Boundless Ventures Launches ₹200 Crore Fund to Back Early-Stage AI Startups
Boundless Ventures Launches ₹200 Crore Backup AI Startups

Natasha Malpani, former partner at Kae Capital, has announced the launch of Boundless Ventures, a new investment firm with a corpus of ₹200 crore aimed at funding early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) startups in India.

The fund will primarily focus on seed to Series A rounds, with ticket sizes ranging from ₹2 crore to ₹15 crore. According to Malpani, the initiative is designed to provide long-term capital and hands-on support to founders building AI-first companies that can scale both domestically and globally.

Targeting India’s AI Opportunity

India’s AI startup ecosystem has seen rapid growth over the past three years, with both enterprise and consumer-facing sectors increasingly embedding AI into their offerings. Reports suggest that India could become one of the largest markets for AI adoption in the next decade, driven by a combination of young tech talent, expanding digital infrastructure, and rising enterprise demand.

Boundless Ventures intends to tap into this momentum by backing ventures that solve high-impact challenges across healthcare, financial services, climate tech, logistics, and education. The fund is also expected to invest in companies building AI infrastructure, including tools for data management, model training, and generative AI applications.

Investment Philosophy

Malpani emphasized that Boundless Ventures will adopt a differentiated approach compared to traditional venture capital. Instead of chasing short-term valuations, the fund aims to support entrepreneurs with patient capital, sector expertise, and a focus on sustainable business models.

“Our thesis is simple: India is at the cusp of becoming a global AI powerhouse. We want to partner with founders who are bold enough to build for the world from India, while addressing real-world challenges,” Malpani noted at the launch event.

Industry observers say this signals a shift toward more founder-focused funds, where operational guidance and ecosystem access are as critical as financial support.

Competitive Landscape

The fund enters a market that has seen increasing investor interest in AI. Several venture capital firms, including Sequoia Capital, Accel, and Lightspeed, have recently allocated significant portions of their funds to AI-first ventures. At the same time, specialized funds such as Pi Ventures and Artificial Intelligence-focused accelerators are also active.

Experts point out that while global capital is flowing into Indian startups, homegrown funds with a dedicated AI thesis could play a pivotal role in nurturing early innovation. Boundless Ventures, with its India-first perspective, could fill a crucial gap in the funding landscape.

Supporting Founders Beyond Capital

Apart from financial backing, Boundless Ventures plans to provide mentorship, network access, and guidance on scaling AI businesses responsibly. The firm is expected to engage with policymakers, industry bodies, and academic institutions to create a supportive ecosystem for innovation.

In particular, the fund has signaled its intent to help startups navigate challenges such as responsible AI deployment, data governance, and compliance with emerging regulatory frameworks.

Broader Implications for the Startup Ecosystem

The launch of Boundless Ventures comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is balancing growth with profitability pressures. Rising global capital costs and heightened scrutiny of business models have shifted focus from aggressive expansion to sustainable scaling.

Against this backdrop, funds targeting specific sectors such as AI could provide much-needed clarity for founders and investors alike. By committing to patient capital and long-term partnerships, Boundless Ventures may encourage entrepreneurs to build enduring businesses rather than chasing short-term market cycles.

Outlook

Boundless Ventures’ entry into the Indian AI investment space highlights growing confidence in the sector’s potential. For founders, it represents an opportunity to access not only capital but also strategic guidance from a team with prior experience in venture building.

With AI poised to play a defining role in the next wave of digital transformation, initiatives such as this could accelerate India’s journey from being a consumer of global technology to a creator of globally relevant AI solutions.