By Suranjana Ghosh
Whether advancing wireless telecommunication services in rural and remote areas or creating decentralised and modular systems to recycle sewage and industrial wastewater, Indian innovators are responding to urgent challenges with bold, diverse solutions spanning multiple sectors. However, over the past few weeks, the national conversation has raised questions about an otherwise positive sentiment around Indian startups.
We are at the threshold of unprecedented opportunity in the overall global context, and it is time to turn the spotlight on creating an environment that diverts more than the current 5% startup funding into deeptech innovations. While consumer startups become household names, key innovations in cleantech, agritech, and circularity, take some time to be part of the popular startup narrative. Creating such an environment takes a relentless focus on real innovation. So, are we doing enough to enable innovations that are solving long-term challenges to scale?
Startups often find it challenging to navigate their journey from early-stage enterprises to an ARR of `100 crore. Innovators in deeptech and climate innovations specifically benefit from mentoring. Companies such as Atomberg Technologies, a consumer appliance firm and S4S Technologies, a food processing company, are examples of companies that have gained from deep-rooted mentorship.
Programmes like startup India are also bringing attention to emerging startups, in tier-2 and tier-3 locations. For investors, structured discovery reduces risk. Startups that are identified early, supported by credible enablers, and tested in real-world settings become easier to back.
A supportive ecosystem plays a key role beyond early recognition. They help validate solutions, mentor founders, connect them to enterprise partners, and provide access to pilots and infrastructure. India needs more of these long-term actors—ones that operate where capital, execution, and problem-solving intersect, converting a promising idea into a scalable business.
This thought process has driven our efforts to actively discover innovation over the last two decades. This year alone, there was a 40% increase in applicants for the 10th edition of Indian Innovation Icons — a platform to showcase and celebrate currently hidden yet potentially game-changing Indian innovations.
India’s rise on the Global Innovation Index – from 81 in 2015 to 39 today, results from years of policy-driven support, increased R&D investments, and a cultural shift towards entrepreneurship. This is evidenced by the growing number of entrepreneurs emerging from non-traditional and non-business backgrounds, stepping into the startup ecosystem, driven by problem-solving rather than inheritance or legacy.
The next generation of groundbreaking innovators is already emerging – they need the right ecosystem and enabling platforms to thrive.
The writer is head, Marico Innovation Foundation