AI Startup Giga Secures $61M to Scale Emotionally Intelligent Support Agents

Giga, the AI company redefining how people interact with customer support, today announced it has raised a $61 million Series A round led by Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator and Nexus Venture Partners.

The funding will accelerate Giga’s growth as it continues to outperform global incumbents and emerges as the product of choice for complex enterprise support automation. Giga will grow its technical team, accelerate go-to-market motion, and scale deployments with the world’s largest enterprises.

Founded by IIT Kharagpur graduates and Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees Varun Vummadi (CEO) and Esha Manideep (CTO), Giga is redefining how companies scale high quality support. The platform enables companies to deploy emotionally intelligent agents that can reason, act, and resolve issues — all in real time.

"What excites me most about Giga is that it's not just building a best-in-class support bot—it’s that the team is building a foundational AI infrastructure layer for customer voice,” said Satish Dharmaraj, Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures. “This is one of our largest early stage investments to date because we believe deeply in both the strength of the product to reshape the world of customer support and the pace of execution from the Giga team.”

Abhishek Sharma, Managing Director, Nexus Venture Partners, added,

Giga is leading a paradigm shift in enterprise support with AI. Their category‑leading platform helps the biggest enterprises in the world to achiecompanies move from human and outsourced support to scalable, software‑driven AI—boosting efficiency, quality, and compliance. Varun, Esha, and the team are building one of the most transformational AI companies of our time, and it’s been a privilege for Nexus to be part of their journey since the early days.

Rather than bolting together prebuilt scripts or APIs, Giga has engineered a unified platform for real-time automation — purpose-built for scale, precision, and emotional fluency. Giga’s AI agents are logical, perceptive, emotionally aware, and always improving. And their breakthrough is context — giving AI the memory to truly understand every situation. All of this comes in a platform that can be deployed across even the most complex enterprises, in just weeks, not months.

Key capabilities include - Highly Configurable Intelligence, Low Latency, High Empathy – Multi-intent understanding, emotional awareness, and multilingual fluency, Built for the Enterprise - Giga was designed to scale to the largest B2C companies in the world, with enterprise-grade security, compliance, and reliability built in from day one, Enterprise-Grade Security Powerful Platform – Out-of-the-box analytics, automated QA, and low-code tools to customize every part of the agent, Context as a Superpower – Every conversation is remembered, analyzed, and used to improve the next.

Giga’s system ingests a company’s entire support knowledge base and instantly generates high-accuracy agents. These agents handle real-time reasoning across complex policies and systems — without human handoff.

Organizations globally spend billions on call centers every year and yet the customer experience is still broken. ” said Varun Vummadi, co-founder and CEO. “We built Giga to change that. For the first time ever, machines are capable of understanding the nuances of customer voices and holding conversations with them, fundamentally changing the way the world interacts with devices.

Aniket Kamthe of Nexus Venture Partners, said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Giga at this inflection point for AI-powered customer experiences. They're setting new standards for deploying AI reliably at scale across complex enterprise environments."

Designed for high-compliance industries like ecommerce, financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications, Giga’s agents use retrieval-augmented generation and contextual reasoning to deliver policy-safe, emotionally intelligent conversations, without sacrificing speed or accuracy.

Giga’s voice systems already handle millions of customer calls every month for large-scale enterprises, dramatically reducing wait times.

At DoorDash, Giga’s deployment improved resolution speed, reduced escalations, and enhanced operational efficiency across teams.

At DoorDash, we operate at a massive scale across services, platforms, and languages,” said DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang. “Giga leveraged usage data to deliver measurable improvements, including fewer escalations, faster resolution paths, and more efficient workflows across our teams. As we continue to grow across more than 40 countries and serve nearly 50 million people each month, partnerships like this are critical to delivering better outcomes for consumers on a global scale.

To learn more, please visit https://giga.ai/.

About Giga

Giga is an AI platform that automates enterprise customer support with emotionally intelligent, real-time agents. Designed for high-compliance environments, Giga’s agents combine contextual reasoning, secure orchestration, and sub-second response times to deliver human-quality conversations at global scale and ease a variety of customer support issues, from call abandonment to customer wait times. To learn more, please visit https://giga.ai/ .

AI Startup Consuma Secures $1.3M to Disrupt Traditional Research Methods

Mr Abhilash Madabhushi

• The round also saw participation by prominent angel investors like Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Mekin Maheshwari (Flipkart), Harsh Shah (Fynd), Arnav Kumar (Leap Finance), Shiv Kapoor (Titan Winner’s Fund) and others
• The funds will be allocated for technology development and market expansion - both domestically and globally.

Consuma, an AI startup that is disrupting traditional research methods like surveys & focus-groups, today announced that it has raised $1.3 million (INR 11.16 Crore) in seed funding led by Equirus InnovateX Fund. The funding round also saw participation by prominent angel investors Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Mekin Maheshwari (Flipkart), Bhavik Dholakia (Swatantra Wealth), Harsh Shah (Fynd), Arnav Kumar (Leap Finance), Shiv Kapoor (Titan Capital), Biswa Kalyan Rath (Comedian) and several others.

Founded in 2021 by Abhilash Madabhushi during his second year at PES University, Consuma is transforming the consumer research landscape by helping brands derive faster, deeper insights from digital behaviour data — at scale. In less than six months since its public launch, the company already works with over 35 global brands, including Godrej and Britannia.

Speaking on the development, Abhilash Madabhushi, Founder of Consuma, shared, “Consumers are changing faster than ever before, and brands need research methods that keep up with this rate of change.

Unfortunately, traditional research methods have become sluggish and outdated. Relying on surveys in 2025 is like relying on smoke signals in the era of satellites.

At Consuma, we are building technology to bring consumer research into the age of AI - driving differential insights in minutes, not months.

We already see this with our customers, but in the not-too-distant future it will be clear that brands that use Consuma will outperform their competitors that do not.With this round, we can accelerate our journey towards that mission.”

Sadhika Agarwal, Equirus InnovateX Fund Principal Officer, shared "In a world of quick commerce where consumer expectations evolve in real time, shelf life of insights is low. Brands can no longer rely on million-dollar research projects that run into months. Consuma AI’s exceptional team and platform brings that decision intelligence into the moment. This investment round will help scale faster, deepen the tech, and enable delivery of insights from source to strategy, in minutes, not weeks."

Today, with Consuma’s AI Engine, brands can perform research in 30 minutes instead of 2-3 months, at 1/10th the cost, all while analysing 1000x more data.

About Consuma

Consuma is an AI startup revolutionizing how brands conduct consumer research. By replacing traditional surveys and focus groups with AI-driven analysis of digital behaviour, Consuma enables brands to access faster, richer, and more cost-effective insights. Founded in 2021 by Abhilash Madabhushi, Consuma already works with leading brands such as Britannia, Foxtale, and Godrej, and is redefining how businesses understand and act on consumer intelligence.

For more information, visit: https://consuma.ai/

Anthropic Taps India’s AI Boom: Bengaluru Launch and Reliance Talks Underway

Anthropic is making a major move into India with plans to open its first office in Bengaluru and explore a strategic partnership with Reliance Industries.

