India Tech Report

Month: July 2025

  • The Climate on Monday: Green Climate Fund’s record mandate, Crosstown’s innovative hydrogen retrofit, and more

    The Climate on Monday: Green Climate Fund’s record mandate, Crosstown’s innovative hydrogen retrofit, and more

    Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world.

    Illustrative image: wind turbines on moutains. The Green Climate Fund has approved a record amount for new projects.

    Green Climate Fund approves record $1.2 billion for climate projects in developing nations

    The Green Climate Fund has approved a record $1.2 billion for 17 new climate projects, mainly in Asia and Africa, to help vulnerable nations adapt to and mitigate climate change, Reuters reports. The investments include $227 million for green bond markets and $200 million for green finance in India. Reforms will speed up partnerships and project approvals, aiming to reduce accreditation time for local partners from 30 months to nine months.

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    UN development summit endorses innovative taxes and finance tools to boost global climate funding

    At a UN conference in Spain last week, 192 countries adopted the “Sevilla Commitment,” backing new climate finance tools such as taxes on the super-rich, levies on polluting transport, and debt swaps, Climate Home News reports.

    Leaders urged carbon and airline ticket taxes, pre-arranged disaster aid, and easier access to international funds for developing nations. The summit stressed urgent action as climate impacts worsen, with richer countries called to lead on finance and support fair energy transitions worldwide.

    UK launches first onshore wind strategy to double capacity and create 45,000 jobs by 2030

    The UK government has unveiled its first-ever onshore wind strategy, aiming to nearly double capacity to 27–29 GW by 2030 and create up to 45,000 skilled jobs, according to a statement from the UK’s department of energy security and net zero.

    Over 40 measures will accelerate project development, streamline planning, repower aging turbines, and offer community benefits. The plan reverses nearly a decade of stagnation, boosts energy security, and seeks billions in private investment, positioning onshore wind as a cornerstone of Britain’s clean energy future.

    Global EV and battery investment surges, but China’s overcapacity and policy shifts challenge industry

    Global investment in electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries is booming, with China leading in manufacturing and sales due to strong state support and a vast domestic market, according to a recent report from the Rhodium Group.

    Europe is rapidly adopting EVs, relying heavily on imports, especially from China, while the US faces uncertainty as potential policy rollbacks threaten its growing domestic industry. Emerging markets are seeing fast EV adoption, often driven by affordable Chinese models, as the sector reaches a pivotal global transition point.

    Crosstown raises $3.8 million to retrofit Europe’s gas turbines for hydrogen

    Swiss startup Crosstown has secured CHF 3 million ($3.8 million) in seed funding to scale its patented H2R Burner technology, which enables existing gas turbines to run on 100 percent hydrogen or mixed renewable fuels. This innovation allows operators to cut CO₂ emissions by over 300,000 tons per 100MW turbine annually and reduce NOx by up to 80 percent, offering a cost-effective path to decarbonization without replacing current infrastructure.

    New Climate Tech Readiness Index ranks industries on real-world climate technology adoption

    Climate Insider has launched the Climate Technology Readiness Index, assessing how prepared emissions-intensive industries — like oil & gas, chemicals, and power — are to actually adopt and scale climate technologies, the climate tech industry media and market intelligence provider said in a recent post.

    Unlike traditional indices that track climate pledges, this tool measures organizational capabilities, R&D investment, partnerships, and operational deployment. The index aims to bridge the gap between climate tech innovation and real-world implementation, providing critical intelligence for companies navigating urgent regulatory and decarbonization pressures.

    AI-powered robots replace farm hands and herbicides, offering sustainable weeding solutions

    Aigen, a US startup, has developed a solar-powered, AI-driven robot that autonomously removes weeds from fields, addressing labour shortages and herbicide resistance, according to an AFP report that was picked up by the Economic Times.

    The robot, called Element, uses on-board cameras and AI to navigate crops – mimicking how human labourers would perform weeding – and eliminates the need for chemical weed killers. Priced at $50,000, Element aims to save farmers money, protect health, and promote climate-friendly agriculture, with robots already operating in cotton, tomato, and sugar beet fields.

    In Conversation

    In-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.

    Insight

    Takeaways from conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.

  • The EV opportunity in India: 10 takeaways from a conversation with Kunal Khattar

    The EV opportunity in India: 10 takeaways from a conversation with Kunal Khattar

    In this week’s episode of In Conversation, I spoke with Kunal Khattar, founding managing partner at AdvantEdge Founders, a ‘sector-focused’ early-stage VC firm in New Delhi that’s well known for backing founders in the EV and mobility sectors in India.

