Campus Fund, India&rsquo;s only SEBI-registered Category II alternative investment fund dedicated to startups led by students and recent college dropouts, has announced the launch of its third and largest fund, targeting a corpus of $100 million. The firm confirmed that it has already secured over 50% of the target in its first close and has begun deploying capital.
Founded in 2020 by Richa Bajpai, co-founder of Goodera, Campus Fund began as a thesis project during her MBA at London Business School. It has since evolved into a first-of-its-kind institutional venture platform focused on democratizing startup funding at the grassroots level.
&ldquo;With Fund III, we double down on our conviction that student founders aren&rsquo;t just dreamers &mdash; they&rsquo;re doers,&rdquo; said Bajpai. &ldquo;The next unicorn might emerge from a dorm room in Bhopal or a garage in Surat.&rdquo;
Unique Investment Thesis
Campus Fund is notable for targeting a niche segment: student founders who are either currently enrolled in university, have recently graduated (within three years), or dropped out to pursue startups. In an ecosystem often dominated by seasoned founders from elite backgrounds, the fund&rsquo;s contrarian approach focuses on raw innovation and untapped ambition.
Fund III aims to invest in 60 to 80 early-stage startups over the next four years, with initial cheque sizes ranging from ₹1 crore to ₹8 crore. Notably, 50% of the fund is reserved for follow-on investments. The fund has already backed two startups, including Serendipity Space, which is developing pharmaceutical processing solutions in microgravity.
A Grassroots-Driven Model
Campus Fund receives over 7,000 applications annually, sourced and screened via a national network of over 100 student scouts. Its past portfolio includes successful ventures like Expand My Business, Digantara, EtherealX, Sama, Sarla, and GreenGrahi. Several of these companies have gone on to raise funds from global investors such as Accel, a16z, DST Global, Alpha Wave, and Peak XV Partners.
The fund has also started returning capital to its early Limited Partners (LPs), signaling strong early performance.
Notable Backers
Campus Fund&rsquo;s third fund is backed by a diverse LP base, including:
● 360 One (formerly IIFL Wealth)
● Kanwaljit Singh, Fireside Ventures
● Bharat Shah, HDFC Securities
● Jaimin Bhatt, former CFO, Kotak
● Asha Jadeja Motwani, one of Google&rsquo;s earliest investors
● Sameen Farooqui, Deutsche Bank
&ldquo;This is a full-circle moment,&rdquo; Bajpai said. &ldquo;To now back students chasing bold ideas &mdash; that&rsquo;s the most meaningful chapter of my career.&rdquo;
Looking Ahead
With India&rsquo;s startup ecosystem expanding into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and access to higher education becoming increasingly decentralized, Campus Fund sees student entrepreneurship as a major force for the next decade.
&ldquo;Backing student founders is no longer just a visionary bet,&rdquo; Bajpai noted. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of the smartest investments of this decade.&rdquo;
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Source : Indian Startup News

Campus Fund, India’s only SEBI-registered Category II alternative investment fund dedicated to startups led by students and recent college dropouts, has announced the launch of its third and largest fund, targeting a corpus of $100 million

Campus Fund Launches $100 Million Fund to Back Student-Led Startups Across India