Ankur Capital

Ankur Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Mumbai, India, dedicated to investing in disruptive technologies that address significant societal and environmental challenges. The firm focuses on backing passionate founders who are building breakthroughs for a better world, particularly within the realms of digital technology and deep science. They aim to uncover and unlock opportunities in overlooked markets, primarily across India and beyond. Ankur Capital's investment thesis centers on supporting innovations that can fundamentally disrupt or create new markets, with a strong emphasis on impact.

Established in 2014, Ankur Capital was co-founded by Rema Subramanian and Ritu Verma. The firm's name, "Ankur," means "to sprout" in Sanskrit, reflecting their approach of coming in early in an entrepreneur's journey, often before a product is perfected or a patent is filed. They provide hands-on support to their portfolio companies through their in-house platform, AnkurGro, which is designed to accelerate company building from seed to scale. Ankur Capital manages over $200 million in assets under management (AUM) across its funds, with a focus on pre-Series A investments and continued support up to Series C.

The firm's diverse portfolio showcases its commitment to various high-impact sectors. Notable investments include Vegrow, which digitalizes supply chains for fruits; Josh, an app informing and upskilling the next billion; Rupifi, unlocking credit for small businesses; Cropin, driving smart farming; Niramai, pioneering early breast cancer detection with artificial intelligence; Stringbio, repurposing greenhouse gases into value-added proteins; Captain Fresh, transforming the fish and seafood supply chain; and OffGrid, developing novel sustainable zinc-based battery technology. Recent investments also include CraftifAI, Turiyam AI, and Pranos Fusion, a startup developing compact magnetic fusion technology.

The Ankur Capital team brings extensive operational experience and a broad network of technical experts and professionals to support entrepreneurs. Key team members include Co-Founders and Managing Partners Rema Subramanian and Ritu Verma, Partner Krishnan Neelakantan, Venture Partner Kamakshi Rao, and Partner Shiva Shanker, among others. Their collective expertise enables the firm to provide strategic guidance and hands-on assistance, partnering with founders to turn their visions into reality and foster innovation that benefits underserved communities.