Accel and Prosus have chosen six startups for their first joint cohort in India, targeting “off-the-map” ideas with undefined markets and challenging progress measurement. The initial cohort includes startups in healthcare, climate, space, and longevity, focusing on science-driven themes with long development timelines and uncertain commercial paths. These startups were selected from over 2,000 applicants.
The selected startups are:
– **Praan:** Based in Mumbai, Praan is creating air infrastructure systems to enhance indoor air quality through purification, sensing, and automated controls. It has received funding from investors such as Social Impact Capital, Aera VC, and Avaana Capital, along with strategic investors and family offices.
– **QOSMIC:** Located in Bengaluru, QOSMIC is working on optical communication systems for data transfer between satellites and Earth, aiming to increase bandwidth and decrease latency in space-based networks.
– **Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX):** Also in Bengaluru, EtherealX is developing reusable orbital launch vehicles to reduce access costs to space. It recently raised a $20.5 million Series A round led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital at an $80.5 million valuation.
– **Dognosis:** Dognosis is pioneering cancer detection from breath, using dogs’ scent capabilities combined with robotics and AI. Its product, BreatheEasy, involves patients breathing into a mask, with samples analyzed for cancer-linked markers.
– **Ferra:** Ferra is designing a home-based strength-training system aimed at helping people remain mobile as they age, automatically adjusting resistance based on user performance.
– **Stealth Startup:** The unnamed sixth startup is developing brain-computer interfaces for direct communication between the human brain and external systems.
The program, announced in October, supports startups beyond typical industry parameters rather than those easiest to fund. Accel and Prosus are co-investing in each project, with Prosus matching Accel’s investment, offering funding of $500,000 to $2 million. The firms use a model that minimizes early dilution by deferring some capital so equity is given up later.
Pratik Agarwal, partner at Accel, says these startups need time more than capital to achieve breakthroughs, as their progress depends on technical advances rather than steady growth, according to Ashutosh Sharma, head of India ecosystem at Prosus.