• The two-day engagement advanced industry–academia collaboration, strategic sector innovation, and deep-tech investment

Kanpur, March 01, 2026: The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, played a central role in shaping deep-tech investment conversations and strategic innovation dialogue during the two-day TiECon UP 2026, bringing together venture capitalists, industry leaders, policymakers, and founders across Uttar Pradesh.

The first day focused on structured investor engagement and startup pitching. A closed-door strategic dialogue between venture capital firms, TiE UP leadership, and SIIC IIT Kanpur’s senior management emphasized leveraging IIT Kanpur’s premier research infrastructure and intellectual capital to accelerate deep-tech commercialization.

As part of the engagement, SIIC IIT Kanpur, facilitated a rigorous two-stage startup pitch showcase. Twenty startups were evaluated during the elevator pitch session, with eight advancing to detailed investor presentations and subsequent due diligence across the MedTech, Defence, AI/ML, and CleanTech sectors.

Notably, six of the eight shortlisted startups - Brahmion, Ekvayu Tech Pvt Ltd, Maraal Aerospace, DGRakshak, TanPrish Dynamics Private Limited, and Dream Aerospace - are incubated at SIIC IIT Kanpur, reflecting the depth and strength of its deep-tech incubation ecosystem.

The second day expanded the platform to broader ecosystem and strategic sector discussions.

Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, was a distinguished panelist in the session “Winds of Change in UP”, deliberating on the state’s transforming innovation ecosystem and the pivotal role of research institutions in enabling high-impact entrepreneurship.

Prof. Deepu Philip, PIC – SIIC IIT Kanpur, was a featured speaker in the panel titled “Deep-Tech: Powering India’s Atmanirbharta in Defence & Space”, where industry leaders and technology founders deliberated on strengthening national capabilities through indigenous innovation, resilience, and commercialization of advanced technologies.

Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, SIIC IIT Kanpur, stated:

“Our focus is to systematically connect IIT Kanpur’s research depth with structured capital and structured market access frameworks. Deep-tech innovation requires sustained collaboration between academia, industry, and investors, and platforms like TiECon UP accelerate that convergence.”

Mr. Anurag Singh, Chief Investment Officer, SIIC IIT Kanpur, added:

“The future of deep-tech innovation lies in seamless industry–academia integration. By aligning IIT Kanpur’s research excellence with strategic capital partnerships, we are building an ecosystem where breakthrough ideas scale into globally competitive enterprises.”

Across both days, TiECon UP 2026 reinforced the importance of coordinated institutional efforts in strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s deep-tech startup ecosystem, with SIIC IIT Kanpur continuing to serve as a pivotal enabler of innovation, investment readiness, and strategic sector growth.

About TiECon UP 2026

TiECon UP 2026 is an initiative of TiE UP (The Indus Entrepreneurs, Uttar Pradesh), designed to strengthen the startup and investment ecosystem across the state. The event brings together venture capitalists, founders, and institutional partners to facilitate meaningful investor-startup engagement and build a long-term collaborative framework for regional entrepreneurship.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialized schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in