Notably, India is already Claude’s second-largest market by traffic and usage. Anthropic is exploring a strategic partnership with Reliance Industries to integrate Claude into the conglomerate’s digital ecosystem.

CEO Dario Amodei is also scheduled to meet senior government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Anthropic's India Expansion

• Bengaluru Office: According to the reports, Anthropic will establish its first India office in Bengaluru, marking its second Asia-Pacific location after Tokyo. The launch is expected to be officially announced this week.
• Focus Areas: The Bengaluru office will target developers, startups, and enterprise clients, supporting AI deployment in sectors like education, healthcare, agriculture, and IT services.
• India's Role: India is now Claude’s second-largest market by traffic and usage, with over 767,000 app downloads and a 572% year-over-year increase in consumer spending.

Partnership with Reliance Industries

• Strategic Talks: CEO Dario Amodei is in India to meet Mukesh Ambani and senior Reliance executives in Mumbai. The goal is to expand Claude AI’s reach through Reliance’s digital ecosystem, including Jio platforms.
• Reliance Intelligence: In August, Reliance launched a new AI division focused on infrastructure and enterprise solutions, already collaborating with Google and Meta.

Government Engagement

• Policy Outreach: Amodei is also meeting top Indian government officials, including a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling long-term ambitions in India’s AI ecosystem.

The news about Anthropic opening its first India office in Bengaluru and exploring a partnership with Reliance Industries was first reported by TechCrunch. Multiple outlets including MSN, India Today, and Livemint cited TechCrunch as the original source of the report.

Peak XV Announces Surge 11: 23 Startups Shaping the Future of AI, Fintech & Consumer Innovation

Peak XV today announces the launch of Surge 11, bringing together 23 pioneering companies that are reimagining the future for consumers, developers, and enterprises across India, APAC, and global markets.

Surge’s eleventh cohort includes 12 AI startups building across vertical, enterprise, and consumer AI. Alongside them are 4 fintech innovators, 4 consumer brands, and 3 infrastructure and dev tools companies.
Since its inception in 2019, Surge has become one of the most impactful early-stage platforms globally. Surge companies have raised over $3 billion in follow-on funding, with the top ten startups generating more than $1 billion in cumulative annual revenues.

The Surge community has now grown to 170+ startups and 400+ founders, spanning 17+ nationalities and 18+ sectors. Surge combines seed capital with unmatched global access, bringing hands-on guidance from Peak XV’s investment and operating teams alongside structured programming focused on product, engineering, sales, marketing, culture, fundraising and other key foundational elements of building enduring companies.

“At Surge, we believe the seed stage is where the magic begins, and Surge 11 reflects the extraordinary entrepreneurial energy across our region. AI is leading the charge, not just in enterprise applications but by beginning to transform traditional industries from banking and healthcare, to semiconductors and manufacturing. We are also seeing the emergence of new consumer AI companies which is incredibly exciting. But AI is not the full story - we are now seeing the next wave of fintech companies and exciting new consumer companies in India and our region. This cohort truly offers a glimpse of the future,” said Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV and Surge.

One element of Surge is the founder immersion where founders learn directly from some of the most influential builders across our region and globally. Some of our speakers and mentors in previous cohorts include Sanjeev Bikhchandani of Info Edge; Harshil Mathur of Razorpay; Vidit Aatrey of Meesho; Amrish Rau of Pinelabs; Kunal Shah of CRED, Gokul Rajaram; Arvind Jain of Glean, and Aman Sanger of Cursor.

The founder immersion for Surge 11 culminates in the US where founders engage directly with global leaders in technology. Previous immersions have included Sam Altman at Open AI HQ, Jensen Huang at NVIDIA HQ, and operators including Carl Eschenbach, CEO of Workday, and Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake.

Past Surge founders also lead sessions for current founders, including Prukalpa Sankar of Atlan; Sagar Khatri of Multiplier; Bahadir Ozdemir of Airalo; Dhvanil Sheth of Skillmatics; Mohit Yadav of Minimalist; Sanket Shah of InVideo and Asad Khan of LambdaTest.

Surge also continues to bring in world-class investors to guide founders on scaling and fundraising, including Doug Leone of Sequoia Capital, Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, and Chetan Puttagunta of Benchmark.

About Surge

Surge is Peak XV Partners’ rapid-scale-up program for early-stage founders. The program combines up to USD 3 million of seed capital with company-building workshops, community access, and a global curriculum delivered by world-class operators. Surge’s mission is to help founders lay the foundation for enduring companies from day one. For more information, visit https://surge.peakxv.com/.

About Peak XV

Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA) is a leading venture capital firm investing across India, Southeast Asia and beyond. Over the last 19 years of operations in the region, Peak XV has grown to manage approximately USD 9 billion in capital across 13 funds and invested in over 400 companies. The portfolio has seen 31 IPOs and several successful M&As till date. To know more, please visit: www.peakxv.com.

NVIDIA Launches $2.5B UK AI Investment Drive

NVIDIA has officially announced a landmark £2 billion investment to supercharge the United Kingdom’s AI startup ecosystem — a move hailed as a “major vote of confidence” in the UK’s tech future.

Key Highlights of the Investment

• Purpose: Catalyze globally transformative AI businesses via capital, compute, and talent.
• Target Regions: London, Oxford, Cambridge, and Manchester as AI growth zones.
• Strategic Partners: Accel, Air Street Capital, Balderton Capital, Hoxton Ventures, Phoenix Court.
• Beneficiary Startups: Wayve, Nscale, Revolut, Synthesia, PolyAI, Latent Labs, Basecamp Research.

Major Investments

Startup	Sector	Investment
Wayve	Autonomous Driving	£500 million
Nscale	AI Data Centers	£500 million
Others (Revolut, Synthesia, etc.)	Fintech, Generative AI, Bioinformatics	Undisclosed

Why It Matters

• UK’s AI talent pool is strong but scaling has been hindered by infrastructure and funding gaps.
• NVIDIA aims to democratize access to supercomputing and connect VCs with academic hubs.
• Energy costs and regional VC concentration have slowed growth — this investment addresses both.

Leadership Voices

“This is the age of AI — the big bang of a new industrial revolution.” — Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA
“This partnership will create jobs, spark new industries and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of global AI leadership.” — UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

Global Context

• Microsoft: £22 billion commitment to UK AI infrastructure.
• OpenAI: Launch of Stargate UK supercomputing initiative.
• Blackstone: £100 billion pledge over 10 years for UK tech and infrastructure.

Alphabet Spinout SandboxAQ, Backed by Nvidia, Unveils Synthetic Molecule Megaset to Revolutionize Drug Discovery

SandboxAQ, an AI startup spun out of Google parent Alphabet and backed by Nvidia, has announced that it has released a massive dataset of 5.2 million synthetic 3D molecules to accelerate drug discovery. These molecules don’t exist in nature—they were generated using Nvidia’s chips and grounded in real-world experimental data to simulate how drugs bind to proteins, a critical step in developing effective treatments.

