India's defense-tech startups are on the rise

Business Dec 04, 2025

India's defense-tech scene is buzzing, with startups like Digantara (founded in 2020 and already valued at more than $65 million) leading the charge.
Big moves from the government and investors—especially after Operation Sindoor exposed gaps in India's defenses—have sparked a wave of funding and innovation focused on homegrown tech.

How IDEX is fueling this growth

The IDEX initiative, launched in 2018, connects startups with military teams to solve real defense needs.
Grant sizes have jumped from $178,000 to nearly $3 million by 2024, helping over 600 companies push new ideas forward.
Still, challenges like limited private funding and strict export rules mean there's work ahead before India sees its first billion-dollar defense-tech unicorn.