AGI House Delhi
Policy Meets Innovation
Delhi is where India's AI policy is shaped and where government AI initiatives are headquartered. Our chapter connects policy makers, government tech teams, and private sector innovators.
About Delhi
Delhi's tech journey began with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) established in 1976, which computerized government operations across India. The 1980s saw DCM Dataproducts and HCL emerge as hardware pioneers. The liberalization of 1991 transformed Gurgaon and Noida into IT hubs. Today, Delhi NCR generates ₹236.34B in software exports (2018-19) and houses India's AI policy apparatus including NITI Aayog, MeitY, and the National AI Portal.
Famous Landmarks
India Gate
War memorial and national symbol, popular gathering spot for tech community meetups
Red Fort
UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbol of Mughal architecture, hosts Independence Day celebrations
Qutub Minar
12th-century UNESCO site, tallest brick minaret in the world
Lotus Temple
Bahai House of Worship, architectural marvel open to all faiths
Humayun's Tomb
Precursor to Taj Mahal, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Cultural Highlights
AI Ecosystem in Delhi
Delhi NCR stands as India's second-largest AI hub, distinguished by its unique position at the intersection of policy, academia, and enterprise. With 1,617+ AI companies, 387 funded startups, and $3.1B in total funding over the past decade, the region has established itself as a formidable force in India's AI landscape.
The academic foundation is exceptional. IIT Delhi's Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence (ScAI), established in 2020 as India's first dedicated AI school, has rapidly become a center of excellence. IIIT Delhi's MIDAS Lab leads cutting-edge research in multimodal AI and Indian language processing. Together with DTU, NSUT, and JNU, these institutions produce a steady stream of AI talent and research.
What sets Delhi apart is its policy nexus. NITI Aayog, MeitY, and the National AI Portal are all headquartered here, making Delhi the epicenter of India's AI governance. This creates unique opportunities for startups working on GovTech, civic AI, and regulated industries. The 232 startup incubators in the NCR region (highest in India) provide comprehensive support infrastructure.
The startup success stories speak for themselves. Zomato, Urban Company, Unacademy, Cars24, and Delhivery all have Delhi NCR roots. The region particularly excels in consumer tech, logistics AI, and HR automation (Leena AI). With strong VC presence and government initiatives like Startup India headquartered here, funding opportunities are abundant. The combination of talent, policy access, and commercial scale makes Delhi NCR an increasingly attractive destination for AI founders.
Education & Research Hub
🎓 Universities & Institutes
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)
IIT~17,000 students
Visit website →IIIT Delhi
IIIT~2,500 students
Visit website →Delhi Technological University (DTU)
State~10,000 students
Visit website →Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT)
State~6,000 students
Visit website →Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Central~8,500 students
Visit website →🔬 Research Labs
Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence (ScAI)
IIT Delhi
“Established 2020 as India's first AI school, with Yardis providing $15M founding gift”
MIDAS Lab (Multimodal Digital Media Analysis)
IIIT Delhi
“Leading research in Indian language NLP and misinformation detection”
Infosys Centre for AI
IIIT Delhi
“Industry-academia collaboration on practical AI applications”
Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI
IIT Delhi
Startup Ecosystem
Delhi NCR ranks second in India for AI startups with 1,617+ AI companies, 387 funded startups, and 3 AI unicorns. The region has attracted $3.1B in total AI funding over the past decade. With 232 startup incubators (highest in India), Delhi offers unmatched support infrastructure. The ecosystem uniquely combines policy access, academic excellence, and commercial scale.
🚀 Incubators & Accelerators
TBI at FITT, IIT Delhi
Deep Tech, AI/ML, Hardware
Alumni: Staqu, Detect Technologies
IIIT Delhi Incubation Center
AI/ML, Healthcare Tech, EdTech
Electropreneur Park (ESDM)
Electronics, Hardware, IoT
Startup Tunnel DTU
Student startups, Early stage
💰 Funding Landscape
Strong VC presence with Nexus Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital India, and Matrix Partners active in the region. Government initiatives like Startup India headquartered here provide additional funding avenues. Angel investor networks are well-developed.
Success Stories
Notable AI Companies
Notable Tech People
Built India's largest food delivery platform. IIT Delhi alumnus. Zomato IPO valued at $12B.
Built India's leading home services platform valued at $2.8B. IIIT Delhi alumnus.
Built India's largest learning platform with 60M+ learners. IIT Delhi dropout turned unicorn founder.
Building AI-powered HR automation platform. Y Combinator backed. IIT Delhi alumnus.
Leads India's first AI school. PhD University of Washington. Former researcher at Google and Facebook.
Living & Working in Delhi
Delhi offers a unique blend of historical grandeur and modern tech infrastructure. As India's capital, it provides unparalleled access to policy makers and government initiatives. The cost of living is moderate compared to Mumbai and Bangalore, with excellent connectivity via Metro and airports.
💰 Cost of Living
More affordable than Mumbai and Bangalore. Budget: ₹25,000-35,000/month, Comfortable: ₹40,000-60,000/month.
🏘️ Tech Neighborhoods
Connaught Place
The commercial heart with coworking spaces, startups, and excellent Metro connectivity
Best for: Early-stage startups, freelancers, networking-focused founders
Nehru Place
India's largest IT hardware market, now evolving into a tech startup hub
Best for: Hardware startups, budget-conscious teams, tech traders
Saket
Modern commercial district with malls, corporate offices, and good infrastructure
Best for: Mid-stage startups, corporate teams, work-life balance seekers
Hauz Khas
Creative hub near IIT Delhi with cafes, coworking spaces, and vibrant nightlife
Best for: Student founders, creative tech teams, design-focused startups
✨ Quality of Life
Rich cultural heritage with world-class monuments, diverse food scene representing all Indian cuisines, vibrant nightlife in areas like Hauz Khas and Khan Market. Air quality remains a concern in winter months. Excellent healthcare facilities and international schools.
Getting Here & Around
Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) - one of Asia's busiest, 15-30km from city center
Train Connections
New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Station, Nizamuddin - connected to all major Indian cities
Local Transport
Delhi Metro (390+ stations, 12 lines), Uber/Ola, auto-rickshaws, DTC buses
Nearby Tech Hubs
Gurgaon: 30km (45 min), Noida: 25km (40 min), Jaipur: 280km (4.5hr drive)
Where We Meet
IIT Delhi
Hauz Khas
universityIndia Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road
event space91springboard
Nehru Place
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