Deep Technology or Deep Tech?

Deep technology or “deep tech” has become a popular term in the venture capital space, but what does it mean? A quick search would tell you it refers to startups built on “significant scientific or engineering advances.” While this definition is true, it only scratches the surface. At Evolute, we work with founders and investors across the tech spectrum and believe that it is worth unpacking what the term really means and why it matters.

The term was first introduced by Swati Chaturvedi, CEO and co-founder of Propel(x) in 2014 to describe startups whose innovation was rooted in novel scientific discovery or significant research and development, well surpassing incremental innovation. In the following years, the term increased in popularity. In 2024, companies defined as deep tech accounted for almost 20% of all VC funding in Europe, raising approximately €14bn. Yet even as the label gains traction, there is still no universally accepted definition. What separates a deep tech company from a “regular” tech one isn’t always obvious.

Ultimately there is no one definition of the term and no hard cut-off on what constitutes a deep tech startup as opposed to a regular tech startup, however, there are some ways to identify a deep tech startup from your traditional tech ones. 

Deep tech vs. Traditional Tech

What sets deep tech apart from traditional tech is not simply the use of advanced technology, but the origin, complexity, and time horizon of innovation.

Traditional tech companies often focus on business model innovation, software development, or the application of existing technologies to new markets. These businesses can scale quickly, with relatively low capital intensity and shorter product development cycles.

Deep tech ventures, by contrast, are built on scientific discovery or engineering breakthroughs—often developed over years of research. Their teams typically include domain experts, scientists, and engineers working at the frontier of what is technically possible.

The path to market is typically longer and more resource-intensive. These businesses often face higher technical risk, longer development timelines, and may need to navigate complex regulatory or infrastructure environments. As a result, they require patient capital and a different approach to company building.

Evolute Deep Tech Sectors

At Evolute, we have chosen to segment to another degree and have defined key segments within Deep tech (keep posted for further blog posts delving into each of the sectors):

• Digital Technology: 

  • Including but not limited to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud infrastructure, or cybersecurity.

• Energy & Sustainability:

  • Including but not limited to carbon capture, sustainable fuels, or hydrogen technology.

• Food & Agri:

  • Including but not limited to insect protein, precision agriculture, or sustainable fertilizers.

• Mobility & Aerospace:

  • Including but not limited to urban air mobility, advanced propulsion systems, or satellite imaging.

• Advanced Materials & Manufacturing:

  • Including but not limited to additive manufacturing, photonics, nanomaterials, or semiconductors.

• Health & Life Sciences:

  • Including but not limited to precision medicine, biopharmaceuticals, longevity, or precision oncology.

Conclusion

Deep tech is about bold ideas backed by science. At Evolute, we support founders tackling complex problems with long-term impact. If you are a deep tech founder or investor looking for a capital partner or just interested in learning more, email info@evolute.partners, and stay tuned as we explore each deep tech sector in more detail.