The Rajasthan Angel Innovators Network (RAIN) is Jaipur's homegrown angel network, founded in 2012 to plug the early-stage funding gap in Rajasthan. When it launched, the group — 23 members strong — set out with a simple philosophy: back inclusive innovations and bright, energetic founders whose dreams might otherwise never find capital, and give Rajasthan-based startups first preference.
Investment thesis & focus
RAIN invests in early-stage businesses with the potential to create scale. Its original mandate covered mobile, consumer internet, IT and apps — e-commerce was explicitly excluded at the time as over-funded — with the network willing to look at startups in Jaipur, Bengaluru, Delhi and even Germany, though Rajasthan founders get first preference. Members commit their time and operating expertise alongside money. The network also runs investor education, deal structuring support (including iSAFE, convertible notes/CCDs and priced rounds), portfolio management, follow-on facilitation and exit-strategy guidance — an unusually full-stack service set for a regional angel network.
Cheque size & stage
RAIN writes early-stage cheques ranging from under ₹10 lakh (for ideation-stage startups) to ₹2 crore per company. At launch it targeted deploying over ₹4.6 crore across around 15 startups, and its first investment — ₹30 lakh for 30% equity in Organic Shop — set the tone for hands-on, mentorship-heavy backing. The network prefers to lead its investments but partners readily with other angel groups and institutional co-investors.
Notable portfolio
Recorded investments span Organic Shop (organic-products marketplace), Blue Box Media, Locus Transit (the Chaloge Kya travel app), Kidswids Online Services, Edgefx (edtech), eShiksa, Hotify (enterprise tech), iAugmentor, Kalaage (media) and Kenyt Technologies (AI). Inc42's data logs 10 investments across 8 portfolio companies in edtech, enterprise tech, AI and media. The network has reported exits including Capacita Connect (3.5x) and Hotify (4.5x).
Partners & team
RAIN was co-founded by Mahavir Pratap Sharma, who served as president and founder-member and went on to chair TiE Global — the first Asian to do so. Its board has included Puneet Mittal (CEO, Pratham Software), Manuj Goyal (MD, Jewel Alliance Network), Sanjay Yadav (CEO, 100 Co-founders Lab), Rajneesh Bhandari (founder, Neuro-Equilibrium) and Ajay Data — a bench of Jaipur operators who bring board-level mentorship, not just cheques.
How to apply for funding
Founders can reach the network through its official site at raiseain.web.app, which describes its services and pitch-deck preparation support for startups. RAIN is closely tied into the Jaipur ecosystem — TiE Rajasthan lists it as a partner network — so founders also find routes in through TiE Rajasthan's Smash Up and pitch-off events, Startup Oasis, and referrals from portfolio founders. Rajasthan-based ventures get first preference, so Jaipur and tier-2 Rajasthan startups should treat this as a natural first call.
Why it matters for founders
Most seed capital in India concentrates in three metros. RAIN exists precisely for founders outside that triangle — especially in Rajasthan — offering not just cheques up to ₹2 crore but a Jaipur-based operator bench that sits on boards, structures iSAFE and CCD rounds, and actively mentors. If you're building from Jaipur, this network should be on your shortlist before you fly to Bengaluru.