BYT Capital Launches ₹180 Crore Fund to Back 18–20 Deeptech Startups
Mon Dec 22 2025
Deeptech-focused venture capital firm BYT Capital has launched its first early-stage fund with a corpus of ₹180 crore, formally entering India’s fast-evolving deeptech investment landscape.
More than 50% of the fund has already been subscribed, and the firm expects to reach its final close by Q3 2026. The Bengaluru-based Category II AIF was founded by Amit Chand and Dinesh Kumar.
Fund Size, Cheque Strategy, and Portfolio Goals
BYT Capital plans to invest in 18–20 deeptech and frontier engineering startups, with:
- Initial cheque sizes: ₹3–6 crore
- 55% of the fund reserved for follow-on investments, allowing continued backing of high-performing portfolio companies
The firm has already begun evaluating opportunities and expects to make its first investments by the end of December.
This strategy reflects a conviction-driven approach—supporting startups not just at entry, but through critical scale-up phases.
Investment Focus: IP-Led, Frontier Innovation
BYT Capital’s fund is designed to back IP-led innovation emerging from:
- Research institutions
- Engineering ecosystems
- Scientific laboratories
The firm is particularly interested in startups that can translate lab-stage research into market-ready products with global relevance.
Key Sectors of Focus
- Space technology
- Life sciences & biotechnology
- Robotics and advanced automation
- Clean energy and new materials
- Quantum technologies
- Defence and advanced engineering
These sectors align with India’s strategic priorities around technological sovereignty, industrial resilience, and global competitiveness.
India at a Deeptech Inflection Point
According to BYT Capital’s founders, India is entering a crucial phase in deeptech entrepreneurship.
Several structural shifts are converging:
- High-quality technical talent returning from global innovation hubs
- Greater openness among academic institutions to IP licensing and spinouts
- Improved collaboration between startups, labs, and industry
Together, these trends are creating fertile ground for building globally competitive deeptech companies from India.
Rising Deeptech Activity Beyond Metro Hubs
BYT Capital is also observing growing deal flow outside traditional startup centres.
- Incubation hubs across IITs and IISc are seeing increased activity
- Strong participation from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
- A broader, more diverse pipeline of technically strong founders
This decentralisation reflects the widening reach of India’s deeptech ecosystem and the diffusion of high-end engineering talent across the country.
Beyond Capital: Building Enduring Companies
BYT Capital positions itself as more than a capital provider. The firm aims to be a long-term partner to founders—supporting startups from early experimentation through global commercialisation.
Its broader ambition is to build a platform that:
- Nurtures frontier technologies originating in India
- Helps founders navigate long R&D cycles and capital intensity
- Enables international scaling and market access
Final Thoughts
With its first ₹180 crore fund, BYT Capital is making a focused bet on scientific entrepreneurship as a key driver of India’s next phase of innovation-led growth.
As deeptech moves from the margins to the core of India’s startup ecosystem, funds like BYT Capital will play a critical role in ensuring that promising research doesn’t stall in the lab—but becomes scalable, global businesses.
The coming years will test whether India can convert its scientific depth into industrial leadership—and BYT Capital is clearly positioning itself to be part of that journey.
Mon Dec 22 2025
