Fuelling the future: Dassault Systemes deepens ties with Indian hardware startups
Dassault Systemes provides comprehensive long-term engagement with hardware startups leading up to deployment of the product in the market, and now it aims to go beyond the metros with this model.
Indian hardware startups often operate under the radar, overshadowed by their software peers. French 3D design software firm Dassault Systemes aims to change this by strengthening its engagement with the industry.
Dassault Systemes entered the India market in the late 90s and set up its key engineering centre in Pune. It has engaged with the Indian startup ecosystem since 2014. While it supported 120 startups last year, the company has worked with over 100 such firms in just the first half of 2025. In total, it has helped 350 deeptech hardware companies.
Case in point: EV maker Ather Energy and robotics startup GreyOrange required Dassault Systemes’ design software to develop their products.
The company now wants to go deeper within India’s hardware startup ecosystem and has outlined a two-pronged plan. First, it plans to build relationships with educational universities to set up startup accelerators and incubators on campus.
Second, it is looking at ways to tap into entrepreneurial talent in the Tier II and beyond locations.
In an interaction with EnterpriseStory, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Director –SolidWorks & 3DEXPERIENCE Works, Dassault Systemes, revealed the company’s ambitions for India.
“We want to provide the students an early flavour of an entrepreneurial mindset with an access to our technology,” he says.
Dassault Systemes will also provide financial assistance to the selected startups. However, unlike other accelerator programmes that run for weeks or months, Dassault Systemes provides a three-year plan.
“We have a dedicated focus on very early-stage startups to help them realise their idea into a final product,” Venkataraman says.
The reason for this long commitment is due to the nature of hardware development. These startups typically take more time to move from idea to product stage, especially manufacturing.
Integrated approach
Dassault Systemes’ 3Dexperience is a platform-based approach where users can pick and choose the design software based on the project’s requirements. This includes all aspects of manufacturing from ideation to reality which include design and engineering, manufacturing and production, simulation, governance and collaboration.
The company says it doesn’t just provide software tools but also mentors startups build products on par with global industry standards. Besides, it also helps them connect with potential investors.
According to Venkataraman, Dassault Systemes primarily looks at whether these startups are solving any problem statement of the industry. “Our engagement with the product encompasses design, prototyping and making the first batch production,” he remarks.
Dassault Systemes also provides tools and technologies in a phased manner. This may start with 3D modelling, design and validation tools. As startups progress with its product, it later provides the digital model technologies where one can showcase the product without actually producing it. This visual representation can be done through the company’s 3DExperience platform.
A lot of data is generated during product building and Dassault Systemes’ 3D experience platform stores this IP. This helps startups reduce the time taken to build their next product as the background information is already available.
As part of its engagement, the company provides its software free of cost in the first year and there is a discounted price on the products.
According to the company, it receives applications from hardware startups across several industries, including aerospace, defence, healthcare and electric vehicles, with agritech being an emerging sector. Dassault Systemes receives around 180-190 applications annually and the startup intake is around 70-80%.
When it comes to hardware startups, Tier II cities are where the action is.
“It is the Tier II and III cities, where actually there is a lot of talent and they are solving real problems,” he remarks, adding that students and entrepreneurs in these regions have a solid grip on engineering fundamentals.
Startups from Tier II cities that are part of Dassault Systemes accelerator programme include the likes of drone startup Yaali Aerospace from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, robotics companies Vertox Lab from Bhubaneswar, Stringray Robotix from Sharanpur, Uttar Pradesh and ship design platform Livebotix from Ernakulam, Kerala.
Key challenges plaguing the industry include a lack of articulation as well as usage of unregistered versions of Dassault Systemes. The company hopes its new engagement programme will address these issues.
“We want these entrepreneurs to come out with great ideas and we will see how this can be attached to solve an industry problem,” said Venkataraman.
Edited by Affirunisa Kankudti