Accel, Prosus pick six ‘off-the-map’ startups for inaugural India cohort

Accel and Prosus have launched their inaugural joint startup cohort in India, selecting six companies focused on “off-the-map” ideas—ventures addressing undefined markets with challenging progress metrics. The cohort emphasizes science-driven sectors with long development timelines and uncertain commercial outcomes, including healthcare, climate, space, and longevity. These startups were chosen from over 2,000 applicants and include Praan (indoor air quality systems), QOSMIC (optical satellite communication), Ethereal Exploration Guild (reusable orbital launch vehicles), Dognosis (cancer detection via breath analysis using AI and dogs), Ferra (home strength-training systems for aging mobility), and a stealth startup developing brain-computer interfaces. Accel and Prosus are co-investing in each startup, with investments ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, using a funding structure that defers some capital to reduce early equity dilution for founders. This approach is tailored to startups with long development cycles that require extended time for technical breakthroughs rather than steady