Alumni of BITS Pilani have founded 140 deep-tech companies, placing the institution at the top of a ranking that includes six Indian Institutes of Technology.
BITS Pilani has emerged as the leading alma mater for founders of deep-tech companies in India, narrowly surpassing IIT Bombay in a ranking of the country’s top educational institutions.
The ranking places BITS Pilani first with 140 companies founded by its alumni. IIT Bombay follows closely with 136, leaving a gap of just four companies between the top two institutions.
IIT Delhi takes third place with 113 deep-tech companies. Together, the three institutions form a clear leading group, with the next-ranked college recording fewer than 100 companies.
IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur separated by one company
The contest remains close further down the ranking. IIT Kharagpur stands fourth with 91 companies, while IIT Kanpur is fifth with 90.
IIT Madras occupies the sixth position with 79 companies founded by alumni. The figures show that IITs continue to have a strong presence in India’s deep-tech founder landscape, securing six of the ten places included in the ranking.
Indian School of Business is the highest-ranked institution outside the BITS and IIT group after the top six. Its alumni have founded 51 deep-tech companies, placing it seventh.
IIT Roorkee follows with 44 companies. Anna University ranks ninth with 41, while IIM Ahmedabad completes the list with 35.
Colleges ranked by number of deep-tech companies founded by alumni
| Rank | Institution | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BITS Pilani | 140 |
| 2 | IIT Bombay | 136 |
| 3 | IIT Delhi | 113 |
| 4 | IIT Kharagpur | 91 |
| 5 | IIT Kanpur | 90 |
| 6 | IIT Madras | 79 |
| 7 | Indian School of Business | 51 |
| 8 | IIT Roorkee | 44 |
| 9 | Anna University | 41 |
| 10 | IIM Ahmedabad | 35 |
BITS Pilani edges past India’s leading IITs
The most notable feature of the ranking is BITS Pilani’s position above every IIT represented on the list. While IIT Bombay remains only four companies behind, BITS Pilani holds the highest count among the institutions included.
The numbers also reveal a sizeable difference between the top three and the rest of the ranking. IIT Delhi, in third place, has 22 more companies than IIT Kharagpur. Below that point, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur are almost level, while IIT Madras remains comfortably ahead of the institutions occupying the final four positions.
The chart does not provide details about the period covered, the definition used for a deep-tech company, or the method followed to count businesses founded by alumni. The figures should therefore be read as the ranking presented in the published graphic.
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