Capital-A, India’s specialist venture capital fund for manufacturing, along with SanchiConnect, a deep tech community and accelerator platform, have jointly backed three startups through the MaXcel platform, following a nationwide evaluation of more than 2,000 applicants. India today has more than 3,000 deeptech startups and has attracted over US$ 10 billion in cumulative funding over the past decade, according to NASSCOM and Boston Consulting Group. This funding has largely been concentrated in software-driven and later-stage ventures, while capital-intensive deeptech manufacturing remains at an early stage. Manufacturing currently contributes around 16-17 percent to India’s GDP and is targeted to reach 25 percent under national policy goals.

The three startups selected through MaXcel are Enerzi, focused on clean hydrogen systems; Misochain, building flight-critical aerospace components; and Quintrans, developing electromagnetic linear motion systems for industrial automation. They were formally inducted at Maxcel Liftoff, an invite-only ecosystem gathering in Bengaluru that brought together founders, investors, and industry operators.

MaXcel was designed to address the structural funding gap faced by founders building early-stage manufacturing businesses, like energy transition, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing like industrial hardware, electronics, semiconductors, alloys, and other similar subsectors. These businesses typically require extended development timelines, capital-intensive pilots, and real-world validation before commercial scale becomes visible.

To move beyond pitch-led evaluation, Capital-A and SanchiConnect conducted on-ground roadshows across Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Coimbatore, engaging directly with founding teams and assessing engineering depth and deployment readiness within operational manufacturing environments. From more than 2,000 applications, three startups were selected based on technical rigor, scalability, and commercial potential.

Enerzi is advancing microwave plasma-based methane-to-hydrogen conversion systems to enable lower-emission hydrogen production while generating engineered carbon co-products for industrial use. Misochain is developing indigenous flight-critical aerospace components along with in-house testing and certification capabilities aimed at strengthening domestic aerospace supply chains. Quintrans is building direct-drive electromagnetic linear motion systems designed to enhance performance, precision, and reliability in industrial automation and robotics.

Ankit Kedia, Founder and Lead Investor, Capital-A, said, “India’s manufacturing and deeptech founders are solving some of the most complex engineering challenges of our time, yet they remain underserved by traditional venture capital that prioritizes faster, software-led returns. MaXcel was built on the conviction that early-stage industrial innovation deserves patient capital paired with hands-on technical evaluation. Our focus has been to identify teams capable of translating deep research into deployable systems and support them as they move toward repeatable industrial adoption.”

Sunil K Shekhawat, Founder and CEO, SanchiConnect, added, “India’s DeepTech ecosystem requires stronger collaboration between researchers, founders, investors, and industry stakeholders. MaXcel intends to transform bold manufacturing innovations by cohort startups into scalable realities, with standout capital support from top-tier venture funding by Capital A proving our model’s impact on India’s industrial future.”

 MaXcel reflects a collaborative effort between Capital-A and SanchiConnect to institutionalize early-stage deeptech support by combining capital, ecosystem access, and operational guidance. The initiative aligns with Capital-A’s ongoing deployment of its INR 400 crore Fund II focused on manufacturing, climate, and industrial technology.

For more information: www.capital-a.vc, www.sanchiconnect.com/maxcel/