Accel and Prosus have selected six startups for their first joint cohort in India, backing what they describe as “off-the-map” ideas — companies working on problems where markets are undefined and progress is difficult to measure.
The inaugural cohort spans healthcare, climate, space, and longevity, reflecting a focus on science-led themes with long development timelines and uncertain commercial pathways. The six startups were selected from more than 2,000 applications.
These are the selected startups:
Announced in October, the program aims to back startups outside the industry’s usual playbook, rather than those that are easiest to fund, the firms said.
As part of the program, Accel and Prosus are co-investing in each startup, with Prosus matching Accel’s investment, and checks ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. The firms are using a structure that reduces early dilution for founders, with a portion of the capital deferred so equity is given up at a later stage.
The firms say the model is designed for startups with long development cycles. “More than capital, they require time to make those breakthroughs,” said Pratik Agarwal (pictured above, left), partner at Accel.
These companies often follow a non-linear path, according to Ashutosh Sharma (pictured above, right), head of India ecosystem at Prosus. Progress depends on achieving key technical breakthroughs rather than steady growth, he said.
