Delhi, India | 22nd August 2025: Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has announced the formation of a high-powered DeepTech Advisory Board, aimed at accelerating India’s deeptech ecosystem. The Board brings together a multi-stakeholder group of investors, founders, policymakers, academics, and deeptech experts to identify high-potential startups and provide strategic guidance for shaping India’s deeptech policies.
The newly formed Advisory Board features eminent leaders from across the ecosystem, including:
- Investors: Prashanth Prakash (Accel India), Anjali Bansal (Avaana Capital), Sateesh Andra (Endiya Partners), Pranav Pai (3one4 Capital), Vishesh Rajaram (Speciale Invest), Vibhore Sharma, and Anandamoy Roychowdhry.
- Founders: Tarun Mehta (Ather Energy) and Anirudh Sharma (Digantara).
- Policymakers: Dr. Chagun Basha (Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor), Panneerselvam Madangopal (MeitY Startup Hub), and Dr. Manish Diwan (BIRAC).
- Academics & Ecosystem Enablers: Prof. Thillai Rajan (IIT Madras) and Shradha Sharma (YourStory).
The Advisory Board will drive #100DesiDeepTechs, a national initiative in collaboration with MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India–DPIIT, and IIT Madras. The initiative aims to identify and nurture India’s top 100 deeptech startups, enabling them to contribute to policy inputs and overcome regulatory bottlenecks, thereby catalyzing growth across deeptech domains.
The Board will work closely with the Centre for DeepTech Policy Research (CDPR), reinforcing India’s position as a global technology and innovation hub.
Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO of Startup Policy Forum, said, “India has the potential to be the world’s deeptech powerhouse. Through the DeepTech Advisory Board, we aim to mentor and support breakthrough innovations that will shape the future of national progress. Our goal is to provide startups with the right mentorship, policy guidance, and visibility to create transformative companies from India.”
The #100DesiDeepTechs cohort, curated by IIT Madras, spans high-impact sectors including Semiconductors, Defence Technologies, Quantum Technologies, Green Hydrogen, Space Technologies, Drones & UAVs, Electric Vehicles, Biotechnology, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Advanced Manufacturing, and Communications Infrastructure.
In the coming months, SPF will host roundtables with the #100DesiDeepTechs cohort to gather policy insights. These inputs will be compiled in a report by Ikigai Law and presented at the DeepTech Baithak.
Startups can apply for #100DesiDeepTechs by visiting [link] or emailing secretariat@indiaspf.org with the subject line: 100DesiDeeptechs.
Deadline for applications: 25th August 2025.
