India Tech Report – India Tech Report

The first cohort of the India deep tech accelerator at University of Chicago’s Polsky Center. Image courtesy Polsky Center.(00:00) Just the headlines, if you only have a minute(01:26) The Polsky Center selects 20 Indian startups for first acceleratorThe University of Chicago’s Polsky Center has named 20 startups to the first cohort of its India Deep Tech Accelerator, a global programme for IIT-affiliated ventures. The 10-week accelerator is designed to help founders turn research-heavy ideas into market-ready companies through workshops, coaching, and access to customers, partners and investors in India and the US.The cohort spans AI, robotics, climate and energy, healthtech, semiconductors, space and industrial software. Selected companies include Adaapt, Augle.AI, BioSky Space Innovations, Curium Life, Folium Sensing, NXPEC Technologies, Timble AI and Zodhya Technologies.(02:20) C-CAMP opens applications for NBEC 2026C-CAMP has opened applications for the 9th National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition, a platform for bio-entrepreneurs, startups, student teams, researchers and innovators in the life sciences. The programme will offer mentorship, industry exposure and funding support, with selected startups and individuals eligible for cash prizes and investment opportunities of up to INR 20 crore.Student teams can win up to INR 10 lakh, and shortlisted applicants will attend a two-day bootcamp led by experts from IIM Ahmedabad. The competition was launched by Karnataka IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge at C-CAMP.(03:15) IIT Madras opens California hub for Indian deep-tech startupsIIT Madras Global Research Foundation has launched its first US centre in Menlo Park, California, to help Indian deep-tech startups scale internationally. The hub, established with CA Startups, will focus on research, startup incubation, commercialisation and access to global capital, markets and partnerships.The project carries a planned investment of $7.5 million, including a $4.5 million greenfield investment from IITM Global. The centre is positioned near Silicon Valley and is intended to strengthen India–US innovation ties, with a second US centre planned for the East Coast.(04:02) IIT Bombay launches India’s first CCUS field labIIT Bombay has inaugurated an integrated pilot facility for carbon capture, utilisation and storage, marking India’s first end-to-end CCUS field laboratory. The project combines an indigenous carbon capture plant with geological CO2 sequestration in Deccan basalt formations, and was launched by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan under the Bharat Innovates 2026 initiative.The institute said the facility uses a patented aqueous CO2 capture technology and is meant to support India’s long-term net-zero goals through a self-reliant carbon mitigation model.(04:49) Government maps climate risk in 651 farm districtsThe Centre has assessed climate vulnerability across 651 predominantly agricultural districts and found 310 to be at risk, including 109 classified as very highly vulnerable and 201 as highly vulnerable. The assessment, carried out under ICAR’s National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture programme using IPCC protocols, is being used to scale up climate-resilient farming practices, district agriculture contingency plans and farmer support measures across India.ICAR has also expanded climate-resilient technologies through model villages, KVKs and training programmes, while the government is promoting crop insurance, water-efficient irrigation and resilient seed varieties to help farmers cope with droughts, floods and heat stress.(05:52) India’s clean energy transition bolsters economic resilienceClean energy transition is now central to India’s economic resilience and growth strategy, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said at the CII Green Business Summit 2026. He highlighted that India has achieved 47 percent of its power capacity from non-fossil sources, ahead of schedule for the 2030 target of 50 percent, with renewables growing at 15.4 percent annually against 4.1 percent for fossil fuels.Minister Joshi emphasised investments in green hydrogen, battery storage and nuclear energy as key to energy security and net-zero goals by 2070.(06:41) Flo Mobility raises $2.5 million in pre-Series ABengaluru-based construction robotics startup Flo Mobility has raised $2.5 million in a pre-Series A round co-led by Mela Ventures and Arali Ventures. The funding will scale manufacturing, enhance its AI and autonomy stack, expand deployments across India and enter international markets, particularly the Middle East.The company builds autonomous robots for material movement on construction sites, addressing labour shortages and improving efficiency. Flo Mobility’s robots are already deployed across 10 Indian states with clients including Larsen & Toubro, Godrej Properties and Sobha.(07:28) HrdWyr raises $13 million Series A to build AI-native chipsRamamurthy Sivakumar and Ganesh Guruswamy, founders of HrdWyr, have just announced a $13 million Series A investment led by Indeaspring Capital. Image courtesy: Sivakumar.

Coming up on Tuesday, 19th May, Anoop Srikantaswamy, founder and CEO of Moonrider, a electric tractor startup on Bengaluru, talks about a range of topics — from product innovation to reducing dependence on China to what tractors will be like in the future as they go autonomous.Catch the full conversation right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a short preview.

Pulkit Agrawal, Co-Founder of Eka Robotics. Image souce: Agrawal’s website.Eka Robotics has emerged from stealth with a Vision-Force-Action model that it says can push robots beyond the long-standing trade-off between generality and speed in manipulation tasks. The Cambridge, Massachusetts startup was co-founded in 2025 by MIT’s Pulkit Agrawal and former DeepMind researcher Tuomas Haarnoja. The deep tech entrepreneurs are pitching force sensing and simulation as the route to more capable machines.In robotics, much of the recent excitement has centred on vision-language-action systems, which treat language as a bridge to physical control. Eka says that is too indirect for the contact-rich realities of the physical world. Its approach instead tries to make robots learn mass, friction and inertia through practice in high-fidelity simulation, then transfer those skills to the messier settings of factories and homes.Across the robotics industry, the race is on to build foundation models that can scale across tasks, rather than brittle systems tuned for one environment, and the prize is a larger share of warehouse work, light manufacturing and household assistance. The strategic question is whether the winning path is imitation from human data, reinforcement learning in the real world, or simulation-first training that seeks to compress years of trial and error into computational time.“We’re building intelligence for the physical world in its native language: forces,” Pulkit Agrawal wrote on LinkedIn. In the same post, he added that robotics has long faced a trade-off between “generality” and “speed,” and that “the real world requires both”.Eka’s presentation suggests confidence that force-aware control can do more than sort objects or pick up toys. The company has highlighted tasks such as screwing in a light bulb and handling slippery items, small feats that still define the frontier of robotic manipulation. For now, the message is as important as the model: the next leap in robotics, Eka is arguing, will come not from making machines more verbal, but from making them more physical.

In this episode, Stuti Kakkar, co-founder of MEINE Electric, a battery energy storage tech startup, unpacks the government’s proposed Approved List of Battery Manufacturers (ALBM) that is reportedly in the works as part of its ambitious $38 billion push to deploy 47 gigawatts of battery storage.Similar to the solar industry’s ALMM framework, this list aims to mandate localised supply chains for government projects, reducing a heavy reliance on imports, particularly from China, which currently controls over 90 percent of the supply chain. Stuti explains why this move is a game-changer for hardware startups.While traditional lithium-ion batteries face domestic mineral shortages, alternative chemistries like Iron-Air can be up to 95 percent indigenous from day zero, she says.Stuti also touches upon how these policy shifts provide the demand visibility for hardware-centric startups, which is needed to scale India’s deep-tech ecosystem.Stuti Kakkarhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stuti-kakkar/Press release on the government’s plan for BESS development:https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2246898®=3&lang=2

Founder and CEO Saurabh Chandra with Ati Robotics’ humanoid research prototype Mecha at the company’s products day last year. Image credit: Hari Arakali.Ati Motors has renamed itself Ati Robotics to better reflect its evolution into a “material orchestration” specialist, the Bengaluru-based provider of autonomous mobile robots said in a recent press release.The Indian robotics company is moving to win an early lead in this industry-wide shift: the world’s biggest manufacturers, including some of Ati’s customers, are looking at not just deploying robots anymore, but at holistic automation and AI-led solutions that make their overall operations more efficient.Top manufacturing and factory executives are beginning to understand that in the modern industrial landscape, a machine that moves autonomously isn’t in itself the goal. It’s how one can harness the combination of many such robots, the multiple processes in the factory and the dynamically changing roles of the humans involved to get closer to a “lights out” facility.“Automation doesn’t stop at the robot,” Founder and CEO Saurabh Chandra, said in the press release, adding the company has built an integrated platform comprising robots, fleet intelligence, AI agents, and the orchestration software that ties them all to the systems running modern factories.“Ati Robotics is not a new company. It is the honest description of the company we have already become,” Chandra said.By adopting a name that encompasses its broader ambitions in artificial intelligence and systems orchestration, Ati Robotics is signalling that its own future lies not in the hardware of locomotion, but in the software of intelligence.Ati was founded in 2017, and has its roots in India’s top scientific research university, the Indian Institute of Science. The company’s Sherpa line of AMRs (tuggers, pallet lifters and so on) have been deployed with more than 70 enterprise customers, and the robots have tracked some 2 million autonomous missions with a success rate of 99 percent, according to the release.The shift to material orchestration is a necessary one, driven by a chronic shortage of skilled labor and a desperate need for efficiency in the face of fragmented supply chains. Manufacturers want to move away from the “yellow cages” of fixed robotics toward flexible, autonomous systems that can navigate human-centric environments.For companies such as Ati, this means the competition has shifted from basic hardware reliability to the sophistication of the “digital brains” that can manage fleets — often comprising many different types of robots.For startups and incumbents alike, the challenge is no longer just making a robot that can carry a pallet, but creating a system that can rethink how that pallet moves in real-time.One immediate opportunity is the so-called brownfield facility — an existing factory with sunk investments in human-centric infrastructure and equipment. The best solution that can integrate the existing gear effectively at minimal cost will win.“Customers don’t just buy a robot from us. They buy a material orchestration system – coordination, intelligence, and scalability aligned to how their factory actually works,” says Chris Dolbow, vice president of marketing at Ati. “The shift to Ati Robotics sharpens how we describe what we deliver: the right fit for automation today with intelligent innovation for the future.”Ati is backed by investors including Walden Catalyst Ventures, NGP Capital and its early-stage investor MFV Partners. The Bengaluru-headquartered company is moving to build on its momentum in the competitive North American and APAC markets. It has also already successfully deployed its orchestration solution at some early customers, CEO Chandra says.

Generated image for illustration: Globe showing interconnected climate data centers and data flow lines across continentsThe transition to a low-carbon economy is often framed as a struggle resulting from a combination of engineering challenges and lack of political willpower. A new vision paper argues that the true bottleneck is an information deficit. The Climate and Sustainability Data Exchange (CSDX), a proposed universal digital infrastructure, seeks to move beyond “siloed, project-level fixes” to provide the “shared rails” necessary for a planetary-scale coordination system.The CSDX vision paper is the result of a collaboration between StepChange and Beckn. StepChange, a climate-tech venture in Bengaluru founded by MIT alumni Ankit Jain and Sidhant Pai, provides a strategic framework for managing ESG, carbon accounting, and climate risk.Beckn, now called Network for Humanities (NFH, previously the Beckn Foundation), is an international network of labs focused on building open, interoperable digital infrastructure for population-scale systems. It offers the eponymous Beckn protocol, a foundational open protocol that enables interoperable, decentralized digital interactions without reliance on central platforms.It was co-founded in 2019 by Nandan Nilekani, founding chairman of Aadhaar, India’s Unique ID Authority, Pramod Varma, Aadhaar’s former chief architect, and Sujith Nair, who also serves as its Steward, according to his LinkedIn profile.The current landscape of sustainability data is a thicket of fragmented portals and manual entries, particularly in the Global South, where information is “limited in quality, expensive to access, and fragile in trust,” the authors of the paper say. Without a common language, capital is frequently mispriced, and the progress of supply chains remains invisible to the regulators and financiers who might otherwise reward decarbonization, they add.StepChange and Beckn envision a neutral alliance of core members who will act as stewards for the infrastructure, maintaining common schemas and onboarding policies to keep the digital rails accessible and transparent. By combining their technological and environmental expertise, the collaboration seeks to create a federated network where producers, financiers, and regulators can exchange trusted sustainability data at near-zero marginal cost.The proposal arrives as global climate-driven disaster costs surpass $400 billion annually and energy-related CO₂ emissions have climbed to an all-time high of 37.8 gigatonnes. With atmospheric concentrations now 50 percent higher than pre-industrial levels, the CSDX initiative aims to standardize the reporting of ESG, carbon accounting, and climate risk to bridge the “data-poor” gap that currently prevents global markets from pricing resilience accurately.“Like railways, container shipping, or the internet, CSDX provides a minimal, interoperable digital rail that allows any actor to publish and pull records in a common language, at near-zero marginal cost,” StepChange and NFH say.ESG Management captures the broad set of non-financial outcomes enterprises create across environment, society, and governance.Carbon Accounting provides a rigorous, quantifiable subset of environmental impacts with unique salience for decarbonization.Climate Risk ensures that external climate dynamics are translated into financial terms, enabling efficient capital allocation and resilience planning.Using the Beckn protocol, CSDX envisions a federated architecture where data is “governed at source while becoming globally discoverable.” By aligning with global frameworks like the ISSB and CSRD, the platform ensures that “water-withdrawal intensity,” for example, or “Scope 3” emissions mean the same thing to a textile factory in Nairobi as they do to a bank in Frankfurt.This is not merely an exercise in corporate disclosure; it is an attempt to create a “functioning control system for the real economy,” where sustainability is embedded into every purchase order and loan decision.Note:This copy was updated to include the names of StepChange’s founders, the network NFH, and correct Sujith Nair’s designation.

