888VC has launched its maiden venture capital fund aimed at investing in homegrown startups in artificial intelligence, deep tech, and sustainability over the next three years. The SEBI-registered Category-I fund plans to make investments ranging from Rs 2 crore to Rs 4 crore per startup. The fund will target companies that address local challenges with the potential to scale globally, focusing on technologies capable of expanding in high-growth ecosystems such as the UAE, the US, and beyond.
The platform aims to bridge common gaps faced by early-stage startups, including access to capital, guidance, and market connections, thus enabling companies to scale efficiently across borders. “India is rapidly becoming the epicenter of next-gen innovation. As per recent data, AI startups in India are projected to cross $17 billion by 2027; funding has grown 2.5 times in the last three years, driven by enterprise SaaS and frontier technologies.
888VC’s fund backs AI startups
Startups have attracted approximately $2.5 billion in 2024 alone, reflecting a global shift towards climate-conscious investments,” said Rohit Bafna, founder and chief executive officer of 888VC. In addition to the fund, 888VC has introduced GRO8, a cross-border investment and mentorship platform aimed at connecting founders with investors, mentors, and industry leaders internationally.
“GRO8 is purpose-built to address our ecosystem’s crucial gaps, connecting founders with investors, mentors, and global markets to empower Indian startups to overcome hurdles and scale successfully across borders while maintaining transparency and ease in the process,” Bafna added. “With 888VC’s fund and GRO8 platform, we aim to position Indian startups at the forefront of this transformation, unlocking cross-border opportunities and giving founders the runway to compete globally. The vision is simple: ‘Made in India, built for the world.'”
Over the past year, 888VC has evaluated more than 500 startups, funded over 20 companies, and deployed over $12 million in syndicated capital.
The current portfolio of 888VC exceeds a $500 million valuation, including companies across various sectors such as data analytics & AI platform DataZip, D2C marketing tech BusinessOnBot, gaming content platform Rooter, D2C lifestyle aggregator G.O.A.T Brand Labs, homeownership accelerator Homecapital, supply chain automation tool GetCrest.ai, feminine hygiene brand Sanfe, AP automation fintech Finly, business services platform Pick My Work, EV-as-a-service and delivery platform Fullfily, and ESG and sustainability data platform EcoRatings, among others.
