• EaseMyTrip co-founder Rikant Pittie launches AI Venture Studio to co-create and support 10 high-impact tech startups across sectors like healthcare, defense, fintech, and education.
• The initiative shifts away from pitch decks and bureaucracy, focusing on founder passion, clarity, and global ambition with hands-on mentorship and infrastructure support.
• Entrepreneurs encouraged to connect directly via social media, as Pittie pledges to help bridge the gap between innovative ideas and successful execution in India's AI startup ecosystem.

In a signal of increased faith in the entrepreneurial landscape of India, Rikant Pittie, co-founder of EaseMyTrip travel booking platform, has announced the startup of an AI Venture Studio to nurture the nation's most innovative technology entrepreneurs.

The venture, launched through a social media statement, is a departure from the conventional model of investment towards partnership. Pittie highlighted that this project extends beyond conventional funding terms, presenting himself as an active partner in the development of next-generation AI solutions.

"In the last few months, I have been approached by many entrepreneurs with a passion for change and incredibly innovative and impactful ideas, but couldn't quite find the right kind of support", Pittie wrote in his announcement. "That made me wonder, what if I didn't only invest, but co-created with them?"

The AI Venture Studio will emphasize the discovery and development of startups in various sectors, such as healthcare, defense, mobility, entertainment, logistics, agrotech, fintech, and education.

Pittie's strategy consciously diverges from the typical pitch deck presentations and lengthy application procedures, instead focusing on what he calls "passion, clarity, and vision".

The venture studio format, which is popular worldwide, synergizes venture capital investment with operational assistance and shared facilities. The method presents entrepreneurs with not only money but also guidance, infrastructure, and strategic advice from seasoned industry experts.

Pittie has made a bold mission to identify 10 exceptional startups that express global aspirations and solve significant real-world issues. The program seems to be aimed at filling the gap between good ideas and successful implementation, especially for those entrepreneurs who do not have access to conventional funding channels.

"This is not about pitch decks and lengthy applications", Pittie said. "I am seeking 10 exceptional startups that are building on a global scale, and addressing issues that really matter".

The announcement has been made at a time when the ecosystem of startups in India is witnessing both opportunities and challenges. Though the nation has spawned many unicorn companies and still draws major investment, a lot of early-stage founders remain stymied by access to enough support and mentorship.

EaseMyTrip, which Pittie co-founded with Rikant Pittie and Prasad Dutta, became one of India's most prominent online travel websites, going public in 2021 and proving the possibility of Indian startups reaching a big scale. This exposure gives Pittie important lessons on how to establish successful tech firms in the Indian market.

The venture studio's emphasis on AI-based solutions is consistent with global trends towards artificial intelligence adoption across industries. India's vast pool of talent in technology and engineering, along with the diversity of market problems there, makes the country a potentially major player in the global AI space.

Entrepreneurs have been encouraged to provide their accounts directly to Pittie on social media, echoing the open and accessible way that he wants to continue operating. This direct engagement style is a departure from the traditional venture capital model, which can be lengthy and bureaucratic in nature.

"If you're creating something significant, and you're willing to scale it from India to the world, please comment or message me your story", Pittie ended his announcement. "Let us reimagine the future by writing the next big Indian story".

The effort is part of an emerging pattern among thriving Indian entrepreneurs who are re-investing in their knowledge and resources in cultivating the next wave of startups. With India increasingly setting itself up as a technology powerhouse in the world, such communal initiatives may prove pivotal in fast-tracking innovation and generating globally competitive firms.

The AI Venture Studio is likely to start operations in the next few months, with Pittie already looking at applications from prospective entrepreneurs nationwide.