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Activate is a venture capital firm based in India, founded in December 2025 by Aakrit Vaish and Pratyush Choudhury. The firm is dedicated to shaping the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region by supporting technical founders from the inception stage. Activate's debut fund totals $75 million, positioning it as a significant player in India's AI investment landscape. The firm engages with founders before they have a formal business structure, allowing them to validate their ideas and lay the groundwork for their companies.
As of now, Activate has built a community of over 15,000 members, making it the largest Generative AI community in India. This community includes leading AI researchers, operators, and domain experts who contribute to the firm's mission of fostering innovation in AI. Activate's strategic partnerships, including a multi-year collaboration with Nvidia, enhance its ability to provide technical expertise and mentorship to portfolio companies.
Activate focuses on early-stage AI companies, particularly those founded by technical teams. The firm emphasizes inception investing, which involves partnering with founders before they have a formal business structure. This approach allows Activate to lead the first institutional round of funding, enabling founders to begin building their companies without delays. The investment range is between $500,000 and $3 million, targeting startups that are in the pre-seed, seed, and seed+ stages.
Activate's investment strategy encompasses various sectors, including AI applications in fintech, e-commerce, and healthcare. The firm also explores foundational models, accelerated compute, and physical infrastructure related to AI. This broad focus allows Activate to support a diverse array of AI initiatives, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of technological advancements in the region.
Activate has established a diverse portfolio of AI initiatives, although specific companies are not publicly listed due to the firm's recent launch. The firm supports a wide range of AI startups and has created India's largest Generative AI community, which includes over 15,000 technical practitioners. This community engagement is crucial for validating ideas and laying the foundations of new companies.
While the exact names of portfolio companies are not disclosed, Activate's focus on inception investing and its partnership with Nvidia provide significant advantages to its supported startups. The collaboration with Nvidia offers portfolio companies preferential access to technical expertise, mentorship, and integration into Nvidia's global Inception startup program, enhancing their growth potential.
Aakrit Vaish - Co-founder. Aakrit previously co-founded Haptik, which was acquired by Reliance. He has extensive experience as an AI entrepreneur and has transitioned into venture capital to support emerging AI startups.
Pratyush Choudhury - Co-founder. Pratyush was a former principal investor at Together Fund and has a background as an AWS engineer. His expertise in technology and investment positions him well to identify promising AI ventures.
To pitch to Activate, founders should visit their website at letsactivate.ai. The firm prefers early engagement and encourages founders to include detailed information about their technical backgrounds and the innovative aspects of their projects in their pitch decks. While there is no formal application portal mentioned, a clear and concise presentation of the startup's vision and potential is essential. Response times may vary, but early-stage founders are encouraged to reach out as soon as they have a viable concept.
In February 2026, Activate announced a multi-year partnership with Nvidia during the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi. This collaboration aims to provide portfolio companies with preferential access to Nvidia's technical expertise and mentorship.
Activate launched its $75 million debut fund in December 2025, focusing on early-stage AI startups. The firm has quickly established itself as a significant player in the Indian AI investment scene, engaging with over 15,000 members in its Generative AI community.
What are Activate's investment criteria?
Activate invests in early-stage AI companies, particularly those founded by technical teams. The firm focuses on inception investing, engaging with founders before they have a formal business structure.
How can I pitch to Activate?
Founders can pitch to Activate by visiting their website at letsactivate.ai. The firm encourages early engagement with technical founders.
What makes Activate different from other VC firms?
Activate emphasizes inception investing, allowing them to lead the first institutional funding rounds. This approach helps founders build their companies without delays, which is a unique aspect of their investment strategy.
What is the geographic scope of Activate's investments?
Activate primarily invests in startups based in Asia, with a strong focus on the Indian market and its burgeoning AI ecosystem.
What is the typical check size for investments?
Activate invests between $500,000 and $3 million in its portfolio companies, targeting the pre-seed, seed, and seed+ stages.
What kind of support does Activate provide to its portfolio companies?
Activate offers significant value through its partnership with Nvidia, providing portfolio companies with access to technical expertise, mentorship, and integration into Nvidia's global Inception startup program.
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