AIBoomi Awards 2026

India is entering a new phase of its AI journey. Beyond adoption. Beyond integration. Toward original capability.

These awards are not retrospective. They are directional.

// Why the AIBoomi Awards Exist

India has demonstrated strength at the application layer, translating global models into real-world outcomes across enterprises, industries, and markets. The next chapter demands more:

• Deeper technical ownership
• Stronger infrastructure primitives
• Original research and foundational work
• Systems designed for scale, safety, and reasoning — not just workflows

The AIBoomi Awards recognise builders operating across this spectrum. From scaled AI businesses to early, research-driven frontier work.

This is not about hype. It is about capability.

The Raja Award (King)
AI & SaaS Startup of the Year

The core intelligence that defines the game and shapes its outcome.

This award recognises Indian-founded companies where AI sits at the heart of the product, driving global impact, category leadership, and long-term value creation.

The Gaja Award (Elephant)
Scale-up Startup of the Year

Power that moves steadily, scales decisively, and reshapes the board.

For startups that have crossed $25M ARR and demonstrated durable growth, execution depth, and the ability to scale responsibly in an AI-shaped software landscape.

The Ashva Award (Horse)
Breakout Startup of the Year

Non-linear moves that break patterns and create momentum.

This award recognises startups that have achieved breakout traction through bold AI-native execution, sharp pivots, or new category creation.

The Mantri Award (Minister)
Build for Bharat Startup of the Year

Strategic intelligence translating vision into real-world impact.

For companies building AI-powered products that solve uniquely Indian problems at scale, with $3M+ ARR and the majority of revenue coming from India.

The Padati Award (Soldier)
DevTools & Infrastructure Startup of the Year

Foundational builders whose systems advance every move forward.

This award honours teams building the platforms, infrastructure, data systems, and core primitives that power the AI ecosystem and enable others to build, scale, and innovate.

The Ratha Award (Chariot)
Frontier AI & Research Startup of the Year

Long-range thinking that clears paths for future intelligence.

Recognising founders advancing foundational AI capabilities through deep research, frontier models, advanced reasoning systems, and long-horizon technical bets. Pre-revenue and research-heavy teams are explicitly included.

How the Awards Work

1. Nominations & Applications

Submissions are open to Indian-founded companies. Self-nominations and peer nominations are permitted.

2. Shortlisting

Entries are evaluated against category-specific criteria by a curated jury of founders, operators, and AI leaders.

3. Final Selection

Winners are selected based on depth of innovation, clarity of ambition, execution quality, and future relevance.

4. Recognition

Awardees are announced and celebrated at AIBoomi Annual ‘26, our marquee annual gathering.

Apply or Nominate

Applications and nominations for AIBoomi Awards 2026 are now open. If you are building AI-first software, foundational technology, or frontier systems — this is where your work should be evaluated.

Partnerships

The AIBoomi Awards are supported by organisations aligned with long-term AI capability building in India. For partnership and sponsorship enquiries:

The AIBoomi Awards are supported by volunteers from the ecosystem who help shape, review, and run the awards process.

AIBoomi Awards are not about popularity. They are about progress. India’s AI future will be shaped by those willing to build deeply, patiently, and ambitiously. We exist to recognise them.