Ecosystem harkat: US$16 M GCF fund to strengthen green startup ecosystem, 3 companies tie up to launch gaming incubator, 3 industry veterans launch new-age NBFC to empower MSMEs in tier 2-3 cities, AI innovator ecosystem for a $7 T Viksit Bharat

The Tech Panda takes a look at what’s buzzing in the startup ecosystem.

This month, the US chipmaker Nvidia joined the India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA), a group of private equity and venture capital investors pledging US$2 B for deep tech investments, as a founding member.

Indorient Financial Services Limited launched a research study that documents a decisive post-COVID structural shift in India’s SME capital markets. The report identifies several game-changing trends reshaping India’s SME investment landscape, which includes a fundraising shift: sharp surge in INR25-35 crore+ deals post-2020, marking a departure from smaller ticket sizes that dominated the pre-COVID era. It also points to the widening gap between sustained outperformers and one-time gainers, with post-listing performance increasingly tied to governance quality and operational fundamentals. Energy and financials sectors recorded the strongest revenue expansion, while Industrials (Capital Goods, Commercial & Professional Services, Transportation) lead in issuance volumes. Also, track record, profitability, and operational depth emerging as key differentiators in a market previously dominated by high-growth, loss-making narratives.

Creating AI Innovator Ecosystem for a US$7 T Viksit Bharat

In a bid to create a Cyber Resilient Viskit Bharat, Women In Cloud, a global economic development organization unlocking $1B in access for women by 2030, launched WICxSaksham initiative, a three-year public-private national programme, that is aimed at creating an ecosystem for a $7 trillion Viksit Bharat. With an aggressive target to shape India’s digital destiny, Women In Cloud has collaborated with Veeam^® Software, the data resilience platform, and Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI). The partnership will empower women as next-generation leaders in AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity, accelerating India’s journey toward a Viksit Bharat by 2030.

Chaitra Vedullapalli, Co-Founder, Women in Cloud, said, “We are aiming for a $7 trillion Viksit Bharat vision by 2030. However, to achieve this we need to ensure a secure, skilled, and innovation-ready workforce. Even as we see India’s digital economy growing at a phenomenal pace there is a huge gap in talent readiness. This requires talent readiness and WICxSaksham will bridge this talent gap through partnerships across industry, academia, and policy. Becoming a Cyber Resilient Viskhit Bharat is the need of the hour and WICxSaksham is our endeavor towards achieving it.”

Tata Capital Receives First-of-Its-Kind USD ~16 M GCF Fund to Strengthen Green Startup Ecosystem

Tata Capital Limited (TCL), the flagship financial services company of the Tata Group, has partnered with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) under its newly approved BEACON INDIA Programme to support early-stage climate-tech start-ups across India. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and TREC-STEP, an innovation and entrepreneurship development organisation.

Rajiv Sabharwal, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Capital Limited, said, “Tata Capital has always been committed to green initiative for a sustainable future. Our association with Green Climate Fund to strengthen Indias climate innovation network is another step in that direction. Through this programme, we aim to help emerging entrepreneurs scale their green technologies and make a measurable difference to people and the planet.”

MIXI, Nazara & ChimeraVC join to launch ‘LVL Zero’ gaming incubator

MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and ChimeraVC have officially joined forces to launch LVL Zero, a gaming incubator designed to help India’s gaming startups accelerate product execution and achieve investor and publisher readiness within 100 days. The initiative is supported by Google Play, which joins as the Knowledge Partner, offering technical mentorship, platform guidance and developer best practices.

“With Chimera, we’ve always worked with founders at Level 1 – the seed stage where conviction meets capital. LVL Zero allows us to start even earlier, at the stage where belief forms before traction and ideas are still taking shape. Most founders meet investors once they have momentum; LVL Zero lets them meet conviction first. It completes the loop for us, helping founders start earlier, think globally, and build more sustainably.” said Krish Anurag, Managing Partner at Chimera VC.

3 Industry Veterans Launch a New-Age NBFC to Empower MSMEs in Tier 2 & 3 Cities

In September, three seasoned financial services professionals Saif Hasan, Jaspreet Singh, and Prajit Chandrasekhar have come together to launch KreditVenture, a pioneering NBFC dedicated to bridging the credit gap for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India’s tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The company began operations earlier this year with a focus on Loan Against Property (LAP), marking the start of its secured lending journey.

Saif Hasan, Founder of KreditVenture, said, “We are committed to building KreditVenture as a long-term, responsible player in secured lending. Our focus is on prudent, scalable growth across Bharat—from LAP to adjacent secured products—anchored in trust, customer-centricity, and discipline. We believe the next phase of secured lending growth will be led by early movers who drive collaboration by digitally integrating partners across the value chain.’’