Defence Tech -
On the Frontline of Innovation
Dear Seafund Community,
We’re excited to bring you the next edition of our quarterly newsletter — designed to engage more consistently with our community, spotlight emerging themes, and share the impact being created across our portfolio and ecosystem.
This quarter, we shine a spotlight on Defence Tech – not just an investment theme, it’s where India’s innovation, security, and sovereignty converge. We see the sector evolving beyond prototypes into mission-critical solutions that demand both technological breakthroughs and ecosystem support. From advanced unmanned aerial systems to use of AI on the battlefield, the opportunities are immense — but so are the challenges of scaling, testing, and adoption.
At Seafund, we see Defence Tech as foundational to India’s deep-tech future. It represents a fusion of innovation and sovereignty — and we believe bold founders building in this space are paving the way for India to lead on the global stage.
We look forward to this quarterly rhythm — a more agile way to celebrate bold founders, share insights, and stay connected with our growing community. We thank you for reading on.
Portfolio Updates
Innovation across our portfolio is scaling new horizons — spanning space, robotics, smart infrastructure, and global accolades. Take a look at the latest updates shaping their journeys.
CalligoTech at ISC 2025 Hamburg
Calligo Technologies unveiled its Uttunga Accelerator Card powered by the TUNGA Chip, marking a major leap in homegrown HPC and AI acceleration on a global stage.
CalligoTech secures Indian
Patent Calligo Technologies was granted a patent for its Edge-AI powered incident detection and rapid response system, reinforcing its innovation in safety, security, and industrial automation.
TakeMe2Space wins Best Paper Award
Nethra Naveen from TakeMe2Space received the Best Paper Award at IEEE SPACE 2025, showcasing the innovation powering their indigenously built ADCS module including Star Tracker, Reaction Wheels, Sun Sensors.
Genrobotics featured in Industrial Automation Magazine
Genrobotics’ Bandicoot Mobility+ robots have cleaned 5,000+ manholes with zero human entry, ensuring safer, contactless sanitation. The success in Chennai is now driving adoption in cities like Bengaluru, setting a benchmark for urban sanitation reform.
Redwing expands into Europe with Aerit Acquisition
Redwing acquired the assets of Swedish drone delivery startup Aerit, gaining entry into the European market and adding advanced ML-based flight routing to its capabilities. The move strengthens Redwing’s position in building reliable, regulation-ready drone logistics solutions.
VisaMonk is nominated at PIOneer Awards 2025
VisaMonk by ForeignAdmits earned a nomination for finals at the PIOneer Awards 2025, celebrating its global innovation in shaping the future of international education and visa processing.
ForeignAdmits launches full-stack study abroad platform
ForeignAdmits introduced its AI-powered, counsellor-focused platform delivering end-to-end student support — from applications, financing, and accommodation to visa guidance and pre/post-departure services — redefining global education journeys.
Docker Vision awarded ₹1 Crore USHUS Grant
Docker Vision secured a ₹1 Crore grant under the prestigious USHUS program, a joint initiative by IIT Madras and Cochin Shipyard Limited, with recognition from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This milestone strengthens its mission to build real-time, AI-powered systems for smarter and safer port operations.
Media & Event Highlights
Explore Seafund’s latest coverage across top media platforms
Seafund eyes up to 25 deep tech investments
Seafund’s thesis to back 25+ high-potential deeptech ventures with structured follow-on capital was featured in Business Standard. Our portfolio strategy is designed to balance early conviction bets with sustained growth support, ensuring that AI, robotics, and frontier-tech startups scale into category leaders driving India’s next wave of innovation.
Defence Tech Revolution: India’s Path to Innovation Leadership
Leading publications like BusinessWorld turned to Seafund’s leadership for insights on India’s emerging defence-tech landscape. Our perspective underscored how venture capital is not just funding innovation, but shaping the future of strategic technologies with global relevance.
India Has Tech Companies, But Not Enough
Analytics India Magazine featured Seafund’s perspective on India’s AI landscape, highlighting the need for deeper R&D and scalable innovation. Our focus is on supporting startups that can bridge this gap and propel India into global AI leadership.
Seafund at Matrix Global Summit 2025
Our General Partner, Narendra Bhandari, joined global leaders at the Matrix Global Summit 2025 to share Seafund’s perspective on deeptech, frontier innovation, and the evolving VC landscape. His insights reinforced our commitment to backing engineering-first startups shaping the future of technology from India to the world.
