Blab Tech
T-Hub CEO Calls for Hero Founders to Boost Hyderabads Deep-Tech Scene
At the Moneycontrol Rising Bharat Summit in February 2026, T‑Hub chief Kavikrut made a rallying cry for Hyderabad to spotlight its own startup trailblazers. He urged the city to surface and champion founders who could become visible role models, arguing that such heroes are essential for building a deep‑tech ecosystem that can rival Bengaluru.
T‑Hub, headquartered in Hyderabad, is among India’s largest innovation hubs. Its sprawling campus spans more than 572,000 square feet and, according to the organisation, has incubated, accelerated, mentored and connected over 3,300 startups. The company reports that its portfolio has created more than 25,000 jobs and secured in excess of US$2 billion in funding.
Hyderabad’s deep‑tech scene has grown steadily, with a network of specialised centres that receive backing from the Department of Science and Technology. The AIC T‑Hub Foundation, the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) hub and the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH) Centre of Excellence are among the key players. A July 2026 report highlighted a surge in chip‑investment, signalling the city’s emerging status as a technology innovation hub.
During the panel “How South India is Driving the Country’s Deep‑Tech Ambitions,” Kavikrut noted that cities stand out when they boast a roster of successful founders for newcomers to emulate. He pointed out that Bengaluru has long been known for its “heroes,” while Hyderabad has yet to produce a comparable set of visible figures. “We just need to find and back all potential heroes,” he said.
The call for more deep‑tech hubs beyond Bengaluru fits a broader trend in India’s startup ecosystem. Bengaluru’s magnetism for venture capital and talent has traditionally stemmed from market‑led momentum, whereas Hyderabad’s institution‑backed incubation model is gaining traction. Analysts have highlighted Hyderabad’s focus on deep‑tech, supported by public‑private partnerships and infrastructure such as the Google for Startups Hub, as creating a distinct ecosystem.
Kavikrut’s remarks come as both government and private actors push for the development of deep‑tech hubs across the country. The Telangana government has announced initiatives to strengthen its startup ecosystem, and recent policy documents have underscored the state’s investment in research and development.
The CEO’s emphasis on “heroes” reflects a belief that visible success stories can attract talent, inspire new founders, and help secure investment. By positioning local entrepreneurs as panelists and public speakers, T‑Hub hopes to create a feedback loop that encourages more deep‑tech ventures to emerge from Hyderabad.
Industry observers note that while Hyderabad has a growing number of startups in biotech, pharma, IT services and deep tech, the city still lags behind Bengaluru in terms of high‑profile founders who receive national media attention. According to Kavikrut, the lack of such figures may limit Hyderabad’s ability to compete for top talent and large‑scale funding.
Looking ahead, T‑Hub plans to broaden its support for deep‑tech founders through additional mentorship programmes and partnerships with universities and research institutions. The organisation also aims to leverage its existing Google for Startups Hub to give founders access to AI tools, cloud infrastructure and global market‑access strategies.
Today, Hyderabad’s deep‑tech ecosystem is expanding, but it still requires a stronger cadre of visible founders to serve as role models. The city’s next steps will involve identifying promising entrepreneurs, giving them platforms to share their stories, and integrating them into the broader startup community. Whether these efforts will translate into a measurable shift in investment patterns or talent attraction remains to be seen.
In sum, T‑Hub’s CEO has highlighted a gap in Hyderabad’s startup narrative and called for a concerted effort to elevate local founders to hero status. The initiative aligns with national efforts to diversify India’s deep‑tech hubs beyond Bengaluru, and its success will depend on sustained support from both public and private stakeholders.
T‑Hub, headquartered in Hyderabad, is among India’s largest innovation hubs. Its sprawling campus spans more than 572,000 square feet and, according to the organisation, has incubated, accelerated, mentored and connected over 3,300 startups. The company reports that its portfolio has created more than 25,000 jobs and secured in excess of US$2 billion in funding.
Hyderabad’s deep‑tech scene has grown steadily, with a network of specialised centres that receive backing from the Department of Science and Technology. The AIC T‑Hub Foundation, the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) hub and the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH) Centre of Excellence are among the key players. A July 2026 report highlighted a surge in chip‑investment, signalling the city’s emerging status as a technology innovation hub.
During the panel “How South India is Driving the Country’s Deep‑Tech Ambitions,” Kavikrut noted that cities stand out when they boast a roster of successful founders for newcomers to emulate. He pointed out that Bengaluru has long been known for its “heroes,” while Hyderabad has yet to produce a comparable set of visible figures. “We just need to find and back all potential heroes,” he said.
The call for more deep‑tech hubs beyond Bengaluru fits a broader trend in India’s startup ecosystem. Bengaluru’s magnetism for venture capital and talent has traditionally stemmed from market‑led momentum, whereas Hyderabad’s institution‑backed incubation model is gaining traction. Analysts have highlighted Hyderabad’s focus on deep‑tech, supported by public‑private partnerships and infrastructure such as the Google for Startups Hub, as creating a distinct ecosystem.
Kavikrut’s remarks come as both government and private actors push for the development of deep‑tech hubs across the country. The Telangana government has announced initiatives to strengthen its startup ecosystem, and recent policy documents have underscored the state’s investment in research and development.
The CEO’s emphasis on “heroes” reflects a belief that visible success stories can attract talent, inspire new founders, and help secure investment. By positioning local entrepreneurs as panelists and public speakers, T‑Hub hopes to create a feedback loop that encourages more deep‑tech ventures to emerge from Hyderabad.
Industry observers note that while Hyderabad has a growing number of startups in biotech, pharma, IT services and deep tech, the city still lags behind Bengaluru in terms of high‑profile founders who receive national media attention. According to Kavikrut, the lack of such figures may limit Hyderabad’s ability to compete for top talent and large‑scale funding.
Looking ahead, T‑Hub plans to broaden its support for deep‑tech founders through additional mentorship programmes and partnerships with universities and research institutions. The organisation also aims to leverage its existing Google for Startups Hub to give founders access to AI tools, cloud infrastructure and global market‑access strategies.
Today, Hyderabad’s deep‑tech ecosystem is expanding, but it still requires a stronger cadre of visible founders to serve as role models. The city’s next steps will involve identifying promising entrepreneurs, giving them platforms to share their stories, and integrating them into the broader startup community. Whether these efforts will translate into a measurable shift in investment patterns or talent attraction remains to be seen.
In sum, T‑Hub’s CEO has highlighted a gap in Hyderabad’s startup narrative and called for a concerted effort to elevate local founders to hero status. The initiative aligns with national efforts to diversify India’s deep‑tech hubs beyond Bengaluru, and its success will depend on sustained support from both public and private stakeholders.
