Tag Mahankali Srinivas Rao

India, 9th March 2024- T-Hub, India’s leading startup incubator, in collaboration with The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in India has today inaugurated one-of-its-kind Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH). This momentous occasion marks a significant stride towards leveraging AI and ML to propel India’s technological prowess onto the global stage.

With its strategic vision to foster AI innovation, create job opportunities, and provide a conducive ecosystem for AI startups, MATH has set ambitious goals to propel India’s AI market to new heights. The Centre of Excellence aims to generate over 500 AI-related jobs by 2025 and nurture more than 150 startups annually, positioning itself as the go-to destination for AI-driven initiatives in the country.

India’s AI market is poised to reach $17 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 25-35%. In sync with this growth trajectory, MATH’s inauguration as a Centre of Excellence represents a pivotal step forward in advancing AI and ML in India. The launch event, held at T-Hub witnessed esteemed dignitaries including Sridhar Babu Duddilla, Minister for IT, E&C, I&C Government of Telangana, Rahul Paith, CEO of MATH, Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary, IT, E&C and I&C Department, Government of Telangana, BVR Mohan Reddy, Board Member of T-Hub and Founder & Chairman of Cyient, and Mahankali Srinivas Rao (MSR), CEO of T-Hub.

Mahankali Srinivas Rao, CEO, T-Hub, said, “We are excited to partner with MATH in establishing a transformative hub for AI and ML technologies. This collaboration embodies our shared vision of nurturing startups, fostering innovation, and creating a thriving ecosystem for technological advancement. Together, T-Hub and MATH will empower entrepreneurs to harness the power of AI and ML, driving meaningful change and propelling India onto the global stage of technological leadership.”

Rahul Paith, CEO of MATH, said, “The inauguration of MATH marks a significant milestone in our journey towards harnessing the potential of AI and ML to drive innovation and create impact. With state-of-the-art facilities and a comprehensive support ecosystem, MATH is poised to become the epicenter of AI and ML innovation in India. We are excited to collaborate with T-Hub and stakeholders across the ecosystem to accelerate the growth of AI-driven startups, empower researchers, and shape the future of technology in our nation.”

MATH unveils cutting-edge facilities including a mini data center with GPU capabilities, a world-class Learning Management System (LMS) tailored for AI education, and robust data infrastructure to support diverse AI applications. This launch signifies a pivotal moment for startups, researchers, and students as MATH introduces a diverse array of programs and initiatives to empower stakeholders across the AI and ML spectrum. From providing access to state-of-the-art compute infrastructure to offering AI skilling programs, data lakes, and virtual connectivity to global AI ecosystems, MATH positions itself as the ultimate destination for all things AI and ML.

MATH commits to providing comprehensive support to startups, ranging from infrastructure and workforce assistance to access to problem statements, data, and opportunities for patent conversion. Technological infrastructure and tools such as GPU clusters, data lakes, LMS platforms, and annotation tools are readily accessible, empowering stakeholders to drive AI and ML advancements with unparalleled support and resources.

India, 22nd Feb 2024 – Starbuzz.ai, an innovative AI-driven influencer marketing platform, has announced the successful closure of its seed funding round, securing $500,000 (Rs 4.15 crore) from an undisclosed investor. This substantial investment will fuel the company’s expansion efforts, including team growth, product refinement, and market exploration.

Incubated within India’s leading startup ecosystem, T-Hub, Starbuzz.ai has emerged as a promising player in the influencer marketing space. With its advanced AI-powered solutions, the platform offers brands and agencies the tools to streamline and optimize influencer marketing campaigns. By leveraging sophisticated algorithms, Starbuzz.ai enables brands to discover relevant influencers, manage campaigns effortlessly, and derive actionable insights through advanced analytics. Notably, Starbuzz.ai’s adeptness in detecting fake followers and delivering comprehensive analytics empowers brands to make data-driven decisions, safeguarding maximum ROI and upholding brand integrity.

With an estimated worth of around 12 billion Indian rupees and projected to further grow at a CAGR of 25% over the next five years (Statista), Starbuzz.ai is well-positioned to capitalize on this burgeoning market. The company’s plans for expansion into new markets, including the Middle East, Canada, and Australia, underscore its ambition to become a global leader in influencer marketing automation. T-Hub’s invaluable contributions in nurturing Starbuzz.ai’s early development through mentorship, industry connections, and access to crucial resources have significantly shaped their growth trajectory.

