Frequently Asked Questions

We're exerting a pull on India's sharpest minds (think of it like a gravity well for talent) – the ones currently sharpening their intellects in the hallowed (and occasionally hollow) halls of foreign academia (Undergrad, PhD, maybe even the post-doc purgatory). The mission? A 4-month, high-intensity immersion into the engine rooms of India's most audacious DeepTech companies.

Think of it like Operation Homecoming for the Industrial Indian. Clear Objective: Inspire. Build. Return.

• Indian Passport: Non-negotiable. This is about building here.
• Location + Status: You are currently navigating the academic / research labyrinth in the US, Canada, Europe, AUS or even Singapore/HK (Anywhere that is NOT INDIA, really).
• Stage: Currently in your Undergrad or PhD. Automatic DQ for if you're an MBA.
• Mindset: You possess an "insatiable urge to build." You're not just smart; you're agentic. You see problems and mentally prototype solutions before someone can tell you why it ain't gonna work. You might have read slightly too much Neal Stephenson or Clausewitz or Asimov. You understand that competence is common; courage and execution are rare earths. You likely find standard career paths... pedestrian.

That's the skeleton structure, yes. But there is more:

• Stipend: ~$5,000 to $10,000 USD total for the 4-month tour of duty, paid monthly (approx. $1,250 - $2,500/month). Enough to keep the lights on and the chai flowing while you're on mission.
• Access: Direct line. You'll shadow founders/C-suite command. Observe decision-making under fire. Understand the realpolitik of building hard things. 1:1 time with them so you absorb how their mental OS functions, you see hard problems being solved – and solve some yourself too.
• Environment: The bleeding edge. SpaceTech, AI/ML that matters, Robotics, maybe even things we can't list here. You'll be embedded in companies that have cleared the $5M+ funding hurdle – they have fuel in the tanks and SOLID trajectory. ([Link to companies here])
• The Cohort: You're not alone. You're one of ~10. A tight cadre. Expect forced collaboration, shared war stories, and the forging of alliances that could define the next decade of Indian tech. We know how hard it is to find your tribe if you are exceptional.

If you are the TLDR type: Less marching, more maneuvering.

• Phase 1 (Reconnaissance – ~2 weeks): Embed. Understand the company's DNA, its market battlefield, its technological arsenal, its operational tempo. Talk to everyone – from the PhDs in the lab to the folks managing the supply chain. Identify the "idiot index" – the crucial thing nobody else is paying enough attention to.
• Phase 2 (Engagement – ~3 months): DO A PROJECT. Based on your recon, identify a bottleneck, an untapped market, a process inefficiency, a skunkworks concept the company should be exploring but lacks bandwidth for. Propose it. Execute it. This is your proving ground. Maybe you sit in on hiring calls, contractor negotiations, strategy sessions. You learn how the sausage - and the satellite – gets made.
• Phase 3 (Debriefing / Portfolio): Consolidate your findings. Produce a tangible output – a report, a prototype, a working model, something that demonstrates your contribution and learnings. This is your after-action report, your contribution to the G10 archives.

Precision over spray-and-pray. We're aiming for quality density, not sprawl. This is about creating a high-trust, high-impact cohort where deep bonds and cross-pollination can occur.

Think Sparta, not Persia.

Each fellow is an investment. Plus, coordinating deep access and meaningful mentorship across more than 10 becomes exponentially complex. We prefer a scalpel to a sledgehammer.

Intensity is the baseline. The world doesn't lack talent; it lacks vectors. It lacks concentrated points of force. India is at an inflection point.

We believe the next wave of foundational innovation can, and must, originate here. Bringing back exceptional individuals isn't just about reversing brain drain; it's about critical mass. It's about seeding the ecosystem with people who've seen different operational theatres and possess the drive to build monumental things here.

Call it a cult, call it a movement, call it applied patriotism. We call it necessary. We're tapping into tribal belonging, the desire for legacy, and the thrill of building the future. FOMO is a powerful force – miss this, and you might just miss the start of something historic.

The fellowship isn't just the 9-to-5 (which, let's be honest, won't be 9-to-5).

• The Network: We plug you directly into curated, high-signal communities (think Lagrange Point, Industrial47, etc.). Founder dinners, expert roundtables, off-the-record "night school" sessions with industry veterans. Factory tours that span the industrial landscape – from Surat's diamond labs to Hyderabad's aerospace corridors to Bengaluru's satellite manufacturing hubs.
• Expect weekly "War Room" simulations. We throw hypothetical national crises at the cohort - supply chain collapse, cyber-attacks, resource scarcity, maybe even rogue AI (kidding... mostly). You learn to think strategically, under pressure, as a unit.
• Shared housing might be arranged. Weekly dinners are mandatory. You'll build bonds with your 9 peers and meet the fellows embedded in other G10 companies. This network is part of the payload.

