Organization · Micro VC
Pupa Ventures
Pupa Ventures is a Palo Alto-based micro-fund focused on early-stage investments in health-tech and deep-tech sectors, particularly targeting university spinouts. The firm is led by Sarvesh Karkhanis, who emphasizes a high-touch approach to support founders in navigating the challenges of building innovative technologies.
Overview
What Pupa Ventures does
What Pupa Ventures is
Pupa Ventures is a Palo Alto-based micro-fund focused on early-stage investments in health-tech and deep-tech sectors, particularly targeting university spinouts. The firm is led by Sarvesh Karkhanis, who emphasizes a high-touch approach to support founders in navigating the challenges of building innovative technologies.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Micro VC
- Structured capabilities
- Funder
- Last reviewed
- May 4, 2026
Official channels
Find Pupa Ventures elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Pupa Ventures as a funder
Investment thesis
Pupa Ventures backs early-stage founders working on technically hard problems in health-tech and deep-tech, particularly those emerging from academic ecosystems.
Focus narrative
Pupa Ventures invests in a diverse range of sectors including physical AI, medical devices, robotics, digital health, longevity, consumer health, renewable energy, space tech, materials, future of manufacturing, ag-tech, and lab automation. The firm is particularly interested in early-stage companies that are tackling complex scientific problems and are often rooted in academic research.
Value beyond capital
Pupa Ventures provides high-touch support to its portfolio companies, engaging directly with founders on product development, go-to-market strategies, and fundraising efforts. The firm leverages Karkhanis's extensive network across leading academic institutions to facilitate connections and resources for its founders.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Artificial IntelligenceHealthcareBiotech & Life SciencesRobotics & Autonomous SystemsFrontier & Deep TechConsumerEnergyAgTech
- Regions
- North America · Global
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 1
Portfolio context
Polaron: A materials science AI platform that trains AI on microscopy images and measured material properties to assist engineers in designing better materials. Polaron is a spinout from Imperial College London and raised an $8M seed round in 2026.
Common questions
What to know about Pupa Ventures
Upseed classifies Pupa Ventures under the Micro VC organization type. Its current public profile includes funder capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
May 4, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.