February 2025
Published: 24 Feb 2025
Author: Precedence Research
Five Artificial Intelligence startups have been selected by Flipkart Ventures to join the Flipkart Leap Ahead (FLA) accelerator program that primarily offers equity investments, mentorship, and strategic business insights to early-stage companies to strengthen the startup ecosystem in India. The work of the startups involves e-commerce logistics, account-based marketing, recruitment, agriculture, and travel technology. Each of the startups will receive an investment of up to $500,000 in equity and mentoring from a built-to-suit program created by a global consulting firm.
Throughout the program, Flipkart's leadership teams will also engage with participants across various functions for the business. Selected startups consist of Xportel, a logistics enabler for international e-commerce deliveries, Factors.ai, a marketing intelligence company that optimizes strategies for account-based marketing, Expertia.ai, an AI-based platform for recruitment, Bharat Krushi Seva, an agritech startup, and Visa2Fly, the travel technology platform aimed at simplifying visa application processes.
Flipkart Leap Ahead (FLA) is an initiative founded by Flipkart Ventures to hatch innovations with a nurturing scope for early-stage ventures in India's digital economy. It takes in cutting-edge innovations based on artificial intelligence and deep-tech with more than 20 startups coming up with solutions spread over disciplines like deep tech, fintech, health tech, generative AI, and sustainability. According to Flipkart Ventures Vice President Head, Lubna Ahmed, FLA is about stimulating innovation because it is a great effort to facilitate resources like capital, mentorship, and strategic networks to emerging early-stage companies. The program offers a structured roadmap for startups to refine product-market fit, scale technology, and explore strategic partnerships. After the program, there is a demo day where startups will showcase their achievements to prospective investors and the industry community at large.
Flipkart offers a mentorship program to select startups that allows them to throw light on the practical ways of scaling their businesses in India's competitive digital marketplace. The program includes product development, go-to-market strategy, investment readiness, and technology and infrastructure scaling. The intention is to shore up the gap between AI innovation and industry application, ensuring that these startups are fit enough to play on a global scale. The program is administered by senior executives of Flipkart as well as leading industry experts.
In a landmark step, Flipkart Ventures announced yesterday that it has tied up with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for co-authoring a vision for India's startup ecosystem-the partnership to provide financial support, mentorship, and business development to startups, thus contributing to India's target of becoming a global innovation hub. The fast growth of India's AI and deep tech startup landscape is evident from the fast-booming areas of e-commerce, healthcare, and logistics and shows the importance of accelerator programs such as Flipkart Leap Ahead in sustaining new avenues for technology innovations".
Flipkart invests in AI startups to shape the future of digital commerce and also journeys down the path of digital transformation for India. The third cohort of Flipkart Leap Ahead builds on already very well-established resources and mentoring offerings for early-stage startups to enable thriving in an increasingly AI-driven world. Industry observers will watch how the cohort of startups capitalizes on Flipkart's support as they progress through the accelerator program and prepare for demo day to scale their business and create meaningful impact.
February 2025
February 2025
February 2025
February 2025