In a world rapidly shaped by artificial intelligence, Rajat Khare, a venture capitalist and founder of Boundary Holding, sees India standing at a pivotal juncture. The nation contributes nearly 15% of the global AI talent pool, yet much of this expertise finds its future abroad. Khare believes this outflow of talent limits India's ability to fully harness its own technological capabilities. He is confident that India can lead the global AI revolution—if it can create an ecosystem that encourages its brightest minds to thrive within the country. His perspective has drawn attention from across the tech world. TechTimes refers to him as a globally minded deep tech investor and venture capitalist with a strong belief in India's potential. In his interviews, Khare frequently highlights the importance of supporting Indian engineers and data scientists on home ground to build the country's leadership in AI.
From IIT Delhi to Building a Global Deep Tech Investment Firm
Rajat Khare path reflects the power of both technical rigor and global thinking. A graduate of IIT Delhi, his early career involved co-founding ventures in education, analytics, and technology—each providing valuable insights into innovation and market dynamics. These formative experiences shaped his strategic thinking and laid the foundation for a new chapter. In 2017, Khare launched Boundary Holding in Luxembourg, marking his transition to deep tech investment. His firm now focuses on cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics. This evolution—from an IIT Delhi scholar to the helm of a global investment firm—positions Khare as a deep tech investor with an expansive vision. Through Boundary Holding, he partners with high-impact startups and ambitious founders. Even while raising capital internationally, Khare remains committed to channeling knowledge and collaboration back to India—ensuring his country benefits from his global experience.
India's AI Advantage and the Talent Retention Imperative
Khare views India's AI potential as immense, yet cautions that it comes with challenges. With a young and digitally fluent population, along with government initiatives like Digital India and Make in India, the stage is set for significant progress. One of the nation's standout efforts is the development of an indigenous large language model, supported by over 18,000 GPUs, to accommodate its unique multilingual landscape. With 22 official languages and countless dialects, Khare describes this as India's “multilingual edge.” Creating AI tools capable of grasping not just grammar, but the cultural depth of languages like Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi could open new possibilities for rural communities and small enterprises.
Yet, a major concern remains—brain drain. Many of the most talented graduates from institutions like IITs and IIMs opt to work overseas. The global success of leaders like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella highlights India's talent, but also reflects the opportunities lost at home. Khare insists that India's true hurdle isn't the creation of talent—it's retaining it. Without competitive and fulfilling prospects within the country, India risks falling short of its AI ambitions. He strongly advocates for strengthening domestic ecosystems that offer cutting-edge research, mentorship, and venture capital—essentials for ensuring top talent builds its future in India.
Investing in Deep Tech for Long-Term Impact
Khare's commitment is reflected in his actions. Through Boundary Holding, he supports AI and deep tech startups across Asia and Europe, always with the goal of reinforcing India's innovation ecosystem. He believes private capital is a powerful instrument to reverse the brain drain. His firm's investments span industries such as medtech, cleantech, and AI-driven technologies—supporting companies like Remedio and Skilancer. While his investments often take place abroad, the flow of expertise, innovation, and networks is directed back toward India. His strategy is to empower Indian innovators with global resources—allowing them to scale from within the country rather than having to leave it. Khare's approach, noted by the Financial Express, blends ethical investing with long-term societal value. His focus remains on solutions that address climate change, social inclusion, and global development challenges. As a mentor, he actively engages with startup teams, helping them grow sustainably and globally—while encouraging them to stay anchored in India's innovation landscape.
Khare's Blueprint for an AI-Powered India
Drawing from his international experience, Khare has outlined a clear vision to position India as a global AI hub. His roadmap includes three critical pillars:
- World-Class Research Infrastructure: He advocates for creating AI research centers beyond the major metro cities. Competitive PhD programs, fellowships, and international-grade salaries are necessary to ensure that top-tier talent finds reasons to stay and grow in India.
- Stronger Industry-Academia Partnerships: Linking universities with private tech firms can align academic output with practical needs—offering students and researchers a direct pathway into meaningful careers within the country.
- A Culture of Deep Tech Startups: Khare emphasizes the need for a robust venture capital ecosystem that supports bold, local innovations aimed at solving Indian and global challenges.
This cohesive strategy—spanning investment, infrastructure, and education—represents Khare's vision for an India-first AI future.
Guiding India Toward AI Leadership
Rajat Khare's story—from the classrooms of IIT Delhi to the global stage as a venture capitalist—embodies the power of vision and purpose. His deep tech investments and international partnerships reflect a strong belief in India's potential to lead in the age of AI. As India's economy grows toward the $10 trillion mark, Khare sees the emergence of vast domestic opportunities. While government initiatives are laying the groundwork, he believes the defining success factor will be how effectively India cultivates and retains its talent. With optimism rooted in realism, Khare envisions a future where India is not just a source of talent—but a destination for innovation. By investing in people, ideas, and ecosystems, he hopes to help transform India into a global leader in artificial intelligence. His journey offers both inspiration and a practical pathway for those looking to shape the future of deep tech from within the country.
Source Link - https://www.businesstoday.in/impact-feature/story/rajat-khare-believes-india-can-lead-the-worlds-ai-revolution-by-just-stopping-brain-drain-478096-2025-05-28
