Campus Fund
Campus Fund is India's first and only SEBI-registered Category II AIF exclusively investing in student-led startups. It deploys founder-first equity capital from pre-seed through Series A via the Grand Challenge competition with AWS and the FutureX AI platform with Google Cloud.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBengaluru, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Campus Fund does
Campus Fund is an India-based venture capital firm founded in 2020 and headquartered in Bengaluru, structured as a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (registration IN/AIF2/21-22/1023) that invests exclusively in student-led startups. In 2025-26 it also launched the Campus Angel Fund as a Category I AIF (IN/AIF1/25-26/1023 / IN/AIF1/25-26/1851), creating a second regulated investment vehicle. Both funds operate through trustee MITCON Credentia Trusteeship Services Limited and are managed by Sach Advisors Private Limited. Eligible founders must be currently enrolled students or recent graduates/dropouts within three years, hold at least 25% equity in their company, and apply through a four-step process routed via an online portal.
The firm's core offering is founder-first equity capital at pre-seed through Series A stages, complemented by two flagship programs: the Grand Challenge, an annual national student startup competition co-hosted with AWS since 2020 (sixth edition in 2025, ~1,500 applicants, 13 finalists), and FutureX AI, an AI-focused platform launched in March 2026 in partnership with Google Cloud offering up to $1 million in funding pathways, cloud credits, and accelerator access. Operational support includes talent sourcing, pitch refinement, mentorship, and investor introductions — with the fund positioning itself as a "3AM sounding board" rather than a passive capital provider. In June 2025 Campus Fund launched a third fund of $100 million, materially expanding deployable capital.
Campus Fund's revenue model is conventional VC fund management: management fees on AUM and carried interest on portfolio exits, with no fees charged to portfolio companies. To date it has supported 57 student-led startups through Grand Challenge, of which 23 have collectively raised over $90 million (~Rs 750 crores) in follow-on funding. Notable portfolio outcomes include EtherealX's $20.5M Series A (co-led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital with Accel and Prosus participating), Dr. Doodley's Rs 30 crore pre-Series A led by V3 Ventures, CtrlB's $2.5M seed led by Chiratae Ventures, and Banza's $1M pre-seed. The firm publishes the annual "State of Student Entrepreneurship in India" report — Edition 5 (2025) evaluated over 7,300 startups, up 52% YoY and 9x from the ~800 assessed in 2020. Sponsors and partners include AWS, Google Cloud, IDFC FIRST Bank, 360 ONE, and Base (Coinbase).
Campus Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Campus Fund
- Legal name
- Campus Fund
- Website
- https://www.yourcampusfund.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Campus Fund is India's first and only SEBI-registered Category II AIF exclusively investing in student-led startups. It deploys founder-first equity capital from pre-seed through Series A via the Grand Challenge competition with AWS and the FutureX AI platform with Google Cloud.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Campus Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital / Private Equity
- NAICS
- Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Open-End Investment Funds (52591)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Micro-PE / Lower Middle Market ETA Funds (FSANALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Gender Lens / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Funds (FSANAJAM)
Keywords
Where Campus Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bengaluru
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Campus Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Fund Management: Campus Fund manages two SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (Category II AIF and Campus Angel Fund, Category I AIF). It generates returns through equity investments in student-led startups, with returns realized via portfolio company exits through M&A or IPO.
- Portfolio Company Support Services: Campus Fund provides operational support including talent sourcing, mentorship, investor introductions, and pitch deck refinement to portfolio companies in exchange for equity stakes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Student-friendly equity funding with institutional cheque |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Campus Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Campus Fund is India's first and only SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund that invests exclusively in student-led startups. It provides founder-first equity capital on student-friendly terms from the dorm-room stage through follow-on funding, supplemented by mentorship, talent sourcing, and investor introductions. The fund operates two flagship programs (Grand Challenge and FutureX AI) and manages two AIF vehicles (Category II and Category I Angel Fund).
