As the scope of funding options for startups is broadening as new financing sources are gaining more importance, we are also witnessing a significant evolution in the traditional sources. VC Funds are for instance increasingly focused on specific technology sectors – notably AI, Deep Tech, Bio-Tech – while corporate VCs are looking more and more at strategic value creation in their collaboration with startups, instead of looking only at financial returns. At the same time, new forms of funding are gaining ground such as blended ones combining different sources of funding, or cross-border crowdfunding with the emergence of global platforms.

• What does this diversification and evolution of funding sources mean for startup founders looking at forms of financing that will best support their development while protecting their long-term interest?
• While some investors are now relying on Data or/and AI to decide on which startups to support, what are the limits of this approach?
• Given wider funding options for startup founders, how is the role of investors evolving beyond being a capital provider?

Leveraging technology for maximum sustainability impact

What does the fusion of geopolitics and technology mean for public and corporate policies… as well as for frontier technology startups?

As we transition towards a new global balance of forces and the tremendous potential of frontier technologies keeps expanding, geopolitics and technology innovation will get ever more intertwined. Technology and is increasingly weaponized in the economic and geopolitical domains. Crucial strategic interests are at stake in the battle for digital sovereignty for India and many other countries whose prosperity, security and standing in the world will rest on their ability to develop a technology capability that will shelter them – to a maximum possible extent from technology dependency or coercion from the two technology giants.

• What are the implications of the fragmentation of the global technology landscape?
• How to look at digital sovereignty beyond the national ability to control and govern its digital infrastructure, data, and technologies?
• What techno-economic alliances will help strengthen the position of India as a rising technology power?
• What initiatives to secure a place at the tables where rules on the governance of frontier technologies are being discussed?

Moving from startup to corporation status represents one of the most challenging moments in the company’s life. This implies a change of mindset, the blending of the entrepreneurial driven with corporate governance discipline and operational rigor, a permanent attention to financial markets expectations, the acquisition of some key financial knowledge, etc.

• What are the biggest cultural and/or operational shifts startups face after going public?
• How to manage post-IPO development effectively?
• What lessons do companies typically learn within their first year post-IPO?

• The picture: where does India stand today in defense?
• What models of international defense R&D collaboration have proved to be effective without compromising nation security imperatives?
• Which dual-use technologies applications (AI, robotics, cybersecurity) present the most realistic opportunities for cross-border innovation in the defense sector?
• How is the “Make in India” policy being translated into actions when it comes to the defense sector?

India is a recognized global leader in software technology, hosting some of the world prominent hubs for IT services, software development, and digital innovation. However, new developments such as the integration of AI as core component of applications, the expansion of low code or no-code development platforms, the growing impact of edge computing, are generating a shift in the way software technology will leveraged in the coming years.

• How are India’s companies reshaping their strategy and offering to adjust to the global shift in software technology and maintain their competitive edge?
• What startups will need to do to secure some core advantage towards more resourceful Big Tech competitors?
• What to expect in terms of new compliance requirements given the transformation of the software technology industry, such as possibly enhanced disclosure requirements, IP, differentiated – sector specific – regulations?

• The picture: where does India stand today in biotech and Healthtech?
• What role can cross-ecosystems collaboration play in accelerating India’s biotechnology growth over the next decade?
• What regulatory changes would make international biotech collaboration with India smoother and faster?
• What would make foreign universities and research institutes collaborate more effectively with Indian labs in frontier biotechnology areas?
• How can India leverage cross-ecosystems collaborations to expand its bio-manufacturing capacity?

As it entered the AI race later than the US and China, India is facing the challenge of catching up and asserting its position in a critical strategic domain dominated by two powers able to mobilize bigger financial and skills resources. The country’s AI drive has been accelerating, with the country’s total investment on AI above the US$ 20 billion mark, and with the India AI Mission created in May 2024 focused on developing sovereign AI capabilities. There are, however, significant challenges to be addressed for bridging the gap with respect to foundational AI models, to cutting-edge research, to Data Centers capacity, to public and private funding, compared to where the US and China now stand. In this position of still asymmetric competition in which it finds itself, what next actions from academia, private sector and government will allow India to join the AI global leadership league in the coming years?

• How to leverage optimally the open digital innovation model to accelerate India’s AI catching-up momentum?
• What actions to maximize the impact for AI development and innovation of some of India’s specific assets?
• What partnerships between Academia, Industry and startups to develop a strong research-to-product dynamics?
• What targeted collaboration schemes with foreign partners (business, academic or institutional ones) should India prioritize at this stage of AI development?

What key features should/would characterize India’ positioning in the world by 2030?

Sharing key Takeaways and Commitments