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The Tech Panda examines the forces shaping ecosystem behaviour and investment sentiment in India.
HDFC Asset Management Company Limited (HDFC AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF) and an Indian mutual fund house, announced that HDFC Flexi Cap Fund has crossed the INR1 lakh crore mark in assets under management (AUM). The fund’s achievement marks a significant milestone in its growth journey. It reflects our investors’ trust, performance across market cycles, and a disciplined investment approach.
Navneet Munot, MD & CEO, HDFC Asset Management Company, said, “The true milestone for us is the fund’s three-decade-long journey of performance across market cycles. Through periods of expansion, correction and structural change, the fund has remained anchored to a robust research-led investment process, with a clear aim of long-term wealth creation. The INR1 lakh crore AUM milestone is, in many ways, an outcome of this structured process. It is the trust that millions of investors have placed in HDFC Flexi Cap Fund and truly belongs to all our investors and partners who have stayed the course over the years.”
Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited (“Kotak Alts”) announced the first close of the Kotak Yield & Growth Fund, a Category II AIF with a target corpus of INR 5,000 crores. The first close of INR 3,900 crores (USD 430 million) represents the largest ever domestic private credit fundraise in the Indian market, supported by strong participation from domestic family offices, Ultra High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNIs), and leading Indian insurance companies.
Amit Jain, Chief Executive Officer, Kotak Yield & Growth Fund added, “The strong response to our first close reflects deep investor confidence in Kotak Alts’ investment philosophy, risk management framework, and execution capabilities. In an evolving credit environment, investors increasingly seek predictable income with downside protection. The Kotak Yield & Growth Fund is well positioned to meet this demand through a disciplined and opportunity-driven approach.”
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), announced the Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS) initiative through an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) in April 2025, inviting proposals from Indian Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) to develop indigenous small satellite bus platforms for hosted payload services. A total of 15 Proposals were received up to July 2025, and following a rigorous, transparent, and multi-stage evaluation process, three selected NGEs are Astrome Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru; Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad; and Dhruva Space Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad.
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, stated, “The Satellite Bus as a Service initiative marks an important step in building a robust, sustainable, and globally competitive small satellite manufacturing ecosystem in India. By enabling indigenous satellite bus platforms and integrating them with India’s emerging small satellite launch capabilities, we are laying the foundation for India to become a preferred global destination for end-to-end small satellite manufacturing, launch, and hosted payload services.”
Angel One Asset Management Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Angel One Limited, launched Angel One Silver ETF and Angel One Silver ETF FOF. The New Fund Offers (NFOs) are open for subscription from 09th February 2026 and close on 19th February 2026 for the ETF, while the FOF will remain open until 23rd February 2026.
Hemen Bhatia, Executive Director & CEO, Angel One AMC, said, “Silver is no longer just a precious metal; it is emerging as a strategically important asset in the modern global economy. Its growing role across next-generation industries and critical technologies is creating sustained structural demand, making silver a compelling long-term investment. As investors adapt their portfolios to a rapidly evolving world, exposure to silver is becoming increasingly relevant for diversification and resilience. Through our Silver ETF and Silver FOF, we aim to provide a simple, transparent, and cost-efficient way for investors to participate in the long-term potential of this dynamic asset class.”
IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP), India’s first university-based research park and a leading force behind India’s deep tech transformation, and Unicorn India Ventures, an Indian DeepTech VC Fund, joined hands to launch a Rs 600 crore deep tech fund. The fund will also have an additional Rs 400 crore as greenshoe option.
The fund will invest in IP-led, engineering-heavy startups (Robotics, Space Tech, Defence Tech, Semiconductors, MedTech, etc.) that align with national strategic interests. The Average first cheque size would be Rs 8-10 crore. It aims to invest in 25+ companies with a dual-stage investment approach. A large proportion of the fund will be invested in existing IITM ecosystem companies and balance in wider Indian deep tech sector. Majority of the portfolio will be focused on early-stage deep tech companies that have reached TRL 3 – 4. And the Fund will represent “patient capital” and is a 10 + 2 years Fund.
Dr Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director of IIT Madras and the man behind the Shakti micro-processor says “Science and technology will play a crucial role in the growth story and towards India becoming Viksit Bharat 2047, focusing on technology sovereignty, AI, semiconductors, defencetech and quantum technology. The need of the hour to reduce reliance on technology imports and strengthen indigenous capabilities. IIT Madras has been in forefront of this wave for over a decade and this Fund is the next logical step for us.”
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