NVIDIA, Qualcomm join U.S., Indian VCs to help build India's next deep tech startups

Core Insights - NVIDIA and Qualcomm Ventures have joined a coalition of U.S. and Indian investors to support India's deep tech startups, with over $1 billion in commitments aligning with India's new ₹1 trillion (approximately $12 billion) research and development initiative [1][7] Investment and Participation - NVIDIA is participating as a strategic technical advisor without financial commitments, while Qualcomm Ventures has joined with additional capital commitments exceeding $850 million alongside six Indian venture firms [2][4] - The coalition aims to invest capital and provide mentorship and network access to Indian deep-tech startups over the next five to ten years, collaborating with the Indian government on policy initiatives [5][7] Ecosystem Development - India has over 180,000 startups and more than 120 unicorns, with a shift towards ventures addressing infrastructure-scale problems, supported by government initiatives to secure technological sovereignty [3][10] - The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) was launched to bridge the funding gap for deep tech ventures, bringing together major U.S. and Indian investors [4][6] Strategic Contributions - NVIDIA will provide strategic guidance, technical insights, and scalable computing resources to startups, while Qualcomm plans to connect startups with its portfolio companies and partner networks [12][15] - The coalition is described as a "loose coalition of the willing," focusing on knowledge sharing and deal flow among participating investors [17][18] Market Growth and Future Outlook - India's deep-tech funding increased by 78% year-over-year to $1.6 billion in 2024, although it still lags behind developed markets like the U.S. [18] - The alliance is expected to attract global attention and more investors to India's startup ecosystem, fostering confidence among entrepreneurs and potentially leading to more companies listed on major exchanges in the future [19]