GLOBAL COMPETITION IN DEEPTECH
Tax-wise, $-foolish: Saving Dalal Street could come at a cost to Startup Street
India's financial landscape is experiencing pressure with foreign portfolio investors becoming net sellers in the market. There are discussions about implementing tax cuts to stabilize the situation, which could disadvantage domestic investors. A focus on only listed shares may divert investments from private markets and harm the startup ecosystem. Expert suggestions advocate for a universal tax reduction applicable to both listed and unlisted shares.
India's deeptech dream remains import dependent for critical components
The founder of a spacetech startup developing rockets said geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war, disrupted the supply of critical components. “Parts that were earlier available within weeks are now taking months to arrive, making it harder for startups to plan development and testing schedules,” the founder said, requesting anonymity.
Unacademy founders plan AI fund; Flipkart’s premium push
Happy Monday! Unacademy’s founders are raising a fund focused on AI and deeptech. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
ET Startup Awards 2026: Deeptech wants government to step up as the first customer
At the discussion, titled ‘Building the Hard Stuff in India’, moderated by Accel partner Prashanth Prakash, founders from the space, semiconductor and healthtech sectors discussed the challenges of building capital-intensive technologies, developing domestic capabilities and taking complex products to market.
ETSA champions show the great Indian dream is all home-brewed and visa-free: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
In a candid conversation with ET’s Deepshikha Sikarwar, he spoke about India’s trade deals, India-US relations, foreign investment, and how Indian businesses will benefit from the restrictions on the green card programme.
ETSA 2026: Indian deeptech firms need government as first customer to compete globally, says Agrani Labs CEO
Dheemanth Nagaraj said products built in India must meet global standards, as customers in the country have little appetite for substandard alternatives simply because they are cheaper.
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Karnataka, IVCA explore co-investment framework to accelerate DeepTech commercialisation
The Bharat DeepTech Roundtable took place in Bengaluru, organized by the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association. It brought together investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the commercialization of DeepTech.
IMC 2026 to put DeepTech at centre of startup programme ASPIRE
India Mobile Congress 2026 will take place from October 7 to 10 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. The event will emphasise DeepTech and frontier technologies to support startups advancing from prototype to market. Over 500 startups and 300 venture capital firms are expected to participate, fostering connections through one-on-one meetings.
Yohan and Michelle Poonawalla of Poonawalla Group venture into defence sector with strategic investment in Optimized Solutions
The investment comes at a significant inflection point for India’s defence industry, which has been witnessing a sustained growth in indigenous production, private-sector participation and exports.
a16z’s Raghuram isn't writing off India AI yet; insurers weigh new rules
Happy Monday! a16z’s Raghu Raghuram said India can build frontier AI companies by using its talent. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
India’s chip push draws global interest; Quick comm's ad blitz
India’s semiconductor push is gaining global attention as the country looks to build a stronger chip manufacturing ecosystem. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
As private wallets begin to open, India's big future bet takes off
India’s Rs 1 lakh crore RDI programme is beginning to unlock venture capital flows into deeptech, marking a shift in the country’s attempt to move from being a large technology consumer to a technology producer.
Piper Serica eyes Rs 180-220 crore deployment across four-six deeptech startups this fiscal
The investment firm's new Bharat Tech Fund, a Category II AIF, targeting a corpus of Rs 600 crore, alongside a greenshoe option of Rs 200 crore, has already raised about Rs 400 crore and evaluated around 30-35 startups in the hunt for the next investment, Modi told PTI.
Sugar’s valuation slump; Slice takes a hit
Happy Friday! A91 Partners is backing Sugar Cosmetics in a round that will see the beauty brand’s valuation fall sharply. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
ETtech interview: India’s semiconductor ambitions could take decades to mature — SiMa AI CEO Krishna Rangasayee
SiMa AI CEO says India’s push to build a globally competitive semiconductor industry could take decades, requiring more than fabs, including stronger supply chains, customer demand and capital. Krishna Rangasayee highlighted deeptech funding challenges and also said that SiMa plans to expand its R&D and go-to-market operations in India.
Uber layoffs impact India; RMG ban, a year on
Happy Thursday! Uber is cutting jobs in India as part of a sweeping global restructuring. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
ET Startup Awards 2026: Groww adjudged No. 1; Sauce VC’s Manu Chandra named Midas Touch winner
The elite jury was chaired by Wipro executive chairman Rishad Premji. The 11-member panel deliberated for nearly three hours on Tuesday to pick winners in eight categories.
