Core Insights - TDK Ventures, the corporate venture arm of TDK Corporation, focuses on deep-tech and hardware-led startups globally, with a significant emphasis on India as a strategic market [1][4] Investment Thesis - TDK Ventures was established in 2019 to partner with early-stage founders and startups, leveraging TDK's expertise in material science and process innovation to inform its long-term product roadmap [1] Fund Structure - TDK Ventures manages a total of $500 million across four funds, including a $50 million fund from 2019 and three subsequent $150 million funds, primarily investing at Series A with initial checks up to $5 million and potential follow-ons up to $15 million per company [2] Sector Focus - The firm invests at the intersection of deep-tech and hardware, focusing on two main themes: energy transformation (including new energy generation and storage) and digital transformation (covering semiconductors, mobility, space-tech, robotics, and industrial tech) [3] Importance of India - India is a key market for TDK Ventures, with the company operating five component manufacturing facilities and large battery plants, employing nearly 5,000 people, and having made four investments in local startups [4] Portfolio Companies - TDK Ventures' Indian portfolio includes startups such as Infinite Uptime (industrial AI), Exponent Energy (ultra-fast EV charging), Ultraviolette (electric motorcycles), and a precision agritech company focused on sensor-IoT and AI technologies [4] Views on Deep-Tech Exits - The primary challenge in deep-tech is securing intermediate capital, as monetization signals appear later, although successful IPOs like Ather and Ola Electric demonstrate that hardware-led companies can scale and exit within comparable timelines [5]