Accel and Prosus Select Six Unconventional Startups for Their First India Cohort

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Accel and Prosus have launched their inaugural joint accelerator program in India, selecting six innovative startups focused on unconventional ideas in sectors such as healthcare, climate, space, and longevity. These startups are tackling problems in markets that are still emerging and often difficult to quantify in terms of progress. The selection process saw participation from over 2,000 applications, highlighting the competitive nature of this initiative.

The chosen startups include:

1. Praan: Based in Mumbai, Praan focuses on improving indoor air quality through advanced air infrastructure. The company utilises purification, sensing technology, and automated controls and has attracted investment from notable investors including Social Impact Capital and Aera VC.

2. QOSMIC: This Bengaluru-based firm is developing optical communication systems aimed at enhancing data transmission between satellites and Earth, with an emphasis on increasing bandwidth and decreasing latency.

3. Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX): Also situated in Bengaluru, EtherealX is working on reusable orbital launch vehicles designed to make space access more cost-effective. The company recently secured a $20.5 million Series A round led by TDK Ventures, attaining an impressive $80.5 million valuation.

4. Dognosis: This startup is pioneering breath tests to detect various cancers by harnessing dogs’ olfactory capabilities, combined with robotics and AI. Patients exhale into a mask, and the samples are later analysed for cancer markers.

5. Ferra: Ferra is developing a home-based strength-training system designed to help maintain mobility in ageing individuals, with an automatic resistance adjustment feature to cater to the user’s performance levels.

6. A sixth startup, currently confidential, is innovating in brain-computer interface technology to enable direct communications between the brain and external devices.

Initiated in October, the program is designed to support startups outside traditional funding models, offering investments ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. Accel and Prosus have committed to co-investing, with Prosus matching Accel’s contributions. This structure aims to minimise initial dilution for founders by deferring some capital until later stages, acknowledging that these startups typically require ample time to achieve significant breakthroughs.

Partners from both firms noted that many of these ventures navigate complex, non-linear growth paths, where success hinges on critical technical advancements rather than consistent incremental progress. As Pratik Agarwal from Accel remarked, more than just funding, these companies need the necessary time to realise their ambitious visions. Ashutosh Sharma from Prosus echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of achieving key breakthroughs in their respective fields.

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