This synthetic dataset, called the Structurally Augmented IC50 Repository (SAIR), is publicly available and designed to train AI models that can predict drug-protein interactions far faster than traditional lab methods. The goal? To virtually replicate lab results with high accuracy, potentially compressing months of research into a single AI-driven prediction.

It’s a bold move that blends physics-based modeling with machine learning—an approach that could reshape how we think about early-stage pharmaceutical R&D. And with SandboxAQ planning to monetize its own trained models, it’s also a glimpse into the future of AI-powered biotech platforms.

While the dataset is public, SandboxAQ plans to monetize its proprietary AI models trained on it—essentially offering virtual labs as a service.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, right in the heart of Silicon Valley, SandboxAQ is a fascinating fusion of quantum tech and AI muscle. It emerged from Alphabet’s moonshot factory and is backed by Nvidia, with nearly $1 billion in venture capital fueling its ambitions.

SandboxAQ's signature tech is Large Quantitative Models, the AI systems grounded in the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology. These aren’t just data-driven models; they simulate the real world with scientific rigor. Think of it as a tireless digital researcher. This tool autonomously explores millions of chemical pathways, helping discover novel molecules far beyond human capacity.

Beyond drug discovery, SandboxAQ is tackling – 1) Cybersecurity: Detecting cryptographic vulnerabilities; 2) Navigation: Enhancing precision in GPS-denied environments. 3) Medical Diagnostics: Using AI to analyze cardiac signals. 4)Materials Science: Predicting atomic-level properties for breakthrough materials.

SandboxAQ was founded by Jack Hidary, a tech entrepreneur with a deep background in quantum computing and neuroscience. He previously led a quantum initiative at Alphabet before spinning it out as SandboxAQ in 2022. Hidary studied philosophy and neuroscience at Columbia University and has authored a well-regarded book on quantum computing.

While Hidary is the primary founder and CEO, the company’s early development was also shaped by influential figures like Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, who serves as Chairman of the Board.

Meta Invests $14.3 Bn in Scale AI, Taps Alexandr Wang for ‘Superintelligence’ Unit

Meta Platforms has finalized a massive $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, acquiring a 49% stake in the data-labeling startup. This deal values Scale AI at $29 billion, making it one of Meta’s largest investments, second only to its WhatsApp acquisition.

A key aspect of this move is the recruitment of Scale AI’s CEO, Alexandr Wang, who will join Meta’s newly established "superintelligence" unit. This lab is focused on advancing artificial general intelligence (AGI) and positioning Meta as a leader in AI development. Wang will remain on Scale’s board while Jason Droege steps in as interim CEO.

Scale Al is a data-labeling and Al infrastructure company founded in 2016 by MIT-dropout Alexandr Wang and Lucy Guo. Based in San Francisco, it specializes in annotating and curating datasets for Al model training, serving clients like OpenAl, Google, Microsoft, and the U.S. government. Scale AI also operates subsidiaries like Remotasks and Outlier, which recruit gig workers to manually label data for Al applications, including self-driving cars, large language models, and military projects. 

Scale Al has also developed SEAL (Safety, Evaluations, and Alignment Lab) to assess Al model capabilities and alignment.
Meta’s decision to invest in Scale AI comes at a time when it seeks to refine its AI model strategy, particularly following the lukewarm reception of Llama 4. By partnering with Scale AI, Meta gains access to high-quality labeled data crucial for AI model training. Scale AI has been a key player in providing labeled datasets to major tech firms, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, as well as government agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense.

Interestingly, Meta opted for non-voting shares in Scale AI, likely to avoid antitrust scrutiny. As regulatory pressures mount against major tech companies, this approach allows Meta to benefit from Scale’s expertise without triggering further investigations.

This move mirrors strategies adopted by Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, who have strategically invested in AI startups to accelerate their own development while bringing in top talent. Meta’s entry into the AI investment space signals a renewed push toward achieving superintelligence and enhancing its AI capabilities.

The investment raises significant questions about Meta’s long-term AI strategy. Will this push towards AGI place it ahead of competitors? And how will Scale AI’s capabilities reshape the future of AI innovation?.

OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s AI Device Startup in $6.5B Hardware Push

Big move in the AI hardware space! OpenAI has acquired io, the AI device startup co-founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion all-stock deal. This marks OpenAI’s largest acquisition to date, signaling a shift beyond software into consumer hardware.

Ive, best known for designing Apple’s iPhone, iMac, and iPad, will take on deep creative and design responsibilities at OpenAI while continuing to lead his design studio, LoveFrom. The acquisition consolidates OpenAI’s previous 23% stake in io, with the remaining $5 billion paid in equity.

The goal? To develop AI-native devices that rethink human interaction with technology—potentially moving beyond traditional screens. The first product could arrive in 2026, with industry speculation pointing to a next-gen AI-powered assistant or wearable.

This positions OpenAI to compete directly with Apple, Google, and xAI, all racing to integrate AI into consumer devices.

To recall, in September 2023 IndianWeb2.com reported that OpenAI is in advanced talks with former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son to launch a venture to build the “iPhone of artificial intelligence", with over $1 billion financials from the Softbank.

This acquisition puts OpenAI in direct competition with Apple and Google in the AI hardware space, potentially disrupting their dominance in consumer tech. OpenAI’s move into AI-native devices could threaten Apple’s grip on premium consumer hardware.

Jony Ive, the mastermind behind Apple’s most iconic designs, is now shaping OpenAI’s hardware vision, which could lure Apple loyalists. Apple has been slow to integrate AI deeply into its devices, and OpenAI’s new product could highlight that gap.

Google has been embedding AI into its Pixel devices and Android ecosystem, but OpenAI’s approach focuses on screenless, voice-first interaction.

If OpenAI’s device succeeds, it could reduce reliance on Google’s AI-powered search and assistant technologies. OpenAI’s timing—announcing this acquisition during Google I/O—suggests a strategic move to steal the spotlight.

OpenAI is betting on ambient computing, where AI operates seamlessly in the background without traditional screens. This could create a new category of devices, rather than competing directly with smartphones or smartwatches. If successful, OpenAI could set the standard for AI-first hardware, forcing Apple and Google to rethink their strategies.

Apple and Google will likely respond by accelerating their AI hardware efforts. Apple may push deeper AI integration into iPhones, while Google could refine its AI assistant and wearables. OpenAI’s success will depend on whether it can deliver a compelling, intuitive AI experience that feels indispensable.

L&T-Cloudfiniti Forms Strategic Partnerships with 3 Leading AI Startups

To drive innovation in healthcare, life sciences, and vertical AI solutions in India and across the globe

L&T-Cloudfiniti, a leading technology solutions provider, is proud to announce new strategic partnerships with three leading AI startups, including one based in Europe.

The collaborations will focus on groundbreaking developments in healthcare, life sciences, vertical AI, and conversational technologies in India and across the globe by harnessing cutting-edge AI models to transform key industries and drive digital innovation in multiple sectors.

