{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"India Tech Report","title":"Friday Deep Tech Wrap: Varda Space raises $187 million, Airalo a unicorn, and more","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":423,"description":"Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from India and around the world.Airalo’s founders Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir. The eSIM provider has just raised $220 million in an investment that values it at $1 billion. Image courtesy company.India launches ₹10,000 crore second tranche of deep tech fundUnion Minister Piyush Goyal announced a ₹10,000 crore second tranche under the government’s ‘Fund of Funds’ at Sangam 2025, aiming to strengthen India’s deep tech ecosystem. The fund will support the entire technology lifecycle, from research to commercial deployment, focusing on AI, machine learning, and data analytics. Guidelines for capital deployment are being finalized, and the initiative complements the recent ₹1 lakh crore RDI for science and technology.Listen to the podcastDeep tech policy initiative #100DesiDeepTechs launched in IndiaA new multi-stakeholder initiative called #100DesiDeepTechs has been launched to identify and support 100 leading deep-tech startups in India. Developed with Startup India, MEITY Startup Hub, and IIT Madras, the program will facilitate closed-door policy dialogues, culminating in a whitepaper with sectoral recommendations. Focus areas include semiconductors, defence, quantum tech, green hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing.Professors turn founders boosting India’s deep tech ecosystemAt IIT Madras’s annual alumni meet, a ₹200 crore venture capital fund was announced to back startups emerging from the institute. This reflects a growing trend of technology professors becoming founders, contributing to India’s deep tech gold rush. The move is expected to accelerate commercialization of academic research and foster a robust innovation ecosystem.Varda Space raises $187 million to accelerate drug manufacturing in spaceVarda Space Industries has secured $187 million in a Series C funding round led by Natural Capital and Shrug Capital, bringing its total raised to $329 million. The funds will scale up robotic drug...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/klwtZi6_OVxR1RQx-EUqBBLq9JNmkk2p0xt3ov7-eeg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kYjRi/MTNkNDVhMTVlOThm/MDM4ZmVlYjFmZGNl/OGFiNy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}