India’s Deep Tech Momentum
India is entering a transformative phase in deep technology, with artificial intelligence, space tech, robotics, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing driving change. Strong government backing, a skilled workforce, and global investment are fueling opportunities for Indian tech companies.
In a recent episode of Analytics Insight Conversations, host Priya Dayalani sat down with Lino Gandola, co-founder of Riceberg Ventures, to explore India’s deep tech ascent, investment trends, and the future of frontier technology.
Building a Global Deep Tech Fund
Gandola explained that Riceberg Ventures is an early-stage deep tech fund investing across India, Europe, and the US, primarily at pre-seed and seed stages — sometimes before a company is even incorporated. The firm’s global approach recognizes that breakthrough tech can emerge from any hub, not just Silicon Valley.
Why Deep Tech Now?
Gandola noted that ChatGPT fundamentally altered the software landscape, making traditional software investing less attractive and pushing investors toward deep tech. For him, deep tech isn’t just better hardware; it’s about breakthrough technologies that can transform industries — citing fusion energy as an example of a technology with the potential to reshape energy and global supply chains.
India’s Deep Tech Potential
Talent is India’s greatest strength, according to Gandola. The country has a highly educated, ambitious workforce, and many Indians already lead global tech companies. He sees a growing trend of talent returning to India to build companies. Progress in the space sector — recent orbital launches and Chandrayaan-3 — is also shifting mindsets, showing that ambitious tech can be developed in India.
Policy and Global Trends
Government support has become crucial. The space sector, once closed to private players, now allows 100% foreign direct investment. Meanwhile, the China-plus-one strategy is bringing manufacturing and supply-chain opportunities to India, boosting its broader tech ecosystem.
The Next Inflection Point
Gandola pointed to industrial robotics as a technology nearing an inflection point. While humanoid household robots may still be distant, robots handling routine factory tasks could become common as companies invest heavily in the space.