Inertia Enterprises co-founders (L-R) Prof. Mike Dunne, Jeff Lawson, Dr. Annie Kritcher. The company has struck a strategic partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to commercialise nuclear fusion science. Image courtesy Inertia(00:22) Microsoft clarifies stance on carbon credits purchasesMicrosoft issued a clarification after reports earlier this month that it had informed carbon credit developers of a temporary halt in new purchases. That news, reported first by Heatmap News, had caused immediate ripples in the carbon removal sector, as Microsoft has been the market’s dominant force, representing roughly 90 percent of global durable carbon removal purchases in 2025.Microsoft Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa clarified that the “carbon removal program has not ended,” according to reports including those from ESG Dive and ESG Today. The company remains committed to its goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030.(01:20) Fission startup X-energy files for $800 million IPONuclear energy startup X-energy has officially launched its investor roadshow, filing for an initial public offering to raise up to $800 million, TechCrunch reports. The Maryland-based company is targeting a valuation of approximately $7.5 billion, with shares priced between $16 and $19.(02:13) Inertia partners US national lab to commercialise fusion scienceInertia Enterprises has signed a landmark strategic partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to transition experimental fusion science into a commercial energy source. The collaboration includes a licensing agreement for nearly 200 patents and joint research focused on scaling the laser-driven technology used to achieve “ignition” at the National Ignition Facility.(03:30) Battery recycler Ascend Elements files for bankruptcyAscend Elements, a leading U.S. battery recycling startup, has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to address a critical liquidity crisis, MLQ.ai reports. Despite raising over $500 million from high-profile investors like Honda and SK On, the company faced insurmountable financial pressure from plummeting lithium-ion material prices and significant construction delays at its primary facilities.(04:47) US Department of Energy restores $1.2 billion for carbon removalThe US Department of Energy (DOE) has reversed its decision to cancel funding for major climate initiatives, restoring support for carbon direct air capture (DAC) projects previously awarded under the Biden administration, World Energy News reports. The move, confirmed in a report to Congress, ensures that nearly 2,000 projects will retain their funding after a period of intense review by the current administration.(05:37) India officially withdraws bid to host UN climate summit in 2028The Indian government has formally rescinded its offer to host the 33rd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP33) in 2028, Reuters reports. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the withdrawal after a press briefing on Friday last, stating that “several issues” were considered following a review of the country’s commitments for that year.(06:26) Steel emissions reduction targetIndia’s own efforts continue, towards meeting its target of hitting net zero by 2070. The Indian government has drafted a comprehensive National Steel Policy roadmap aiming to double the nation’s crude steel capacity to 400 million tonnes by 2035-36. According to internal documents and recent ministry briefings at the Bharat Steel 2026 summit, this expansion will be paired with a mandatory 25% reduction in carbon emissions intensity, Reuters reported earlier this month.(07:37) World Bank shareholders seek solution to preserve climate strategyInternational shareholders of the World Bank, led by France, are urgently seeking ways to maintain the lender’s climate change financing strategy after its official expiration in June, Reuters reports. French development minister Éléonore Caroit stated during the IMF-World Bank spring meetings in Washington that letting the current action plan lapse is “unacceptable.”

In this episode, I catch up with Saurabh Chandra, founder and CEO at Ati Motors, to discuss his views on how factory automation is evolving in the era of physical AI, as robots finally begin to “break out of the yellow cages” of safety zones.Ati Motors makes autonomous mobile robots for materials movement in factories, and its customers include several Fortune 500 companies. As Ati expands its footprint into the US market, Saurabh outlines a future where Physical AI and software agents work in tandem to redefine the “Digital Assembly Line.”The idea of a “lights out” factory or a “dark factory” is decades old. Engineers dreamed of fully automated installations where robots and machines took over — without human intervention — and made useful things for us. Cars, for example.But a combination of both technical challenges and real-world non-engineering problems ensured that such factories remained more science fiction and less reality. Until recently. Today, many experts in the industry and advanced manufacturing believe that we’re approaching a tipping point with respect to automation and robotics technologies.In this conversation, Saurabh outlines the idea of an AI-led materials movement orchestration platform that Ati has already deployed with some early customers. The idea is that factory executives are beginning to realize that the real value on the shop floor isn’t the robot itself, but the material it moves.Saurabh explains why traditional ERP systems often fail to track Work-in-Progress (WIP) inventory, leaving a visibility problem as SKU complexity has multiplied manifold over the last 15 years. By creating a “spatial system of record” that tracks every trolley, bin, and staging area in real-time, Ati Motors is helping global giants move from intuitive management to quantified, data-driven orchestration.Global manufacturing is currently caught in a pincer movement of structural labour shortages across advanced economies and a geopolitical push to reshore production closer to end consumers. As the “factory of the world” model decentralises away from China, the future of Western industrial hubs depends on their ability to integrate “physical AI” that can handle the hyper-personalised, high-SKU demands of modern commerce.This manufacturing arms race, increasingly prioritized by the boards of Fortune 500 companies, is turning autonomous orchestration from an experimental project into the essential infrastructure of 21st-century industrial sovereignty.“A lot of people in large companies, for whom status quo was their friend, find that situation is now absolutely in the past,” Saurabh notes during the interview. And at Ati, “we have really transformed into an organization where the robots are the means to the end, which is finally making sure that the factory runs in the way it’s supposed to. The goal is to create a system of record for the shop floor — integrating physical agents, software agents, and humans into a single, intelligent orchestration layer.”The platform, Ati Flow, also considers how physical AI or robots, software AI agents and humans will all interact making factories of the future more efficient and sustainable. And Saurabh gives us a sense of how the journey to the dark factory will likely involve three phases and how he thinks Ati can catalyse and facilitate that transformation.Chapters(01:24) The evolution of Physical AI and the future factory(03:43) Market traction and the new urgency for AI agents(07:44) Manufacturing vs. warehousing: the complexity of making things (11:35) The 10X SKU problem and the latent demand for data (17:23) From Robot vendor to material orchestration platform(22:05) Real-world RoI: reconciling inventory and reducing assembly line starvation(30:50) The three-phase roadmap to the dark factory(35:35) Specialization vs. mimicry: breaking the “Yellow Box” metaphor(43:28) Global manufacturing 2030: the democratisation of gigafactories

The idea of a “lights out” factory or a “dark factory” is decades old. Engineers dreamed of fully automated installations where robots and machines took over — without human intervention — and made useful things for us. Cars, for example.But a combination of both technical challenges and real-world non-engineering problems ensured that such factories remained more science fiction and less reality. Until recently. Today, many experts in industry and advanced manufacturing believe that we’re approaching an “inflection point” — yes, that cliche, but it might be true — with respect to automation and robotics technologies.Saurabh Chandra, founder and CEO at Ati Motors, discussed his views on some of these points with me earlier this week. Ati makes autonomous mobile robots for materials movement in factories, and it’s customers include several Fortune 500 companies.Saurabh spoke about how Ati is preparing for the “Future Factory” where robots will no longer stay in the safety zones of “yellow cages” but mix with humans and other robots. He outlined the idea of a materials (and robots and even human) movement orchestration, which Ati has already developed an early platform for, envisioning the physical AI, software AI agents and humans all interacting with one another in making factories more efficient and sustainable.Catch the full conversation right here on Friday, April 10, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a one-minute preview, with Saurabh explaining how we’ll rendezvous with robots.

In this episode, we explore the rapidly evolving world of physical intelligence with Arjun Dutt, a Partner at Bain & Company and former entrepreneur. As generative AI transitions from digital interfaces into the physical world, Arjun explains why humanoid robots are emerging as a solution to the worsening labour shortages, especially in the so-called ‘brownfield’ plants in many advanced economies.We dive into Bain’s four-point definition of humanoids — adaptive intelligence, spatial perception, bipedal dexterity, and sustained power — and talk about how the current battery technologies remain the “long pole in the tent” for true autonomy.Arjun outlines the three waves of adoption that are discussed in a recent note that he co-authored, predicting that while industrial brownfield settings will see scale within three to five years, consumer-centric home robots are at least a decade away.You will also find interesting insights on the following topics: The role of generative AI as a “foundational capability,” allowing robots to learn via observation and training data rather than rigid, scenario-based programming; the evolution of specific task-oriented robots versus truly general-purpose humanoids; and where might the eventual “control points” lie, as Arjun put it, of humanoid robots – meaning, who’ll control the most critical technologies in these robots?Lastly, we touched upon his advice for India’s deep tech entrepreneurs, discussing the merits of “going narrow” and how to navigate the reliability and regulatory hurdles of the US market.Chapters(00:55) Introduction to Arjun Dutt and the rise of physical intelligence(04:40) Why generative AI makes the shift to physical automation feel inevitable(06:16) Defining the four pillars of a modern humanoid robot(08:42) Generative AI as a foundational capability for robotic learning(11:33) Addressing global labor shortages through brownfield automation(15:26) Understanding the three waves of humanoid adoption(18:40) Expected timelines for industrial, professional, and home robotics(23:21) Why battery technology remains the long pole in the tent(28:38) Current pilot use cases from automotive plants to warehouses(34:10) Choosing between task-specific and general-purpose strategies(37:07) Navigating human factors and the complex regulatory landscape(43:24) Strategic advice for Indian deep tech entrepreneurs

In today’s episode, we dive into the future of robotics with Gokul NA, founder of CynLr, or Cybernetics Laboratory, perhaps one of India’s most advanced companies in this field.CynLr is headquartered in Bengaluru, with an advanced R&D Lab in Switzerland and a growing customer-facing operation in the US, where Gokul’s fellow founder Nikhil Ramaswamy is based.The entrepreneur duo and its 85-member team are tackling a challenge that scientists and engineers have been working on for several decades: the ability for robots to intuitively handle unfamiliar objects without custom programming or prior training.In this conversation, Gokul explains their new “Object Intelligence Stack,” a system designed to imitate some of the functions related how a human brain might learn — much like a baby impulsively grasping a new toy without knowing its name or purpose.By collaborating with the Centre for Neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science, CynLr is translating brain-function research into a sophisticated software and sensor framework. Shifting the focus from algorithms that work on data to the “physics of objects,” CynLr’s intelligence stack is what Gokul describes as the precursor to a “manipulation OS.”Drawing parallels to Apple in the 1980s, Gokul shares his vision for a future of “object computers” and micro-factories – important components of CynLr’s vision for global manufacturing, where instead of Giga-factories, we might have fabrication facilities as small as a car dealership or even a garage.Chapters(00:00) Challenges of building a deep tech organization in an absent industry(05:58) Imitating the human brain’s ability to handle unfamiliar objects(09:18) Partnering with neuroscience researchers to replicate human intuition(11:32) Developing a manipulation operating system and the future object store(19:47) Automating assembly for automotive and semiconductor manufacturing(25:17) Transitioning from rigid gigafactories to software-defined micro-factories(35:49) Fostering a deep tech ecosystem to address the brain drain(40:18) Strategic funding goals and the technical roadmap for scalingGokul and Nikhil are backed by investors including Speciale Invest, growX ventures, Pavestone VC, Athera Venture Partners (formerly Inventus India), Anicut Capital, Arali Ventures, Redstart Labs, and several other institutional and angel investors.CynLr’s long-term vision also involves creating a manipulation operating system and an “object store” and a “task store” to transform flexible manufacturing, just as the App Store transformed the smartphone.Currently, they are deploying these solutions in the automotive and semiconductor industries to automate some complex manual assembly processes.In this conversation, Gokul also talks about some of the challenges of building a company like CynLr in India, where many important ingredients are missing, and what he thinks the industry can do to change that.

In this episode I’m joined by Apoorv Shaligram, founder and CEO of e-TRNL Energy. Apoorv, and his fellow founder Uttam Sen, IIT Bombay alumni both, and their team are tackling the electric vehicle industry’s most critical “wants”: high levels of safety and fast charging.While battery chemistry has attracted a lot of innovation effort, e-TRNL is focusing on the cell architecture instead. Their core innovation, 3D Electrode Architecture (3DEA), moves away from the traditional 2D thin-layered designs found in everything from smartphones to current EVs.By fundamentally changing how current flows inside the cell, 3DEA reduces resistance and heat at the source, Apoorv explains. This makes batteries “super resilient” to thermal waste – the excess heat generated within a battery cell during its operation, primarily caused by internal resistance – preventing the catastrophic “cascading” fires in some EV batteries.Chapters(00:00) Origins and the Vision for Indian Energy IndependenceApoorv discusses his background at Michigan State and IIT Bombay, the early challenges of building “know-how” from YouTube videos, and the motivation to build home-grown battery technology for India’s energy transition.(04:36) Addressing EV Consumer “Wants”: Safety and Fast ChargingAn exploration of why current battery technology fulfills basic necessities but not the “wants” of the industry, specifically focusing on the need for 15-minute charging and fundamental safety improvements.(07:21) Reinventing Manufacturing: The 8-Step Modular ProcessApoorv explains how e-TRNL reinvented the traditional 24-step manufacturing process into a more efficient 8-step operation using modular, container-sized units to reduce energy and environment control costs.(12:26) Unpacking 3D Electrode Architecture (3DA)A deep dive into the company’s core innovation: moving from traditional 2D “tape” layers to a 3D honeycomb design that reduces internal resistance and heat, solving safety and charging issues at the design level.(18:21) Prismatic Innovations and the Road to 2027Discussion on the company’s patented prismatic cell architecture, the limitations of 30-year-old “magnetic tape” manufacturing standards, and the roadmap to hit pilot manufacturing by early 2027.(24:44) Barriers to EV Adoption and the “Know-How” ChallengeApoorv identifies convenience and safety as the primary limiters for EV adoption in India and discusses the difficulty of finding specialized battery talent within the country.(31:26) The 27.5 Crore Seed Round and Investor EvolutionDetails on the recent funding round led by I-Group and Alpha, and how the investor discourse around deep tech and hardware has shifted significantly since 2021.(36:03) Fundraising Best Practices and Mitigating Deep Tech RiskAdvice for aspiring founders on clearly communicating a roadmap, managing expectations regarding manufacturing timelines, and learning from global industry failures.Beyond safety, this architecture unlocks the capability for 15-minute fast charging and longer-lasting, lighter battery packs, he says.Apoorv also explains how they have verticalized their technology stack, putting together manufacturing processes from the ground up: They have also condensed the conventional 24-step manufacturing process into a precise 8-step operation. And the entrepreneurs envision modular, container-sized factories that reduce energy consumption and that are better suited to markets that lack large-scale adoption.In this episode, Apoorv also talks about how India’s deep tech landscape is changing, with the government catalysing the discourse in the country. And we takeaway some lessons from e-TRNL’s recent Rs. 27.4 crore seed round, and the roadmap to hit full-scale manufacturing.

