365telugu.com online news,Hyderabad, November 15, 2025: Whale Tank (WT) Biocatalysts, a leading accelerator in the Deeptech and Life Sciences domain, successfully hosted its third annual startup–investor meet, WT 3.0, at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. Organized in collaboration with the Biotechnology Industry Research Advisory Council (BIRAC), Government of India, the event aligned with the nation’s BioE3 mission, attracting major attention from innovators, investors, and industry leaders.
Driving Deeptech Funding & Innovation
WT 3.0 was designed to accelerate investment across key Deeptech sectors such as Healthcare, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Agritech, and Food Technologies.
Building on the strong legacy of WT 1.0 and WT 2.0—which together enabled funding for more than 100 startups and brought in over 50 investors—this year’s edition demonstrated even greater impact. Several startups incubated at Whale Tank are currently on the verge of major commercial breakthroughs, with two projects progressing toward USD 500 million investments.
“WT is a transformative platform that converts deep science into commercial success,” said Dr. Uday Saxena, Co-Founder, Whale Tank Biocatalysts, during his keynote address.
Prof. Reddanna, Executive President, FABA, addressed the participating startups and emphasized the evolving Biotechnology startup ecosystem and the critical factors required for sustained success.
“WT 3.0 proved the strength of India’s Deeptech ecosystem,” said Dr. Markandeya Gorantla, Founder of Whale Tank BioCatalyst. “With 73 shortlisted startups and 46 investors, we witnessed breakthrough science receiving the platform it deserves. The launch of NexaSweet reflects how nationally impactful innovation can move from lab to industry.”
Government Support & Launch of NEXASWEET
Dr. Taranjit Kaur, representing BIRAC, DBT, highlighted the significance of the Government of India’s BioE3 mission in propelling the nation’s bio-economy to global standards.
A major highlight of WT 3.0 was the official launch of NEXASWEET, a next-generation, stem cell attractant-based sweetener developed by a BIRAC-funded startup. The product promises significant health benefits, especially in healing and reducing gut inflammation, and marks a major step toward commercialization within the WT ecosystem.
Strong Industry Participation & Investor Interest
Over 50 startups showcased their innovations through pitches, kiosk displays, and investor networking sessions. Out of nearly 80 applications, 20 top-performing startups were shortlisted for the main pitching round, all displaying high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), with many in post-Proof-of-Concept or commercial stages.
Prominent investors attending the event included Shri Tarak Dhurjati, Dr. Ratnakar, Dr. Vijay, Dr. Rolando, Shri Rajendra Chandak, Shri Rajesh Maggu, Dr. Jagadeesh Gandla, Dr. Sunil Kurchania, and Shri Anant Reddy, among others.
Senior leaders from Life Sciences, Pharma, and Biotech industries—including Shri Chakravarty (CII) and Rajaram Iyer (Laurus Labs)—were also present. DBS Bank, one of the event sponsors, joined other venture capital firms and corporate representatives in active investor engagement.
Strengthening India’s Deeptech Future
WT 3.0 reinforced Whale Tank’s mission to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and commercial opportunities, positioning India as a major global hub for Deeptech and Biotechnology innovation.