IIT Delhi Launches AI Academy India Bootcamp with Google, Empowering Startups with AI Solutions

IIT Delhi, in collaboration with Google, has launched the AI Academy India 2024 Bootcamp aimed at equipping early-stage startups with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to address global challenges. The bootcamp was organized in collaboration with MeitY Startup Hub, which ran from November 29, 2024, and gave hands-on space for the application of AI in health care, agriculture, education, climate change, and financial inclusion.

33 Startups Engage in AI Bootcamp

A total of 33 startups from Delhi-NCR attended the three-day event, where they received hands-on AI training, expert advice, and access to Google's AI technologies. They were also offered cloud credits worth up to $350,000 (approximately ₹2.96 crore). The startups also got to network with top professionals from Google.

Key Features of the Bootcamp

Training and Expert Guidance: Bootcamp included workshops on the use of AI for solving real-world problems in healthcare, climate, and agriculture sectors.
Access to Google's AI Technologies: Participants were granted access to cutting-edge AI tools, including Google Cloud and Generative AI technologies.
Cloud Credits and Funding: Startups were eligible for cloud credits and, for select participants, up to ₹50 lakh in incubation support and funding from the IHFC Cohort.
The event was inaugurated by Suryakant, Program Director at MeitY Startup Hub, and Ashutosh Dutt Sharma, CEO of IHFC IIT Delhi. Professor SK Saha, Project Director of IIT Delhi's TIH, appreciated the support given to the startups and said, "Empowering startups with AI knowledge and tools is very important to drive innovation and solve global challenges."

AI Bootcamp Highlights and Learnings

Bootcamp topics included: several key topics to develop human-centered, responsible AI solutions by startups. Topics included sessions on AI product design, generative AI, app development, and web AI. Additionally, experts also provided mentoring on AI strategies for scaling the solution in the market. Topics included AI-powered marketing, fundraising, and development-focused mentoring.

Workshops topics included People + AI, Responsible AI, AI Solution Development, and Google Technology Integration.
Mentorship and Strategy Discussions: Mentors discussed AI adoption and business scaling in the real world.
Closing Remarks and Future Collaboration
Amit Kumar, Director of Digital Native Business at Google Cloud, exclaimed over the initiative. "It is a privilege to partner with IIT Delhi's TIH for the first AI Academy program. Support for early-stage startups goes towards innovation and solving real-world problems. We look forward to working on more such initiatives with IHFC that help enable startups to use AI," he said in his closing speech.

After successfully launching the boot camp in Delhi, AI Academy Bootcamp is now spreading its wings in six more cities in India. Other organizations, like Kerala Startup Mission, IIMA Ventures, T-Hub & MATH, NSRCEL IIM Bangalore, SINE IIT Bombay, IIT Madras Incubation Cell, and NASSCOM AI, have collaborated for this initiative. Thus, a larger number of startups will be benefited through these services across different parts of the country.