The three partnerships that L&T-Cloudfiniti has got into are:

• Hanooman AI (Healthcare & Life Sciences): L&T-Cloudfiniti has partnered with Hanooman AI, a pioneering AI startup in the healthcare and life sciences space. This partnership will leverage Hanooman’s advanced AI-powered tools to accelerate healthcare transformation in India. By integrating AI-driven insights into healthcare practices, Hanooman is poised to improve patient outcomes, optimise treatment pathways, and advance medical research in life sciences.
• CoRover (Conversational & Attentive AI): L&T-Cloudfiniti has also teamed up with CoRover, an AI-driven startup focussed on creating conversational AI and foundational models (like BharatGPT). CoRover’s innovative solutions offer the ability to enhance user experiences with more natural, human-like conversations across various sectors, including customer service, education, and more. With this collaboration, L&T-Cloudfiniti aims to bring real- time, personalised communication and AI-enabled attentiveness to the forefront of businesses in India.
• Pidima AI (Agentic AI for Regulated Industries): The third partnership is with Pidima, a UK- based startup revolutionising mission-critical industries with its Agentic AI platform. By automating test specification and compliance documentation, Pidima delivers 10x faster outcomes, reduces costs by millions, and elevates efficiency to extraordinary heights. Pidima’s solutions are designed for regulated sectors such as healthcare, Medtech, automotive, and aerospace, where precision and compliance are non-negotiable.The collaboration will significantly enhance L&T-Cloudfiniti’s AI offerings in these critical domains, paving the way for smarter, more efficient, and highly compliant operations.

Commenting on the development, Ms Seema Ambastha, Chief Executive, L&T-Cloudfiniti, said: “These collaborations reflect our commitment to driving AI adoption across industries, from healthcare to aerospace, by partnering with the brightest minds and the most innovative companies in the AI landscape.The collective expertise and disruptive technologies from these startups will play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI and will enable L&T-Cloudfiniti to provide cutting-edge solutions that deliver tangible business outcomes for clients globally.”

Vishnuvardhan Pogunulu Srinivasulu, CEO & Founder, Hanooman AI, commented: “Partnering with L&T-Cloudfiniti, Hanooman Al pioneers generative healthcare solutions - scalable, secure, and globally compliant. With Cipher Al, we're reimagining care for Bharat, making it accessible while advancing precision medicine for the world, sparking a revolution in global health outcomes. From reversing diabetes to discovering new drugs to deciphering genomics the future of healthcare is intelligent, inclusive, and is here.”

Ankush Sabharwal, Founder & CEO, CoRover AI, added: “Our collaboration with L&T- Cloudfiniti allows us to rapidly scale our conversational AI solutions on secure, high- performance GPU infrastructure, reaching global enterprises effectively. Together, we aim to redefine customer interactions, drive operational excellence, and deliver exceptional business value.”

John Marcus, Founder & CEO of Pidima AI, shared: “We are thrilled to partner with L&T- Cloudfiniti, a company that shares our vision of transforming enterprise efficiency through AI. This collaboration not only strengthens our presence in India but also accelerates our mission to empower mission-critical enterprises with smarter, faster, and more precise solutions."

Accenture Invests in Confidential AI Platform OPAQUE

Accenture has strategically invested in OPAQUE, a U.S.-based provider of a confidential AI platform. This move, facilitated through Accenture Ventures, aims to address privacy and compliance challenges in AI adoption. OPAQUE's platform enables organizations to process AI workloads on encrypted data, ensuring data security while unlocking valuable insights.

In addition to this investment, Accenture also intends to embed OPAQUE’s confidential AI platform into the Accenture AI Refinery and Accenture’s Trusted Data Services. This combined offering will help enterprises scale AI innovations with confidence, ensuring increased compliance and security without compromising data utility.

OPAQUE’s technology removes common barriers to enterprise AI so that enterprises can use sensitive data without exposure risk and run AI workloads with full regulatory compliance and verifiable audit trails.

The collaboration is expected to help enterprises scale AI innovations securely, leveraging sensitive data without exposure.

OPAQUE will also participate in Accenture Ventures' Project Spotlight, an accelerator program designed to connect startups with Accenture's expertise and client network.

OPAQUE was founded in 2021 by a team of academics and researchers from the University of California, Berkeley. The company emerged from Berkeley's RISE Lab, known for its groundbreaking work in secure and intelligent systems.

The co-founders of OPAQUE include Ion Stoica, Raluca Ada Popa, Wenting Zheng, Dr. Rishabh Poddar, and Chester Leung.
One of the co-founders Dr. Rishabh Poddar completed his B.Tech. in Computer Science from IIT Kharagpur. He also gained professional experience at IBM Research, working on software-defined networks and cloud computing, and briefly explored management consulting with the Boston Consulting Group in India.

“AI is only as good as the data it learns from, but privacy concerns have held businesses back from fully using more sensitive datasets,” said Teresa Tung, global lead of Data Capability, Accenture. “OPAQUE’s confidential AI platform helps businesses deploy AI agents that operate within confidential environments while maintaining data integrity and compliance. It’s about building trust with customers and unlocking a new era where AI can operate at scale, securely and responsibly."

“The future of AI will be built on privacy and trust, and our investment in OPAQUE is a pivotal move as we recognize the immense value in confidential AI platforms,” said Tom Lounibos, global lead, Accenture Ventures. "OPAQUE’s technology aligns with our vision for responsible innovation. This investment and collaboration will boost our focus on bringing transformative solutions to market that allow businesses to harness the full power of data without compromising privacy."

This year, OPAQUE is second AI Startup receiving investment from Accenture Ventures. Earlier this month, the venture capital arm of Accenture also invested in Aaru, creators of an AI-powered prediction engine. Aaru's platform simulates consumer behavior and preferences, offering businesses precise insights for customer engagement and strategy[](

OpenAI's Rival Anthropic Reaches $1.4 Billion in Annualized Revenue

Anthropic, a major competitor of OpenAI, has achieved an impressive milestone by reaching $1.4 billion in annualized revenue, reported The Information citing a person with direct knowledge of the company’s finances. This marks a significant growth from $1 billion at the end of 2024.

The company has been bolstered by investments from tech giants like Amazon and Google. Anthropic's AI chatbot, Claude, has been a key driver of this revenue growth.

Anthropic's latest financial results show that the company has achieved an annualized revenue of $1.4 billion as of early March 2025. The company recently raised $3.5 billion in a Series E funding round, giving it a post-money valuation of $61.5 billion. This funding will support the development of next-generation AI systems, expand compute capacity, deepen research in mechanistic interpretability and alignment, and accelerate international expansion.

Anthropic's AI chatbot, Claude, has been a key driver of this revenue growth. The company has also introduced new features such as Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Claude Code, which have been well-received in the market.

Anthropic has told investors it plans to generate up to $3.7 billion in revenue for the year and reduce its cash by nearly half this year from $5.6 billion last year.

Notably, while Anthropic's annualized revenue has reached $1.4 billion, OpenAI's annualized revenue is significantly higher at $3.4 billion. This puts OpenAI ahead in terms of revenue, reflecting its broader market reach and product offerings.

