Why Indian AI Founders Are Eyeing Silicon Valley And What They Risk Leaving Behind

by · Inc42

SUMMARY

  • Indian AI startups raised over $1.1 Bn in the first nine months of 2026, even as founders increasingly look towards the US for enterprise customers, capital and global expansion
  • As Anthropic prepares for its public market debut, the growing divide between capital-intensive AI model development and application-led innovation is reshaping opportunities for Indian startups
  • Suhas Motwani, cofounder of The Product Folks, believes the India–US corridor offers valuable access to customers and talent, but founders must be deliberate about what they build in each market