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India’s tech startup ecosystem is undergoing a ‘big shift’. Technology adoption is accelerating at a never-before pace, and innovation at scale is transforming every industry. What was once the stuff of sci-fi is now becoming reality. Bots are engaging in seamless conversations with humans. AI-driven models are revolutionising workflows. And machine learning algorithms are turning futuristic developments into actionable solutions.
Fuelled by spacetech and quantum computing, AI/ML and AR/VR evolutions, the deeptech sector is growing in a way no one could have anticipated. The global deeptech market is estimated to reach $714.6 Bn by 2031, growing at an astounding CAGR of 48.2%.
Although the demand for deeptech is rising globally, India — often seen as the back office of the tech world, faces hurdles in driving innovation, securing critical resources and scaling startups globally.
In fact, the growth of deeptech in India is yet to match the pace one has witnessed in the services sector or the consumer internet space. At the recently concluded Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal emphasised the need to shift startups’ focus from hyperfast delivery and quick-service models. Instead, he called for a strategic focus on developing cutting-edge deeptech solutions capable of positioning India as a global leader in innovation.
India’s deeptech sector is stifled by huge funding gaps, constant brain drain and inadequate government backing. The country’s underdeveloped hardware infrastructure further impacts the ecosystem, with major investments in chip-making falling behind global powers. Meanwhile, the market at home favours consumer-facing ventures and their quick returns, sidelining long-term R&D in deeptech.
The stakes will be high, though, given a follow-the-crowd mindset. India’s future hinges on building a robust deeptech ecosystem. Deeptech innovation is no longer optional if the country wants to stay globally competitive and secure its position as a technology leader in critical sectors like AI, chip design and development, quantum computing, biotechnology and cybersecurity. It is not a luxury but a necessity for long-term resilience in a technology-first economy.
Against this backdrop, Inc42 is launching its flagship accelerator programme, BIGShift, in partnership with India Accelerator, a leading multi-stage fund-led accelerator. Together, they will identify, mentor and fund India’s high-potential deeptech startups.
At Inc42, we believe that the future of India’s tech economy depends on the strength of its deeptech backbone. Hence, we are committed to empowering innovation-driven startups in this space, providing them with the support and resources needed to drive the next wave of technology breakthroughs.
India has seen a surge in SaaS, consumer tech, and fintech innovation, but deeptech has largely remained undercapitalised and underserved due to its longer gestation periods and complex commercial pathways.
“BIGShift is designed to bridge that gap — offering not just funding, but a curated ecosystem of mentors, corporates, and enablers to help deeptech founders navigate go-to-market and scale. At India Accelerator, our focus has long been on identifying and backing deeptech startups that are solving complex, high-impact problems. The timing is critical. India is on the cusp of global leadership in frontier tech, and there’s a growing alignment between national priorities, startup innovation, and investor interest in deeptech,” said Ashish Bhatia, founder & CEO, India Accelerator.
BIGShift will support standout technology solutions with global potential — innovations made in India to be scaled for the world. Accordingly, with BIGShift, we are looking for deeptech startups building in high-impact sectors such as quantum computing, fintech, biotech, robotics, cybersecurity, agritech, chip design and GenAI, among others.
Startups that meet the selection criteria will undergo an interview process, and the most promising ones will be invited to join India’s one-of-a-kind deeptech accelerator programme spanning four weeks.
Shortlisting Criteria
What BIGShift Brings To The Table For Deeptech Founders
Selected founders will embark on a rigorous four-week BIGShift bootcamp designed to propel them from breakthrough innovation to investor readiness. India Accelerator has committed to a funding of $100K for selected startups from this programme through its VC fund, Finvolve.
Over the first three virtual weeks, founders will deep-dive into critical deeptech challenges: aligning cutting-edge technology with scalable markets, crafting capital-efficient R&D-to-commercial strategies, structuring pilots and industry partnerships, and navigating regulatory and IP frameworks.
This will be followed by a 2-day in-person bootcamp — an intensive sprint where founders sharpen their go-to-market blueprints, build credible investor narratives, and undergo targeted coaching to prepare for the complex fundraising and scaling journey deeptech demands. With hands-on support from experienced deeptech founders, investors, and domain experts, startups will emerge primed to move from lab to market with confidence.
“For over a decade, Inc42 has catalysed India’s startup ecosystem through sharp content, data-driven research, market-shaping events, and cutting-edge learning programmes. BIGShift is a natural extension of this journey — not just an accelerator, but an effort to meaningfully back the deeptech founders who are building India’s next frontier of innovation,” said Inc42 spokesperson.
BIGShift intends to transform India’s deeptech startups into global powerhouses, helping them build defensible intellectual property (IP) and scalable business models that can redefine entire sectors. It will drive innovation where it matters most — at the crucial intersection of science, scale and capital. Startups completing this programme will have the opportunity to secure at least $100K in funding.
Participants will also get exclusive perks from BIGShift’s esteemed technology partners such as Google, Microsoft, Databricks, Vedanta and Infogain. These benefits will include cloud credits ranging from $25K to $250K, technical support and a year’s access to Google Workspace business plan, as well as access to the Databricks platform and India Accelerator’s agentic AI platform, Tiby.AI.
After completing the programme, founders will receive up to three months’ complimentary workspace access at India Accelerator’s innovation hubs in Gurugram, Delhi, Noida, Ahmedabad and Pune.
If you are a deeptech founder eager to take your startup to the next level, now is the perfect time to share the groundbreaking technology you are working on and join BIGShift, India’s premier accelerator programme powered by Inc42 and India Accelerator.
The post Announcing BIGShift: Backing India’s Next Wave Of Deeptech Startups appeared first on Inc42 Media.
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