India’s homegrown generative artificial intelligence (AI) startup, Sarvam.AI, is set to make waves in the tech industry after securing a substantial $41 million in its Series A funding round. Led by Lightspeed Ventures, with notable participation from Peak XV Partners and Khosla Ventures, the funding marks a significant milestone for the company founded in July 2023 by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar.
Sarvam.AI’s Unique Approach to Generative AI
Sarvam.AI stands out in the competitive AI landscape by focusing on India-specific offerings. The funds will be strategically employed to train AI models that can seamlessly support the diverse array of Indian languages and voice-first interfaces. The startup’s unique full-stack offering covers everything from research-led innovations in training custom AI models to an enterprise-grade platform for authoring and deployment.
The co-founders, Raghavan and Kumar, bring with them a wealth of experience, having previously worked at AI4Bharat, backed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani. Raghavan, known for his instrumental role in building Digital Public Goods like Aadhaar, expresses a commitment to working with Indian enterprises to co-develop domain-specific AI models, leveraging their data.
Population-Scale Impact with Gen AI
Sarvam.AI has ambitious plans to create a population-scale impact by integrating Generative AI (Gen AI) on top of the highly successful India Stack, specifically for public-good applications. Gen AI, a type of AI technology capable of producing various content forms, including text, imagery, audio, and synthetic data, is gaining prominence globally. The startup aims to harness the potential of Generative AI for the greater good, aligning with the principles of public-good applications.
The funding for Sarvam.AI aligns with the broader trend of investors betting big on Generative AI startups in India. The rapid adoption and rising demand for generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, have led to a surge in Indian GenAI-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) startups. A recent report by SaaSBoomi and McKinsey reveals that these startups have collectively raised over $590 million in funding as of May 2023.
While the adoption of generative AI has been swift in the West, Indian SaaS and tech companies are now enthusiastically joining the generative AI revolution. Global software giants like SAP, Salesforce, and IBM have already explored this space, signaling its immense potential. Sarvam.AI’s funding underscores the growing confidence in Indian startups to innovate and lead in the generative AI domain.
A Vision for Unique Indian Use Cases
Harshjit Sethi, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners, recognizes the uniqueness of Sarvam’s approach. He notes that Vivek’s expertise in building large-scale systems, combined with Pratyush’s domain expertise in AI, uniquely positions Sarvam to develop population-scale AI applications. The challenge lies not only in creating uniquely Indian use cases but also in delivering them at affordable prices for widespread adoption. The Sarvam team is seen as best positioned to accomplish this formidable task.
Sarvam.AI’s recent funding injection signifies a promising future for Generative AI innovation in India. With a specific focus on India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, the startup aims to carve out a niche by developing solutions that cater to the unique needs of the Indian population. As the generative AI landscape continues to evolve, Sarvam.AI is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the industry while addressing public-good applications that can positively impact society. The funding not only propels Sarvam.AI forward but also adds momentum to the broader trend of Generative AI gaining prominence in the Indian tech ecosystem.