AI and ML top tech choices for 74% of India's deep-tech startups: Nasscom
Synopsis
Nasscom's Emerge 50 League of 10 for 2026 reveals that AI and ML now power 74% of India's deep-tech applicants — but the more telling number is 39%: the share already fully commercialised at TRL 9. With $875 million raised and $420 million in revenue across three editions, India's deep-tech sector is no longer just experimenting — it is deploying at scale.
Key Takeaways
74 per cent of deep-tech startup applicants in India use AI and machine learning , according to Nasscom's Emerge 50 League of 10 for 2026 .
The League of 10 was selected from 750 applications across 11 frontier technology domains .
83 per cent of applicants have reached Technology Readiness Level 6 or above; 39 per cent are fully commercialised at TRL 9 .
46 per cent of applicants have raised external funding; 38 per cent have at least one woman co-founder.
Across three editions, 150 startups have raised over $875 million and generated more than $420 million in cumulative revenue since 2022 .
The cohort collectively employs 8,000–10,000 professionals with a presence in the US, Canada, Singapore , and the UK .
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) were the most widely adopted technologies among deep-tech startup applicants in India, used by 74 per cent of participants, industry body Nasscom said on 7 August 2025 as it unveiled its Emerge 50 League of 10 for 2026 — a curated list of ten of the country's most promising deep-tech ventures.
What the Emerge 50 League Represents
The League of 10 was selected from 50 winners drawn from a competitive pool of 750 applications spanning 11 frontier technology domains. The recognised startups are building breakthrough solutions across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, space technology, synthetic biology, clean energy, and other advanced fields.
While AI dominated technology adoption, the breadth of application areas extended well beyond software — encompassing connected hardware, the Internet of Things (IoT), energy and cleantech, and industrial automation and robotics, according to Nasscom's findings.
Maturity Signals in the Applicant Pool
The 2026 applicant cohort signals a meaningful shift in India's deep-tech landscape. Around 83 per cent of applicants have reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above, indicating solutions that have moved well past the laboratory stage. A further 39 per cent are fully commercialised at TRL 9.
Nearly half of the startups have secured intellectual property rights for their products or technologies — a marker of proprietary innovation rather than derivative development. On the funding side, 46 per cent of applicants have raised external capital, while 38 per cent have at least one woman in their founding team.
What Nasscom's Leadership Said
Rajesh Nambiar, President of Nasscom, underscored the strategic imperative behind scaling deep tech. 'Scaling deep tech is critical for India to strengthen its technological capabilities, address complex national priorities and build globally competitive, innovation-led businesses,' he said.
Nambiar also flagged the conditions needed for the next phase of growth: 'While there is strong momentum across semiconductors, space, quantum, the next phase of growth will require patient capital, stronger R&D, access to infrastructure and testbeds, and sustained policy and government support,' he added.
Cumulative Impact Across Three Editions
Over the past three editions of the Nasscom Emerge awards, the 150 recognised startups have collectively raised more than $875 million in funding and generated over $420 million in cumulative revenue since 2022. These companies collectively employ an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 professionals and have built an international presence across markets including the United States, Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
What This Signals for India's Deep-Tech Ecosystem
The data points to a deep-tech sector that is graduating from early-stage experimentation to commercial deployment at scale — a transition that Nasscom's own applicant pool characterises as a 'significant shift.' This comes amid growing global competition in frontier technologies, with India positioning itself as a credible alternative to established deep-tech hubs. The next critical test will be whether policy support and patient capital can match the pace of innovation already evident on the ground.
Point of View
Meaning fully commercial. India's deep-tech narrative has long been aspirational; this data suggests execution is catching up. The harder question is sustainability: $875 million raised across 150 startups over three years is modest by global standards, and Nasscom's own president flagged the need for 'patient capital' — a tacit acknowledgment that the current funding environment remains shallow for hardware-heavy, long-gestation bets like quantum and semiconductors. Policy intent exists; the infrastructure and risk capital to match it are still works in progress.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nasscom Emerge 50 League of 10 for 2026?
It is Nasscom's annual recognition of ten of India's most promising deep-tech startups, selected from 50 winners drawn from 750 applications across 11 frontier technology domains. The 2026 cohort spans AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, space, synthetic biology, and clean energy.
Why are AI and machine learning so dominant among Indian deep-tech startups?
According to Nasscom, 74 per cent of applicants in the 2026 pool use AI and ML — reflecting the technology's broad applicability across sectors from industrial automation to cleantech. The adoption extends beyond pure software, encompassing connected hardware and IoT applications as well.
How commercially mature are these deep-tech startups?
Around 83 per cent of applicants have reached Technology Readiness Level 6 or above, and 39 per cent are fully commercialised at TRL 9. Nearly half have secured intellectual property rights, signalling a shift from experimentation to deployment.
How much funding have Nasscom-recognised deep-tech startups raised?
Across three editions of the Nasscom Emerge awards, 150 recognised startups have collectively raised more than $875 million and generated over $420 million in cumulative revenue since 2022, employing an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 professionals.
What does Nasscom say India needs to sustain deep-tech growth?
Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar said the next phase of growth will require 'patient capital, stronger R&D, access to infrastructure and testbeds, and sustained policy and government support' — particularly for capital-intensive frontier areas such as semiconductors, space, and quantum computing.
