3i Partners

Before you pitch

• 3i Partners is a venture investor and takes equity. It is not a grant or an incubator, and it publishes no application window.
• It backs pre-seed, seed and pre-Series A rounds. If you are well past that, it is probably not the right fit.
• Check your fit: Tech Bio, Climate Tech or Frontier Tech, with unique intellectual property. It says it prioritises these over mainstream areas like enterprise SaaS.

How to reach them

• Use the form on the Pitch to Us page, which takes a pitch deck upload and a short company description.
• Its FAQ also suggests finding the team member who knows your sector and writing by email or LinkedIn.
• A general inbox is listed in the site footer.

What they say they look for

• Founders with deep technical expertise and ambition.
• Companies building for large markets with a global view and a scalable model.
• Unique intellectual property that gives a lasting edge.

3i Partners is an early-stage venture capital fund for deep tech founders in India, set up by Indian-origin technology entrepreneurs and executives from Silicon Valley. Its investment manager is listed in Bengaluru, and the site also lists offices in Mumbai and Los Altos, California. The fund is registered with SEBI as a Category II alternative investment fund.

Who 3i Partners backs

The fund says it invests in companies raising pre-seed, seed and pre-Series A rounds. Its focus areas are Tech Bio, Climate Tech and Frontier Tech. Tech Bio covers diagnostics, synthetic biology, gene therapy and digital health. Frontier Tech covers AI and machine learning, robotics, advanced materials, semiconductors, quantum computing and space. Climate Tech covers renewable energy, carbon capture, energy storage, water and waste management and sustainable agriculture. It says it prioritises disruptive tech in health, climate and manufacturing over mainstream areas like enterprise SaaS and customer support.

What it looks for is technical founders with deep expertise, companies building for large markets with a global view, and unique intellectual property that gives a lasting edge. Portfolio companies named on its site include Planys, Tan90, Recircle, Hasirudala, Haqdarshak and CENTA.

How 3i Partners works with founders

The fund says it goes beyond capital, offering guidance on technology, business growth and fundraising, along with access to industry experts. It says it wants to help Indian deep tech startups reach global capital and global markets, and portfolio founders quoted on the site describe it as engaged in strategy.

How to pitch

This is an investor, not a programme with an application window, so there is no deadline or cohort. The Pitch to Us page has a form that asks for your name, email, phone, company name, a pitch deck upload and a short company description. Its FAQ also suggests reading the team page to find the member who knows your sector and reaching out by email or LinkedIn. The site publishes no response timeline, so do not expect a fixed turnaround.

Funds and structure

The Investor Relations page lists 3IPartners Fund as a Category II alternative investment fund, with 3IP Investment Manager LLP in Bengaluru as the manager. It gives a SEBI registration number and a grievance route through the SEBI SCORES portal. The site does not state a fund size, so ask early how your round would fit.

What it publishes

The site has a news page, a blog and a portfolio page with short notes on each company, which help you see the kind of deep tech it backs.