India Unveils ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund at TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025 to Power Deep-Tech Sovereignty

• Industry voices at TiEcon align with PM’s mission to accelerate R&D, innovation, and high-tech manufacturing

TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025, India's largest deeptech summit, set the tone for one of the nation’s most significant science and technology developments — the launch of the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025.

At the two-day TiEcon Delhi-NCR, a keynote fireside conversation titled “Quantum Leap: Accelerating India’s Tech Sovereignty” brought together Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST- GOI), and Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR. The discussion highlighted India’s focus on strengthening deep-tech capabilities through collaborative R&D, private sector participation, and startup-led innovation - a vision that aligns closely with the objectives of the newly launched RDI Fund.

Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, GOI said, “India stands at a defining moment in its deep-tech journey. The Research, Development and Innovation Fund is a first-of-its-kind initiative to empower corporates, industries, and startups across sunrise sectors such as quantum, AI, semiconductors, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. With liberalized norms and a two-tier fund management model, it aims to catalyse private sector R&D, promote IP creation within India, and strengthen our path toward technological sovereignty. The government’s role is to enable, not control - fostering risk-taking and long-term R&D investment that builds India’s innovation strength.”

Sharing his perspective, Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR, said,

India’s ambition to achieve tech sovereignty depends on uniting scientific excellence with entrepreneurial execution. By deepening collaboration between academia, research, and startups, we can turn cutting-edge discoveries into world-class products. TiE Delhi-NCR continues to be a catalyst for this ecosystem, connecting innovators, investors, and policymakers to drive India’s next wave of technological breakthroughs.

The session followed the inaugural keynote by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industries, who emphasised the government’s vision to build a deep-tech ecosystem powered by innovation and youth engagement.

Organised by TiE Delhi-NCR, TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, founders, and global thought leaders to discuss India’s next growth frontier in technology and entrepreneurship. For over 25 years, TiE Delhi-NCR has been a driving force in India’s innovation landscape, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and investment that continue to shape the country’s transformation into a global innovation powerhouse.

About TiE Delhi-NCR

TiE Delhi-NCR is one of the most active and vibrant chapters of TiE Global, dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, and funding. With a legacy spanning over two decades, TiE Delhi-NCR continues to empower innovators and founders, driving India’s transformation into a global innovation powerhouse.

Velocity Announces ₹200 Cr Fund To Support Restaurants, Cloud Kitchens Selling on Food Delivery Platforms

• Velocity announces ₹200 Cr fund to fuel the growth of restaurants and cloud kitchens selling on food aggregator platforms
• Velocity aims to empower F&B brands by providing fast, scalable, and flexible financing solutions tailored to their growth needs.

Velocity, India’s leading cash-flow based financing platform, has earmarked 200 Cr in 2025 to support and accelerate growth in the restaurant and cloud kitchen ecosystem across India.

The fund is specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by F&B brands and help them grow. F&B brands often struggle to secure financing from traditional sources like banks and NBFCs. Recognizing this gap, Velocity offers cash-flow based financing, enabling restaurants and cloud kitchens to effectively manage capital expenditure, working capital, open new outlets, purchase equipment, and launch sub-brands under existing ones without impacting operational profits.

Velocity founders — Saurav Swaroop, Abhiroop Medhekar (in the middle), Atul Khichariya

India’s food delivery and dining-out market is projected to nearly double, growing from ₹5.5 trillion to ₹9 trillion by 2030, according to a report by Swiggy and Bain & Company. This surge is driven by rising disposable incomes, evolving consumer preferences, and the expanding reach of food aggregator platforms. Velocity’s fund is perfectly aligned with this growth and has placed a strong focus on empowering new-age restaurants and cloud kitchen brands, particularly those operating via food aggregator platforms like Zomato and Swiggy.

Commenting on the fund launch, Atul Khichariya, Co-Founder and COO, Velocity said, “The growing appetite of Indian consumers for diverse culinary experiences, combined with the convenience of online food delivery, is driving remarkable growth in the F&B sector. This shift is also fueling a premiumization trend, as consumers increasingly seek high-quality food and beverage options, reflecting their willingness to spend and indulge in unique dining experiences. Velocity’s cash-flow based financing model ensures that F&B brands can scale seamlessly while maintaining financial flexibility.”

Since 2020, Velocity has funded several notable F&B brands such as IDC Kitchen, Smoor, Daily Sushi, Brahma Brew Works, Milano Ice cream, Imperio, Amore Gelato, Jamie's Pizza, and Babas Chicken. These businesses utilized the funds to expand operations, strengthen supply chains, and enhance marketing efforts.

