Indian Startup Times Releases DeepTech Analyst Power List 2026

Indian Startup Times has released the DeepTech Analyst Power List 2026, a ranking of investment professionals and analysts supporting India’s growing deep technology ecosystem. The publication notes that the sector is expanding rapidly across semiconductors, robotics, climate technology, and artificial intelligence as these innovations move toward real-world applications.

The list recognizes professionals who contribute to the landscape through startup evaluation and investment research to help identify promising innovations and support technology-driven companies in India.

Analysts Focus on Enterprise and Frontier Tech

The ranking profiles analysts across various venture and growth investment firms, highlighting those focused on specific technological niches:

Enterprise and Frontier Tech: Afreed Faizan of Exfinity Venture Partners focuses on artificial intelligence, SaaS, and enterprise technology. Alankrita Vaid is an Investment Analyst at Theia Ventures, a firm specializing in DeepTech and frontier technologies.
AI and Hardware: Anshuman Komirishetty at Unity Growth Fund covers robotics, AI agents, and hardware, while Anirav Godhwani of growX Ventures works with seed-stage B2B DeepTech companies focused on hardware-driven and intellectual-property-led solutions. Ayush Shukla serves on the acceleration and seed team at IIMA Ventures.
Sustainability and Impact: Archit Bhargava is a Senior Investment Analyst at Avaana Capital, which invests in technology-driven businesses, DeepTech, and climate. Avisha Bhandari works for Asha Ventures, an investor focused on sustainability and inclusion, and Abhinav Priyam is associated with Aavishkaar Capital.

Professional and Academic Backgrounds

The profiles emphasize a blend of technical and financial credentials. Several analysts hold degrees from institutions such as Nanyang Technological University, BITS Pilani, IIT Madras, and IIT Kharagpur. Professional certifications including FRM and CFA are also highlighted; specifically, Alankrita Vaid has cleared all three CFA exam levels.

Many listed professionals transitioned from corporate strategy or research roles. Aakash Shankar of A91 Partners previously held positions at DSG Consumer Partners, Boston Consulting Group, William O’Neil India, and JPMorgan Chase. Alankrita Vaid spent approximately 2.5 years at McKinsey & Company, and Archit Bhargava previously worked at Kearney.

Experts Evaluate Early Stage Indian Technology Companies

The list includes professionals dedicated to the initial stages of business assessment. Aditi Chilakapati contributes to the evaluation of early-stage businesses at Aum Ventures, while Aditya Narendra focuses on market research, business evaluation, and sourcing opportunities at CDM Capital.

The publication presents these profiles as recognition of the research and evaluation work that shapes the next generation of Indian technology companies.

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