Product overview
Campus Fund operates as a dual-product venture capital organization comprising two SEBI-registered investment funds: Campus Fund (Category II AIF) and Campus Angel Fund (Category I AIF). The organization supports student entrepreneurs through founder-first equity funding on student-friendly terms, supplemented by two flagship programs — Grand Challenge (annual national startup competition in partnership with AWS) and FutureX AI (AI-focused platform in partnership with Google Cloud). The portfolio spans diverse sectors including space tech, healthtech, fintech, AI, and consumer internet, supported by the State of Student Entrepreneurship annual research report.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FutureX: AI platform for student founders, launched in partnership with Google Cloud, providing resources, mentorship, and global platform to scale AI-driven ventures
- Grand Challenge
- State of Student Entrepreneurship Report
Products and services
- Campus Fund (Category II AIF) SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (registration IN/AIF2/21-22/1023) that invests exclusively in student-led startups, including recent graduates and dropouts. Provides founder-first equity capital on student-friendly terms from the dorm-room stage through follow-on funding rounds, along with world-class network access, ongoing operational support, talent recruitment assistance, and mentorship. Operated through trustee MITCON Credentia Trusteeship Services Limited and managed by Sach Advisors Private Limited.
- Campus Angel Fund (Category I AIF) SEBI-registered Category I Alternative Investment Fund – Angel Fund (registration IN/AIF1/25-26/1851) operated through trustee MITCON Credentia Trusteeship Services Limited and managed by Sach Advisors Private Limited. Expands Campus Fund's investment capabilities for student-led startups through angel-fund-style deployment.
- Grand Challenge Annual nationwide student startup competition co-hosted with AWS, designed to identify and celebrate exceptional student-led ventures in India. Selects finalists who pitch to an elite jury of investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders; winners receive funding opportunities and mentorship. Since 2020, supported 57 student-led startups that collectively raised over $90 million in follow-on capital.
- FutureX AI Premier AI-focused platform for student founders, dropouts, and early graduates to build, scale, and secure investment for AI-driven ventures. Partnered with Google Cloud, it provides a fast-track funding pathway up to $1,000,000, Google Cloud credits, exclusive startup perks, and incubation opportunities at Google for Startups Accelerator.
- State of Student Entrepreneurship Report Annual research publication tracking trends, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping student-led innovation across India, with proprietary data and market intelligence on India's student startup ecosystem. Edition 5 (Jan 2025 – Dec 2025) evaluated over 7,300 startups, providing insights used to inform investment decisions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 57 student-led startups supported since 2020; 23 of which collectively raised over $90 million (~Rs 750 crores) in follow-on capital
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Campus Fund
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Campus Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Campus Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- IDFC FIRST BankcoreIDFC FIRST Bank co-concluded Grand Challenge 2025 alongside AWS and Campus Fund in Mumbai. The bank participated as a jury contributor and platform co-sponsor in the national student entrepreneurship competition.
- Google CloudcoreGoogle Cloud is the key partner for FutureX 2026, Campus Fund's premier AI platform for student founders. Google Cloud provides access to the Google for Startups Cloud Program including credits, exclusive discounts, and hands-on technical guidance. Select startups may receive incubation at Google for Startups Accelerator.
- Base (by Coinbase)minorBase is the dedicated onchain track sponsor for the sixth edition of Grand Challenge, marking Base's first sponsorship of the Campus Fund competition. This introduces a Web3/blockchain track to the student startup competition.
- 360 ONEflagship360 ONE (IIFL Wealth) serves as the powered-by sponsor for the sixth edition of Grand Challenge 2025, providing financial backing and co-branding for the flagship competition.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreAWS has co-hosted the Grand Challenge with Campus Fund since 2020, making it India's biggest national platform for student startups. AWS provides technical mentorship, cloud infrastructure support, and brand credibility. The 2025 edition is the sixth edition, having supported 57 student-led startups that collectively raised over $90 million in follow-on capital.
- MITCON Credentia Trusteeship Services LimitedcoreMITCON Credentia Trusteeship Services Limited serves as the trustee for Campus Fund's SEBI-registered AIF structures (both Category II fund and Category I Angel Fund), providing regulatory oversight and compliance governance.
