Ankur Capital Secures ₹1,200 Crore Target for Third Fund with Strong Support from British International Investment and MacArthur Foundation

Ankur Capital, a prominent early-stage venture investor specializing in agritech, climate solutions, and deeptech, has successfully garnered new capital commitments from its long-standing partners, British International Investment (BII) and the MacArthur Foundation, for its third fund. The fund aims to raise ₹1,200 crore (approximately $150 million), signaling a significant boost for the firm's investment capabilities.

Strong Backing and Fundraising Progress

The latest fund has already attracted capital from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Self-Reliant India Fund, a central government initiative under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. As of now, Ankur Capital has raised approximately ₹400 crore for the third fund, with plans to close the fundraising by early next year.

Ritu Verma, Managing Partner at Ankur Capital, emphasized the firm's continued focus on pre-series A investments, stating, “BII and MacArthur Foundation are returning investors as they were limited partners in our second fund. We remain dedicated to investing in companies at the pre-series A stage.” The firm will continue its strategy of investing $1-2 million in early-stage companies.

Past Achievements and Future Directions

Ankur Capital's first fund, launched in 2017-2018, had a corpus of ₹50 crore, while the second fund, launched in 2020, successfully raised ₹380 crore and is nearly fully deployed. The firm has built a robust portfolio, investing in innovative companies such as Captain Fresh, String Bio, Cropin, Vegrow, and BigHaat.

Looking ahead, Ankur Capital plans to expand its investment focus to include digital transformation and decarbonization opportunities, both within India and globally. This expansion aims to address critical issues like market supply chain efficiency, agricultural productivity, and climate-linked innovations.

Ankur Capital currently manages around $200 million in assets and has invested in nearly 30 companies through its first two funds. Abhinav Sinha, Managing Director at British International Investment, highlighted the impact of this partnership, stating, “Through our partnership with Ankur and the innovative businesses it supports, we can reach more smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities in India for better productivity and inclusion.”

As Ankur Capital continues to grow its influence and support transformative startups, the firm is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing technology and sustainability in agritech and beyond.