Over the years, T-Hub has grown into the world's largest innovation hub. Since its inception in 2015, T-Hub, an initiative of the Telangana state government, has nurtured over 2,000 startups.
Last month, the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH) was launched at the T-Hub, which aims to foster AI innovation by bridging the gap between startups, corporations, academia, investors and governments.
Amid concerns about job losses due to AI, MATH aims to create job opportunities in the field domestically, with the initial goal of creating 500 AI-related jobs by the end of 2025.
MATH CEO Rahul Paith believes AI is likely to take over redundant jobs that involve repetitive and routine tasks, such as data entry, clerical work and basic customer service duties.
“But it's important to recognise that the rise of AI will also create demand for new jobs that require human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and emotional intelligence.
“Roles working alongside AI systems, such as AI trainers, data scientists, machine learning engineers and AI ethicists, will become increasingly prevalent,” he said. target.
Create 500 AI jobs
One of MATH's main goals, in addition to nurturing AI startups, is to create AI and AI-related jobs in the country. “Our vision is to create more than 500 AI-related jobs by 2025 and support more than 150 startups per year,” he said.
To achieve this, MATH aims to foster a supportive environment for AI-first startups, providing them with access to the resources, mentorship, and networks essential to growth.
“In the first year, we aim to have more than 100 startups on board. These startups are AI-first and are deeply involved in either building around AI, leveraging AI or contributing to the AI ecosystem,” he said.
In addition to initiatives such as talent development programs, industry-academia collaborations, and focused investments in AI research and development, MATH is also launching its own job portal.
Called AI Career FinderThe platform is dedicated to nurturing and supporting the next generation of AI/ML talent. Pace said the platform is designed to act as a central hub connecting startups seeking top AI/ML professionals with candidates looking for exciting opportunities in the field.
By leveraging AI Career Finder, MATH aims to streamline talent acquisition and placement and strengthen its efforts to accelerate job creation in the AI field.
“Furthermore, MATH has identified key sectors such as healthcare and clean technology as key areas for AI integration and growth. By fostering collaboration and investment in these sectors, MATH aims to expand job opportunities in AI-related fields.”
AI Program
To foster AI innovation, MATH has also launched several programs to foster AI innovation in the startup ecosystem. “MATH Nuage is our pioneering initiative, which provides comprehensive support and guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs navigating the complex landscape of AI innovation,” Pace said.
Its key components include Virtual Partner Support, which connects startups with strategic partners to provide insights and resources.
“Similarly, Mentor Desk support provides guidance from skilled experts, Funding Desk support facilitates securing investment and Data Lake access allows startups to access vast amounts of data for AI model development,” Pace explained.
Another flagship program launched by MATH is the AI Scale-Up Program, which aims to accelerate AI innovation and entrepreneurship.
“This initiative is designed to support startups in the scale-up stage, providing them with the resources, mentorship and networking opportunities they need to drive growth and success in the AI market.”
Mini Data Center
MATH has also set up a mini data center with GPU capabilities to help AI startups with AI training and inference: “Compared to building a full data center, the mini data center (called MINI DC) offers powerful computing capabilities at a much lower price.”
The data center will help startups meet their high-performance computing (HPC) needs and is equipped with NVIDIA A100 GPUs. “The mini-data center's infrastructure will enable efficient deployment of trained models, helping startups bring their AI solutions to market faster,” Pace said.
Filling the funding gap
MATH, along with T-Hub, helps startups secure funding through various channels, including venture capital firms, angel investors, government grants, etc. “We help them prepare fundraising proposals, pitch to investors, negotiate the terms of investment, etc.,” Pace said.
But he believes investors, incubators and government agencies need to work together to fill the funding gap and foster a risk-tolerant environment: “Investors must recognise the broader value proposition of deep tech startups and their ability to drive significant social and economic change.”
“Furthermore, investment in specialized education and training programs is essential to develop a strong deep tech talent pool.
“Creating a collaborative ecosystem will enable Indian deep tech startups to grow and emerge as global pioneers in innovation,” he said.