Anthropic has set ambitious growth projections for the next few years. The company aims to achieve annualized revenue of $2.2 billion by 2025, with a base projection of $12 billion and an optimistic forecast of up to $34.5 billion by 2027. This growth is driven by strategic partnerships, such as the substantial $4 billion investment from Amazon, and a focus on expanding its market footprint through AI model provisioning and leveraging cloud infrastructure.

Anthropic also plans to achieve cash flow positivity by 2027, significantly reducing its cash burn rate from $5.6 billion in 2024 to an anticipated $3 billion in 2025. These projections highlight the company's commitment to financial efficiency and sustainable growth while scaling its operations.

Fintech Startup Navanc Raises $1 Mn Seed Funding to Revolutionize Secured Lending with AI-Powered Property Score

• Navanc, India’s first AI-powered property score and stack for secured lending and insurance, integrates advanced AI, IoT, and Blockchain for secure transactions
• The funds will support expansion across Tier 1–4 cities and enhance its AI capabilities with Generative AI and Computer Vision models.
• So far, Inflection Point Ventures has invested over INR 790 Cr across 210+ startups.

Navanc, a pioneering FinTech startup building India’s first AI-powered property score and stack for secured lending and insurance practices, has successfully raised $1 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Prarambh Ventures, with participation from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), Brigade REAP FirstPort Capital, and marquee angel investors.

The funds will be directed toward expanding operations across India, with a focus on strengthening Navanc's presence in urban and semi-urban areas. Additionally, the startup will bolster its AI FinTech capabilities by incorporating Generative AI and Computer Vision models to further its vision of becoming India’s first Property Credit Score and Stack provider.

Navanc was founded by Nagachethan S M, CEO, and Byomkesh Jha, CTO and Data Officer, in 2021. With a strong background in technology and finance, Nagachethan leads Navanc’s vision and strategy, driving innovation in the BFSI segment. A seasoned data science professional , Byomkesh oversees Navanc’s Technology and Data Science, ensuring seamless execution of its AI and Tech goals.

Mr Mitesh Shah, Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures, says, ”Banks, NBFCs, HFCs all face the same challenges in mortgage and property assessment: inconsistent and time-consuming property valuations, lacking both transparency and data to build trust. By providing precise & scalable property valuation, transparency and reliability, Navanc helps every player in the industry make informed decisions based on real-time assessment, data and knowledge of legal and technical aspects. Thus reducing risks for both lenders and buyers. As investors, we are confident in Navanc’s potential to make property valuation efficient, trustworthy and data-driven.”

Mr Sreenivas Ramarao, from Prarambh Venture opines, “We believe Navanc is the pioneer in delivering AI and Digital services in making the real estate transactions faster, cheaper, reliable and more accurate. We also have great confidence in the team and are fully confident of their ability to deliver user friendly products in the space.”

“Brigade REAP has played a key role in refining and accelerating growth for Navanc, who have shown immense potential in revolutionizing property assessment through their innovative solutions. Navanc's strengths lie in its ability to streamline financial access for properties by integrating AI, IoT and Blockchain for secure, transparent transactions, making it a transformative player in the PropTech sector. Our association with Navanc is testament to our commitment to fostering innovation in the PropTech sector” commented Abhay Garg, the Head of Brigade REAP.

Navanc stands out as India’s first FinTech startup to introduce an AI-powered property score and stack, specifically designed for secured lending and insurance practices. By integrating advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and Blockchain, the company ensures secure, transparent, and reliable transactions, setting a new benchmark in the PropTech sector. Its comprehensive collateral reporting, powered by cutting-edge AI and ML models, significantly enhances credit decision-making and portfolio management for the BFSI industry.

Nagachethan S M, CEO, Navanc, says, “We’re grateful for the support of our investors and excited to further our mission of revolutionizing secured lending and insurance practices in India. Our AI-powered solutions are set to make property transactions faster, more transparent, and accessible to all.”

Currently operating across Tiers of cities in about 6 states, Navanc is focused on expanding its reach to all statesunder its Bharat Vision. This strategic move aims to foster financial inclusion across India, transforming property lending and insurance practices nationwide.

Since its inception in 2021, Navanc has developed a cutting-edge technology stack that streamlines secured lending, insurance, and property aggregation practices in the BFSI sector. Its innovative solutions significantly reduce turnaround time, enhance transparency, and facilitate improved credit decision-making and portfolio management. The Indian property lending market is poised for exponential growth, with a rapidly increasing demand for digital and AI-enabled solutions to facilitate secured transactions.

About Navanc

Navanc, founded in 2021 by Nagachethan S M and Byomkesh Jha, is a FinTech innovator developing AI-driven solutions for secured lending and property aggregation in the BFSI sector. With a focus on building India’s first property credit score and stack, Navanc is transforming the way financial institutions assess and manage collateral.

OpenAI Chairman & Ex- Google/Facebook Executive's AI Startup Sierra Gets $4.5 Bn Valuation

Sierra, an Al startup co-founded by Bret Taylor, former Google executive and former CTO of Facebook (Now Meta), has recently raised $175 million in a funding round led by Greenoaks Capital. This round has given Sierra a valuation of $4.5 billion, a significant jump from its previous valuation of nearly $1 billion earlier this year.

Taylor is most notable for leading the team that co-created Google Maps and his tenures as the CTO of Facebook (now Meta Platforms), as the chairman of Twitter, Inc.'s board of directors prior to its acquisition by Elon Musk, and as the co-CEO of Salesforce (alongside co-founder Marc Benioff). Taylor was additionally one of the founders of FriendFeed and the creator of Quip.

Since 2023, Bret Taylor is chairman of OpenAI and a board member of Shopify. In the same year, he co-founded Sierra AI with Clay Bavor, Taylor's long time friend who spent 18 years at Google, where he held various leadership roles, including leading Google Labs, Google's AR/VR efforts (Project Starline and Google Lens). 

Sierra focuses on providing Al-powered customer service chatbots to enterprises, helping companies like WeightWatchers and Sirius XM enhance their customer interactions.

The AI startup aims to differentiate itself by reducing "hallucinations," where Al models generate false information, ensuring that brands can trust their Al agents.

This funding round comes less than a year after Sierra's public launch, and it highlights the growing investor interest in AI applications that generate steady revenue.

Before the latest funding round, Sierra had raised $110 million in a round led by Sequoia Capital and Benchmark at a valuation of nearly $1 billion. This round also saw participation from Thrive Capital and ICONIQ.

Sierra's rapid growth and increasing valuation highlight the strong investor confidence in its Al solutions for enterprises.

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Sierra AI emphasizes creating more empathetic and conversational AI interactions, contrasting it with frustrating automated systems like airline bots. The startup allows clients to customize the AI agent's personality to match their corporate brand.

Sierra aims to provide personalized AI solutions to help these companies improve customer interactions.

