BIRAC Fund of Funds - AcE (Accelerating Entrepreneurs)

BIRAC Fund of Funds - AcE (Accelerating Entrepreneurs) is a equity investment from Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for biotech startups and SMEs across healthcare, life-sciences, pharma, medtech, diagnostics, industrial biotech, agritech and…. It provides Equity investment via SEBI-registered Category I & II AIF daughter funds (per-startup amount determined by respective daughter funds). Applications are open on a rolling basis.

Key facts

What is BIRAC Fund of Funds - AcE?

BIRAC's Fund of Funds - AcE (Accelerating Entrepreneurs) fosters R&D and innovation in biotechnology by plugging the funding gap that biotech startups face during their product-development cycle and growth phase. The AcE Fund invests in and partners with SEBI-registered Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds (daughter funds), which commit to invest 2x of BIRAC's committed investment into biotech startups and SMEs. Covered biotech sub-sectors include healthcare, life sciences, pharma, biopharma, med-tech, diagnostics, industrial-biotech, agri-tech and bio-IT services. It is run by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

This is equity funding — the investor (often through a fund) takes a stake in your company in exchange for capital, rather than lending or granting money. You give up some ownership; you don’t repay it like a loan. The amount and form of support that actually apply to you depend on the programme’s rules and how your application is assessed — they are not fixed for every applicant.

Like most government programmes, it has its own eligibility conditions, documentation and application window, and these terms are revised from time to time. Because of that, it is worth confirming the current eligibility, amount and deadline on the official programme page before you invest time in applying.

Who is eligible for BIRAC Fund of Funds - AcE?

Biotech startups and SMEs across healthcare, life-sciences, pharma, medtech, diagnostics, industrial biotech, agritech and bio-IT/services seeking equity investment through a BIRAC AcE AIF daughter fund.

How much does BIRAC Fund of Funds - AcE give, and in what form?

Equity investment via SEBI-registered Category I & II AIF daughter funds (per-startup amount determined by respective daughter funds), as equity investment via SEBI-registered AIF daughter funds that invest 2x of BIRAC's commitment into biotech startups.

BIRAC commits funding to SEBI-registered Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds (daughter funds). These professionally managed daughter funds commit to invest 2x of BIRAC's committed amount into biotech startups and SMEs. Startups can access funding through any of the 16 active AcE Fund Partner organizations. This leverages public capital to mobilize private investment in the biotech sector.

How to apply for BIRAC Fund of Funds - AcE

1. Identify BIRAC AcE Fund Partner organization
2. Submit investment proposal to partner fund
3. Partner fund conducts due diligence and assessment
4. Investment approved and deployed per fund's timeline

Frequently asked questions

Related programmes

• Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme (BIG) — Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
• BIRAC E-YUVA & Innovation Fellowship (E-YUVA Scheme, 4th Call) — Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), DBT
• BIRAC LEAP Fund — BIRAC
• BIRAC Patent Assistance Funding Scheme (PATH & SIPP) — BIRAC
• Call for Startup Innovation in Quantum Communication (NQM Q-Comm Hub) — IITM-CDOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation, the NQM Quantum Communication Thematic Hub (IIT Madras Research Park), DST
• DLI Scheme – Design Infrastructure Support (EDA tools, IP cores, MPW fabrication via ChipIN Centre) — C-DAC for MeitY (Design Linked Incentive Scheme)

Browse similar equity programmes. CapEasy handles this under Fundraising advisory.

Source and verification

Official programme page: birac.nic.in. Verification date pending. Government programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official programme page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.