Startup Policy Forum Establishes High-Powered DeepTech Advisory Board to Accelerate India’s Technology Leadership

New Delhi, August 22, 2025 – The Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has announced the formation of a distinguished DeepTech Advisory Board designed to strengthen India’s deeptech ecosystem and advance the nation’s position as a global technology powerhouse. This multi-stakeholder initiative brings together leading investors, founders, policymakers, academics, and deeptech experts to provide strategic direction for India’s deeptech policy frameworks.

The newly established Board represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the complex challenges facing India’s rapidly evolving deeptech sector while identifying and supporting high-potential startups across critical technology domains.

Distinguished Leadership Across Technology Ecosystem

The DeepTech Advisory Board assembles an exceptional group of industry leaders spanning the entire technology and policy ecosystem. Key members include prominent investors Prashanth Prakash (Accel India), Anjali Bansal (Avaana Capital), Sateesh Andra (Endiya Partners), Pranav Pai (3one4 Capital), and Vishesh Rajaram (Speciale Invest), who bring decades of experience in identifying and scaling breakthrough technologies.

Innovative founders Tarun Mehta (Ather Energy) and Anirudh Sharma (Digantara) contribute operational expertise and real-world insights into building successful deeptech companies. Senior policymakers including Dr. Chagun Basha (Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor), Panneerselvam Madangopal (MeitY Startup Hub), and Dr. Manish Diwan (BIRAC) provide crucial regulatory and government perspectives.

Academic expertise comes through Prof. Thillai Rajan (IIT Madras), while ecosystem enabler Shraddha Sharma (YourStory) and technology-focused investors Vibhore Sharma and Anandamoy Roychowdhry complete this comprehensive advisory structure.

Launching #100DesiDeepTechs National Initiative

The Advisory Board will spearhead the #100DesiDeepTechs initiative, a transformative nation-building program developed in strategic partnership with MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India–DPIIT, and IIT-Madras. This ambitious project aims to identify and support India’s top 100 deeptech startups across critical technology sectors.

The selected startups will play a pivotal role in contributing policy inputs and helping resolve regulatory bottlenecks that currently constrain deeptech growth across various domains. This collaborative approach ensures that policy development remains grounded in practical industry needs and real-world challenges.

Comprehensive Coverage Across Strategic Technology Domains

The #100DesiDeepTechs cohort is being meticulously curated by IIT-Madras across eleven strategic technology domains essential to India’s technological sovereignty and economic growth:

• Semiconductors – Critical for electronics manufacturing and digital infrastructure
• Defence Technologies – Supporting national security and strategic capabilities
• Quantum Technologies – Next-generation computing and communication systems
• Green Hydrogen – Clean energy solutions for sustainable development
• Space Technologies – Advancing India’s space exploration and satellite capabilities
• Drones & Unmanned Aerial Systems – Revolutionary applications across industries
• Electric Vehicles – Sustainable transportation and mobility solutions
• Biotechnology – Healthcare innovation and pharmaceutical development
• Robotics & Autonomous Systems – Industrial automation and smart manufacturing
• Advanced Manufacturing – High-tech production capabilities
• Communications Infrastructure – Next-generation connectivity solutions

Strategic Policy Development Through Industry Collaboration

“India possesses the potential to become the world’s deeptech powerhouse,” said Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO of Startup Policy Forum. “With the DeepTech Advisory Board, we are assembling a group of highly distinguished experts to support breakthrough innovations that will define the future of national progress. Our mission focuses on providing these startups with appropriate mentorship, policy support, and visibility necessary to create the next wave of transformative companies from India.”

The initiative recognizes that effective deeptech policy requires deep understanding of both technological capabilities and market realities, making industry-government collaboration essential for success.

Research and Policy Integration Framework

The Advisory Board will work in close coordination with the Centre for DeepTech Policy Research (CDPR), which serves as the dedicated hub for deeptech policy research and development. This collaboration will strengthen India’s policy infrastructure and ensure that regulatory frameworks remain aligned with technological advancement and industry needs.

Over the coming months, SPF will organize focused roundtable discussions to gather comprehensive policy inputs from the 100 selected startups. These insights will be compiled into a detailed report by Ikigai Law and presented at the upcoming DeepTech Baithak, creating a comprehensive policy roadmap for India’s deeptech future.

Application Process and Timeline

Eligible deeptech startups can apply for the #100DesiDeepTechs initiative through the dedicated application portal or by sending detailed submissions to secretariat@indiaspf.org with the subject line “100DesiDeeptechs.”

The application deadline is August 25, 2025, ensuring rapid mobilization of this critical initiative.

Representing India’s Leading Technology Companies

The Startup Policy Forum serves as the industry body for new-age companies, representing over 50 of India’s largest and fastest-growing startups with a combined valuation exceeding $80 billion. Members span diverse sectors including fintech, consumer technology, manufacturing, deeptech, and artificial intelligence.

Notable member companies include CRED, OYO, Physics Wallah, ixigo, Cars24, MobiKwik, BharatPe, CarDekho, Groww, Zerodha, Swiggy, Razorpay, Dream11, Acko, Pine Labs, InVideo, and Digantara, among others.

Founded and led by public policy and media professional Shweta Rajpal Kohli, SPF functions as a voice for new-age nation builders, engaging in policy advocacy and community-building initiatives that position Indian startups on the global stage while promoting India as an attractive investment destination.

About Startup Policy Forum: Startup Policy Forum (SPF) is India’s premier industry body representing 50+ of the country’s largest and fastest-growing startups. SPF bridges the gap between founders, investors, and policymakers to advance India’s position as a global technology and innovation hub.