Qualcomm Ventures’ new Strategic AI Venture Fund will target AI technologies across automotive, robotics, IoT and mobile-focused startups.
US-based semiconductor company Qualcomm announced plans to invest up to $150m to support India’s growing technology and AI startup ecosystem through the launch of a Strategic AI Venture Fund today.
The investments will be deployed through its corporate VC arm, Qualcomm Ventures, at all stages and will have a particular focus on AI technologies across the automotive, robotics, mobile and internet-of-things sectors.
This initiative is aligned with Qualcomm’s long-term strategy and commitment when it comes to its deep tech investments in India – a sector that is known for its slower gestation period when it comes to a return on investment, Rama Bethmangalkar, managing director of Qualcomm Ventures India, recently told GCV.
The new fund allows Qualcomm to invest in companies that are at the forefront of India’s AI movement.
“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,” said Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm, in a press release announcing the fund.
Qualcomm has been investing in Indian startups for nearly two decades and has, as a result, had a front seat for the evolution of the ecosystem, particularly when it comes to deep tech and AI. The team primarily invests in startups that are aligned with the corporate’s core technology strengths such as AI, intelligent computing and wireless advancement.
The Qualcomm Ventures India team has backed more than 40 companies since 2007. Their portfolio companies include India’s largest telecom network provider, Jio, unmanned aircraft systems maker IdeaForge, e-delivery service platform Shadowfax, IoT solutions company Cavli Wireless and MapMyIndia, a digital map and tracking platform that had its public market debut in 2021.
“We began identifying companies that were deep tech from an early stage,” said Bethmangalkar. “We knew India was different, the market and the use cases were different. The investment in MapMyIndia made sense, and it helped that it aligned with the deep tech arm of our investment thesis.”
Qualcomm Ventures also joined the India Deep Tech Investment Alliance, a consortium of Indian and US investors backing India’s deep tech startups, in November 2025, further deepening its commitment towards backing innovation and growth in the country.
“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, global head of Qualcomm Ventures, today. “This additional investment expands our support for founders building the next generation of transformative technologies. We look forward to helping these companies scale and contributing to India’s continued progress.”
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