India clears Rs. 10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 to support deep tech and early growth startups
Tech

India clears Rs. 10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 to support deep tech and early growth startups

In a major boost to India’s startup ecosystem, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a total corpus of ₹10,000 crore to mobilise venture capital for startups across the country. The scheme aims to accelerate India’s next phase of entrepreneurial growth by unlocking long-term domestic capital, strengthening the venture capital landscape, and supporting innovation-led businesses.

Launched under the Startup India initiative, FoF 2.0 builds on nearly a decade of ecosystem development. Since 2016, India’s startup base has expanded from fewer than 500 to over two lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, with 2025 recording the highest-ever annual registrations.

The new fund follows the success of Fund of Funds for Startups 1.0, under which the entire ₹10,000 crore corpus was committed to 145 Alternative Investment Funds, enabling investments of over ₹25,500 crore in more than 1,370 startups across sectors such as AI, fintech, healthcare, manufacturing, space tech, and biotechnology.

FoF 2.0 adopts a targeted approach, focusing on deep tech and innovative manufacturing, early-stage founders, and expanding investments beyond major metros. It also aims to bridge high-risk capital gaps and strengthen smaller domestic venture funds.