360 One Asset launches early-stage VC fund to back startups

360 One Asset, a subsidiary of wealth and asset manager 360 One Wam, has launched an early-stage venture capital fund aimed at backing Indian startups from their first institutional round through to later stages.

The strategy is part of the firm’s Rs 25,000 crore private equity platform and focuses on sectors such as consumer technology, fintech infrastructure, generative AI, spacetech, defence, and advanced manufacturing. The fund will invest with high ownership, take board seats, and work closely with founders on business strategy and growth.

Sameer Nath, CIO and head of private equity and venture capital at 360 One Asset, said the new strategy is aimed at identifying and supporting companies that could become India’s next unicorns.

“As India approaches its next wave of startup-led economic transformation, 360 One Asset’s early-stage strategy aims to be at the forefront — identifying, backing, and shaping the companies that will define the next generation of unicorns. Our strategy is backed by a highly experienced team and distinguished by proprietary deal flow through a network of over 7,000 founders and domain experts,” Nath said.

The early-stage fund is led by Abhishek Nag, who said the firm wants to fill the funding gap between micro-VCs and large global funds. The team will offer co-investment opportunities to partners.

The fund has already built a deal pipeline. These include a gaming company with over 10 million downloads, a hot sauce brand targeting global markets, a SaaS outfit offering mutual fund tech, and a spacetech startup building indigenous radar systems.

The fund is advised by a board that includes founders and executives from BluestOne, Publicis Sapient, Better Capital, and C5i.