Why in News?
India has launched the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF) to strengthen its growing spacetech ecosystem. This is the country’s first dedicated venture capital fund for the space sector, aimed at supporting startups
What is Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF)?
The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF) is a specialized investment fund created to provide:
- Risk capital to spacetech startups
- Support for early-stage and growth-stage companies
- Funding for innovation in space technology and applications
Key Features of AVCF
1. Total Corpus
- Target fund size: ₹1,600 crore
- Initial committed amount: ₹1,005 crore (as of November 2025)
2. Anchor Investor
- Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
- Committed ₹1,000 crore
- Acts as the primary institutional supporter
3. Fund Management
- Managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL)
- SVCL is a subsidiary of:
- Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
Institutional Background
IN-SPACe
- A regulatory and promotional body under the Department of Space
- Facilitates private sector participation in space activities
SIDBI
- Apex financial institution for MSME financing
- Supports entrepreneurship and innovation
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