BIRAC ACE Fund (Accelerating Entrepreneurs)
Offered By - BIRAC - Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, Government Of India
About the Program
The BIRAC AcE Fund (Accelerating Entrepreneurs) is a growth-stage funding initiative by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The program is designed to bridge the critical funding gap faced by biotech startups as they transition from early-stage innovation to commercialization.
Unlike direct grant programs such as BIG, the AcE Fund operates as a “Fund of Funds”, meaning BIRAC does not invest directly into startups. Instead, it invests in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which in turn deploy capital into biotech and life sciences startups.
The core objective of the program is to address the “Valley of Death” phase—where startups require significant capital for product development, validation, and scaling but struggle to attract sufficient private investment.
Through this structure, the AcE Fund catalyzes private capital participation by co-investing with venture funds and angel funds. These partner funds are mandated to invest in biotech startups with strong R&D focus, particularly those approaching pre-Series A or Series A stages.
The program supports startups working in high-impact biotechnology domains such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, agriculture, and environmental solutions. By enabling access to growth capital and structured investment channels, the AcE Fund plays a key role in scaling deep-tech biotech innovations in India.
Offerings / Benefits:
- Funding support up to ₹7 crore per startup (through partner funds)
- Access to institutional venture capital ecosystem
- Co-investment support from government-backed fund
- Enables follow-on funding and scaling opportunities
- Strengthens biotech startup funding pipeline
Sectors Supported:
Biotechnology
Healthcare & Pharma
Medical Devices
Agriculture Biotechnology
Environmental & Sanitation Technologies
Funding & Benefits
This program offers a combination of financial support, mentorship, and ecosystem access to help startups grow and scale their solutions effectively.
Equity Investment
Funding
Investor Connect
Beyond funding, programs like this provide credibility, exposure, and strategic support that can significantly accelerate a startup’s growth journey.
Who Can Apply / Eligibility
- Applicable to startups indirectly via AIF (no direct startup application)
- Startups must be in biotech / life sciences sectors
- Typically early to growth-stage (pre-Series A / Series A readiness)
- Must be investment-worthy as per partner fund criteria
- Must align with R&D-driven innovation focus
Selection Process
- BIRAC selects SEBI-registered AIFs (Daughter Funds) through evaluation
- AIFs raise capital and partner with BIRAC
- AIFs identify and invest in eligible biotech startups
- Investment decisions are made by partner funds, not directly by BIRAC
How to Apply
- There is no direct application route for startups
- AIFs / venture funds backed by BIRAC AcE Fund are:-
1 – RVCF India Growth Fund – RVCF Trust III
2 – Somerset Indus Healthcare India Fund
3 – Stakeboat Capital Fund-I
4 – Ankur Capital Fund II
5 – Bharat Innovation Fund
6 – Endiya Partners Fund II
7 – GVFL Startup Fund Trust
8 – IAN Fund I
9 – KITVEN Fund 3 (Biotech)
10 – Nabvenutres Fund I
11 – Ideaspring Capital Future Now II
12 – Alkemi Ventures Fund II – Sch I
13 – Stakeboat Capital Fund-II
14 – IAN Alpha Fund
15 – Somerset Indus Healthcare India Fund III
16 – Ankur Capital Fund III
- Apply directly to those venture funds for investment
- Raise funding through partner funds aligned with AcE mandate
Frequently Asked Questions
- Applicable to startups indirectly via AIF (no direct startup application)
- Startups must be in biotech / life sciences sectors
- Typically early to growth-stage (pre-Series A / Series A readiness)
- Must be investment-worthy as per partner fund criteria
- Must align with R&D-driven innovation focus
Source & Verification
All information is compiled from publicly available sources. Refer to the links below for most accurate & updated details. Disclaimer
- Source 1: www.birac.nic.in
- Source 2: www.birac.nic.in
- Source 3: www.birac.nic.in
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