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India’s first dedicated venture capital fund for the space sector has moved closer to deployment, with initial investments in startups expected from the first quarter of FY2027, Minister of State for Space Dr. Jitendra Singh told Parliament on Wednesday.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Singh said the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund—aimed at accelerating India’s emerging spacetech ecosystem—has been operationalized with a committed corpus of ₹1,005 crore (approximately $120 million), with key institutional mechanisms now in place.
The fund is being managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd (SVCL) and received registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on October 31, 2025. It achieved its initial close on November 10, securing the full committed corpus.
According to the minister, all major post-registration formalities have been completed, including the appointment of a custodian, registration with depositories for issuance of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) units, and the constitution of screening and investment committees.
Early pipeline activity is underway, with four spacetech startup proposals already at an advanced stage after receiving pre-investment committee approval.
Singh noted that India’s spacetech startup ecosystem is still nascent, with many ventures requiring support to align with institutional investment standards. The fund is therefore extending “handholding support” to startups—helping them strengthen documentation, streamline data, and meet due diligence requirements.
Following detailed appraisal, third-party due diligence, and completion of documentation, the first round of funding approvals and disbursements is expected in early FY2027.
The minister said the initiative marks a significant step in boosting private sector participation in India’s space economy, fostering innovation, and positioning the country as a competitive player in the global commercial space market.
