QwikBuild has raised $2.3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Globalway, a Japan-listed tech major. The startup plans to use the funds to expand its enterprise AI platform in the US and Southeast Asia, and has announced a joint venture with Globalway to enter Japan's enterprise software market.
TL;DR
- QwikBuild raises $2.3M in pre-seed funding to expand its enterprise AI platform.
- The startup forms a joint venture with Globalway to enter Japan's enterprise software market.
- QwikBuild aims to address the gap in enterprise AI adoption by allowing business teams to build and test applications autonomously.
What happened
QwikBuild, a Bengaluru-based enterprise AI startup, has raised $2.3 million (approximately ₹22 crore) in a pre-seed funding round. The round was led by Globalway, with participation from Blume Ventures, DeVC, Marsshot, and angel investors Lalit Keshre and Ankit Nagori. The startup will use the funds to fuel its go-to-market activities, including setting up a team in the US and expanding operations in Southeast Asia.
In addition to the investment, QwikBuild has announced a joint venture (JV) with Globalway to enter Japan's enterprise software market. The JV is expected to become operational by the end of 2026 and will take QwikBuild's platform to Globalway's existing and prospective enterprise customers in Japan.
Why it matters
QwikBuild's platform combines custom software development with AI-driven workflow automation, allowing businesses to build applications from scratch or replace legacy systems. This approach addresses the gap in enterprise AI adoption by enabling business teams to build and test applications as their requirements evolve, without repeatedly relying on engineering teams.
The startup's focus on codifying business decisions rather than automating individual tasks sets it apart from specialized AI startups. This approach has the potential to unlock a significant market, as only about 1% of enterprises have adopted AI to date. QwikBuild is betting that businesses will increasingly turn to platforms combining software development, integrations, and AI agents to automate operations.
Key facts
- QwikBuild raised $2.3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Globalway, according to Inc42.
- The startup plans to use the funds to expand its enterprise AI platform in the US and Southeast Asia.
- QwikBuild has formed a joint venture with Globalway to enter Japan's enterprise software market, expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
- The startup was founded in 2025 by Pradeep Ayyagari, an ex-Slice executive.
- QwikBuild serves over 100 enterprises across India, Southeast Asia, the US, and Dubai, with about 10-12% being large enterprises and 30% being smaller businesses.
- The startup aims to address the gap in enterprise AI adoption by allowing business teams to build and test applications autonomously.
- Indian AI startup funding surged 265% year-over-year to $438 million in Q3 2026, according to Inc42's Indian Tech Startup Funding Report.
Context
QwikBuild's funding round is part of a broader trend in the Indian startup ecosystem, with enterprise AI and automation startup RapidCanvas netting $29 million last week. Despite concerns about AI valuations, investors see vertical AI as the biggest value driver over the next five years, followed by AI hardware and semiconductors and AI-led IT and business services.
The startup's approach to combining software development and AI-driven workflow automation addresses a significant gap in the market. As businesses increasingly look to automate operations, platforms like QwikBuild's have the potential to unlock a large market, with only about 1% of enterprises currently having adopted AI.