- Sach Advisors Private LimitedcoreSach Advisors Private Limited is the Investment Manager to Campus Fund's SEBI-registered AIFs, responsible for fund management, investment decisions, and portfolio oversight.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Campus Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 100X.VC: India-focused pre-seed/seed VC founded in 2019 by Sanjay Mehta and Shashank Randev with a similar thesis of backing founders at the earliest possible stage, including many student and IIT-affiliated entrepreneurs. Closest comparable to Campus Fund by stage, geography, and founder demographic.
- Indian Angel Network (IAN): India's pioneer angel network providing seed capital and mentorship to early-stage Indian startups. Comparable to Campus Fund as a structured platform deploying early-stage equity into Indian founders with an SEBI-registered fund vehicle and broad sector coverage.
- ah! Ventures: Indian early-stage VC and angel network focused on seed/Series A deals across India. Comparable in stage (pre-seed/seed), geography (India), and the role of operating support alongside equity cheques to first-time founders.
- First Cheque: India-focused micro-VC making initial cheques into very early-stage Indian founders. Directly comparable to Campus Fund's pre-seed ticket sizes and dorm-room-stage thesis, though First Cheque is not student-exclusive.
- Venture Catalysts: Mumbai-based integrated early-stage startup funding and incubation platform. Comparable as an Indian SEBI-registered Category I/II AIF-style platform that aggregates angel capital and deploys into early-stage startups with operational support.
- Mumbai Angels: One of India's largest angel networks, deploying early-stage equity into Indian startups with co-investment structures. Comparable to Campus Fund's AIF structure, early-stage focus, and emphasis on network-driven deal flow.
- LetsVenture: Indian online angel-investing and early-stage deal platform that connects startups with angel investors and small funds. Comparable as a structured platform for sourcing and syndicating early-stage Indian deals, though operating model is marketplace rather than fund.
- Antler India: Global early-stage VC with strong India presence that invests pre-seed/seed into first-time founders, often including those straight out of university. Comparable to Campus Fund on founder stage, residency-style support, and emphasis on day-zero founders.
Broad incumbents
- Chiratae Ventures: One of India's largest early-to-growth-stage VCs. Comparable as a co-investor in Campus Fund's portfolio (led CtrlB's $2.5M seed) and operates in overlapping sectors (AI, SaaS, deep tech) but with broader stage range and larger average cheques than Campus Fund.
- Kalaari Capital: India-focused early-stage VC investing from seed through Series B across consumer, enterprise, and deep tech. Comparable as a co-investor alongside Campus Fund and as an established incumbent that increasingly competes for Indian student/alumni founders.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Campus Fund social profiles
Digital presenceCampus Fund compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Campus Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Campus Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Campus Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Campus Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments40 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Campus Fund
What does Campus Fund do?
Campus Fund is India's first and only SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund that invests exclusively in student-led startups. It provides founder-first equity capital on student-friendly terms from the dorm-room stage through follow-on funding, supplemented by mentorship, talent sourcing, and investor introductions. The fund operates two flagship programs (Grand Challenge and FutureX AI) and manages two AIF vehicles (Category II and Category I Angel Fund).
Is Campus Fund a public or private company?
Campus Fund is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Campus Fund founded?
Campus Fund was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Campus Fund based?
Campus Fund is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, in the Asia region.
How does Campus Fund make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Venture Capital Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are portfolio Company Support Services.
Who are Campus Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 100X.VC, Indian Angel Network (IAN), ah! Ventures, First Cheque, Venture Catalysts, Mumbai Angels, LetsVenture and Antler India. Broad incumbents are Chiratae Ventures and Kalaari Capital.
Does Campus Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Campus Fund.
What industry is Campus Fund in?
Campus Fund's product category is Venture Capital / Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANALAG, Micro-PE / Lower Middle Market ETA Funds, with a secondary code of FSANAJAM, Gender Lens / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Funds. Its NAICS code is 525910 and its SIC code is 6199.