BIRAC AcE Fund (Accelerating Entrepreneurs)

What it is

Fill the product-development and growth-capital gap for biotech enterprises by catalysing private capital through professionally managed daughter funds.

What you get

• Up to INR 7 crore equity investment per selected biotech portfolio entity through an AcE Fund Partner AIF

Who it is for

• the startup must be sourced and selected by an AcE Fund Partner or daughter AIF; BIRAC does not directly select individual startup applicants through this route
• the startup should have biotech or life-science fit and growth potential, with the daughter funds targeting early or growth-stage businesses that may be ready for pre-Series-A or Series-A funding
• the selected fund must apply its own investment, diligence, securities, valuation and portfolio-company process
• the portfolio investment must count toward the partner's obligation to invest at least twice BIRAC's commitment in biotech or life-science startups over the daughter-fund term
• Indian ownership and any applicable contribution-agreement conditions must be verified before matching; the official FAQ explains the 51% as-converted Indian ownership requirement in the contribution terms

Not eligible if

• an individual or ordinary business cannot apply to BIRAC as though AcE were a direct grant or loan
• BIRAC's maximum commitment to a daughter fund is not the startup's guaranteed investment amount
• the partner's 2x investment commitment is a fund-level obligation, not an entitlement for every matched startup
• investment is equity or equity-linked through the AIF and depends on private-fund selection, diligence, valuation, dilution and investment committee approval
• BIRAC's fund commitment and a partner fund's corpus are not the amount a startup receives; the investment is set by the partner fund.
• Partner lists and lists of previously supported startups are not open calls; apply through a partner fund when it is accepting proposals.

How to apply

1. 1
   Confirm biotech or life-science fit

   Map the product, technology, R&D, validation and market thesis to the AcE sectors and early/growth-stage purpose.

   Official step
2. 2
   Separate fund-level and startup-level economics

   Understand BIRAC's daughter-fund commitment, the partner's 2x obligation and the up-to-INR 7 crore portfolio-entity boundary as separate, non-guaranteed values.

   Official step
3. 3
   Find a current AcE Fund Partner route

   Use the official partner list, then confirm the AIF is currently sourcing investments matching the startup's sector, stage, geography and ticket needs.

   Official step
4. 4
   Prepare the AIF diligence pack

   Compile company, ownership, IP, technology, validation, market, regulatory, financial, cap-table and use-of-funds evidence requested by the partner AIF.

   Official step
5. 5
   Review investment terms before acceptance

   Assess valuation, dilution, instrument, milestones, governance, reporting, exit, follow-on and any fund-specific costs with the AIF before signing.

   Official step

Keep ready