Venture debt firm Stride Ventures has launched its fourth fund with a target corpus of $300 million. According to the firm, Fund 1 has already been fully returned to investors, including banks, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and others.

“This milestone is not just about the numbers — it reflects the trust our partners have placed in us and the shared belief in the transformative power of alternative finance in India and beyond. Our role is of an enabler, working alongside founders and stakeholders to unlock possibilities beyond financial support. This journey has been one of collaboration, learning and resilience, and it inspires us to continue empowering entrepreneurs and building a future where innovation thrives,” said Apoorva Sharma, Managing Partner, Stride Ventures.

The firm has also strengthened its leadership team by adding new partners and elevating senior talent to build capacity for future expansion, according to a company statement.

$1-billion milestone

Stride, which has deployed funds across companies such as BlueStone, Upstox, Moneyview, Ather, among others, has surpassed $1 billion in commitments across more than 150 portfolio companies.

“Crossing the $1-billion milestone is a testament to the strength of India’s start-up ecosystem and the growing recognition of venture debt as a powerful enabler. At Stride, we remain committed to empowering entrepreneurs with innovative solutions that drive sustainable growth,” said Ishpreet Singh Gandhi, Founder and Managing Partner, Stride Ventures.

Stride Ventures announced the final closure of its Stride Ventures India Fund III at $165 million in May. The fund was focussed at backing start-ups across consumer brands, financial services and cleantech sectors.

Stride’s portfolio has more than 140 start-ups under its belt, spanning sectors such as fintech, agritech, B2B SaaS and mobility.