Beside these, Sierra has been focusing on enhancing its AI models to reduce "hallucinations," where AI generates false information. This ensures that brands can trust their AI agents to interact with customers accurately and reliably.

To recall, in mid of this year, an another California-based AI startup Alembic introduced a new AI system that tackles the issue of "Hallucinations" in artificial intelligence. Alembic announced that it has developed a new Al system that it claims completely eliminates the generation of false information that plagues other Al technologies, a problem known as "hallucinations".

Several startups are actively working on addressing the AI hallucination problem. Squirro uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology to ensure that every piece of information generated by their AI is traceable to a source, promising zero hallucinations.

Similar to Squirro, SiftHub employs RAG technology and fine-tuned large language models with industry-specific knowledge to generate personalized responses with zero hallucinations.

Among these AI Startups, Sierra as one of the most highly valued AI startups. The AI startup has crossed $20 million in annualized revenue, according to Reuters.

3 Indian Startups Among 23 Selected for Google’s 1st AI Academy in Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific Al Academy, an initiative by Google for Startups to support and accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) -focused startups in the region has started this week . It is Google for Startups' first AI Academy in the Asia Pacific region.

The inaugural program, which started with a 3-day boot camp in Singapore, includes 3 Indian Startups, which are among 23 Al startups selected from seven countries: Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Singapore.

These startups will benefit from mentorship, product training, and networking opportunities to refine their Al products and grow their businesses. The program aims to help these innovators leverage Google's latest Al technologies and develop effective and responsible Al solutions.

Three Indian Startups selected are –

1. Clodura.AI (Pune): Optimizing the sales cycle with a GenAI-powered co-pilot.
2. Devnagri (Noida) : Personalizing communications to engage non-English speakers.
3. Sivi.ai (Bengaluru): Delivering multilingual design solutions for instant ad and visual creation.

South Korea (7) and Japan (6) have most number of startups selected for this program. Indonesia, Pakistan and Singapore have 2 startups each, selected for the AI Academy while Malaysia has one startups. Full information is here.

These 23 selected startups are using AI to create opportunities and solve pressing social issues, from saving the environment to increasing financial inclusion.

Over the coming months, these 23 startups will continue on their AI Academy journey which will wrap up in December with Graduation Day.

While the majority of the program will take place virtually, program participants have been invited to join an in-person bootcamp in Singapore from October 15 to 17.

This AI Academy program is an equity free three-month program designed to help startups leverage Google's latest AI technologies, with the goal of accelerating business growth by providing startups with a deeper understanding of AI.

Accenture Invests in AI Startup Martian, Known for Patent-Pending LLM Router

Accenture has invested in Martian, a technology company known for its patent-pending Large Language Model (LLM) router. This router dynamically routes prompts to the most suitable LLM, optimizing for performance, cost, and reliability. 

Accenture plans to integrate Martian's technology into its "switchboard" services, which allow clients to customize and deploy LLMs tailored to specific data sources and use cases¹. This integration aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of AI systems for enterprises.

This investment is part of Accenture Ventures' Project Spotlight, which focuses on working with companies that create disruptive enterprise technologies.

Martian was founded by Shriyash Upadhyay and Etan Ginsberg in 2022. The company is 
headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Regarding funding, Martian has raised a total of $9 million in seed funding. The investment came from notable venture capital firms including General Catalyst, New Enterprise Associates, Prosus Ventures, and Web3.com Ventures.

Martian’s Large Language Model (LLM) router is an innovative tool designed to optimize the use of various LLMs based on performance and cost. The router dynamically routes each query to the most suitable LLM in real-time. This ensures that the best-performing model is used for each specific task. By selecting the most cost-effective model for each query, the router can significantly reduce AI costs. Martian claims it can cut costs by up to 98%.

The router can outperform individual models, including GPT-4, by leveraging the strengths of multiple models. This results in higher overall performance.

If a model experiences an outage or high latency, the router automatically reroutes queries to other available models, ensuring continuous service.

Martian’s API is designed to be simple to use, requiring minimal changes to existing codebases. This makes it easy for developers to integrate the router into their applications. As new models are developed, the router can incorporate them, ensuring that applications always use the latest and best-performing models.

Krutrim: How India's First 2024 Unicorn is Revolutionising AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful technology that's changing many industries in the 21st century. It can transform healthcare, education, farming, finance, and more.

Krutrim is an Indian AI startup founded by Bhavish Aggarwal,  a seasoned entrepreneur who also founded Ola. It recently became India's first AI unicorn by getting $50 million in funding. This is a big deal for India's startup world. In this article, we'll look at how an AI startup Krutrim became the first Unicorn of 2024 and how it's changing the technology scene in India.

India's tech landscape is expanding rapidly, and the country is making significant contributions to global tech development with numerous innovative ideas. Nowadays, platforms like iGaming, which merge technology and gaming, are growing rapidly in India. People often seek entertainment on these platforms during their free time, yet they often find themselves unsure about which site to select. This is where examples like this Casino Days Review come in, playing a crucial role in helping users find the best platform for their entertainment needs.

Krutrim was started in 2023 by Bhavish Aggarwal. It wants to make a smart language system that can understand and talk in many Indian languages. It also wants to make special chips for AI. Krutrim is proud to be India's first AI unicorn because it's now valued at $1 billion. The AI startup got unicorn status quickly after it raised $50 million from investors like Matrix Partners India, in January 2024. Krutrim planned to released a beta version of its chatbot in February 2024. The AI chatbot understands 22 Indian languages and can respond in 10 Indian languages. The AI startup now plans to offer tools for developers and businesses later in this year.

The word "Krutrim" means "artificial" in Sanskrit. Krutrim isn't just another AI company. It wants to build a big system for AI that includes computers, servers, and other devices to help AI work better in India and other places. It's also making a huge language system that's trained on lots of Indian data so it can understand and talk in many Indian languages.

Krutrim doesn't just want to do language stuff. It also wants to help AI grow in India by supporting developers and researchers. Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder, thinks Krutrim can help AI grow in India. The $50 million funding round shows that investors believe in Krutrim. Matrix Partners India, one of the main investors, says Krutrim's work is important for making India more tech-savvy. Even though Krutrim hasn't said exactly how much money it makes, it claims its business has been growing really fast since 2023, with more than 500 customers in online shopping, education, healthcare, media, and government.

In the future, Krutrim wants to do more than just language stuff. It's planning to make a more advanced model called Krutrim Pro that can solve different kinds of problems in many areas.

Krutrim's value of $1 billion shows how big the AI market in India could be. Some experts think it could reach $70-100 billion by 2025 and $300-400 billion by 2030. But to make this happen, India needs to deal with some challenges like not having enough good data, not having the right infrastructure, and making sure AI is used in fair and safe ways.
Krutrim's Valuation: Anchored on Potential

Krutrim's worth is based on its future potential. When investors give money to a startup and get a share of the company, it helps decide how much the company is worth.

