Accel and Prosus back six startups in new India cohort

Venture capital firm Accel and global consumer internet group Prosus have selected six startups for their first joint cohort in India. The firms chose the final six companies from more than 2,000 applications. The program, which was announced in October, aims to back startups working on “off-the-map” problems—defined as areas where markets are undefined and progress is difficult to measure. The initiative is designed to support companies operating outside the venture capital industry’s usual playbook.

As part of the program, Accel and Prosus are co-investing in each selected startup, with Prosus matching Accel’s investment. The co-investment checks range from $500,000 to $2 million per company. To support these early-stage businesses, the firms are using an investment structure designed to reduce early dilution for founders, deferring a portion of the capital so that equity is given up at a later stage.

The six selected startups are:

• Praan: A Mumbai-based startup developing air infrastructure systems to improve indoor air quality using purification, sensing, and automated controls.
• QOSMIC: A Bengaluru-based startup developing optical communication systems for satellites, focusing on increasing bandwidth and reducing latency in space-based networks.
• Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX): A Bengaluru-based startup developing reusable orbital launch vehicles. The company’s Series A funding was $20.5 million at an $80.5 million valuation.
• Dognosis: A startup working on detecting multiple cancers from breath using dogs and artificial intelligence. Its product, BreatheEasy, involves patients breathing into a mask for lab analysis.
• Ferra: A startup building home-based strength-training systems to help people maintain mobility as they age, with a system that adjusts resistance automatically.
• Stealth startup: A sixth company operating in stealth that is developing brain-computer interfaces to enable direct communication between the human brain and external systems.

The program targets startups with long development cycles and non-linear paths to commercialization. “More than capital, they require time to make those breakthroughs,” said Pratik Agarwal, partner at Accel. According to Ashutosh Sharma, head of India ecosystem at Prosus, progress for these companies depends on achieving key technical breakthroughs rather than steady, immediate growth.

Why it matters

The inaugural cohort spans healthcare, climate, space, and longevity, reflecting a focus on science-led themes with long development timelines and uncertain commercial pathways. The program aims to back startups outside the industry’s usual playbook.