Pre-seed is the hardest cheque to raise. You have an idea, maybe a prototype, and limited traction. Institutional VCs rarely touch this stage, and angel checks alone may not provide the strategic capital you need. Enter micro VCs—small, thesis-driven funds with $10–50 million in AUM that specialise in writing the first institutional cheque. India’s micro VC ecosystem has matured significantly since 2020, and this guide maps the most active funds for pre-seed founders in 2026.
For a broader comparison between angel capital and institutional VC, see our angel investing vs venture capital guide.
Top Micro VCs for Pre-Seed in India
| Fund | AUM | Check Size | Sector Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100X.VC | ~$20 M | $50–150 K (iSAFE) | Sector-agnostic, volume approach |
| Titan Capital | ~$15 M | $100–300 K | Consumer, SaaS, Fintech |
| Better Capital | ~$25 M | $100–500 K | First-time founders, diverse sectors |
| 2am VC | ~$12 M | $100–200 K | Pre-seed consumer and SaaS |
| First Cheque | ~$10 M | $50–150 K | Day-zero, idea-stage |
| Antler India | ~$30 M | $150–250 K | Residency + pre-seed, sector-agnostic |
| All In Capital | ~$8 M | $50–200 K | B2B SaaS, Fintech infra |
| Sparrow Capital | ~$10 M | $100–300 K | Deep-tech, Climate |
| WEH Ventures | ~$15 M | $200–500 K | Enterprise SaaS, Health-tech |
| iSeed Ventures | ~$12 M | $100–250 K | Cross-border SaaS |
How Micro VCs Differ from Angels and Larger Funds
Angels write personal cheques with loose diligence and highly variable value-add. Larger VCs demand traction before engaging. Micro VCs occupy the middle ground: they run structured diligence (typically 2–4 weeks vs. 6–8 weeks for larger funds), offer portfolio-level support services, and bring institutional governance to the cap table.
The trade-off is dilution structure. Many micro VCs use standardised instruments—100X.VC pioneered the iSAFE (India Simple Agreement for Future Equity)—that convert at the next priced round. Founders should understand how these instruments interact with subsequent rounds. Our term sheet guide explains the mechanics in detail.
What Micro VCs Evaluate at Pre-Seed
At pre-seed, the product may not exist yet. Micro VCs therefore weight three factors heavily: founder-market fit (why are you uniquely positioned to solve this?), insight quality (what do you know that the market doesn’t?), and speed of execution (how fast can you build and iterate?). Revenue metrics are secondary; evidence of learning velocity is primary.
Approaching Micro VCs: Practical Tips
Micro VC partners are more accessible than Tier 1 GPs—many respond directly to Twitter DMs, LinkedIn messages, or cold emails. But accessibility does not mean low standards. Come prepared with a crisp one-pager, a demo or prototype, and a clear articulation of your first 90-day plan. Review our VC outreach templates for examples that work.
For a deep-dive into India’s full micro VC landscape, see our comprehensive micro VC funds list.
Fund data from Tracxn, Crunchbase, and fund websites through Q1 2026. Analysis by VCW Editorial.