Rikant Pittie’s AI Venture Studio: A Launchpad for India’s Next-Gen Tech Startups
Rikant Pittie, co-founder of India’s leading online travel platform EaseMyTrip, is doubling down on the country’s startup ecosystem with the launch of an AI Venture Studio aimed at empowering early-stage tech entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional venture capital, this studio will combine funding with hands-on mentorship to co-build impactful ventures in high-growth sectors like logistics, fintech, mobility, defence, healthcare, education, entertainment, and agritech. This article explores Pittie’s vision, the studio’s unique approach, and its potential to shape India’s AI-driven future. Why does this matter? The AI Venture Studio positions Pittie as a catalyst for India’s next wave of innovation, leveraging EaseMyTrip’s success to nurture startups with global ambition.
A Vision to Co-Build Innovation
Announced on July 7, 2025, via a post on X, Rikant Pittie’s AI Venture Studio is a bold response to the challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs in India. “Over the past few months, I have been approached by numerous passionate entrepreneurs with innovative & powerful ideas, but struggling to find the right support,” Pittie shared. “That got me thinking, what if I did not just invest, but built alongside them?” The studio, set to begin operations in the coming months, will select around 10 high-potential startups, offering not just capital but also strategic guidance, infrastructure, and access to EaseMyTrip’s operational expertise.
Pittie’s entrepreneurial journey with EaseMyTrip, co-founded in 2008 with brothers Nishant and Prashant Pitti, provides a strong foundation for the studio. EaseMyTrip’s bootstrapped rise to a 2021 IPO, achieving a market cap of ₹3,696 crore ($435 million) by July 2025, showcases Pittie’s ability to scale tech-driven ventures. The company’s innovations, like zero-convenience-fee bookings and AI-driven travel solutions, reflect the hands-on approach Pittie aims to bring to his studio, making it a beacon for founders tackling real-world challenges.
A Collaborative Approach to Startup Growth
Unlike traditional VC funds that focus solely on financial backing, the AI Venture Studio will act as a co-founder, providing end-to-end support to startups. This includes access to EaseMyTrip’s tech stack, industry networks, and mentorship from Pittie and other seasoned leaders. The studio targets sectors poised for AI disruption: logistics (e.g., supply chain optimization), fintech (e.g., payment solutions), mobility (e.g., electric vehicles), defence (e.g., AI-driven surveillance), healthcare (e.g., diagnostics), education (e.g., personalized learning), entertainment (e.g., content personalization), and agritech (e.g., precision farming).
The studio’s focus on AI aligns with India’s booming tech ecosystem. A 2024 Statista report projects the global AI market to grow at a 28% CAGR through 2030, with India emerging as a key player. The VIBE50 report, released on July 10, 2025, highlighted 50 Indian vertical AI startups tackling domain-specific challenges, underscoring the potential for Pittie’s studio to tap into this momentum. By fostering startups with global ambition, the studio aims to produce ventures that rival EaseMyTrip’s success and contribute to India’s goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Building on EaseMyTrip’s Legacy
EaseMyTrip’s journey from a bootstrapped startup to a publicly listed company provides a blueprint for Pittie’s studio. The travel platform disrupted the industry with user-first innovations, such as waiving convenience fees—a rarity in the travel booking space—and introducing AI-driven tools for personalized travel recommendations. Its foray into green mobility with Easy Green Mobility, aiming to deploy 4,000 electric buses by 2028, reflects Pittie’s commitment to sustainable innovation, a principle that will guide the studio’s investments.
The studio’s collaborative model draws inspiration from global venture studios like Rocket Internet and India’s own Blume Ventures, which have successfully co-built startups. By focusing on AI, Pittie is tapping into a sector with immense potential. For instance, startups like SaeFarm, an agritech venture using satellite AI for farm monitoring, highlight the kind of innovation the studio aims to support. With Pittie reviewing submissions from entrepreneurs nationwide, the studio is poised to become a hub for India’s next unicorns.
Why the AI Venture Studio Matters
India’s startup ecosystem is thriving, with over 100 unicorns valued at $350 billion as of mid-2025, per Hurun India. Yet, early-stage founders often struggle with funding and mentorship, as Pittie noted in his announcement. The AI Venture Studio addresses this gap, offering a hands-on approach that contrasts with the cheque-writing model of traditional VCs. This aligns with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s call for deeper innovation, which Pittie has publicly endorsed, emphasizing sustainable, impact-driven ventures.
The studio’s focus on AI-driven sectors positions it to capitalize on India’s growing tech prowess. The Hindu reported in July 2025 that India must shift from business model innovation to deep-tech to stay competitive, and Pittie’s studio is a step in that direction. By supporting startups in logistics, fintech, and agritech, it could drive solutions for India’s complex challenges, from supply chain inefficiencies to financial inclusion.
A Catalyst for India’s Tech Future
Pittie’s AI Venture Studio draws parallels to initiatives like IIT Madras’ ₹200 crore Alumni Fund, which also targets deep-tech startups. Unlike academic-led funds, Pittie’s studio leverages his entrepreneurial experience, offering founders real-world insights from building a publicly listed company. The studio’s goal to support 10 startups with global ambition mirrors the success of EaseMyTrip, which expanded into markets like the UAE and Thailand. For entrepreneurs, this is a chance to work with a founder who has navigated India’s startup landscape from inception to IPO.
The studio’s launch comes at a pivotal moment, with India’s AI ecosystem gaining global attention. The Times of India noted in July 2025 that Indian-origin entrepreneurs are leading AI innovation worldwide, and Pittie’s studio could nurture the next wave of such talent. By fostering startups that address real-world challenges, the studio aims to create lasting impact, much like EaseMyTrip’s transformation of travel.
FAQ
What is Rikant Pittie’s AI Venture Studio? A venture studio launched by EaseMyTrip co-founder Rikant Pittie to support early-stage tech startups with funding and mentorship, focusing on AI-driven sectors.
Which sectors will the studio target? Logistics, fintech, mobility, defence, healthcare, education, entertainment, and agritech.
When will the studio start operations? Operations are expected to begin in the coming months, with Pittie currently reviewing startup submissions.
How does it differ from traditional VC funds? The studio co-builds ventures, offering hands-on mentorship, infrastructure, and strategic guidance alongside capital, unlike traditional cheque-writing VCs.
Looking Ahead
Rikant Pittie’s AI Venture Studio is a game-changer for India’s startup ecosystem, blending the operational expertise of EaseMyTrip with a vision to nurture AI-driven innovation. As India aims to become a global tech leader, the studio could spark a new wave of unicorns, transforming sectors from logistics to healthcare. Follow Rikant Pittie and EaseMyTrip on X and LinkedIn for updates, and stay tuned for the studio’s first cohort of groundbreaking startups.
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Last Updated on Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:43 pm by R Sampath Kumar
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