New Delhi: India has emerged as the country with the largest representation on the Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2026 list, with 19 startups and emerging companies making the cut. The list, released this week, features 100 privately held businesses from 16 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region.
India’s 19 companies put it ahead of Singapore, which has 15 companies on the list. China follows with 10, while Japan and South Korea have nine each. Indonesia and Australia have eight companies apiece.
The latest list also reflects where investor and entrepreneurial attention is moving across Asia. According to Forbes Asia, the 100 companies featured have raised a combined $2.4 billion, including nearly $1 billion in funding during 2026 so far. Artificial intelligence is one of the strongest themes, with close to a quarter of the companies operating in enterprise technology and offering AI-related services. Robotics is another growing segment, with 10 companies featured.
The Indian names come from a much wider range of sectors than the country’s traditional startup strengths. The list includes companies working in finance, retail, enterprise software, manufacturing, electric mobility, cybersecurity, space technology, healthcare and artificial intelligence.
The 19 Indian companies are Aaritya Broking, Abcoffee, AGNIT Semiconductors, Centricity WealthTech, Dhruva Space, Equal AI, Everstage, FirstClub, Xhipment, Kazam, Mitigata, Namma Yatri, NowPurchase, Pratech Brands, Simplismart, Ambak, Theranautilus, TrueFoundry and AssetPlus.
From stock trading to space technology
Among the companies featured is Bengaluru-based Aaritya Broking, the parent company of stock trading platform Sahi. Forbes said the app had crossed 5 million downloads by early August. The company raised $33 million in a Series B round in April, led by Accel India, as it expands its discount-broking and technology-led trading platform.
Mumbai-based coffee chain Abcoffee is another Indian company on the list, showing that the consumer business continues to attract capital alongside deep-tech startups. Founded in 2022, the company has expanded to more than 100 outlets, doubling its footprint over the past year. Its parent company, Brewbay Innovations, says the chain sells more than 350,000 cups a month.
In May, Abcoffee raised $6.4 million, or around ₹61 crore, in a pre-Series B funding round led by Kliff Ventures, the investment arm of K Hospitality. Hero Enterprise Partner Ventures, Merisis Venture Fund and Stride Ventures also participated. The company said the capital would be used to expand its presence in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru and strengthen its technology operations.
Semiconductor ambitions gain visibility
Bengaluru-based AGNIT Semiconductors is one of the companies reflecting India’s push into advanced electronics and chip manufacturing.
Founded in 2019, AGNIT develops microchips and electronic components based on gallium nitride (GaN). The company’s products include radio-frequency chips and power components aimed at telecommunications and defence applications.
Unlike many chip startups that focus primarily on design, AGNIT is working across the semiconductor manufacturing chain. Forbes describes it as a vertically integrated GaN company, covering wafer design through chip manufacturing.
The startup raised $2.6 million in seed-extension funding in March, with participation from Shastra VC, 3one4 Capital and Zephyr Peacock India.
Dhruva Space highlights India’s private space sector
The list also includes Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space, which is working across satellite systems and other space infrastructure.
Founded in 2012, the company provides services covering satellite and space hardware development, pre-launch testing and ground-control systems. According to Forbes, Dhruva Space has supported more than 10 space missions, with another 18 satellite launches planned over the next three years.
The company raised $6.3 million in July in a pre-Series B round from investors including the government-backed Antariksh Venture Capital Fund.
Dhruva’s inclusion comes as India’s private space industry expands following policy changes that have opened greater opportunities for startups and private companies to participate in satellite, launch and related businesses.
AI infrastructure becomes another major focus
Another Indian startup attracting attention is Bengaluru-based Simplismart, which works on the infrastructure required to run artificial intelligence models.
Founded in 2022 by former Oracle and Google engineers, the company develops software that helps businesses deploy and operate AI models more efficiently. Its platform is designed to improve the use of computing resources and reduce the cost of running AI workloads.
Simplismart claims its technology can reduce cloud computing costs by around 50% while improving AI response times. Its customers include U.S.-based AI video-generation company Higgsfield and Indian online pharmacy Tata 1mg.
The company’s presence on the list comes at a time when investors are increasingly looking beyond AI applications and towards the infrastructure needed to support the rapid growth of AI itself.
Nanorobots and healthcare technology
The list also includes Theranautilus, a Bengaluru-based biotechnology company spun out of the Indian Institute of Science.
The company is developing nanorobots for precision medical applications, including targeted drug delivery and dental treatments. Forbes said Theranautilus is preparing to test its cancer-focused nanorobots in animals, while its oral-care nanorobots are moving towards human trials this year.
The company has received investment from Pi Ventures and Groww co-founder Lalit Keshre.
A broader picture of India’s startup economy
The 19 Indian companies on the Forbes list cover a notably broad range of businesses. NowPurchase operates in industrial procurement and also provides software for manufacturing facilities. Kazam works on electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, while Mitigata focuses on cybersecurity.
TrueFoundry and Equal AI are part of the growing AI and enterprise technology segment, while Everstage works in sales compensation management. Namma Yatri has built a mobility platform, and Ambak operates in the home-loan technology space.
Forbes Asia’s selection was not based simply on funding. Companies were evaluated on factors including their market fit, business model, innovation, industry impact, revenue growth and ability to attract investment. To qualify, businesses had to be privately owned, for-profit companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, with annual revenue of no more than $50 million and total funding of no more than $100 million as of August 15, 2026.
India’s position at the top of the 2026 list therefore offers a snapshot of how its startup landscape is changing. Consumer businesses and fintech remain part of the ecosystem, but the latest group also includes chipmakers, space companies, AI infrastructure providers and healthcare startups working on nanotechnology.
The numbers suggest that the next phase of India’s startup growth may be shaped increasingly by companies building technology and infrastructure, rather than only digital consumer platforms.
