Softlabs Group Showcases Sovereign AI at ICC Defense Summit 2026
From Mumbai to Visakhapatnam: Softlabs Group Leads Sovereign AI Innovation at ICC Defense Start Up & Autonomous Systems Summit 2026
Visakhapatnam | February 23, 2026
Softlabs Group, through its AI venture Ainfinite AI, marked a defining presence as Gold Sponsor at the ICC Defense Start Up & Autonomous Systems Summit 2026 held at Radisson Blu, Visakhapatnam.
What unfolded was not just exhibition participation, but a clear statement on the future of sovereign AI in India’s defense ecosystem.
Gold Sponsor Recognition at ICC Defense Summit 2026
Softlabs Group and Ainfinite AI were officially recognized as Gold Sponsors at the prestigious event organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
The summit brought together defense innovators, autonomous systems leaders, policymakers, procurement authorities, and strategic stakeholders working toward strengthening India’s indigenous defense capabilities.
CEO Takes the National Stage: Defence-Startup Collaboration & Financing
At the summit, Mithilesh Bandiwdekar, CEO of Softlabs Group, was invited to speak on the panel titled:
“Defence-Startup Collaboration & Financing”
The session focused on real structural challenges facing India’s defense innovation ecosystem.
Key Discussion Points Covered:
- Navigating iDEX and Make-II procurement frameworks
- Funding realities for defense-tech startups
- Why AI-enabled border surveillance is operational necessity, not future speculation
- Bridging the gap between concept validation and actual deployment
The conversation centered on practical execution. Not theory. Not policy abstraction. Deployment.
VIDEO: Software Certification Gap & Defense-Tech Workforce Readiness
In this discussion, our CEO Mithilesh bandiwdekar addressed two urgent structural issues impacting India’s defense modernization.
1) The Software Certification Gap
Current certification frameworks remain hardware-focused.
But modern defense systems increasingly rely on:
- Flight control software
- AI-based decision logic
- Autonomous surveillance engines
- Mission-critical algorithmic systems
- Software-level compliance protocols
The challenge is clear.
Technology is evolving faster than certification frameworks.
Without updated regulatory pathways for software-led defense systems, innovation risks stagnation before deployment.
2) Building India’s Defense-Tech Workforce
India is a global IT powerhouse.
But defense-specific specialization remains limited.
- To strengthen sovereign defense innovation, the ecosystem requires:
- Specialized avionics and defense-technology programs in universities
- Structured industry-academia partnerships
- Mandatory defense internships
- Focused AI, GenAI, and autonomous systems training
The gap is not talent.
The gap is specialization aligned to national security needs.
Ainfinite Core : Built for Sovereign, On-Premise Deployment
At the summit, Ainfinite AI demonstrated its private, secured, sovereign LLM platform engineered for classified defense environments.
- No internet dependency.
- No external cloud exposure.
- Zero data leakage.
1) Ainfinite Core : Research Co-Pilot
Transforms decades of defense documentation, SOPs, and R&D archives into structured, instantly accessible intelligence for engineers.
2) Ainfinite Core : Governance Co-Pilot
Acts as a continuous digital inspector for base operations and compliance monitoring.
Key Impact Areas:
- Real-time readiness visibility
- Reduced administrative manpower
- Inspection failure prevention
- Predictive equipment availability
- Accelerated command decisions
3) Ainfinite AI : Surveillance Co-Pilot & FOD Detection System
Provides 24/7 perimeter, border, and asset monitoring.
The FOD system protects high-value aircraft by detecting runway debris in real time, reducing operational risk.
On-Ground Leadership & Strategic Engagement
Representing Softlabs Group at the summit:
- Mithilesh Bandiwdekar, CEO
- Chinmay Parab, AI Lead
- Makrand Patkar, CMO
The leadership team engaged directly with defense officials, autonomous systems innovators, and strategic partners to demonstrate live sovereign AI capabilities.
Exhibition Booth: Demonstrating Deployable AI
The booth showcased the complete Ainfinite AI ecosystem including Research, Governance, Surveillance, and FOD systems.
Live walkthroughs emphasized practical deployment in secure, classified environments.
Softlabs Group: 22 Years of Enterprise AI Experience
Softlabs Group brings over two decades of enterprise AI and digital transformation expertise.
Through Ainfinite AI and Ainfinite Core, the organization is now focused on India’s defense modernization with:
- On-premise LLM infrastructure
- Secure AI pipelines
- Sovereign deployment architecture
- Defense-grade operational AI