Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link to GripInvest. If you use it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That does not change our risk assessment: investment returns and capital are not guaranteed.
2026 update: This review was first published in 2022, when Grip’s offer mix focused heavily on asset-backed and leasing opportunities. Grip now describes a broader mix of corporate bonds, securitised debt instruments (SDIs), corporate fixed deposits and diversified baskets. Individual products, minimum investments, fees, ratings, returns and exit options vary by listing—read the current offer document rather than relying on the historic examples below.
What changed since this review was first published
Grip says its platform is operated by Grip Broking Private Limited, an NSE member registered with SEBI. That platform registration does not make any individual bond, SDI, basket or corporate fixed deposit risk-free. Grip’s own disclosures say that “fixed” returns are not guaranteed and that credit, market, default and payment-delay risks can apply.
| Check before investing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Instrument type and issuer | Corporate bonds, SDIs, fixed deposits and baskets have different structures and protections. |
| Credit rating and rating rationale | A rating is a risk signal, not a promise that the issuer will pay. |
| Information memorandum and payout schedule | Confirm the tenure, payment timing, tax treatment, security cover and events that can delay or reduce payouts. |
| Exit conditions | Early liquidity is not assured; availability and price can depend on the product and a buyer. |
| Fees and minimum investment | Check the current listing and offer documents rather than using historical figures from this review. |
This is not personalised investment advice. Consider whether an illiquid, credit-sensitive investment fits your emergency fund, debt obligations and broader asset allocation before investing.
I’ve been exploring non-market linked investment for some time now, and my research has revealed some interesting facts.
Diversification is always the key to maintaining a balanced portfolio with stable returns.
Diversifying into different asset classes ensures your investments are not dependent on the performance of one category of financial instruments. Therefore, when one asset class does not perform well, investments in another asset class can save your capital from depleting.
Here’s where I came across Grip (GripInvest), a world of non-market linked investment opportunities that don’t rely on the stock market’s performance.
Grip encouraged me to see beyond fixed deposits, stocks, and gold investments to achieve a stable diversification of my investment portfolio while earning a good return.
But, before we dive into my review of Grip, let me introduce some basic terms that I will be using throughout the article.
Learn the Basics
Alternative Investment Fund
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) refers to an investment vehicle that is set up as a private pool of funds made by various high-ticket investors. Sophisticated investors pool their money via these AIFs and invest it in financial instruments other than bonds, stocks or cash.
Typically, hedge funds, venture capital funds or private equity funds are carried out through AIFs. Unlike mutual funds, these investments are non-market linked and usually meant for high net-worth individuals with a significantly large investment amount.
Non-market linked investment opportunities
Market Linked Investments are those financial instruments where the underlying asset is connected to the stock market.
For example, if I invest in mutual funds that pools investments from various people to invest the accumulated amount in the stock market to get returns, it is linked to the market.
On the other hand, if the underlying asset is not associated with the stock market, it is called non-market linked investment opportunities. Here, the investments are made in assets like real estate, unlisted startups, etc.
What is Grip?
Grip is a digital investment platform that uses tech-driven methods to provide a smooth investing experience to investors of all kinds.
Grip’s ideology is to keep an investor as its priority while curating risk-adjusted investment opportunities. With diversification at its core, these non-market linked investment opportunities help in wealth creation for investors, regardless of their investment size.
After a stringent due diligence process, Grip has also collaborated with over 70 corporate partners to create these investment opportunities.
How does Grip work?
Grip is designed to make the selection and investment process digital; it does not make the underlying instruments safe or risk-free.
Here’s how I got started with Grip:
- I went through their platform to see the various investment opportunities. This consisted of several non-market linked investment plans like commercial real estate, asset-backed investor investments for returns through corporate credit and much more! What I liked the most about the Grip platform was that I could see the key highlights of the investment, the underlying asset, as well as the tentative returns I could expect. I could choose how much I want to invest and where. Grip made it extremely simple for me to understand the investment opportunities beyond gold and stocks.
- I then finished my KYC on the Grip platform through a quick and seamless digital process and generated my e-sign to get started. The payment process was also an extremely smooth and hassle-free experience with multiple options available. Now, I was ready to enjoy the benefits of my diversified portfolio with non-market-linked investment opportunities!
- Next, I invested in some fixed income earning instruments available on the Grip platform to receive a regular monthly return. You are free to choose from a wide range of investment options by understanding their risks and the returns. Like clockwork, the pre-determined returns associated with my fixed income earning instruments reached my Grip Vault account. I could also easily and directly receive these returns in my bank account
With Grip’s launch in 2020, small ticket investors were given a brand-new avenue to make investments and earn decent returns. Diversification had a new meaning, and Grip’s user-friendly platform immediately attracted a lot of eyeballs.
With a vision to democratize non-market linked investment opportunities like asset-backed financial instruments, including leasing vehicles or furniture, tapping into the commercial real estate and investing in early-stage startups.
How does Grip Make Money?
The fee description in the original 2022 review is no longer reliable. Grip currently states that it does not charge investor fees, but fees, spreads, product terms and partner arrangements should always be confirmed in the current offer documents before investing.
Grip follows a meticulous due diligence process before partnering with a corporate to ensure the utmost safety of the investments. Another thing that I loved about the Grip platform was its focus on maintaining transparency with investors.