So, this morning, I drove up to the new office that Apoorv Shaligram and Uttam Kumar Sen and their team at e-TRNL Energy have set up – still being given some final touches before a formal inauguration soon.Sat down with Apoorv to record the next episode of Conversations. And it’s always an awesome experience to do this in-person, in whatever conditions present themselves onsite, in terms of light and sound. (I did carry two Neever panels and my DJI wireless mics, and more on that in a separate note.)I’ve had the privilege of being acquainted with this deep-tech entrepreneur duo – IIT Bombay alumni – almost from the time they set up e-TRNL and, in one early conversation a few years ago, they’d tried to help me understand the tech innovations they had in mind.Today, we caught up in the context of their recent announcement of having raised Rs. 27.4 crore (About $3 million) in seed funding, led by IAN Group (Indian Angel Network), with Navam Capital, and existing investors Speciale Invest, Micelio and others also joining in.We also spoke about the funding experience — what’s changed, what worked, best practices and so on. Catch all of that in the full conversation right here, or wherever you get your podcast, on Friday, Feb. 20.Here’s a 90-second preview, with Apoorv explaining 3DEA, their 3D electrodes architecture.By the way, I also just started a WhatsApp channel for anyone who prefers to keep track of their deep tech news and views that way.

Listen to the pointMEINE Electric is an Indian deep-tech startup in Chennai, developing iron-air battery systems designed for long-duration energy storage of 16 to 24 hours. Founders Priyansh Mohan and Stuti Kakar hope that these batteries will help accelerate India’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.They use a process of controlled reversible rusting to create a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage. By utilizing abundant materials like iron, air, and water, they aim to provide 100 percent renewable energy reliability for energy-intensive industries such as mining and data centres.Their proprietary innovations include fast-charging capabilities and a unique gas-diffusion electrode that is compatible with high-volume manufacturing. The venture has secured pre-seed funding and plans to showcase its first product pilot later this year. Ultimately, they envision building a renewable energy ecosystem to stabilize the grid as global power demands shift toward green sources.You can catch the full conversation right here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a quick point on how the founders are innovating to develop their product for scale.

Priyansh Mohan and Stuti Kakkar, founders of MEINE Electric, a deep tech startup in India, in the area of battery energy storage systems. Image source: MEINE Electric. Edited by Hari Arakali.In this episode, I’m joined by Priyansh Mohan and Stuti Kakkar, school friends turned co-founders at MEINE Electric, to talk about their innovations in developing iron-air battery energy storage systems (BESS) for long duration energy storage (LDES).Renewable energy in India faces a fundamental problem of timing. Solar panels and wind turbines produce electricity when nature dictates, not necessarily when industrial factories require it. For the green transition to succeed, power must be stored for the long hours when the sun is down or the wind is still. While lithium-ion batteries serve short durations, they remain too costly for day-long storage.Priyansh and Stuti are innovating in the area of controlled, reversible rusting, with the aim of providing energy storage for 16 to 24 hours at prices lower than with current options such as pumped hydro storage and of course lithium-ion batteries. Their approach uses materials abundantly available — iron, air, and water — to avoid the complicated supply chains associated with rarer metals.“At the core of it, it’s just reversible rusting. We all know that iron rusts — it’s not a reaction that’s unknown to humanity — but to do it in a controlled fashion at a greater efficiency so it acts as a battery is where our innovation and the whole magic lies.”Stuti Kakkar and Priyansh MohanIn this episode, we get a peek into the engineering innovations behind their technology and some of the challenges that remain in the way of building deep tech companies from India. Backed by Rebalance, Antler, Venture Catalysts, gradCapital, and Anna Incubator, Stuti and Priyansh have recently raised a pre-seed investment in their venture.They expect to showcase a pilot-ready version of their first product as early as later this year.Chapters(00:00) Introduction to MEINE Electric and Iron-Air Technology:An overview of the timing problem in renewable energy and the startup’s mission to provide long-duration storage through controlled reversible rusting.(01:40) The Founders’ Journey and Pivot to Stationary Storage:Priyansh Mohan and Stuti Kakkar recount their shift from a college project involving electric motorbikes to focusing on the emerging market for long-duration storage (LDS).(05:40) Why Iron-Air: Solving the Rechargeability and Cost Problem:The founders explain how customer feedback regarding high operating costs led them to move away from aluminum-air batteries in favor of rechargeable iron-air chemistry.(08:00) The Science of Controlled Rusting and Fast Charging:A technical dive into the material science required to prevent iron electrodes from shedding material and the engineering behind matching solar duty cycles.(11:15) Targeting Energy-Intensive Industries and Solar-Heavy Grids:Discussion of the 16-to-24-hour “sweet spot” for storage and how the technology can reduce electricity costs for mining and data centers.(18:00) Global Competition and the Shift to Daily Battery Cycles:An analysis of the global landscape, including competitors like Form Energy, and why MEINE’s approach is tailored specifically for the APAC region.(20:10) Scaling Modular Units for Industrial Loads:Details on the 40kW modular battery units and the company’s roadmap for transitioning from R&D to mass production facilities.(27:10) Funding Milestones and the 2030 Long-Term Vision:The co-founders outline their capital needs, current pre-seed funding status, and the eventual goal of developing a software-driven data layer for the energy ecosystem.

Priyansh Mohan and Stuti Kakkar, founders of MEINE Electric in Chennai, are developing an Iron-air battery energy storage system that they hope will help reduce curtailment of renewables-based power.Listen to the previewRenewable energy in India faces a fundamental problem of timing. Solar panels and wind turbines produce electricity when nature dictates, not necessarily when industrial factories require it. For the green transition to succeed, power must be stored for the long hours when the sun is down or the wind is still. While lithium-ion batteries serve short durations, they remain too costly for day-long storage.Coming up on Feb. 10, in my next episode of Conversations at India Tech Report, I speak with Priyansh Mohan and Stuti Kakkar, friends from school turned co-founders – at MEINE Electric, to talk about their innovations in developing iron-air batteries for longer duration storage.By controlling the process of reversible rusting, the duo aims to provide energy storage for 16 to 24 hours at a fraction of current prices. Their approach uses abundant materials — iron, air, and water — to avoid the complicated supply chains associated with rarer metals.In this episode, we get a peek into the engineering innovations behind their technology and some of the challenges that remain in the way of building deep tech companies from India. Backed by Rebalance, Antler, Venture Catalysts and gradCapital, Stuti and Priyansh have raised a pre-seed funding recently.They are working to release a pilot-ready version of their first product as early as later this year.You can catch the full conversation right here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a 90-second preview.

Jay Panchal, founder and CEO at Aule Space, a Bengaluru space-tech startup that is developing a light-weight mission extension vehicle. Photograph by Hari Arakali.Today I’m joined by Jay Panchal, founder and CEO of Aule Space, in Bengaluru. Jay started the company in 2024 with his fellow founders Nithyaa Giri, who’s Aule’s CTO, and Hrishit Tambi, its COO.He talks about their efforts so far to develop “jetpacks” – sophisticated Mission Extension Vehicles (MEVs) designed for the task of rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD).The trio of entrepreneurs has just raised $2 million in pre-seed funding led by pi Ventures, a well-known deep tech VC firm in Bengaluru.Chapters(00:50) Introduction to Aule Space, jetpack technology and RPOD.(03:10) Jay’s journey: From BITS Pilani to Pixxel to Aule.(08:17) Defining the problem: Debris and the robotic workforce. The hardest part of space operations.(12:01) Ground testing and simulating microgravity, refining docking algorithms and mechanisms before launch.(16:54) Developing autonomous navigation (GNC) systems.(23:05) The global landscape, non-cooperative docking and Aule’s innovations.(28:17) Scaling the Indian space ecosystem and supply chain.(30:59) Roadmap: From tech demonstrators to a 20-jetpack fleet to robots tailored for manufacturing and assembly in space.Aule Space founders (L-R) Hrishit Tambi, Jay Panchal and Nithyaa Giri. Image source: Aule Space. Edited by Hari Arakali.Aule is developing an innovative non-cooperative docking mechanism, giving its jetpacks the ability to latch onto satellites and debris not originally designed for docking. Its design combines a satellite-agnostic docking mechanism with AI-driven guidance, navigation and control algorithms, aiming to field one of the world’s lightest and most cost-efficient RPOD satellite fleets.The company is targeting use-cases from life extension of high-value geostationary communications satellites and debris removal to defence applications such as close-in inspection for space-domain awareness. With the long-term vision of establishing a robotic workforce in space, Jay hopes that over the next five years, Aule will operate a fleet of jetpacks. Their technology demonstrator could be ready as early as next year.

Jay Panchal, founder and CEO at Aule Space, along with his fellow founders Nithyaa Giri and Hrishit Tambi, has raised $2 million led by pi Ventures, to build ‘jetpacks’ that can keep satellites going.Listen to the previewComing up on Tuesday, Feb. 3For my next episode of Conversations at India Tech Report, I sat down with Jay Panchal, the young Founder and CEO at Aule Space.Jay and his fellow founders Nithyaa Giri and Hrishit Tambi have raised pre-seed funding for Aule to build autonomous “jetpack” satellites that can dock with spacecraft that are running out of fuel and keep them going in orbit.The round totals $2 million, led by pi Ventures with participation from several angel investors, including former Intelsat board member Eash Sundaram and Tonbo Imaging chief executive Arvind Lakshmikumar.Founded in 2024 by Jay, Nithyaa and Hrishit, Aule Space is developing satellites that can safely approach, latch on to and manoeuvre other spacecraft, a class of capability known in the trade as Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD).The company will use the new capital to expand its engineering team, build ground infrastructure for docking tests and ready its first demonstration satellites, slated to launch next year.Aule’s design combines a satellite-agnostic docking mechanism with AI-driven guidance, navigation and control algorithms, aiming to field one of the world’s lightest and most cost-efficient RPOD satellite fleets. The company is targeting use-cases from life extension of high-value geostationary communications satellites and debris removal to defence applications such as close-in inspection for space-domain awareness.Catch the full conversation right here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a quick preview.

Manish Singhal, founding partner at pi Ventures, is a leading early-stage VC investor in deep tech startups in India. Image source: pi Ventures. Edited by Hari Arakali.In this episode, I’m joined by Manish Singhal, founding partner of pi Ventures, a Bengaluru-based early-stage venture capital firm backing some of India’s most ambitious deep tech startups.India’s start-up story is often told through software and services. Yet a quieter transformation is under way in laboratories, machine shops and clean rooms. And Manish has been one of the earliest investors consistently supporting this gradual change, first as an angel investor and then through pi Ventures.Over the past decade, pi Ventures has gone from backing AI-led software plays to financing startups in sectors such as space, semiconductors, robotics, clean energy and electric mobility. From its first fund, pi Ventures backed companies such as Zenatix, Niramai, Sigtuple, Locus, and Wysa, but also Agnikul Cosmos.The firm is currently investing from its second fund, which, at $85 million, is almost three times the first fund. Its portfolio now includes startups building 3D-printed rocket engines, optical interconnects for data centres, electric tractors designed from first principles and in-orbit satellite “jetpacks” that extend the life of multi-million-dollar assets.“Founders in India are dreaming big. Founders in India are not thinking India. Founders in India are thinking global from day one.”Manish SinghalPrior to pi Ventures, which turns 10 in March, Manish started out as an electrical engineer from IIT Kanpur, and accumulated two decades of operating experience – building products and teams at companies including Motorola, Ittiam Systems, and Sling Media, where he helped scale the company’s India R&D centre.His firm’s recent investments such as Moonrider (electric tractors), LightSpeed Photonics (optical interconnects for AI data centers), and Aule Space (in-orbit satellite servicing) reflect Manish’s conviction that Indian startups can build globally relevant deep tech products.He is not unaware of the still entrenched and considerable challenges in the way those dreaming of deep tech success from India. And he’s also clear-eyed about the limits of industrial policy, and wary of fads in “indigenous” technology.But Manish is optimistic, when he talks about how deep tech founders in India are becoming more audacious in their aspirations and how India is on the cusp of being seen as a genuine deep-tech nation.Chapters(01:16) India Tech Report intro and Pi Ventures as a deep tech VC in India.(03:08) Manish’s journey into deep tech and the evolution from software to space, semiconductors, and robotics.(07:12) Why India is on the cusp of becoming a deep tech nation and the long build-up behind today’s momentum.(11:06) How Pi Ventures’ investment thesis evolved from AI to materials and deep tech across sectors.(16:25) Inside recent bets: MoonRider, Lightspeed Photonics, and early space as case studies in Indian deep tech.(23:12) Founders dreaming global, defense as a demand driver, and the shifting role of Indian universities.(31:04) Scale constraints, policy friction, and where India can truly lead in frontier technologies.(37:09) Building for the world vs “indigenous for its own sake” and Manish’s views on fundamental innovation from India.(41:25) The future of Pi Ventures, need for scale-stage deep tech capital, and a caution on shallow “deep tech” investing.

