Qualcomm deepens bets on India’s growing AI ecosystem

Qualcomm Incorporated has outlined plans to invest up to $150 million to back India’s growing technology and artificial intelligence startup sector. The funding will be channelled through Qualcomm Ventures and will target companies across early and growth stages.

The focus areas include artificial intelligence applications in automotive technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and mobile computing. The announcement coincides with Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon’s participation in the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

Qualcomm executives said the company views India’s startup ecosystem as a key driver in the next phase of AI development, particularly as edge computing becomes central to sectors ranging from manufacturing and mobility to consumer electronics.

Amon said: “AI is entering a new phase where intelligence is built directly into devices and systems people depend on every day, from smartphones and PCs to cars, industrial machines, robots, and more, delivering richer and more meaningful experiences. This shift will reshape entire industries, and India’s startup ecosystem has a critical role to play as edge AI drives innovation across sectors.”

According to the company, integrating AI closer to where data is generated — within smartphones, vehicles, industrial systems and connected machines — is expected to reshape how businesses deploy intelligent technologies. Startups developing practical, scalable AI solutions are likely to play a growing role in this transition.

Qualcomm has been active in India’s venture investment landscape since 2007 and has supported more than 40 companies to date. Its investments have largely aligned with its core strengths in wireless connectivity, intelligent computing and semiconductor technologies.

Current and previous portfolio companies include Jio, India’s largest telecom network provider, MapMyIndia, a provider of digital maps and navigation solutions; ideaForge, a pioneer in drone technologies; Shadowfax, an e‑delivery service platform; Cavli Wireless, an enabler of connected intelligence across industries; SpotDraft, an AI‑powered contract lifecycle management platform; and Tonetag, a company modernizing AI‑enabled digital payments.

Industry analysts note that global technology firms are increasingly turning to India not only as a market for AI products, but also as a development hub where startups are building solutions tailored to large-scale, cost-sensitive environments.

With AI adoption accelerating across sectors such as mobility, healthcare, manufacturing and fintech, venture funding focused on practical applications — particularly those that operate efficiently on edge devices — is expected to rise over the coming years.