Introduction

Jio Platforms has not only become a telecom behemoth but also a potent driver of India’s digital revolution. Jio’s vision is far greater than merely offering mobile connectivity—it seeks to be a multi-vertical digital enabler in areas such as education, commerce, healthcare, entertainment, and governance. To achieve this, Jio has invested considerably in or acquired a chain of high-growth potential tech startups that support its strategic roadmap.

These investments in startups fulfill several objectives.  Enable Jio to embed the latest technologies—such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain—into its huge consumer and enterprise businesses. Startups working in the areas of ed-tech, conversational AI, e-commerce logistics, and drone technology are enabling Jio to build a vertically integrated digital ecosystem wherein every component promotes each other. It is making learning personal through Embibe or driving customer engagement with Haptik, each deal brings a strategic strength to Jio’s expanding platform.

These investments also indicate Jio’s intent to future-proof its offerings. As consumer behavior changes and data consumption doubles exponentially, Jio’s content, AI, and hyperlocal service bets taken early on put it ahead of the game.This forceful investment plan looked even more legitimate after Jio Platforms raised more than $20 billion of funding in 2020 from international technology behemoths such as Facebook, Google, Intel Capital, and Silver Lake. Not only did these investments legitimize Jio’s platform model, but they also provided it with the war chest necessary to fund startups that had the potential to mold India’s digital future.

Startup Snapshot Table

This table acts as a powerful, quick reference for readers to understand what Jio is building—and why—through these startup investments. Let me know if you’d like a visual chart or infographic version, too!

Top 10 Startups Backed by Jio Platforms

1. Haptik – Conversational AI

Haptik is a top AI-based chatbot platform in India that is utilized by businesses to automate customer care and conversations. Jio picked up a majority stake (87%) in 2019 for approximately Rs. 700 crore. The technology now fuels voice assistants on JioMart, JioCare, and the MyJio app—making it a fundamental part of Jio’s customer experience strategy.

2. Embibe – Ed-Tech + AI

Embibe provides an AI- and data-driven learning experience focused on students and teachers. Jio invested more than $180 million in 2018-2020 to aid its entry into online education. With India’s huge student population and increasing smart learning demand, Embibe makes Jio a strong contender in the ed-tech market.

3. Glance – Lock-Screen Content & Shopping

Glance serves highly personalized content–news, video, and live shopping–on a user’s lock screen. Jio paid $200 million for a ~17% stake in 2022. The objective: to monetize the smartphone’s most used real estate and create an ad-tech engine around micro-engagement.

4. TWO Platforms Inc. – AI + Metaverse

Founded by Pranav Mistry, TWO Platforms is a California startup operating at the nexus of AI, digital humans, and immersive experiences. Jio Platforms invested $15 million for a 25% stake in 2022, its first entry into metaverse-like interactions and voice-first AI interfaces.

5. Asteria Aerospace – Drones & Robotics

Asteria constructs drone solutions for data collection in industries such as agriculture, defense, and infrastructure. Jio took a majority stake in 2019 to pace with the liberalization of drones in India and leverage smart farming and surveillance. This is a complement to Jio’s foray into industrial IoT.

6. Fynd – Omni-channel Fashion Tech

Fynd assists retailers in harmonizing their online and offline inventory across platforms. In 2019, Jio took over 87% of the company with the goal of reinforcing JioMart’s backend tech and logistics. Through Fynd, Jio is able to provide real-time inventory access and delivery optimization for consumers and brands.

7. JioSaavn – Music Streaming

Jio consolidated its in-house music streaming service with Saavn in 2018 to form JioSaavn, one of the largest music streaming services in India. It now competes with Spotify, Gaana, and YouTube Music, providing a huge collection of Indian and global music as part of Jio’s content universe.

8. Radisys – 5G & Telecom Infrastructure

Radisys, an American telecom software company, was bought in 2018 for about $75 million. It offers end-to-end open telecom solutions—mission-critical to Jio’s ambitions in 5G, cloud networking, and enterprise connectivity. Radisys is a key addition to Jio’s network innovation stack.

9. NowFloats – SMB SaaS Enablement

NowFloats enables small and medium enterprises to develop and sustain an online presence with less technical expertise. Jio purchased an 85% interest for Rs. 141 crore, offering the solution as part of JioBusiness solutions and empowering MSMEs to go online effectively.

10. EasyGov – Digital Governance Services

EasyGov makes it easy for citizens to access government schemes, subsidies, and documents. Acquiring an 83% stake in 2019, Jio leverages the platform to enable digital governance through MyJio and public service apps—enabling millions of users to receive welfare benefits digitally.

Themes Emerging from Jio’s Startup Strategy

A distinct trend becomes apparent when we look at the nature of startups in which Jio Platforms has invested over the years. At the center of Jio’s investment philosophy lies a strong inclination toward artificial intelligence and machine learning. Four of its biggest startup bets—Haptik, Embibe, Glance, and Two Platforms—are heavily AI-driven.

