NABVENTURES closes Rs 450 Cr first tranche for Rs 1,500 Cr agritech fund

NABVENTURES, the venture capital arm of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), has closed the first tranche of its second fund at Rs 450 crore. The fund focuses on early- and growth-stage startups in rural and agritech sectors, with a goal of raising Rs 1,500 crore.

The first close arrives as agritech funding has slowed, along with broader venture capital activity in 2026. NABVENTURES’ earlier fund, which began investing in startups working on agri-inputs, supply chain tech, and rural fintech, had a similar focus.

The Rs 450 crore tranche is smaller than recent large raises in mobility and healthtech, like Simple Energy’s Rs 1,750 crore Series C or eMed’s $200 million round. Still, it suggests that some investors see potential in startups tackling challenges in agriculture and rural economies. WEH Ventures and WAD Capital, both covered by StartupReader recently, have also closed first tranches of their latest funds, though at smaller amounts.

NABVENTURES’ approach reflects a belief in rural India’s digital growth. Whether the fund will reach its full Rs 1,500 crore target—and how quickly—depends on the current funding environment.

Sources: yourstory.com