Growth Sense Secures SEBI Nod for ₹1,000 Crore Apex Fund, Launches Foundation to Power India’s Entrepreneurial Future

Growth Sense Private Limited, the Investment Manager of the Growth Sense Apex Fund, today announced that it has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its ₹1,000 crore Growth Sense Apex Fund, an AIF Category-2 fund focused on growth-stage opportunities.

At the same time, Growth Sense is launching the Growth Sense India Foundation, a dedicated initiative focused on advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise creation and entrepreneurial leadership.

Together, the two initiatives mark the next phase of Growth Sense's journey - investing in businesses that can shape India's future while helping build the entrepreneurs and ecosystem that will create them.

From Early-Stage Investing to Institutional Growth Capital

The Growth Sense Apex Fund builds on Growth Sense's experience in early-stage investing through its existing SEBI-registered AIF Category-1 Angel Fund ₹100 crore fund corpus.

• Evaluated Startups: 2,000+
• Completed Investments: 94+
• Investor Network: 3,000+

The Growth Sense Apex Fund represents the natural evolution of this experience into institutional growth capital. The fund will focus on companies that have moved beyond early-stage risk, demonstrated product-market fit, revenue traction, scalable business models and strong execution capabilities, and are now positioned for their next phase of growth.

With a target corpus of ₹1,000 crore, including the green shoe option, the fund will pursue a sector-agnostic strategy across growth-stage private businesses and selected pre-IPO opportunities, with flexibility to participate in select public-market opportunities.

Giving Back by Building the Next Generation

The launch of the Growth Sense India Foundation extends the Group's vision beyond investment. The Foundation has been established to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, startups, enterprise creation and self-employment, while mentoring and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, innovators, students and other stakeholders.

Its initiatives will span:

• Entrepreneurship education
• Mentoring
• Incubation
• Acceleration
• Networking
• Research
• Knowledge sharing
• Ecosystem development

The Foundation will also work towards building long-term communities of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and ecosystem partners and promoting ethical entrepreneurship, responsible leadership, good governance and sustainable business practices.

Two Initiatives. One Vision.

The Growth Sense Apex Fund and the Foundation have different purposes, but share a common ambition. The Fund provides capital to businesses ready to scale. The Foundation helps create the entrepreneurs and ecosystem capable of building those businesses.

Together, they represent Growth Sense's broader commitment to India's entrepreneurial future - from creating entrepreneurial capability to providing growth capital, from supporting founders to building market leaders.

Sanjay Sarda, Co-Founder and Director, Growth Sense Group: “The ₹1,000 crore Growth Sense Apex Fund is an important milestone in our evolution from early-stage investing to institutional growth capital... The Fund allows us to invest in India's businesses of tomorrow. The Foundation allows us to invest in the people and ecosystem that will create them.”

Jimish Kapadia, Co-Founder and Director, Growth Sense Group: “The Growth Sense Apex Fund marks the institutionalisation of an investment philosophy built through years of evaluating businesses and partnering with founders... Through the Growth Sense India Foundation, we also want to build the entrepreneurial capabilities and ecosystem that will create the next generation of such businesses.”

Rahul Rameshan, Chief Growth Officer, Growth Sense Group: “For us, growth has never meant simply growing a portfolio. It means creating an ecosystem where more people can build, more businesses can scale and more value can be created for society... We are not just investing in India’s growth story - we want to help build it.”

Building What Comes Next

The approval of the Growth Sense Apex Fund and the launch of the Growth Sense India Foundation mark more than two new initiatives for the Group. They represent the evolution of Growth Sense from an investment platform into a broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The journey ahead is therefore not only about investing in growth, but enabling it; not only backing businesses, but building the ecosystem around them.

Lighthouse Canton Closes ₹1,050M Private Credit Deal with Emerald Leisures via LC Luminere Fund

Lighthouse Canton, a global investment institution with over USD 6 billion in assets under management, has successfully closed an INR 1,050 million private credit investment in Emerald Leisures Limited through its India-based Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), the LC Luminere Credit Fund, and affiliate entities. Emerald Leisures is a BSE-listed leisure and hospitality company that owns and operates Club Emerald, a well-established premium multi-sport, hospitality and recreational destination in Mumbai.

The transaction underscores continued momentum in deal activity for Lighthouse Canton India's Credit Alternatives business and the LC Luminere Credit Fund.

The investment provides long-term capital to support Emerald Leisures' strategic growth initiatives. Structured as secured non-convertible debentures, the facility has been designed around the company's operating cashflows and is supported by a comprehensive security package comprising hard-asset collateral, escrowed cashflows, promoter support and identified liquidity events.

"We are pleased to partner with Lighthouse Canton on this important transaction. The structured credit solution has provided us with the flexibility to accelerate our growth while preserving our long-term strategic vision. More than just capital, it offers a financing structure that supports sustainable growth and positions us to capitalize on future opportunities," said, Jaydeep Vinod Mehta, Group Chairman, Techno Group (parent company of Emerald Leisures Limited). 

The transaction further strengthens Lighthouse Canton's track record of delivering bespoke structured financing solutions for established Indian businesses. Through its India private credit platform, the organisation continues to partner with businesses and promoters by providing flexible capital solutions tailored to their strategic financing requirements across sectors.

Commenting on the deal, Pranob Gupta, Managing Director, Business Head - India Alternatives (Credit & Hybrid Strategies) at Lighthouse Canton, said, "We see a significant opportunity in private credit for mid-market companies, particularly in deals in the INR 100-500 crore range, where we can achieve superior risk-adjusted returns backed by strong security structures with hard assets."

Lighthouse Canton's Asset Management business works closely with ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices, institutional investors and global investors, and has strong internal capabilities across private credit, growth debt, venture capital, real estate private equity, public equities and global macro hedge fund strategies. The investment team has internal capabilities across the private credit segment and runs private market funds spanning senior secured lending, structured credit and special situations strategies, of which the LC Luminere Credit Fund, a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund, forms a part. Lighthouse Canton's private credit strategies are supported by an extensive origination network, with access to over 500 issuer relationships and 1,000-plus promoter families, enabling a strong pipeline of proprietary deal flow across sectors.

About Lighthouse Canton

Lighthouse Canton is a global investment institution with wealth and asset management capabilities. The organisation employs experienced professionals across its offices in Singapore, Dubai, India, and London, and currently oversee over US$ 6 bn worth of assets under management (as of 31st March 2026). Lighthouse Canton creates value through innovative investment solutions for accredited private clients, institutional investors, and an ecosystem of founders and entrepreneurs globally.

Lighthouse Canton’s Asset Management business comprises strong internal product capabilities in hedge funds, private equity, traditional fundamental analysis, investing through multiple strategies in real estate private equity, private credit, venture capital, growth debt, public equities, and global macros.


Its Wealth Management business caters to accredited investors including corporates, ultra-high net worth individuals, families and family offices, founders, and entrepreneurs, to help with their personal and business investments, estates, and philanthropic needs, providing them with tailored investment advisory, portfolio management, treasury, business, and family office solutions.

