nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups)2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
NASSCOM's startup initiative, launched in 2013, now runs as the DeepTech Club: a 20-week Accelerate cohort and a free virtual Launchpad for Indian deep tech startups. No equity.
- No cash investment
- Funding
- No equity
- Equity
- 20 weeks
- Program length
- Dates TBA
- Applications
About nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups)
NASSCOM, India's IT industry body, launched 10,000 Startups in 2013 with the goal of helping create 10,000 product startups in India. The program offered incubation, mentoring, cloud credits, corporate connects and startup warehouses run with state governments.in has no live page under that name.
NASSCOM's startup support now runs mainly through its DeepTech programs. The flagship is the DeepTech Club, launched in 2017.5 billion or more.
It runs two tracks.0 and Agri and Water Tech. DTC Launchpad is a continuous virtual incubation program with mentoring, masterclasses and free credits from partners including Google Cloud, AWS, DigitalOcean, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud.
NASSCOM also runs the GenAI Foundry for generative AI startups and the Emerge 50 awards. None of these programs takes equity or writes cheques. The value is access to enterprises, investors and NASSCOM's platforms.
The stated goal is 1,000+ world-class deep tech startups in India by 2030.
What nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) looks for
NASSCOM's current programs target Indian deep tech companies, not general apps. Launchpad requires a functional MVP at TRL 5 or higher, incorporation in India and a company younger than 10 years. Focus domains include AI and ML, robotics, IoT, semiconductors, quantum computing and biotech. Accelerate cohorts are themed by sector, so fit with the current theme matters as much as traction.
How the nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) program works
DTC Accelerate follows a fixed calendar per cohort. The most recent published timeline opened applications on September 12, closed them on September 28, ran internal and jury evaluation in early October, announced the cohort on October 15 and started the program from November 3. The 20 weeks move through milestone setting, product-market fit, go-to-market, investment readiness and business scaling, ending in a Demo Day for investors and corporates.
The first AgriTech and WaterTech cohort drew 150+ applications. DTC Launchpad has no cohort dates. It is a pipeline-based virtual incubator with 1:1 mentoring on a startup platform, group sessions, masterclasses on IP, regulation, GTM and fundraising, curated investor and corporate meetings, and partner cloud credits.
How to apply to nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups)
- 1Confirm eligibility: your startup must be registered in India and be less than 10 years old.
- 2For Launchpad, show a working MVP at Technology Readiness Level 5 or above in a deep tech domain.
- 3Apply to DTC Launchpad through the program page on nasscom.in at any time.
- 4For DTC Accelerate, watch the DeepTech Club page for sector-themed calls and apply within the roughly two-week window.
- 5If shortlisted for Accelerate, present to the jury before the final cohort announcement.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) | No cash investment | No equity | Bengaluru, India | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Axilor Ventures | Up to $750K | Negotiated per deal | Bengaluru, India | Rolling admissions |
| AWS Generative AI Accelerator | Up to $1M | No equity | Seattle, WA | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Conception X | Up to $390K | No equity | London | December 6, 2026 (40 days left) |
| WILCO | Up to $173K | No equity | Paris | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Microsoft for Startups (formerly Founders Hub) | Up to $150K | No equity | Online | Rolling admissions |
nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) FAQ
When is the nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) application deadline?+
nasscom DeepTech Club (formerly 10000 Startups) has not announced its next deadline yet (Launchpad runs year-round; Accelerate cohorts are announced per sector). We check the official site every month and update this page when dates are published.
Is NASSCOM 10000 Startups still running?+
Not under that name. The program launched in 2013, but its 10000startups.com domain no longer resolves and nasscom.in has no live page for it. NASSCOM's startup support now runs through its DeepTech programs, mainly the DeepTech Club with its Accelerate and Launchpad tracks, plus the GenAI Foundry and Emerge 50.
Does NASSCOM take equity or invest money?+
No. The DeepTech Club programs do not take equity and do not write cheques. Startups get mentoring, investor and corporate introductions, visibility at NASSCOM events and partner cloud credits. Launchpad lists credits from Google Cloud, AWS, DigitalOcean, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud and more than 25 other partners.
Who is eligible for the NASSCOM DeepTech Club?+
For Launchpad, startups must be legally registered in India, be under 10 years old, use deep technology as the core of the product and have a functional MVP at Technology Readiness Level 5 or higher. Accelerate cohorts add a sector theme, such as AgriTech and WaterTech or Industry 4.0.
How long is the DTC Accelerate program?+
DTC Accelerate is a curated 20-week cohort. It covers milestone setting, product-market fit, go-to-market, investment readiness and scaling, and ends with a Demo Day for investors, corporates and ecosystem partners. Alumni keep access to showcases, mentoring sessions and community events after the program.
Sources: nasscom.in, nasscom.in, nasscom.in, nasscom.in, nasscom.in, yourstory.com