Qualcomm Incorporated announced that it will invest up to $150 million (approximately ₹1,359 crore) to support India’s rapidly expanding technology and artificial intelligence startup ecosystem. The company will channel this investment through a newly launched Strategic AI Venture Fund, reinforcing its long-term commitment to India’s innovation landscape.
Through this initiative, Qualcomm Ventures will deploy capital across startups at various stages. Notably, the fund will focus sharply on AI-led innovation spanning automotive technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and mobile solutions.
Commenting on the launch, Qualcomm Incorporated President and CEO Cristiano Amon said on February 18, “Through our new Strategic AI Venture Fund, Qualcomm is investing in companies that are advancing the next chapter of AI in India.”
Furthermore, the move strengthens Qualcomm’s long-standing strategic bet on India and aligns seamlessly with its global push to advance edge AI, where intelligence operates directly within devices and systems rather than relying solely on cloud infrastructure.
Expanding on this vision, Amon added in a statement, “AI is entering a new phase where intelligence is built directly into the devices and systems people rely on every day—from smartphones and PCs to cars, industrial machines, and robots. This shift will reshape entire industries, and India’s startup ecosystem has a critical role to play as edge AI drives innovation across sectors.” As India continues to emerge as a dynamic innovation hub, Qualcomm sees a strong opportunity to help startups develop scalable, market-leading AI solutions.
In parallel, Qualcomm is positioning itself as a key enabler of efficient, secure, and high-performance edge AI by actively backing founders who build technologies with real-world industrial impact.
Reaffirming this commitment, Quinn Li, Senior Vice President at Qualcomm Technologies and Global Head of Qualcomm Ventures, said, “India has become one of the world’s most vibrant centres of innovation, and we’re proud to deepen our long-standing commitment to its startup ecosystem.”
He further added, “This additional investment expands our support for founders building the next generation of transformative technologies.”
Notably, Qualcomm Ventures, the investment arm of Qualcomm Incorporated, has invested globally since 2000. In India, Qualcomm has backed more than 40 startups since 2007, offering not only growth capital but also access to its deep technology expertise and global ecosystem.
Over the years, Qualcomm’s India portfolio—past and present—has included major names such as Reliance Jio, MapMyIndia, ideaForge, Shadowfax, Cavli Wireless, SpotDraft, and Tonetag.
Qualcomm’s $150 million Strategic AI Venture Fund marks a significant boost for India’s AI and deeptech startup ecosystem. By focusing on edge AI and real-world applications across industries, Qualcomm is not only strengthening its presence in India but also enabling the next wave of globally competitive AI innovation built from the country.
