Over 40 Startups Win Investor Follow-Up Commitments at Bharat Innovates

The second day of Bharat Innovates 2026 witnessed intensive engagement among global investors, industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, startups and academic institutions, with discussions centred on accelerating innovation, strengthening technology partnerships and advancing the commercialisation of DeepTech solutions.

An initiative of the Government of India and implemented by the Ministry of Education, Bharat Innovates 2026 serves as an international platform connecting India’s innovation ecosystem with global capital, industry expertise, research networks and international markets.

The day began with an Innovation Showcase featuring technologies developed by Indian startups and premier higher education institutions across sectors including

biotechnology, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, energy, mobility, space and artificial intelligence.

Delivering the keynote address, Asian Paints Limited Co-Promoter and angel investor Jalaj Dani highlighted the importance of aligning scientific innovation with market demand, industrial partnerships and long-term institution-building.

The summit also hosted panel discussions featuring industry, investment and research leaders, including Prof. Chetan Chitnis of Institut Pasteur, Safran Reosc CEO Aurélie Girou, Thales Alenia Space’s Bertrand Denis, GIFAS CEO Frédéric Parisot, Sony Innovation Fund’s Yoko Fukata and Mizuho Financial Group’s Suneel Bakhshi.

Discussions focused on bio-innovation, advanced manufacturing, space, defence supply chains and global investment, with speakers emphasising patient capital, international co-development and stronger pathways from research to commercial scale.

A major highlight of the day was the investor-startup engagement programme, where more than 80 Bharat Innovates DeepTech startups presented their innovations before panels comprising over 50 global investors from more than 10 countries.

The pitching sessions were organised across six thematic categories: Space and Defence; Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductors; Healthcare and MedTech; Biotechnology and AgriTech; Energy and Climate Technologies; and Advanced Manufacturing.

According to the organisers, the sessions enabled direct engagement between startups and global venture funds as well as corporate venture capital arms. More than 40 startups secured confirmed investor follow-up commitments, generating significant investment interest and deal-flow opportunities.

The summit also highlighted approximately USD 30 million in investment activity announced during the opening day of the event.

By the end of Day Two, Bharat Innovates 2026 had facilitated more than 1,350 business-to-business meetings involving Bharat Innovates Innovators and supported the signing of over 50 collaboration agreements.

The event also recorded more than 80 startup pitches before 50-plus global investors from over 10 countries, while over 40 startups received confirmed investor follow-up commitments. In addition, approximately USD 254.5 million in funding commitments and advanced-stage investments involving Bharat Innovates Innovators were announced.

Organisers said the investor engagement sessions, technology showcases and cross-border collaboration platforms have contributed to strengthening India’s position as a global hub for DeepTech innovation while creating new opportunities for collaboration between India, Europe and other international markets.

The final day of the summit will focus on technology parks and accelerators, climate technologies, industrial decarbonisation, global scaling strategies and long-term institutional partnerships aimed at sustaining the innovation linkages established during the event.

The scale and substance of engagements on Day Two further reinforced Bharat Innovates 2026 as a platform for global technology partnerships, DeepTech investment and innovation-led economic growth.