Listen to the previewComing up on Tuesday, Jan. 27.For my next conversation, I sat down with Manish Singhal, founding partner at pi Ventures, one of the earliest bona fide deep tech investors in India. pi Ventures turns 10 is a couple of months.Before pi, Manish, an IIT Kanpur alumnus with over two decades of operating experience, built products and teams at Motorola, Ittiam Systems, and Sling Media, where he helped scale the India R&D centre during the company’s journey to a $380 million acquisition by EchoStar.In 2016, he launched pi Ventures with a sharp focus on AI-led deep tech, backing companies like Niramai, Locus, Wysa, but also ventures like Agnikul Cosmos. With its second fund – at $85 million, almost 3X the first fund – pi Ventures has expanded its thesis to frontier sectors including spacetech, semiconductors, quantum technologies, advanced robotics, and climate-tech hardware.Recent investments such as Moonrider (electric tractors), LightSpeed Photonics (optical interconnects for AI data centers), and Aule Space (in-orbit satellite servicing) reflect his conviction that India can build globally relevant deep tech product startups.In this episode, Manish talks about how founders are becoming more ambitious in India and how, if we do it right, we can be counted among the world’s top deep tech nations in less than five years.Catch the conversation right here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hrishit Tambi, Jay Panchal and Nithyaa Giri, founders of Aule Space Technologies, aim to put India in the club of nations offering ISAM technologies. Image source: Aule. Edited by Hari Arakali.Listen to the episodeTwo space-tech startups kicked off 2026’s funding news for the sector in India, aiming to expand India’s presence in the global space economy in two challenging areas. And they’ve both found backing from top-notch investors.Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX) and Aule Space Technologies revealed a Series A and a pre-seed-stage investment respectively, in separate announcements, last week.EtherealX was founded by Manu J. Nair, Shubhayu Sardar, and Prashanth Sharma, who bring experience from ISRO and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences to their endeavour.They have found backing from Japan’s TDK Ventures. The venture arm of TDK Corporation will invest up to $5 million in Bengaluru-based Ethereal Exploration’s series A round.The partnership aims to accelerate development of Razor Crest Mk-1 — the world’s first medium-lift rocket designed for full reusability, according to a press release. EtherealX’s vehicle, still under development, targets launch costs as low as $500 per kilogram, roughly 10X lower than current rates, although the rates vary based on the type of rocket and other factors such as whether the mission is a small dedicated one or something part of large payload and so on.At its targeted $500-$1000 range, EtherealX hopes to unlock a wide range of commercial missions, including rocket cargo as a service. Its distinguishing feature is a reusable upper stage powered by a proprietary Full Flow Segregated Cooling Cycle engine, coupled with in-house simulation and test infrastructure to shorten development cycles and improve reusability. The global space economy is entering a phase of billion-dollar bets and trillion-dollar visions. Valued at about $630 billion in 2023, it is expected to nearly triple to $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to a McKinsey estimate, fuelled by the proliferation of satellite constellations and expanding national space ambitions.Demand for medium-lift systems — rockets capable of carrying 2 ,000 kg to 20,000 kg of payload (to low-Earth orbits)* — is projected to grow strongly, with one forecast, by Research and Markets, estimating it grow from more than $10 billion in 2025 to nearly $16 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of about 8.5 percent. Startups from Austin to Bengaluru are racing to supply governments and private operators squeezed by bottlenecked launch capacity.Shubhayu Sardar, Prashanth Sharma and Manu J. Nair, founders of EtherealX, are developing a reusable medium-lift launch system. Image source: EtherealX. Edited by Hari Arakali.“TDK Ventures is thrilled to back the Guild in its goal to reshape the medium-lift space-launch industry,” Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, said in the press release. “The company aligns seamlessly with our vision for transformative innovation, excelling in slashing launch costs, pioneering novel technologies, and harnessing India’s ISRO expertise and cost-efficient supply chain.” EtherealX’s existing investors include YourNest VC, Bluehill Capital, BIG Capital, Campus Fund, and Golden Sparrow VC. The company has already manufactured its 80kN upper-stage reusable engine (Pegasus) and has signed collaboration agreements with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), ISRO, and other national space agencies, as well as commercial satellite operators, launch aggregators, and launch ports globally.Aule’s orbital jetpacksSeparately, Aule Space, also in Bengaluru, has raised pre-seed funding to build autonomous “jetpack” satellites that can dock with spacecraft that are running out of fuel and keep them going in orbit. The round totals $2 million, led by pi Ventures with participation from several angel investors, including former Intelsat board member Eash Sundaram and Tonbo Imaging chief executive Arvind Lakshmikumar. Founded in 2024 by Jay Panchal, Nithyaa Giri and Hrishit Tambi, Aule Space is developing satellites that can safely approach, latch on to and manoeuvre other spacecraft, a class of capability known in the trade as Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD). The company will use the new capital to expand its engineering team, build ground infrastructure for docking tests and ready its first demonstration satellites, slated to launch next year.Aule’s design combines a satellite-agnostic docking mechanism with AI-driven guidance, navigation and control algorithms, aiming to field one of the world’s lightest and most cost-efficient RPOD satellite fleets. The company is targeting use-cases from life extension of high-value geostationary communications satellites and debris removal to defence applications such as close-in inspection for space-domain awareness. Today most satellites are abandoned once their fuel runs out, even if their payloads remain largely functional, because there is no routine in-orbit servicing infrastructure. More than 95 percent of the $100 billion generated each year in commercial satellite revenues comes from satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) and a single satellite can generate tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, according to Joseph Anderson, a vice president at Space Logistics, a Northrup Grumman company.“However, every year, between 10 and 20 satellites in good operating condition, and with paying customers, are shut down by their operators and replaced with expensive new satellites. This is not by choice, but by necessity: these satellites have run out of fuel,” Anderson wrote in Room, a space economy journal, in 2019.The following year, Northop Grumman became the first company to successfully demonstrate what they called mission extension, with its MEV-1 and MEV-2 mission extension vehicles. Since the...

Founders of Perceptyne Robots, Mrutyunjaya N, Raviteja Chivukala and Jagga Raju N are building autonomous, dexterous robots and the physical AI stack needed.Listen to the audioWhat are some of the practical, seemingly small but truly challenging engineering problems in translating what seems intuitive to humans to robotics automation, today?Mrutyunjaya N, Raviteja Chivukala and Jagga Raju N, founders of Perceptyne Robots, explain here in simple terms in just a few minutes.

In this year’s first episode, I’m joined by Mrutyunjaya N, Raviteja Chivukala and Jagga Raju N to unpack why and how they started Perceptyne Robots, and what it takes to build an AI-native robotic system out of India.Perceptyne is a Hyderabad-based company building dexterous, dual-arm, intelligent robots for industrial automation, currently focused on automotive and electronics manufacturing lines.The founders explain the gap they saw on real shop floors, where many assembly stations still rely on manual work because traditional approaches cannot handle unstructured inputs, fine force control, or frequent product changes.The conversation goes into their vertically integrated hardware, including mobile configurations, and their PR-PhI “physical intelligence” software layer that orchestrates perception, control, and imitation-learning–based skills like visual servo, slip-free grasping, and force-based assembly.You will also hear their take on the state of India’s robotics ecosystem, the evolution of robots as a combined hardware-and-software challenge, and how they are moving from pilots with global automotive and electronics manufacturers toward larger deployments. Perceptyne, which turns four this year, is backed by two well-known deep-tech VC firms,  Yali Capital and Endiya Partners.Chapters(00:00) The promise of robotics in industrial automation(09:55) Building Perceptyne: founders’ journey and vision(20:05) Innovative robotics: products and capabilities(30:02) Challenges in automation: technical limitations and solutions(40:01) The robotics ecosystem in India: opportunities and challenges(49:54) Future of robotics: trends and expectations

Founders of Perceptyne Robots, Mrutyunjaya N, Raviteja Chivukala and Jagga Raju N are building autonomous, dexterous robots and the physical AI stack needed.Happy new year to all of you deep tech enthusiasts in India. An area in which 2026 is already shaping up to be one that will likely see advances, is robotics and automation and the AI needed for this, being called physical AI or even ’embodied AI’.If you caught Boston Dynamics CSO Marc Theermann recently saying the company’s Atlas humanoid is “not designed for YouTube” but for the real world, what’s your view on that — premature or prophetic? Will 2026 show us?Listen to the previewTo kick off my reports this year, I got a chance to chat with a dynamic entrepreneur trio building what they say will be autonomous and dexterous robots for the real world — at Perceptyne Robots.So, coming up on Tuesday, Jan. 13, this year’s first episode of India Tech Report: In Conversation, will feature Mrutyunjaya N, Raviteja Chivukala and Jagga Raju N, co-founders of this Hyderabad-based robotics and physical AI startup.Their venture, which turns four this year, is backed a couple of well-known deep-tech VC firms, Yali Capital and Endiya Partners. Catch the full conversation right here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a less-than-a-minute preview.

Hyundai Motor Group’s MobED AMR on display at an exhibition. Image source: Hyundai.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:20) Mobile robots market to nearly double by 2030Global demand for mobile robots is set to surge, with the market projected to grow from $27.39 billion in 2025 to $52.11 billion by 2030, driven by AI, 5G, e-commerce, and labour shortages, while Asia-Pacific leads adoption and high costs, regulatory hurdles, and integration challenges remain important constraints.(00:50) Hyundai debuts MobED autonomous robot platform at iREX 2025Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled MobED, a production-ready autonomous mobility robot platform, at the iREX 2025 robotics show in Tokyo, positioning it as the company’s first mass-produced mobility robot for industrial and everyday applications, with Pro and Basic variants set for market launch in the first half of 2026.(01:17) IFC backs Gujarat Fluorochemicals’ EV unit with $50 millionIFC will invest about $50 million in Gujarat Fluorochemicals’ EV venture GFCL EV Products to build India’s first fully integrated battery-materials plant, supporting local production of key inputs for electric vehicle and energy storage batteries and reducing import dependence while strengthening the country’s position in global clean-energy supply chains.(01:46) Viavi, QNu Labs team up on quantum-safe network securityViavi Solutions and QNu Labs, a quantum cybersecurity startup in India, have formed a strategic R&D partnership to develop test frameworks, standards, and reference architectures for quantum-safe network security, spanning post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, quantum random number generator, and hybrid systems, with plans for a broader industry consortium to help operators and enterprises transition from classical to quantum-resilient infrastructures.(02:20) Skylark Drones, WELL Labs ink MoU on data-led water intelligenceSkylark Drones has signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based WELL Labs to build data-driven water-resource intelligence platforms, according to a press release. The platforms will fuse large-scale drone-based mapping with hydrological science, supporting watershed management, flood resilience, and climate-linked water planning for governments and communities across India.(02:46) Shastra VC launches SDEX deep-tech fellowship with $100,000 grantsShastra VC has launched SDEX, Shastra Deep-Tech Excellence Fellowship, a 16–24-week programme to help researchers at IITs, IISc, NITs and other labs turn frontier technologies into venture-ready startups, with the first cohort set to pick up to 15 teams and provide each with equity-free funding and resources of up to $100,000 dollars.(03:20) Chiratae launches Sonic DeepTech with cheques up to $2 millionChiratae, a VC firm in Bengaluru, has launched the Sonic DeepTech programme to back early-stage Indian deep-tech startups with seed cheques of up to $2 million, promising 48-hour investment decisions, and access to domain experts, corporate partners, and portfolio founders to help teams move quickly from lab prototypes to market-ready products.(03:45) ChemLex raises $45m for AI-driven autonomous drug discovery lab in SingaporeChemLex, an AI-for-science startup, has raised 45 million dollars led by Granite Asia and is establishing its global headquarters and a 24/7 self-driving chemistry lab in Singapore to accelerate small-molecule drug discovery, supported by new technical hires and an MoU with Singapore’s Experimental Drug Development Centre.

