US chipmaker Qualcomm on Wednesday said it will invest up to $150 million in Indian startups through a new Strategic AI Venture Fund, as its chief executive Cristiano Amon attended the India AI Impact Summit in the capital.
The investment, to be routed through Qualcomm Ventures, will back startups across stages with a focus on artificial intelligence applications in automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and mobile technologies, the company said.
“Through our new Strategic AI Venture Fund, Qualcomm is investing in companies advancing the next chapter of AI in India,” Amon said, adding that intelligence is increasingly being embedded directly into devices such as smartphones, cars, PCs and industrial machines.
The company said the initiative aligns with its push around “edge AI”, where computing is processed on devices rather than centralised servers, and could reshape multiple industries.
Qualcomm, which has been investing in Indian startups since 2007, has backed over 40 firms including MapMyIndia and drone maker ideaForge. The new fund aims to support founders through capital as well as access to the company’s technology expertise and global industry network.
The announcement coincided with the five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026, which is hosting global technology leaders, policymakers and researchers to discuss AI-led growth.
-IANS
