Teck Talk with Madhav Sheth, CEO, Ai+ Smartphone and Founder, NxtQuantum Shift Technologies

Ai+ Smartphone is entering 2026 with sharper ambition and clearer positioning. After selling close to a million units of Pulse and Nova 5G in 2025, the brand believes India’s next wave of smartphone buyers is prioritising reliability, clean software, and everyday usability over spec-heavy marketing. At the same time, Ai+ is widening its play beyond smartphones into TWS earphones, smartwatches, and tablets, while also preparing for eventual entry into foldables. The company is targeting 5× growth this year, aiming for sales of around 50 lakh units and revenues between ₹4,000 crore and ₹5,000 crore.

In a conversation with ITmatters, Madhav Sheth, CEO of Ai+ Smartphone and Founder of NxtQuantum Shift Technologies, reflects on what worked with Pulse and Nova 5G, why the ecosystem strategy is accelerating ahead of deeper smartphone segmentation, and how the company plans to scale without diluting user trust. He also addresses the realities of foldables in India, the balance between volume and credibility, and the risks involved in chasing aggressive growth in a highly competitive market.

You launched Pulse and Nova 5G and sold close to a million units in 2025. Based on sales, performance, and user reviews, what have been the biggest wins and the key lessons from these launches?

“The launch of Pulse and Nova 5G was an important milestone for us. Selling close to a million units confirmed that users are looking for smartphones that prioritise reliability, clean software, and a consistent experience over aggressive specifications. One of our biggest wins was building trust with users who appreciated the stability, thoughtful design, and overall usability of the devices.

One key learning has been understanding how India’s next wave of smartphone users is evolving. Many users are upgrading for essential everyday needs and value battery life, consistent performance, and a clutter-free experience. This experience showed us that building our own software capabilities enables us to deliver a more reliable, seamless, and meaningful experience for users.”

Ai+ is moving into TWS earphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other ecosystem products. Why enter these categories now instead of first expanding into more smartphone segments like mid-range or premium? Do you see stronger demand for gadget ecosystems over standalone smartphones in India, and how does this align with your long-term vision?

“Ai+ was always envisioned as more than just a smartphone brand. Our long-term vision is to build a connected ecosystem where devices work seamlessly together through a unified software platform. Expanding into products like NovaPods, NovaWatch, and LapTab is a strategic progression aligned with that vision.

Consumers today expect their devices to be connected and work effortlessly together. They are not just buying individual products, but looking for a complete experience. By building an ecosystem, we can offer greater convenience, better integration, and more value to users over time. Smartphones remain the foundation, but the ecosystem strengthens the overall platform and user relationship.”

Flip phones and foldables are on your roadmap, even though the category remains niche and high-end. What technical or market challenges do you foresee with foldables? Do you expect them to go mainstream in India anytime soon, and how will Ai+ balance volume growth with brand credibility as it moves into premium devices?

“Foldables are an aspirational category, and Indian consumers definitely want to own flip and foldable devices when the price point aligns with their affordability. However, there are still challenges around durability, cost, and ensuring a reliable long-term user experience. For foldables to become truly mainstream in India, they need to offer practical value along with improved affordability.

Our approach is to enter the category at the right time, with products that meet our standards for reliability and user experience. Expanding into premium segments is part of our long-term roadmap, but our focus will always remain on delivering meaningful innovation and maintaining user trust. Growth and credibility go hand in hand when the product experience remains strong.”

Ai+ is aiming for 5× growth in 2026 and sales of around 50 lakh units, along with revenues of ₹4,000–₹5,000 crore. How do you plan to achieve this scale within just one year? What are the biggest risks? Which regions or customer segments do you think will drive this growth?

“Our growth will be driven by strong demand in India, especially from users upgrading to smartphones and those looking for reliable alternatives with a better software experience. India remains a large and fast-growing market, and there is significant opportunity across both urban and emerging regions.

We are expanding our product portfolio, strengthening our distribution across online and offline channels, and building a broader ecosystem of connected devices. At the same time, our focus remains on delivering consistent quality and maintaining user trust as we scale.

The biggest priority is ensuring that growth does not compromise the user experience. If we continue to deliver reliable products and build strong relationships with users, scale will follow naturally.”