Generated image for illustration of a startup incubator office space.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:21) China’s Zhuque-3 reaches orbit but crashes on landingChinese rocketmaker Landspace’s stainless steel, methalox-fuelled Zhuque-3 reached orbit on its debut flight from Jiuquan, successfully deploying its expendable second stage before the reusable first stage failed during landing and exploded near the target zone. The company said the test still met key recovery objectives and noted Zhuque-3’s Falcon 9–class payload capability to low Earth orbit.(00:53) RNA drug TY1 taps hidden DNA repair pathwayScientists at Cedars-Sinai have created TY1, an RNA-based therapy that switches on a recently identified DNA repair pathway, enhancing the body’s ability to mend genetic damage and regenerate injured tissue. In preclinical studies, TY1 boosted repair processes without relying on traditional DNA-repair mechanisms, suggesting potential applications in treating cancer, age-related decline and degenerative diseases if future trials confirm its safety and efficacy.(01:30) MIT’s light-based sensor aims to replace glucose finger pricksMIT researchers have created a shoebox-sized Raman spectroscopy device that measures blood glucose through the skin, matching the accuracy of commercial continuous glucose monitors in an initial study on a healthy volunteer. The team has already built a cellphone-sized wearable prototype and plans larger clinical trials, with a long-term goal of a watch-like, noninvasive glucose monitor for diabetics.(02:01) Planys raises Rs. 100 crore for global and defence pushUnderwater robotics startup Planys Technologies has raised Rs. 100 crore in a round led by investors including Ashish Kacholia and Lashit Sanghvi, with participation from existing backers. The capital will support global scale-up of its underwater inspection systems and the launch of defence unit Planys Ark to develop indigenous unmanned underwater vehicles and set up a new production facility near Chennai.(02:30) Activate launches $75m fund for early deep techAakrit Vaish, co-founder of Haptik, and Pratyush Choudhury, former principal investor at Together, have unveiled Activate, a $75 million venture fund targeting India’s earliest-stage deep tech and AI startups, including teams at the ideation stage. The fund plans to write cheques of about $0.5–3 million, supported by a global LP network, and has already begun deploying capital into young AI-first companies.(03:02) EU backs 40 women-led deep tech startupsEU-funded project Women TechEU has selected 40 women-led deep tech startups from 1,107 applicants in its fourth and final call, awarding each a EUR 75,000 non-dilutive grant plus tailored business support. Winners span 20 countries and focus mainly on AI, biotech and clean tech, with a follow-on initiative planned to continue support beyond 2026.(03:35) IIT Madras incubator tops 500 deep-tech startupsIIT Madras Incubation Cell has incubated 511 deep-tech startups with a combined valuation of over Rs. 53,000 crore, creating more than 11,000 direct jobs and cementing its status as India’s largest deep-tech hub. In FY 2024–25, it onboarded 100+ startups under the “Startup Shatam” mission, with portfolio companies spanning space, mobility, climate-tech, semiconductors and frontier AI.

Janaki Venkatraman, Santanu Datta and Arindam Ghatak, co-founders of Biomoneta. Image source: company.(00:20) IVCA forum urges more domestic capital for deep techThe Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association hosted its Domestic Institutional Investors & Exits Forum 2025 in New Delhi, spotlighting the role of local capital in deep tech and biotech. An MoU between IVCA and BIRAC aims to boost capacity building and investment awareness, as BIRAC’s Managing Director Dr. Jitendra Kumar urged institutional investors to back research-led startups moving from incubation to commercial scale.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:53) Rama Devi Lanka joins NITI Aayog frontier tech hubRama Devi Lanka has joined NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub to drive state-level engagement on AI, blockchain, drones and other emerging technologies. The former Telangana state emerging tech director will work with state governments to scale pilots, shape policy frameworks and strengthen innovation ecosystems, aiming to align frontier tech deployments with inclusive governance and public-impact use cases nationwide.(01:22) Biomoneta wins US FDA nod for Avata RxBiomoneta, a Bengaluru startup, has secured US FDA approval for Avata Rx, its ZeBox-powered air-decontamination device, becoming the first Indian company cleared in this category. The system targets airborne pathogens in high-risk clinical and biotech environments, backed by independent validations including an IISc study on SARS-CoV-2. The milestone strengthens its global market entry and validates investor Beyond Next Ventures’ deep-science thesis.(02:00) Moonrider raises $6m for EV tractor rolloutMoonrider, an electric tractor startup in Bengaluru, has raised $6 million in a Series A round led by deep-tech fund pi Ventures, with Singularity AMC, Advantedge Founders and Micelio Fund participating. The capital will fund commercial rollout of its fully homologated, road-ready electric tractors, which the company says match diesel tractors on upfront price while sharply lowering operating costs to improve farm economics.(02:32) SynaXG raises over $20m for AI-RAN platformSingapore deep-tech startup SynaXG has raised over $20 million in its first funding round, led by January Capital, Vertex Ventures and Qualgro. The company builds AI-powered radio access network (AI-RAN) technology for wireless infrastructure. The capital will be used to scale product development and engineering, and deepen partnerships with telecom operators and enterprise customers deploying next-generation network solutions.Niobium raises $23m to advance FHE silicon(03:03) US-based Niobium has raised more than $23 million in an oversubscribed follow-on round to accelerate its second-generation fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) hardware platform. The funding will support the shift from prototype to production-ready ASICs, hardware–software co-design and customer pilots. Existing backers Fusion Fund and Morgan Creek joined new investors including Blockchange Ventures, ADVentures, Korea Development Bank and JobsOhio Ventures.(03:37) Korean team links desalination with hydrogen productionResearchers at Seoul National University have built a modular water-purification system that simultaneously produces clean water and hydrogen using ion concentration polarization across a single cation-exchange membrane. The finger-sized device removes salts and contaminants while generating hydrogen, recovering about 8–10 percent of input energy. Its compact, scalable design targets use in disaster zones, remote sites, military deployments and even space missions.

Pexels.com","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"green and white braille typewriter","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="pexels-photo-4761309" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com " data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1" alt="green and white braille typewriter" class="wp-image-171708102" style="aspect-ratio:3/2;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/indiatechreport.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pexels-photo-4761309.jpeg?w=1880&ssl=1 1880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />Image source: Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com(00:20) DST’s RDI Fund outreach programme in Bengaluru tomorrowThe Department of Science and Technology is inviting fund managers, industry leaders, and startup founders to join its officials to discuss the Government of India’s R&D and Innovation Fund, Secretary to the GoI Abhay Karandikar said in a post on LinkedIn.This outreach programme is to be held tomorrow, Dec. 4, in Bengaluru.This session will provide insights into the Fund’s objectives, operational framework, and financing models under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and facilitate direct dialogue with the DST’s RDI Cell, Abhay writes.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:59) IIT Madras, Navy, Apollo Micro in defence tech pactIIT Madras has signed a tripartite MoU with the Indian Navy’s DGNAI and Apollo Micro Systems to accelerate indigenous development of advanced defence technologies, announced at the Navy’s Swavalamban 2025 event in Delhi.  The alliance will target electronic warfare, precision navigation and high‑energy armament systems, aiming to speed lab-to-field deployment and bolster India’s defence self-reliance.(01:35) Jolt Capital raises €600m deep tech fund first closeParis-based Jolt Capital has reached a €600 million first close for its fifth deep tech focused fund, which targets a €1.1 billion hard cap to back around 20 European growth-stage technology companies.  Jolt Capital V is anchored by a €260 million commitment from the European Investment Fund and will focus on sectors from semiconductors to applied AI and energy management.(02:07) Mantel’s molten-salt carbon capture pushMIT spinout Mantel is commercialising a molten borate salt system that captures about 95 percent of CO2 from high-temperature industrial flue gases while using roughly 3 percent of the net energy of incumbent capture technologies by cogenerating steam.  The firm is scaling from a containerised pilot at MIT’s The Engine to a Kruger factory demo in Quebec ahead of wider industrial deployment.(02:40) Stanford’s immune-reset diabetes breakthroughStanford Medicine researchers report that a combined blood stem cell and pancreatic islet cell transplant from an immunologically mismatched donor prevented or cured Type 1 diabetes in mice by creating a hybrid immune system that stops attacking islet cells.  All treated animals remained diabetes-free without long-term immunosuppression, suggesting a future curative path for autoimmune disease.(03:12) Korean team boosts lithium-metal battery safety, lifeKorean researchers have engineered a fluorine- and oxygen-functionalized separator membrane that stabilizes both electrodes in lithium-metal batteries, sharply cutting dendrite-driven explosion risk while roughly doubling cycle life under harsh conditions.  Prototype pouch cells reached about 385 Wh/kg and 1,136 Wh/L — around 1.5–1.7 times current lithium-ion energy densities — without changing standard manufacturing processes.

India’s Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav recently visited SCL, and outlined a plan to modernise the chip facility.(00:20) India to invest Rs. 4,500 crore to modernise SCL MohaliIndia will invest Rs. 4,500 crore to modernise and expand the government-run Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, targeting a 100-fold increase in wafer production while ruling out privatisation, Electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during a site visit. SCL will support chip fabrication for students, startups and defence-linked agencies as part of a broader push for indigenous semiconductor capability, according to a statement from the ministry.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:55) Mixx Technologies raises $33 million series A fundingMixx Technologies, a US-based deep-tech startup founded by specialists from Intel and Broadcom, has raised $33 million in Series A funding led by ICM HPQC Fund alongside TDK Ventures, Systemiq Capital, and others. The capital will accelerate development of its HBxIO silicon-integrated optical engine, boost global R&D (including in India), and drive adoption of high-efficiency AI infrastructure platforms.(01:29) Lightspeed Photonics raises $6.5 million for optical AI chipsLightspeed Photonics has raised $6.5 million in a pre-Series A round led by Pi Ventures to scale its solderable optical interconnects for AI and high-performance computing data centres.  The Bengaluru-based startup claims 4x faster data transfer and roughly 2x lower power use than existing links, and plans to split the funds between R&D and commercial pilots through 2026.(02:01) Reditus Space plans reusable reentry vehicle for microgravity R&D US startup Reditus Space has raised $7.1 million in seed funding to build ENOS, a reusable reentry spacecraft aimed at fast-turnaround missions for microgravity research and in-space manufacturing, Payload Space reports. The first ENOS flight, targeting a SpaceX rideshare next summer, will carry a pharma payload, reenter at over Mach 24, and test hardware designed for 20-plus missions and 40 kg payloads.(02:38) IonQ, CCRM to apply quantum tech to advanced therapies IonQ has struck an investment and technology partnership with Canada’s Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine to apply hybrid quantum and quantum-AI tools to bioprocess optimization, disease modelling and advanced therapy manufacturing. IonQ becomes core tech partner across CCRM’s global network, with initial quantum-biotech projects in Canada and Sweden slated for 2026 as part of IonQ’s expanding European strategy.(03:10) Sparrow Quantum raises €27.5 million for photonic quantum chips Denmark’s Sparrow Quantum has raised €27.5 million in Series A funding, in what it calls Scandinavia’s largest quantum-tech investment, to scale production of its Sparrow Core single-photon chip for room-temperature photonic quantum systems. The company plans to expand manufacturing and develop next-generation devices based on Niels Bohr Institute research, aiming to become a leading quantum chip supplier for European and global markets.(03:44) Vayavya Labs, SimDaaS tie up on autonomous mobility tools Software engineering firm Vayavya Labs has signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur–incubated SimDaaS Autonomy to co-develop simulation-led tools for autonomous driving, ADAS and AI-based virtual validation. The partners will combine digital twin, virtual electronic control units and traffic-scenario simulation capabilities to accelerate virtual testing for complex Indian conditions and export solutions to global mobility markets.(04:17) AI-detected ‘hidden’ lion roar may boost conservationScientists have identified a previously unknown “intermediary” lion roar that occurs alongside the classic full-throated call, using AI to sort thousands of recordings with about 95 percent accuracy. The added vocal signature can improve passive acoustic monitoring, helping estimate lion numbers and track individuals more reliably as wild populations fall to roughly 20,000–25,000 across Africa.

Vishal Katariya at Ankur Capital (L) and Sunil Cavale at Speciale Invest have recently released their report on the semiconductor startup landscape in India – the second edition.In today’s episode, I bring you a conversation with Sunil Cavale at Speciale Invest and Vishal Katariya at Ankur Capital, both VC firms well known as early-stage backers of deep tech startups in India.Vishal and Sunil discuss their recent report on the Semiconductor Startup Landscape in India.India’s chip industry has made significant strides from being only a location for the development centres of global companies, designing to foreign specifications.Today, a new cohort of founders — professors spinning out decades of research, veterans of Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, and second‑time chip entrepreneurs — is trying to build products, not just provide services. Their targets range from high‑volume microcontrollers for cameras and smart meters to AI accelerators for data centres and the edge.Venture capital is following. Seed rounds are giving way to briskly timed Series-A investments, some closing within 18 months of the seed funding and at two to ten times the earlier cheque sizes. Capital is also broadening beyond specialist funds: family offices, strategic corporates like Zoho and the venture arms of global chipmakers now want a role in the India semicon story.Meanwhile, entrepreneurs are pushing beyond fabless design into manufacturing‑adjacent niches such as metrology tools, lithography subsystems and low‑volume prototyping — hedging against the geopolitical fragility of a supply chain still concentrated in Taiwan and the Netherlands.This week’s conversation brings together two investors who have had a ringside view of these shifts. Sunil and Vishal have spent the past few years swapping notes on deals, founders, failures and successes. Out of those conversations that started during one fateful meeting at a McDonald’s in Ghatkopar, in Mumbai, came their Semiconductor Startup Landscape in India report, first presented at IIT Bombay’s SemiX conference.Rather than rehearse well-known talking points, they have tried to document what is actually happening on the ground: who the founders are, where the money originates, which verticals are getting crowded and where the genuine white spaces lie. In this episode, they explain why India’s chip moment may finally be real — and what it will take to sustain it.Link to the report at Speciale Invest:https://www.specialeinvest.com/community?pgid=mdx2tvo7-e24d7063-961f-4de4-b405-ce9282527498Link to the report at Ankur Capital:https://www.ankurcapital.com/post/semiconductor-startup-landscape-in-india-2025-perspective