They provided in-depth information for every investment opportunity that they created. This helps investors understand the product before they invest in it, rather than only looking at the returns.
Each partner that they collaborate with also has a profile, and the risks, commercial terms, etc., are highlighted to the investors before they choose to invest.
Non-market linked investment opportunities are fairly new, and this method of maintaining complete transparency goes a long way in establishing trust with investors.
How is Grip different from AIF?
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) are regulated by SEBI and divided into three categories, each having a specific set of regulations to adhere to.
The minimum investment required to invest in an AIF is Rs. 1 crore, which limits the access of small ticket investors to this high-risk instrument.
Grip entered as an alternate investment platform, offering unique investment opportunities. Its objective was to ensure accessibility for all types of investors.
Grip partners with SEBI registered AIFs to help lucrative startups raise capital. Mukunda Foods, a food robotics company that raised capital from Zomato, was one of the first opportunities available through the Grip platform.
Said to have an investor pool of 2.5 lakh investors, Grip puts small ticket investors participate in the growing startup ecosystem with sophisticated investors, something that AIFs couldn’t independently do.
Risks and Rewards of Grip (Pros and Cons)
Risks
Every platform carries its own set of risks. The biggest risk with non-market linked investment opportunities could probably be the lack of regulations and the apparent lack of information about this space.
The other risks involve the risks related to individual products. Let’s take leasing, for example. If I invest in a lease through Grip, my funds are pooled with other investors to invest in an asset like furniture, vehicles, or equipment, which is then leased to companies.
The risk here could be that the company fails to make the lease payments on time or that the asset cannot be recovered and sold to generate leftover value.
With startup investments, there is high-risk and high reward, which depends on the performance of the startup. Since the non-market linked investment opportunities rely on the performance of the underlying asset for returns, the risk is high and unregulated.
Moreover, when you agree to invest in startup equity via Grip, you also agree to invest a total of INR 25,00,000 over a tenure of 5 years beginning from the date you make the first investment.
I highly recommend reading every term and condition Grip has before making any investment.
Rewards
The 2022 track-record and security-deposit figures in this section are historical and should not be used to assess a current opportunity. Review the issuer, rating rationale, security structure and current offer documents for the specific investment you are considering.
Tapping into the non-market linked investment opportunities and providing access to investors of all types is one of the biggest perks of Grip.
- The summary of the various benefits of investing with Grip include:
- They carefully examine assets before taking investments from us.
- They disclose the risks and rewards completely and help impart knowledge of how the investment will work.
- They provide listing information, but readers should independently review the issuer, rating rationale and risk disclosures rather than treating any return as safe or stable.
- The investments I make are considered as a separate entity without pooling in any other money. This helps me control where my investment is flowing.
- Their extremely user-friendly platform makes for a smooth investing journey.
- They commit to keeping data like PAN and Aadhaar (which are needed for KYC) completely safe.
Grip is particularly useful for new investors who are looking for passive income-earning opportunities. Their easy-to-navigate platform wins all the brownie points for a satisfactory customer experience, which goes a long way in establishing loyalty and trust.
Who should invest with Grip?
Historic minimum-investment and tenure examples from 2022 are no longer a reliable guide. Current thresholds and terms vary by the individual bond, SDI, fixed-deposit or basket listing.
It is integral for investors to make informed decisions only after understanding the risks involved and what the returns truly entail. Opting for non-market linked investment opportunities requires proper research on whom the companies are and where your investments will be routed to.
Grip is meant to cater to small-ticket investors but it goes above and beyond by educating investors about new forms of investment.
Diversification is one of the core objectives of any investor, and having many new financial instruments to choose from makes it easy to have a diversified portfolio.
However, carefully choosing each investment in your portfolio will help in wealth maximization in a more efficient manner.
Hello, I can’t find the minimum 25L investment in the 5yrs clause on the current terms & condition page, is that removed https://www.gripinvest.in/legal#termsAndConditions ?
Please help and update the information if needed. Thank you
It’s still there, click on StartUp equity under active offerings.- https://jmp.sh/WCdi6Sx
They have defaulted many times, but paid only on raising a complaint.
These guys came out with a promotion for free ET Prime subscription when you complete your KYC. Despite completing the same, they have not followed through in the scheme. This is even after sending them an email. If they dont honour a1000 Rs. promotion scheme, one can never even think of investing through them.
My own personal experience. There are two defaults now running close to a year old & crossed their maturity period . (close to 1.5 lacs each). 1) LoanX VFS Sept’26 (Viburnum) 2) Loan X Up Money Apr’26 (SAGE). As an aggrieved investor I have nowhere to escalate this matter and stuck. This pertains to SDI and invested based on their A+ rating of these instruments. The recipient of the SDI proceeds defaulted a couple of months into the tenure and Grip didn’t even have a wind of it and didn’t take proactive action to safeguard the investors money. Worse one year down the line they send update which is status quo. If I were a Grip Platform promoter I would have settled money to investors and protected my reputation of the brand. This is bound to hurt them in the long run when they come for IPO. I also do not see any visible action of significance on part of Grip to recover from the jolt & somewhere their due diligence processes failed & where they compromised risk in relation to growth. My advice do not invest in SDI or PTC or any nicely packaged bundle of risks with attractive yield. Go for only bonds > AA rating and even those avoid Grip platform altogether. Given my experience I have since avoided investing on Grip Platform.