About Us
The Full Story
PESU Venture Labs is a deep-tech venture studio and micro fund — turning breakthrough research into world-class companies from the earliest idea stage.
The Thesis
“Can entrepreneurship fund research & scholarships?”
“Can we create a funnel of fundable deep-tech companies that are category creators for the existing VC ecosystem?”
We exist to prove that the best way to fund academic research is to commercialize it — building venture-scale companies from student ideas, faculty IP, and deep-science breakthroughs.
Portfolio Companies
Capital Deployed ($)
Years Active
Founders Backed
The People Behind PVL
Founders & Vision
PESU Venture Labs (PVL) is a deep-tech venture studio and micro fund founded in 2021 by Suresh Narasimha (Managing Partner, CoCreate Ventures) in partnership with PES University in Bengaluru. PVL invests up to $200K in student- and researcher-led startups at the pre-prototype stage.
Founder
Suresh Narasimha
Managing Partner, CoCreate Ventures
Suresh is the architect of PVL's model — pre-prototype investments, founder-friendly terms (no drag-along, no tag-along clauses), and an embedded co-building approach that goes beyond capital. His thesis: the best way to fund academic research is to commercialize it. Through CoCreate Ventures, he has transformed companies including JustBooks.in and Bonhomia, and now applies the same playbook to deep-tech student startups at PES University.
linkedin.com/in/cocreator
Pioneer & Vision
Prof. Jawahar Doreswamy
Chancellor, PES University
Prof. Jawahar Doreswamy is the Chancellor of PES University and the visionary leader who made PESU Venture Labs possible. His foundational belief — that entrepreneurship can fund research and scholarships, and that the best academic institutions are also the best innovation engines — is the philosophical spine of everything PVL does. Under his leadership, PES University has become one of India's top 10 universities, with a special focus on the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Ecosystem.
pes.edu/jawahardoreswamyCommon Questions
Frequently Asked
What is PESU Venture Labs (PVL)?▾
PESU Venture Labs (PVL) is a deep-tech venture studio and micro fund founded in 2021 by Suresh Narasimha (Managing Partner, CoCreate Ventures) in partnership with PES University in Bengaluru. PVL invests up to $200K in student- and researcher-led startups at the pre-prototype stage.
Who founded PESU Venture Labs?▾
PESU Venture Labs was founded by Suresh Narasimha, Managing Partner of CoCreate Ventures, in 2021. The program was championed by Prof. Jawahar Doreswamy, Chancellor of PES University, who pioneered the thesis that entrepreneurship and academic research are complementary forces.
Can PES University students start a startup while studying?▾
Yes. PESU Venture Labs runs an Accelerator Bootcamp that PES University students can join while studying. Teams receive mentorship, cloud credits, co-building support from PVL, and can qualify for up to $200K in funding — without needing a working prototype to apply.
How much funding does PVL provide?▾
PVL provides up to $200K in funding per startup, investing at the pre-prototype stage. Unlike traditional accelerators, PVL does not require a working product before investing — they back the team and thesis first.
What deep-tech domains does PVL focus on?▾
PVL backs startups across 7+ deep-tech domains including AI & ML, Computer Vision, Edge Computing, AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech, and Blockchain. All investments are science-first — technology must be the core moat of the business.
The Partnership
Built on Strong Foundations
PESU
PES University is one of the top 10 universities in India, attracting some of the best minds in the country for research and studies. PESU has a special focus on developing entrepreneurship through the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).
pes.eduCoCreate Ventures
Venture Building Partner
CoCreate is focused on strengthening the startup ecosystem by operating micro funds to help build deep-tech startups. CoCreate concentrates on transforming great consumer-focused businesses, having transformed companies like JustBooks.in, Bonhomia, and others. Through its concern Upaghna, they help exceptional consumer product companies scale.
Our Philosophy
What We Believe
The principles that guide every investment and partnership.
First Principles
We start from the fundamentals — backing science-first companies where technology is the moat.
Founder Alignment
No predatory terms. We structure deals that protect founders and create long-term alignment.
Embedded Building
Not just capital. We co-build alongside founders — product, design, engineering, GTM.
Network Effects
A global mentor network spanning Fortune 500 leaders, tier-1 VCs, and deep-tech operators.
Join the Lab
Ready to Build the Future?
Whether you're a student with a thesis, a researcher with IP, or a founder with a deep-tech idea — we want to hear from you.