Early-stage investment platform IAN Group has announced the final close of its 2nd VC Fund - IAN Alpha Fund with $100 million. The Fund will invest in early-stage companies or MSMEs with strong founders, solving real problems, leveraging technology and innovation, including those aligned to India’s national strategic imperatives. 

“While deep-tech remains at the heart of its investment thesis; the IAN Alpha Fund follows a carefully structured risk-mitigation strategy, balancing innovation-led long-gestation ventures with shorter-cycle businesses. This approach ensures a high return proposition for investors while enabling the fund to continue supporting frontier technologies,” a company statement said.

Since its launch, the Fund has already invested in 10-12 pioneering startups, many of them led by first-generation founders based across India, including Tier II and Tier III cities. These startups are leveraging breakthrough technologies such as AI, space tech, semiconductors, biotech, and are increasingly developing indigenous solutions in healthcare, climate, manufacturing, cybersecurity, environment, etc., that align closely with India’s developmental goals.

The group says the investors of the Fund have signalled strong confidence in IAN’s capability and track record in identifying and scaling high-potential ventures. The IAN Group has investors, including government investors such as the DPIIT - Fund of Funds for Startups managed by SIDBI, Self-Reliant India Fund, ACE Fund, Odisha Startup Growth Fund, and Agri Sure Fund of Funds Scheme managed by Nabventures Ltd.

Institutional investors include Buimerc Corporation Ltd., Dubai, HDFC Life, DS Group Family Office, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside select family offices and individual investors. The group says the Fund’s portfolio of 250+ companies stands at a market valuation of almost $10 billion, in sectors such as space tech, biotech, defence tech, AI/ML, SaaS, robotics, fintech, health tech, manufacturing tech, consumer tech, etc.

Saurabh Srivastava, Co-founder, IAN Group, said, “India's biggest opportunity is to transform its problems into innovation-driven businesses. While the founder is at the centre of IAN Alpha Fund’s thesis, technology must be leveraged to scale the solution for a large market, both in India and globally. This fund aims to breed companies that bring a paradigm shift to industry and become global leaders.”

Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder, IAN Group, said, “The IAN Alpha Fund’s thesis is to invest and breed innovation, solving real problems or building for India’s strategic imperatives. The role that the Fund plays is way beyond funding, to bring mentoring, market access, and governance frameworks for these early companies. The Fund focuses on technology innovation by Indians, from India, for India & the globe.”

Chintan Thakkar, Group CEO, IAN Group, said, “IAN’s unique strength is an early-stage investment platform that enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores with handholding from domain and industry experts. The IAN Group continues to focus on improving lives, promoting inclusivity, and establishing India as a leader worldwide.”

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for seed and early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered venture capital funds. Sector-agnostic in its approach, IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond.