Building Deep Tech in India: Challenges and Opportunities

The Deep Tech Difference

Software startups can iterate quickly. Launch, learn, pivot, repeat. Deep tech doesn't work that way.

When you're building drones:

The Funding Challenge

Indian VC ecosystem has evolved tremendously for software. Deep tech funding remains harder:

Why it's challenging:

The Talent Advantage

Here's what India gets right: engineering talent.

IITs and other engineering colleges produce graduates who can tackle complex technical problems. The challenge is keeping them in deep tech when software offers higher immediate compensation.

What works:

Regulatory Navigation

Deep tech often operates in regulated spaces. Drones, medical devices, autonomous systems — all require regulatory approval.

What I've learned:

The Market Opportunity

Despite challenges, the opportunity is immense:

Healthcare AI:

India has massive healthcare delivery gaps. AI can help scale expertise across geography.

Industrial Automation:

Manufacturing is growing. Automation, including drones, will be essential for competitiveness.

Defense Tech:

Government is actively promoting indigenous development. Drona Aviation has benefited from this push.

Lessons for Deep Tech Founders

1. Extend your runway: Deep tech takes longer. Plan for it.

2. Find technical co-founders: You can't build deep tech with consultants.

3. Start with a market, not technology: Technology looking for a problem rarely succeeds.

4. Build manufacturing relationships early: Production capability is as important as R&D.

5. Be patient but not complacent: Long timelines don't mean slow execution.

The Future is Deep

India's next wave of technology leadership will come from deep tech. Software was the warmup. Hardware, AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing — these will define the next decade.

For founders willing to take on harder problems with longer timelines, the opportunity is unprecedented. The best time to build deep tech in India is now.