Several of the startups in its ecosystem are designed particularly for India’s socio-economic context. Initiatives such as EasyGov and NowFloats are Bharat-focused by intent, addressing small enterprises, rural consumers, and citizens who require more convenient access to public services. Instead of adopting international solutions, Jio is building homegrown technology that is aligned with the pluralistic linguistic, economic, and infrastructural conditions of India.

These investments fit a larger vision of developing a cohesive “Digital Bharat Stack.” Every startup has a distinct role in building Jio’s core digital pillars—MyJio for customer engagement, JioMart for commerce, JioMeet for communication, and JioBusiness for enterprise. This creates a strong, interconnected ecosystem that provides frictionless digital experiences across industries, devices, and demographics.

Impact on India’s Tech Ecosystem

Jio Platforms’ venture capitalist approach to startups has had a far-reaching effect on India’s overall tech ecosystem. By investing in startups working in deep tech spaces such as AI, telecom infrastructure, drones, and robotics, Jio has greatly broadened what gets deemed investable in India. Historically, Indian venture capital was all about consumer apps and marketplaces. Still, Jio’s investment in firms such as Radisys, Asteria Aerospace, and Two Platforms has begun to shift the direction toward high-tech innovation and long-term infrastructure development.

Jio has helped initiate a rising tide of mergers and acquisitions among Indian startups. Its acquisition-driven strategy has not only provided exits for founders and early investors but also created a trend for other big Indian conglomerates to adopt. Startups now have a more direct route from innovation to integration, where getting acquired by a digital giant like Jio could bring scale, reach, and impact that may be difficult to realize on their own.

Most importantly, Jio’s startup approach supports India’s drive towards self-sufficiency through the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. By funding Indian startups that address Indian challenges—particularly education, small business digitalization, and citizen service—Jio is contributing to a robust, Indigenous technology spine.

Conclusion

Jio-backed startups are far from over—in fact, they are just beginning to scale. Mukesh Ambani’s clear emphasis on emerging technologies like 5G, AI, and cloud computing signals that these startups will play increasingly central roles in the next phase of Jio’s evolution. Platforms such as Radisys will be instrumental in rolling out next-generation telecom infrastructure. In contrast, artificial intelligence-based businesses such as Haptik and Two Platforms will become the cornerstone of Jio’s digital solutions powered by smart automation and immersive experiences.

There is also rising excitement about Jio Platforms’ financial future. With billions raised from international investors such as Facebook, Google, and Qualcomm, the company is well-positioned for a record-breaking IPO. Whether Jio Platforms issues an IPO—or even spins out critical assets such as JioMart, JioSaavn, or JioHealth into individual listings—it may unlock enormous value and provide international visibility to the startups in its portfolio.

Entrepreneurs developing for Bharat, this is an enormous opportunity: addressing big-scale issues with the support of one of India’s strongest digital platforms.

FAQs

1. Why do Jio Platforms invest in startups rather than developing everything in-house?

Jio invests in startups to speed up innovation, access niche talent, and plug ready-to-scale solutions into its framework—particularly in AI, ed-tech, IoT, and content delivery.

2. What is Jio’s largest startup acquisition to date?

Embibe and JioSaavn are amongst the biggest, with Jio spending more than $180 million on Embibe and acquiring Saavn to form JioSaavn in a transaction worth about $1 billion.

3. Are all these startups owned entirely by Jio Platforms?

Some are under majority ownership (such as Haptik, Fynd, and NowFloats), while others, such as Glance or Two Platforms, had strategic minority investments.

4. How do these startups gain an advantage from being funded by Jio?

They get access to Jio’s huge user base, extensive distribution, capital, and linkage with offerings such as JioMart, MyJio, and JioFiber.

5. Are any of these startups found as independent apps?

Yes. Apps such as JioSaavn and Embibe are standalone apps but are promoted via Jio’s ecosystem.

6. Is Jio going to invest in new areas in the future?

Yes. Jio will likely invest in areas like health tech, fintech, and generative AI in the future, following India’s changing digital needs.

7. Will Jio Platforms or any of these startups go public?

There is high speculation regarding a future IPO for Jio Platforms. Certain startups may also be spun off or listed separately.

8. How do these investments benefit India’s digital economy?

By investing in Indian deep tech and consumer technology, Jio enables the generation of jobs, digital infrastructure, and platforms optimized for Bharat.

9. Are global startups included in Jio’s portfolio?

Yes. Two Platforms (US-based) and Radisys (US) are some of the global startups that Jio has invested in or acquired for technological capabilities.

10. How do startups pitch or partner with Jio Platforms?

Even though Jio lacks a public startup portal, partnerships, and acquisitions are generally made directly through outreach, strategic scouting, and ecosystem networking through Reliance Digital or JioGenNext programs.