The Economic Times Startup Awards 2026: And the big winners are…
Happy Thursday! Top entrepreneurs and business leaders came together in Bengaluru on August 25 to pick the winners of The Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) 2026.
VCs chase deeptech; AI takeaways from ET's WLF
Happy Monday! Specialist VC funds are expanding beyond their traditional sectors to invest more in deeptech. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
AlgoFET secures Rs 15 crore from Piper Serica to scale autonomous drone infrastructure
AlgoFET has raised Rs 15 crore in funding, spearheaded by Piper Serica, to accelerate the growth of its autonomous ground infrastructure for drones. Targeting defence, enterprise, and international markets, the company boasts over 2000 units already deployed and a robust order pipeline. This funding will facilitate product development, enhance manufacturing capabilities, and support global scaling initiatives.
Deeptech fund Bluehill.VC raises Rs 408 crore for maiden frontier-tech fund
Chennai-based Bluehill.VC has raised Rs 408 crore for its initial deeptech venture fund. The firm has already deployed approximately Rs 100 crore across seven companies and plans to invest in sixteen startups, focusing on proprietary technologies. The venture fund intends to raise additional growth and early-stage funds over the next four years.
Deeptech backer Piper Serica raises Rs 300 crore in first close of new fund
Piper Serica has secured Rs 300 crore for its Bharat Tech Fund. This new fund will invest in deeptech startups across various sectors. Nearly half the capital came from repeat investors from the firm's first fund. The fund aims to support entrepreneurs building strong intellectual property from India. Piper Serica expects to complete fundraising earlier than planned due to strong interest.
Bengaluru emerges as India's U30 capital as startup ecosystem turns DeepTech and hardware-focused: Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru has emerged as India's premier hub for young entrepreneurs, with 21 founders making it to the Avendus Wealth - Hurun India U30 List 2026. This surge highlights a significant shift towards DeepTech and HardTech sectors, including AI, SpaceTech, and EVs. The report underscores Bengaluru's robust innovation ecosystem and its growing influence in shaping India's future.
Karnataka concludes Elevate Nxt 2026, shortlists 256 deeptech startup finalists
Karnataka's IT/BT department has concluded its Elevate Nxt 2026 deeptech startup support program, selecting 256 firms from 983 national applicants. The initiative, which expanded its scope this year, offers up to Rs 1 crore in grant-in-aid, mentorship, and ecosystem support to foster science-led innovation and scale breakthrough solutions.
India Deep Tech Alliance pencils $1 billion for AI as members plan $2.5 billion play
The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) is set to announce increased investments in the artificial intelligence and deeptech ecosystem on Tuesday. IDTA members have collectively committed more than $2.5 billion over five years, with $1 billion earmarked for AI deployment within three years, IDTA chair Arun Kumar told ET.
Speciale Invest launches Rs 1,400 crore fund for deeptech startups
Vishesh Rajaram, founding partner at Speciale Invest, said that while more investors are entering the deeptech ecosystem, most remain focussed on the early stages with small cheque sizes. “India does not have a deeptech problem at the seed stage. The real gap is growth capital. Many startups have de-risked science, but they still need capital to become self-sustaining institutions,” he said.
VC fund Yali Capital closes first deeptech fund at Rs 893 crore; exceeds target
The fund has exceeded the target corpus of Rs 810 crore, including a greenshoe option of Rs 310 crore. Infosys, Qualcomm Ventures, Tata AIG, DPIIT Fund of Funds for Startups (managed by SIDBI), Self-Reliant India Fund, and Evolvence also participated in the fundraise. The money will be invested across early- and late-stage companies in the deeptech space, including semiconductors, AI, robotics, genomics, aerospace/surveillance, and smart manufacturing.
Deeptech VCs spot big funding momentum on government, geopolitical push
Indian deeptech funds are gaining momentum, fueled by government support and technological advancements. Several funds like Speciale Invest, Ideaspring, and Mela Ventures are raising fresh capital to invest in AI, spacetech, and robotics. While early-stage funding is available, challenges remain in growth-stage investments and achieving successful exits for deeptech companies.
Deeptech startups snagged $324 million in first four months of the year
Deeptech investments in India have surged, doubling to $324 million in the first four months of 2025, driven by increased commercial use cases and government initiatives. This rising interest has led to greater competition for deals and higher initial investment amounts.
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