Three startups – Pandorum Technologies (3D bio-printing), Falkonry (advanced analytics) and Shilps Sciences (single-cell transcriptomics) – were awarded cash prizes for their disruptive approaches to address key challenges across multiple deep-tech market inflections. The event was co-hosted by ASTRA (the Applied Start-up Technology & Research Accelerator) as part of a broader effort to explore potential investment and technology collaboration opportunities with start-ups in India.
“Applied Materials is constantly looking to collaborate with and enable start-up companies across the globe through our venture fund and by providing deep technical and industry expertise in materials engineering. Events like our recent pitch day in India are aimed at identifying deep-tech startups and helping support the transformation of these disruptive ideas into commercially successful solutions and enterprises,” said Om Nalamasu, President, Applied Ventures, and Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Applied Materials.
The event focussed on startups in the following areas:
· Life Sciences: next-generation diagnostics, AI and imaging, personalised medicine, multi-analytic platforms and pharma
· Advanced Analytics: IoT systems, semiconductor manufacturing, metrology/quality control, and advanced tech
Three startups were selected based on the differentiation of their products and potential to best serve critical needs in their domains. The selected start-ups pitched their products and business plans to a panel comprised of senior executives from Applied Ventures, pi Ventures and Bharat Innovation fund.
“Applied Ventures is looking to invest up to $300 million globally over the next five to six years in promising startups. We are impressed with the response and calibre of the lifesciences and data analytics companies we met during our start-up event in India. Select startups identified through such events will be eligible for consideration to receive funding through Applied Ventures as well as opportunities pertaining to technology development and business mentorship, to name a few,” said Rajesh Swaminathan, Senior Investment Director and General Manager, Applied Ventures.
Srinivas Satya, President, Applied Materials India said, “India has a track record of producing successful start-ups in the services and software domains. We believe the time is right for start-ups in hardware, semiconductors and adjacent markets to thrive, and we are looking for ways to collaborate with these companies.”