Its advisory and capital solutions business serves families and family-owned enterprises and early to late-stage corporates with strategic and M&A advisory, restructuring and refinancing, and strategic capital solutions. The business provides tailored financing solutions across the capital structure with varying degrees of complexity along with bespoke lending solutions designed to address sophisticated capital needs.

Lighthouse Canton Pte Ltd is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”). Lighthouse Canton Capital (DIFC) Pte Ltd is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). It is also registered in GIFT City IFSC, operating under IFSCA regulation. LC Capital India Pte Ltd is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). Lighthouse Canton UK Limited is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”).

Lighthouse Canton Unveils ₹1,200 Cr LC Luminere Credit Fund to Power India’s Next Private Credit Growth Wave

• Third private credit fund in India which shall focus on making structured credit investments in mid to large corporates. 
• Positions for India’s next phase of private credit growth with a disciplined, risk-first strategy. 
• Seeks to capitalize on structural demand for private credit amid evolving lending landscape in India
• Fund has warehoused its first investment with a robust near-term pipeline across industrials, conglomerates, and consumer companies
• Aims to deliver high teen returns through senior secured lending to high-quality companies

Lighthouse Canton, a global investment institution with over USD 5 billion in assets under management, including several pan Asia credit and hybrid funds, today announced the launch of a SEBI registered LC Luminere Credit Fund, a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) focused on capitalizing India’s fast-growing private credit market. The fund is targeting a corpus of INR 1,200 crore (USD 130 million), including a greenshoe option, with a tenure of six years (average deal tenure of around three years). The fund shall make structured credit investments in mid-to-large companies and aims to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns, with stable periodic cash yield.

India’s private credit market has witnessed significant growth, driven by a structural credit supply gap, regulatory constraints on traditional lenders, and increasing demand for non-dilutive capital among mid-sized enterprises and their promoters. The fund is designed to address this through senior secured structured credit strategies that combine predictable income with equity-like returns. LC Luminere Credit Fund strategy is centered on senior secured lending to real-economy companies, supported by robust collateral. The fund will deploy capital across growth, acquisition, sponsor-backed, refinancing, and cross-border opportunities, among others.

The fund brings significant experience in emerging market credit investing, alongside institutional governance and global perspectives that strengthen Lighthouse Canton’s alternatives platform. LC Luminere Credit Fund will invest in high-quality companies with strong governance, leadership, and proven operating histories.

Sanket Sinha, Managing Director & CEO, Global Asset Management

Commenting on the fund launch, Sanket Sinha, Managing Director & CEO, Global Asset Management, Lighthouse Canton, said, “India is entering a pivotal phase of private credit expansion, supported by strong macro fundamentals and a widening gap between credit demand and supply. LC Luminere Credit Fund is designed to deliver consistent, risk-adjusted returns by focusing on fundamentally strong businesses and disciplined credit underwriting. We believe this is the right fund at the right time, built for India's credit cycle and backed by the institutional depth to deliver.”

Pranob Gupta, Managing Director, Business Head - India Alternatives (Credit & Hybrid Strategies), Lighthouse Canton

Speaking on the fund deployment strategy, Pranob Gupta, Managing Director and Business Head – India Alternatives, Lighthouse Canton, said, "Our strategy is rooted in capital preservation, strong structuring, and deep sponsor diligence. We aim to provide investors access to institutional-grade private credit opportunities while offering borrowers flexible, non-dilutive capital solutions. With a highly selective investment approach, we aim to deploy capital in a limited number of high-conviction opportunities."

The fund is led by a dedicated investment team with strong track record of successfully deploying over USD 2 billion in special situations and structured debt investing across top tier financial institutions.

Lighthouse Canton's private credit strategies are backed by an extensive origination network, with access to over 500 issuer relationships and 1,000+ promoter families, enabling a strong pipeline of proprietary deal flow. With the investment institution's pan-Asia alternatives platform and capabilities, the fund has already warehoused its first investments and has a robust pipeline across sectors like industrials, conglomerates, and consumer companies.

About Lighthouse Canton

Lighthouse Canton is a global investment institution with wealth and asset management capabilities. We employ over 220 experienced professionals across our offices in Singapore, Dubai, India, and London, and currently oversee over US$ 5 bn worth of assets under management (as of 31st October 2025). Lighthouse Canton creates value through innovative investment solutions for accredited private clients, institutional investors, and an ecosystem of founders and entrepreneurs globally.

Lighthouse Canton’s Asset Management business comprises strong internal product capabilities in hedge funds, private equity, traditional fundamental analysis, investing through multiple strategies in real estate private equity, private credit, venture capital, growth debt, public equities, and global macros.

Its Wealth Management business caters to accredited investors including corporates, ultra-high net worth individuals, families and family offices, founders, and entrepreneurs, to help with their personal and business investments, estates, and philanthropic needs, providing them with tailored investment advisory, portfolio management, treasury, business, and family office solutions.

Its advisory and capital solutions business serves families and family-owned enterprises and early to late-stage corporates with strategic and M&A advisory, restructuring and refinancing, and strategic capital solutions. The business provides tailored financing solutions across the capital structure with varying degrees of complexity along with bespoke lending solutions designed to address sophisticated capital needs.

Lighthouse Canton Pte Ltd is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”). Lighthouse Canton Capital (DIFC) Pte Ltd is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). LC Capital India Pte Ltd is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). Lighthouse Canton UK Limited is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”).

For more information visit www.lighthouse-canton.com

Artha Global Opportunities Fund Nets 6X Return from investments in Distressed Debt Fund

Artha Global Opportunities Fund, the first Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) focused on distressed assets and special situations to shift its domicile from Mauritius to GIFT City, Gandhinagar, has exited investment in securities receipts of non-performing assets (NPAs) in India netting an over 6X return on its original $112 million investment.

"After repaying loans had taken to enhance the internal rate of return (IRR) for our investors, we have now netted a sum of $600 million, delivering over six times return for our investors in the Artha Global Opportunities Fund within just 2 years since launch," said Sachin Sawrikar, Managing Partner, Artha Bharat Investment Managers IFSC LLP.

The Artha Global Opportunities Fund is a $132.5 million (₹1,100 crore) closed-ended fund with a 7-year tenure classified as a Category III Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) as per IFSCA regulations. It specializes in acquiring non-performing loans (NPLs) backed by operational assets through high-value private market transactions. “We are currently evaluating three new distressed investment opportunities to redeploy the realized capital and enhance returns for our investors over the balance life of the fund,” added Sawrikar.

This landmark exit, rivaling returns typically seen in private equity and venture capital, highlights the effectiveness of India’s distressed asset resolution framework under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). “While there has been some criticism of the time taken by the IBC process to realize dues for lenders, our exit shows that smart selection of assets can allow investors to earn very attractive IRRs on their investments,” added Sawrikar.

Founded by Sachin Sawrikar, a seasoned private equity professional and former SBI Mutual Fund equity fund manager, Artha Bharat relocated its base in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming GIFT City into a world-class international financial services hub.

About Artha Bharat:

Artha Bharat Investment Managers IFSC LLP is registered with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), GIFT City, as a Fund Management Entity. It manages the Artha Global Opportunities Fund and is promoted by XLRI alumnus and CFA charterholder Sachin Sawrikar, who brings over 29 years of global fund management experience. Artha Global Opportunities Fund is registered with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), GIFT City as a Category III Alternate Investment Fund.