    AdvantEdge is into its 10th year now and known for backing startups like Rapido, Chalo, ZingBus, Park+, Baaz, Shuttl, and Exponent Energy, with close to 40 companies in its portfolio across its first two funds. The firm is close to announcing the first close of its third fund which has a targeted total of $75 million.

    Kunal says his mission is to foster a 100 successful entrepreneurs in the mobility space. We discussed a range of connected topics, including why he expects the EV space to hit the J-curve growth stage over the next three to five years, how replacing the overall ICE economy in India is a trillion-dollar opportunity, and the rise of deep tech and new solutions like clean hydrogen in India’s mobility space.

    Here are my top 10 takeaways.

    1. AdvantEdge’s sector focus and founder-first philosophy

    Khattar explains that AdvantEdge Founders was built with a clear mission: to create 100 successful founders, not just unicorns or high returns. The fund’s North Star metric is founder success, and this ethos shapes everything from team titles to investment decisions. AdvantEdge views itself as a startup, with an operator’s mindset, emphasizing hands-on support and deep partnership with entrepreneurs throughout their early journeys.

    2. India’s $1 trillion EV opportunity and the Suzuki 2.0 moment

    Khattar draws a parallel between India’s auto sector transformation after Suzuki’s entry and the current EV revolution. He believes the transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles could create $1 trillion in market value across OEMs, component suppliers, dealerships, financing, insurance, and energy distribution — mirroring the ecosystem Suzuki built, but now cantered on electrification and new business models.

    3. Prioritizing commercial vehicle electrification for maximum impact

    The fund’s thesis is to focus on electrifying commercial vehicles —two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and trucks — because they represent only 10 percent of vehicles but account for 70 percent of energy consumption and emissions. Khattar argues that targeting commercial fleets first delivers greater environmental, economic, and social returns, including reduced oil imports and improved livelihoods for millions dependent on these vehicles.

    4. India’s unique mobility landscape shapes investment strategy

    Unlike the US or China, India’s mobility market is dominated by two- and three-wheelers, buses, and commercial vehicles. AdvantEdge avoids direct comparisons with Western markets and instead focuses on form factors where India is already a global leader. This approach enables the fund to back solutions tailored to Indian needs and scalable across similar emerging markets.

    5. The “picks and shovels” approach to building the EV ecosystem

    AdvantEdge invests in the enabling infrastructure of the EV transition — what Khattar calls “picks and shovels” companies. These include EV component makers, charging networks, financing and leasing platforms, insurance providers, and energy distribution businesses. The goal is to support the foundational B2B solutions that will underpin the entire EV value chain, rather than just consumer-facing brands.

    6. Timing investments for J-curve growth and sector cycles

    Khattar emphasizes the importance of entering sectors at the right time — when J-curve growth is imminent but before valuations become overheated. AdvantEdge is willing to invest in pre-revenue, pre-product companies at the earliest stages, drawing on its operational expertise to help them reach product-market fit. This disciplined timing avoids the pitfalls of entering too early or too late in sector cycles.

    7. Deep tech and problem-driven innovation are key differentiators

    The fund seeks out deep technology startups that solve fundamental barriers to EV adoption, such as charging speed, range anxiety, and cost. For example, Exponent Energy, a portfolio company, developed proprietary tech to fully charge EVs in under 15 minutes—addressing multiple pain points for commercial operators and accelerating EV adoption in India’s unique market context.

    8. Collaborative ecosystem building with other funds and founders

    AdvantEdge actively collaborates with larger funds, global investors, and its own portfolio founders to build a thriving ecosystem. “It takes a village,” he says, and believes in sharing research, co-investing, and using complementary strengths is essential. The value of this network compounds with each new investment, creating a snowball effect of knowledge and opportunity.

    9. Pragmatic view on hydrogen and next-gen battery tech

    Khattar is sceptical about the near-term disruption potential of hydrogen and solid-state batteries in India. He argues that such technologies are at least a decade away from mainstream adoption and that India should focus on indigenous innovation suited to its market realities, rather than chasing the latest breakthroughs from advanced economies.