Elaborating on Velocity’s role in shaping IDC Kitchen’s growth story, Abhishek Manikchand Baldota, Director - IDC Kitchen, said, “ Velocity has been instrumental in the growth of our business and has become an invaluable partner in our journey to success. The beauty of Velocity's financing lies in its true sense of partnership. We felt like we had gained a financial partner genuinely invested in our success. With Velocity's support, we have been able to accelerate our expansion plans, invest in inventory, and scale our marketing efforts”

Daily Sushi, Minseong Seok (Co-founder. Left), Hyungtaek Lim (Co-Founder. Right) 

Minseong Seok, Founder of Daily Sushi, added “The partnership with Velocity went beyond providing funds. They ensured independence and transparency through the right integration of technology and support from a dedicated team.”

India’s F&B industry is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by the convergence of quick commerce, cloud kitchens, and ultra-fast delivery models. Platforms like Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Blinkit have introduced 10-minute delivery services such as Zepto Cafe, Bolt, and Bistro. Bigbasket and Magicpin are also preparing to enter this space, while emerging players like Swish and Zing are also gaining traction. This shift to ultra-fast delivery is redefining convenience for consumers, pushing F&B brands to adapt swiftly. Moreover, initiatives like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) are enabling F&B brands to extend their reach beyond traditional marketplaces, unlocking new revenue streams in India’s evolving food delivery ecosystem.

To stay competitive, F&B brands are embracing technologies to better understand consumer behavior, standardize processes and are investing in automation and machinery. As India’s F&B sector evolves rapidly, Velocity’s ₹200 crore fund is designed to support new-age innovators in the space. By offering fast, scalable, and flexible financing solutions, Velocity enables F&B brands to seize emerging market opportunities, scale operations, and meet increasing consumer demand.

About Velocity:

Velocity is India’s leading cash flow-based financing platform for new-age businesses, focused on democratizing access to working capital for this traditionally underserved sector. Founded in 2020 by Abhiroop Medhekar, Atul Khichariya, and Saurav Swaroop, Velocity leverages these digital-first businesses’ abundant data and robust online cash flows to offer innovative financing solutions.Through partnerships with 26 ecosystem players, including four of the largest marketplaces, Velocity provides non-dilutive debt financing to E-commerce founders.

Since its inception, Velocity has disbursed over ₹1000 crores, enabling over 1,200 digital-first businesses, to overcome working capital challenges. The Bengaluru based fintech has raised $30 million in equity funding led by Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures. Its portfolio includes many of India’s fastest-growing D2C brands like Soulflower, Chumbak, and Off Duty to name a few.

For more information, please visit: https://www.velocity.in/

NIIFL Launches ~$600 Mn Bi-Lateral India-Japan Fund

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (“NIIFL”), India’s collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India, today announced the establishment of its first bilateral fund, the India-Japan Fund (“The Fund”) in partnership with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (“JBIC”), a policy based financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Japan. The Fund will have a target corpus of INR 49 billion (~USD 600 million), with the Government of India (“GoI”) contributing 49% and the remaining 51% contributed by JBIC.

The India-Japan Fund will actively invest in India’s environmental preservation sector, including renewable energy, e-mobility businesses, and circular economy sectors such as waste management, and water. Moreover, the Fund also aims to foster collaboration between Indian and Japanese companies across all sectors. JBIC IG Partners ("JBIC IG”), a subsidiary of JBIC, will support NIIFL in promoting Japanese investments in India to further cement the strong partnership between NIIFL and JBIC in achieving their shared goals.

Building on investments in sustainable infrastructure and solutions through its existing funds, NIIFL continues to strengthen its commitment to environmental sustainability. The establishment of the India-Japan Fund represents a significant milestone in NIIFL's journey, as it further amplifies the organization's ability to make a substantial impact in this critical domain.

This collaboration on energy transition between JBIC and NIIFL follows the memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) signed in November 2022, which focused on promoting environmental preservation, low carbon emission strategies, and the growth of the Indian economy, and enhancing the cooperative relationship between Indian and Japanese companies. The equity participation of JBIC in the India-Japan Fund aligns with the shared objectives outlined in the MoU.

NIIFL and JBIC look forward to successfully investing the India-Japan Fund, bringing together the best of Indian and Japanese expertise, resources, and innovation to drive environmental sustainability and foster business collaboration.

