888 VC, an early-stage accelerator fund, announced the launch of a ₹175 crore investment fund. The funds are aimed at fueling nations’ next-generation artificial intelligence, deep tech, and sustainability startups, targeting visionary founders whose innovations are addressing both local problems and have the potential to transform global markets.
Over the next three years, the company plans to invest in global first Indian startups with average investment sizes ranging between ₹2 crore and ₹4 crore, focusing on technologies that are capable of scaling to high-growth ecosystems such as the UAE, the US, and beyond.
Rohit Bafna, Founder & CEO of 888VC, said, “India is rapidly becoming the epicenter of next-gen innovation. As per recent data, AI startups in India are projected to cross $17B by 2027; deep tech funding is said to have grown 2.5X in the last 3 years, driven by enterprise SaaS and frontier technologies, and sustainability startups have attracted approximately $2.5B in 2024 alone, reflecting a global shift towards climate-conscious investments.”
In a significant expansion of its ecosystem, 888VC also unveiled GRO8, the region’s largest cross-border investment and mentorship platform. Designed to address a crucial gap in the early-age startup ecosystem, such as access to capital, mentorship, and market connections.
“GRO8 is purpose-built to address our ecosystem’s crucial gaps. It aims to connect founders with investors, mentors, and global markets to empower Indian startups to overcome these hurdles and scale successfully across borders while maintaining transparency and ease in the process,” said Bafna.
“With 888vc’s fund and GRO8 platform, we aim to position Indian startups at the forefront of this transformation, unlocking cross-border opportunities and giving founders the runway to compete globally. The vision is simple: ’Made in India, built for the world,” he added.
Founded and led by Rohit Bafna, 888vc combines deep industry expertise with a hands-on approach to scaling startups. The company focuses on innovation in artificial intelligence, deep tech, and sustainability, 888vc empowers visionary founders with funding, mentorship, and strategic cross-border connections. Operating actively in India, UAE, and the US, the fund aims to catalyze the growth of category-defining startups and enable scalable global expansion.
888VC has evaluated 500 startups, funded 20+ companies, and deployed $12 million+ in syndicated capital. The accelerator fund is now maintaining a boasting portfolio exceeding $500 million valuation.
