Antariksh Venture Fund Set to Back Space Startups from FY2027

The Antariksh Venture Fund has been operationalised and is progressing steadily with investments in selected startups expected to commence from the first quarter of FY2027, the Union Minister of State reported in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The fund has been established with SIDBI Venture Capital Limited as the investment manager and obtained registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India on 31 October 2025, achieving initial closing on 10 November 2025 with a committed corpus of Rs 10.05 billion. The establishment aims to boost the emerging spacetech ecosystem by providing institutional financing and structured support to innovative firms.

Post registration formalities required for fund operations have been completed, including appointment of a custodian, registration with depositories for issuance of Alternative Investment Fund units, and constitution of screening and investment committees to oversee selection and governance. Evaluation of spacetech startups is underway, and four proposals have reached an advanced stage following Pre-Investment Committee approval. The investment manager and committees are applying established appraisal processes to ensure alignment with institutional investment norms.

Given the nascent nature of the domestic spacetech startup ecosystem, many enterprises require structured guidance to meet investor expectations, and the Ministry has indicated that handholding support is being provided to streamline data, improve documentation, and satisfy due diligence requirements. This facilitative approach is intended to enable startups to access funding more effectively and to scale their innovations toward commercial deployment. Support measures are being tailored to bridge gaps between early stage development and institutional capital requirements.

Following detailed appraisal, third party due diligence, and completion of documentation, the first round of funding approvals and disbursements is expected in early FY2027, subject to standard investment conditions and committee endorsements. Officials view the initiative as a significant step to strengthen private sector participation, encourage innovation, and expand employment and returns within the space sector. The government has reiterated its commitment to fostering a globally competitive space ecosystem and positioning India as a leading player in the global space economy.