Krutrim's value depends on its ability to create new and amazing AI solutions made specifically for India. There's a big demand in India for AI programs that can chat with people and understand many languages. Krutrim says its language program, called Llama3, will be even better than what OpenAI and Google have made.
The company's value also comes from its founder, Bhavish Aggarwal. He's well-known for creating and growing Ola and Ola Electric, two big transportation startups in India. Bhavish Aggarwal's leadership, big ideas, and skills in getting top people and money from around the world make Krutrim look even more valuable.
Krutrim's Competitive Advantages

Krutrim has a few advantages that make it stand out in the AI market. One big advantage is its focus on India. India has lots of languages, more than 20 official ones and many dialects. Krutrim wants to make a language system that can understand and talk in lots of Indian languages, picking up on all the little differences and cultural stuff in each one.

Another advantage is Krutrim's work on both AI hardware and software. It's making its own special chips and data centres just for its language system and other AI stuff. Krutrim also plans to use Meta's super-advanced data centre in Jeffersonville. This place has cool gadgets like liquid-cooling systems to handle all the tough computing needed for AI. Krutrim is even teaming up with Meta to work on a new AI model called Llama4. This could help Krutrim get even better at what it does.

Startup Funding Trends in the AI Space

In 2022, Uniphore, a company that works on talking AI, got the most money ever for a round of funding: $400 million in what's called a Series E round.

A report from 2023 about AI Startups, showed that India-based AI Startups got $1.11 billion from 47 rounds of funding. This was just a tiny increase from the year before, but the number of times they got funding went down a lot, from 135 to 47. This shows that getting money for startups is getting harder, and investors are picking only the best ones.

Out of those 47 times, only four were really big deals at the end of a startup's growth. But even though there weren't many big deals, they made up most of the money raised. Krutrim got the most money of all in one of these big deals: $50 million in what's called a Series A round. This shows that Krutrim is doing well with its products, has lots of customers, and is doing better than its rivals.

Krutrim's special thing is its focus on different languages. It's working on a language system that can handle lots of Indian languages. This is important because India has lots of languages and cultures, and Krutrim wants to help people talk to each other better.

Krutrim is also working on making special chips that are really good at doing AI stuff. This is a smart move because it helps AI work faster and better. Becoming a unicorn, which means being valued at $1 billion, isn't just about money for Krutrim. It shows that AI can do cool things, like helping people talk to each other better and changing how India uses technology. As Krutrim keeps going, it's going to leave a big mark on India's startup world.

Conclusion

Krutrim's journey to unicorn status is an outstanding achievement not only for the company but also for India's technology ambition. Their focus on developing AI systems with multilingual capabilities, customized technology, and attention to India's specific needs emphasizes them as a major participant in the nation's future. Krutrim's challenging goals and strong alliances position it to change how people engage with technology and realize AI's huge potential in India.

Meet The 20 AI-first Startups from Google for Startups Accelerator: India Class-8 Program

Google has announced the eighth class of Google for Startups Accelerator: India, featuring 20 AI-first startups in the Seed to Series A stage who were selected from over 720 applications across the country.

From antibody discovery to identifying fraud detection, SMB outreach, & streamlining developer tasks, these selected startups are solving diverse challenges & crafting solutions using AI.

Meet the 20 startups joining the eighth class of the Google for Startups Accelerator: India program that are innovating responsibly with AI:

1. Beatoven.ai - AI-powered royalty-free background music creation platform for content creators.
2. DhiWise - An AI-powered DevTool that enables developers to deliver production-ready source code for Web and Mobile apps 10x faster for all kinds of apps.
3. Endimension - End-to-End AI platform for radiology diagnosis.
4. FilterPixel - AI software that saves hours by automatically selecting the best photos from thousands of photos & then editing them automatically as per the style of the photographer.
5. GalaxEye Space - Building next-generation imaging satellites using multiple sensors and Generative AI for night/cloud-proof imaging.
6. Gan.ai - A video personalization platfor3m that leverages Generative AI to create personalized videos at scale from a single recording.
7. Goodmeetings - A Generative AI-driven video sales platform that helps salespeople sell 10X better on video.
8. immunitoAI - A TechBio company developing AI-generated novel antibody therapeutics with pre-defined drug properties.
9. Kalam - A personalized mentorship and discipline-facilitating learning ecosystem using AI, addressing the challenges of affordability and accessibility to quality education in India.
10. Keploy - Open-source TestGPT toolkit for automating integration testing, converting network calls to test cases and data mocks for APIs, and enabling production incident replays.
11. Mugafi - Reshaping entertainment through Ved, an AI copilot that empowers storytellers to effortlessly create captivating novels or scripts, transcending traditional storytelling boundaries.
12. NeuroPixel.AI - A deep tech startup working in the intersection of Generative AI and Computer Vision, primarily focused on fashion e-commerce.
13. Onward Assist - Helps improve cancer outcomes by assisting the cancer biopsy reporting process through an AI-based solution that assists cancer pathologists with accurate scoring, tumor detection and workflow software.
14. Pepper Content - A content marketing platform that helps companies scale content marketing through expert talent and Generative AI.
15. Prescinto - AI-powered SaaS platform that regularly collects renewable energy plant (solar, wind, storage) data, applies ML/AI models to this data to identify causes for underperformance and suggests work orders to increase electricity generation from these renewable plants.
16. Presentations.AI - An AI-powered platform that lets everyone effortlessly create stunning presentations faster than ever before.
17. SpoofSense.ai - Helps businesses detect identity fraud using computer vision.
18. Wright Research - Revolutionizes investment in India with AI-driven, personalized quantitative strategies, delivering exceptional performance and risk management through a user-friendly, transparent digital platform.
19. Zocket - AI-powered SaaS platform for SMBs to grow their business with high-performing digital ads.
20. ZuAI - AI self study buddy for students.

The program has been kickstarted this week with a week long in-person bootcamp that includes training workshops and mentorship support around product, design, tech, growth, and people.

Since 2016, Google's accelerator programs have played a pivotal role in helping leading startups in India and worldwide to grow and address some of the world's most pressing challenges. Google has recently launched its inaugural Accelerator Impact Report, highlighting the impact that over 1100 startup alumni from the Google for Startups Accelerator programs have made within their industries and ecosystems.

Google for Startups Accelerator: India program offers 3-month, equity-free accelerator programs for Indian technology startups between Seed to Series A.

Selected startups receive expert mentorship and support around AI/ML, Cloud, UX, Android, Web, Product Strategy and Growth. In addition to Google technical project support, Accelerator programs include deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition, and leadership.

Airbnb Acquires Apple's Siri's Co-founders' AI Startup GamePlanner.AI

Airbnb, on Tuesday, announced that it has acquired GamePlanner.AI, a stealth 12-person AI company led by Adam Cheyer and Siamak Hodjat.

The AI Startup was co-founded by Adam Cheyer, who was one of the founders of Apple's popular voice assistant— Siri. 

Media outlet CNBC, citing its sources, has reported that this acquisition deal is valued at just under $200 million.

