Campus Fund (India)

Campus Fund (India) stands as the pioneer SEBI-registered Category II fund exclusively dedicated to investing in student-led ventures across India. Distinguishing itself in the investment landscape, Campus Fund focuses on startups founded by current students, recent graduates, or academic dropouts who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurial potential. The fund enjoys robust backing from prominent Large Financial Institutions and influential figures from Global Inc, providing it with strong financial foundations and strategic networks. This unique investment vehicle operates with a distinctive model that incorporates students themselves into the investment process, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem of young talent identifying promising ventures.

The fund's investment strategy targets early-stage startups emerging from India's premier educational institutions, including IITs, IIMs, BITS, and other top-tier universities. Campus Fund typically deploys capital at the pre-seed and seed stages, with investments ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 per venture. Their portfolio spans diverse sectors including deep tech, healthcare innovations, consumer applications, and enterprise solutions, reflecting the varied expertise emerging from academic environments. This sector-agnostic approach allows Campus Fund to capture innovative ideas across multiple domains while maintaining focus on strong founding teams with technical expertise and market understanding.

What sets Campus Fund apart is its innovative operational model that engages student investment fellows from across India's top institutions. These fellows serve as on-ground representatives who identify promising startups, conduct preliminary assessments, and facilitate connections between founders and the fund. This approach creates a dual advantage of accessing deal flow at its earliest stages while simultaneously training the next generation of venture capitalists. The fund's leadership combines experienced investment professionals with academic advisors, creating a balanced perspective that values both business viability and technological innovation.

Since its inception, Campus Fund has built a reputation for identifying high-potential student entrepreneurs before they gain mainstream attention. Their portfolio companies have subsequently raised follow-on funding from established venture capital firms, validating their early investment thesis. Beyond capital, the fund provides portfolio companies with mentorship from industry experts, connections to later-stage investors, and strategic guidance on product-market fit and scaling strategies. By focusing exclusively on the student ecosystem, Campus Fund has positioned itself as a specialized player in India's venture capital landscape, addressing a critical funding gap for young founders while nurturing entrepreneurial talent within the academic environment.