ValleyNXT Ventures has introduced Bharat Breakthrough Fund–I, a SEBI-registered Category I venture capital fund designed to support seed to pre-Series A startups across deep-tech and technology-driven sectors. The fund is targeting an initial corpus of Rs 200 crore and includes a greenshoe option of an additional Rs 200 crore, taking the total potential size to Rs 400 crore.
The newly launched fund will focus on startups operating in areas such as space, defence technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, biotechnology, sustainability and consumer innovation. It aims to back companies navigating the crucial transition phase between product validation and scaling, a stage where many promising ventures face significant hurdles.
According to ValleyNXT Ventures, early-stage startup failures are often not solely the result of limited access to capital. Instead, fragmented guidance, premature pressure to scale and a lack of clear execution strategy frequently contribute to setbacks. Bharat Breakthrough Fund–I has been structured to bridge this gap through what the firm describes as a VC-plus-accelerator model.
This approach is built around ValleyNXT’s MIB framework, which stands for Mentorship, Investment and Business Connects. The firm said it has already supported several early-stage ventures through its angel network and accelerator-led investment strategy. To date, ValleyNXT Ventures has evaluated over 5,000 startup opportunities and invested in more than 10 companies. Its investment philosophy centres on equipping founders not only with funding, but also with structured mentorship and access to strategic business networks that can help accelerate growth in a sustainable manner.
With the launch of Bharat Breakthrough Fund–I, ValleyNXT Ventures plans to formalise and scale this approach within a SEBI-regulated structure, while deepening its involvement with early-stage founders. The fund will be led by Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Dr. Madhu Vasepalli, Anand Saklecha and Suresh Goyal, who together will oversee its investment strategy and founder engagement initiatives.
