About Company
VentureX
VentureX is dedicated to high-growth opportunities within the SME sector, recognizing unparalleled potential for earnings growth. The company's investment philosophy is firmly grounded in the timeless principle that share prices align with earnings and value creation potential. By combining this approach with a disciplined focus on downside valuation and strong fundamentals, VentureX strives to deliver sustainable and rewarding investment outcomes. VentureX is committed to supporting visionaries at the forefront of India's growth story. As the nation advances toward becoming one of the top three global economies, VentureX identifies resilient, innovative businesses that embody entrepreneurial excellence. Companies such as Waaree Renewable Technologies and Thejo Engineering, which have leveraged SME listings to achieve remarkable success, demonstrate the entrepreneurial drive and adaptability that align with VentureX's values. VentureX prioritizes businesses with a strong execution history, competitive moats, and clear growth trajectories, particularly those bolstered by sectoral tailwinds. Their disciplined approach ensures a balance between mitigating risks and maximizing long-term returns. With a deep appreciation for entrepreneurial stories, VentureX invests not only in numbers but also in the transformative narratives behind them.
What Is VentureX Fund I Category I AIF?
VentureX Fund I is a close-ended, long-only Category I AIF focused on India’s SME ecosystem.. The fund follows a Category I Venture Capital AIF approach, targeting growth-stage businesses across pre-IPO, IPO and listed SME opportunities. It is positioned as a SME-focused AIF India investors can consider for exposure to businesses with scalable models and potential public-market opportunities. The strategy combines fundamental research with the LMVT investment framework - Leadership, Moat, Valuation and Tailwinds - to identify businesses where management quality, competitive positioning, valuation and industry conditions support the investment thesis.
VentureX Fund I: Key Facts
| Particular | Details |
| Fund | VentureX Fund I |
| Category | Category I AIF |
| Structure | Close-ended, long-only |
| Proposed Corpus | ₹500 crore |
| Green Shoe | ₹500 crore |
| VentureX Fund tenure | 4 + 2 years |
| First Close | 28 February 2025 |
| Drawdown | 10% of commitment every quarter |
| Sponsor Commitment | 2.5% of corpus or ₹5 crore, whichever is lower |
| Hurdle Rate | 12% |
| Investment Focus | SMEs, pre-IPO and IPO opportunities |
| Fund Manager | Rajesh Singla, CEO and Fund Manager |
The VentureX Fund minimum investment is not separately specified in the supplied fund material and should be confirmed from the latest PPM.
VentureX Fund I Investment Strategy
The VentureX Fund investment strategy focuses on India's growing SME segment. The VentureX SME Fund can participate across different stages of the SME public-market journey, including pre-IPO SME investment, anchor IPO investment, QIB opportunities and listed SME exposure.
The approach can include SME IPO investment and QIB IPO investment, subject to the fund mandate and applicable regulations. It may also consider secondary investment opportunities where appropriate. Because part of the strategy operates before public listing, investors should understand the valuation, liquidity and exit considerations associated with pre-IPO and unlisted share opportunities.
The underlying focus is on growth-stage businesses with scalable models, strong fundamentals, high promoter holding, competitive advantages, sectoral tailwinds and potential for mainboard migration.
How the VentureX LMVT Investment Framework Works
The LMVT investment framework evaluates four core investment factors:
- Leadership: The fund assesses leadership quality, promoter quality, business experience and execution capability.
- Moat: The focus is on identifying a competitive moat through pricing power, patents, licences, economies of scale or other defensible advantages.
- Valuation: Valuation discipline is applied using measures such as P/E, PEG and EV/EBITDA, with attention to margins of safety.
- Tailwinds: Structural demand, industry growth and sectoral tailwinds are evaluated to determine whether the broader environment supports the business.
VentureX SME Screening and Forensic Due Diligence Process
VentureX combines fundamental research with forensic due diligence before committing capital. The process considers financial performance, cash-flow quality, debt, margins, promoter holding and business scalability.
Due diligence can also examine corporate governance, accounting practices, related-party transactions, litigation, promoter pledge and other potential red flags. On-ground research, including channel checks and factory visits where relevant, can help validate the company's operating position.
This process is designed to assess not only reported growth but also the quality and sustainability of the underlying business.
How VentureX Fund I Builds and Manages Its SME Portfolio
SME portfolio construction focuses on diversification, position sizing and disciplined monitoring. Rather than depending on a single company or sector, the strategy seeks exposure across multiple SME opportunities while assessing business quality, valuation, governance and liquidity.
Portfolio positions can be reviewed when the original investment thesis changes, growth expectations weaken, valuations become excessive or governance concerns emerge. The objective is to maintain investment discipline throughout the fund's life rather than treating the initial investment decision as permanent.
