India’s deeptech manufacturing scene has got a major boost as Capital-A, a specialist venture fund, and SanchiConnect, a deeptech accelerator, announced a Rs 27 crore investment into their manufacturing accelerator program, MaXcel, after evaluating more than 2,000 startups nationwide.

 

With over 3,000 deeptech startups in India attracting more than USD 10 billion in funding over the past decade, most investment has gone to software-focused and later-stage ventures. Capital-intensive manufacturing, which contributes 16–17% of India’s GDP and is targeted to hit 25%, remains in its early stages.

 

The MaXcel program has selected three trailblazing startups: Enerzi, working on clean hydrogen systems; Misochain, building flight-critical aerospace components; and Quintrans, developing electromagnetic linear motion systems for industrial automation. They were formally inducted at MaXcel Liftoff, an exclusive Bengaluru event that gathered founders, investors, and industry operators.

 

MaXcel was created to tackle the funding gap for early-stage manufacturing businesses in sectors like energy transition, aerospace, and advanced industrial technologies. These ventures typically require long development timelines, capital-intensive pilots, and real-world validation before scaling commercially.

 

To go beyond traditional pitch evaluations, Capital-A and SanchiConnect conducted roadshows across Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Coimbatore, engaging directly with founders and assessing their engineering depth and deployment readiness. From over 2,000 applications, the three startups were chosen for their technical rigor, scalability, and commercial potential.

 

Enerzi is pioneering microwave plasma-based methane-to-hydrogen conversion to reduce emissions while producing engineered carbon co-products. Misochain is developing indigenous flight-critical aerospace components with in-house testing and certification, aiming to strengthen domestic aerospace supply chains. Quintrans is creating direct-drive electromagnetic linear motion systems to boost precision and reliability in industrial automation and robotics.

 

Ankit Kedia, Founder and Lead Investor at Capital-A, said, “India's manufacturing and deeptech founders are solving some of the most complex engineering challenges of our time, yet they remain underserved by traditional venture capital that prioritizes faster, software-led returns. 

 

"MaXcel was built on the conviction that early-stage industrial innovation deserves patient capital paired with hands-on technical evaluation. Our focus has been to identify teams capable of translating deep research into deployable systems and support them as they move toward repeatable industrial adoption.”

 

Sunil K Shekhawat, Founder and CEO of SanchiConnect, added, “India’s DeepTech ecosystem requires stronger collaboration between researchers, founders, investors and industry stakeholders. MaXcel intends to transform bold manufacturing innovations by cohort startups into scalable realities, with standout capital support from top tier venture funding by Capital A proving our model’s impact on India’s industrial future.”