Araya Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2022 by Rupa Ganatra-Popat. The firm specializes in investing in pre-seed and seed-stage startups, with a portfolio that includes companies like Code First Girls, Flown, Life Supplies, Jude, and Sojo.
Araya Ventures primarily invests in startups within the healthtech, fintech, commerce, and future of work sectors. The firm aims to make 10 to 15 investments per year, targeting UK-based B2B SaaS and consumer startups at the pre-seed and seed stages.
In March 2025, Araya Ventures secured a €22 million second close for its Super Angel Fund, with a €6 million commitment from British Business Investments, a subsidiary of the British Business Bank. The fund plans to invest in up to 60 startups over the next four years, with ticket sizes ranging between €180,000 and €490,000.
Leadership
Rupa Ganatra-Popat serves as the Founder and Managing Partner of Araya Ventures. With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship and investment banking, she has invested in 30 startups and seven emerging managers as an angel investor. Her previous venture, FUTR, was acquired by Pico Group in 2019.
Investment Strategy
Araya Ventures operates as a solo GP fund, focusing on early-stage investments in the UK. The firm utilizes both Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and non-EIS investment strategies. Notably, 25% of the fund is allocated to support founders with prior business-building success.
Notable Investments
To date, Araya Ventures has invested in nine startups from its Super Angel Fund, with 50% of these investments focused on AI-driven companies. Notable investments include Capably, Research Grid, and Cold AI.
