Ajay Kumar Launches Rs 250 Cr Fund for Defence, Aerospace, Deeptech Startups

Ajay Kumar, former defence secretary of India, has launched Mounttech Growth Fund, a Rs 250 crore venture capital firm focusing on early-stage startups in defence, aerospace, and deeptech sectors. Approved by Sebi, the fund has received subscriptions worth Rs 280 crore and plans to use the green-shoe option for an additional Rs 250 crore. The fund’s first scheme is named Kavach, with Suryakant Dalmia of Dalmia Securities as the primary sponsor. Mounttech Growth Fund includes retired top armed forces officers as advisors and aims to capitalize on increased opportunities in defence and aerospace sectors, spurred by government initiatives like iDEX. The fund plans to make its first investment in the space sector soon and will collaborate with other VC firms and incubators at institutions like IIT Kanpur and IISc Bengaluru.