A Junior VC (AJVC), the pre-seed venture capital firm led by Aviral Bhatnagar, has announced the final close of its maiden fund at commitments exceeding ₹200 crore, more than double its initial target of ₹100 crore.
The firm had closed its first ₹100 crore tranche in March 2024, with the fresh close underscoring strong investor confidence in India’s emerging founder pipeline.
Backing Early-Stage Innovation
AJVC has quickly established itself as one of the most active pre-seed investors in India. In just a year, it reviewed over 11,000 founder applications and funded 25 startups, with plans to support an additional 60–70 in AI and consumer technology. Its applicant pool spans over 50 cities, 6,000 colleges, and 4,000 companies, highlighting its reach across India’s growing startup ecosystem.
“We are deeply grateful to our LPs for their trust. The fund was significantly oversubscribed, but we chose to remain disciplined, closing at nearly ₹165 crore. India is witnessing an unprecedented wave of first-time entrepreneurs. Meeting their ambition requires venture capital to operate at an entirely new velocity,” said Bhatnagar.
More Than Capital
Beyond funding, AJVC offers startups a 600,000-strong community, structured resources worth ₹4 crore, and programs focused on customer acquisition and peer support. Its recent portfolio additions include Nuyug, a celebration-wear jewellery brand, and Mithila Foods, an FMCG startup promoting Bihar-based food products.
The Bigger Picture
With its oversubscribed close and disciplined investment strategy, AJVC is positioning itself as a catalyst for India’s next generation of founders. Its community-first model and focus on pre-seed capital come at a time when early-stage innovation is gaining unprecedented traction.
Stay tuned with StartupByDoc for deep insights into how early-stage funds like AJVC are rewriting India’s startup story.