From Convenience to Invention: DeepTech Start-Ups Shaping India's Future

Indian tech startup ecosystem has emerged as one of the most dynamic ones in the world, with over 80 unicorns and a vibrant entrepreneurial culture. Yet, amidst this momentum, a growing perception has become fixed – that a large share of startups are solving for convenience rather than national interest. This sentiment has found resonance in public discourse, often fuelled by the visibility of consumer-facing ventures dominating headlines and valuations. This view, however, risks flattening a far more diverse and complex reality. Over the past decade, the ease of scaling digital B2C models has naturally drawn investor capital and media attention. But this spotlight effect has unintentionally crowded out the recognition of a parallel innovation movement, one where Indian startups are solving deeply for critical national imperatives such as health access, defence resilience, education parity, sustainable energy, and more. The result is a perception skew, not necessarily rooted in startup intent, but in how innovation is assessed and spotlighted.