Arāya Ventures

Araya Ventures is a London-based pre-seed and seed venture firm investing across health, fintech, future-of-work and commerce. The firm operates as a solo-GP fund led by founder Rupa Ganatra Popat, with a thesis built around backing under-represented founders alongside the broader market.

Araya invests at the earliest stages and writes initial cheques typically between £180k and £490k, with the option to follow on. The firm targets companies addressing under-served markets and applies a diversification lens across gender, ethnicity and background. Around half of the current portfolio is in AI-driven companies; named investments include Code First Girls, Flown, Jude and Sojo.

The debut $26.3m Super Angel Fund closed in July 2025, anchored by a £5m commitment from British Business Investments via the Regional Angels Programme. A $30m global follow-on fund is now deploying. The firm runs alongside the ĀVA Investment Academy, which trains and supports new angel investors.