#idta

Indian Deep Tech Alliance IDTA

US-Indian Investors Form $1 Billion+ Partnership to Spark India's Deep Tech Revolution

Leading Indian and U.S. venture capital and private equity firms launched the India Deep Tech Investment Alliance (IDTA), a historic move that could influence global innovation. This ambitious endeavour employs over $1 billion in private finance and knowledge to help Indian deep tech firms flourish utilising quantum computing, semiconductors, AI, and more.

Presented during SEMICON India, the IDTA represents a substantial convergence of public and commercial interests. It's designed to boost US-India strategic cooperation and make India an innovation hub. Celesta Capital, Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Premji Invest, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts founded the alliance. The alliance receives global strategic legal advisory from Nishith Desai Associates.

Celesta Capital said the IDTA promotes ecosystem development and entrepreneurship in key technology areas. These include biotechnology, medical devices, robots, AI, space technology, semiconductors, quantum computing, energy and climate solutions, and the digital economy. Five to ten-year thesis-driven investments in Indian startups and scale-ups have been made by members. Through investment, mentorship, and their global networks, alliance members may assist portfolio enterprises thrive domestically and internationally.

Significantly, the IDTA's strategic framework aligns with key government programs, emphasising its national importance. It instantly builds on India's groundbreaking Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and extends the U.S.-India TRUST framework, established earlier this year.

The Indian program allocates ₹1,00,000 crore (about $12 billion USD) to advance research and development in essential fields. The IDTA will streamline communication with government stakeholders overseeing the RDI Scheme to ensure alignment with national interests, goals, and standards.

Sriram Viswanathan, Celesta Capital's founding managing partner, stressed the value of this cooperation. "We expect great companies from the U.S.-India corridor to lead this space," he said. Deep tech is the future of global innovation.” Viswanathan added that the “catalytic support mobilised under the RDI Scheme” poses a “historic opportunity to deepen U.S. – India partnership and power the next wave of transformative global companies and unlock growth opportunities that will benefit both India and the U.S.”

If cultivated right, India's deep tech ecosystem will define the next wave of strategic innovation', said Premji Invest CEO TK Kurien. He was thrilled to engage with the Indian government to increase strategic and “sunrise” research, development, and innovation.

The rising deep tech sector in India would support such an alliance. Dr. Apoorva Rajan Sharma, managing director of General Catalysts, said deep tech, AI, and semiconductors provide India the chance to lead the next IT revolution. Sharma claimed 3,600 AI-led firms make India the sixth-largest deep tech cluster (74%).

The ₹20,000 crore government pledge and new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission support this progress. Sharma said India is moving from consumer to creator through people, policy, and public-private partnerships, positioning it to lead deep tech and AI innovation that will impact chips, code, the future of work, and national competitiveness.

Arun Kumar, Managing Partner of Celesta Capital and former KPMG India CEO, will lead the IDTA's Advisory Committee. Important Accel, Premji Invest, and Venture Catalysts officials will join this committee.

To grow its membership, the alliance would invite additional Indian and international investors that promote deep tech cooperation. Besides organising industry-specific innovation and policy expert events, members will actively establish investment pipelines and co-investment opportunities.

In view of global developments, IDTA's quantum computing concentration is opportune. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in India and Rigetti, a renowned quantum computing startup, signed an MOU to co-develop hybrid quantum computing platforms. India's interest in advanced quantum research and development is growing. The quantum business is seeing global investment and growth with Phase Craft receiving $34 million from investors and New Mexico devoting $315 million to a quantum push, including a DARPA partnership.

After acquiring Fab 25 for $93 million, SkyWater Technology's quantum bet is improving, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory deployed a Quantum Brilliance computer system. These innovations show India's IDTA's focus on rapid innovation.

Establishing the India Deep Tech Investment Alliance represented a turning moment in U.S.-India economic and technology collaboration. India's strong digital environment may be expanded by the IDTA via private investment and expertise and government initiatives.