Startup funding in India news for deep-tech founders: NetApp has launched the 15th cohort of its NetApp Excellerator startup accelerator, selecting five startups across AI-native software engineering, generative AI security, workflow automation and enterprise data intelligence.
The selected startups are LightSprint AI, Wald.ai, Lasso Security, Cogover and QUIPU AI, drawn from India, the US and Israel. Two of the five — Cogover and QUIPU AI — are also part of ExcellerateHER, the programme's track for women-led startups, which has supported 23 women-led startups since launch.
Six months, $15,000 grants, enterprise access
The programme runs for 6 months and offers a US$15,000 grant for a potential proof of concept, alongside mentorship and PoC and commercial access to NetApp's enterprise customers. For B2B AI startups, that enterprise channel is often worth far more than the cheque: NetApp's customer base is a direct route to paid pilots.
The track record is substantial. Since 2017, 90 startups have passed through 14 cohorts, collectively raising US$600M+, completing 30 PoCs and signing 6 commercial contracts with NetApp. Cohort 15's AI-era focus — generative AI security and AI-native engineering — matches where enterprise budgets are moving fastest.
Why it matters for founders
NetApp Excellerator has funnelled $600M+ in follow-on capital to 90 alumni — and Cohort 15's five startups get the one thing money can't easily buy: a path into NetApp's enterprise accounts. For deep-tech founders selling to enterprises, corporate accelerators with real procurement channels beat generic mentorship programmes every time.