India's fintech landscape is a global powerhouse, with 21 unicorns valued at $227 billion and UPI processing trillions in transactions annually. But a looming challenge threatens this digital juggernaut: quantum computing. Unlike classical computers, quantum machines could one day crack standard encryption methods like RSA and ECC, exposing sensitive data in what experts call a "harvest now, decrypt later" attack. For fintech, where trust and security are non-negotiable, this is a ticking time bomb. Enter Ashish Mishra, co-founder of Eleventh Square and founder of TechHB82 Corporate. His new venture aims to deploy post-quantum cryptography (PQC)—quantum-resistant algorithms like NIST-standardized Kyber and Dilithium—to safeguard fintech systems. From securing UPI transactions to protecting blockchain ledgers, this solution is poised to future-proof India's $3 trillion digital economy. At Eleventh Square, we see this as a pivotal step toward cementing India's role in the global deep tech race, where it trails the US ($591B in deep tech funding) and China ($99B) but is gaining fast with 3,600 deep tech startups and a 140% unicorn growth rate since 2023.

A Lean Approach to Deep Tech Innovation

What makes this project stand out is its scrappy, accessible blueprint—perfect for India's resource-constrained startup scene. Ashish, a non-tech founder, is leveraging open-source tools and strategic partnerships to build a proof-of-concept (PoC) for under $10,000. Here's how: Planning and Threat Assessment (Free): Using free tools like OpenSSL and NIST's PQC migration playbook, the team will audit fintech vulnerabilities, focusing on APIs and transaction data at risk from quantum attacks. Development Setup ($500): Free IDEs like VS Code and cloud trials from AWS/Google Cloud (offering PQC libraries) keep costs low. The open-source liboqs library will integrate Kyber for encryption and Dilithium for signatures, ensuring compatibility with existing systems via hybrid setups. Core Implementation ($1,000): A software-only PoC will secure mock fintech transactions, tested with tools like qutip for quantum threat simulation. This lean approach avoids expensive hardware initially. Testing with Free Data ($500-$2,000): Synthetic datasets from Kaggle (e.g., PaySim with 1M+ transactions) and IBM's AML-Data will simulate real-world fintech scenarios. Community audits via GitHub and the Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance (PQCA) ensure robustness. Deployment ($1,000-$5,000): Hosting on affordable clouds like DigitalOcean and open-sourcing the PoC on GitHub will attract contributors, scaling the project organically. This frugal strategy aligns with Eleventh Square's ethos of maximizing impact with minimal resources. By tapping into India's 60,000 annual patents and 19,000 AI researchers, Ashish is proving that deep tech isn't just for PhDs or big budgets.

Tapping India's Deep Tech Ecosystem

India's National Quantum Mission (NQM), with its ₹6,003 crore fund, is a game-changer, offering up to ₹30 crore per project for quantum innovations like this. Ashish plans to apply for NQM grants, alongside Startup India Seed Fund (up to ₹50 lakh) and National Deep Tech Startup Policy incentives. Partnerships with IIT Delhi and IISc will provide R&D muscle, while VCs like Speciale Invest could fuel later stages. With deep tech funding in India surging—$600M in top rounds recently—this project is well-positioned to scale. As costs rise (e.g., for talent or quantum simulators), Eleventh Square's network will facilitate collaborations with big players like Tata and access to global resources like AWS's PQC services. The goal? A B2B licensing model targeting $100K per client annually in India's $100 billion cybersecurity market.

Why This Matters for Fintech and India This isn't just about one startup's ambition—it's about securing the backbone of India's digital future. Fintech drives financial inclusion for 1.4 billion people, and quantum-safe solutions could protect this ecosystem while creating trillion-dollar opportunities by 2030. At Eleventh Square, we're proud to back Ashish's vision, which showcases how non-tech founders can lead in deep tech with grit and strategic thinking. India's deep tech ecosystem is at an inflection point, with 480 new startups in 2023 and government initiatives like the India AI Mission. By combining our consulting expertise with Ashish's hustle, we're building a bridge from commerce to cutting-edge tech. This project could inspire a new wave of founders to tackle quantum, AI, and beyond. Join the Quantum Revolution We invite developers, investors, and fintech innovators to join us in this journey. Whether you're coding PQC algorithms, exploring quantum threats, or seeking secure fintech solutions, connect with us on X or LinkedIn. Let's make India's digital economy unbreakable. Stay tuned for updates as Eleventh Square and TechHB82 Corporate push the boundaries of what's possible.

Eleventh Square Team
Delhi,India
Empowering Innovation, One Square at a Time