SDEX broadens access to innovation through two tracks namely Challenge Track, where Fellows tackle high-conviction deep-tech problems sourced from Shastra’s ecosystem with clear constraints and defined milestones, and Frontier Track, an open call for researchers pursuing breakthrough ideas even when the problem is still emerging, as long as they set precise, testable technical goals.
Together, these tracks capture both roadmap-critical needs and new white-space technologies. The last date to apply is January 31, 2026.
Shastra VC has invested in more than 30 Startups including Alt Carbon, Simplismart, SISIR Radar, Sanlayan, and Inspecity, among others.
“India’s deep-tech ecosystem is coming of age. Universities, incubators, and national programs are making it easier than ever for research to move from lab to market, and the policy momentum in recent years shows real intent to build global frontier-tech leadership. SDEX fits perfectly into this moment – it creates a VC-led proof-to-venture bridge that helps deep-tech ideas get validated earlier and expands the pipeline of startups that are truly investable”, Avijeet Alagathi, Partner, Shastra VC, said.
