This $4 million fund aims to spur India's AI and EV sectors

Muhammad Adamu -

India is already home to some of the world's most innovative and successful Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Electric Vehicle (EV) startups, and a new fund is sure to fuel further growth in these sectors.

Launched by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma the new fund – The VSS Investments Fund – plans to invest in India's AI and EV sectors, with a particular focus on the country's rapidly growing startup ecosystem.

Reflecting Sharma's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting emerging technologies in India, the $3.6 million fund (300 million Indian rupees) will provide capital and support to early-stage startups in these sectors, with the goal of helping them to scale and succeed in the global market.

The billionaire fintech entrepreneur who is expected to be one of the primary contributors to the fund along with other external investors, is also the founder and chief executive of One 97 Communications, the parent company of the digital payments platform Paytm.

Previously, Sharma has invested in startups such as EV startup Ola Electric, edtech startup LeverageEdu, fitness band maker GOQii, Treebo Hotels, and Kawa Space.

The fund will not only invest in new startups but will also provide follow-on investments to existing portfolio companies, including some of India's most successful companies like Ola Electric and GOQii.

Successful startups will be competing with the nearly 5,000 AI startups in India, according to data from Tracxn, with a few notable success stories like Freshworks, ShipRocket, DeHaat, Icertis, and LeadSquared. These companies have raised significant funding and have achieved remarkable growth, proving that AI is a viable and lucrative sector in the Indian startup ecosystem. 

Away from AI, India's electric vehicles sector is booming also, with over 1,000 startups, per Tracxn data, competing in this rapidly growing market. Among the most notable EV startups are Yulu, Ather Energy, KPIT Technologies, BluSmart, and Log9 Materials. These companies are leading the charge in developing innovative and affordable electric vehicles for the Indian market, and they have the potential to significantly disrupt the traditional transportation sector in the country.

It's clear that the Indian startup landscape is rapidly evolving, and the new wave of AI and EV startups will face significant competition from both local and global players. To succeed, they will need to develop cutting-edge technology, secure funding, and create unique value propositions for their customers.

They will also need to be agile and adaptable, as the Indian market is known for its dynamic and ever-changing nature. But for those who can rise to the challenge, the rewards will be great.

(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Oyedeji; Editing by Loy Okezie)