ETSA 2026: India’s startups focus on tech depth, not just growth

The Economic Times Startup Awards 2026 marked a turning point for India’s startups, honoring companies that prioritize technical expertise and global markets over chasing size. The 12th edition, held in Bengaluru, showed how the sector has moved past the rush for quick funding.

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, speaking at the event, called the drop in H-1B visa approvals a win for local talent, arguing that startups are keeping more engineers and product leaders in India. His comments matched earlier government signals that India’s next phase of innovation should happen domestically.

Funding data from the first nine months of 2026 showed Bengaluru still leading, though its dominance has weakened. The city’s startups secured most of the $2.2 billion invested in Q3, a 5% increase from last year, even as the number of deals dropped. Investors seem to be favoring fewer, more efficient companies—especially in AI and deeptech, which stood out in Inc42’s September report.

The semiconductor sector provided a clear example. Their progress fits the awards’ focus on real technology, not just scaling up.

The real test will be whether this focus on durability leads to steady revenue. Many of the honored startups are still small, and expanding globally remains difficult. For now, the awards make one thing clear: India’s startup story is no longer about chasing quick wins, but building companies that can endure.

Sources: economictimes.indiatimes.com