New Delhi: India’s Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is progressing steadily, with the first round of investments expected to begin in the first quarter of FY2027, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh informed in the Lok Sabha.
The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund, India’s first dedicated venture capital initiative for space startups, marks a significant step in strengthening the country’s spacetech ecosystem.
In a written reply to an Unstarred Question during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, stated that the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund has been operationalised with key institutional mechanisms now in place.
The query, raised by Bastipati Nagaraju, sought details regarding the status, investments, beneficiaries, returns, and employment generation under the venture capital fund dedicated to the space sector.
Providing an update, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund has been established by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL), which is serving as the investment manager.
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Antariksh Venture Capital Fund: All Key Post-Registration Formalities Completed
The fund received registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on October 31, 2025, and achieved its initial closing on November 10, 2025, with a committed corpus of ₹1,005 crore.
Highlighting the progress, the Minister stated that all key post-registration formalities for the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund have been completed.
These include the appointment of a custodian, registration with depositories for issuance of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) units, and the constitution of Screening and Investment Committees.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further informed that evaluation of spacetech startups under the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is currently underway. Four startup proposals have already reached an advanced stage after securing Pre-Investment Committee approval.
He emphasized that, given the nascent nature of India’s spacetech ecosystem, several startups require structured support to align with institutional investment processes.
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The Minister underlined that “handholding support” is being extended through the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund framework. This includes assistance in streamlining data, improving documentation, and meeting due diligence requirements, enabling startups to better access funding and scale their innovations.
Dr. Jitendra Singh added that following detailed appraisal, third-party due diligence, and completion of documentation, the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is expected to roll out its first round of funding approvals and disbursements in early FY2027.
Reaffirming the government’s vision, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund represents a major initiative to boost private sector participation, drive innovation, and position India as a competitive force in the global space economy.