Maharashtra Defence and Aerospace Venture Fund (MDAVF) Successfully Exit from Two Portfolio Companies

The Maharashtra Defence and Aerospace Venture Fund (MDAVF), a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) managed by IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Limited (ICMS) focused on supporting innovative companies in the defence and aerospace sectors, recently announced its successful exit from two of its portfolio companies, viz., Cyronics Innovation Labs Private Limited (CILPL) and JSR Dynamics Private Limited (JSR Dynamics) realizing ₹14.46 crores and ₹59.15 crores respectively.

 

Mr. Amey Belorkar, Fund Manager - Defence and Aerospace Venture Fund, IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Ltd

 
Mr. Amey Belorkar, Fund Manager - Maharashtra Defence and Aerospace Venture Fund (MDAVF), IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Ltd, speaking about the exits said, “Both, Cyronics Innovation Labs and JSR Dynamics, are instrumental in driving technological progress and self-reliance within India’s defence and aerospace industries with a focus on enhancing the operational effectiveness of defence forces. MDAVF remains focused on supporting India’s journey towards self-reliance by investing in high-potential ventures that foster technological breakthroughs and enhance indigenous capabilities. These milestones reflect the strength of our investment strategy and our ongoing commitment to driving innovation in India’s defence and aerospace sectors. By backing sustainable growth in these critical industries, we’re proud to contribute to India’s defence ecosystem and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

MDAVF, to date, has invested approximately ₹406 crore in 22 MSMEs. The fund has successfully executed full and partial exits from 12 companies, realizing divestment proceeds of around ₹281 crore and achieving a strong Internal Rate of Return that highlights the fund's disciplined and strategic approach to value creation.

Cyronics Innovation Labs Private Limited (CILPL)

CILPL, founded in 2020, operates in the AI and Machine Learning sectors, specializing in software-defined radio technologies for the defence and aerospace sectors. CILPL has served leading defence and aerospace organizations, including Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd., Navstar Integrated Systems Pvt. Ltd. (Navy) and Theta Controls (Army), among others.

JSR Dynamics Private Limited (JSR Dynamics)

JSR Dynamics was founded in 2018 with an intention to contribute in a big way towards achieving self-reliance in the defense sector through indigenous Design, Development and Manufacture. JSR Dynamics is engaged in the development and manufacturing of advanced munitions, including glide bombs and loitering munitions. The company’s products are poised to play a significant role in both Indian and international defence markets.

These exits showcase MDAVF’s commitment to supporting high-potential ventures in the defence and aerospace industry, driving technological advancements, and generating strong returns for its stakeholders. Both exits have been marked by impressive internal rates of return (IRR), underscoring the fund’s effective investment strategy and its ability to identify high-growth companies.

Managed by IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Limited, MDAVF continues to play a transformative role in driving indigenous innovation, fostering self-reliance, and enhancing India’s global competitiveness in the defence and aerospace sectors.

For more information, visit: https://idbicapital.com/aif/Maharashtra-Defence-and-Aerospace-Venture-Fund.html

About IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Ltd (ICMS):

IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Ltd (ICMS), a wholly owned subsidiary of IDBI Bank Ltd., is a registered Portfolio Manager with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) since 1998 and is authorised to undertake Funds Management activities (Debt & Equity). These activities would be governed by Securities and Exchange Board of India. Presently, ICMS Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) is acting as Investment Manager for two SEBI registered AIF’s and is also the Project Advisor to a Scheme of Government of Maharashtra.

Bharat Value Fund by India Inflection Opportunity Trust (IIOT) Announces the 1st Close of Its Series 3 at ₹ 1,250 Cr

• Achieves Unmatched Fundraising Momentum with more than INR 3,000 Crore Raised Across Series 2 and 3 in Six Months

Bharat Value Fund- a category II AIF by India Inflection Opportunity trust has announced the first close of its third fund—Bharat Value Fund (BVF) Series 3—at INR 1,250 crore. The fund is managed by The Wealth Company Pvt Ltd, formerly known as Pantomath Capital Management Pvt Ltd. The milestone was achieved in a record 45 days, reaffirming the firm’s leadership in the mid-market Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) segment, especially in the closed equity segment. With a target corpus of INR 2,500 crore, including a green shoe option of INR 1,000 crore, BVF Series 3 underscores the firm’s commitment to driving growth in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This achievement builds on The Wealth Company’s remarkable fundraising trajectory. Over the past year, Bharat Value Fund has raised a total of INR 3,000 crore across Series 2 and Series 3, establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing funds in the AIF equity segment.

Commenting on the First Close of BVF Series 3 Fund, Madhu Lunawat, Managing Director, The Wealth Company said,

The Wealth Company is committed to fostering India’s mid-market growth through strategic investments and active ownership. We are humbled by the trust our investors have placed in our vision and execution capabilities. We remain dedicated to unlocking value for our stakeholders and driving the next phase of growth in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At the core of The Wealth Company approach is a sector-agnostic investment thesis focused on resilient, asset-backed businesses. Through Bharat Value Fund, the fund targets mid-market, high-growth enterprises with revenues between INR 300 crore and INR 1000 crore. These businesses, often rooted in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, are strategically positioned for scale, profitability, and value creation. The fund emphasizes structured exit strategies, including IPOs within 30-36 months, while offering alternative paths such as PE or M&A.

The Wealth Company adopts an active ownership model, providing portfolio companies with comprehensive support in strategy, recruitment, business development, and corporate governance. This approach ensures sustainable value creation while delivering consistent returns for investors.

The Wealth Company’s AIF business has demonstrated unparalleled momentum in the alternative investments space. BVF Series 1 raised INR 500 crore in 2023, establishing a foundation for growth in the mid-market segment. BVF Series 2 further cemented the confidence of the investors and got commitments of more than INR 1800 crore earlier this year. With the first close of the third fund at INR 1,250 crore in record time, the company plans to achieve the full target corpus of INR 2,500 crore by mid-2025.

This success reflects the firm’s deep understanding of mid-market opportunities and its ability to attract investors seeking high-growth, scalable opportunities in the Indian market.

The Wealth Company Asset Management Pvt Ltd - Formerly known as Pantomath Capital Management Private Limited is an asset management company which houses all alternate products under India Inflection Opportunity Trust.

Bharat Value Fund (BVF) is a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) launched by India Inflection Opportunity Trust (IIOT) and managed by The Wealth Company – formerly known as Pantomath Capital Management Private Limited. BVF primarily focuses on pre-IPO investment opportunities in Indian growth-stage enterprises. The fund targets companies that promote the "Made in India" ethos, substituting imports, fostering exports, and supporting India's vast rural consumption. BVF exemplifies its strategic vision of fostering Indian enterprise growth, driving innovation for value-driven growth in the Indian mid-market segment.

IAN Group Appoints Sarika Saxena as Managing Partner at IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Group has appointed Sarika Saxena as Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, a SEBI registered AIF Cat II, sector agnostic Venture Capital fund. Sarika brings extensive experience with a proven track record in startup and early stage investments.

