Bringing deep tech out of metro silos, SanchiConnect partners Tamil Nadu to unlock founders, funding, mentorship and markets across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
SanchiConnect has entered into a partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT) to expand deep tech entrepreneurship across the state, with a sharp focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The agreement was signed in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday, January 23, 2026.
The collaboration aims to support early- and growth-stage deep tech startups through structured, long-term programmes. These will provide access to mentors, industry partners, investors and market opportunities drawn from SanchiConnect’s national ecosystem.
The participating startups will be linked to customers and investors in India and overseas. The focus sectors include climate technologies, mobility, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and emerging digital domains. The initiative is also expected to create a steady pipeline of skilled innovation talent within Tamil Nadu.
The initiative seeks to reduce the gap between promising regional founders and the resources typically concentrated in large urban centres. This reflects the state’s push for decentralised innovation, the company said. The programme is designed to operate beyond short-term acceleration, with an emphasis on sustained capability building.
Officials noted that the partnership would strengthen local innovation capacity and help founders move from technology validation to commercial deployment.
Sunil Shekhawat, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of SanchiConnect, said Tamil Nadu has consistently demonstrated a forward-looking approach to innovation.
“This allows us to take structured deep tech enablement into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where entrepreneurial talent is abundant but access to markets, capital, and mentorship is often limited,” he said.
Investors have also welcomed the move. Manoj Agarwal, Managing Partner at Seafund, an investor in SanchiConnect, said the agreement reflects a growing effort to take deep tech ecosystems closer to founders.
Founded in 2022, SanchiConnect works with thousands of startups, investors and corporates to help deep tech ideas reach the market.
