SEBI approves Growth Sense Venture Fund as Category-1 AIF (Angel Fund) for early-stage startups

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted approval to Growth Sense Venture Fund as a Category-1 Alternative Investment Fund (Angel Fund).

The fund, with a corpus of Rs 100 crore, aims to support early-stage, high-impact startups across various sectors in India. 

The initiative seeks to bolster India's entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing startups with financial backing and access to strategic resources.

Proven investment expertise

Growth Sense, the fund's investment manager, brings substantial experience, having made over 88 investments with impressive returns.

Among its portfolio, six startups have delivered internal rates of return (IRR) exceeding 100%, while others have shown returns of 75% and 40%. This track record highlights the firm's focus on scalable and sustainable growth.

The venture fund is supported by an ecosystem of associate companies that offer critical services, including Growth91, a marketplace connecting startup founders with investors; Growth Metaverse, which provides technological solutions for scaling businesses; Growth Alpha, which offers branding and digital marketing expertise; Growth Compliances, which assists with legal and regulatory requirements; and INVIdata, a cybersecurity platform for protecting business data.

Sector-agnostic strategy

Growth Sense adopts a sector-agnostic approach, enabling investments across technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services. This diversification broadens investor portfolios and creates opportunities in varied markets.

Sanjay Sarda, Co-Founder of Growth Sense, mentioned, “Receiving SEBI approval marks an exciting milestone for Growth Sense Venture Fund. This fund allows us to channel investor capital into startups that are not only poised for growth but are delivering real value to the Indian economy. Our team is dedicated to supporting India’s most promising startups with capital, mentorship, and strategic resources”.

The fund is now open for investment, providing opportunities for individuals and corporations to contribute to India’s next wave of impactful startups.