India’s Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have evolved far beyond academic excellence — they’re now powerful launchpads for deep-tech innovation. These institutes are home to visionary entrepreneurs who are building high-impact companies in AI, space exploration, semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing, and clean mobility.

Today, IITs are not just nurturing startups; they’re fueling India’s ambition to compete at the global technology frontier. IIT Madras, in particular, leads this transformation, having incubated over 475 startups valued at more than ₹50,000 crore, proving that India can create world-class technology right at home. Here are 12 trailblazing IIT-backed startups redefining what it means to innovate in India’s deep-tech ecosystem.

Related: From Users to Innovators: Why OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity Are Betting on India

Born from the innovation corridors of IIT Madras, Ather Energy has become synonymous with premium electric scooters and EV charging networks.

With support from the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) and Rural Technology and Business Incubator (RTBI), Ather offered 5% equity for mentorship and lab space. The company has since raised over $630 million and went public in 2024 with shares priced at ₹321. That IPO generated around ₹50 crore in returns for IIT Madras, highlighting how academia and entrepreneurship can thrive together.

Agnikul Cosmos, also incubated at IIT Madras, is rewriting the rules of space engineering with its 3D-printed rocket engines and custom orbital launch vehicles.

Founded by Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM, Agnikul is building rockets that can carry payloads up to 100 kg into low-Earth orbit. With over $67 million raised — including a ₹200 crore Series B in 2023 — Agnikul has positioned India as a serious player in the global private space industry.

GalaxEye Space, founded in 2020 by alumni from IIT Madras’ Avishkar Hyperloop team, is developing multi-sensor satellites that blend radar and optical imaging for unmatched Earth observation capabilities.

Their technology provides high-resolution, all-weather imaging for defense, agriculture, and maritime industries. The company has raised $22.1 million, including $10 million from Infosys and Mela Ventures in 2024, with its Drishti Mission satellite scheduled for launch in 2026.

Mindgrove Technologies is empowering India’s semiconductor ecosystem through its fabless chip design innovations.

Incubated under IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and IIT Madras Incubation Cell, the startup has developed Secure IoT, India’s first commercial-grade microcontroller SoC. With $10.36 million in funding — including an $8 million Series A in 2024 — Mindgrove aims to make India self-reliant in high-performance chip design.

CynLr (Cybernetics Laboratory), founded by IIT Madras alumni Gokul NA and Nikhil Ramaswamy, is redefining robotic vision with its intelligent machines that can perceive and manipulate unknown objects without prior programming.

The company’s breakthrough human-eye-inspired vision systems serve the global manufacturing industry. Backed by $15.2 million in funding, including a $10 million Series A led by Pavestone and Athera Venture Partners, CynLr is pushing India into the next era of cognitive robotics.

Planys Technologies, a spin-out from IIT Madras’ Centre for Non-Destructive Evaluation, is changing how underwater infrastructure is inspected.

Founded by Tanuj Jhunjhunwala, Vineet Upadhyay, Prabhu Rajagopal, and Krishnan Balasubramanian, Planys combines marine robotics with AI-based analytics to inspect bridges, oil rigs, and ports. In 2024, the company secured ₹43 crore ($5.8 million) led by investor Ashish Kacholia, and today works with clients such as Reliance, IOCL, and Indian Railways.

At IIT Delhi, Green Aero Propulsion is pioneering a new age of sustainable aviation with its hydrogen-powered aero engine core, aptly named ‘The Blue Dragon.’

The startup’s mission is to decarbonize aviation and shipping by building fuel-agnostic, high-efficiency propulsion systems. With $2.08 million raised — including $1.6 million led by pi Ventures — Green Aero is preparing India for the next generation of clean aerospace technologies.

Chennai-based Inbound Aerospace, incubated at IIT Madras, is working on reusable spacecraft to support microgravity research and in-space manufacturing.

Their innovative lifting-body spaceplane could enable long-duration missions and low-cost reentry. Backed by over $1 million in pre-seed funding from Speciale Invest and Piper Serica, Inbound is among the few startups globally shaping the space manufacturing ecosystem.

Founded by Professor Satya Chakravarthy and Pranjal Mehta, The ePlane Company is one of India’s most promising urban air mobility ventures.

Developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, ePlane aims to turn hours-long city commutes into minutes. Their upcoming e200 model can carry four passengers and double as an air ambulance. With $21 million raised — including $14 million Series B in late 2024 — the company is set to transform urban skies.

Detect Technologies, born out of IIT Madras Research Park, provides AI-powered monitoring and predictive maintenance for industries like oil, gas, and construction.

Using drones, ultrasonic sensors, and IoT, Detect helps clients prevent equipment failure and enhance safety. With $45.7 million raised — including $28 million Series B from Prosus Ventures — the company is one of India’s fastest-growing industrial AI players.

Formerly Aarav Unmanned Systems, Aereo builds autonomous UAVs for agriculture, mining, urban planning, and energy sectors.

Founded by IIT Kanpur alumni Nikhil Upadhye, Suhas Banshiwala, Vipul Singh, and IIT Bombay’s Yeshwanth Reddy, Aereo was incubated at SIDBI Innovation and Incubation Centre (SIIC). Supported by investors like 3one4 Capital and StartupXseed Ventures, Aereo’s solutions are accelerating India’s drone economy.

QNu Labs, incubated at IIT Madras, is India’s first quantum-safe cybersecurity firm. Its QShield platform offers quantum encryption hardware to protect sensitive communications against future quantum computer threats. With $20 million raised — including ₹60 crore from the National Quantum Mission — QNu Labs is helping India prepare for a quantum-secure future across finance, defence, and telecom sectors.

From electric mobility and quantum encryption to hydrogen propulsion and robotics, IITs are enabling startups that define India’s next phase of technological leadership. By combining research excellence, entrepreneurship, and incubation support, IITs have built a deep-tech ecosystem that rivals the best innovation hubs worldwide. The success of these 12 startups is a testament to the power of India’s scientific ambition and academic innovation.