Key Highlights:

• India is now one of Nvidia’s fastest-growing developer markets.
• Nvidia is engaging Indian AI founders even before startups are formally created.
• The chipmaker partnered with early-stage VC Activate and AI Grants India.
• The move aims to lock in long-term demand for Nvidia’s AI compute platforms.

Nvidia is deepening its push into India’s AI startup ecosystem by working with founders at the earliest possible stage. The company unveiled new partnerships this week to engage AI teams months before company formation, as it looks to build long-term relationships in one of the world’s fastest-growing AI developer markets.

The effort comes as India hosts the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, drawing global tech leaders and investors.

Why is Nvidia focusing on India so early?

India has emerged as a major hub for AI developers and early-stage startups. For Nvidia, earlier engagement means future customers. As AI-native startups scale, their demand for compute grows rapidly.

By stepping in sooner, Nvidia aims to ensure those companies build on its chips, platforms, and software from day one.

How does the Activate partnership work?

The latest initiative centers on a partnership with Activate, an early-stage venture firm focused on what it calls “inception investing.” Activate plans to back 25 to 30 AI startups from its $75 million debut fund.

Under the deal, portfolio startups will receive preferential access to Nvidia’s technical expertise. Activate founder Aakrit Vaish said Nvidia’s earlier approach in India was relatively light-touch, compared with the U.S. That is now changing.

Activate’s backers include Vinod Khosla, Aravind Srinivas, Shailendra Singh, and Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

What happened at the AI Impact Summit?

The activity coincided with the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, attended by companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang skipped the event due to unforeseen circumstances. A senior delegation led by Jay Puri attended instead and met with local startups, researchers, and partners.

How big is Nvidia’s startup footprint in India?

Nvidia already supports over 4,000 Indian startups through its Inception program. This week, it also expanded partnerships with venture firms including Accel, Peak XV, Elevation Capital, Z47, and Nexus Venture Partners.

Separately, Nvidia teamed up with AI Grants India to support more than 10,000 early-stage founders over the next year.

What does this signal for the ecosystem?

The move highlights rising global competition for India’s AI talent. For Nvidia, earlier access means deeper influence as startups grow. As India’s AI ecosystem matures, Nvidia is positioning itself at the foundation of that growth.