The Challenge of Deep Tech Startups: Navigating Investor Patience and Funding Gaps

The Nano Centres, led by India's top institutions, are struggling with investor impatience in the deep tech sector. Professors report challenges in balancing research and startups due to market realities. They emphasize the need for grants, better supply chains, and a developed market to support innovative technologies.

India's Nano Centres, developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, are at the forefront of the nation's deep tech advancements. Despite their pivotal role, these centres face challenges due to the impatience of investors, sectors being forced to prioritize startups over academic research.

Professors at leading institutes such as IITs and IISc express hardships in funding and scaling new technologies. Unlike software startups that attract quick returns for investors, deep tech demands time and perseverance for breakthroughs, further complicated by inadequate grant mechanisms akin to those in the US.

This situation is further exacerbated by supply chain dependencies and market readiness issues. Experts stress the importance of twin line setups to ensure seamless operations and emphasize a need to globally compete with robust safety standards and regulatory compliance, particularly in healthcare technology.

(With inputs from agencies.)