Aviral Bhatnagar’s journey with AJVC—what began as a widely read startup blog, “Life of a Junior VC”—has come full circle. In just nine months after its September 2024 launch, AJVC’s debut fund achieved its final close at ₹165 crore, surpassing its ambitious ₹100 crore target and collecting total commitments of ₹200 crore. The fund is backed by a mix of global institutional investors, leading Indian family offices, HNIs, and notable startup founders, though their names remain undisclosed.
An Approach That’s Founder-First and Frictionless
Drawing on his own experience facing the “uncertainty and stress” of fundraising, Bhatnagar set out to reimagine the VC journey for founders—removing barriers, offering clarity, and backing entrepreneurs at the very earliest stages. AJVC’s tech-driven model promises speed: with an average first response time of just ~31 hours over the past year, founders can expect quick answers and transparent processes. The platform doesn’t require warm intros or cold outreach—just a clear idea and conviction to build.
Backing India’s Next Generation of Founders
AJVC has already reviewed applications from over 11,000 startup teams—representing 23,000+ founders across 65 cities, 6,000 colleges, and 4,000 companies. It has backed 25 companies so far, with investments in sectors ranging from AI (40%), B2B, and consumer tech (30%) to consumer brands (20%). Standout deals include Mithila Foods, a Bihar-focused FMCG brand, Guwahati-based Chop Finance (AI for accounting), jewellery brand Nuyug, and Bengaluru-based TruFides (AI for compliance).
Read this: Nuyug Raises Rs 2.5 Crore Pre-Seed Led by Aviral Bhatnagar’s AJVC
AJVC’s portfolio companies are already showing traction, with some going from idea to significant revenues in months. The firm plans to deploy capital into 60–70 more startups by early 2028, supporting a total of around 90 ventures from this fund.
Building an Ecosystem—Not Just a Fund
More than a capital provider, AJVC offers founders a support system:
- A 600,000-strong peer and mentor network
- Access to structured resources valued at ₹4 crore
- Founders-first programs to accelerate customer acquisition, hiring, and peer learning.
If you’re building, or know someone who is, please apply at ajuniorvc.com – They will be in touch almost instantly.
Industry Context: Micro VC Momentum
AJVC’s rise comes as India’s micro VC and pre-seed markets heat up, with funds like Better Capital, Java Capital, and others leading the trend toward lean, fast-moving investment. New LPs are looking to deploy capital earlier in the funding cycle, responding to a surge in first-generation founders from beyond the top metros.
Some Recent Launched Fund for Early Stage Startups
Speciale Invest, a Chennai-based VC, recently closed its ₹600 crore ($70 million) third fund in just two months—overshooting its ₹500 crore target. Mainly backed by Indian HNIs, family offices, and strategic investors, the fund will invest in 18–20 deep-tech startups at the pre-seed and seed stage, reserving half for follow-on rounds. Check out full information of this fund here.
Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) just launched IPV International, a $110 million (₹960 crore) angel fund under GIFT City’s IFSCA framework, targeting early-stage to pre-Series A startups in India and globally. Investments will range from $100,000 to $1 million per company, with the first closing in April 2025 and the debut investment already made in Singapore’s deep-tech Cellivate Technologies. Check out full information of this fund here.
Natasha Malpani, former partner at Kae Capital, has launched Boundless Ventures, an early-stage fund with a corpus of ₹200 crore aimed at investing in India’s rapidly growing AI startup ecosystem. The fund primarily focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage companies working across consumer AI applications, infrastructure, agent tooling, healthcare, logistics, and Make-in-India AI hardware. Check out full information of this fund here.
The Road Ahead
For AJVC, the close of this maiden fund is not an endpoint, but a proof point—that a fast, clear, human approach to pre-seed funding can unlock entrepreneurial energy at scale. With over ₹150 crore still to deploy, plans to invest in dozens more Indian founders, and a reputation for speed and empathy, AJVC is betting that the best way forward for India’s new wave of startups is with a fund that moves as fast and thoughtfully as those it serves.
Bhatnagar sums up the journey: “Keep building what you love. You will see magic happen.” For hundreds of founders, AJVC is quickly becoming the port of call that lets that magic start sooner.