Sarika brings over 25 years of diverse professional experience and having served in key & leadership positions across different organizations. Her investment portfolio has covered a range of sectors, including consumer, technology, fintech, edtech, etc both within the domestic and international markets. Her leadership has been instrumental in facilitating early-stage investments totaling ~USD 100 million and has overseen an AUM of around USD 300 million. Sarika brings critical value to the Fund with experience in scaling companies & M&A.

Raman Roy, Co-Founder IAN, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Sarika Saxena as the new Managing Partner of IAN Alpha Fund. Her exceptional insights, extensive industry expertise, and unwavering commitment to early stage investing makes her a perfect addition to the top class team of current Managing Partners. We are confident that Sarika will not only accelerate our diversified investment strategy but also drive growth for the portfolio companies, the Fund invests in"

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner at IAN Alpha Fund, said, "I am truly honored to be a part of IAN, an esteemed organization that has consistently led the industry as a pioneer for an impressive 16 years. I am excited to join the prestigious IAN leadership team and I look forward to utilizing my domain expertise, extensive global network, and multifaceted experience to drive the IAN Alpha Fund's success, both in India and on the international stage."

IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a Rs. 1000 crores (US$125mn) SEBI registered AIF Category II VC Fund, is the second Fund in IAN’s series of Funds. It is being built to leverage the portfolios of both IAN Angel Platform and IAN Fund I apart from investing in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN continues its legacy of building a portfolio of high-quality companies by founders who not only understand the customer need but have leadership qualities to build a high quality management to build valuable businesses.

About IAN

IAN Group is the country’s single largest platform for seed and early stage investment platform with IAN Angel Group, BioAngels and IAN Fund I, the first in the series of VC Fund enabling entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores from quality investors who provide funds, mentoring and global market access. The platform brings money, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs. The platform is sector-agnostic and has funded innovative start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries, thereby growing the global footprint of companies. IAN has been listed by Forbes as one of iconic business and economic events of Independent India, over 75 years along with LIC, NASSCOM, RBI, Naukri.com amongst others.

BHIVE to Set Up New ₹400 Cr AIF Fund For Use in Acquiring Commercial Real Estate Properties

Bengaluru-based co-working firm BHIVE group is planning to set up a ₹400-crore CAT–2 alternate investment fund (AIF) to acquire commercial real estate properties.

The planned AIF will offer opportunities to high networth individuals (HNIs) and family owned businesses looking to participate in the commercial real estate growth story with a minimum investment of Rs 1 Crore.

BHIVE is a group of Coworking and FinTech companies focused on commercial real estate.

According to media reports, BHIVE has decided to wind up its current ₹400 crore AIF fund, which was launched last year but has not yet been operationalised.

In September last year, it was reported that the company has got "commitment of Rs 240 crore for its Rs-400 crore AIF Scheme - BHIVE Commercial Real Estate Opportunities Fund Series 1. It was being managed by Sandeep Gupta. This transition marks Gupta's decision to pursue new opportunities outside BHIVE.

Bhive Alts, the Fintech arm of BHIVE Group, has been set up to provide retail investors access to institutional quality Real Estate which were previously accessible only by Private Equity funds and offers these opportunities as a cash flow instrument which help investors diversify their portfolio.

CapFort Ventures Launches ₹200 Cr India Tech Fund; Plans to Invest in 40 Startups in the Next 2 Years

Kavit Sutariya (L) and Abhimanyu Bisht (R)

With a focus on pre-Series A stage companies, the fund will invest in startups with a valuation within ₹100 crores

CapFort Ventures, a uniquely crafted micro VC fund, has launched a Rs 200 Cr India-focused tech fund spearheaded by industry leaders Abhimanyu Bisht, the former CEO of Venture Catalysts, and Kavit Sutariya, the founder of Hiraco Ventures and seasoned angel investor. With a clear vision to support the growth of the Indian tech ecosystem, CapFort Ventures intends to invest in 40+ startups over the next two years.

With a steadfast commitment to fueling innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, CapFort Ventures aims to identify and invest in promising tech startups that possess the potential to transform and reshape the Indian technological landscape. Bisht and Sutariya have cumulatively invested in over 200+ startups to date, and both will serve as the general partners of CapFort Ventures.

Commenting on the launch, Abhimanyu Bisht, General Partner, CapFort Ventures, said, “The introduction of our ₹200 crore India-focused tech fund is a strategic milestone for CapFort Ventures. At CapFort, we are forward looking; our objective is to provide not only financial support but also invaluable guidance and mentorship to help entrepreneurs turn their vision into reality. We are confident in our ability to identify ground-breaking tech startups and guide them towards sustainable growth.”

Kavit Sutariya, General Partner, CapFort Ventures, said, “As the third-largest startup economy, India has demonstrated the potential to be a superpower in innovation and profitability. With the launch of our ₹200 crore tech-focused fund, we are excited to be part of this journey of skyrocketing growth and evolution. By investing in high-potential technology startups, we aim to help disruptive entrepreneurs push the envelope of technological innovation which drives India's next decade of growth."

Over the next two years, CapFort Ventures, a Category II AIF fund, aims to invest in 40 high-potential startups across key technology domains covering DeepTech, CleanTech, B2B Tech, Logistics, HealthTech and other impact oriented sectors. With a focus on pre-Series A stage companies, the fund will invest in companies with valuations within ₹100 crores. The first close of the fund is expected to take place by the end of the year. A green shoe option of ₹100 crores is also available, in case of additional interest is received from investors. The CapFort team expects that the majority of its capital will be sourced from domestic investors, with participation from institutional investors, family offices, and ultra HNIs. An interesting observation has been interest received from investors based in Tier 2 cities.

CapFort Ventures is the first fund in India to focus on the pre-Series A stage. The check size will range from ₹2 crores to ₹6 crores, with the average being ₹3–3.5 crores. CapFort is a technology-focused fund and will be investing in founders who are building technologies solving Indian problems for the next decade. Notably, more than 90% of the companies Bisht and Sutariya have previously invested in are tech-based.

CapFort Ventures aims to proactively collaborate with its portfolio companies, providing founders with hands-on mentorship and leveraging their extensive network to assist startups in scaling and attaining sustainable growth. The team's primary emphasis will be on nurturing the technological foundation of Indian startups.

CapFort’s uniqueness lies in its investment team. Unlike most venture capital funds, CapFort’s investment team has experience and expertise in both fund management and angel investments. To illustrate, Kavit Sutariya is one of India’s top super angel investors, being an active investor over the last decade. The third most active angel investor in India as per Tracxn, Sutariya has made 72+ investments across various sectors and stages of startups. His desire to help investors advance and be part of India’s exponential growth has helped in taking the plunge to be a fund manager. Some of his key investments are Wellness Forever, Reshamandi, Chqbook, Melorra, Karkinos, Ketto, Inc42, FarEye, Pidge, Posist, Zingbus and TrueMeds.

