IAN Group Announces Final Close of its Second VC Fund IAN Alpha Fund with US$100 Mn

IAN Group, the country’s single largest early-stage investment platform, has announced the final close of its 2nd VC Fund - IAN Alpha Fund with US$100 million. The Fund will invest in early-stage companies / 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 that require patient capital and domain expertise.

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 investors of the Fund have signalled strong confidence in IAN’s capability and proven track record in identifying and scaling high-potential ventures. The IAN Group is delighted to have an exceptional set of marquee 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., as well as institutional investors including Buimerc Corporation Ltd., Dubai, HDFC Life, DS Group Family Office, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside select family offices and individual investors. Notably, a significant portion of the corpus has been contributed by returning investors, reflecting deep trust and continued conviction in the Group’s vision and performance.

This Fund endorses IAN’s two-decade track record of investing in and growing companies. Its portfolio of 250+ companies today stand 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.

Mentorship and strategic guidance, the IAN Group’s hallmark, remain central to the Fund’s philosophy. The company’s founder-first philosophy, extensive industry knowledge, and structured mentorship framework have all been crucial in helping firms grow from concept to scale over the years. By giving entrepreneurs access to top-notch strategic advice, governance support, and market insights, the IAN Alpha Fund carries on this legacy by assisting founders in overcoming difficult obstacles, accelerating innovation, and creating long-lasting, rapidly expanding businesses. The Fund guarantees focused execution and ongoing wealth development across its portfolio, supported by an accomplished leadership and investment team.

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, it is critical that technology is leveraged to scale the solution for a large market, both in India and then 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 establish India as a leader worldwide.”

By combining patient capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships, the IAN Alpha Fund is catalyzing the next generation of founders who are building solutions. Its continued growth marks a defining moment in India’s journey toward becoming a global innovation hub — where every rupee invested helps solve real problems, create jobs, and build national capability.

About IAN Group:

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. It enables entrepreneurs to raise anywhere from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by capital, high-quality mentoring from successful founders, and access to global markets. Sector-agnostic in its approach, IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.