Karnataka’s Innoverse Selects Seven Startups for Deeptech Scale

Karnataka’s Innoverse has identified seven growth-stage startups as the first cohort of its Deeptech Enabler programme, an initiative aimed at helping deeptech companies move from early commercial traction to larger-scale deployment and growth.

The programme will support selected startups with market access, capital mobilisation, policy support, and access to technology and scale-up infrastructure. The initiative is designed for companies that have moved beyond technology validation and early commercial traction but face challenges in scaling their businesses.

The first cohort includes AquaAirX Autonomous Systems, an aerospace and defence startup; Fibroheal Woundcare, a biotech company; Hyspace Technologies, a space-tech startup; OptM Media Solutions, a defence technology company; SpaceFields, which works in space and propulsion; UNMANND Autonomy, focused on autonomous systems; and Yaanendriya, a startup working in navigation and sensing.

Under the Deeptech Enabler programme, the selected companies will receive support in areas including access to anchor customers, infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities, regulatory approvals and growth capital. Innoverse will create a company-specific engagement plan for each startup, with progress tracked against defined outcomes.

Karnataka IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge said the state’s next challenge was to help startups move from technology development and early market traction to sustained commercial growth.

“By bringing together industry, infrastructure, capital, markets, and policy support around these companies, we can create stronger pathways for Karnataka-born technologies to scale nationally and globally,” Kharge said.

Pravin Hungund, CEO of Innoverse Foundation, said startups also require customers, regulatory pathways and ecosystem partnerships to move towards commercial scale.

The Deeptech Enabler programme will operate as a nine-month annual cohort and can support up to 10 startups. The first cohort is scheduled to run through June 2027.

Innoverse is targeting a two-fold increase in the combined annual revenue of companies participating in its Enabler and Connect programmes, from about Rs 35 crore to Rs 70 crore. The organisation also aims to mobilise more than Rs 300 crore in growth capital, compared with a baseline of about Rs 150 crore.

Progress during the programme will be measured through indicators including revenue growth, capital mobilisation, anchor-customer contracts, certifications and international market-entry pathways. Innoverse is also developing the Innoverse Connect Programme for early-revenue startups facing specific growth challenges.

According to Innoverse, Karnataka’s deeptech ecosystem comprises 2,610 companies, including 897 funded startups that have collectively raised about $4.6 billion. The state also has 204 incubators, including 16 centres of excellence and more than 50 technology business incubators.

The first cohort marks the beginning of Innoverse’s effort to provide growth-stage deeptech companies with coordinated support across technology, capital, market access, infrastructure and policy as they work towards larger commercial deployment.