BENGALURU — Nvidia (NVDA.O) on Wednesday became the latest member of the India Deep Tech Alliance, a coalition of investors from India and the United States focused on funding and accelerating high-tech startups. The group also announced over $850 million in new capital commitments, further bolstering efforts to close India’s deep-tech funding gap.
New members include Qualcomm Ventures, Activate AI, InfoEdge Ventures, Chiratae Ventures, and Kalaari Capital, joining existing investors in what has quickly become one of India’s most ambitious private-sector technology initiatives.
Backing India’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem
Launched in September 2025 with an initial $1 billion pledge, the alliance aims to nurture startups in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space technology, and robotics—areas considered vital to India’s long-term technological and economic independence.
As a founding member and strategic advisor, Nvidia will contribute technical expertise, developer training, and policy guidance to help Indian startups integrate its advanced AI and computing platforms.
The partnership reflects a growing push to overcome the chronic underfunding of India’s research-driven startups, which often face long development cycles and uncertain profit timelines that deter traditional venture investors.
Government Support Fuels Momentum
The announcement follows the Indian government’s unveiling of a $12 billion research and development initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s technological capabilities. Though India is a global leader in IT services, it still lags behind in high-tech manufacturing and core R&D.
Funding for deep-tech startups in India jumped 78% to $1.6 billion last year, but still represented only about one-fifth of the $7.4 billion total startup funding, according to a report by industry body Nasscom.
Earlier this year, a government minister urged entrepreneurs to shift focus from low-margin sectors like grocery delivery toward advanced technology—a remark that sparked debate within India’s startup community about the need for stronger institutional support.
Private Capital and Collaboration
Sriram Viswanathan, founding managing partner at Celesta Capital, told Reuters that India’s growing government support makes this “the best time for the country to focus on deep tech.”
Celesta—known for investments in space-tech firm Agnikul Cosmos and drone manufacturer IdeaForge—helped launch the alliance alongside Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, and Premji Invest, among others.
Members of the India Deep Tech Alliance will deploy their own capital over the next five to ten years to fund startups, while also offering mentorship and industry connections.
“There’s no real pooling of capital. It’s voluntary,”
Viswanathan explained, comparing the alliance’s structure to that of Nasscom, India’s leading tech industry association.
Leave a Reply