Speciale Invest Launches Rs 1,400 Crore Growth Fund II for Deeptech Startups

Speciale Invest has unveiled a new initiative, a Rs 1,400 crore Growth Fund II, designed to support early-stage deeptech startups. The purpose of this fund is to fill a significant gap in the deeptech funding landscape in India, specifically targeting startups that have progressed beyond mere technology validation and are yet to establish consistent revenue streams.

Investment Strategy and Focus Areas

The Growth Fund II plans to support approximately 12-15 startups, with typical investments ranging from $5-8 million. This approach aims to assist firms in transitioning from having an operational technology to developing a commercially viable enterprise. For this initiative, a more institutional Limited Partner (LP) base is anticipated, while early-stage funds will still see contributions from family offices.

Sectors of Interest

According to the Chennai-based venture capital firm, its attention will remain on crucial sectors such as spacetech, advanced manufacturing, energy storage, quantum computing, health and biosciences, and defence technologies. A notable portion of the capital will also be allocated to domains like unmanned systems and maritime surveillance.

Leadership and Projected Outcomes

The firm has appointed Vijay Jacob as the general partner overseeing growth-stage investments. Previously a founding member at NewQuest Capital, Jacob indicated that this new fund will concentrate on supporting deeptech enterprises that have effectively reduced scientific risks and are positioned for substantial development and international competition.

Recent Achievements and Future Plans

Just three months prior, Speciale Invest finalised its Fund III at Rs 600 crore, surpassing its original target of Rs 500 crore. This fund is committed to investing in sovereign technology and globally scalable intellectual property originating from India. It is intended to support around 18-20 early-stage deeptech startups in fields such as AI infrastructure, spacetech, climatetech, quantum systems, advanced manufacturing, and dual-use defence, with investment amounts ranging from Rs 7 crore to Rs 10 crore.

Track Record of Supporting Startups

In the last three early-stage funds launched between 2017, 2021, and 2025, Speciale supported roughly 35 startups. The firm’s impressive portfolio includes notable names such as Agnikul Cosmos, GalaxEye, ePlane Company, Ultraviolette, CynLr, and QNu Labs. To date, the firm has achieved nine M&A exits. In Fund III, it aims to increase its average stake in startups to approximately 15%, compared to 5% in Fund I and 10% in Fund II.