Accel, Prosus pick six ‘off-the-map’ startups for inaugural India cohort

These aren't your typical Silicon Valley success stories. The six startups chosen represent the kind of long-term, science-heavy bets that most venture capital avoids — companies that might take years to show results and operate in markets that barely exist yet.

The program's investment structure reflects the unique challenges these companies face. Accel and Prosus are co-investing in each startup with checks ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, using a deferred equity model that reduces early dilution for founders. Part of the capital is held back so equity is given up at a later development stage — a recognition that these companies need time before they can be properly valued.

"More than capital, they require time to make those breakthroughs," said Pratik Agarwal, partner at Accel. The comment underscores a fundamental shift in how some investors are thinking about deep tech ventures in India's evolving startup ecosystem.

Take Dognosis, which is developing a product called BreatheEasy that uses dogs' superior sense of smell combined with robotics and AI to detect multiple cancers from breath samples. Patients breathe into a mask, and the sample is later analyzed in a lab to identify cancer-linked markers. It's the kind of unconventional approach that traditional venture metrics struggle to evaluate.

Several of the selected companies are already showing traction despite operating in nascent markets. EtherealX, which is developing reusable orbital launch vehicles to reduce space access costs, previously raised a $20.5 million Series A round led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital at an $80.5 million valuation. The Bengaluru-based company represents India's growing ambitions in the commercial space sector.

QOSMIC is tackling a different space infrastructure challenge, developing optical communication systems to increase bandwidth and reduce latency in satellite-based networks. As satellite internet and communication become more critical for global connectivity, the Bengaluru startup is positioning itself in a market that could explode in the coming decade.

The program, announced in October, represents a deliberate departure from the venture capital playbook that has dominated Indian startups for the past decade. Rather than backing companies with clear market validation and predictable growth trajectories, Accel and Prosus are betting on scientific breakthroughs and technological advances that may take years to commercialize.

Ashutosh Sharma, head of India ecosystem at Prosus, emphasized that these companies "often follow a non-linear path." Progress depends on achieving key technical breakthroughs rather than steady growth — a reality that requires different investment approaches and timeline expectations.

Mumbai-based Praan exemplifies this approach. The company is developing comprehensive air infrastructure systems that combine purification, sensing, and automated controls to improve indoor air quality. With air pollution remaining a critical health challenge across Indian cities, Praan's technology addresses a massive market need, but one where solutions require complex integration of multiple technologies.

The longevity focus appears in Ferra's home-based strength training system, designed specifically to help people maintain mobility as they age. The system automatically adjusts resistance to match user performance, representing the kind of personalized health technology that could become essential as populations age globally.

Perhaps most ambitious is the unnamed sixth company operating in stealth mode, developing brain-computer interfaces to enable direct communication between the human brain and external systems. The technology represents one of the most challenging frontiers in neurotechnology, with applications ranging from medical treatments to human-computer interaction.