Umakant Soni

Umakant Soni is an influential force in India’s AI innovation landscape. As the chairman and co-founder of AI Foundry, he is building an India-first AI startup ecosystem focused on solving complex local problems. With a background in venture capital, research, and entrepreneurship, Soni has incubated and mentored several AI-driven startups across healthcare, fintech, and public governance. He has also co-founded ARTPARK and pi Ventures, a venture firm focused on AI/ML and IoT.

AI Foundry serves as both a product studio and a strategic think tank, pushing for a sovereign AI stack tailored to Indian use cases. Soni’s efforts have catalysed indigenous AI development, ensuring India becomes a creator, not just a consumer, of cutting-edge technologies.

Soni is deeply involved in AI ethics and policy discussions, advocating for responsible innovation. His work aligns startups, academia, and government towards a shared vision for AI-led inclusive growth. Recognised as a leading tech evangelist, Soni is committed to building AI capabilities that are globally competitive but rooted in Indian values and challenges.