Conversely, Abhimanyu Bisht is the ex-CEO of Venture Catalysts, where he headed the investment evaluation team for the firm's angel fund. Some of his prominent investments are Zingbus, AdOnMo, Basic Home Loan, Sheru, Hesa, ANS Commerce, Ethereal Machines, InShorts, and Vidooly. He has been working towards shaping the Indian startup ecosystem over the last 12 years while working at organizations such as Nasscom, LetsVenture, and Times Internet.

About CapFort Ventures

CapFort Ventures is a uniquely crafted stage-focused VC fund, which intends to invest in founders building the future of India through their technology-driven startups. CapFort's strength lies in its core team, which has over 20+ years of experience in the startup ecosystem with more than 200+ investments.

Rockstud Capital Launches 2nd AIF, To Invest in Startups at Pre-Series A to Series A Stage

Rockstud Capital launches Second Alternative Investment Fund

• Cat-I Alternative Investment Fund – Angel Fund aims to invest in Start-ups at Pre-Series A to Series A stage
• Rockstud Capital has received SEBI approval for its AIF Category I Angel Fund
• The Fund will have a target size of INR 300 crs
• The new Fund, which has a sector-agnostic approach, is targeting its first close by June 2023

Rockstud Capital, a leading alternative asset management firm, announced the launch of Rockstud Capital Investment Fund – II, a Category I AIF (Angel Fund) that will invest in Startups at the Pre-Series A to Series A stage.

The target size of the Fund is INR 300 crs. The Fund has already received the license from SEBI last month.

Rockstud Capital Investment Fund – II (RCIF-II) will follow an investment thesis around youth-focused consumption theme. The Fund may lead and further follow a co-investment model to provide growth capital to startups to build on their initial product-market fit and be able to scale and raise Series A round.

The Fund will predominantly invest in 25 Startups across the spectrum of opportunities focusing on digitalization, sustainability, financial inclusion, consumption, and health & safety with ticket size ranging from INR 1 crs to INR 10 crs.

The Fund is designed to follow a deal-by-deal structure instead of a blind pool structure and offers flexibility in ticket size in current and follow-on rounds. It provides an opportunity to co-invest with a seasoned investment manager in a diversified portfolio spread across sectors.

The Fund will be managed by a team of experienced professionals with a deep understanding of the alternative investment landscape. The team has a proven track record of success, has worked and collaborated together since its inception, and is committed to delivering superior returns for investors and ensuring continuity in investment patterns and philosophy. 

Commenting on the development, Abhishek Agarwal, Founder and Managing Partner of Rockstud Capital, said, "This Fund is a natural extension of our endeavour to offer the best one-stop alternative investments solution. As India moves towards becoming a $5 trillion economy, we feel this is an opportune time to enter the space, especially when companies are finding it difficult to raise capital amidst the funding winter. The Fund will focus on partnering and identifying early-stage growth companies through a well-defined process and deep network to foster partnerships with founders building scalable businesses with a clear focus on profitability. We are committed to providing investors with access to the best alternative investments available.

About Rockstud Capital

Founded in 2017, Rockstud Capital is a leading alternative asset management firm focused on India domiciled opportunities through its SEBI regulated products. It launched its first Fund in 2018, called Rockstud Capital Investment Fund – Series I, which had a unique hybrid strategy of investing in Startups at the Pre-series A stage and in listed equities traded on NSE in India. It invested in 10 startups from the first Fund. Some of the portfolio companies include Everest Fleet, BigHaat, Instoried, Smartvizx, Fabheads, NOTO among others. 8 out of 1 startups from the first Fund have already gone on to raise f/on round of funding.

Welspun One Launches the Largest AIF in Warehousing of INR 2000 CR for Domestic Investors

Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP), India’s first integrated fund and development management platform focussed on warehousing and industrial real estate, today announced the launch of its second fund of INR 2,000 crores, including a green shoe option of INR 1,000 crores.

Welspun One Logistics Parks Fund 2 is the successor of WOLP Fund 1, a SEBI regulated Alternative Investment Fund or “AIF” offering for domestic investors which it had launched in early 2021. WOLP Fund 1 received a favourable response from investors and successfully raised capital commitments of ~INR 500 crore from a set of high net worth investors including marquee individuals and family offices. WOLP Fund 1 has delivered strong performance with a track record of 100% commitment across a portfolio of 6 investments, aggregating to ~6.5MM sf in a short span of ~1.5 years from its first close.

Further, the portfolio has also seen excellent traction on the ground with ~50% of portfolio expected to be physically delivered, leased and operating by mid CY2023. The fund’s performance is reflected in its inception to date gross IRR of ~21% basis its 30 September Net Asset Value (NAV) which is computed based on an independent third party valuation by a leading international property consultant.

Due to its unique integrated fund and development management offering, the warehousing and industrial real estate platform not only raises, invests and manages capital on behalf of its investors, but is also able to execute the real estate side of the business in-house, including securing approvals, master planning and design, leasing and project management/execution, thereby providing its investors access to “full cycle” returns right through land acquisition, leasing, development and sale of the completed assets. In order to deliver this, the Company has built a team of 150+ professionals led by a highly experienced senior management team.

The Company places a strong emphasis on creating and implementing robust processes for a high level of governance and transparency across its business. A recent initiative on this front is the “WOLP investor portal”, a first-of-its kind offering in the real estate private equity space which provides investors with online access to comprehensive information on their portfolio assets and performance along with a full repository of fund documents, all at the click of a button.

Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman, Welspun Group said, “The warehousing industry is now a fully integrated priority sector in India that contributes to the USD 1 Trillion economy. Owing to the country’s favourable policy changes, this resilient asset class has drawn significant interest of national investors; Welspun One is the only warehousing platform to permit domestic capital to be invested in the Indian warehousing growth story. This sector provides lucrative development returns and stable long-term yields proving to be an attractive investment destination. In the current climate, Welspun One will continue developing Grade-A warehouses that will serve prominent and emerging businesses across the country."

Anshul Singhal, Managing Director, Welspun One Logistics Parks, said, “Our strong performance in WOLP Fund 1 has encouraged us to launch our second Fund on a larger scale allowing domestic investors to be part of this exciting asset class which has already attracted US$5-6BN of foreign institutional capital. With financialization of real estate taking centre stage with REITs, our fund takes this a step further by allowing investors to participate across the entire asset creation cycle without any of the hassles of owning and managing physical real estate. We’re also pleased to offer this product in collaboration with India’s leading wealth management franchises.”

Karan Bhagat, Founder, MD & CEO, 360 ONE, (formerly IIFL Wealth & Asset Management) said, “The Indian warehousing sector presents an excellent investment opportunity, while checking all the right boxes. It offers robust growth potential, with favourable demand-supply dynamics and potentially attractive returns. Additionally, its de-risked nature is noteworthy, as warehouses are quick and easy to construct, and are typically built only after securing a lease commitment from a tenant. We are excited to offer Welspun One as an extension of our real asset / infrastructure investment options; it’s perhaps the only platform through which, domestic investors can access this opportunity in an institutional, transparent, and organized manner."

About Welspun One Logistics Parks:

Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP) is an integrated fund and development management platform, designed to deliver large format, institutional Grade-A logistics and industrial parks across India. It is the warehousing platform of the USD 2.3 billion global conglomerate Welspun Group - one of India’s fastest-growing multinationals with a leadership position in line pipes, home textiles, infrastructure, advanced textiles, and flooring solutions.

