Vizag’s IoT & AI Center of Excellence Fuels Innovation with ₹131 Crore in Startup Funding
Visakhapatnam: The Centre of Excellence (CoE) for IoT and AI, a collaborative effort between the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society, and NASSCOM under the Digital India initiative, is making significant strides in advancing deep-tech innovation.
Located at Andhra University, this CoE has recently witnessed eight AI and IoT startups secure an impressive ₹131 crore in funding.
The CoE Vizag has become a launchpad for numerous success stories, showcasing the profound impact of technology and teamwork.
These startups are delivering cutting-edge solutions to various government entities, including Hindustan Shipyard Limited and Vizag Port, as well as a broad spectrum of private clients.
Take Bytebeam, for example. Initially founded with a small team of four at CoE Vizag, Bytebeam has grown to over 50 employees and collaborated with nearly 30 hardware companies in India, such as Bosch and Exide. With over $3 million in seed funding and plans to expand into the US, Bytebeam is revolutionizing IoT device development, making it as modular and agile as mobile and web applications.
Another notable startup, Udyog Yantra, has seen its solutions adopted by the Directorate of School Education in Andhra Pradesh.
Sanjeev Malhotra, CEO of the NASSCOM Centre of Excellence, emphasized the importance of collaboration in this dynamic field: “Emerging technologies are evolving rapidly, and it’s essential to harness their full potential. No single entity can achieve this alone.
While large corporations may provide foundational technologies like software or chips, it is the innovative startups that bring groundbreaking applications to life.
Our role is to unite these diverse elements and stakeholders, accelerating the innovation process and collaborating with the government to drive progress.”
Malhotra further highlighted the CoE’s role in supporting deep-tech startups: “The CoE in Visakhapatnam serves as a critical platform for innovation and industry collaboration.
By fostering a thriving ecosystem for startups, the CoE is addressing real-world manufacturing challenges and advancing the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.
Our primary goal is to create innovative applications and capabilities by leveraging the creative energy of startups and the expertise of corporate partners.”
Anil Kumar Tentu, CEO of Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society, underscored the state government’s commitment: “The Andhra Pradesh government is fully backing the CoE for AI and IoT. APIS is dedicated to accelerating innovation and technological progress to enhance the startup ecosystem in the state. We envision a future driven by technology, aiming to create significant societal impact.
To further foster collaboration, the CoE will host a consultative workshop in Visakhapatnam soon, bringing together key stakeholders from across the industry. Additionally, we seek alignment with the Union government’s IndiaAI mission to drive further innovation. This partnership among MeitY, APIS, NASSCOM, and Andhra University demonstrates the vast potential of AI and IoT in tackling critical societal challenges and advancing national progress,” said Tentu.
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