Team StartupCity

• BizDateUp secures SEBI approval to launch Rs 1,000 crore Pulse Fund I as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
• The fund will invest 50% in startups, 30% in SMEs, and 20% in real estate.
• Deployment begins around Diwali, with plans for global expansion in Singapore, the USA, and Dubai.

Startup focused investment platform BizDateUp has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its first Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), named Pulse Fund I, with a total target of Rs 1,000 crore. This includes Rs 500 crore in primary capital and an additional Rs 500 crore through a green shoe option.

The fund will strategically invest 50% in high growth startups, 30% in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and the remaining 20% in real estate equity opportunities. Sectors of focus include AI, SaaS, fintech, healthtech, deeptech, EV mobility, defence, gaming, aerospace, regtech, and green energy. Special emphasis will be placed on ventures emerging from Tier II and Tier III cities, along with metro based startups.

Mukesh Chandan, Group Managing Director of BizDateUp, shared that the platform has already secured strong commitments from high net worth individuals (HNIs) and family offices. Capital deployment is scheduled to begin around Diwali. The fund will also benefit from BizDateUp’s Venture Studio Model, which helps in identifying investment opportunities and providing operational support to portfolio companies.

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Looking ahead, BizDateUp plans to launch similar funds in Singapore, the USA, and Dubai within the next two years, aiming to channel over $1 billion into India’s innovation ecosystem.

In FY24, BizDateUp invested in 25 startups and raised a $10 million CAT-I Angel fund. With a network of over 1,000 angel investors, the platform claims an average return of 3.5X, with notable investments in Square Insurance Broker, Revamp Moto, Zevo, and BharatRohan.