India’s AI moment: Sarvam turns unicorn at $1.5 billion valuation

At a time when access to the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence models is increasingly subject to geopolitical considerations, India’s sovereign AI ambitions received their strongest endorsement yet on Monday.

Sarvam AI, one of the country’s most prominent sovereign AI startups, became the fifth unicorn of 2026, crossing the $1-billion valuation mark after raising $234 million in a Series B funding round led by HCLTech. The funding values the Bengaluru-based company at $1.5 billion and marks one of the largest strategic investments by an Indian technology major in a domestic artificial intelligence venture.