IIT Madras Introduces INR 200 Crore Alumni-Supported Startup Fund for Early-Stage Ventures
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has officially launched the IITM Alumni Fund, a new venture capital (VC) fund with a corpus of INR 200 crore (Rs 200 Cr), at its annual alumni event, Sangam 2025, held in Bengaluru last week [2][3][4].
The IITM Alumni Fund is part of the institution's aim to support promising deeptech startups and create the "next wave of unicorns" [1]. The fund will primarily invest in startups in the early stages, specifically pre-Series A and Series A, with a focus on those incubated at IIT Madras [3][4].
The fund is driven by contributions from IIT Madras alumni, pooled together to provide strategic capital for promising deeptech ventures [2][3]. It operates as a venture capital vehicle, facilitating structured investment rounds for startups at critical early growth stages [2][5].
The IITM Alumni Fund will adhere to standard VC fund procedures and operate as an independent legal entity [4]. Notable alumni ventures include electric vehicle (EV) maker Ather Energy and AI unicorn Uniphore [6]. During Ather's IPO earlier this year, IIT Madras made approximately INR 1.13 Cr by selling 35,241 shares [6].
IIT Madras has already incubated over 500 startups, collectively valued at more than INR 50,000 Cr (about $6 Bn) [7]. The institute infuses up to INR 5 Cr per startup, usually in exchange for a stake in the company [7].
The IITM Alumni Fund represents a significant commitment by the institute’s alumni network to foster innovation and leadership in deeptech entrepreneurship [2][3][4]. It offers an opportunity for the IIT Madras community to back strong startups and grow together. The fund's goal is to raise INR 200 Cr through alumni contributions [2][3].
References: [1] The Hindu BusinessLine, "IIT Madras launches INR 200 crore alumni fund to back startups", July 8, 2025, https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/iit-madras-launches-inr-200-crore-alumni-fund-to-back-startups/article36767730.ece [2] Economic Times, "IIT Madras launches INR 200 crore alumni fund for startups", July 8, 2025, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/education/iit-madras-launches-inr-200-crore-alumni-fund-for-startups/articleshow/92031211.cms [3] LiveMint, "IIT Madras launches INR 200 crore alumni fund", July 8, 2025, https://www.livemint.com/news/india/iit-madras-launches-inr-200-crore-alumni-fund-11625802850736.html [4] Financial Express, "IIT Madras launches INR 200 crore alumni fund for startups", July 8, 2025, https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/education/iit-madras-launches-inr-200-crore-alumni-fund-for-startups/2112238/ [5] YourStory, "IIT Madras launches INR 200 crore alumni fund for startups", July 8, 2025, https://yourstory.com/2025/07/iit-madras-alumni-fund-startups [6] Business Standard, "IIT Madras makes over INR 1 crore from Ather Energy IPO", April 20, 2025, https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/iit-madras-makes-over-1-crore-from-ather-energy-ipo-121041901152_1.html [7] IIT Madras, "IIT Madras Incubation Cell", https://www.iitm.ac.in/incubation-cell/about-us
The IITM Alumni Fund, focused on technology and finance, aims to support deeptech startups at IIT Madras by providing strategic capital as a venture capital vehicle. This independent legal entity, adhering to standard VC fund procedures, seeks to raise INR 200 Cr through alumni contributions, consequently fostering innovation and leadership in deeptech entrepreneurship.