Regarding the collaboration, Mr. Rajiv Dhar, Managing Director & CEO of NIIFL, said "We are delighted to join forces with JBIC to establish an inaugural bilateral fund focused on India, to foster businesses that contribute to a clean and environmentally sustainable future in the country. The India-Japan Fund strengthens our commitment to cooperate and invest in opportunities that address India's environmental and social requirements. We aim to establish an ecosystem that facilitates mobilising timely and sufficient resources for financing sustainable development."

Mr. Dhar emphasised, "This fund also reinforces the longstanding relationship between our two nations while encouraging Japanese companies to invest in India."

Mr. Hayashi Nobumitsu, Governor of JBIC, said, "In March 2022, the Governments of India and Japan set a target of 5 trillion yen for public and private investment and financing from Japan to India over the next five years and announced the India-Japan Clean Energy Partnership in the area of climate conservation. The two Governments recently announced a Japan-India Industrial Co-Creation Initiative to further strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries. Against the backdrop of the unstable world situation and problems such as a severed supply chain, Japanese companies are increasingly interested in entering the Indian market as a relocation destination for a production base or an investment destination. As a leader in the Global South, India is an indispensable partner for Japan. JBIC will continue to contribute toward environmental preservation in India, the promotion of investment by Japanese companies, and collaboration between Indian and Japanese companies. Through the India-Japan Fund, JBIC also contributes to deepening the bilateral relationship between India and Japan."

About National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) is a collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India, which manages funds with investments in different asset classes and diversified sectors that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. NIIFL manages over USD 4.9 billion of equity capital commitments across its four funds – Master Fund, Fund of Funds, Strategic Opportunities Fund, and the India-Japan Fund, each with a distinct investment strategy committed to supporting the country’s growth needs. 

For more information and recent updates on NIIFL, please visit www.niifindia.in and follow the official LinkedIn channel.

About JBIC

JBIC is a policy-based financial institution in Japan, and conducts lending, investment and guarantee operations while complementing the private sector financial institutions. JBIC’s mission is to contribute to the sound development of Japan and the international economy and society by conducting its operations. 

Bill of $6.03 Bn Fund for R&D and Innovation Introduced in Lok Sabha

Today, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha, for setting up a national agency to fund research across universities, institutions and laboratories in the country.

Named "Anusandhan National Research Foundation", the bill once implemented, will provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture.

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill-2023 seeks to set up a Rs 50,000-crore (~ US $6.03 Billion) fund, with a sizeable contribution from the private sector, to "seed, grow and promote" research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India's universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

Introducing the Bill, Dr Jitendra Singh said, when passed by Parliament the Act will provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture.

The Minister said, it will also promote scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences to promote, monitor and provide support as required for such research and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

It may be recalled that on 28th June, 2023 the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the Parliament. The approved Bill will pave the way to establish NRF that will seed, grow and promote Research and Development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The bill, after approval in the Parliament, will establish NRF, an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), at a total estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crores ( ~ US $6.03 billion) during five years (2023-28).

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative Department of NRF which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines. Since the scope of the NRF is wide-ranging – impacting all ministries - the Prime Minister will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of Science & Technology & Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents. NRF’s functioning will be governed by an Executive Council chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

NRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries. It will focus on creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.

The bill will also repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) established by an act of Parliament in 2008 and subsume it into NRF which has an expanded mandate and covers activities over and above the activities of SERB.

Welspun One Launches the Largest AIF in Warehousing of INR 2000 CR for Domestic Investors

Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP), India’s first integrated fund and development management platform focussed on warehousing and industrial real estate, today announced the launch of its second fund of INR 2,000 crores, including a green shoe option of INR 1,000 crores.

Welspun One Logistics Parks Fund 2 is the successor of WOLP Fund 1, a SEBI regulated Alternative Investment Fund or “AIF” offering for domestic investors which it had launched in early 2021. WOLP Fund 1 received a favourable response from investors and successfully raised capital commitments of ~INR 500 crore from a set of high net worth investors including marquee individuals and family offices. WOLP Fund 1 has delivered strong performance with a track record of 100% commitment across a portfolio of 6 investments, aggregating to ~6.5MM sf in a short span of ~1.5 years from its first close.

Further, the portfolio has also seen excellent traction on the ground with ~50% of portfolio expected to be physically delivered, leased and operating by mid CY2023. The fund’s performance is reflected in its inception to date gross IRR of ~21% basis its 30 September Net Asset Value (NAV) which is computed based on an independent third party valuation by a leading international property consultant.

