The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) marked its first anniversary at Semicon India 2026 by revealing that its members have deployed roughly ₹2,170 crore into 56 deep-technology start-ups. The funding window covered the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, and the capital was allocated by each member according to its own investment thesis.
Founded at the previous edition of Semicon India, the alliance brings together leading venture houses such as 3one4 Capital, Accel, Blume Ventures, Celesta Capital and Chiratae Ventures. Collectively, these firms pledged more than $2.5 billion over a five-year horizon to nurture next-generation artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies.
Sector-wise capital distribution
When the numbers are broken down, the allocation mirrors the government’s five priority tracks under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. Artificial intelligence and its Indian-focused applications attracted about ₹639 crore spread across 16 companies. The deep-tech umbrella—including quantum computing robotics and space-related projects—saw close to ₹649 crore invested in 21 firms.
Funding for energy security, transition and climate action reached approximately ₹655 crore across eight ventures, while biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology and pharma secured roughly ₹189 crore for seven start-ups. The digital economy with a focus on digital agriculture, accounted for about ₹38 crore allocated to four companies.
Beyond money: ecosystem-building initiatives
Capital alone does not guarantee commercial success for deep-tech innovators. IDTA therefore pairs financing with access to research labs, manufacturing partners, global markets and policy advocacy. As Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, observed, the private-sector confidence reflected in these investments can amplify the impact of the RDI fund, helping promising technologies migrate from the lab to the marketplace.
In parallel with the investment push, IDTA partnered with KPMG and Nishith Desai Associates to publish “India’s Semiconductor Opportunity: Building a Globally Competitive Ecosystem.” The study projects domestic semiconductor demand to climb from roughly $44 billion in FY 2025-26 to about $90 billion by FY 2029-30, with mobile and wearables accounting for the largest share (≈$42 billion).
Another flagship effort is the planned India Semiconductor Academy. Together with the global industry body SEMI, IDTA aims to create a national platform that marries industry needs with academic curricula, offering practical training for roles across the semiconductor value chain. Partners slated to contribute include Cadence, CG Semi, Dixon Technologies, Micron Technology, 3D Glass Solutions, the University of California-San Diego and IIT Kanpur.
Voices from the alliance
Arun Kumar, chair of IDTA’s executive committee and managing partner at Celesta Capital, highlighted that the alliance started with eight funds and has since expanded to thirty members, collectively committing $3 billion. “We have already invested about $250 million, or ₹2,170 crore, in the past year,” he said, underscoring the rapid deployment of patient capital.
Members also stress collaborative programmes that connect founders with both domestic and international investors. Recent founder forums in Bangalore and upcoming trips to Silicon Valley exemplify the alliance’s effort to create a vibrant network for deep-tech entrepreneurs.
Celesta Capital’s own ₹2,000 crore fund is progressing toward its first close, and the firm has applied to become a second-level fund manager under the RDI Scheme, awaiting the government’s final approval.