Team CrisprBits. Image source: company.CrisprBits, a Bengaluru biotech startup, has raised $3 million in a pre-Series A round to scale its CRISPR-based diagnostics and gene-editing platforms, lifting its valuation to $12 million. The company plans to use the money to commercialize its PathCrisp molecular diagnostics line and build an AI-augmented strain engineering platform for industrial biofuels.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTubeThe round was led by Spectrum Impact, the family office of Aarti Industries Ltd.’s Chairman and Managing Director Rajendra Gogri, with participation from existing backers including the Vijay Alreja Family Office (VJ Technologies Group) and new investors such as the promoter family of HBL Engineering Ltd. Earlier funding from the founders, VJ Technologies Group and C-CAMP is being deployed to expand manufacturing capacity across human health, food safety and animal health applications.CrisprBits’ investment is happening at a time when CRISPR moves from lab tool to commercial platform in diagnostics, gene therapies and industrial biotech, drawing sustained interest from strategics and financial investors worldwide. Global CRISPR technology revenues are projected to grow at around 11–16 percent annually this decade, with estimates putting the broader CRISPR market in the $5–23 billion range by 2030–2035 as applications in healthcare, agriculture and biomanufacturing scale up.“Our focus has always been on attracting patient capital that shares our goal to ‘rewrite biology and reimagine the planet,’ CrisprBits co-founder and CEO Vijay Chandru, said in a press release. “This round gives us the fuel to launch in India and immediately scale to global markets with high-quality, affordable solutions,” he said.CrisprBits’ PathCrisp platform targets rapid, point-of-need molecular diagnostics, promising sample-to-result times of under 2.5 hours with minimal infrastructure. The product line spans tests for typhoid, antimicrobial resistance, sickle cell disease, foodborne pathogens and on-farm animal disease surveillance, aimed at hospitals, food processors and livestock producers.Beyond diagnostics, the company’s EdiCrisp platform offers end-to-end gene-editing services using the indigenous enFnCas9 system from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, positioned as more precise than legacy SpCas9 systems.A third platform, CurieCrisp, combines patient-derived iPSC lines, CRISPR-corrected controls and AI analytics to support preclinical research and rare disease drug discovery, with an emphasis on improving access in the Global South.CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, referring to a pattern of repeated DNA sequences found in bacteria and archaea – a major group of single-celled microorganisms.CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing technology that acts like molecular scissors, allowing scientists to cut and modify DNA at specific locations in the genome. The tool was adapted for genome editing in 2012 by researchers including Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, whose work on CRISPR-Cas9 earned them the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and set off a wave of applications in medicine, agriculture and basic research.Consultancy and market-research estimates suggest that CRISPR-related markets are entering a scale-up phase, particularly in health care. One global forecast pegs the CRISPR technology market at about $3.2 billion in 2025, rising to roughly $5.5 billion by 2030 at an annual growth rate of just over 11 percent, driven by demand for genetic disease therapies, functional genomics tools and next-generation diagnostics.Within diagnostics, CRISPR-based tests are expected to grow faster than the broader market as they move into point-of-care infectious disease testing and oncology. The CRISPR-based diagnostics segment alone is projected to climb from around $3.8 billion in 2025 to more than $15 billion by 2034, implying a CAGR of about 16–17 percent as new products win regulatory approvals and reimbursement.India has emerged as an early adopter of CRISPR diagnostics, starting with the FELUDA assay developed by CSIR-IGIB and Tata Group in 2020, which demonstrated the feasibility of low-cost CRISPR-based testing for infectious diseases.Last week, Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched ‘BIRSA 101’, India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease, developed at CSIR-IGIB and transferred to the Serum Institute. The therapy aims to make advanced gene-editing cures affordable for Indian patients, particularly tribal populations, supporting the ambition for a Sickle Cell–free India by 2047.Domestic market forecasts indicate that India’s CRISPR gene detection and diagnostic segment could grow from around $50 million in the mid-2020s to more than $240 million by 2032, with biomedical diagnostics as the largest and fastest-growing application.Recent initiatives include new CRISPR laboratories in Bengaluru for gene editing and diagnostics, and a pipeline of rare-disease and oncology programmes exploring CRISPR-based interventions. Against this backdrop, CrisprBits — founded by BITS Pilani alumni and operating a 7,300-square-foot CRISPR R&D facility in Bengaluru — aims to extend India’s footprint from diagnostic kits to platforms spanning gene editing and sustainable industrial biotechnology.With the fresh capital, CrisprBits plans to ramp up manufacturing at its diagnostics facility and expand distribution into Africa and Latin America over the next six months. In parallel, it intends to build an AI-augmented strain engineering platform focused initially on biofuel production, targeting cost and sustainability gains for industrial partners in chemicals and energy.

An AI generated image for illustrating an Indian startups co-working space.(00:20) Google, Accel to co-invest in Indian AI startupsGoogle and Accel will co-invest in at least 10 early-stage Indian AI startups through a new partnership between Google’s AI Futures Fund and Accel’s Atoms programme, with up to 2 million dollars available per company.The tie-up, based in Bengaluru, is Google’s first such funding collaboration and follows its $15 billion India data-centre commitment and broader push to tap the country’s nearly one billion internet users.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:54) India’s largest bank to launch next climate startup fundSBI Ventures, promoted by State Bank of India and headquartered in Mumbai, intends to raise Rs. 2,000 crore for its third climate-focused investment fund launching in January-March 2026. The fund will invest in early and growth-stage climate startups, particularly frontier climate technologies and AI-enabled innovations.SBI Ventures identified critical funding deficits in water security, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster-proof infrastructure, targeting an estimated $170 billion annual requirement.(01:34) Bio-based coastal concrete material nurtures marine lifeResearchers at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research in Yerseke tested Xiriton, a bio-based concrete alternative made from grass, shells, sand, lime, pozzolan, and seawater, for tidal restoration.After a year, blocks deployed on mudflats were densely colonised by oysters, mussels, and algae while withstanding strong currents, suggesting a durable, degradable, low-alkaline material for greener coastal protection.(02:10) German defence drone startup nears €200m raise Munich-based Quantum Systems is close to securing about €200 million in new funding at a roughly $3 billion valuation, just months after becoming a unicorn. The dual-use surveillance drone maker, founded in 2015, is riding Europe’s defence spending boom as governments seek homegrown aerial intelligence, with annual revenue reportedly growing triple digits on the back of contracts in Ukraine and other NATO markets.(02:42) Europe backs optical vortex photonics networkTampere University in Finland will lead HiPOVor, a €4.4 million EU-funded doctoral network to advance high‑power optical vortex beams and train 15 researchers in photonics.The Europe‑wide consortium of eight universities, the ELI‑NP laser facility in Romania, and nine industry partners aims to turn twisting light beams into core tools for precision manufacturing, particle acceleration, and high‑capacity communications from 2026.

Coming up on Friday, Nov. 28. How’s India’s semiconductor product startup landscape changing. In the next episode of Conversations at India Tech Report, Sunil Cavale at Speciale Invest and Vishal Kataria at Ankur Capital discuss the second edition of their report on this very subject.Catch the full conversation right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a 2-minute preview.Listen to the previewLink to the report at Speciale Invest:https://www.specialeinvest.com/community?pgid=mdx2tvo7-e24d7063-961f-4de4-b405-ce9282527498Link to the report at Ankur Capital:https://www.ankurcapital.com/post/semiconductor-startup-landscape-in-india-2025-perspective

Moin SPM and Srinath Ravichandran, Co-founders of Agnikul Cosmos, are pioneering India’s private small satellite launch vehicles with 3D printed engines.(00:20) Swiss quantum startup shrinks cooling systems for scalable processorsYQuantum has raised CHF 150,000 ($186,000) from Venture Kick to commercialize miniaturized cryogenic hardware for quantum computers. The startup’s compact components address a critical bottleneck: scaling superconducting qubits reliably. By replacing bulky cooling systems with high-performance alternatives, YQuantum brings quantum computing closer to practical deployment.The engineering team, drawn from UC Berkeley and ETH Zurich, targets a rapidly expanding quantum hardware market projected to reach billions in the coming years. Its first commercial units are expected by mid-2026.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(01:10) AI genomics platform launches to scale safer gene therapiesCassidy Bio has unveiled its AI-driven genomic foundation model with an $8 million seed round, backed by Ahren Innovation Capital. The platform combines proprietary lab data, population genetics, and machine learning to design gene-editing therapies at scale. By replacing trial-and-error with predictive engineering, Cassidy addresses persistent challenges: target selection, delivery, and off-target effects.The founding team unites CRISPR pioneers and AI leaders with the aim of moving genome editing from isolated successes to reliable, scalable medical solutions for millions of patients worldwide.(01:56) Swedish chipmaker secures €15 million for advanced etching techAlixLabs has closed a €15 million Series A investment led by Navigare Ventures to accelerate Atomic Layer Etching Pitch Splitting (APS) technology. The breakthrough enables cost-effective production of advanced chips without expensive multi-patterning or exclusive EUV reliance. By slashing process complexity and energy consumption per wafer, APS addresses a critical challenge in chip economics.Beta testing with foundry partners begins in 2026, targeting full manufacturing deployment by 2027. The innovation could reshape semiconductor accessibility globally, lowering barriers for advanced chip production.(02:47) Agnikul secures $17 million in fresh funding for its space rocketsAgnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based space-tech startup, has secured Rs. 150 crore ($17 million) in fresh funding, bringing its valuation to $500 million. The capital will support its next orbital launch mission featuring barge-based booster recovery — a global first for small launch vehicles.Agnikul, which is pioneering India’s private small launch vehicles with 3D printed engines, will expand manufacturing, launch frequency, and establish a 350-acre campus in Tamil Nadu, targeting customers in Europe, Asia, and the US.(03:30) Cambridge team enables LEDs from ‘un-powerable’ nanoparticlesResearchers at the University of Cambridge in Britain have achieved a breakthrough by powering electrically insulating lanthanide-doped nanoparticles using organic molecular antennas. The new approach, discovered by a Cavendish Laboratory-led team, enables highly pure near-infrared LEDs, promising advances in biomedical imaging and optical communications. and published the findings in Nature.

AI generated image for illustration. India is backing the international solar alliance with a call for global action on energy for small island developing nations, at the COP30 meet.(00:20) India calls joint crediting mechanism a model for equitable climate actionAt UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil, India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) is crucial for scalable, technology-driven climate solutions. India-Japan cooperation under JCM will mobilise investments, deploy low-carbon technologies, and build capacity, supporting national climate goals and Article 6 implementation. India’s Carbon Market portal will aid JCM transparency and impact.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(00:50) India urges global solar push for energy security in small island statesSeparately, Minister Yadav highlighted support for Small Island Developing States through the International Solar Alliance. India showcased rooftop solar, solar pumps, and battery projects, calling for global action to boost clean energy, cut diesel imports, and build climate resilience. Over 124 nations now participate in ISA’s initiatives.(01:18) Mehta Family Foundation announces two conferences with IITs The Mehta Family Foundation will host two conferences under its collaboration for academic and research excellence or CARE initiative in partnership with IIT Madras and IIT Guwahati. The events focus on bioengineering and AI, convening global and Indian researchers to advance interdisciplinary collaboration and showcase innovations, marking the Foundation’s growing role in India’s academic ecosystem.(01:48) Glow-in-the-gut pill offers non-invasive colonoscopy alternative Researchers in China have developed a pill embedded with heme-sensing bacteria that glow in response to gastrointestinal bleeding, enabling early colitis detection without invasive colonoscopies. Tested safely in mice, the pill’s magnetic microspheres are retrieved from feces and produce light proportional to disease severity, potentially revolutionizing gut health diagnostics.(02:17) JuliaHub and Synopsys partner to power AI-driven digital twins JuliaHub will integrate its Dyad simulation platform with Synopsys’ Ansys TwinAI, blending physics-based modelling and adaptive AI for more accurate, cloud-based digital twins. The collaboration aims to accelerate innovation in hardware design and system optimization, merging JuliaHub’s SciML tech with Synopsys’ robust simulation ecosystem.(02:45) Rift raises €4.6M to launch Europe’s first on-demand aerial network French startup Rift has raised €4.6 million to deploy autonomous drone stations across Europe, creating a real-time aerial intelligence network for public safety and critical infrastructure monitoring. The “Surveillance-as-a-Service” platform aims to mitigate wildfires, border breaches, and infrastructure threats with plans to deploy 20 stations by 2027.(03:14) Teradar exits stealth with $150M series B for terahertz vision sensors Teradar, a Boston startup, has unveiled its terahertz vision sensor technology for automotive safety after raising $150 million in Series B funding. The modular terahertz sensor offers all-weather perception to enhance autonomous driving and commercial vehicle safety, with production targeted by 2028. Investors include Lockheed Martin Ventures and VXI Capital.

AI generated image of Chandrayaan on the Lunar surface for illustration. India’s Karnataka state has unveiled its space tech policy 2025-30.(00:21) Karnataka unveils India’s first Quantum City plan, space policyKarnataka launched India’s first Quantum City blueprint at the Bengaluru Tech Summit this week, with a plan to create a Rs. 1,000 crore integrated quantum cluster in Hesaraghatta. The project targets global leadership in quantum research, chip manufacturing, and talent export, with dedicated parks, startup zones, and international collaborations to boost Bengaluru’s quantum ecosystem.(00:51) Separately, the state government also unveiled its Space Technology Policy 2025–2030 at the Summit, seeking to make the state a global leader in space innovation, manufacturing, and research. The policy emphasizes building skilled talent, fostering deep-tech startups, and integrating space technology in governance, aiming to capture 50 percent of India’s space market by 2030.Listen to the episode(01:18) Skycore Semi bags €5M to boost AI datacenter chipsDanish fabless design startup Skycore Semiconductors has raised €5 million in seed funding led by Amadeus APEX, with participation from First Momentum, Mätch VC, and Balnord. The funds will accelerate the commercial rollout of high-density Power ICs tailored for 800V HVDC data centers, targeting the power bottleneck in next-gen AI infrastructure.(01:47) Steele Group opens Boston’s deep tech hub BASE-XSteele Group has launched BASE-X, a 25,000-square-foot headquarters in downtown Boston dedicated to deep tech innovation, the US real estate developer said in a press release. Serving as a hub for venture capital, operators, and partners, BASE-X aims to catalyze investment, operational excellence, and collaboration in fields including AI, energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing.(02:18) Breakthrough in rare-earth magnetism promises quantum tech leapScientists in India have discovered a new type of magnetism in neodymium nitride (NdN) thin films driven by orbital angular momentum, not just electron spin. This finding, led by JNCASR, enables the tuning of materials for faster, more efficient quantum and spintronic devices, enhancing India’s role in rare-earth and advanced materials research.(02:51) India launches first indigenous CRISPR gene therapy for sickle cellUnion Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched ‘BIRSA 101’, India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease, developed at CSIR-IGIB and transferred to the Serum Institute. The therapy aims to make advanced gene-editing cures affordable for Indian patients, particularly tribal populations, supporting the ambition for a Sickle Cell–free India by 2047.

