Nasscom Emerge 50 2026 — Deeptech Awards for Indian Startups — Frequently Asked Questions

None — Emerge 50 is not a cash-grant programme and carries no prize money. The reward is a recognition and access package: national visibility through NASSCOM's network, features in industry events, reports and publications, an in-person pitch slot with investors and industry leaders at Nasscom Future Forge 2026, dedicated mentorship on business strategy and fundraising readiness, priority entry to NASSCOM's networking events, and membership of a global deeptech community.

Indian deeptech startups that satisfy every eligibility condition. You must be registered in India as a Private Limited company, a Partnership firm or an LLP; hold a functional office in India (an active operational office or headquarters — a technical-support-only presence will not count) even if you also operate overseas; have been founded after March 2016; have annual turnover below ₹100 crores in every previous financial year; have a team of at least 2 people; be an independent company rather than a subsidiary or spin-off; be building on a new technology, scientific discovery or complex engineering process; sit between TRL 2/3 and TRL 8/9; and hold supporting evidence such as scientific validation, a proof of concept or a prototype.

Nominations opened on 13 April 2026 and close on 17 May 2026. After that, evaluation and shortlisting run from 27 May to 8 June 2026, the virtual jury round takes place between 15 and 19 June 2026, and awards are announced on 6 – 7 August 2026 at Nasscom Future Forge in Bangalore.

No. Emerge 50 is a recognition competition, not an investment programme. It neither invests capital nor takes an equity stake in the startups it selects — winners simply receive the recognition, mentorship and networking benefits listed by the programme.

There is no application fee. Applying to the 2026 edition is free of cost, and submissions are made online through the Accubate form.

Your venture should currently sit somewhere between TRL 2/3 and TRL 8/9 — in other words, anywhere from early-stage development through to early commercialisation or the point where you are closing a first funding round. You also need evidence to support your deeptech claim, which could be scientific validation, a proof of concept or a working prototype.

The cohorts span the whole deeptech surface area. Tracks include Manufacturing, Industrial Automation and Robotics; Health Tech; Biotech; Energy and Climate Tech; Mobility and Logistics; Semiconductors; GenAI; Enterprise Tech; Cybersecurity and Quantum; Space, Satellite and Defense Tech; Agri and Food Tech; and Fintech.

Yes, provided it is registered in India as a Private Limited company, a Partnership firm or an LLP and keeps a functional Indian office — either its headquarters or an active operational office. A technical-support-only setup does not count. The one structural restriction is independence: subsidiaries and spin-offs are not eligible.

Judges weigh five things: the strength of your scientific foundation and technical innovation, the depth of your R&D efforts, the potential impact and scalability of your solution, how clear your commercialisation strategy and business model are, and the expertise and experience of your founding team.

Submit your nomination online through the Accubate application form before 17 May 2026. If you have questions about eligibility or the process, write to emerge@nasscom.in.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Nasscom Emerge 50 2026 — Deeptech Awards for Indian Startups, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

Nasscom Emerge 50 2026 — Deeptech Awards for Indian Startups is offered by NASSCOM. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.