Equentis Wealth Advisory Services has started its inaugural Category I Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), the Equentis Angel Fund, with a target corpus of Rs 500 crore (USD 60 million). The fund is set to provide crucial early-stage capital to high-growth Indian startups, focusing on pre-series A and bridge-to-series A funding rounds.
With investments ranging from Rs 4 crore to Rs 10 crore (USD 500K to USD 1.2 million), the fund aims to back startups operating in sectors such as defence, consumer tech, deep tech, logi tech, fintech, and AI. Startups eligible for investment must have a total addressable market (TAM) of at least Rs 8,000 crore (USD 1 billion) and a proven growth trajectory.
Over the next 18-24 months, the Equentis Angel Fund plans to invest in 40-50 startups seeking growth capital to scale their businesses. The move comes as India continues to solidify its position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 128,000 startups generating significant interest from investors.
Market research indicates that Indian startups have already raised over USD10 billion in 2024, with projections suggesting a year-end total exceeding USD15 billion. Angel Funds, including Category I AIFs and venture capital funds, have contributed significantly, securing around USD 1 billion in commitments.
Equentis has made its first investment in Yatnavat, which operates under Oorjaa. The move marks the beginning of what is expected to be a transformative period for India’s startup landscape, as the Equentis Angel Fund seeks to empower emerging businesses with the capital needed for rapid expansion.
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