Google's multi-million dollar boost: AI startup Corover set to receive $4M injection

‘Sam Altman’, on his visit to India earlier in June 2023, had remarked about India's ability to create AI models like ChatGPT and had termed the attempt to create one 'hopeless'. However, Indian startups working with artificial intelligence have been seeing tremendous growth and support. In a recent development, tech behemoth Google is poised to inject an additional $4M into Corover, an Indian conversational artificial intelligence startup. This move follows an earlier $500,000 investment after a strategic partnership pact signed earlier this year.

Corover: A brief overview

Corover, founded in 2016 by Ankush Sabharwal, Kunal Bhakhri, Manav Gandotra, and Rahul Ranjan, has garnered support from diverse backers. Apart from Google, notable names include CanBank Venture Capital Fund, Lead Angels, Cognify, Karekeba Ventures, and IIIT-Delhi. Google, acting as a strategic partner, extends support to Corover with credit for accessing cloud computing services.

BharatGPT: Corover's flagship model

Corover stands out among Indian conversational AI startups for its BharatGPT—a large language model (LLM). The latter supports over a dozen Indian languages, making it a versatile and inclusive AI tool.

Google's continued investment

Google's initial investment of $500,000 in Corover solidified its strategic partnership with the startup. This collaboration involved Google supporting Corover with credit access for cloud computing, emphasising the tech giant's commitment to fostering innovation in the AI sector.

The prospective $4M injection

Media reports indicate that Google is contemplating a substantial $4M equity investment in Corover. This move aligns with the imminent official launch of BharatGPT, suggesting Google's confidence in Corover's capabilities and potential market impact.

Corover's clientele and government advocacy

Corover's clientele boasts prominent names such as IRCTC, NPCI, ICICI Prudential, ITC, Max Life Insurance, Bosch, Karnataka Tourism, and Israel Tourism. This diverse portfolio underscores the startup's influence across various sectors.

Government advocacy for Indian languages

The Indian government has been actively advocating the integration of Indian languages in conversational AI. This aligns with Corover's mission of enhancing user convenience across domains. Recent initiatives, like the National Payments Corporation of India's Bhashini project, exemplify this commitment.

Industry impact and scaling plans

Corover's position in the AI landscape is crucial, given its innovative approach to conversational AI. The proposed $4M investment is earmarked for business scaling, signifying Corover's ambitions to broaden its impact and influence in the market.

Collaborative ventures

Collaborative ventures with entities like CanBank Venture Capital Fund, Lead Angels, Cognify, Karekeba Ventures, and IIIT-Delhi position Corover for sustained growth. This collective support amplifies its potential for transformative initiatives in the AI sector.

BHASHa integration by NPCI

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) recently announced BHASHa, a project aimed at enabling conversational payments in Indian languages. This aligns with the broader narrative of incorporating regional languages, further validating Corover's mission.

As Google contemplates a substantial investment in Corover, the Indian AI landscape anticipates transformative shifts. Corover's innovative solutions, diverse backing, and collaborative ventures position it as a key player in the conversational AI domain. The $4M injection, coupled with government advocacy for linguistic inclusivity, underscores Corover's potential to shape the future of AI in India.