    10. Building for India, not benchmarking against China or the West

    Khattar urges Indian founders and investors to avoid direct comparisons with China or the US. Instead, he advocates for building solutions that address India’s unique challenges and opportunities, tapping local strengths in two and three-wheeler markets and focusing on incremental progress. The goal is to create a better India, not to replicate foreign models.

  • Khosla, Eclipse fund Genesis AI’s vision for robotics foundation model, Climeworks hits $1 bln, and more

    Khosla, Eclipse fund Genesis AI’s vision for robotics foundation model, Climeworks hits $1 bln, and more

    Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world

    Proteus, Amazon’s first fully autonomous robot.

    Amazon deploys one million robots, launches AI to boost warehouse efficiency

    Amazon has surpassed the deployment of one million industrial robots, marking a major automation milestone as its latest system began operations in a Japanese fulfillment center, the Association for Advancing Automation reports.

    Amazon also introduced DeepFleet, a generative AI model designed to optimize robot coordination across more than 300 global facilities, improving travel efficiency by 10 percent. More than 700,000 employees have been retrained to work alongside robots, reflecting Amazon’s ongoing integration of advanced robotics and AI into its operations.

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    Genesis AI emerges from stealth with $105 million to build universal robotics AI platform

    Genesis AI, a global physical AI research lab, has launched with $105 million in seed funding co-led by Eclipse Ventures and Khosla Ventures, the Canadian venture said in a press release.

    The company aims to develop a universal robotics foundation model and a horizontal platform for general-purpose physical AI, using a proprietary physics simulation engine to generate high-quality synthetic data.

    Genesis AI’s approach seeks to automate a broad range of physical tasks, addressing the vast, largely unautomated global labor market.

    Catalio Capital closes $400 million fourth fund to back innovative healthcare startups

    Catalio Capital Management has closed its fourth venture fund, Catalio Nexus Fund IV, with over $400 million in commitments from global institutional investors, the New York firm said in a press release. The fund will support breakthrough biomedical technology companies, including 16 early investments such as PinkDx and Superluminal Medicines.

    Catalio’s strategy focuses on partnering with leading scientists and entrepreneurs to launch and grow life sciences startups, even as the biotech sector faces a challenging funding environment.

    Flexible zinc–ion batteries with new hydrogel electrolyte maintain stable voltage even when bent

    Researchers at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a flexible aqueous zinc–ion battery using a novel hydrogel electrolyte made from urea and zinc acetate, Tech Xplore reports.

    The battery’s hydrogel can stretch up to 557% and withstand significant compression, maintaining stable voltage even when bent to 180°. This innovation addresses durability and leakage issues, making the battery ideal for portable and wearable devices while remaining cost-effective and eco-friendly.

    Indian scientists develop lanthanum-doped silver niobate for next-generation supercapacitors

    A team led by Dr. Kavita Pandey at Bengaluru’s Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, in collaboration with Aligarh Muslim University, has engineered a lanthanum-doped silver niobate material that dramatically boosts supercapacitor performance, according to a press release from India’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

    The innovation delivers 118 percent energy retention and 100 percent coulombic efficiency, which is a measure of total charge extracted from an electrochemical device during discharge versus the total charge put in during charging.

    The research team demonstrated a prototype successfully powering an LCD display. This breakthrough, published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, could advance high-efficiency, eco-friendly energy storage for electronics and renewable systems.

    Climeworks raises $162 million to expand direct air capture tech for carbon removal

    Climeworks has raised $162 million in equity funding, bringing its total raised to more than $1 billion, according to a press release from the Swiss venture. This is the most for any pure-play carbon removal venture, Tech Funding News notes.

    The investment, led by BigPoint Holding and Partners Group, will accelerate Climeworks’ rollout of its Generation 3 direct air capture technology and global expansion. Climeworks aims to capture 1 billion tons of CO₂ by 2050, positioning itself as a leader in permanent, verifiable carbon removal solutions.

    “Direct Air Capture has gone from experiment to essential, and we’re focused on scaling it,” Christoph Gebald, co-CEO and co-founder of Climeworks said in the press release. The company has a hybrid business model that combines long-term innovation and present-day commercial applications of its technology to generate revenue, he added.

    In Conversation

    In-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.

    Insight

    Takeaways from conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.

  • India approves $12 billion R&D and I fund, Loopworm’s insect protein tech, Aureka’s sustainable diamonds get Peak XV sparkle, and more

    India approves $12 billion R&D and I fund, Loopworm’s insect protein tech, Aureka’s sustainable diamonds get Peak XV sparkle, and more

    Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world

    Rajiv Ganth, founder and CEO, CIMware, is leading innovation that can help make data centre power use more efficient and therefore boost sustainability.

