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Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini, co-founders of education technology (EdTech) company Unacademy are preparing to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) and deeptech startups. The proposed plan will focus on providing early-stage capital to technology-driven startups.
Longshot Capital Secures ₹300 Crore in Commitments
The proposed fund, Longshot Capital, has reportedly secured investment commitments of around ₹300 crore so far. It is targeting its first close in January 2027, following which it plans to begin investing. The fund has a target size of ₹700 crore, while fundraising is still underway.
Longshot Capital plans to invest in 25–28 startups at the seed and pre-Series A stages. The initial investment in these companies is expected to range from $500,000 to $1.5 million. Besides AI, the fund will focus on sectors such as manufacturing, space, defence and robotics.
Roman Saini to Lead the Fund
Under the proposed plan, Roman Saini will manage Longshot Capital full-time, while Gaurav Munjal will be involved on a part-time basis. Munjal will also continue to lead Unacademy.
The two entrepreneurs have previously made more than 200 angel investments, deploying over ₹25 crore. The new fund is seen as a step towards expanding their investment activities on a broader scale.
New Direction Following UpGrad’s Acquisition
The development comes after EdTech company UpGrad acquired Unacademy. The deal, completed on September 1, 2026, valued Unacademy at just over $200 million. In 2021, the company’s valuation had reached approximately $3.44 billion. This means the acquisition valuation was around 94% lower than its peak level.
Unacademy established its identity as an online learning platform focused on competitive exam preparation. The proposed investment plan by its founders marks a new step towards supporting startups in emerging sectors such as AI and deeptech. However, the final size of the Longshot Capital fund and the timeline for beginning investments remain subject to the proposed plans.
