Steptrade Capital, an investment management entity with SEBI registered SME and micro-cap focused Alternative Investment Funds, has emerged as one of India’s most active domestic anchor investors by deploying approximately ₹177 crore across nearly 63 IPOs in last 24 months. The fund-house’s strategic placements across both the mainboard and SME issues have delivered an average listing gain of about 35 percent underscoring the growing role of home-grown institutional capital in powering India’s IPO pipeline.

Of the total deployment, around ₹100 crore (56 percent) was invested in Mainboard IPOs and ₹77 crore (44 percent) in SME issues — a balanced strategy that combines stability with discovery. The investments span a diverse mix of high-growth sectors including Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Logistics, Recycling, and Infotech, reflecting Steptrade’s thesis of identifying scalable, governance-driven businesses at an early stage.

The allocations were made through Steptrade’s two flagship funds — Chanakya Opportunities Fund I and Steptrade Revolution Fund I — which together form the core of its SME and Microcap focus. Chanakya, India’s first SME-Exchange-focused Category II AIF, alone deployed about ₹95 crore, while Revolution Fund contributed another ₹82 crore. Through these funds, Steptrade Capital anchored several high-quality IPOs such as Quality Power Electrical Equipments, Fabtech Technologies Cleanrooms, Prostarm Info Systems, Maxvolt Energy, and SAR Televentures.

“These SMEs and Microcaps are tomorrow’s market leaders. By backing them early, we enable scale and governance that create long-term value. Smart diversification and timely participation can deliver strong listing gains today and sustainable wealth for investors tomorrow,” said Kresha Gupta, Director & Fund Manager, Steptrade Capital.

Steptrade Capital has built a differentiated presence in India’s alternative-investment ecosystem. The firm manages multiple SEBI-registered platforms — including an Alternative Investment Fund, a Portfolio Management Service, and a Foreign Portfolio Investment vehicle — making it one of the few institutions licensed across all categories. Its combined AUM now exceeds ₹350 crore, with a sharp focus on the SME, Microcap, and pre-IPO segments that form the backbone of India’s entrepreneurial economy.

Launched in 2023, Chanakya Opportunities Fund I was conceived to provide growth capital and governance support to emerging enterprises. With SMEs contributing nearly 30 percent of India’s GDP and employing over 25 crore people, the fund plays a catalytic role in advancing India’s production-driven growth.

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Its sister fund, Steptrade Revolution Fund I, broadens this mandate by diversifying allocations across a wider pool of issuers, mitigating concentration risk while maintaining exposure to India’s most promising new-age businesses.

The expansion aligns with SEBI’s ongoing efforts to deepen anchor-investor participation in IPOs — a move aimed at bolstering price stability, widening domestic ownership, and enhancing retail confidence in primary markets. By consistently participating as an anchor across multiple listings, Steptrade Capital exemplifies how domestic institutions are complementing global investors in driving India’s capital-market depth.

Looking ahead, Steptrade Capital plans to increase its anchor allocations and expand coverage across sunrise sectors, reaffirming its commitment to SMEs and Microcaps as a central force in India’s path toward a $5-trillion economy.