Prof. Balan Gurumoorthy, Director of FSID, outlines how the 117-year-old academic institute has modernized its approach to entrepreneurship. Formally incorporated in 2020, FSID has scaled its operations to handle approximately 400 applications annually, selecting around 20 deeptech startups for intensive support.

Key Features of the FSID Ecosystem:

• Academic-Led Entrepreneurship: Around 15% of IISc faculty are now engaged in entrepreneurship, a rate comparable to Stanford University. FSID also runs an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program specifically designed to help PhD students transition from research to business.

• Sector Agnostic & High Impact: FSID supports startups across all deeptech domains—including space-tech (e.g., Bellatrix Aerospace and Digantara), healthcare, and agritech—as long as the offering is based on unique or new science.

• Open to All: Interestingly, 45% of the startups supported by FSID are founded by individuals from non-IISc backgrounds, demonstrating the institute's role as a national resource.

• Holistic Founder Support: Beyond labs and funding, FSID offers unique support systems including health insurance for founders and their teams, as well as mental wellness programs to help them cope with the pressures of building a startup.

• Bridging the Business Gap: Recognizing that scientists often lack business training, FSID connects founders with industry veterans, business specialists, and an extensive alumni network to help them understand market viability and scale.

Challenges & Future Goals:

• The "Champion Customer" Gap: Prof. Gurumoorthy notes that unlike the West, Indian deeptech startups often lack a "champion customer"—a large corporate that backs a young company and guides product improvement.

• Funding: FSID is actively working to move beyond reliance on grants by exploring the creation of an early-stage support fund.

• Expansion: FSID plans to increase its annual intake to 25–30 startups, utilizing its expansive campuses in Bengaluru and Challakere.

Why It Matters:

FSID is shifting the perception of deeptech in India from a niche pursuit to a cornerstone of national development. By focusing on indigenization while encouraging a global mindset, FSID ensures that innovations developed on campus are relevant to the immediate world and sustainable for the long term.