Karnataka disburses Rs 400 Cr to Deep-Tech startups at Future Makers Conclave

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The 28th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2025 concluded at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), with the Future Makers Conclave emerging as the standout moment of the summit—particularly for its landmark funding announcements that accelerated Karnataka’s deep-tech push.

At the Conclave, the Government of Karnataka and leading venture capital firms jointly disbursed Rs 400 crore, marking one of the largest coordinated funding initiatives for AI and deep-tech startups in the state. This unprecedented collaboration between the government and private investors underscored Karnataka’s commitment to strengthening its innovation ecosystem and ensuring that high-potential startups receive the capital and support needed to scale rapidly.

The Conclave also declared 143 new ELEVATE winners, the largest cohort to date, taking the total number of funded startups to 1,084, including 390 from Beyond Bengaluru. These disbursements further cemented the program's role as a powerful pipeline for supporting early-stage ventures across the state.

Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Govt. of Karnataka highlighted that Karnataka has facilitated Rs 786.43 crore in investments for deep-tech startups to date and recently launched a Rs 663 crore Deep Tech Fund. With venture capital firms matching the government’s commitment, the combined deep-tech corpus has now crossed Rs 1,200 crore, supported by leading funds including Capital A, Blue Hill VC, and Axcel Partners. He emphasized that government grants act as a bridge for early-stage startups to progress toward VC funding and pilot deployments, reinforcing Karnataka’s goal of being a startup’s “first customer.”

The Future Makers Conclave gathered nearly 10,000 founders, investors, and innovators, offering a high-energy platform designed to deliver real value—capital access, pilots, business tools, mentoring, visibility, and strategic networks. It reaffirmed the state’s mission to build a globally competitive, innovation-driven ecosystem.

The three-day summit held from November 18-20, 2025, BTS 2025 was organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, and BT, Government of Karnataka, co-hosted by STPI Bengaluru, and curated by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications, with support from key industry bodies including NASSCOM, IESA, ABAI, ABLE, TiE, and USIBC.