**VentureSoul Partners Closes ₹300 Crore Debt Fund, Plans Expansion**
VentureSoul Partners has successfully closed its inaugural debt fund at ₹300 crore, with intentions to raise an additional ₹300 crore through a green shoe option by February 2026. This venture debt firm specializes in structured credit solutions tailored for new-economy companies and counts healthcare giant Micro Labs Ltd as its anchor investor. The fund has also garnered commitments from notable corporate investors such as Rupa Group and Glen Appliances Ltd, alongside individual investors including E. Madhusudan, founder of Kreditbee, Omkar Shirhatti of Perfios, and the promoters of Canpac and Zebronics Group.
In September 2024, VentureSoul announced its first close, raising ₹146 crore from a diverse group of investors. Following this initial close, the firm began making investments and has since established its Sebi-registered Category II alternative investment fund (AIF), backing approximately 15 startups, including Playshifu, Zolostays, Metro Telworks, Metalbook, Captain Fresh, Mozark, and True Credits. The fund aims to issue average cheques ranging from ₹20-25 crore and maintains a sector-agnostic approach, focusing on diversified fintech, business-to-consumer, business-to-business, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies.
Founded in June 2024 by former HSBC bankers Anurag Tripathi, Ashish Gala, and Kunal Wadhwa, VentureSoul Partners was established with the vision of creating a value-driven enterprise. The venture debt market in India has been experiencing significant growth, expanding 13 times over the past six years. In 2024 alone, startups raised nearly $1.23 billion from venture debt firms, underscoring the increasing demand for specialized credit solutions for early-stage companies that often struggle to find lenders.
VentureSoul competes with established players such as Alteria Capital, InnoVen Capital, Strides Ventures, Blacksoil, and Trifecta Capital, while newer entrants like Nuvama and Kotak are also targeting growth-stage companies with smaller cheque sizes. The venture debt landscape is becoming increasingly attractive to investors, both domestically and globally, as firms like Stride Ventures seek to raise their largest global venture debt fund of $600 million, and Alteria Capital has secured backing from the International Finance Corporation for its new venture debt fund.
As the venture debt market continues to evolve, it presents a promising avenue for startups seeking financial support in a challenging funding environment.
**FAQ**
**What is VentureSoul Partners’ focus in the venture debt market?**
VentureSoul Partners focuses on providing structured credit solutions for new-economy companies, with a sector-agnostic approach that includes fintech, B2C, B2B, and SaaS sectors.
