India’s deep-tech ambitions took center stage in Bengaluru as the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), hosted the Bharat Innovates Investor Showcase on May 19, 2026. The high-profile event brought together 24 promising Indian deep-tech start-ups and some of the biggest names in global investing, setting the stage for Bharat Innovates 2026 to be held next month in Nice, France.

The day-long showcase emerged as a major platform for India’s next-generation innovators to connect directly with investors capable of backing their global growth journey. More than 90 investors participated in the event, collectively managing over US$ 85 billion in assets worldwide. The gathering included leading venture capital and investment firms such as Peak XV Partners, Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, Avaana Capital, Kalaari Capital, Chiratae Ventures, Avendus Capital, Sony Innovation Fund, Omnivore, and several others.

Opening the event, Smt. Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, described Bharat Innovates as a flagship initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the India-France Year of Innovation in February 2026, in the presence of the President of France. She said the Bengaluru showcase reflected the government’s vision of creating structured opportunities where India’s deep-tech entrepreneurs can engage with long-term investors and strategic global partners.

Industry leaders and members of the Core Advisory Committee of Bharat Innovates 2026 — including Accel Partner Prashanth Prakash, Peak XV Managing Director Rajan Anandan, and Avendus Co-founder and CEO Gaurav Deepak — highlighted the larger goal behind the initiative. According to them, Bharat Innovates aims to place India’s research-driven deep-tech ecosystem at the center of global investment flows while building stronger international partnerships.

The event showcased the remarkable diversity of India’s deep-tech innovation landscape. The participating start-ups represented cutting-edge sectors such as space technology and launch systems, electric aviation, defence and propulsion, semiconductors, 5G and 6G communication systems, quantum computing, neuro-technology, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, women’s health, precision agriculture, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, marine robotics, and digital health.

Each start-up founder was given 15 minutes to present their ideas and business models, including a detailed pitch followed by direct interaction with investors. The format encouraged meaningful discussions around funding, scalability, and international expansion opportunities.

As the event progressed, investors showed strong interest in several ventures, with many expressing willingness for follow-up discussions in the coming weeks. The showcase concluded with extensive networking sessions and one-on-one meetings between founders and investment leaders, further strengthening connections within India’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem.

The Bengaluru showcase is part of a broader series of curated events being organised ahead of Bharat Innovates 2026, scheduled to take place in Nice, France from June 14 to 16 as part of the India-France Year of Innovation. The flagship global event is expected to feature nearly 120 Indian R&D-backed deep-tech ventures before an international audience of investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and technology experts.

Bharat Innovates 2026 is focused on 13 frontier technology sectors, including advanced computing, semiconductors, next-generation communication systems, advanced materials, biotechnology, defence, manufacturing, and space technologies. Through the initiative, India aims to strengthen the link between innovators, institutions, investors, and industry while opening new pathways for Indian deep-tech start-ups to expand into European and global markets.