Highlights
- Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon announced a $150 million AI-focused venture fund for Indian startups at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
- The fund will support startups in automotive, IoT, robotics, and mobile AI applications, reinforcing edge AI innovation.
- Qualcomm has invested in over 40 Indian startups since 2007 including Jio, MapMyIndia, and ideaForge.
Qualcomm will be investing in companies advancing AI through its India Strategic AI Venture Fund. (Image credit – Unknown)
Qualcomm has earmarked $150 million for a new venture capital fund focused on artificial intelligence startups in India. The announcement was made on Wednesday by CEO Cristiano Amon during his visit to the country.
The dedicated fund will operate through Qualcomm Ventures and aims to back AI startups at all stages of growth. The investment strategy will particularly target companies working in AI applications for automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and mobile technologies.
The announcement coincided with Amon’s participation at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
With India’s startup ecosystem witnessing rapid expansion and artificial intelligence adoption accelerating across industries, Qualcomm sees a strategic opportunity to support companies building transformative, market-leading technologies.
“Through our new Strategic AI Venture Fund, Qualcomm is investing in companies that are advancing the next chapter of AI in India,” said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO, Qualcomm Incorporated. “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.”
Qualcomm emphasised that it is driving the global transition toward efficient, secure, and high-performance edge AI. By backing Indian startups, the company aims to foster the next wave of innovation powered by real-world AI applications across diverse sectors.
Quinn Li, Senior Vice President at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and global head of Qualcomm Ventures, highlighted the company’s deepening engagement with India’s entrepreneurial landscape.
“India has become one of the world’s vibrant centres of innovation, and we’re proud to deepen our long-standing commitment to its startup ecosystem,” Li said. “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.”
Qualcomm has been actively investing in Indian startups since 2007, supporting more than 40 companies to date. The company focuses on areas aligned with its technological strengths including AI, intelligent computing, and wireless technologies.
Its current and past portfolio companies in India include Jio, the country’s largest telecom network provider; MapMyIndia, a digital mapping and navigation solutions provider; ideaForge, known for drone technologies; Shadowfax, an e-delivery service platform; Cavli Wireless, which enables connected intelligence; SpotDraft, an AI-powered contract lifecycle management solution; and Tonetag, focused on AI-enabled digital payments modernisation.
Qualcomm’s declaration follows a series of major investment announcements earlier in the week. On Tuesday, the India Deep-Tech Alliance (IDTA) revealed an expansion of its $1-billion AI-focused fund, while Peak XV Partners announced a $13 million investment in five early-stage AI startups.
FAQs
Q1. What did Qualcomm announce at the India AI Impact Summit 2026?
Answer. CEO Cristiano Amon revealed a $150 million AI-focused venture capital fund dedicated to supporting Indian startups.
Q2. Which sectors will the Qualcomm AI Venture Fund target?
Answer. The fund will back startups in automotive, IoT, robotics, and mobile AI applications, emphasising edge AI innovation.
Q3. Has Qualcomm previously invested in Indian startups?
Answer. Yes, since 2007 Qualcomm has supported over 40 companies, including Jio, MapMyIndia, ideaForge, Shadowfax, Cavli Wireless, SpotDraft, and Tonetag.