Rajat Khare Venture Capitalist Vision Reversing Brain Drain to Build India’s AI Superpower Status

India sits at a pivotal moment in the global shift toward artificial intelligence. Roughly 15 percent of the world’s AI talent originates in India yet most of these skilled professionals are working abroad. Rajat Khare venture capitalist and deep tech investor warns that this brain drain must be reversed if India is to lead the AI revolution. He emphasizes that India’s true advantage is its linguistic diversity with 22 official languages. An India built AI that understands Hindi Tamil Bengali Telugu Marathi and more would be uniquely powerful. In fact the government is already backing a homegrown large language AI model with over 18600 GPUs. However Khare cautions that technology alone is not enough. The real test will be how well we retain and nurture talent he says. In his view India must invest in homegrown AI research centers promote stronger industry and academia collaboration and offer incentives such as AI fellowships and competitive salaries to keep its top technologists at home.

Khare points out that India’s tech talent is one of its most significant assets but more and more talent is leaving for better returns. To change this he calls for strategic measures such as funding AI research labs in smaller cities offering PhD fellowships and even matching global level pay for researchers. He envisions India becoming a destination for innovation rather than just an outsourcing hub. If this brain drain is stemmed by rewarding India’s thinkers and risk takers Khare believes the country will not just follow global AI trends but set them. In his words India can only lead the AI age if it first builds an ecosystem where innovation thrives not elsewhere but right here.

India’s AI Moment and the Brain Drain Challenge

India’s vast pool of engineers and data scientists gives it enormous potential in the AI era. As Business Today reports the government is working on a homegrown AI model an Indian large language model backed by over 18600 GPUs. This effort aims to leverage India’s multilingual intelligence an AI that understands and serves people across Hindi Tamil Bengali Telugu Marathi and other regional languages. Rajat Khare highlights that this localization is key to unlocking new impact in rural areas local businesses and government programs.

However a chronic issue looms large which is talent flight. Khare stresses that although India supplies nearly 15 percent of the world’s AI specialists most of this talent is abroad. He warns that this abundance is not serving India’s technological interests as it ideally should. This gap between India’s enormous human resource and its domestic innovation output must be fixed. Investing in its thinkers is crucial Khare argues so that India shifts from just being a provider of tech labor to becoming an AI superpower in its own right.

Investors and policymakers echo his concern that without massive homegrown opportunities India risks exporting all its brain power even as the world races ahead in AI. To counter this Khare urges building AI research hubs across India and offering rewards for innovation at home. He envisions a future where India builds an ecosystem where innovation thrives domestically putting the country on track to lead the global AI revolution rather than merely follow it.

Rajat Khare- Deep-Tech Investor and Visionary Leader

Rajat Khare is widely recognized for his vision in deep technology investment. As one profile notes he is a well known deep tech investor a venture capitalist and the founder of Boundary Holding. In this Luxembourg based investment firm Khare has built a reputation for backing companies that push the boundaries of innovation. Industry coverage describes him as a visionary who understands the transformative potential of deep tech. This means he looks beyond current trends focusing on emerging fields like artificial intelligence robotics blockchain and clean technology. By funding startups in AI and machine learning Khare seeks to automate processes improve decision making and enhance human capabilities across sectors.

Although he invests globally Khare’s work often focuses on problems relevant to emerging markets. For example he champions AI powered solutions for infrastructure and services in India seeing them as ripe for innovation. Colleagues describe him as a proponent of global collaboration. He builds networks of entrepreneurs researchers and companies across countries to scale deep tech breakthroughs. In effect Khare is more than an investor as he is a mentor and guide. He helps startup founders refine their ideas and connect with industry partners believing that money alone is not enough and vision and guidance matter too.

Throughout his career one theme stands out which is that Rajat Khare is not content to sit on the sidelines. He co founded an educational technology chain early in his career and even co authored a book on innovation. Today he leverages that experience to mentor the next generation of tech leaders. His approach reflects a deep belief that well funded and well guided startups in AI and other frontier fields can solve large societal challenges. In short Khare’s leadership is defined by a commitment to transforming ideas into impact.

Education and Journey from IIT Delhi

Rajat Khare’s path began with a strong technical foundation. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi one of the country’s premier engineering schools. This IIT Delhi background gave him cutting edge skills in computer science and analytics. After graduation Khare built and led a chain of technology training institutes that educated over 128000 students in advanced IT skills. He also took on challenging projects such as turning around a struggling data analytics firm by refocusing it into an AI driven business. These experiences training thousands of engineers and reviving a tech company honed his ability to spot talent and scalable ideas.

