APAII launched with 30+ angel funds to strengthen early-stage funding for startups

A groundbreaking alliance of over 30 angel funds, family offices, micro VCs, and individual investors has formed the Association of Prolific Angels in India (APAII). This national organization aims to bolster early-stage capital in India and establish a unified voice for the sector. In a statement released on Wednesday, the association outlined its ambitious goals and strategies to transform the angel investor landscape.

APAII seeks to expand India's angel investor base to a staggering one million members over the next two decades, positioning the country as the world's largest unicorn hub. The association will also serve as a regulatory and operational bridge between angel investors and policymakers, fostering a supportive environment for startups.

Currently, India boasts more than 100 active angel funds and around one lakh angel investors who have deployed close to $1 billion in early-stage investments in fiscal year 2025. APAII aims to mobilize $3 billion in early-stage capital over the next five years, with the target of scaling angel participation to $30 billion annually by 2047.

Pioneering this initiative is venture capitalist veteran Satish Kataria, who serves as the association's first Executive Director. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, APAII's President, emphasized the importance of building a deeper and more organized base of domestic risk capital to support the growth of startups. He stressed that APAII's mission is to create a unified, professional, and policy-engaged community of angel investors capable of backing Indian founders at scale.

The association will focus on four key areas: capital formation, policy advocacy, investor education, and governance, while also striving to expand the angel ecosystem beyond major cities into Tier II and Tier III locations.