"June 2025 Highlight: The Thirty Emerging Businesses Worth Keeping Tabs On"
India's defense tech startup ecosystem is experiencing a vibrant and rapid evolution, transitioning from a "Make in India" approach to a proactive "Win with India" strategy. This shift is evident as Indian startups are becoming combat-ready collaborators, delivering indigenous technologies across various sectors, including drones, satellites, quantum security, and imaging.
One of the key drivers of this growth is the support from government initiatives such as iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), SPARK grants, and DRDO contracts. These programs have enabled startups to produce sovereign, cost-effective, and dual-use technologies with both military and civilian applications, including disaster response and surveillance.
Notable startups gaining traction recently include Sanlayan Technologies, a Bangalore-based company specializing in defense electronics such as radar, electronic warfare systems, and avionics. Sanlayan recently secured a significant Series A funding round of approximately $22 million (₹186 crore) to scale R&D and product development, reflecting strong investor confidence in their indigenous capabilities.
Other prominent startups contributing to India's defense innovation, highlighted by their role in Operation Sindoor, include IG Drones, Kawa Space, Alpha Design, ZMotion, and Pixxel.
The Indian government, led by figures like Union Minister Piyush Goyal, is also exploring bridging domestic and international startups to further boost innovation and position India as a preferred global supplier in defense and aerospace. This strategic emphasis on collaboration and integration within the global defense tech landscape is critical to India’s vision of defense self-reliance and technological leadership by 2047.
India's anti-drone system market is expected to grow from $65.73 Mn in 2024 to $496.71 Mn by 2031, reflecting the growing importance of defense tech startups in the country. The Indian startup ecosystem is now home to over 70,000 tech startups, collectively valued at over $650 Bn.
In addition to defense tech, India's startup ecosystem is witnessing growth in various sectors, from biotech and AI to gaming and clean nutrition. For instance, Iom Bioworks operates in India's biotech sector, offering personalised, microbiome-driven healthcare using AI, DNA sequencing, and mathematical modelling. Arctan AI, based in Bengaluru, addresses communication gaps caused by diverse accents, tonal differences, and background noise with its AI stack.
First Coffee offers a grab-and-go model that delivers speciality coffee at competitive prices, targeting Gen Z through tech-enabled outlets, advanced Eversys machines, and a strong merchandise strategy. Nuvie offers a range of high-protein milkshakes and bars that are sugar-free, bloat-free, and taste like dessert, catering to India's growing clean nutrition market.
Meanwhile, Gully Labs is a D2C sneaker brand that blends traditional art and storytelling with contemporary design, offering everything from Phulkari-embroidered trainers to Onam-inspired silhouettes. Cleevo offers a range of powder-to-liquid concentrates for floor, dish, and toilet cleaning, claiming to offer premium performance at half the price, without harsh chemicals.
The defense tech startup ecosystem in India is increasingly combat-ready and strategically significant. Startups are delivering indigenous, validated, and scalable technologies used in active military operations. Significant funding and government support highlight confidence in the sector’s potential. Notable startups like Sanlayan Technologies, IG Drones, Kawa Space, Alpha Design, ZMotion, and Pixxel have gained recent traction.
India is positioning itself as a global hub and connector for defense innovation, fostering domestic and international collaboration. This dynamic ecosystem is critical to India’s vision of defense self-reliance and technological leadership by 2047.
- The defense tech startup ecosystem in India is also seeing growth in other areas, such as spiritual tech, with startups like SoulMate offering personalized self-guided meditation programs using AI and human-centered design.
- In the realm of education and self-development, Cowrywise is a fintech startup that helps users start, manage, and grow their investments with ease. They provide financial education and investment tools to help users achieve their financial goals.
- The sports sector is not left behind, as Indian startups are innovating to enhance fan engagement and player performance. For instance, Sportzify focuses on organizing sports events, leagues, and tournaments across multiple cities in India using technology.
- The startup ecosystem in India is diversified, with businesses like CureFit incorporating technology to offer a comprehensive wellness platform, combining fitness, mental wellness, and nutrition under one roof. Meanwhile, Dream Sports is catering to India's growing interest in fantasy sports by providing a platform for users to play, win, and even learn.
