Industry body Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has formed a DeepTech Advisory Board to strengthen the country's deeptech ecosystem, the forum announced on Friday. The board includes angel and venture capital investors, government policymakers, startup founders, academics, and deeptech experts

“With the DeepTech Advisory Board, we are bringing together a group of highly distinguished experts to help support breakthrough innovations that will define the future of national progress. Our mission is to give these startups the right mentorship, policy support, and visibility,” said Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum.

The forum revealed that the board will identify deeptech startups with immense potential to become full-scale businesses and to assist in building the country's deeptech policy framework whenever and wherever required.

Some of the members of board are investors such as Padma Shri awardee Prashanth Prakash, who is currently the CEO of Accel India; Anjali Bansal, founder of sustainability venture capital fund Avaana Capital; Sateesh Andra, managing partner, Endiya Partners; Pranav Pai, managing partner and CIO, 3one4 Capital; Vishesh Rajaram, founder and managing partner, Speciale Invest; and Vibhore Sharma and Anandamoy Roychowdhry, who solely focus around technology investments.

Founders who are a part of the board include Tarun Mehta, co-founder, Ather Energy and Anirudh Sharma, co-founder, Digantara.

The board members from the government and academia include names like Chagun Basha from Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor; Panneerselvam Madangopal of MeitY Startup Hub; Manish Diwan of BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council), and many more.

In partnership with MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India–DPIIT and IIT-Madras, the board will engage in the #100DesiDeepTechs initiative to identify and support the country's top 100 deeptech startups. The initiative was launched in July earlier this year.

Aside from getting these startups involved in policy conversations, the Board will work with the Centre for DeepTech Policy Research (CDPR). The CDPR is a dedicated hub for deeptech policy work as part of SPF.

The 100 deeptech startups are set to be identified under 11 categories including Semiconductors, Defence Technologies, Quantum Technologies, Green Hydrogen, Space Technologies, Drones & Unmanned Aerial Systems, Electric Vehicles, Biotechnology, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Advanced Manufacturing, and Communications Infrastructure.

Following the selection of these startups, SPF will bring out a report with Ikigai Law based on their inputs.

Startups from around the country are invited to apply for the initiative by August 25.