Arāya Ventures recently announced the £8.25 million first close of its £19m Arāya Super Angel Fund. The fund, led by experienced entrepreneur Rupa Popat, will invest in up to 60 pre-seed and seed stage founders over the next four years in HealthTech, FinTech, ClimateTech, commerce and work.
This unique fund has garnered the attention of some notable investors, including Bridgerton actress Charithra Chandran, former Credit Suisse CEO Phil Cutts, and former Browns CEO Holli Rogers. Arāya Ventures aims to be the most value-add investor on the cap table by offering pre-seed and seed cheques of $200k-550k and giving founders access to an extensive angel and scout network in addition to its own team.
The Arāya Super Angel fund’s flexible hybrid structure accommodates both EIS and non-EIS investments and will invest capital over a four-year period, with 10 to 15 investments per year to increase diversification and maximise on performance. Additionally, 25% of the fund is reserved for repeat founders who have already built a business previously. This approach has provided the fund with credibility among experienced investors and founders alike.
The fund is powered by a community of over 80 fund investors, including current and exited entrepreneurs, angel and VC investors, operators, financial professionals, C-suite leaders, and family offices from various industries. Arāya Ventures Academy for Angels (AVA Angels) will also be available to founders, which will have 250 angel investor graduates by the end of 2024 and over 1,000 by the end of 2025.
Founder and investor Rupa Popat, who sold FUTR Group in 2019, is thrilled about this unique investment opportunity. “Our approach is incredibly bespoke and personalised, and with this unique structure, we’re optimising not only for performance but plugging a gap to offer real support to early-stage founders and giving them value beyond the cheque,” she said. As Arāya Ventures’ first fund, Popat is excited about what the firm can offer both investors and founders alike.
