Deeptech VC BYT Capital has launched its inaugural ₹180-crore early-stage fund, with over half the capital already committed. The firm expects to achieve its final close by Q3 2026.
Founded by Amit Chand and Dinesh Kumar, the Bengaluru-based Category II AIF BYT intends to invest in 18–20 deeptech and frontier engineering startups. Initial cheques will range from ₹3 crore to ₹6 crore, with 55% of the fund earmarked for follow-on rounds. The fund has started its evaluation process and expects to make its first investments by the end of December.
The capital will support product development, increase engineering resources, and scale early enterprise implementations.The firm’s fund will invest in IP-driven innovations from research labs and engineering ecosystems, with focus areas spanning space technology, life sciences, robotics, clean energy, materials, quantum, defence, and advanced engineering. Ventures that can transform lab-stage research into globally demanded, market-ready products are of particular interest.
Chand told ET, “India is entering a crucial phase in deep-tech. Talent returning from global hubs is of very high quality, and universities are now far more open to licensing and spinouts.”
He observed that limited partners worldwide are gravitating toward sector-thesis funds instead of sector-agnostic vehicles, recognizing that deeper knowledge is essential for outperforming the market.
He emphasized that scientific entrepreneurship in India is evolving to create globally impactful companies, strengthening both industrial capacity and strategic capabilities across vital sectors.
BYT pointed out that deeptech innovation is rising in Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations. “Incubation centres at IITs and IISc increasingly support startups from these cities. Deal flow from these pockets has been particularly strong,” Chand said.
BYT Capital seeks to assist founders throughout their journey—from early experimentation to worldwide commercialisation—building a long-term ecosystem for frontier technologies originating in India.
