and venture capital funds,” Sharma said in his address at the CII Money Mobility week on Tuesday. “Because what the scheme is, one part, Rs 10,000 crore will come from the government and rest 40 (Rs 40,000 crore) is to be leveraged through the market through VC and PE firms,” Sharma said.
Renal Project raises second round of funding from angel investors
Renal Projects said funds will help the company expand in western India, with over 100 dialysis centres in the next three years.
From Unicorn India Ventures to GrowX Ventures, Micro VCs fight for relevance as bigger funds dig in
A number of micro VC fund managers admit that the emergence of marquee VC-backed programmes over the last two years have made the startup landscape trickier to navigate, which has therefore seen them adopt niche investment strategies, and also to scout for opportunities outside the metros.
iSeed eyeing harvest by cutting $150k cheques to 30 tech companies
iSeed will be listed on AngelList, which lets startups raise capital from accredited investors along with helping job-seekers looking to work at startups.
PE, VCs eye slice of Rs 50k-cr MSME fund
While the government is expected to contribute Rs 10,000 crore for the fund, Rs 40,000 crore is expected to be raised from external parties.
Tappp gets $5 million in Series-A funding
ADvantage is managed as a partnership between leAD Sports, and investment platform initiated by the grandchildren of Adi Dassler, and global hybrid venture capital platform OurCrowd.
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