Paytm’s Sharma backs India-made AI models with funding offer
In short
Vijay Shekhar Sharma spoke this week at Cypher 2026 in Bengaluru. He said he is ready to invest Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore in founders who want to build India’s own AI models.
The idea could help AI builders and startups in India, but the reporting does not name any recipients. It is not stated whether any money has been given yet.
What the reporting says
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said this week at Cypher 2026 in Bengaluru that he wants India to build its own AI models. He said he would write cheques of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore to founders willing to take on the challenge. The reporting does not name any startups selected, nor does it say how much funding will ultimately be deployed.
Why it matters
At Cypher 2026 in Bengaluru, Vijay Shekhar Sharma said he is ready to write cheques of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore to founders working on India-made AI models. That could matter for startup funding, AI development, and domestic technology capability. The available reporting does not identify any funded company, timeline, or selection criteria beyond the stated willingness to invest.