India Deep Tech Alliance pledges $1-bn funding to Indian startups in 3 years
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The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA), an industry-led consortium of investors, corporates, technology partners, and ecosystem stakeholders, has announced a dedicated $1billion in funding to Indian AI startups to be deployed over the next three years, within the broader $2.5 billion capital commitment that IDTA members have allocated towards deep tech investment in India.
IDTA releases inaugural AI & Deep Tech Investments Landscape Report
IDTA also released its inaugural AI & Deep Tech Investments Landscape Report, which said AI funding within India rose 58% year-over-year in 2025, and deep tech now represents about 15% of India’s overall VC–PE activity, signaling a structural shift from “emerging category” to core allocation.
According to the report, over the past decade, deep tech investments aggregated $ 27.9 billion across 2,178 deals (1,217 companies), with deep tech’s share of total VC–PE funding rising from 4% (2016) to 15% (2025). AI’s share of VC funding rose from 4.5% (2020) to 12.3% (2025), it said.
“India’s AI and deep tech breakout is now measurable: the IDTA’s inaugural report shows AI funding jumped 58% in 2025 and deep tech is rapidly becoming a core allocation in India’s venture market. But this moment demands more than optimism; it requires decisive execution," Arun Kumar, India Managing Partner, Celesta Capital and Chair of IDTA, said. “That’s why, within IDTA members’ more than $2.5 billion in deep tech commitments, we’re fast-tracking a dedicated $1 billion allocation specifically for India’s AI ecosystem to be deployed over the next three years—concentrated firepower to help Indian AI companies scale faster, commercialise breakthrough IP, and compete globally at every layer of the stack.”
Role of policy as a catalyst – particularly the Centre's ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund
The report also underscores the growing role of policy as a catalyst – particularly the central government’s ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund – and the need to translate capital momentum into deeper research capacity, faster commercialisation pathways, and scaled growth-stage funding.
Since launching in September 2025, IDTA has worked to mobilise long-term, thesis-driven capital and ecosystem support for India’s deep tech founders. The IDTA members have already deployed $110 million into 50+ companies over the past six months.
The IDTA is focused on accelerating India’s deep tech companies across AI, semiconductors, advanced computing, robotics, biotech, and more. It convenes capital access, technical mentorship, market linkages, and policy engagement to help founders build globally competitive technology companies from India. The latest to join IDTA are Applied Materials, CG Power, Lam Research, Larsen & Toubro, and Micron Technology.