India has no billion-dollar defence tech company. China controls 99% of drone components. One Bangalore startup is building the AI-powered answer.In this inaugural Swarajya Conclave episode for “India at 2047,” Rahul Dewan interviews Venkatesh Sai, co-founder of Zupa Geonavigation Technologies — an indigenous drone and deep-tech startup taking on Chinese drone dominance component by component. The conversation exposes a structural dysfunction in India’s defence procurement: specifications change after contracts are signed, timelines stretch by years, and by delivery time the technology is obsolete. The prescription is blunt — procure fast, fail fast, learn fast, repeat.The AI angle is concrete and current: Zupa’s Ajit Scout Striker uses an onboard AI model to detect and intercept hostile drones within 150 metres autonomously. Venkatesh argues India must stop importing finished systems and start building incentive structures for deep-tech entrepreneurs at the semiconductor and component level — because waiting for perfect solutions while China mass-manufactures is a strategic defeat by inertia.
About The Speakers:
Venkatesh Sai
Technical Director & Co-Founder | Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies
Venkatesh Sai is the Technical Director and Co-Founder of Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies, a pioneering deep-tech company specializing in control and communication avionics for the Aerospace and Defence sector. With over 14 years of experience, he has led the development of over 60 products, including IMUs, AHRS modules, autopilots, and RF-based communication systems. Venkatesh holds multiple Indian and international patents, including the groundbreaking Disseminated Parallel Control Computing Architecture for real-time applications.
He has extensive expertise in embedded systems, software development, and avionics, having worked on both unmanned and manned avionic systems. Venkatesh has contributed to multi-crore projects with key stakeholders like HAL, BEL, and the Indian Air Force. Known for his leadership and technical prowess, he has managed large, interdisciplinary teams and delivered complete solutions, from embedded hardware to software applications, utilizing over 30 programming languages and cutting-edge technologies.
Rahul Dewan is a tech entrepreneur, angel investor, blogger, social activist, and Yoga & Meditation practitioner. In 2016, he founded SangamTalks – the largest YouTube channel for documentation of ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’ (IKS) and untold Indian History. Having exited his software services business (600 people) successfully, he now dedicates his full time to Dharmic causes. He is currently on a mission to raise 1000 Crores for Hindu civilizational causes, and to campaign for making Hinduism Missionary again.
Col. Ramakrishnan (Retd): During his service in the Indian Army participated in the wars of 1965 and 1971. A Master’s in Political Science, combined with a defence background has given him a comprehensive, insightful understanding of national politics and international relations.