Welspun One’s unique integrated offering allows it to mobilize capital from its investors, by providing them with an opportunity to participate in and profit from the growth and development of the warehousing sector in India in a transparent and institutional manner and utilize this capital along with their in-house development expertise to deliver best-in-class warehousing infrastructure to its clients.

Mt. K Kapital’s Maiden Fund Announces INR 350 Crore Fundraise

Out of the funds raised, 50% will be invested across three -identified redevelopment projects in MMR

Mt. K Kapital has announced the raise of INR 350 CR in the Mt. K Resi Development Fund (Category II SEBI registered Alternative Investment Fund) from anchor investors like SBI, Famy Care, Rustomjee and other HNI’s.

50% of the raised funds are in the process of being committed towards three identified redevelopment projects in the MMR region. These include two projects in Bandra and one in Andheri with sale areas ranging between 0.5 to 1 lac sq. ft each.

The fund aims to invest in 8-10 projects in the MMR region, with a focus on redevelopment with the Rustomjee Group as the Development Partner. Mt. K Resi Development Fund is Mt. K Kapital's ESG Impact Development Fund that provides the opportunity for investors to participate in the equity returns of real estate projects with a marquee developer. The core team of 9 people led by Binitha Dalal and Abdeali Tambawala comes with over five decades of combined experience across real estate and fund management. Leveraging its unique market advantage of having one of the leading developers in the city as a Development Partner, the firm is very bullish on the MMR region from an investment perspective. The investment committee consists of industry experts and large investors, ensuring the highest level of corporate governance.

ANAROCK Group, India’s leading independent real estate services firm, has been a strong support and partner to the fund on its journey. ANAROCK Capital has played a key role in raising capital for the fund and will continue to work jointly with the team throughout its journey.

Binitha Dalal, Founder and Managing Partner, Mt. K Kapital, stated, “We are delighted to have reached this milestone of raising 350 Cr from investors who are not just industry stalwarts, but also long-term visionaries, who have partnered with us in our journey. We are fortunate to be backed by Rustomjee and our intention is to bring the right kind of capital to the real estate sector in times to come. We are also privileged to have anchors like Famy Care & SBI join us in this journey. The positive response towards the fund only strengthens our belief in building the platform as a differentiator and we hope to reach our goal of being one of the premier real estate fund management companies in the future.”

Boman Irani, Chairman & Managing Director of Rustomjee Group, said, “We are delighted and proud to back Mt. K Kapital, and its foray into the fund management business. Through this fund, we continue to leverage our development expertise in the MMR while partnering towards maximizing value to the investors. This is a new pool of capital that works on the principles of win-win for all stakeholders and partners. In times to come, the platform will grow and create a new pool of capital for the sector.”

J.P. Taparia, Founder and Chairman, Famy Care, “The Mt K Resi Development fund is being led by a highly experienced team and we feel very strongly about the potential that the fund is designed to offer. As investors, we firmly believe that the team has identified and developed the right investment strategy. Through this association, the intent is to create a long-term relationship with the team and continue to grow together. “

Anuj Puri, Chairman ANAROCK Group said, “We are happy to be a part of Mt. K Kapital’s journey. An increasing trend of Real estate AIF’s being favoured by marquee institutional and family office investors as their preferred choice of alternative investment has emerged. Even as Indian real estate continues to demonstrate resilience amidst global growth concerns, new-age real estate AIFs like Mt. K Kapital are being launched with the backing of credible sponsors who are focused on the favourable risk-return ratio of physical assets vis-à-vis other asset classes."

About Mt. K Kapital:

Mt. K Kapital is a real estate focused fund management company with SEBI approved Category II Alternative Investment Fund license, that will invest in real estate projects across the spectrum. The company’s long-term vision is to become India’s largest real estate fund management platform. Built upon core values of trust, transparency and partnership Mt. K Kapital's unique business model integrates real estate development and investment expertise enabling them to align, safeguard and optimize investor interests while offering superior returns, making it a unique opportunity for investors to participate directly in the equity returns of real estate projects.

Why Mezzanine/Hybrid Debt is Becoming the Perfect Form of Funding for Small and Medium Enterprises

Businesses need funding to grow, and small and medium enterprises often find it difficult to obtain debt financing because banks and NBFCs are wary to lend to small businesses. The limited collateral, erratic cash flow, and below-average debt-to-income ratio become pain points when it comes to raising debt. The growing demand for alternative financing has therefore led to the growth of alternative asset management i.e., Venture Debt, and Private Credit/Debt firms.

Ankur Agarwal, Co-Founder & CTO, PE Front Office

These Alternative Investment firms can provide funds to small and mid-sized enterprises quickly and efficiently in different forms i.e., equity, debt, and mezzanine debt, etc. When it comes to equity and debt financing, enterprises may be apprehensive because either they may not want to dilute the ownership stake, or they may be unwilling to borrow debt due to a lack of collateral or reluctance to provide a personal guarantee.

Mezzanine/Hybrid financing fills the gap between equity and debt in terms of payout priority — superior to equity and subordinate to senior debt. While there can be multiple ways in which a Mezzanine debt can be structured, the most commonly used structure is the one that has an equity component in the form of warrants. Mezzanine debt also known as subordinated debt, offers flexible repayment terms such as monthly or quarterly Interest payments, with the principal to be repaid at final maturity. Further, there can be a convertible structure that allows the lender to convert all or a portion of the principal into equity. Mezzanine funding is also ideal for companies that don’t have the capital to self-finance big expansion moves or those with good positive cash flows.

Mezzanine/Hybrid Debt is an ideal option for borrowers as it offers the following benefits:

• Designed to allow the owners to retain complete control of the company.
• Lenders do not interfere with the working of the business and remain passive.
• Does not require a personal guarantee or collateral.
• Offers less restrictive covenants than senior debt.

Further, Mezzanine/Hybrid Debt also offers the following benefits to lenders as well:

• Yields attractive returns between 12 to 20% annually which is considerably higher than other forms of debt.
• Ranked ahead of equity investors when it comes to repayment which offers a safer avenue to investors in cyclical markets.
• Offers the lender an option to convert the debt into equity at a future date.

These are some reasons why a growing number of enterprises are opting for Mezzanine/Hybrid debt to manage expansion, acquisitions, etc. It is becoming a financing option of choice for small and medium enterprises resulting in a thriving Alternative Investment sector with a record number of deals being signed.

