NVIDIA and Qualcomm Ventures have joined a growing coalition of U.S. and Indian investors committed to advancing India’s deep tech startup ecosystem. The India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA), launched in September, has secured over $1 billion in commitments and aligns with India’s new ₹1 trillion (approximately $12 billion) Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme, recently approved by the Indian cabinet and announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NVIDIA is participating as a strategic technical advisor, offering guidance on AI and accelerated computing without making a direct financial investment. The company will support startups through technical training via the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, share best practices, and contribute to policy discussions aimed at strengthening India’s technological capabilities. Vishal Dhupar, NVIDIA’s managing director for South Asia, said the company’s involvement is a strong endorsement of India’s potential in deep tech. Qualcomm Ventures, meanwhile, is contributing both capital and network access. The San Diego-based firm has a history of investing in Indian tech, including early stakes in MapmyIndia and drone maker IdeaForge. Rama Bethmangalkar, India managing director at Qualcomm Ventures, emphasized that the firm will help startups connect with its global portfolio, internal teams, and partner networks, fostering collaboration across the tech value chain. The IDTA brings together seven major U.S. and Indian venture capital firms: Accel, Blume Ventures, Premji Invest, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts. The coalition has since expanded to include Indian funds such as Activate AI, Chiratae Ventures, InfoEdge Ventures, Kalaari Capital, Singularity Holdings, and YourNest Venture Capital. The alliance is not a single fund but a collaborative network focused on sharing deal flow, mentorship, and resources. Sriram Viswanathan, founding managing partner of Celesta Capital and a founding member of the IDTA, described it as a “coalition of the willing” working to build a sustainable deep tech ecosystem in India. India’s startup landscape now includes over 180,000 startups and more than 120 unicorns. While early-stage ventures were often modeled after Western SaaS companies, the focus has increasingly shifted toward solving complex, infrastructure-level challenges — from semiconductors and space technology to clean energy and robotics. However, deep tech startups face a significant capital gap due to their long development cycles and high risk profiles. The RDI scheme aims to address this by providing long-term funding through loans, equity, and support for deep-tech funds of funds. The IDTA participants plan to leverage this government initiative to back Indian-domiciled deep tech ventures. While the exact capital contributions from each member remain undisclosed, the alliance is already having an impact. India’s deep tech funding grew 78% year-over-year in 2024, reaching $1.6 billion, according to a report by Nasscom and Zinnov. Still, it lags far behind the U.S. and other developed markets. The IDTA’s long-term goal is to create role models — successful, science-driven companies that will inspire more investment and attract global attention. As Bethmangalkar noted, “In ten years, you’ll start seeing these as the companies listed on the main boards of our exchanges — deeply science- and tech-oriented firms.”