    Google signs landmark deal with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to commercialize fusion energy

    Google has entered its first commercial fusion energy agreement, committing to purchase 200 megawatts of clean power from Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ (CFS) inaugural ARC (affordable, robust and compact) plant in Virginia, expected to go online in the early 2030s.

    The partnership deepens Google’s investment in CFS, a Massachusetts-based MIT spinout, and includes an option to offtake power from future ARC facilities. The move signals growing confidence in fusion’s potential to deliver scalable, carbon-free electricity to meet surging energy demand from big tech data centres.

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    Omnisent secures $3 million to pioneer acoustic AI for industrial intelligence

    Omnisent, a sound technologies and AI startup in Munich, Germany, has raised $3 million in a pre-seed round led by Atlantic Labs, Tech Funding News reports.

    The startup, founded in late 2024 by Robin Daiber, Ann-Kristin Balve, and Adrien Jathe, has developed a platform that uses proprietary ultra-low-power sonic sensors and a large acoustic AI model to convert industrial noise into real-time insights, targeting inefficiencies like compressed air leaks.

    The fresh funds will support R&D, team growth, and a commercial launch in Q4 2025, as Omnisent aims to expand into energy, defence, and smart cities.

    CIMware raises $2.3 million to tackle data center scalability with sustainable smart switch

    CIMware, a data centre infrastructure venture in Bengaluru, has raised $2.3 million in Pre-Series-A funding led by Transition VC, the company said in a press release. CIMware was founded in 2019 by Rajiv Ganth, a veteran in distributed systems and data centre engineering.

    Ganth, who has previously worked at companies including LSI and Dell EMC, leads CIMware’s push to address data centre scalability and efficiency with its patented Composable Infrastructure Module, a converged smart switch built in India. CIMware says its technology can reduce power consumption by up to 80 percent, offering a more sustainable alternative for AI-driven workloads, according to the release.

    Loopworm raises $3.25 million to commercialize silkworm-based protein platform

    Loopworm, a biomanufacturing startup in Bengaluru, has raised $3.25 million in a pre-Series-A round led by WaterBridge Ventures and Japan’s Enrission India Capital, Entrackr reports.

    Founded by IIT-Roorkee alumni Ankit Alok Bagaria and Abhi Gawri in 2019, Loopworm has developed a reactor-free system using silkworms to produce recombinant proteins for diagnostics and animal vaccines, promising faster, cheaper, and more sustainable production. Backed by investors including Omnivore, the company operates a 6,000-tonne-per-year insect processing facility and exports to Europe, South America, and ASEAN markets.

    Aukera raises $15 million led by Peak XV Partners to expand lab-grown diamond retail

    Aureka, a lab-grown diamond jewellery startup, has raised $15 million in growth capital led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Fireside Ventures, Sparrow Capital, Prath Ventures, and Alteria Capital.

    The Bengaluru-based company will use the funds to expand its retail footprint, enhance product offerings, and strengthen its omnichannel presence. Founded two years ago by Lisa Mukhedkar and Kumar Saurabh, Aukera operates 13 stores nationwide and aims to lead India’s rapidly growing lab-grown diamond market amid rising demand for sustainable luxury.

    India’s Cabinet approves $12 billion R&D and innovation fund to boost private R&D in strategic sectors

    India’s Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an R&D and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, establishing a Rs. 1 lakh crore ($12 billion) fund to catalyze private sector investment in research, development, and innovation across strategic and sunrise sectors.

    The scheme offers long-term, low or zero-interest financing to overcome funding barriers and promote technology adoption, self-reliance, and competitiveness, according to a press release yesterday.

    A two-tier funding structure will be managed by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, with the Department of Science and Technology as the nodal agency. The RDI Scheme aims to finance transformative projects, support acquisition of critical technologies, and facilitate a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds, positioning India for global leadership in innovation as it targets developed nation status by 2047.

    In Conversation

    In-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.

  • How LogicFlo’s AI empowers life sciences experts, Genrobotics Bandicoots in Chennai sewers, and more

    How LogicFlo’s AI empowers life sciences experts, Genrobotics Bandicoots in Chennai sewers, and more

    Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world.