The ever-rising numbers of deals and investments have made the task of Investment managers very tough, given that most Alternative Investment firms still rely on traditional tools like Excel to manage their investments. Therefore, it is worthwhile to also discuss the benefits that technology offers in managing Mezzanine/Hybrid debt investments by addressing some of the major pain areas such as:

• Tracking investment pipeline
• Capturing cashflow transactions including interest repayments
• Managing different Mezzanine debt scenarios, for example, conversion of investment from debt to equity
• Tracking periodic valuations and performance metrics such as IRR/MoC (Multiple of Capital or Times money back)
• Monitoring Portfolio Financials/KPIs and ESG metrics
• Investor On-boarding, Communication, and Reporting
• Managing Capital Calls and Drawdown/Distribution
• Tracking Fund Cost and Fund Performance Metrics

There are many technology providers in the market today that offer independent solutions for specific processes such as Deal Flow Management, Investment Management, Portfolio Monitoring, Investor Management, and Fund Management. However, integrated technology solutions that offer end-to-end investment management capabilities have carved a niche for themselves in this industry. These solutions not only help in enhancing operational efficiencies but also add to the productivity of the investment team by offering mobile apps, email plugins, and built-in analytics. Such software solutions facilitate the process of alternative financing and make the experience safe, smooth, and seamless for all the stakeholders

If used strategically, both enterprises and Alternative Investment firms can benefit from Mezzanine funding. For enterprises, it is a good funding option that offers to reduce the cost of capital while ensuring that there is still an opportunity for borrowing funds from banks. On the other hand, for Alternative Investment firms, Mezzanine investments offer some of the highest return rates.

(The Author of the article is Ankur Agarwal, Co-Founder & CTO, PE Front Office)

Leading Alternative Investments Management Solution 'Minerva' Adds An ESG Module

‘Minerva’, the world’s leading SaaS-based solution for management of institutional and alternative investments, now sports ESG-focused investment management capabilities, its parent company Equipped AI announced today. The solution now offers the ability to evaluate prospective portfolio assets across the pillars of environmental, social and governance factors to further enhance the dealflow.

Minerva is used by several of the world’s leading Private Equity (PE), Private Credit and real estate investment firms to monitor and track their portfolio and investment metrics; manage deal flows and M&A pipelines; draw granular credit insights and manage fundraising and investor relations. The solution currently hosts over 75,000 individual assets with a combined worth of over GBP25 Billion and serves clients in more than 20 countries around the world.

Atul Arora, Managing Director of Equipped AI said, “Over the last decade, ESG has gone from a nice to have to a must have for investors looking to make an impact through investing. Today, we are proud to announce the launch of Minerva’s ESG module, offering asset managers the confidence to walk the talk on sustainability, while ensuring complete control of data and the ensuing analysis.”

The new ESG module inside Minerva enables asset managers to collect data directly from prospects at the evaluation stage or engage Equipped AI to help understand the ESG vision of prospective investee. Potential investees can then be compared to ensure they align with the asset manager’s investment philosophy, which can help narrow down the investable universe.

“From a portfolio standpoint, Minerva’s ESG module can help bake in targets for the portfolio assets and track variance versus what was originally planned. Our clients can now seamlessly fulfil their ESG and compliance obligations using Minerva’s purpose-built workflows,” Atul added.

Equipped AI is the world’s leading technology-based analytical intelligence solutions provider for alternative investors. The company works with a broad spectrum of alternative investors and their portfolio companies to structure and cleanse their data inputs. It also offers workflow software tools to streamline communication, dashboard assets and build automated reporting packs for the investors.

YES BANK Announces Investments in Venture Catalysts Group Funds

Venture Catalysts has also sponsored two platforms – Beams Fintech Fund & 9 Unicorns Accelerator Fund

YES BANK announced today that it has invested with Venture Catalysts Group Funds (Venture Catalysts), which is an integrated incubator that offers funding, mentorship, and network to startup founders from the idea inception stage to the growth stages of the startup journey. The fund has also sponsored two platforms, Beams Fintech Fund that invests in growth Stage companies operating at the intersection of Financial Services and Technology, and 9 Unicorns Accelerator Fund that is an early stage sector agnostic investor.

With these investments, YES BANK aims to further its mission of catering to the ‘Future Tech Businesses of India’, bolster innovation in the technology space including financial sector, and potentially partnering with leading tech startups that Venture Catalysts has invested in — Beams Fintech Fund and 9 Unicorns Accelerator Fund.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajay Rajan, Country Head - Transaction Banking , YES BANK said, “We are pleased to partner with Venture Catalysts and the allied platforms – Beams Fintech Fund and 9 Unicorns Accelerator Fund. We believe that this partnership is a step in the direction to becoming the go-to-bank for technology startups. India is at the cusp of a massive growth and the collaboration between banks and tech companies – especially with fintechs - will play a critical role in this journey.”

This partnership aligns with YES BANKs’ long-term growth strategy of strengthening its foothold in India’s growing tech markets by investing in the founders of tomorrow. Collaborating with and supporting tech companies to ideate and experiment on various use cases such as agriculture, healthcare, commerce, education, logistics, open banking, supply chain finance, payments, digital banking, among others has been a key driver of YES BANK’s innovation strategy. YES BANK has been a pioneer in the tech space and was the first Bank in India to open up its APIs to various tech companies in 2015.

Mr. Naveen Surya, Co-founding member, Beams Fintech Fund , said “This partnership is a great beginning for the tech ecosystem. YES BANK has always been a visionary bank and a harbinger of innovation related to anything tech. We hope this will encourage other banks and fintechs in the market to partner with groups like Beams Fintech Fund and 9 Unicorns Accelerator Fund. We are aiming to create a large ecosystem consisting of banks, NBFCs and fintech companies to support the tech ecosystem. We are looking forward to working with YES BANK and bringing positive outcomes for all our portfolio companies and founders.”

Beams Fintech Fund (Beams), a CAT II AIF, was launched at the start of 2022 with a mission to build India’s largest fintech ecosystem. It will be actively investing in innovative technology companies at growth stages in the fintech space in India including in the Embedded Finance, SAAS for Banks & FIs, SAAS for Businesses, Global Enterprise SAAS, Personal Finance Management and Neo Banking space. Beams brings a strong value add approach towards investing as it has been building an ecosystem of fintech players, banks, and NBFCs. Due to its clear vision and ambition, Beams continues to add key strategic investors and leading financial institutions from India and internationally to its roster of investors. Beams is targeting to deploy US$ 180 mn across 10 to 12 investments over the next three years in Series B and C rounds of companies.

9 Unicorns Accelerator Fund (9 Unicorns), a CAT I AIF, launched by the founding members of Venture Catalysts is a sector agnostic VC that aims to disrupt idea stage investing in India. 9 Unicorns has already raised $100 mn and is actively deploying from its maiden fund. It invests seed capital of $300K - $500K in the first round, with larger follow-on capital in fast growing deserving portfolio companies. Along with idea stage investing, the fund participates in a select few growth stage opportunities, generally Series C and beyond.

About YES BANK

YES BANK is a 'Full Service Commercial 'Bank' providing a complete range of products, services and technology driven digital offerings, catering to Retail, MSME as well as corporate clients. YES BANK operates its Investment banking, Merchant banking & Brokerage businesses through YES SECURITIES, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has a pan-India presence including an IBU at GIFT City, and a Representative Office in Abu Dhabi.

Klub Announces 1st Close of Its ₹200 Cr Revenue Based Financing Fund 'Aceler8', To Invest in Consumer and SaaS Businesses

Klub, India’s leading Revenue Based Financing (RBF) platform, announced the first close of its new fund, Aceler8, to invest ₹200 crores in consumer and SaaS businesses.

