June 16: As India’s deep-tech ecosystem seeks stronger global capital, market access and institutional partnerships, Bertelsmann India Investments’ Managing Director Pankaj Makkar joined Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, as part of a high-level platform showcasing India’s technology-led startups to global investors, corporates and innovation leaders.
The event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the President of the French Republic, H.E. Emmanuel Macron. With more than 120 Indian deep-tech startups presenting to investors and industry leaders from across Europe, Bharat Innovates 2026 was a significant moment for India’s innovation ecosystem.
Notably, Pankaj Makkar had the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Core Advisory Committee at Bharat Innovates alongside eminent investors and industry veterans, including Anjali Bansal (Avaana Capital), Gaurav Deepak (Avendus Capital), Prashanth Prakash (Accel), Rajan Anandan (Peak XV Partners), Karthik Reddy (Blume), Ashutosh Sharma (Prosus), and Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Infoedge), reflecting his wider engagement with the platform beyond his participation as a speaker. His role comes at a time when India’s deep-tech ecosystem is moving from early visibility to global relevance, with startups increasingly building in areas such as AI, advanced computing, semiconductors, healthcare, mobility, energy, advanced manufacturing, space and defence.
At the event, Pankaj joined the panel discussion titled “Fireside Reflections: Two Days of Deep-Tech at Bharat Innovates.” Moderated by Mr. Gaurav Deepak, Co-founder and CEO, Avendus Capital, the panel brought together Ms. Yoko Fukata, Head of India, Sony Innovation Fund; Mr. Suneel Bakhshi, Deputy Group CEO, Mizuho Financial Group; and other global investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of India‘s deep-tech ecosystem.
Speaking at the panel, Pankaj said, “India’s deep-tech investment has reached an important scale, with around USD 1.5 billion invested this year. India’s deep tech moment is here. The ambition, the intelligence, it’s all there. The question is how we put the jigsaw together.”
Drawing a comparison with China’s earlier deep-tech growth cycle, he said, ‘India now has the opportunity to build similar long-term momentum over the next decade.’
Highlighting the need for stronger ecosystem linkages, Pankaj said that ‘India has the entrepreneurial ambition, academic strength and investor interest required to build globally relevant deep-tech companies’. However, he emphasised that the next phase will depend on how effectively these different parts of the ecosystem are brought together.
He added, “We are seeing different parts of the puzzle: entrepreneurs and the passion they bring; academia and the excellence it provides; and corporates or VCs who are looking for the next big idea. The question is how we put this jigsaw puzzle together so the picture becomes complete. If we create stronger bridges between academia, corporates, entrepreneurs and capital providers, we will see magic happening.”
Pankaj also noted that the industry has an important role to play in taking real-world problem statements to academic institutions. He said that startups, investors, and larger companies should work more closely with students and faculty so that research can be aligned with market needs and commercial opportunities.
Bharat Innovates 2026 underlined a clear shift in India’s startup narrative: Indian innovation is no longer being viewed only through the lens of domestic digital adoption but through its ability to solve complex global problems and build globally relevant technology companies. For deep-tech startups, this requires not only capital but also patient investors, research-to-market support, enterprise partnerships, governance maturity and access to international customers.
Pankaj Makkar’s participation at Bharat Innovates 2026 reflects Bertelsmann India Investments’ continued engagement with India’s startup ecosystem and its focus on supporting ambitious founders building scalable, technology-led businesses. As an early-growth investor, BII continues to back companies with strong fundamentals, long-term market potential and the ability to build category leadership over time.