    Udith Vaidyanathan and Arun Ramakrishnan, LogicFlo AI’s founders, aim to put human experts in life sciences at the centre of AI-led productivity gains. Image courtesy company.

    BEML inaugurates aerospace SEZ facility in Bengaluru, lays foundation for major expansion

    BEML Limited has inaugurated a state-of-the-art warehousing facility at the KIADB Aerospace SEZ in Bengaluru. It has also laid the foundation for a larger Phase II expansion. This initiative aims to strengthen India’s defence and aviation ecosystem by developing a 25-acre industrial hub for advanced manufacturing, MRO services, and global exports.

    The facility, strategically located near the airport, will generate more than 500 jobs and foster collaborations with global OEMs, supporting innovation and self-reliance in the aerospace sector, the public sector company said in a press release.

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    Indofast and Motovolt partner to launch battery-swapping MVS7 e-scooter, advancing affordable EV adoption

    Indofast Energy, a joint venture between Indian Oil Corporation and SUN Mobility, has partnered Motovolt Mobility to launch the MVS7 electric scooter, featuring battery-swapping via Indofast’s nationwide network, according to a press release.

    The alliance uses a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model to lower upfront costs and eliminate range anxiety, targeting both commuters and businesses. The MVS7 offers a top speed of 50kmph, up to 85km range, and a 150kg payload. The partnership aims to sell 25,000 units in the next year.

    The Motovolt MVS7 offers a top speed of 50kmph, up to 85km range, and a 150kg payload. Image courtesy company.

    Inox Clean Energy subsidiary acquires Skypower Solar India to expand renewable portfolio

    Inox Clean Energy Limited’s subsidiary, Inox Neo Energies, has acquired Skypower Solar India Private Limited, which operates a 50MW (AC) / 57.5MW (DC) solar project in Madhya Pradesh. The asset, commissioned in 2018 and secured by a 25-year PPA with MP Power Management Company, was valued at approximately Rs. 265 crore, reflecting a 5.3x EV/EBITDA multiple.

    This acquisition aligns with INOXGFL Group’s strategy to scale its renewable energy capacity and reach 3GW of hybrid installations within two to three years.

    Tenneco Clean Air India files DRHP with SEBI for ₹3,000 crore IPO

    Tenneco Clean Air India Limited, part of the US-based Tenneco Group, has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI for an Initial Public Offering comprising an Offer for Sale of up to Rs. 3,000 crore by promoter Tenneco Mauritius Holdings Limited. Shares will be listed on BSE and NSE.

    The company is a leading supplier of clean air, powertrain, and suspension solutions for Indian and export markets, holding significant market share across commercial and passenger vehicle segments.

    Genrobotics celebrates a year of smarter sewer cleaning with Bandicoot robots

    Genrobotics, a startup in Thiruvanantapuram, is celebrating a year of smarter cleaning of sewers in Chennai, including contactless cleaning, with its Bandicoot Mobility+ robots. These robots have safely cleaned more than 5,000 manholes and stormwater drains since April 2024, according to a company press release.

    The vehicle-mounted robots eliminate manual scavenging, improve worker safety, and ensure hygienic waste disposal. Their success has inspired Bengaluru to adopt the technology, advancing India’s leadership in socially driven robotics innovation and setting a new standard for urban sanitation across the country, according to the press release.

    Genrobotics in Thiruvanantapuram offers robots that can clean deep manholes and sewers, eliminating manual scavenging. Image courtesy company.

    LogicFlo AI secures $2.7 million seed funding led by Lightspeed to expand AI agent platform in life sciences

    LogicFlo AI, a Boston-based AI platform for life sciences, has raised $2.7 million in a seed round led by Lightspeed. The funding will accelerate global expansion and product development, enabling deeper deployment with pharmaceutical, biotech, and med-tech enterprises, including Fortune 500 clients, according to a press release.

    LogicFlo AI’s intelligent agents streamline regulated scientific workflows, dramatically reducing timelines for medical writing and information response. Founded by Udith Vaidyanathan and Arun Ramakrishnan in 2024, the company aims to redefine scientific work in regulated industries.

    “For the first time, AI agents are capable enough to drive meaningful productivity gains in regulated scientific work,” Vaidyanathan said in the press release. “LogicFlo AI puts experts firmly at the centre. The goal is to empower the brightest people in life sciences do what only they can do – drive medical science forward and help elevate the standard of care.”

    In Conversation

    In-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.

    Insight

    Takeaways from conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems.