India Startup

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BRICS leaders toured the BRICS Bharat Innovates exposition in New Delhi on Saturday to view India's deep-tech capabilities. • The event featured 37 Indian deep-tech startups showcasing technologies including quantum computers, marine robots, and AI-powered cardiac diagnosis platforms. • This exhibition demonstrates India's growing capacity to produce advanced hardware and software for critical sectors like healthcare and green energy.

• India showcased 37 deep-tech startups at the Bharat Innovates Exposition held at Bharat Mandapam during the 18th BRICS Summit. • The event connected these innovators with global investors and business leaders to promote Indian technological advancements. • This initiative aims to integrate Indian startups into the global market by leveraging the BRICS network for investment and growth.

• The Asian Development Bank analyzed India's startup environment in September 2026, identifying a split market between major metros and smaller cities. • The analysis found that startups face fragmented markets, infrastructure gaps outside major centers, and uneven awareness of government incentives. • Founders in Tier II cities can experience less competition and noise if they solve local operational problems and build community trust.

• Indian cybersecurity startups are increasingly expanding their operations overseas to build global credibility and attract higher levels of investment. • CEO Mohit Anand of Mitigata notes that an international presence is often critical for startups seeking to secure significant funding rounds. • A key example is SAFE Security, which raised $70 million in a Series C round in July 2025, led by Avataar Ventures with support from global firms like Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital.

• India has replaced Indonesia as the least-preferred stock market in Asia among global fund managers, according to a recent Bank of America survey. • The decline in investor sentiment is driven by concerns over high stock-market valuations, slowing economic growth, and a perceived lack of exposure to artificial intelligence. • This shift matters as it indicates growing caution among foreign investors regarding the pace of India's structural reforms and overall equity attractiveness.

• A Nasscom report reveals that 74% of deep-tech startups in India have adopted AI and machine learning, signaling a major shift toward commercial deployment. • Over the last three awards editions, 150 recognized startups have collectively raised more than $875 million in funding and generated over $420 million in revenue since 2022. • These ventures employ between 8,000 and 10,000 professionals and have expanded their international footprint into the US, Canada, Singapore, and the UK.

• Indian startups raised $142.3 million during the final week of July, reflecting a broader funding slowdown characterized by a shift toward more selective investing. • Investors are increasingly prioritizing artificial intelligence, profitable business models, and proven founders over broad venture portfolios. • Transition VC announced the launch of its ₹1,500 crore Fund II, which specifically targets deep-tech engineering and energy transition startups.