US chipmaker Qualcomm to invest up to $150 mn in India AI startups

US chipmaker Qualcomm on Wednesday said it plans to invest up to $150 million in India’s fast-growing artificial intelligence and technology startup ecosystem through its investment arm, Qualcomm Ventures.

The Strategic AI Venture Fund will back startups across all stages, with a particular focus on AI applications in automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and mobile technologies, the company said.

The announcement coincided with Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon’s participation in the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

“Through our new Strategic AI Venture Fund, Qualcomm is investing in companies that are advancing the next chapter of AI in India,” Amon said.

He said that AI is entering a phase where intelligence is built directly into devices such as smartphones, PCs, cars and industrial machines.

“This shift will reshape entire industries, and India’s startup ecosystem has a critical role to play as edge AI drives innovation across sectors.” focus on AI for automotive, IoT, robotics, and mobile,” he added.

Qualcomm said it sees a significant opportunity to support emerging Indian companies building market-leading solutions, as edge AI drives innovation across sectors.

Quinn Li, Senior Vice President at Qualcomm Technologies and global head of Qualcomm Ventures, said the additional capital would deepen the company’s long-standing engagement with Indian founders and help scale the next generation of transformative technologies.

“India has become one of the world’s vibrant centers of innovation, and we’re proud to deepen our long-standing commitment to its startup ecosystem,” said Quinn Li.

Qualcomm has been investing in India’s startup ecosystem since 2007 and has backed more than 40 companies so far.

Its current and past portfolio in the country includes Jio Platforms, MapmyIndia, ideaForge, Shadowfax, Cavli Wireless, SpotDraft and Tonetag, among others.

The company said its investments are closely in line with its core strengths in AI, intelligent computing and wireless technologies, offering startups access to Qualcomm’s global industry network and technical expertise.