The current state of AI startup funding in India has seen a decline in recent years. In 2023, funding for AI startups dropped nearly 80% to $113.4 million from $554.7 million in 2022, according to the Tracxn data shared with TechCrunch. This is in contrast to the U.S., where AI startup funding grew about 211% to $16.2 billion in the same period.
Indian AI startups are facing challenges in funding due to limited access to capital, high competition for funding, and a lack of government support2. Additionally, there is a shortage of skilled AI professionals and a limited market size for AI products and services in India. These factors contribute to the difficulty in securing funding for Indian AI startups.
Lightspeed India has invested over $150 million in AI in the last 18 months, including new investments and follow-ons in existing AI-enabled startups1. Globally, the fund has invested more than $1 billion across over 70 companies in AI during the same period.