Inside the Exclusive Policy Meet for AI Startups

As India steps firmly into the era of artificial intelligence, the startup ecosystem stands at a crucial intersection of innovation and regulation. On one hand, founders and tech teams are racing ahead, building powerful large language models, generative AI tools, and next-gen data-driven platforms. On the other, they’re increasingly finding themselves in a legal fog—especially around copyright laws and the usage of data that powers these AI engines.

In response to this growing tension between innovation and regulation, an exclusive roundtable titled “AI Policy Baithak” is set to take place in New Delhi and online on July 10, 2025. Hosted by the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) in collaboration with Ikigai Law and powered by Google, this invite-only gathering could become a turning point for India’s AI copyright landscape.

This is not just another policy event. It’s where India’s AI startup leaders—founders, CTOs, developers, and investors—will get a real seat at the policy table. And the timing couldn’t be more critical.

Why Now? Copyright Confusion Threatens AI Innovation

Over the past year, India has witnessed a flurry of legal and policy activity around artificial intelligence, especially when it comes to copyright. With the Delhi High Court currently hearing a landmark copyright case involving AI-generated content and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) working on fresh copyright guidelines, the stakes are high.

At the heart of the debate is a key issue: Text and Data Mining (TDM). For AI startups, especially those building foundational models or training algorithms on large datasets, TDM is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

Yet, India’s current copyright regime doesn’t clearly allow TDM, creating a regulatory minefield. Without an exemption that protects startups’ right to mine publicly available data for model training, founders are left second-guessing what’s legal—and what could land them in court.

“Are you building in AI in India and wondering how copyright concerns will shape your future?” asks Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO of Startup Policy Forum. “This Baithak is your opportunity to be heard at a crucial moment for India’s innovation landscape.”

What is the AI Policy Baithak?

The AI Policy Baithak is being positioned as a closed-door policy-first platform—designed specifically to bring India’s fast-moving AI builders into the policy conversation.

Unlike public consultations that often feel distant from ground realities, this roundtable aims to create a direct line between startups and policy influencers. Founders will share their pain points. Developers will explain their technical limitations. Investors will talk about the risk-reward dynamics. And in the middle of it all, the SPF team will ensure these voices get recorded, elevated, and echoed in upcoming policy frameworks.

Participation is open to a select group of individuals deeply involved in building AI in India. Confirmed participants will receive event details over email, and interested stakeholders can still express interest via a registration form or by emailing secretariat@indiaspf.org.

Who’s Behind the Policy Push?

The event is spearheaded by the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), a young but fast-growing industry alliance that was launched in 2024. SPF was formed to fill a crucial gap: giving startups a unified voice in policymaking.

And it’s not just any coalition—it boasts an enviable list of backers that reads like the who's who of India’s startup success stories:
Razorpay, CRED, Groww, Zerodha, Pine Labs, OYO, Acko, Swiggy, Dream11, MPL, Cars24, Cardekho, Mobikwik, and more.

Backed by a diverse team of lawyers, policy experts, communication strategists, and taxation specialists, SPF is now turning its attention to the legal bottlenecks threatening AI innovation. And copyright is at the top of their priority list.

The Bigger Picture: India’s AI Moment

Globally, countries are scrambling to address the AI-copyright debate. The EU has introduced TDM exceptions. The US is leaning on fair use principles. China has adopted more permissive data policies for AI.

In this global race, India cannot afford to be slow or silent.

Indian startups have already shown what’s possible—from language models tailored to Indic languages to enterprise AI solutions for agriculture, healthcare, and education. But the lack of clear policy could slow momentum and push innovation outside the country.

“This is India’s moment to lead with clarity, ambition, and inclusion,” says a source close to the SPF core team. “We need to make sure that the voices building India’s AI future are heard loud and clear.”

If you’re an AI founder, CTO, developer, or an investor closely involved with India’s AI ecosystem, this is your chance to contribute to real policy impact.

• Register or reach out directly to secretariat@indiaspf.org

Let your startup’s perspective shape the laws that will define your future.

The AI Policy Baithak might be a closed-door event, but its outcomes could open doors for India’s entire AI ecosystem. It’s not just about protecting IP—it’s about unlocking innovation responsibly and confidently.

If you’re building the future, now’s the time to help shape the rules.