Top 100 startups in Asia-Pacific; India at the top:From cancer treatment to space, Indian startups are changing the world of technology

India’s startup ecosystem is gaining dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. India topped Forbes’ ‘100 to Watch’ list this year with 19 companies. It is followed by Singapore (15), China (10), and Japan and South Korea (9 each). All 100 promising startups included in the list have collectively raised ₹23,000 crore in funding, of which about ₹9,600 crore came in 2026 alone. This list indicates the rapid innovation happening in sectors like AI, space tech, green tech, and robotics. Read about some of the key startups and their founders… 1. SimplySmart – Making running AI models cheaper and simpler This startup makes running AI models extremely easy and affordable for companies. Developed under the vision of CEO Amritanshu Jain, this platform allows users to test and deploy open-source AI models with just a few clicks. Additionally, it reduces cloud computing costs by up to 50% by optimizing chip performance. Tata 1mg is also utilizing its services. 2. Dhruva Space – Every solution related to space missions, 10 projects successful Dhruva Space is a space-tech startup providing one-stop solutions for space missions. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Sanjay Nekkanti, the company provides all services ranging from satellite manufacturing and hardware testing to ground operations. With 10 successful space missions, the company is set to launch 18 satellites in the next three years. It recently raised ₹60 crore in funding. 3. Agnit Semiconductors – Making a mark in the defense and telecom sectors ‘Agnit Semiconductors’ is the country’s first vertically integrated Gallium Nitride semiconductor company. Under the leadership of CEO Hariharan Chandrasekar, the company has developed radio-frequency and power chips with better energy efficiency than traditional silicon. Having established a strong presence in the telecom and defense sectors, Agnit has secured ₹25 crore in funding. 4. AbCoffee – Brand outlets more than doubled in a year Abhijeet Anand started ‘AbCoffee’ with the vision of making high-quality coffee accessible to the common people at affordable prices. Within a year, the number of brand outlets has doubled to over 100. More than 3.5 lakh cups of coffee are sold at these outlets every month. Recently, the company raised ₹61 crore in funding led by Tanglin Venture Partners. 5. Theranautilus – Focus on treatment through nanotechnology Ambarish Ghosh’s deep-tech startup is developing ‘nanorobots’ that are invisible to the naked eye. Additionally, the company is creating nanotechnology capable of delivering medicine directly to cancer cells and preventing tooth sensitivity. Human trials for oral care robots are set to begin soon.