888VC floats maiden Rs 175 Cr fund to back early-stage deeptech startups

Cross-border investment platform 888VC has launched its maiden Rs 175 Cr (about $19 Mn) alternate investment fund (AIF).

The funds will support the next generation of AI, deep tech, and sustainability startups, backing visionary founders solving local challenges with the potential to impact global markets.

Over the next three years, the company plans to back global-first Indian startups with investments of ₹2–4 crore each, focusing on technologies that can scale in high-growth markets like the UAE, the US, and beyond.

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Rohit Bafna, Founder and CEO of 888VC, said, “India is rapidly becoming the epicentre of next-gen innovation. As per recent data, AI startups in India are projected to cross $17 billion by 2027; deep tech funding is said to have grown 2.5X in the last 3 years, driven by enterprise SaaS and frontier technologies, and sustainability startups have attracted approximately $2.5 billion in 2024 alone, reflecting a global shift towards climate-conscious investments."

About 888VC 

Founded and led by Rohit Bafna, 888VC, based in Bengaluru, is an early-stage investment platform that functions as both a venture capital firm and a startup accelerator.

It says it has invested $12 Mn across 20 startups through its accelerator fund, with the portfolio now valued at over $500 Mn. Some of its bets include cleantech startup EcoRatings, women’s hygiene D2C brand Sanfe, and SaaS startup Finly.

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In February 2025, 888VC registered its first Indian AIF with SEBI as a Category I fund, which supports businesses seen as socially or economically beneficial and receives certain regulatory incentives.

The launch of 888VC’s first AIF comes at a key moment for India’s deeptech ecosystem, which, despite rising interest, still trails sectors like ecommerce and fintech in early-stage funding.

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