Delhi, India,22 August 2025: The Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has unveiled a high-powered DeepTech Advisory Board aimed at strengthening India’s deep tech startup ecosystem. Announced on 22 August, the initiative brings together a formidable coalition of investors, founders, policymakers, academics, and industry experts to address critical challenges and foster the growth of emerging deeptech startups in India. The Board will spearhead the #100DesiDeepTechs initiative, a nation-building effort to identify and support 100 high-potential deeptech startups, positioning India as a global leader in cutting-edge technologies.
Formation and Objectives of the DeepTech Advisory Board
The DeepTech Advisory Board, launched by SPF, is a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to provide strategic direction for India’s deep tech policy framework. The Board’s primary objective is to guide the #100DesiDeepTechs initiative, a collaborative effort with MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India–DPIIT, and IIT-Madras. This initiative aims to identify and nurture 100 deeptech startups across various domains, including semiconductors, quantum technologies, green hydrogen, space technologies, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. By providing mentorship, policy support, and visibility, the Board aims to address regulatory bottlenecks and foster a conducive environment for deep tech innovation. The Centre for DeepTech Policy Research (CDPR), SPF’s dedicated hub for deeptech policy work, will work closely with the Board to translate insights into actionable policy recommendations.
Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO of SPF, emphasised the initiative’s significance, stating, “India has the potential to be the world’s deeptech powerhouse. Our mission is to give these startups the right mentorship, policy support, and visibility so they can create the next wave of transformative companies from India.”
Challenges Facing India’s Startup Ecosystem
India’s startup ecosystem, despite its rapid growth, faces significant hurdles, particularly in the deeptech sector. High capital requirements, complex regulatory frameworks, and limited access to specialised infrastructure pose barriers to scaling innovative technologies. Deeptech startups, which focus on breakthrough innovations in fields such as quantum computing and space technology, often require lengthy development cycles and substantial investment, making them riskier for investors compared to consumer-focused startups. Additionally, navigating India’s complex regulatory landscape can be daunting, with overlapping policies and bureaucratic delays that often hinder growth.
The lack of tailored policy support further exacerbates these challenges. For instance, startups in the semiconductor or biotechnology industries often face stringent compliance requirements that are not aligned with their innovative business models. Moreover, the absence of a robust ecosystem for mentorship and collaboration limits the ability of deeptech startups to translate cutting-edge research into market-ready solutions.
Why the DeepTech Advisory Board Matters
The formation of SPF’s DeepTech Advisory Board is a timely response to these challenges. By uniting stakeholders from across the ecosystem, the Board ensures a holistic approach to addressing the needs of deeptech startups. Its collaboration with IIT-Madras to curate the #100DesiDeepTechs cohort will identify startups with high growth potential and provide them with targeted support. The initiative’s focus on policy advocacy, through roundtables and a forthcoming report by Ikigai Law, aims to streamline regulations and unlock growth opportunities.
The Board’s diverse composition is a key strength, enabling it to tackle challenges from multiple angles. Investors bring insights into funding and scalability, founders offer practical perspectives on innovation, and policymakers ensure alignment with national priorities. This synergy is crucial for creating an ecosystem where deep-tech startups can flourish, contributing to India’s goal of becoming a global technology leader.
Looking Ahead
Over the coming months, SPF will organise focused roundtables to gather policy inputs from the #100DesiDeepTechs cohort. These insights will be compiled into a comprehensive report to be presented at the DeepTech Baithak, to shape a forward-looking policy framework. Startups interested in joining the cohort can apply by August 25, 2025, via SPF’s website or by emailing secretariat@indiaspf.org.
With a membership of over 50 leading startups, including CRED, Swiggy, and Zerodha, SPF is well-positioned to drive impactful change. The formation of the DeepTech Advisory Board marks a pivotal step in empowering India’s deeptech startups to overcome systemic challenges and lead the charge in global innovation. The DeepTech Advisory Board comprises prominent figures such as investors Prashanth Prakash (Accel India), Anjali Bansal (Avaana Capital), and Sateesh Andra (Endiya Partners), founders like Tarun Mehta (Ather Energy) and Anirudh Sharma (Digantara), and policymakers, including Dr. Chagun Basha (Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor). The Board represents a cross-section of expertise. Academic leader Prof. Thillai Rajan (IIT Madras) and startup ecosystem enabler Shradha Sharma (YourStory) further enrich the group’s diversity.
