Nvidia on Wednesday joined Indian and U.S. investors supporting India’s deep-tech startups, as the India Deep Tech Alliance expanded its membership and secured over $850 million in new capital commitments to address a major funding shortfall. New investors include Qualcomm Ventures, Activate AI, InfoEdge Ventures, Chirate Ventures, and Kalaari Capital. The alliance, launched in September with an initial $1 billion commitment, aims to back companies in sectors such as space, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

As a founding member and strategic advisor, Nvidia will offer technical expertise, training, and policy recommendations to help Indian startups integrate its AI and computing technologies. The initiative represents a renewed push to overcome the persistent lack of funding for research-heavy startups, which often face difficulties attracting venture capital due to long development cycles and uncertain profitability.

This development follows the Indian government’s recent $12 billion R&D initiative to strengthen the nation’s capabilities beyond its dominant services sector and catch up in manufacturing. According to Nasscom, India’s deep-tech startups saw funding jump 78% to $1.6 billion last year, though that figure still represents only about one-fifth of the total $7.4 billion raised across startups.

Earlier this year, an Indian minister urged startups to focus on advanced technology—like China’s approach—rather than low-margin services such as grocery delivery. The comment sparked backlash from entrepreneurs, who argued that the government must do more to foster innovation. Experts emphasize that deep-tech investment is critical for developing core technologies like semiconductors and AI, which are essential for economic resilience and strategic autonomy.

Sriram Viswanathan, founding managing partner at Celesta Capital, told Reuters that growing government backing makes this the ideal moment for India to focus on deep tech. Celesta, which has invested in companies such as space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos and drone manufacturer IdeaForge, co-founded the alliance alongside Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, and Premji Invest. Members of the alliance plan to invest their own capital in Indian deep-tech ventures over the next five to ten years while offering mentorship and access to networks. “There’s no centralized fund—it’s a voluntary collaboration,” Viswanathan noted, comparing the structure to Nasscom’s model.