Reliance Bets Big on Startups: Push for India’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

When Mukesh Ambani takes the stage at Reliance’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), markets and policymakers listen closely. This year, at the 48th AGM (2025), his message was clear: Reliance is not just building businesses for itself — it is preparing to become the largest enabler of startups and entrepreneurs in India.

For India’s startup ecosystem — already the third largest in the world with over 100 unicorns — Ambani’s vision could be a game-changer, providing what early-stage ventures need the most: infrastructure, digital tools, and market access at scale.

From Disruption to Enabling Innovation: Jio’s Legacy with Startups

Ambani reminded shareholders of how Jio had been the spark that ignited India’s digital revolution. Affordable internet, free calls, and digital payments infrastructure didn’t just change consumer behavior — they unlocked opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs.

Startups in fintech, e-commerce, edtech, and mobility owe much of their early scale to cheap data and a connected Bharat. As Ambani put it, Jio’s disruption “enabled the creation of the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem in India, comprising over 100+ unicorns.”

In other words, Reliance already has precedent as a startup catalyst. What it did for internet access, it now plans to do for AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure.

Reliance Intelligence: A Dedicated Bet on AI Startups

The biggest startup-related announcement from the AGM was the launch of Reliance Intelligence, a new subsidiary that will focus exclusively on AI. Ambani positioned it as the foundation for India’s AI-native economy, with four missions:

1. AI Infrastructure – Gigawatt-scale, AI-ready data centers in Jamnagar, powered by green energy, custom-built for startups and enterprises.

2. Global Partnerships – Bringing in world leaders like Google and Meta to ensure Indian startups have access to the best tools, models, and cloud resources.

3. AI Services for All – Affordable and reliable AI platforms for consumers, MSMEs, and sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture.

4. Talent Hub – Building a home for researchers, engineers, and innovators, combining research and execution to turn ideas into scalable applications.

For startups, this could remove one of the biggest barriers — the prohibitive cost of computing and AI infrastructure. Instead of burning capital on servers or overseas cloud access, young ventures can now tap into Reliance Intelligence’s India-first ecosystem.

Partnerships with Google and Meta: A Startup Multiplier

Ambani also revealed deep partnerships with Google and Meta — both of whom sent personal messages at the AGM.

• Sundar Pichai (Google CEO) spoke about how this partnership would enable developers and startups to innovate faster using Jio’s connectivity, Reliance’s energy, and Google Cloud’s AI stack.

• Mark Zuckerberg (Meta CEO) highlighted how Reliance will bring open-source AI models like LLaMA to Indian businesses — making advanced AI accessible not just to big corporates but also to small-town startups and entrepreneurs.

This is significant. Instead of startups having to depend on foreign, expensive, or closed AI systems, they now get local, affordable, and sovereign AI solutions through Reliance’s ecosystem.

Jio Platforms as Startup Enablers

Beyond Reliance Intelligence, Ambani placed Jio’s next wave of products firmly in the hands of entrepreneurs:

• Jio AI Cloud – Already adopted by 40 million users, now evolving into an AI-powered creation hub where even small shopkeepers can make product reels or manage inventory using smart tools.

• JioPC – A cloud-based AI-ready computer that transforms any screen into a virtual workstation, available on pay-per-use. Imagine a student in a Tier-3 town accessing high-performance computing for coding, design, or simulations without buying a laptop.

• JioFrames – An AI-powered wearable, enabling creators, educators, and entrepreneurs to record, stream, or learn on the go.

• Jio’s MSME digitisation platforms – From franchisee management to AI-driven solutions, Jio is helping small businesses scale like enterprises.

For startups, these are not just consumer products. They are platforms to build on, democratizing access to technology.

Why This Matters for Startups:

Reliance’s announcements could reshape India’s startup landscape in three critical ways:

1. Access to Scale – With Jio’s 500 million+ users and Reliance Retail’s 349 million+ customers, startups could test, pilot, and scale within the largest consumer base in India.

2. Infrastructure Without Capital Burn – Reliance’s AI cloud, data centers, and digital platforms remove the upfront cost barrier, allowing startups to focus on building products instead of managing infrastructure.

3. Global Collaboration, Indian Context – Partnerships with Google and Meta ensure startups get the best tech, but customized for Indian needs — from kiranas to deep-tech innovators.

Ambani’s Indian Dream: Startups at the Core

In his speech, Ambani framed this within a larger national vision:

“India, with its scale, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit, is uniquely positioned to lead in AI, Clean Energy, and Genomics. Reliance is committed to ensuring that abundance and affordability become the birthright of every Indian.”

This wasn’t just corporate rhetoric. Reliance is essentially telling startups — you are not alone. With Reliance’s backing, capital, infrastructure, and global partnerships are no longer out of reach.

TICE Take: What Founders Should Watch For

For founders, this AGM wasn’t just about Reliance’s balance sheet. It was a blueprint of opportunities:

• AI-first startups can build on Reliance Intelligence’s infrastructure.

• Retail and FMCG startups can plug into Reliance Retail and RCPL’s supply chains.

• Digital content and media startups could benefit from JioStar’s OTT and AI tools.

• Agritech and healthtech startups could gain from Reliance’s focus on AI for agriculture and healthcare.

The message is clear: Reliance wants to be the backbone on which startups build India’s next wave of unicorns.

From data in 2016 to AI in 2025, Reliance has always played the role of a catalyst. For India’s 100+ unicorns and countless early-stage ventures, Ambani’s AGM speech is a promise — that Reliance will stand not as a competitor, but as a platform for growth.

If executed right, Reliance could well become India’s largest startup enabler — a super-platform where innovation, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship converge.