Krishna Priya Akella, Founder, Starbuzz.ai, said, “At Starbuzz.ai, our aim is to revolutionize influencer marketing through cutting-edge technology. This latest funding round not only validates our vision but also propels us forward on our journey to reshape the industry with innovative solutions. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, we stand ready to empower brands and agencies, unlocking unparalleled success in their influencer campaigns.”

According to Mahankali Srinivas Rao (MSR), CEO of T-Hub, “Starbuzz.ai exemplifies the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that T-Hub seeks to foster within its ecosystem. We congratulate Starbuzz.ai on their latest funding achievement, which not only reaffirms their commitment to revolutionizing influencer marketing but also reflects the collective vision of T-Hub to nurture and support cutting-edge startups in India. We look forward to witnessing Starbuzz.ai’s continued journey of innovation and impact in the growing influencer marketing industry.”

Since its inception in 2021, Starbuzz.ai has swiftly become a trailblazer in the influencer marketing landscape, achieving remarkable milestones along the way. By February 2023, the company seamlessly transitioned to a SaaS model, marking a pivotal moment in its journey and experiencing an impressive monthly revenue growth of 3x. Within a mere three months post-launch, Starbuzz.ai garnered over 500 B2B users and established connections with an extensive network of 70,000 influencers. This exponential growth is further underscored by the expansion of the team within just 8 months, bolstered by substantial investments totaling Rs. 4.4 Cr, with a notable contribution of Rs. 40L from AIC Banasthali.

India, 15th Feb 2023- T-Hub, India’s leading startup incubator has announced the launch of a new cohort of its flagship program, LAB32, in collaboration with Hexagon, a global leader in digital solutions. The program, spanning 100 days, will focus on Digital Twin, Real-Time Language Translation, and Predictive Maintenance using AI models.

Under T-Hub’s guidance and with Hexagon’s support, selected startups will receive mentorship in Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies, along with invaluable support from value partners. The program also offers access to T-Hub’s upcoming activities and the potential for market access during the Market Access Day. Furthermore, three startups from the cohort stand a chance to Go-to-Market with Hexagon, opening doors to transformative opportunities.

A meticulous evaluation process led to the selection of 12 startups out of over 230 applications. These startups underwent multiple rounds of evaluation, showcasing their product pitches from both technical and business perspectives. The final selected startups include Deeploop, Gudlyf Mobility, LIVNSENSE, SwitchOn, CRION Technologies, AIOTEL, Eugenie.ai, Xeeed.io, Indika AI, Atomstate, GenZ Technologies, and Vitra.ai.

Mahankali Srinivas Rao (MSR), CEO, T-Hub said, “At T-Hub, we are deeply committed to fostering innovation and empowering startups to thrive in the competitive landscape. The launch of LAB32 in collaboration with Hexagon underscores our dedication to providing startups with unparalleled opportunities for growth and success. Through our robust innovation ecosystem, we aim to equip startups at the MVP stage with the essential tools and resources they need to achieve Product-Market Fit and excel in their Go-to-Market strategies.”

Paolo Guglielmini, President and CEO, Hexagon commented “I, along with our team here at Hexagon’s R&D Center in India, am thrilled to join incredible entrepreneurs who are shaping the future through their impactful innovations and ideas. As the leading reality technology company, we are helping customers around the world transform data into real-world impact. It’s the work of incredibly agile start-ups who help us uncover new ways to apply human ingenuity with advanced technology to empower industries and solve the world’s biggest challenges.”

Navaneet Mishra, Senior Vice President, Hexagon’s R&D Centre India, “We deeply believe in the power of combining internal and external innovations We look forward to working closely with these start-ups, mentoring and enabling them to develop and scale solutions with Hexagon’s cutting-edge platforms and technologies. We are also excited to learn from these outstanding teams as they help us bring new solutions to our global customers.”

LAB32 has solidified its position as India’s Longest Running Market Readiness Program, supporting startups on their journey from MVP-ready to market-ready. With this cohort, T-Hub’s LAB32 program has reached a milestone of 300 startups, with over $410mn secured to date in funding. Over 50 mentors have contributed to the program’s success, positioning LAB32 as the go-to program for MVP-stage startups seeking Product-Market Fit and GTM strategies.