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Home›Funds›Thesis themes›Deep science / hard tech
Thesis theme

Deep science / hard tech

Investors comfortable with long R&D cycles, IP, hardware, and science-driven breakthroughs.

412matching funds
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01, Context

What this thesis means

Deep science and hard-tech investors back companies where the hard part is physics, biology, materials, semiconductors, robotics, or advanced engineering, not only software packaging. Timelines are longer, capital needs can be lumpy, and technical diligence is non-negotiable.

In India this thesis is growing with deeptech funds, climate hardware, space-adjacent startups, and research-linked spinouts. Investors ask about IP, talent density, lab or manufacturing path, and what milestones unlock the next financing before full commercial scale.

Founders should not pitch hard tech like a consumer app. Show the science risk reduced so far, remaining technical milestones, and why a startup (versus a university lab or large corporate) is the right vehicle. Commercial story matters, but technical credibility comes first.

02, Fit

Who it fits

  • +Deeptech, climate hardware, robotics, and science-based startups
  • +Founders with strong technical teams and IP clarity
  • +Companies that need milestone-based capital, not only growth marketing capital

What to prepare

  • →A milestone roadmap that de-risks technology step by step
  • →IP and talent story
  • →Capital plan matched to R&D reality, not SaaS defaults
03, Capital map

Funds with this thesis

Venture Capital

021 Capital

021 Capital focuses on Seed, Series A opportunities across technology and adjacent sectors, operating as a VC relevant to Indian founders.

$1M – $6M
Accelerator

100Unicorns

Be the 'Y Combinator of India', provide initial capital plus committed follow-on to idea-stage startups, supporting them across their first three funding rounds before connecting them to large VCs for growth capital.

$250K – $3M
Venture Capital

100X VC

Invest in 100 companies per year at pre-product stage and help them reach their next milestone

$25K – $250K
Venture Capital

2048 Ventures

2048 Ventures backs early-stage founders building transformative companies across AI, DeepTech, Climate, SaaS, and Consumer, with a long-horizon view on where the world is headed by 2048.

$500K – $2M
Venture Capital

2am VC

A sector-agnostic, Gen Z-centric, 'India Only' early-stage fund backing young and first-time Indian founders building uniquely Indian companies for the 'New India' opportunity; acts as a hyperlocal bridge connecting global investors with Indian founders, prioritising speed, transparency and founder-friendliness, and leads over half of its deals.

$100K – $500K
Accelerator

888 VC

888 VC focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed opportunities across technology and adjacent sectors, operating as a Accelerator relevant to Indian founders.

$25K – $460K
Venture Capital

8X Ventures

DeepTech-focused VC backing startups with strong scientific and research foundations that can fundamentally transform industries and economies; invests and enables, leveraging Middle East and Europe relationships to help portfolio companies expand globally and raise larger follow-on rounds.

$241K – $602K
Accelerator

a-IDEA NAARM

a-IDEA NAARM focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed opportunities across Agritech / Food, operating as a Accelerator relevant to Indian founders.

$120K
Venture Capital

A100x Ventures

Back founders aiming to build 100x companies

$100K – $500K
Venture Capital

Aagama Ventures

Aagama Ventures focuses on Seed, Series A opportunities across technology and adjacent sectors, operating as a VC relevant to Indian founders.

$964K – $1.8M
Family Office

Aarin Capital

Build an expansive, India-centric platform of investment opportunities, make direct investments in technology-driven businesses with large India-first market potential, while seeding and anchoring entrepreneurial fund managers as a prime LP to broaden access to the startup ecosystem and keep companies domiciled in India.

$150M – $450M
Venture Capital

AC Ventures

AC Ventures backs technology companies across Southeast Asia at Seed and Series A, with a core focus on Indonesia and thematic interest in Consumer, SaaS, FinTech, B2B, and AI.

$500K – $10M
Venture Capital

Accion Venture Lab

Accion Venture Lab focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed opportunities across Fintech, Impact, operating as a VC relevant to Indian founders.

$200K – $1M
Venture Capital

Acumen

Acumen focuses on Seed, Series A opportunities across Social Impact, operating as a VC relevant to Indian founders.

$500K – $2.5M
Accelerator

Acumen Academy India

Acumen Academy India focuses on Pre-Seed opportunities across Impact, operating as a Accelerator relevant to Indian founders.

$25K – $50K
Venture Capital

Advantedge

Advantedge focuses on Seed, Series A opportunities across technology and adjacent sectors, operating as a VC relevant to Indian founders.

$250K – $1.5M
Private Equity

Advent International

Advent International focuses on Growth, Series C+ opportunities across Sector Agnostic, operating as a PE relevant to Indian founders.

$100M – $500M
Venture Capital

Aeravti Ventures

Invest at the earliest stage in technology-first founders

$50K – $300K
Accelerator

Agri Udaan

Agri Udaan focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed opportunities across Agritech / Food, operating as a Accelerator relevant to Indian founders.

$30K
Syndicate / Network

ah! Ventures

ah! Ventures democratizes startup investing in India by connecting early-stage founders with a curated, pan-India network of angel investors, backing ventures from Pre-Seed through Pre-Series A across sectors including SaaS, Consumer, FinTech, and HealthTech.

$361K – $602K
Venture Capital

Ahead VC

Invest ahead of the curve in transformative technology startups

$100K – $500K
Venture Capital

All In Capital

All In Capital backs pre-seed and seed stage founders across all sectors, writing early conviction cheques of around $200,000 to help companies find their footing and scale.

$200K
Venture Capital

Amicus Capital

Amicus Capital focuses on Series A, Series B opportunities across Sector Agnostic, operating as a VC relevant to Indian founders.

$12M – $30M
Accelerator

Amrita TBI

Amrita TBI focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed opportunities across Deep Tech, operating as a Accelerator relevant to Indian founders.

$24K – $60K
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Operator angels, founder syndicates, and funds that invest like builders who have been in the seat.

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India-first / Bharat

Capital that underwrites India as the primary market, including Tier 2/3, vernacular, and mass adoption stories.

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975 funds

Tech-first / product companies

Investors who back software, platforms, and product-led companies where technology is the core moat.

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936 funds

Early-stage builders

Investors who write the first institutional cheque and partner before the story is obvious.

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