Nvidia joins global investors to fuel India’s deep-tech boom; $850 million committed

Global chipmaker Nvidia has joined hands with a group of Indian and US investors to boost India’s fast-growing deep-tech ecosystem, as the India Deep Tech Alliance announced over $850 million in new capital commitments on Wednesday.

The alliance, launched in September with an initial $1 billion fund, aims to support startups working in cutting-edge sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and space technology, IANS reported.

Major global players step in

The latest round of investments brings in heavyweight names such as Qualcomm Ventures, Activate AI, InfoEdge Ventures, Chirate Ventures and Kalaari Capital.

As a founding member and strategic advisor, Nvidia will play a central role by offering technical guidance, training, and policy support to help Indian startups integrate its AI and computing platforms into research and commercial products.

The move is being viewed as a big push to overcome funding barriers faced by deep-tech startups in India, which often struggle to raise venture capital due to long research cycles and uncertain near-term profitability.

Unlike consumer-focused ventures, deep-tech startups need sustained capital and patience to convert innovation into market-ready products.

The new investment momentum comes just days after the Indian government unveiled a $12 billion initiative to boost R&D in advanced technology sectors, reflecting the country’s ambition to move from a services-led economy to an innovation-driven manufacturing hub.

According to Nasscom, Indian deep-tech startups raised around $1.6 billion in 2023, a 78 per cent jump from the previous year—but still only one-fifth of all startup funding, highlighting a sharp gap compared to other segments.

Earlier this year, a Union minister urged Indian startups to emulate China by focusing on advanced technologies rather than building consumer apps like grocery delivery platforms.