Global And Indian Banks Turn Strategic Investors In AI Startups

3 Oct 2026, 12:42 pm · 4h ago · 1 min read · Inc42

Global and Indian financial institutions are shifting from vendor licensing to acquiring equity stakes in artificial intelligence startups. Recent examples include Rogo’s $30 million round backed by major global banks, and Japanese lab Sakana AI securing investments from Citi and Santander. In India, HDFC Bank and Canara Bank have invested in AI platform CoRover, while IDFC First Bank partnered with domestic AI lab Sarvam to build an experimental R&D unit. Banks are pursuing direct equity to gain strategic governance, customize high-stakes workflows, and leverage proprietary financial datasets rather than relying on generic off-the-shelf commercial AI software.