A chip built by Princeton’s Nathalie de Leon, Andrew Houck, Robert Cava and their research teams supports qubits with coherence times longer than 1 millisecond — three times longer than the best ever reported in a lab setting, and nearly 15 times longer than the industry standard.Image by Matthew Raspanti, Office of Communications, Princeton University.(00:21) Princeton’s qubit breakthrough extends coherence threefoldPrinceton University researchers have demonstrated a quantum qubit with coherence times exceeding one millisecond — triple the laboratory record and fifteen times the industry standard, Science Daily reports. The team built a functioning quantum chip proving the design supports error correction at scale, addressing the fundamental challenge limiting quantum processors.Their architecture is compatible with systems used by Google and IBM. According to analysis, replacing key components in Google’s Willow processor with Princeton’s approach could yield a thousandfold performance increase, signalling meaningful progress toward fault-tolerant quantum systems essential for practical applications.Listen to the episode(01:10) Google quantum AI achieves 13,000× speedup on physicsSeparately, some of you may recall that last month Google announced that its Willow quantum processor executed a physics simulation 13,000 times faster than classical supercomputers using a novel “Quantum Echoes” algorithm published in Nature. The breakthrough demonstrates the first verifiable quantum advantage running a physically meaningful algorithm — measuring quantum interference effects called out-of-time-order correlators.Beyond raw speed, the work establishes quantum computing’s practical relevance to experimental science, particularly nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, validating a path toward real-world quantum applications within five years.(01:54) Sentinel-6B launches to continue climate monitoring missionThe European Space Agency and NASA successfully launched Copernicus Sentinel-6B aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Nov. 17, continuing a decades-long mission tracking sea-level rise — a critical indicator of climate change, Spaceflight Now reports.The satellite carries advanced altimetry instruments measuring ocean surface heights with centimetre precision, directly supporting climate science and international efforts to understand planetary warming. This mission exemplifies the growing convergence of space infrastructure and environmental monitoring, with satellite data becoming indispensable for climate policy and adaptation planning worldwide.(02:43) Emulate launches organ-on-chip platform for drug developmentEmulate, a leader in organ-on-chip technology, unveiled its Brain-Chip R1 in partnership with FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics to accelerate neurological drug discovery, the company said in a press release. The platform uses living human brain cells to model central nervous system responses, addressing a critical gap in preclinical testing where traditional methods fail to predict clinical outcomes.This technology promises faster, more reliable validation of neurological therapeutics while reducing dependence on animal testing—positioning Emulate at the intersection of biotechnology and advanced manufacturing innovation.(03:27) Cornerstone Robotics raises $200 million for surgical robot platformHong Kong’s Cornerstone Robotics secured $200 million in fresh funding to accelerate global commercialization of its multi arm Sentire Endoscopic Surgical System, Fierce Biotech reports.Recently approved in China and now in UK clinical trials, the platform targets colorectal and urologic surgeries. The round, backed by major global funds, affirms demand for accessible next-gen surgical robotics as the company deepens its global footprint.

An ISRO SSLV with an Earth Obervation Satellite. Govt backing for space tech startups is soaring. Image source ISRO website.(00:21) SIDBI hits first close of Antariksh, India’s largest space fundSIDBI Venture Capital announced the first close of its Antariksh fund at Rs 1,005 crore, anchored by a Rs 1,000 crore commitment from IN-SPACe, Times of India reports. Registered as a Category II alternative investment fund with a decade-long tenure, it represents India’s largest dedicated space-tech vehicle and among the biggest globally.The Rs. 1,600 crore fund will back early and growth-stage companies across launch systems, satellites, ground infrastructure, earth observation and downstream applications. The initiative advances India’s ambition to build a $44 billion space economy by 2033.Listen to the episode(01:03) IIT Delhi spin-off delivers quantum-grade laser breakthroughPrenishq unveiled India’s first indigenous high-precision compact diode laser, marking a significant step forward in the nation’s quantum technology efforts. Supported by the National Quantum Mission, Prenishq’s laser delivers high beam quality, superior stability and long-term reliability across wavelengths from ultraviolet to near infrared, according to a statement from the ministry of science and technology.The plug-and-play system will enable quantum-safe transactions for financial institutions, protecting sensitive data against future quantum computing threats. It also supports photonic quantum computers tackling drug discovery and chemical process analysis.(01:49) Government backs Rs 7,172 crore electronics manufacturing pushThe Ministry of Electronics and IT has approved seventeen proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, spanning nine states with cumulative investment of Rs 7,172 crore. The projects will generate Rs 65,111 crore in production and create 11,808 direct jobs.Key approvals include India’s first optical transceiver manufacturing facilities by Jabil Circuit India and Zetchem Supply Chain Services, alongside oscillators for communication devices and industrial electronics. The scheme targets components for smartphones, IT hardware, electric vehicles, defence and renewable energy sectors.(02:40) Hyderabad biotech startup forges Japan regenerative med tie-upBioVaram, incubated at the University of Hyderabad’s ASPIRE-BioNEST, entered a strategic partnership with Japan’s Teijin Limited to expand regenerative medicine between the two nations, UNI reports. The collaboration will bring Teijin’s cardiovascular repair patch SYNFOLIUM and Japan Tissue Engineering’s regenerative products to India, whilst Teijin supports commercialisation of BioVaram’s exosome-based diagnostics, therapeutics and bio-derived materials in Japan.Founded in 2020 and recognised among the top five startups at BioAsia 2024, BioVaram develops artificial intelligence-driven peptides, exosomes and biomaterials for regenerative medicine. The alliance strengthens India’s capabilities in advanced tissue engineering and scalable manufacturing.(03:36) Varaha raises $30M for India’s regenerative agriculture programmeClimate tech startup Varaha has raised $30 million from French sustainable investor Mirova to expand its Kheti soil-carbon project across Haryana and Punjab, TechCrunch reports. The transaction, structured as project-level investment against future carbon credits, represents Mirova’s largest single carbon deal and its first in India.The funds will support over 337,000 smallholder farmers implementing regenerative practices across 675,000 hectares. Varaha operates four removal pathways: regenerative agriculture, biochar, agroforestry on degraded lands and enhanced rock weathering. The company runs experiments with institutions including IARI Pusa and IIT Kharagpur to quantify net carbon change. Earlier this year, Varaha signed a multi-year biochar offtake agreement with Google.

L-R: Shravan Shankar and Simmi Sareen, co-founders of Climake, have recently released the fifth edition of their annual state of climate finance in India report.In this episode, I’m joined by Simmi Sareen and Shravan Shankar, co-founders of Climake, a climate finance platform and advisory, to talk about their fifth annual report on the state of climate finance in India – 2025 edition.In 2024, equity capital deployed reached $9.4 billion, about double from the previous year, with public markets absorbing 60 percent of all funding. Simmi and Shravan also talk about some consequential shifts: such as the emergence of a public capital ecosystem that routes money to climate solutions that can be vital while not being attractive to venture capital investors.The two co-founders have formally tracked this evolution ever since they founded Climake in the middle of the Covid pandemic, and much longer in various capacities before that. Simmi brings to Climake two decades of mainstream finance experience, including at a global investment bank, and she’s previously built a climate-focused fintech and debt platform.Shravan has built his career across sustainability policy, innovation ecosystems, and climate entrepreneurship. Their annual State of Climate Finance reports are increasingly widely accepted in the industry as investor look at India-specific decisions.In this conversation they talk about what their fifth report reveals: a $2 trillion capital requirement through 2035, a substantive shift toward adaptation financing, and the expanding role of public markets in sectors like wastewater treatment and solar components that aren’t attractive from a VC’s perspective.The discussion spans emerging technologies from sustainable fuels and flow batteries to seaweed-based biochar solutions, the persistent gaps in growth-stage capital for asset-heavy climate enterprises, and how adaptation will reshape investment contours as it becomes increasingly urgent.

Simmi Sareen and Shravan Shankar co-founders of Climake have released the 5th edition of their annual report on the state of climate finance in India.Coming up, in the next episode of India Tech Report: In Conversation, Simmi Sareen and Shravan Shankar at Climake discuss their State of Climate Finance in India 2025 report.Catch the full conversation tomorrow right here, or wherever you get your podcasts.Meanwhile, here’s a 90-second view point on how there are sectors and companies that aren’t necessarily suited for VC funding, but still can do very well and sometimes via the public markets route.While VCs optimise for venture returns, public markets accommodate businesses with steady but modest growth profiles.Neither model is superior; rather, their coexistence creates a broader funding ecosystem.Listen to the episodeIndia’s public markets are funding climate businesses that venture capital investors won’t find attractive. VCs have historically avoided sectors like wastewater treatment, solar pumps, and heat exchangers — industries they deem to lack sufficient competitive moats. Yet these same businesses are thriving on public exchanges.Of 39 climate IPOs they tracked recently, 18 were valued below $10 million, suggesting companies aren’t listing for traditional exit valuations but rather to access capital unavailable through VC channels.This matters because sectors excluded from venture portfolios are often critical to India’s decarbonisation pathway. Wastewater treatment and agricultural technology address real climate adaptation needs, but conventional VC return thresholds misalign with their economics.For climate entrepreneurs, the implication is clear: IPO routes may not necessarily be about scale, but they provide access. India’s climate finance challenge requires utilising all available capital channels, and public markets are filling a void that private capital has held back from.

Simmi Sareen and Shravan Shankar co-founders of Climake have released the 5th edition of their annual report on the state of climate finance in India.Listen to the previewCatch the full conversation on Friday, Nov. 14 right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a one-minute preview.Climakehttps://www.climake.co

Dr. S Somanath, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, delivering a keynote at the deep tech VC firm Speciale Invest’s annual summit in Chennai on Nov. 3.News, views, and conversations with founders, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.In this episode I bring you a lightly edited version of a speech made by Dr. S. Somanath, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Dr. Somanath was speaking at the VC firm Speciale Invest’s annual deep tech summit, in Chennai on Nov. 3.Listen to the episodeIn his talk, Dr. Somanath outlines his views on India’s nascent but fast evolving deep tech ecosystem, drawing from his transformative tenure at the helm of the nation’s space programme. He reflects on ISRO’s journey from a closed-door organization to an enabler of private space enterprises, catalyzed by the landmark space sector reforms in India in recent years.Dr. Somanath discusses India’s ambitious goal to grow its share of the global space economy from 2 percent to 10 percent, tapping the space applications opportunities in critical deep tech domains including AI, biotechnology, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor production.He addresses the scaling challenges faced by deep tech startups, emphasizing the crucial role of government as an anchor customer, the need for patient capital from investors, and regulatory reforms that can unlock growth. With India’s youth population and vast untapped markets, Dr. Somanath presents a vision where indigenous capability development, academic-industry collaboration, and strategic policy interventions can position India as a global deep tech powerhouse.Dr. S Somanathhttps://www.isro.gov.in/DrS_Somanath.htmlSpeciale Investhttps://www.specialeinvest.com/about

News, views, and conversations with founders, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.QpiAI Founder Nagendra Nagaraja is has unveiled a 64-qubit quantum processor.Nvidia, Qualcomm join alliance to mentor Indian deep tech startupsNvidia has joined the $2 billion India Deep Tech Alliance as a founding member, pledging mentorship and advanced training to support local AI, semiconductor, and robotics startups, CNBC reports. Qualcomm Ventures, Activate AI, InfoEdge Ventures, Chirate Ventures and Kalaari Capital also joined the US-India alliance, which was announced in September initially comprising eight VC and PE firms as founding members, with a commitment of $1 billion. The partnership comes ahead of India’s AI Impact Summit, planned for February 2026.Listen to the episodeQpiAI unveils 64-qubit Kaveri, India’s top quantum processorQpiAI has unveiled a 64-qubit superconducting quantum processor, named Kaveri, marking India’s most powerful quantum chip. Introduced at India’s first emerging tech and innovation conclave in Delhi on Nov. 3, the processor could be useful in cryptography, machine learning, materials research and drug discovery. Its commercial release is slated for Q3 2026. Founder CEO Nagendra Nagaraja, started the venture in 2019. It’s raised $32 million in funding from backers including the Government of India’s National Quantum Mission.UK Lawmakers warn nation’s science sector faces critical declineA parliamentary report in the UK says the nation’s science sector is “bleeding to death,” citing stagnant research budgets, policy churn, and aid cuts, Science reports. Lawmakers warn that delays in promised funding, loss of global competitiveness, and growing deficits at universities threaten the nation’s research leadership, urging urgent government action to prevent lasting damage.New drug candidate shows promise against drug-resistant tuberculosisScientists have developed CMX410, a compound that blocks a key enzyme in tuberculosis bacteria, proving highly effective even against drug-resistant strains, Science Daily reports. Created using click chemistry, CMX410 targets cell wall synthesis, showing safety in animal trials and compatibility with existing therapies. Early results indicate strong potential for improved, shorter, and safer TB treatments, according to the report.Magnons could unlock ultrafast, energy-saving computers of futureUniversity of Delaware engineers have discovered that magnetic waves called magnons can generate electric signals in special materials – a breakthrough that may enable computer chips to merge magnetic and electrical systems, which in turn could enable ultrafast operation at terahertz speeds with drastically lower energy use, Science Daily reports. The work advances hybrid quantum material research for next-generation computing technologies, according to the report.LambdaVision raises $7M to build artificial retina in spaceLambdaVision has raised $7 million in seed funding to advance manufacturing of its protein-based artificial retina aboard the International Space Station, Tech Funding News reports. The microgravity process yields highly uniform films, aiming to restore sight for patients with degenerative eye diseases. Investors include Seven Seven Six, Aurelia Foundry Fund, and Seraphim Space.In ConversationHigh voltage harvest: Anoop Srikantaswamy’s electric vision for the future of Indian agricultureby Hari ArakaliMay 19, 2026Autonomous tractors: Anoop Srikantaswamy at Moonrider on the bigger picture — full interview coming soonby Hari ArakaliMay 16, 2026