In 2017 he launched Boundary Holding as a bridge fund in Europe aimed at deep tech ventures. From this base Khare has maintained strong ties to India. He serves on advisory boards and has been active in mentorship programs aimed at Indian tech startups. His global upbringing based in Luxembourg but deeply connected to India gives him a unique leadership perspective. In interviews he frequently cites Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s support of his earlier education initiatives underscoring a lifelong commitment to advancing India’s technology sector.

For those interested in a Rajat Khare leader biography the highlights are clear which include IIT Delhi education success in edtech and AI ventures and recognition as a leading investor. In 2006 even the President of India acknowledged Khare’s efforts to foster innovation among youth. Today his story serves as an example of how strong academic roots and entrepreneurial drive though he prefers terms like innovator or visionary over entrepreneur have led to global impact.

Investing in Breakthrough Technologies

Rajat Khare’s investment focus can be summed up as deep tech. He seeks out startups with cutting edge solutions and not the next social media app. For instance he has put money into AI companies medical technology firms and clean energy ventures. His goal is to back innovations that address big problems at scale. In India Boundary Holding portfolio includes companies in aerospace robotics recycling and AI. Each investment reflects Khare’s belief that tomorrow’s breakthroughs will often come from combining technology with practical challenges like using AI powered video inspection to improve construction and energy projects.

Khare actively promotes what he calls global innovation ecosystems. He often brings together startups university researchers and industry partners from different countries. This collaborative model ensures that a breakthrough developed in India for example can scale worldwide and that lessons from abroad benefit India as well. He also emphasizes environmental and social goals in investment. Boundary Holding follows an ESG strategy backing businesses that align with values like climate action and community welfare. By doing so Khare aims to show that venture capital can fuel not only profit but also positive impact for society.

In practice this means Rajat Khare invests in ventures at the intersection of AI and sustainability. He has funded companies working on smart city solutions renewable energy platforms and even health technology areas where AI can multiply benefits. His approach is long term and hands on. Beyond funding he often provides guidance to help startups commercialize emerging technology. According to one profile Khare’s investments are chosen with an eye toward solving the world’s most pressing problems through technology. In this way the label deep tech investor truly fits his biography and leadership style.

Retaining Talent- Rajat Khare’s Call to Action

A central concern for Rajat Khare is keeping India’s brightest minds at home. He argues that without talented engineers and scientists staying in India the country cannot achieve its AI ambitions. In interviews and opeds he repeatedly stresses policy changes to stem the flow abroad. For example he recommends creating more AI centers of excellence across India not just in Bangalore or Mumbai but also in smaller cities. Such hubs would allow researchers to pursue cutting edge projects without leaving the country. He also suggests financial incentives such as AI fellowships PhD scholarships and salaries on par with what global tech labs offer. These he believes would make staying in India worthwhile for top talent.

Khare further urges the government and industry to forge stronger partnerships with Indian origin researchers overseas. He proposes engaging the diaspora to contribute remotely to India’s AI projects. This way even those abroad can help build local AI platforms. He also highlights hosting international AI events as another strategy. For instance securing the 2026 Global AI Summit for India could showcase the country’s priorities and attract global research cooperation.

Ultimately Khare frames these measures as part of a larger narrative. India must begin to value its technology experts as it does its traditional assets. He often points out that India’s economy is poised to hit 10 trillion dollars meaning domestic opportunities are about to become globally competitive. Therefore he reasons India must reward its risk takers and thinkers at levels comparable to Silicon Valley or research labs in the West. In his view only by doing so can India retain talent and shift from a policy failure to an innovation success story.

Looking Ahead- Rajat Khare’s Vision for India’s AI Future

Rajat Khare’s vision for India extends beyond diagnostics to action. He believes that if India can solve the brain drain problem it will unleash an era of homegrown innovation. As an example of his optimism he notes that India’s unique cultural and linguistic assets position it to create AI tools that no other country can. An India specific AI fluent in local languages and aware of local needs could become a global model for how technology uplifts entire societies. Khare sees a future where Indian engineers and AI researchers lead international projects with India as a full participant in setting global technology agendas.

His advice to policymakers and business leaders is practical. Invest now in India’s thinkers and doers. This means funding research encouraging entrepreneurship though he avoids that label and recognizing that today’s student could be tomorrow’s tech pioneer. He often recalls that even Dr APJ Abdul Kalam once commended his early efforts in tech education implying that national leadership already values such vision.

In summary Rajat Khare exemplifies how one individual can bridge worlds from IIT Delhi to global venture forums and still focus on India’s long term goals. The Rajat Khare leader biography underscores this as a technically trained innovator who became a venture capital pioneer and remains dedicated to building India’s technology ecosystem. By championing AI research mentoring startups and pushing for talent retention he is shaping a narrative that India’s best contribution to the AI revolution could be its own homegrown solutions.

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