Arāya Ventures Secures £20 Million for Fund Aimed at Innovative UK Startups

Arāya Ventures, founded and led by Rupa Popat, has completed the second close of the Arya Super Angel Fund, amassing £18.2 million. This includes a significant £5 million commitment from British Business Investments, a subsidiary of the British Business Bank. The fund aims to support 60 innovative pre-seed and seed stage startups primarily in the UK over the next four years, with a focus on sectors such as Health, FinTech, Commerce, and the Future of Work. The announcement comes as the UK startup ecosystem continues to thrive, having produced 171 unicorns with a combined valuation of $1.1 trillion by 2024. Arāya Ventures has already invested in nine companies, focusing particularly on AI-driven startups. Rupa Popat intends to leverage her vast experience as an entrepreneur and investor to provide substantial support to portfolio companies, enhancing their growth and strategic opportunities. British Business Investments' participation is part of its Regional Angels Programme, which aims to balance access to equity finance across UK's regions. Investors in the fund include notable entrepreneurs, former executives, and family offices.