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Lightspeed India has launched its India Ascends 2026 program, selecting four deeptech startups with founders under 25. Each startup will receive equity funding from $200k to $3 million and a year-long strategic roadmap to support scaling.

The startups include Sapien Labs, which is innovating drug trials; Eyecandy Robotics, developing engaging physical AI characters; Celestial Aerospace, focused on balloon-assisted launch systems; and Sentience, creating a robotics foundational model. Participants will also gain access to a network of policymakers and over $500k in cloud and software credits.