Klub’s Aceler8, a SEBI registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund caters to growth-stage and late-stage D2C brands, recurring-revenue digital businesses, and SaaS companies. The fund can invest capital ranging from ₹50 lakhs to ₹20 crores to digital businesses for their marketing, inventory, and CAPEX spends.

Aceler8 is a community-backed fund with celebrities, family offices, international investors & tech founders coming together to support loved brands. The Fund’s Advisory Council includes unicorn founders like Naveen Tiwari, Founder & CEO, InMobi Group, and Vidit Aatrey, Co-Founder & CEO, Meesho. Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-Founder, 9Unicorns, Mitesh Shah, Founder & CEO, Credence Family Office, and Ajay Candade, ex-Director KKR are also a part of the Advisory Council.

Anurakt Jain, Co-Founder & CEO, Klub said, "Klub is a tech-data platform enabling frictionless capital. Our Revenue Based Financing Fund, Aceler8, is a disruptive addition to our platform in-line with our mission to provide fast, flexible and scalable capital. Klub’s RBF is designed to be complementary to other capital sources for growing digital businesses.”

Klub has facilitated more than 250 investments in digital businesses so far and has a community of more than 5000 patrons investors. The company raised $20 million in one of the largest seed rounds and grew 20x this year.

The D2C segment in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25% from $44.6 billion in FY21 to $100 billion by FY25. Despite this growth, access to capital remains out of reach for most digital businesses. To solve this across digital businesses of all sizes Klub offers fast & flexible growth capital to digital businesses across all stages (early-stage, growth-stage & late stage).

A leading D2C apparel brand for millennials and India's largest on-demand private driver service provider are among the first 5 companies to raise capital through Aceler8, Klub’s Revenue Based Financing Fund. The platform’s tech-data approach enables businesses to raise capital within 5 days through seamless integration with their existing data sources. The fund aims to turbocharge growth for nearly 50 growth-stage and late-stage digital businesses.

About Klub

Klub is India’s leading Revenue Based Financing platform providing flexible growth capital to digital-first companies and SMEs. Klub provides funding for recurring marketing, inventory, and capex spending to a wide variety of digital-first companies across e-commerce, D2C, ed-tech, SaaS, and the broader digital commerce spectrum. Revenue Based Financing takes a revenue share as returns instead of equity dilution, fixed EMIs, and personal guarantees, making it ideal for a post-Covid financing ecosystem. Klub has raised two rounds of capital from 9Unicorns, Surge (Sequoia Capital India’s accelerator fund), Alter Global, GMO VenturePartners, and marquee global angels.

DMI Alternatives Announces the Closure of a $40 Million Capital Raise for its Sparkle Fund

Hyderabad, 30th September, 2021: DMI Alternatives Pvt. Ltd., the investment manager of DMI AIF and an associate company of DMI Finance Pvt. Ltd. announced the closure of a USD 40 million raise for The Sparkle Fund ("Sparkle") which is part of its DMI Alternative Investment Fund ("DMI AIF").

The Sparkle Fund by DMI Alternatives was set up in 2017 to participate in investment opportunities in India's rapidly growing digital finance ecosystem. Sparkle has invested USD 10 million across multiple companies including M2P, Credgenics, Servify, Uni and Mobikwik.

Within the Fintech ecosystem, Sparkle focuses on Alternative Lending, Consumer Finance, Financial Services IT, Payments, Regtech, Wealthtech and AI-ML platforms to drive automation. A key differentiator for Sparkle is its strategic relationship with DMI Finance which gives its portfolio companies access to market and data insights, possibilities for product trials and model refinement, and the technological capabilities of DMI Finance's digital financing platform. Sparkle will continue to make investments across all stages of its portfolio companies, from pre-Series A to significant growth rounds, and will expect to make more than 20 investments from this fund.

The spokesperson for DMI Alternatives said: "The Indian digital ecosystem is in the middle of near-exponential growth and financial services is a key engine of that growth. We are very excited, through Sparkle, to back the right founders to help drive financial inclusion to the widest possible funnel of consumers. Our experience and infrastructure at DMI will help these founders grow their businesses more efficiently and will help Sparkle investors derive superior returns."

How Technology Solutions Can Streamline Deal Flow for AIFs in 6 Ways

Technological advancement is transforming the world at a rapid pace. What was unimaginable a decade ago has now become a feasible reality. The swerving speed with which innovation is changing the way businesses operate is indeed a sight to behold. Agility and flexibility are the name of the game and those who fail to embrace these two pivotal 21st century aspects will surely have a tough time figuring out their path in the volatile post-pandemic milieu.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a hefty bargain for the investment community as investments in the alternative investments sector began dwindling substantially. And why not? The pandemic has dealt a series of decisive blows to almost every industrial sector with job slashes, salary cuts, and bankruptcies becoming increasingly common in the current business climate. However, the present-day predicament has seemingly marked a shift towards alternative investment pathways.

Alternate investments are basically financial assets that are set apart from traditional investment categories like stocks, bonds, or cash. These investment alternatives mostly comprise private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, managed futures, arts and antiques, commodities, and derivatives contracts. It could even include a number of tangible assets such as precious metals, precious stones, collectibles, etc.

Until now, alternative investment firms have felt the need but managed to avoid technological upgradation as it has traditionally been a low-tech industrial tangent. However, the alternative ecosystem has been awakened from a state of low inertia as it now transitions from a low-tech vertical to a high-tech innovation summit.

The current business dynamics demand a robust and resilient investment strategy that utilized new-age technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Several new-age alternative Investment technology platforms such as PE Front Office are taking the business world by storm. By helping businesses manage the entire investment lifecycle with optimum efficacy, right from Deal Management – Investment Management – Portfolio Monitoring – Investor Management to Fund Administration.

Talking specifically about Deal Flow, next-gen AIF platforms like PE Front Office enable Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) to efficiently sift through multiple deals to arrive at the winners while collaborating with geographically distributed teams. Such an unparalleled workflow feature ensures that consistent processes are followed across all deals through a simple and intuitive interface where it is possible to create deals using email, mobile apps, or Microsoft Outlook and Excel. Moreover, deal creation can also be automated using web or Google forms. These cutting-edge technology platforms may also offer due diligence workflows that serve as a compliance checklist for a deal to move across stages. This enables users to constantly monitor and track their deals across multiple stages right from prospecting, on to IC review, and to commitment.

In a nutshell, technology solutions can massively streamline Deal Flow for Alternative Investment Funds.To name a few features:

1. Helps in making the deal creation and management process automated, consistent and streamlined.
2. Assists in efficiently managing the due diligence process and progressing the deal through various stages.
3. Ensures that deal information is easily accessible by multiple stakeholders and deal team can collaborate efficiently.
4. Provides real-time analysis of data and generate comprehensive reports
5. Quickly assess the target company’s financial feasibility by capturing and analyzing detailed financial metrics.
6. Integrates well with other existing tools (e.g. Google Docs, One Drive etc)

It is imperative to enhance one’s tech capabilities and overall architectural stack for progressing in the new normal. To ensure that business teams focus on their core tasks, it is necessary to initiate an immediate digital transition for all industry cohorts with technology acting as the true enabler.