In November 2025, Prosus and Accel launched Atoms X, a partnership through which they will co-invest in early-stage Indian startups across areas such as advanced manufacturing, energy transition, AI-based automation, etc. The alliance expands Atoms, Accel’s early-stage founder programme.
Per the initiative, Prosus will match Accel’s investments in the six selected startups. The cheque sizes range from $200,000 to $1 million from each side, giving startups access to up to $2 million in capital. Both investors said they would continue supporting the startups over the long term as the companies scale.
“The quality of applications exceeded our expectations… (this) shows how Indian founders around the world are building breakthroughs to commercialise science and create new categories,” said Pratik Agarwal, partner at Accel.
This first cohort of Atoms X was selected from over 2,000 applications
The selected startups include Praan, which is building full-stack air infrastructure systems aimed at improving indoor air quality, and spacetech startup QOSMIC, which is developing optical communication technology for ultra-high-speed data transfer between satellites and the Earth.
Dognosis is working on non-invasive cancer detection through dogs using breath analysis, combining canine olfaction, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Also part of the cohort is spacetech firm Ethereal Exploration Guild, which is building fully reusable orbital launch vehicles to significantly reduce the cost of space access.
Ferra, on the other hand, is working on a home strength-training system designed to improve mobility among the elderly. The startup working on a brain-computer interface is in stealth mode.
Agarwal said while the cohort doesn’t just include early-stage startups, it reflects the overall theme of ideas that make a difference.
Ashutosh Sharma, head of India ecosystem at Prosus, said the response to the programme reinforced the need for early and sustained backing for deeptech founders. “Innovation in India is not constrained by ideas or inspiration. It is constrained by the right backing at the right time,” he said, adding that the firm aims to bring “patient capital” and global operating expertise to help founders “think in decades, not quarters.”
Under the Accel-Prosus partnership, the matching capital structure is designed to provide long-term funding visibility for startups working on complex technologies. The programme will also provide founders with mentorship and access to global networks.
Under Atoms, Accel has already backed over 50 startups that have collectively raised more than $300 million in follow-on funding, the firm said in a statement.
