Hyderabad,July 22: Veltris, an AI–first Digital Product Engineering Services partner named in HFS Research’s 2026 Challengers’ Code and recognized by Constellation Research among the Top 30 AI–First firms, today announced the launch of the Veltris Vertical AI Academy, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and enterprise AI adoption. Veltris has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Woxsen University, naming it the Academy‘s first private university, with the program to be established at Woxsen‘s Hyderabad campus.
Under the MoU, the two organizations will jointly design and deliver an industry-led curriculum that integrates academic instruction, enterprise expertise, and the Databricks ecosystem. The Academy will follow a structured three-phase model comprising classroom learning, a Capstone Project, and internship and placement opportunities. Students will be trained by Veltris‘ Vertical AI experts alongside nominated faculty from Woxsen University‘s School of Business (SOB), School of Technology, and School of Sciences , combining academic rigor with practical enterprise AI experience.
A First-of-its-Kind Vertical AI Initiative
Most AI education teaches general-purpose AI tools. The Veltris Vertical AI Academy is built around Vertical AI: artificial intelligence built and applied to solve specific, domain-focused enterprise problems. Veltris chose Woxsen University as its first private university academic partner for a university environment that already emphasizes technology, entrepreneurship, and industry integration.
The curriculum will be developed jointly, with Veltris contributing enterprise use cases, applied AI frameworks, and access to the Databricks ecosystem, while Woxsen University provides academic structure, faculty engagement, and student access. The intent is for students to move beyond theoretical coursework into applied, project-based learning that mirrors how AI is deployed inside large organizations.
Why the Collaboration Matters
As enterprises across sectors move from experimenting with AI to embedding it into core operations, demand is rising for professionals who understand not just AI models but how those models are applied within specific industry contexts, a shift widely described in the industry as the move toward Vertical AI. Meeting this demand requires more than academic instruction alone; it requires structured exposure to enterprise datasets, cloud-based AI platforms, and the workflows through which AI moves from prototype to production.
Industry-academia partnerships of this kind aim to close the gap between what students learn in the classroom and what enterprises need on day one. For students, this can mean access to real enterprise problems, mentorship from practicing AI professionals, and industry-recognized certifications alongside their degree. For faculty and researchers, it can open new avenues for applied research grounded in enterprise data and deployment challenges. For the broader AI ecosystem, initiatives such as this contribute to a growing pipeline of talent trained specifically for enterprise-scale, domain-specific AI work rather than generic AI literacy alone.
Supporting India‘s AI Vision
Drawing on the principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the IndiaAI Mission, the Veltris Vertical AI Academy aims to nurture indigenous AI talent and prepare students for Vertical AI careers across healthcare, technology, and industrials.
“The partnership between Woxsen University and Veltris is driven by a shared vision to redefine AI education through meaningful industry integration. Moving beyond conventional learning, the collaboration will enable students to learn directly from industry experts, work on emerging technologies, and gain access to internships and career opportunities through a structured Train & Deploy model. By empowering both faculty and students with industry-led certifications and real-world exposure, the initiative aims to create future-ready AI professionals equipped with the skills, tools, and mindset required to thrive in the evolving digital economy,” said Bernard Bhutia, Head of Center of Talent Development (COTD and Woxsen Study Abroad Cell, Woxsen University.
“We started the Veltris Vertical AI Academy because the constraint on Vertical AI is not technology, it is talent with industry depth. With Woxsen University as our first academic partner, we are bringing real enterprise AI problems into the classroom and building a pipeline of professionals who can operationalize AI within micro-industry workflows in India,” said Dr. Vishwakarma Jai Shankar, Chief AI Officer, Veltris.