Showcasing Deeptech at Morning Pitch Asia – India Edition
Seafund proudly co-hosted the July edition of Morning Pitch Asia at Deloitte, Bengaluru, spotlighting India’s breakthrough deeptech startups. With our Managing Partner, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, sharing Seafund’s vision, the event featured pioneering portfolio companies driving transformation across semiconductors, robotics, EVs, and space technology, affirming India’s growing global deeptech edge.
Deep Dives
At Seafund, we believe context drives conviction. In this section, we unpack sectors and strategies shaping India’s next wave of innovation spanning deeptech, defence-tech, climate-tech, aviation, and beyond.
The Rise of Deeptech Startups in India: How Deeptech Funding is Shaping the Future of Innovation
Deeptech in India is evolving from research labs into scalable businesses. This blog explores how VCs are backing startups in AI, semiconductors, and quantum technologies, turning frontier science into market-defining innovation.
The Role of Venture Capital in India’s Defence Innovation Landscape
India’s defence sector is opening new doors for private innovation. This piece highlights how venture funding is empowering startups to build indigenous solutions in aerospace, cybersecurity, and advanced weapon systems—strengthening national self-reliance.
Airborne Ambitions: How Startups and VCs are Revolutionizing Indian Aviation
From drone-based healthcare delivery to smart airports, aviation startups are reshaping how India connects. This blog examines the technologies, policies, and VC bets accelerating growth in one of the country’s most dynamic sectors.
From Pitch to Partnership: How Startups Can Attract the Right Investors in India
For founders, the real challenge isn’t just raising funds—it’s finding aligned investors. This article breaks down practical insights on crafting compelling pitches, building credibility, and fostering partnerships that drive long-term success.
Community Engagement
Fast-Tracking Innovation with IIT Ropar
Seafund joined hands with iHub-AWaDH for the 100 Startups 100 Days Mission, accelerating early-stage ventures from concept to market. Together, we shape India’s next wave of deep-tech disruptors.
Backing Bold Ideas at Eureka! 2025
Seafund proudly partnered with IIT Bombay’s Entrepreneurship Cell for Asia’s largest business plan competition, Eureka! 2025 — a launchpad where ideas meet mentorship, funding, and scale.
For the founders,
by Founders
Startup fundraising mistakes that deeptech founders must avoid
We unpack the misalignment between startup needs and VC mandates — and how founders can navigate the evolving fundraising landscape.
Ever wondered what do Deep-Tech Investors really look for in a Pitch Deck?
We break down key elements that catch investor attention — from IP clarity to commercialization strategy — in our no-fluff guide for founders.
Grants or VC? Navigating Funding Choices for Deeptech Startups
Not all capital is created equal. We unpack when grants fuel discovery—and when venture funding accelerates scale.
The Silent Backers of Bold Ideas: The Family Offices
Beyond wealth management, family offices are emerging as mission-driven partners reshaping startup capital.
Building the Future of Indian Aviation
From hybrid aircrafts to drone logistics, opportunities are vast—but so are the challenges. Here’s what founders need to know.
Leader Speaks
In this section, we bring you perspectives straight from Seafund’s leadership. This edition, our Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Mayuresh Raut, offers a sharp perspective on the future of defence-tech, where India’s deeptech founders are rewriting strategy, sovereignty, and scale.
“The future of defence is no longer limited to the battlefield, it’s playing out in code, silicon, and sovereign tech stacks. At Seafund, I’ve seen how India’s deep-tech startups are rewriting what’s possible—from autonomous navigation in extreme terrain to AI-powered battlefield decision systems. We now have over 1,000 startups operating in mission-critical verticals like unmanned aerial systems, underwater recon, and electronic warfare platforms. What was once imported at high cost is now being designed, tested, and deployed at home—with global export potential.
But we need more than innovation, we need infrastructure. Too many promising startups are bottlenecked by testing access, procurement delays, and certification challenges. That’s why I believe the next wave of Defence-tech growth will be unlocked through financial engineering: dual-use tech pathways, sovereign seed funds, and government-backed risk cushions. India’s ₹3.3 lakh crore Defence production target isn’t just a number, it’s a call to action. When we back these founders with capital, collaboration, and patience, India won’t just catch up, it will lead.”
Thank you for reading Seafund Quarterly Insights – May to Aug 2025. The future belongs to those who dare to build it, let’s connect and shape that future, side by side.
Here’s to the builders, dreamers, and disruptors — may the next quarter bring sharper ideas, bolder breakthroughs, and deeper impact.