Negative. While a full-time offer might emerge (and wouldn't that be a successful mission outcome?), it's not the primary objective.

The goal is inspiration and exposure. We want to show you what's possible in India, connect you with the vanguard, and arm you with experience.

For everyone 10 people that tell you “this cannot be made in India", the Founders you work with, have shown, day-in and day-out that IT CAN. Talk is cheap. Seek inspiration from actual execution.

If you return to your PhD program or take a job elsewhere afterwards, but with India now firmly on your strategic map for future endeavors, that's a win. If you decide to launch your own venture here down the line... even better. This is long-cycle warfare for talent.

Expect the standard reconnaissance (CV, transcripts), but the real test lies beyond. Prepare for questions designed to probe your mental models, your operational thinking, your capacity for radical ideas. We might ask you to write a short paper on a "What If?" scenario for India 2047. Think big, think contrarian, think industrial.

Apply to the Link here.

Show us your blueprint for the future. This is followed by interviews. We're filtering for the unreasonable, the driven, the ones who build.

If it sounds comfortable, you've misunderstood the brief.

This is designed to be challenging, transformative, maybe even slightly overwhelming.

It's a compressed dose of reality from the front lines of Indian innovation. It's not for everyone. It's for the G10.

You'll work primarily at your assigned company's main site, likely in tech hubs like Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Chennai. We will organize travel for any required group activities like orientation or site visits. The orientation will be in Bangalore.

You are responsible for securing and paying for your housing. We will assist by providing leads and potentially facilitating group housing options for the cohort. The stipend is intended to help cover these costs.

Your Indian passport is the main requirement. Any necessary local paperwork for the internship is standard and we will guide you through it. Expect minimal hassle.

You will receive a total stipend of approximately $5-to-10K USD, paid monthly over the 4 months (e.g., $1,250 - $2,500 per month). This is intended to cover your living expenses during the 4-month program. Consider it support for the mission; the core value lies in the unparalleled access and experience.

Expect an intense 4 months focused on your project. Core working hours depend on the company, but cohort events (dinners, workshops, simulations) are integral parts of the program and generally require participation. Time commitment will be significant.

We match fellows to companies based on your profile, interests, and the company's specific needs and project opportunities, aiming for the best possible impact. You can indicate preferences during application, but the final placement decision rests with the G10 team to ensure strategic fit.

You're expected to take initiative in identifying and proposing a project during the initial weeks. Mentors will provide guidance. If your proposal isn't feasible, you'll collaborate on defining a valuable alternative project. You'll have significant autonomy within the project's strategic goals.

This means direct exposure to senior leadership (Founder/CXO). You'll likely attend high-level meetings and witness strategic decision-making. The goal is active learning and understanding leadership dynamics as well as how the best Indian builders operate, not passive observation or administrative tasks.

You will have guidance from the senior leader you shadow for strategic context. For day-to-day project work and navigating the company, you'll often have a dedicated mid-level manager as a more frequent point of contact, especially in larger organizations.

Success is measured primarily by the quality and impact of your project work (demonstrated via a final report, prototype, etc.) and the initiative you show. Feedback will be provided regularly by your company mentors.

We seek individuals genuinely driven to build significant technology in India. Enthusiasm for the mission is key. While diverse perspectives on how to achieve goals are welcome, alignment on the core objective (advancing India's industrial/tech base) is important for cohort cohesion.

14th April 2025

If we choose to proceed with your application, you can expect to hear back from us by 29th April 2025.

The aim is to build a genuinely valuable network providing ongoing connections, potential access to opportunities (funding, roles), and exclusive insights within the Indian tech ecosystem. Concrete benefits will evolve with the network.

This fellowship is designed to be a significant differentiator. It signals high potential, practical deep-tech experience, and access to an influential network, potentially opening doors beyond typical internships.

The fellowship is the bridge. The 4-month immersion, network building, and direct exposure to the Indian ecosystem provide the best possible preparation for considering a long-term career move back. No formal relocation services are offered.

We select stable partner companies. In the rare case of unforeseen major issues at your host company, the G10 program will actively work to ensure you still receive a valuable fellowship experience, potentially through adjustments or alternative arrangements.