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A fundamental shift is redefining the rules of venture capital in India. Gone are the days when a charismatic pitch and a soaring user graph were enough to secure a mega-round. In 2025, the smart money is moving decisively upstream, chasing research-intensive, patent-powered, and technology-heavy startups emerging from the hallowed labs of IITs and other premier research institutions. This pivot from “growth at all costs” to “technology at the core” marks the maturation of India’s startup ecosystem into a globally competitive deep-tech hub.

Entrepreneurship is a journey marked by bold vision and inherent risk. Recent data shared with Parliament provides a rare, sobering glimpse into this reality: as of October 31, 2025, a total of 6,385 startups recognized under the DPIIT Startup India initiative have been categorized as “closed.” These companies have been officially dissolved or struck off the official register.

In a powerful counter-narrative to global economic uncertainty, India’s venture capital landscape has delivered a thunderous vote of confidence in 2025. A staggering 81 new funds—spanning VC, PE, micro-VC, and government-backed vehicles—have been launched, amassing a collective war chest of over $12.1 billion (₹1.12 lakh crore). This represents a robust 39% year-on-year surge from the $8.7 billion raised in 2024 and stands as a definitive signal that sophisticated investors are betting big on India’s long-term innovation story.

In a resounding validation of India’s growing prowess in foundational innovation, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has announced a monumental achievement. Its incubation cell has now supported over 500 deep-tech startups, a collective force that has raised a staggering ₹17,310 crore (approximately $2 billion) in funding and is generating substantial revenue. This milestone is far more than a number—it is a powerful testament to a maturing ecosystem where cutting-edge academic research is systematically translated into scalable, world-changing companies.

In a landmark achievement for Indian healthtech and deep-science innovation, Bengaluru-based Biomoneta Research Private Limited has become the first Indian healthtech startup to secure US FDA 510(k) Class II clearance. This prestigious regulatory milestone is for its flagship product, the Avata Rx Medical Recirculating Air Cleaner—a device powered by the company’s globally patented ZeBox® technology, which has demonstrated the ability to destroy airborne pathogens with over 99.9% efficacy.