August 25, 2025: The Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has launched a DeepTech Advisory Board to support and scale homegrown deeptech startups. Designed to shape forward-thinking policies and identify high-potential ventures, the Deeptech Board aims to position India as a global leader in advanced technology sectors.
This initiative comes at a time when India is making bold bets on semiconductors, quantum computing, defence tech, biotech, space tech, and more. The advisory board brings together a powerhouse of experience, comprising top-tier investors, founders, academics, and policymakers, to bridge the gap between innovation and regulation.
For deeptech founders, this development presents an unparalleled opportunity for strategic mentorship, regulatory support, and national visibility. The board’s formation marks a significant step in aligning startup innovation with policy frameworks.
Startup Policy Forum in Numbers: The Startup Policy Forum has already built significant momentum within India’s innovation landscape. With 50+ supported startups collectively valued at over $90 billion, SPF has conducted 16 policy roundtables to capture real-time ecosystem insights. Backed by 7 strategic partnerships, the forum continues to serve as a catalyst for startup-policy collaboration, aiming to further deepen its impact through initiatives like the DeepTech Advisory Board.
The board includes high-impact ecosystem leaders such as: Investors: Prashanth Prakash (Accel), Anjali Bansal (Avaana Capital), Sateesh Andra (Endiya Partners), Pranav Pai (3one4 Capital), Vishesh Rajaram (Speciale Invest)
Founders: Tarun Mehta (Ather Energy), Anirudh Sharma (Digantara)
Policymakers: Dr. Chagun Basha (Office of PSA), Panneerselvam Madangopal (MeitY Startup Hub), Dr. Manish Diwan (BIRAC)
Academics & Ecosystem Enablers: Prof. Thillai Rajan (IIT Madras), Shradha Sharma (YourStory), Vibhore Sharma, Anandamoy Roychowdhry
“India has the potential to be the world’s deeptech powerhouse,” said Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of Startup Policy Forum. “Our mission is to give these startups the right mentorship, policy support, and visibility so they can create the next wave of transformative companies from India.”
Founders, VCs, Experts Join SPF’s New DeepTech Board
The SPF’s #100DesiDeepTechs Programme
The board will anchor #100DesiDeepTechs, a national mission launched by Startup Policy Forum in collaboration with MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India-DPIIT, and IIT-Madras. The programme aims to spotlight and scale 100 deeptech startups working on frontier technologies including:
- Semiconductors
- Quantum computing
- Drones & robotics
- Electric mobility
- Defence tech
- Green hydrogen
- Biotech & healthcare innovation
- Advanced manufacturing
- Communications infrastructure
Selected startups will receive mentorship, policy advocacy support, and a platform to share real-time challenges, helping craft future-ready regulations.
The board will work with Startup Policy Forums’s Centre for DeepTech Policy Research (CDPR) to translate startup insights into actionable policy recommendations.
The Startup Policy Forum also plans to host sectoral roundtables with these startups in the coming months. The insights will be compiled into a landmark report by Ikigai Law, to be unveiled at the upcoming DeepTech Baithak.