Due to its unique integrated fund and development management offering, the warehousing and industrial real estate platform not only raises, invests and manages capital on behalf of its investors, but is also able to execute the real estate side of the business in-house, including securing approvals, master planning and design, leasing and project management/execution, thereby providing its investors access to “full cycle” returns right through land acquisition, leasing, development and sale of the completed assets. In order to deliver this, the Company has built a team of 150+ professionals led by a highly experienced senior management team.

The Company places a strong emphasis on creating and implementing robust processes for a high level of governance and transparency across its business. A recent initiative on this front is the “WOLP investor portal”, a first-of-its kind offering in the real estate private equity space which provides investors with online access to comprehensive information on their portfolio assets and performance along with a full repository of fund documents, all at the click of a button.

Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman, Welspun Group said, “The warehousing industry is now a fully integrated priority sector in India that contributes to the USD 1 Trillion economy. Owing to the country’s favourable policy changes, this resilient asset class has drawn significant interest of national investors; Welspun One is the only warehousing platform to permit domestic capital to be invested in the Indian warehousing growth story. This sector provides lucrative development returns and stable long-term yields proving to be an attractive investment destination. In the current climate, Welspun One will continue developing Grade-A warehouses that will serve prominent and emerging businesses across the country."

Anshul Singhal, Managing Director, Welspun One Logistics Parks, said, “Our strong performance in WOLP Fund 1 has encouraged us to launch our second Fund on a larger scale allowing domestic investors to be part of this exciting asset class which has already attracted US$5-6BN of foreign institutional capital. With financialization of real estate taking centre stage with REITs, our fund takes this a step further by allowing investors to participate across the entire asset creation cycle without any of the hassles of owning and managing physical real estate. We’re also pleased to offer this product in collaboration with India’s leading wealth management franchises.”

Karan Bhagat, Founder, MD & CEO, 360 ONE, (formerly IIFL Wealth & Asset Management) said, “The Indian warehousing sector presents an excellent investment opportunity, while checking all the right boxes. It offers robust growth potential, with favourable demand-supply dynamics and potentially attractive returns. Additionally, its de-risked nature is noteworthy, as warehouses are quick and easy to construct, and are typically built only after securing a lease commitment from a tenant. We are excited to offer Welspun One as an extension of our real asset / infrastructure investment options; it’s perhaps the only platform through which, domestic investors can access this opportunity in an institutional, transparent, and organized manner."

About Welspun One Logistics Parks:

Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP) is an integrated fund and development management platform, designed to deliver large format, institutional Grade-A logistics and industrial parks across India. It is the warehousing platform of the USD 2.3 billion global conglomerate Welspun Group - one of India’s fastest-growing multinationals with a leadership position in line pipes, home textiles, infrastructure, advanced textiles, and flooring solutions.

Welspun One’s unique integrated offering allows it to mobilize capital from its investors, by providing them with an opportunity to participate in and profit from the growth and development of the warehousing sector in India in a transparent and institutional manner and utilize this capital along with their in-house development expertise to deliver best-in-class warehousing infrastructure to its clients.

Google launches 'Journalism Relief Fund,' following Facebook

Google said Wednesday it will launch an emergency fund to help local news outlets struggling to maintain operations in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The internet giant gave no specific figure for its fund, but said it would offer grants ranging from the "low thousands of dollars" for the smallest operations to "low tens of thousands for larger newsrooms." The move comes with the media sector facing deep cutbacks resulting from the global consumer lockdown, an intense economic slump and a retrenchment in advertising revenues that many news outlets depend on.

"Local news is a vital resource for keeping people and communities connected in the best of times," Google News vice president Richard Gingras said in a statement.

"Today, it plays an even greater function in reporting on local lockdowns or shelter at home orders, school and park closures, and data about how COVID-19 is affecting daily life." Gingras said the fund will open to outlets "producing original news for local communities during this time of crisis," with applications due by April 29.

"At the end of the process, we'll announce who has received funding and how publishers are spending the money," he said.

"We believe it is important to do what we can to alleviate the financial pressures on newsrooms, and will continue to look at other ways to help with more to announce soon." The New York Times has estimated that news outlets have cut 28,000 jobs as a result of the health crisis and subsequent economic impact.

Other outlets have furloughed journalists or announced pay cuts.

Facebook on March 30 said it was donating $100 million to support news organizations globally hurting from the coronavirus pandemic. This includes $25 million in grants and ramped up ad spending by the social media giant.

In recent months Facebook and Google have stepped up efforts to help news organisations, following criticism that their dominance of online advertising has made it difficult for media to profit from digital operations. (AFP)