3one4 Capital launches $15 million fund to support overlooked sectors, women founders

Venture capital (VC) firm 3one4 Capital and British International Investment (BII), UK’s development finance institution, have launched a $15 million fund to support women founders, non-urban entrepreneurs, and startups solving developmental issues.

Known as the IIDEA Fund, this will be managed by 3one4 Capital with support from BII to back founders in sectors like energy transition, agriculture, health, deeptech, and manufacturing.

The firm said the fund will invest in “capital-starved and historically overlooked sectors,” and innovators "beyond legacy credentials and ecosystems."


“IIDEA Fund is our commitment to ensuring that undercapitalised and high-potential businesses built by unconventional founders have the capital, partnerships, and strategic support to scale with purpose and build enduring enterprise value,” said Nruthya Madappa, partner, 3one4 Capital, in a statement.

3one4 Capital has backed startups like Smallest.ai, AGNIT Semiconductor, Licious, Jupiter, Darwinbox, Raise Financial Services, Kuku Technologies, and more.

According to the firm, Indian startups are building indigenous semiconductors, battery technologies, AI-driven supply chains, digital health platforms, and more, however, they aren’t receiving the required funding.

“With catalytic capital, these businesses can deliver disproportionate impact and transform the economic prospects for countless people,” said Shilpa Kumar, managing director and head of India at BII.

This comes at a time when VC funds are increasingly realising the funding gap in the ecosystem. According to a report by Kalaari Capital in March, startups led by women have received just Rs 4 out of every Rs 100 raised by founders.

The report also highlighted that women comprise just 38% of VC analysts across firms, and just 16% of the partners, where capital allocation decisions are made.