Ahmedabad: Student-run and early-stage startups often get the seed funding or initial boost from various govt schemes, including Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) initiative in the state. But what about the sectors that work in emerging technology and on very different timelines in terms of product development and research?iHub Gujarat data indicated that, in the past two years, the startup conclaves mobilised Rs 652.6 crore for 139 startups. Of this amount, Rs 332.8 crore was raised by Gujarat-based startups.“The investments were committed through Rs 484.7 crore in cheques and Rs 151.4 crore through letters of intent (LoIs), indicating both immediate and pipeline funding. The events were attended by venture capital funds, angel investors, and strategic partners,” said a senior iHub official. “The investment network extended beyond Gujarat, with startups from Haryana (Rs 58.3 crore), Delhi (Rs 56.7 crore), and Karnataka (Rs 54.7 crore) also securing significant funding.”Experts said that the sectors that gained the highest traction included drone technology (Rs 63.5 crore), space technology (Rs 50.1 crore), and financial technology (Rs 47.2 crore). Deep technology, agriculture technology and emerging technologies also witnessed substantial investments, underscoring focus on solving strategic and societal challenges through innovation.
The sectors that gained the highest traction included drone technology (Rs 63.5 crore), space technology (Rs 50.1 crore), and financial technology (Rs 47.2 crore)
“The investment trends reflect a maturing startup ecosystem, with increasing participation from institutional investors and venture funds. The data points to a shift from traditional sectors towards high-impact, knowledge-based industries, positioning Gujarat as a leading hub for technology-driven entrepreneurship,” said a senior iHub official, adding that the strong flow of capital and sectoral diversification indicate confidence in the sector.Knowledge Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), along with iHub and iNDEXTb had recently organised facilitation and exchange of 31 LoIs between 15 industry organisations and 22 innovative startups. Organisers said that the aim of the event was to strengthen the industry linkage and pull the startups up from mere ideation to solving real-world problems with help of industry experts.