Bengaluru, 13 November 2025: At IVCA Circles — Bangalore Edition, Shri Priyank M. Kharge, Minister for Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka — often hailed as the State’s ‘Deep-Tech Minister’ — drew attention to Karnataka’s role in powering India’s deeptech ambitions. With “Unlocking India’s DeepTech Potential” as the theme, the forum, organised by the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), served as a platform for policymakers, investors, and founders to discuss India’s deeptech ambitions.
In a fireside chat with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners and Surge and the Co-Chair of the VC Council, IVCA, the Karnataka Minister emphasised the state’s continued leadership in innovation and research-led entrepreneurship. Highlighting the state’s vision, Shri Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka said, “Karnataka has always been at the forefront of innovation, and as we look ahead, we are entering the Deep Tech Decade for the state. To facilitate this, we’re investing not just in start-ups but in the entire value chain that makes start-ups into unicorns — from research and skilling to incubation and acceleration.”
He added that with this, the State will be the world’s most reliable hub for cutting-edge technologies. “Our goal is to build globally employable talent, empower entrepreneurs beyond Bengaluru, and enable the next generation of deep tech solutions that will define India’s future,” he said.
The discussion also touched upon the Union Government’s recent policy measures, including the ₹10,000 crore deeptech fund of funds announced in Union Budget 2025–26 and the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund to catalyse private sector research and innovation. Shri Kharge noted that such initiatives, when integrated with state-level programmes, can amplify India’s global competitiveness in frontier technologies.
The Bangalore edition of IVCA Circles drew participation from investors, founders, and policymakers discussing how India’s deeptech ecosystem—now over 3,600 startups strong across semiconductors, biotech, clean energy, space and advanced computing—is evolving. The event also featured sessions with leaders from Blume Ventures, Ankur Capital, Speciale Invest, WaterBridge Ventures, and IN-SPACe, focusing on pathways to move innovation from the labs to the markets.