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Chipmaker Qualcomm is looking to back Indian startups building affordable, globally scalable AI technologies through its venture arm.
The deets: investments will be routed via Qualcomm Ventures through a $150 million India-focused Strategic AI Venture Fund. It will back AI and deep-tech startups across different sectors especially those building physical and edge-AI applications.
Cheque sizes will average around $5 million, typically from Series A, once startups show an MVP or product-market fit.
Why now: India is ramping up policy support for AI and semiconductor manufacturing, and Qualcomm plans to support founders not just with capital but also product development, go-to-market strategy, and global partnerships.
The bigger race: global tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google are also expanding their AI footprint in India through infrastructure and initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission.
For instance, Nvidia is supporting the mission with GPU resources, while Advanced Micro Devices is positioning India as a key hub in its AI strategy through platforms like the Helios platform and partnerships.
Inc42