VentureX Fund I Exit Strategy and Distribution Waterfall
The VentureX Fund exit strategy is linked to the investment thesis, valuation and availability of liquidity. Potential exits may arise through IPOs, mainboard migration, secondary transactions or other permitted routes.
The SME investment exit strategy can therefore evolve as portfolio companies mature. A business moving from SME exchange exposure towards the mainboard can create greater public-market visibility and institutional participation.
The fund follows a distribution waterfall for distributing realised proceeds. The available material specifies a 12% hurdle rate and performance-based carry, while detailed catch-up and carried-interest mechanics should be checked against the latest fund documents.
VentureX Fund I Minimum Investment
The VentureX Fund minimum investment is not specifically confirmed in the supplied fund material. The general Category I AIF threshold should not automatically be presented as the fund's own minimum without confirmation.
The exact VentureX Fund fees, including management fees and other expenses, should likewise be taken from the latest PPM or fee schedule.
The VentureX Fund hurdle rate is 12%. This is a contractual threshold for the performance-fee mechanism and is not a guaranteed return.
The VentureX Fund capital call structure requires investors to contribute 10% of their commitment amount every quarter. Investors should therefore maintain adequate liquidity to meet scheduled drawdowns. Investors unfamiliar with commitments and staged drawdowns can review how Alternative Investment Funds work before evaluating the fund’s capital-call structure
Key Risks of Investing in VentureX Fund I
The VentureX Fund risks include:
- SME liquidity risk: SME securities may have lower trading liquidity.
- Pre-IPO risk: A planned listing may be delayed or may not occur.
- Valuation risk: Private and less-liquid securities may have limited price discovery.
- Governance risk: Promoter conduct and related-party transactions can affect outcomes.
- Concentration risk: Individual company or sector exposure can affect portfolio performance.
- Execution risk: Growth depends on management execution and business conditions.
- Long-tenure risk: A close-ended structure limits interim liquidity.
- Capital-call risk: Investors must have funds available when drawdowns are requested.
These risks can differ significantly across fund structures; this Category I, II and III AIF comparison explains how investment mandate, liquidity and risk vary by category.
Who Can Invest in VentureX Fund I?
VentureX Fund I is intended for eligible investors who understand the risks associated with a close-ended SME investment strategy, including limited liquidity, capital calls and valuation uncertainty.
As a SME investment fund India investors may evaluate, the fund can provide access to opportunities that may not be readily available through traditional listed-equity products. However, investors should assess their liquidity requirements, investment horizon and ability to absorb losses before committing capital.
Investors comparing pooled funds with other professionally managed vehicles can review the differences between Mutual Fund, PMS and AIF structures. The latest PPM, subscription documents and applicable eligibility requirements should be reviewed before investment.
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Learn about the experienced fund managers responsible for investment decisions, portfolio strategy, and long-term fund performance.
Mr. Rajesh Singla
Mr. Rajesh Singla is the CEO and Fund Manager at VentureX, bringing over 14 years of extensive experience, including six years specializing in asset and wealth management. Throughout his career, he has advised more than 10,000 investors across private equity, SMEs, and pre-IPO investments, establishing himself as a trusted leader in the investment domain.
Central to his philosophy is delivering risk-adjusted returns, particularly through SME-focused funds. Under his leadership, the firm has achieved over 32 successful portfolio exits, propelling exceptional growth from ₹3.2 crore to ₹21 crore, with an impressive 114% annualized return. Additionally, Mr. Singla has spearheaded fundraising efforts for 15 SMEs across diverse sectors, securing substantial capital for high-growth ventures.
His prior roles at technology giants have honed his technical and strategic acumen, positioning him as a thought leader in entrepreneurship and investment growth.
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Find answers to common questions about fund investments, performance, portfolio strategy, and investor services.
VentureX Fund I focuses exclusively on India’s SME ecosystem, investing in pre-IPO opportunities, anchor allocations in IPOs, and listed SME companies with strong long-term growth potential.
Yes. It is structured as a Category I AIF with an SME-focused investment mandate.
It follows a venture-capital-style approach focused on growth-stage SMEs and can be described as a Category I Venture Capital AIF strategy.
The strategy focuses on SMEs across pre-IPO, IPO and listed opportunities using the LMVT framework.
The fund-specific minimum is not confirmed in the supplied material and should be verified from the latest PPM.
The stated hurdle rate is 12%. It should not be interpreted as a guaranteed return.
The strategy uses fundamental research, governance checks, financial analysis, on-ground diligence and portfolio diversification to identify and monitor risks.
The stated VentureX Fund tenure is 4 + 2 years. Risk Disclosure: AIF investments are subject to market, liquidity, valuation, governance and other risks. Returns are not guaranteed. Investors should read the latest PPM and fund documents carefully before investing.
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