New Delhi: Nvidia has joined the India Deep Tech Alliance, a growing consortium of Indian and US investors supporting the country’s emerging deep-tech ecosystem. The alliance, which aims to bridge the funding gap for research-driven startups, announced on Wednesday that new members have joined, bringing fresh capital commitments worth over $850 million.

The new investors include Qualcomm Ventures, Activate AI, InfoEdge Ventures, Chirate Ventures, and Kalaari Capital. Formed in September with an initial $1 billion commitment, the alliance supports companies working in high-impact sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, space technology, and robotics.

As a founding member and strategic advisor, Nvidia will offer technical expertise, training, and policy inputs to help Indian deep-tech startups integrate advanced AI and computing capabilities into their products and processes.

The move comes amid efforts to address the persistent funding shortfall faced by India’s deep-tech ventures, which often require long development timelines and face uncertain commercial returns. The government recently unveiled a $12 billion plan to boost research and development, seeking to strengthen India’s manufacturing and innovation base.

According to Nasscom, deep-tech startup funding in India rose 78 per cent to $1.6 billion last year, though it still made up only one-fifth of total venture funding worth $7.4 billion. The alliance’s expansion aims to help close this gap by combining capital, mentorship, and access to global networks.

Sriram Viswanathan, founding managing partner at Celesta Capital, told Reuters that the rising institutional support marks a key moment for India’s deep-tech journey. “There’s no better time for India to look at deep tech,” he said, adding that growing government involvement has improved investor confidence.

Celesta, which has backed startups such as space-tech company Agnikul Cosmos and drone manufacturer IdeaForge, helped launch the alliance alongside Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, and Premji Invest, among others. Members plan to deploy their own funds over the next five to ten years, while offering mentorship and industry linkages to early-stage founders.

“There's no real pooling of capital. It's voluntary,” Viswanathan added, comparing the structure of the alliance to that of industry body Nasscom.

The India Deep Tech Alliance’s expansion reflects a growing recognition that building indigenous technology capabilities will be central to India’s long-term economic and strategic goals.

BI Bureau