Funds

Stride Ventures Global Debt Fund I

About Company

Stride Ventures Capital Private Limited

Founded in 2019, Stride Ventures has quickly become India’s most active venture debt firm, specializing in non-dilutive credit solutions for growth-stage companies. Operating with an "entrepreneur-first" philosophy, the firm leverages over 100 years of collective banking experience to provide bespoke financing that protects founder equity. With a portfolio of over 180 companies—including 16+ unicorns like Zepto and BlueStone—Stride has enabled over $1.6 billion in credit globally. The firm maintains a sector-agnostic approach, focusing on businesses with strong unit economics across India, the GCC, and Southeast Asia.

Category: Gift City Funds
The Stride Ventures Global Debt Fund I serves as an international extension of Stride’s credit offerings, typically anchored through operations in GIFT City or Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to facilitate USD-denominated lending.
  • Target Market: The fund targets growth-stage startups (Series A and beyond) that have strong institutional backing from reputable VCs.
  • Funding Scope: It provides customized debt instruments, including working capital, CAPEX financing, and acquisition funding. The average ticket size is approximately $4 million, with flexible tenors ranging from 6 to 18 months.
  • Strategic Advantage: Unlike traditional bank loans, this fund offers non-dilutive capital, allowing founders to extend their runway without additional equity erosion. It is designed for businesses with “favorable unit economics” and a clear path to profitability.
  • Recent Developments: In early 2026, Stride secured backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), further solidifying the global fund’s credibility as a premier international private credit vehicle.

Not all investments need to be confined by geography. Some strategies are designed to look outward—across markets, currencies, and global trends—while still being structured within a familiar regulatory framework.

That’s where GIFT City-based funds come into play.

Positioned within India’s International Financial Services Centre at GIFT City, these funds are built to offer global investment exposure with operational and regulatory efficiency.

What This GIFT City Fund Represents

This strategy is designed to provide access to international markets through a structured offshore framework, without the typical friction associated with investing abroad.

In practical terms, it allows investors to:

  • Participate in global equities, debt, and alternative assets
  • Diversify beyond domestic market concentration
  • Invest in USD-denominated or other foreign currency assets

It’s not just about going global—it’s about doing it efficiently and within a regulated ecosystem.

Investment Focus

The portfolio typically looks beyond domestic opportunities and identifies themes, sectors, and assets across global markets.

This may include:

  • Developed market equities (US, Europe, etc.)
  • Global technology and innovation-led sectors
  • International debt and fixed income instruments
  • Select alternative opportunities across geographies

The idea is to build exposure to growth drivers that may not be available locally.

Nature of the Strategy

GIFT City funds operate with a cross-border investment approach, combining global access with a structured investment process.

Key characteristics include:

  • Geographic diversification
    Exposure across multiple economies and market cycles
  • Currency-linked returns
    Performance influenced by both asset movement and currency dynamics
  • Regulatory efficiency
    Structured within India’s IFSC framework for smoother global access
  • Institutional-style investing
    Strategies often aligned with global investment practices

It’s a strategy that reflects global thinking with local accessibility.

Core Fundamentals Driving Allocation

Despite the global exposure, the investment approach remains grounded in fundamental evaluation and strategic allocation.

Focus areas include:

  • Macroeconomic trends across regions
    Interest rates, inflation cycles, and global growth patterns
  • Sectoral leadership globally
    Identifying industries driving innovation and expansion
  • Asset allocation discipline
    Balancing risk across geographies and instruments
  • Currency considerations
    Managing exposure to foreign exchange movements

The goal is to create a portfolio that is diversified not just by asset—but by geography and economic drivers.

Role Within a Portfolio

A GIFT City fund typically acts as a global diversification layer within an investor’s portfolio.

It can:

  • Reduce overexposure to a single domestic market
  • Provide access to global growth themes and sectors
  • Introduce currency diversification
  • Complement domestic equity and alternative allocations

It’s less about replacing local investments and more about broadening the opportunity set.

A Note on Expectations

Global investing comes with its own dynamics.

  • Returns may be influenced by international market cycles
  • Currency fluctuations can impact performance
  • Different regions may perform differently at different times

That said, the strategy is built around spreading risk and capturing opportunities across markets, rather than relying on a single economy.

Global investing sounds simple—until structure and access come into play.

With cross-border exposure comes currency dynamics, regulatory layers, and market complexity. The real advantage lies in navigating all of this with clarity, not just intent.

At AltPort Funds, explore GIFT City-based strategies designed to provide efficient access to global markets, while aligning with your overall portfolio structure.

Start a conversation to understand how global exposure can be added thoughtfully—not just broadly.

Fund Manager

Apoorva Sharma

Apoorva Sharma

Apoorva Sharma, Managing Partner at Stride Ventures, is a seasoned credit professional with over 11 years of experience in the lending and venture debt ecosystem. Before joining Stride, she held significant roles at HSBC, focusing on debt capital markets, and Xander Finance, where she honed her expertise in deal structuring and risk assessment. A CFA charter holder and an alumna of IIM Shillong, Apoorva has been instrumental in scaling Stride's portfolio to over 100 companies. She is widely recognized as a pioneer in the industry, being one of the first women in India to rise to the rank of Managing Partner at a venture debt firm, where she now leads global fundraising, investor relations, and strategic credit disbursements.

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Disclaimer: Investing in AIF, PMS, Gift City or Mutual Fund is subject to market risk. Please read the related documents carefully. Past performance does not guarantee future results and there is no assurance that the managed accounts will necessarily achieve their objectives. Actual portfolios may differ as a result of account size, client-imposed investment restrictions, the timing of client investments and market, economic, and individual company factors. We at ALTPORT do not guarantee any returns in the hands of investors, nor do we take any sort of accountability for the performance of the scheme.

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