Backing Bharat's DeepTech Dream: NXP India Aims to Build Global-Tech from Local Innovation

As India sharpens its focus on becoming a global hub for semiconductors and deep tech, there’s an increasing push to create a robust startup ecosystem that doesn’t just rely on global innovation but drives it from within. NXP India, the Indian arm of global semiconductor leader NXP Semiconductors, is playing an active role in this transformation.

Through its flagship initiative — the NXP India Tech Startup Challenge, now in its fifth season, the company has created a platform that not only identifies promising deep tech startups but also provides them with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to scale globally.

In an exclusive conversation with TICE, Hitesh Garg, VP and India Managing Director, NXP India, shared insights into the vision behind the challenge, the evolving Indian semiconductor landscape, and what makes this platform different from the countless other startup programs out there.

NXP India Tech Startup Challenge: What’s Different About Season 5?

“It’s not just a challenge anymore. It has become a complete ecosystem support platform,” says Garg.

Since its inception, the NXP India Tech Startup Challenge has connected with more than 1,100 deep tech startups. But Season 5 brings in some significant upgrades.

This year, the program offers finalists direct entry into the Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) — a prestigious global platform that connects entrepreneurs with investors and corporates. This gives Indian startups much-needed global exposure and validation.

The initiative is also partnering with incubation powerhouses like Electropreneur Park, Safal, and Incense to offer pre-incubation and acceleration support. Startups working in areas like AI/ML, edge computing, secure connectivity, and semiconductor design are being given special focus this year.

“We’re solving not just Indian problems, but global ones. That’s the kind of startups we want to back,” Garg notes.

Going Beyond Funding: Building an Acceleration Engine

While prize money is part of the offering, NXP is clear that its goal is to build long-term value for startups.

“Funding is just the starting point. What we offer is an end-to-end acceleration pathway,” explains Garg.

Top startups selected through the challenge gain access to NXP’s extensive global ecosystem, hands-on mentoring, infrastructure support, and technical guidance. They also get connected to potential customers, government bodies, and global partners — an advantage that few competitions offer.

The startups benefit from access to labs and R&D facilities through ecosystem partners, which is often a critical bottleneck for hardware and semiconductor ventures.

So how does NXP choose from hundreds of applications?

The process, Garg says, is deliberate, inclusive, and multi-layered. Evaluations are done by panels consisting of NXP experts and external partners, who assess each startup based on:

• Technological innovation and feasibility

• Alignment with NXP’s strategic tech focus

• Scalability and global impact potential

• Team strength and product-market fit

• Alignment with India's ESDM and semiconductor goals

After rigorous shortlisting, the top 10 startups are selected and receive ongoing support, even beyond the challenge.

“We don’t just pick winners and move on. We stay involved. We help them plug into the broader tech ecosystem,” Garg shares.

Rising Trends in India’s Deep Tech Space

Speaking on the evolving startup landscape, Garg highlighted how India’s deep tech ecosystem is finally getting the attention and resources it deserves.

“Startups here are no longer thinking local. They’re solving complex problems and looking at the global market from day one,” he says.

He points to rising interest in indigenous chip design, AI at the edge, and sustainable embedded systems. These innovations span across sectors — from smart cities and automotive to industrial automation and healthcare.

He also emphasized the growing collaboration between academia and industry, citing models like IIT Madras’ RISC-V ecosystem, where research, innovation, and entrepreneurship are coming together to build cutting-edge IP.

The Government’s Role in India’s Semiconductor Push

With India’s ambition to consume $110 billion worth of semiconductors by 2030 and build a $500 billion ESDM ecosystem, Garg says the government is playing a pivotal, enabling role.

“The government acts as a trigger — through policy, incentives, and vision-setting. That’s what startups need to scale,” he says.

Subsidies, infrastructure support, and clear roadmap targets are creating a fertile ground for innovation, particularly in areas where Indian startups are now aiming to develop homegrown silicon, embedded systems, and fabless chip designs.

The Road Ahead: Bigger, Bolder, and More Impactful

Looking at the future, Garg says NXP plans to scale up its impact, though he modestly avoids predicting specifics.

“We don’t have a crystal ball, but our commitment is firm. We’ll keep innovating the challenge itself — bringing new opportunities and tougher problem statements. Season 6 will be bigger and at least 50% more impactful,” he says with confidence.

The NXP India Tech Startup Challenge has grown from a competition into a movement that supports India’s ambitions of becoming a deep tech and semiconductor powerhouse.

By combining industry expertise, government alignment, and global exposure, it offers startups something more than just a moment of recognition — it offers them a path to scale.

As India continues to write its tech story, platforms like these are helping ensure that homegrown innovation becomes globally competitive — one startup at a time.