On May 21, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend a high-impact, closed-door dialogue hosted by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), featuring Tamil Nadu's Honourable Minister for Industries, Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa. This boardroom-style session brought together C-suite leaders and entrepreneurs from Singapore-based companies eager to engage with one of India's most dynamic and fast-growing states.
As the Founder & CEO of Maya AIāand also of WiselyWise, which is actively training students in Dr. Rajaa's constituency as part of the Naan Mudhalvan initiative under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's OfficeāI introduced myself and shared our mission. Dr. Rajaa was pleased to hear this, acknowledging the value of such grassroots AI skilling initiatives.
Naturally, I was keen to understand the broader vision on AI for SMEs in Tamil Nadu. Maya AI was built specifically to help SME owners who are overwhelmed with day-to-day operationsāfrom sales and support to hiring and content marketingāby giving them instant access to 300+ AI-powered agents.
The Key Question: AI Accessibility for MSMEs
So when the Q&A opened up, I asked Dr. Rajaa a question that's on the minds of thousands of SME owners across India:
"What steps is the Tamil Nadu government taking to ensure AI becomes accessible and scalable for MSMEs?"
Dr. Rajaa responded warmly and positively. He shared that while the Ministry of Industries is deeply invested in transformation, his colleagues across other ministries are also actively working on strategies to support AI for SMEs in Tamil Nadu. It was clear that this is not a one-off initiative, but part of a multi-stakeholder push toward intelligent, inclusive innovation.
Why This AI for SMEs in Tamil Nadu Dialogue Matters
Tamil Nadu is India's second-fastest-growing economy, with one of the largest MSME bases in the country. It's also emerging as a leader in sectors like green tech, fintech, food processing, wellness, and tourism.
Yet across all these sectors, the same problem exists: SME founders are drowning in admin work and struggling to scale without hiring.
SME founders are drowning in admin work and struggling to scale without hiring.
The government's interest in AI is not just about large enterprise transformationāit's about building infrastructure for the everyday entrepreneur. And that is a huge opportunity for innovation.
It's also a strategic moment. With India's increasing global relevance in AI and digital public infrastructure, state-level action like this could set the tone for regional AI ecosystems. Tamil Nadu's willingness to explore scalable solutions for MSMEs sends a strong signal that inclusive innovation is possibleāand necessary.
Economic Impact
Second-fastest-growing economy with largest MSME base
SME Challenge
Founders drowning in admin work, struggling to scale
How Maya AI Contributes to the Vision of AI for SMEs in Tamil Nadu
This is the space Maya AI was designed to serve.
With 300+ plug-and-play AI agents, Maya helps businesses automate high-effort tasks such as:
- ā¢ Generating LinkedIn posts or blog articles
- ā¢ Replying to emails or customer messages
- ā¢ Screening resumes and writing job descriptions
- ā¢ Creating pitch decks and lead gen emails
All of this, without hiring or writing a single line of code.
Maya AI is already used by 150+ institutions and 4,000+ users across Tamil Nadu, including educators, entrepreneurs, and business owners. As we continue expanding our reach, we're also contributing insight into what scalable, frictionless AI adoption could look like for state and local economies.
We believe AI must be usable without explanation. For SMEs, that means intuitive interfaces, instant results, and zero hiring burden.
Maya AI Impact
Final Takeaway
AI is no longer futuristic. For SME owners, it's the lever that lets you do more, faster, without burning out or hiring.
Tamil Nadu is thinking bigānot just about infrastructure and industry, but about empowering entrepreneurs to lead the AI wave.
As a partner in this journey, we're excited to support Tamil Nadu's evolving AI ecosystem.
Ready to Transform Your SME with AI?
Join 4,000+ businesses across Tamil Nadu who are already using Maya AI to automate operations and scale faster.
Visit: https://smartmaya.ai