Nvidia has thrown its weight behind India’s Deep Tech Alliance, joining a new wave of investors backing the country’s next generation of AI and semiconductor startups as the group locks in more than $850 million in new capital commitments.

As a founding member and strategic advisor, Nvidia will provide technical expertise, training and policy guidance to help startups tap into its AI and computing platforms. The chipmaker will also provide access to its Deep Learning Institute (DLI) programmes and support collaborative research initiatives as it continues to strengthen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech markets.

Vishal Dhupar, MD for South Asia at Nvidia, said the company would focus on “providing strategic guidance on AI systems, developer enablement and responsible deployment,” while collaborating with “policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs to help advance transformative solutions”.

Launched in September with a $1 billion initial pledge, the alliance aims to boost funding for India’s deep-tech ecosystem and support ventures in AI, space, robotics and chip design.

New backers include Qualcomm Ventures, Activate AI and InfoEdge Ventures, Chirate Ventures and Kalaari Capital alongside founding investors such as Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, Premji Invest and Celesta Capital.

Sriram Viswanathan, founding managing partner at Celesta Capital told Reuters: “There’s no better time for India to look at deep tech,” adding that alliance members will commit their own capital over the next decade, alongside mentoring and ecosystem support. “There’s no real pooling of capital. It’s voluntary.”

In July, the Indian government launched a $12 billion R&D initiative aimed at boosting advanced manufacturing and innovation across the nation. Indeed, industry association Nasscom found that deep-tech investment in the South Asian country jumped 78 per cent from 2023 to $1.6 billion last year.