Chip manufacturer Qualcomm has unveiled the 12 finalists of its 2023 hardware startup incubation program, the Design in India Challenge. This program, the 8th installment of its kind, was created in partnership with Startup India and Nasscom, attracting approximately 145 entries from diverse sectors and applications.
The shortlisted candidates for this hardware startup incubation initiative include Auklr Technologies Private Limited, Augrade Private Limited, Flo Mobility Private Limited, Trebirth Private Limited, Marcn Technologies Private Limited, Rymo Technologies Private Limited, Livnsense Technologies Private Limited, Siamaf Healthcare, Thryv Mobility Private Limited, Savemom Private Limited, Ayati Devices Private Limited, and Zebu Intelligent Systems Private Limited.
Qualcomm Incorporated’s Vice President of Engineering, Sudeepto Roy, expressed admiration for the innovative startups that are transforming sectors such as healthcare, training, EV transportation, wireless broadband, consumer electronics, and notably, agriculture. He acknowledged their skillful incorporation of 5G, hybrid-AI, robotics, drones, and extended reality as driving forces behind India’s remarkable digital metamorphosis.
The finalists are set to receive a grant up to Rs 3.2 lakh, along with mentorship and access to Qualcomm Innovation Labs. This will help them develop their prototypes for a wide range of commercial applications and use cases.
Additionally, these finalists will be eligible to earn incentives for patent-filing and opportunities for business development from Qualcomm Technologies’ global sales and business teams.
Rajen Vagadia, Vice President of Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd. and President of Qualcomm India & SAARC, stated, “The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge represents our dedication to fostering India’s vast tech talent using our experience and established technologies. We are committed to equipping India with the latest tech innovations and solutions, and persist in motivating emerging entrepreneurs and businesses to devise groundbreaking solutions that transform our nation.”
According to the company, the participating applicants showcased unique product demonstrations in several categories, including IoT, Automotive, Smart Infrastructure, Edge Compute, Health Tech, Robotics and Drones, and Agri Tech, among others.