In today’s episode, Neil Shah, co-founder and vice president at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, gives us a quick take on Intel’s new Panther Lake processor and its potential use cases in robotics and physical AI.Intel’s new Panther Lake SoC marks a defining turn in the company’s roadmap toward robotics-ready edge computing. In this quick-take episode, Neil explains how the chip’s modular ‘chiplet’ design, delivering up to 180 trillion operations per second (TOPS), could make Intel a contender below Nvidia’s high-end robotics tier.He also weighs in on the ‘physical AI’ applications for robots that sense, analyze, and act locally. And is there an opportunity here for India’s fabless chip design startups? Stay on to hear Neil’s views on this.Neil Shahhttps://counterpointresearch.com/default.htm/opinion-leader/Shah?id=10Intel’s Panther Lake press releasehttps://newsroom.intel.com/client-computing/intel-unveils-panther-lake-architecture-first-ai-pc-platform-built-on-18aMore on Intel’s Physical AI software suitehttps://community.intel.com/t5/Blogs/Tech-Innovation/Artificial-Intelligence-AI/Simplify-Physical-AI-Deployment-with-Intel-Robotics-AI-Suite/post/1719666

Ganapathy ‘Gani’ Subramaniam, founding managing partner at Yali Capital.In today’s episode, Ganapathy ‘Gani’ Subramaniam, founding managing partner of Yali Capital, a deep-tech VC firm in Bengaluru, joins me for Part 2 of our discussion on the firm’s debut deep-tech fund.In this conversation, we picked up with Yali’s investment in Perceptyne, a company developing humanoid robotics for manufacturing and eventually physical AI applications. Gani then speaks about the semiconductor industry in India, identifying opportunities for both globally competitive and domestically focused fabless chip design companies, with the C2i Semiconductors in the first category.And if you stay on, you’ll get Gani’s insights into the importance of diverse co-founding teams, global thinking, and why storytelling holds the key to funding – something that India’s deep tech founders need to master.

Bhaktha Ram Keshavachar, founder and CEO of Chara Technologies.In this episode, Bhaktha Ram Keshavachar, founder and CEO of Chara Technologies, talks about a new funding round at his startup.Chara, based in Bengaluru, specializes in building rare earth-free motors and matching controllers. That China, which has a near monopoly on the supply chain of rare earth minerals, has intensified its restrictions on their exports, is something of a tailwind for ventures like Chara.In this briefing, Bhaktha covers the company’s Series A funding of Rs. 52 crore, or about $6 million, led by Arkam Ventures, with participation from Exfinity Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital, and IIMA Ventures, and how the money will help.Plans include, ramping up sales, further investment in new technology and products, and a significant increase in motor production capacity.

Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world.IFC proposes $6M equity investment in African Catalyst FundThe International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to invest up to $6 million in Catalyst Fund, which is targeting a corpus of $40 million for early-stage climate-tech startups across Africa, Africa Private Equity News reports. Managed by Catalyst Impact Partners, the fund focuses on fintech for climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and climate-smart services in multiple African countries including Nigeria and Kenya. This investment supports the growth of early-stage climate solutions continent-wide.Listen to the podcastSpain stands out for ESG and climate tech startups amid extreme weatherSpain, highly impacted by extreme climate events like heatwaves and floods, is emerging as a European leader in ESG and climate tech startups. Companies like Credibl use AI-powered platforms to help over 150 organizations meet sustainability goals, Novobrief reports. Supported by €163 billion EU green funds, Spain is advancing toward a low-carbon, resilient economy aligned with the EU Green Deal.Iceland reigns as global climate tech leader in 2025Iceland is recognized globally for its leadership in climate tech, excelling in geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, and biotech innovations, Energy Digital reports. With projects like Carbfix converting CO2 to stone and advanced geothermal power, Iceland combines strong public leadership, research, and cross-sector collaboration to pioneer scalable, impactful climate solutions. Its renewable energy-powered tech scene is rapidly growing and influential worldwide.India and UAE deepen cooperation in climate action and biodiversityIn Abu Dhabi, India’s Union MoS for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh met with UAE Environment Minister Dr. Amna Al Shamsi to strengthen collaboration on climate action, biodiversity, and sustainable development, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change states in a press release. India praised UAE’s leadership at COP28 and its Mangrove Alliance for Climate initiative. Both nations plan to boost partnerships in global climate initiatives like ISA, CDRI, and LeadIT, advancing Mission LiFE goals together.Ministry of New & Renewable Energy completes preparatory phase of Special Campaign 5.0The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), along with its CPSUs and autonomous institutes, successfully completed the preparatory phase of Special Campaign 5.0 from September 15-30, 2025, as stated in a Ministry of New and Renewable Energy press release. The campaign aims to institutionalize cleanliness and efficiency in government offices. The implementation phase began October 2 and will run through October 31, focusing on achieving cleanliness and operational targets.GPS Renewables names ex-L&T executive as CPOGPS Renewables has appointed Harikrishnan B as its Chief Projects Officer, a critical leadership position as the company expands its portfolio of large-scale biofuel infrastructure projects, it said in a press release. The full-stack renewable oil & gas firm tapped the former L&T executive for his two decades of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) expertise, which includes managing a $1 billion+ project for Saudi Aramco. His GalaxEye sets 2026 Q1 for multi-sensor satellite launchGalaxEye’s founders: (L-R) Denil Chawda CTO, Pranit Mehta VP of Business Development, Suyash Singh CEO, Kishan Thakkar VP of Engineering, Rakshit Bhatt VP of Product Development.Space-tech startup GalaxEye has announced plans for its inaugural ‘Mission Drishti’ in the first quarter of 2026, to put its first synthetic aperture radar and high-resolution optical payloads on a single platform in space in low Earth orbit.This first satellite is said to be India’s largest privately built spacecraft, weighing 160 kg. It also has the highest-resolution, according to a press release from GalaxEye. This launch initiates a constellation programme comprising 8–12 satellites to be deployed through 2029, aiming for near real-time Earth observation.Mission Drishti utilizes GalaxEye’s proprietary SyncFused Opto-SAR technology. This multi-sensor configuration is designed to provide all-weather, all-time Earth observation data with 1.5-metre spatial resolution. The system, which recently underwent successful structural testing at ISRO, will support governments, defense agencies, and industries with geospatial analysis for applications including border surveillance, disaster management, and infrastructure monitoring.

Ganapathy Subramaniam, founding managing partner of Yali Capital.Listen to the episodeComing up on Wednesday, Oct. 15The importance frugal engineering, diverse co-founder teams, and strong customer focus for deep tech startups.In Part 2 of my conversation with Ganapathy Subramaniam, founding managing partner at Yali Capital, in which Gani discusses his firm’s focus on deep tech and semiconductor startups in India. We picked up from where we left off in the first part of our chat two weeks ago, with an overview of Perceptine, a humanoid robotics company Yali has invested in.He highlights the startup’s opportunities in serving Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers, and the future potential for physical AI. Gani also details the broader landscape of the Indian semiconductor industry, noting opportunities for companies targeting global markets (like C2i Semiconductors, which focuses on power components for high-compute processes) and those serving the domestic Indian market in segments such as energy meters or surveillance cameras.Finally, Gani offers takeaways from his own entrepreneurial journey with Cosmic Circuits, emphasizing the importance of frugal engineering, diverse co-founder teams, and strong customer focus for deep tech founders today. You can catch the full conversation right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a two-minute preview.

Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world.illustrative image of an automotive assembly line. China controls over 90 percent of the processing capacity of rare earth minerals needed in magnets that go into EVs. Its tightening restrictions are impacting global supply chains.China tightens rare earth export controlsChina has expanded its restrictions on rare earth exports to safeguard national security and interests, a move seen as Beijing strengthening its leverage in trade talks with the US. The new rules add five more rare-earth elements to the existing control list, bringing the total to 12, Reuters reports. Export licenses will now be required for the production technologies of these minerals and for their overseas use, including for military and semiconductor applications.China is seeking assurances from India that rare earth magnets supplied by it will only be used locally for civilian purposes, and also that they will not be exported to the US, Economic Times reports.Listen to the episodeIndia targets 5MMT annual hydrogen output by 2030India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, said that the country’s “Hydrogen Age has begun,” with a target to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, ET Energyworld reports. This would account for 10% of the global market. A key project is the NTPC Green Hydrogen Hub near Visakhapatnam, which will be one of the country’s largest integrated green hydrogen facilities. The government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission has an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crore to help achieve these goals.Andhra Pradesh forms hydrogen advisory panelThe Andhra Pradesh government has formed a high-level advisory committee to promote the green hydrogen initiative ‘Green Hydrogen Valley – Amaravati,’ The Hindu reports. The panel, co-chaired by Dr. V.K. Saraswat and Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand, will guide the state’s efforts in technology adoption, research, and infrastructure development. The goal is to make Andhra Pradesh India’s largest green hydrogen hub by 2030, contributing to the country’s sustainable hydrogen economy.Tokamak Energy and Gauss Fusion partner to advance fusionTokamak Energy and Gauss Fusion have announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of fusion technology. The partnership will focus on advancing high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. This alliance brings together Tokamak Energy’s expertise in HTS technology with Gauss Fusion’s leadership in industrializing fusion energy. The companies aim to pool their industrial know-how to accelerate the path to the first generation of European fusion power plants.Aavishkaar Group launches defence and deep-tech fundAavishkaar Group has partnered with Jamwant Ventures to launch the ‘Jamwant Ventures Fund 2’, India’s first veteran-led defence and deep-tech fund. The new fund, targeting a corpus of INR 500 crore, is the first initiative under Aavishkaar’s new ‘OneAavishkaar’ platform. The partnership aims to provide catalytic capital and strategic mentorship to indigenous startups, empowering them to drive innovation for national security.Newtral raises funds for global expansionNewtral Technologies, a climate-tech startup in Bengaluru, has raised $600,000 in funding from NOW Accelerate, Indian Startup Times reports. The capital will help Newtral expand its sustainability platform and prepare for a Series A funding round. As part of the partnership, NOW will provide venture-building resources and expertise to help Newtral scale its platform, which helps businesses measure, report, and reduce their emissions.

Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world.Shilpa Kumar, MD, BII India, with Priya Shah , Founder, Theia Ventures. BII is backing Theia’s $30 million clean energy fund in India. Image source: press release.ABB sells robotics unit to SoftBank for $5.375 billionABB has announced it will divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.375 billion, a decision made as an alternative to spinning off the business, the company said in a press release. The move is expected to create immediate value for ABB shareholders and use the proceeds to improve its capital allocation. The transaction is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.Listen to the episodeHoneywell and LS Electric partner to innovate data center solutionsHoneywell and LS Electric have announced a global partnership to develop and market hardware and software for data centers and battery energy storage systems, the companies said in a press release. The collaboration will create integrated power solutions to simplify management and improve efficiency, helping data centers avoid costly downtime. They will also create a new grid and building-aware battery energy storage system.Space Ocean signs deal to explore nuclear power for deep spaceSpace Ocean Corp and Space Nuclear Power Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent to explore using advanced nuclear power systems for deep space missions, the companies said in a press release. The collaboration will test a 10-kilowatt nuclear reactor on Space Ocean’s ALV-N satellite. If successful, Space Nukes could become a primary supplier for Space Ocean’s future lunar and planetary missions.India’s space economy projected to reach $44 billion by 2033India’s space economy is projected to reach $44 billion by 2033, up from $8.4 billion in 2022, according to Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, addressing the “Satcom” at the India Mobile Congress 2025, according to a press release from the department of space. Regulatory reforms and private sector participation have driven this growth, leading to over 300 space startups.The Minister noted that satellite communication will be critical for digital connectivity and financial inclusion in rural areas. India has commercially launched 433 foreign satellites, generating substantial revenue. The long-term roadmap includes establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.Theia Ventures secures funding to boost India’s clean energy transitionTheia Ventures has achieved the first close of its new $30 million fund, with British International Investment as the anchor investor, the VC firm said in a post. The fund will support around 20 early-stage Indian startups focused on decarbonizing sectors like heavy industry and mobility. The firm, which has already begun deploying capital, will invest between $500,000 and $1 million per company.