The Right to Disconnect Bill: Could This Change India’s Work-Life Culture for Good?
December 9, 2025
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- Sun, 14 December 2025
In a landmark development, eight prominent U.S. and Indian venture capital and private equity firms, namely Accel, Blume Ventures, Celesta Capital, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Premji Invest, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts, have formed the India Deep Tech Investment Alliance, committing over $1 billion over the next decade to fund Indian deep-tech startups.
The alliance supports domains like semiconductors, space, quantum, robotics, biotech, AI, energy, climate tech, and the digital economy, and is aligned with both India’s ₹1 lakh crore RDI policy and the U.S.–India TRUST strategic framework. Members will pool resources for investments, mentorship, and policy engagement, creating a unified voice for deep-tech growth in India.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal sharply criticised India’s startup ecosystem for being overly focused on delivery apps and convenience-based services like Zomato, saying many ventures were merely turning unemployed youth into cheap labour so the wealthy could have food delivered, instead of creating transformative technologies.
Contrasting India’s obsession with “fancy ice creams and cookies” against China’s strides in semiconductors, robotics, AI, and 3D manufacturing, he asked whether India wanted to be known for “making chips or selling ice cream,” urging founders to aim for deep-tech innovation that can power national progress.
India aims to become a global leader in deep technology, backing this ambition with substantial investments.
In the latest national budget, the government announced a ₹1 trillion (approximately $11 billion) Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme to fund long-term technologies, including AI, semiconductors, space, and biotech. Alongside this, the new India Deep Tech Alliance will encourage startups to remain incorporated in India rather than relocating abroad, helping the country retain its talent and innovation.
On the AI front, India has launched a $1.2 billion, five-year AI mission, which includes establishing AI Centres of Excellence in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities. These centres aim to make advanced technology accessible and useful for everyday problems. Meanwhile, states are joining the race—Andhra Pradesh has announced plans for a “Quantum Valley”, with global tech giants like IBM and TCS involved, to boost research in quantum computing and other frontier fields.
The TRUST initiative, short for Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology, was jointly announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Trump during Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025.
The framework promises deep bilateral cooperation in critical minerals, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, defense, energy, and space.
While President Trump’s new tariff regime is expected to hit broad swathes of global trade, analysts note that its direct effect on TRUST may be limited. This is because TRUST is structured around strategic sectors, government-backed R&D, and long-term supply chain partnerships, rather than short-term consumer imports.
India today hosts over 3,600 deep-tech startups, representing about 12% of the country’s total startup base.
These startups are tackling complex, high-barrier problems using frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, drones, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, space-tech, and cybersecurity.
AI dominates the field, with three out of four new deep-tech startups founded in 2023 focused on AI solutions. About 86% of funded deep-tech ventures in India are AI-led, and 41% of all deep-tech patent filings relate to AI applications.
Standout companies include:
Pixxel – a Bengaluru-based space-tech startup building a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites, with $95 million raised to date.
QpiAI and BosonQ Psi – homegrown quantum-tech ventures supported by India’s National Quantum Mission.
IdeaForge – a drone-tech firm that recently went public and is a key supplier for defence.
IcarusNova and Agnikul Cosmos – aerospace startups advancing space launch and propulsion technologies.
Bugworks Research – a biotech innovator developing next-generation antibiotics and cancer therapies.
[Credits for header image: Entrepreneur
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. This has been constituted based on third-party sources. We do not assume any liability for actions taken based on this information.]
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