The Indian central government is set to acquire a 1-2% equity stake in AI startup Sarvam, valued at $1.5 billion, as part of its $300 million funding round. This rare direct holding stems from non-cash compute infrastructure support provided under the IndiaAI Mission, converting compulsorily convertible debentures into equity.
Sarvam AI achieves $1.5 billion valuation with $234 million funding, signaling India's AI sovereignty push. The round, led by HCLTech, highlights risks of foreign AI dependence, especially after US restrictions on Anthropic models.
Bengaluru-based Sarvam has secured $234 million in funding at a $1.5 billion valuation, becoming India's newest AI unicorn. The investment, led by HCLTech, aims to bolster sovereign AI capabilities and develop AI models for Indian languages and use cases.
Finnish phone maker HMD has launched its Vibe 2 5G smartphone, featuring Indian AI company Sarvam's Indus chatbot preloaded. The app supports 22 Indic languages and mid-sentence code-switching, aiming to gauge market appetite for India-focused AI tools.
India's defence ministry is in advanced talks with homegrown AI startup Sarvam to establish a Rs 300 crore Centre of Excellence for developing indigenous AI capabilities for military applications. The initiative aims to reduce India's dependence on foreign AI models and strengthen technological sovereignty in sensitive military domains.
