IIT Delhi Spinout DeepLase Ignites Photonics Push with ₹6 Crore Seed Fund

NEW DELHI – March 19, 2026 – DeepLase Technologies, a deep-tech photonics startup spun out of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, has secured ₹6 crore in seed funding. The round was co-led by Mounttech Growth Fund – Kavachh and Yali Capital, marking a significant vote of confidence in India's ability to produce globally competitive, high-value hardware technologies.

The capital infusion is set to fuel a critical expansion phase for the company, which specializes in developing advanced optical fiber platforms and high-performance fiber lasers. The funds will be directed toward expanding engineering and manufacturing capabilities, accelerating the commercialization of its products, and scaling deployments across a range of high-impact sectors including industrial automation, optical communications, advanced sensing, quantum technologies, and healthcare.

This funding round arrives at a pivotal moment, reflecting a broader trend of deep-technology innovation emerging from India's premier academic institutions. DeepLase, founded by IIT Delhi faculty member Dr. Deepak Jain, exemplifies the growing synergy between advanced scientific research and commercial enterprise, aiming to position India as a key player in the foundational technologies that will power the next generation of digital and industrial systems.

Bridging the Gap Between Lab and Factory

At the heart of DeepLase's mission is the challenge of translating cutting-edge photonics research into robust, scalable industrial solutions. While lasers and optical fibers are foundational to modern technology, many high-performance systems remain confined to laboratory environments due to their complexity and sensitivity. DeepLase aims to overcome this barrier by engineering laser architectures and specialty optical fibers designed for real-world reliability and performance.

"Our goal is to build laser platforms that combine advanced optical fiber design, novel materials engineering, and robust system-level reliability," said Dr. Deepak Jain, Founder and Director of DeepLase. "As industries and research domains become increasingly dependent on controlled light sources, the demand for stable, scalable, and application-ready laser systems is growing rapidly. We are developing technologies that deliver high performance while remaining practical for deployment in demanding industrial environments."

The company's offerings include specialty optical fibers that provide superior signal transmission and customized light control, as well as advanced fiber lasers designed for high-intensity, precision applications like cutting, welding, and engraving. By focusing on exceptional stability, energy efficiency, and spectral precision, DeepLase is developing the core components needed to power everything from next-generation AI hardware to quantum computing systems.

Powering High-Growth Industries

The market opportunity for DeepLase's technology is vast and expanding rapidly. The India photonics market alone reached USD 72.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to more than double to USD 151.6 billion by 2033. This growth is driven by the insatiable demand for high-speed data transmission in telecommunications and data centers, as well as advancements in healthcare diagnostics and renewable energy.

Specifically, the industrial laser systems market in India is poised for significant growth, with projections estimating it will reach USD 4.92 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 18%. Fiber lasers, DeepLase's specialty, represent the most lucrative segment, holding over 40% of the market share in 2025. These lasers are critical for precision manufacturing in the automotive, defense, and electronics sectors, which are expanding under government initiatives like 'Make in India'.

As global data consumption and AI infrastructure scale at an unprecedented rate, the need for advanced photonic components capable of delivering higher bandwidth and lower latency has become paramount. DeepLase is positioning itself to meet this demand, developing the underlying hardware that enables faster, more efficient digital systems.

Investor Confidence in India's Deep-Tech Future

The investment from Kavachh and Yali Capital underscores a growing conviction among venture capitalists in the potential of Indian deep-tech startups. Investors see companies like DeepLase not just as promising ventures, but as strategic assets building sovereign capability in critical technology domains.

"Photonics technologies are becoming foundational infrastructure for modern industry, powering everything from advanced manufacturing and telecommunications to sensing and next-generation computing systems," said Raj Sethia, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Mounttech Growth Fund – Kavachh. "DeepLase is building core intellectual property in a strategic technology domain where global demand continues to grow rapidly. We are excited to support Dr. Deepak Jain and his team as they work to build globally competitive photonics technologies from India."

Yali Capital, which recently closed a deep-tech-focused fund of ₹893 crore, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the company's strong technical foundation and commercial pathway.

"DeepLase approaches photonics design from first principles, combining deep scientific expertise with a clear pathway toward commercialization," stated Ganapathy Subramaniam, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Yali Capital. "The team brings together strong research capability with an understanding of real-world deployment challenges, positioning them well to translate advanced photonics into scalable industrial platforms."

This investment is bolstered by a supportive government policy landscape. Initiatives like the ₹1 Lakh Crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund and the ₹10,000 crore Deep Tech Fund of Funds are designed to de-risk early-stage ventures and catalyze private investment, creating a fertile ground for companies like DeepLase to thrive. Prior to this seed round, the company had already received support from multiple government innovation programs aimed at commercializing indigenous technologies.

With this new capital, DeepLase is now positioned to accelerate its journey from an academic incubator to a key player in the global photonics supply chain. The company's long-term vision is to build a world-class photonics infrastructure from India, enabling the next wave of innovation in computing, communications, and scientific discovery.