On the acquisition, Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky said, “What makes GamePlanner.AI so special is that they combine expertise in AI, design, and community. AI will rapidly alter our world more than any other technology in our lifetime, but we need to ensure that it augments humanity in a positive way. Airbnb is one of the more humanistic companies in technology, and I believe that, together with Adam and his team, we can develop some of the best interfaces and practical applications for AI. "

While Airbnb is already using AI across our service, including large language models, computer vision models and machine learning – and most recently, an AI-powered Photo Tour tool launched in our 2023 Winter Release – Adam and Siamak’s team will focus on accelerating select AI projects and integrating their tools into our platform.

Adam co-founded Siri, which was acquired by Apple, and then led server side engineering and AI for Siri, while working alongside Steve Jobs. He later co-founded Viv Labs, which was acquired by Samsung and is now known as the company’s voice assistant Bixby. Adam was also on the founding team of Change.org, the world’s largest petition platform. Alongside Adam, Siamak led the natural language processing team for Siri at Apple and led the largest engineering team for Viv Labs at Samsung.

“A big part of what attracted us to Airbnb was our shared commitment to using AI to enable human connection,” said Adam Cheyer, co-founder and CEO of GamePlanner.AI. “Like Brian, I believe that without great design and community-based intelligence, AI can only achieve a fraction of its potential. But with them, the sky’s the limit. The Airbnb team understands this better than anyone.”

AI-based Port Automation Pioneer Docker Vision Raises Pre-Seed Funding Via SanchiConnect’s PreSeed Accelerator Program

Thinkuvate and SeaFund invests in the AI-based product company focusing on Port Automation

AI-based port automation pioneer, Docker Vision, recently secured preseed funding through esteemed venture capital firms Thinkuvate and SeaFund through SanchiConnect’s PreSeed Accelerator program.

The funding infusion empowers Docker Vision to not only refine its groundbreaking products further but also expand its brand, conduct additional Proof of Concepts (POCs), and consolidate its operations. Beyond acting as a monetary injection, this significant investment is a testament to the trust and belief in Docker Vision’s commitment to delivering transformative port automation solutions.

Docker Vision’s flagship AI-powered Gate OCR, or dOCR, is a game-changer in the industry. It's making waves not only by reducing waiting times and lowering carbon emissions but also introducing panoramic imaging for efficient damage detection in cargo handling—a feature that sets Docker Vision distinctly apart from competitors.

Expressing enthusiasm and gratitude for the investment, Docker Vision’s Co-Founder, Mr. Prajith Nair, noted, “This funding is vital for our journey and vision of revolutionizing the maritime industry with unparalleled automation solutions. We deeply appreciate the confidence and support from our investors, setting sail towards a horizon of innovation and substantial impact.”

SanchiConnect's contribution to Docker Vision's trajectory has been pivotal. Through strategic mentorship and invaluable guidance, SanchiConnect's Accelerator Program has been a cornerstone for Docker Vision, offering a gateway to a broad network of industry connections and collaborations.

Mr. Sunil Shekhawat, CEO and Founder of SanchiConnect said: "We are delighted to witness Docker Vision's remarkable journey and their recent funding milestone. Docker Vision's success reflects the essence of SanchiConnect's mission – to empower deep-tech startups with the resources and mentorship needed to thrive. We look forward to continuing our support for startups like Docker Vision, paving the way for transformations in various industries."

As a dedicated platform for nurturing deep-tech startups, SanchiConnect facilitates growth by providing essential resources, such as funding and strategic partnerships. With a global outlook, SanchiConnect is steadfast in its commitment to fostering collaborations between Indian tech enterprises and their international counterparts.

Looking ahead, Docker Vision, with its steadfast commitment and recent funding, is gearing up for remarkable advancements in the port automation domain. The company envisions securing additional investment shortly, anticipating substantial progress in revenue, customer acquisition, and product refinement.

In conclusion, Docker Vision, backed by Thinkuvate, SeaFund, and with strategic assistance from SanchiConnect, is poised for innovative leaps in the maritime sector. The company is charting a course for significant transformation and leadership in the realm of port automation, ready to set new benchmarks in the industry.

Exclusive: Codeless AI Infra Co. Pixis Secures $85 Mn in Series C1 Funding Led By Touring Capital

Pixis, a leading codeless AI infrastructure company focused on enabling brands to enhance performance marketing, has raised $85 million in its series C1 funding round. The round was led by Touring Capital and brings the company’s capital raised to $209 million. The new and existing investors who participated in the funding round include Grupo Carso, General Atlantic, Celesta Capital and Chiratae Ventures. The funding will be used to deepen Pixis’ AI capabilities, accelerate global expansion, invest in R&D to refine and launch a generative AI-powered creative studio, and build strategic product and business partnerships.

Pixis develops accessible AI technology for growth marketing and has a rich product suite that includes targeting, in-flight performance optimization and generative AI capabilities. Since launch, Pixis has demonstrated a tremendous growth trajectory, with its platform leveraged by more than 200 global brands including names like DHL, Carsome, JOE & THE JUICE, Kavak, HDFC Bank, to name a few.

Nagraj Kashyap, co-founder and General Partner at Touring Capital said, “We passionately believe in the power of generative AI to transform enterprise software use cases. We see Pixis as a pioneer in this category and have been thoroughly impressed by the platform’s powerful technical capabilities translating into rapid customer adoption. We are excited to partner with Pixis, having had a years-long relationship with the team.”

Creative Studio

Pixis recently launched its creative studio, with breakthrough AI capabilities that enable brands to instantly generate photorealistic creative assets – both 3D images and videos – through simple text prompts. The creative studio is deeply integrated into Pixis’ marketing campaign optimization capabilities, embedding contextual campaign data into the creative asset generation process.

Expansion and Roadmap

“This is shaping up to be an exciting year for Pixis as we welcome Touring Capital as investors; the Touring team have been important thought partners over the years and we are delighted to announce our new partnership. With this capital raised, we will continue to concentrate on strategic channel partnerships with renewed vigour, and invest heavily in our R&D efforts,” said Shubham A. Mishra, co-founder and CEO, Pixis.

This year also saw a significant expansion of Pixis’ AI infrastructure with the company having achieved its goal of building 200 AI models. Along with having successfully beta-tested their generative AI-powered creative studio, they have also released products for cross-platform growth marketing that are proving to be game-changers in the market. Additionally, the company has also begun live deployments of its AI-powered solutions for B2B companies.

About Pixis

Pixis is a no-code AI platform helping brands scale all aspects of their marketing and augment their decision-making in a world of infinitely complex consumer behaviour. The company’s codeless AI infrastructure delivers over 200+ proprietary AI models that provide marketers with robust plug-and-play AI products – from campaign optimization to creative asset generation – without having to write a single line of code.

About Touring Capital

Founded in 2023, Touring Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in the next generation of early growth stage, AI-driven SaaS companies around the world. Its founders, Nagraj Kashyap, Priya Saiprasad, and Samir Kumar, have more than a decade of experience working together at leading investment firms and a proven track record of venture capital investing across the global technology startup ecosystem. The Touring Capital team is committed to investing in companies that are leveraging AI to fuel major productivity gains for workers across all lines of business and sectors. Visit https://touringcapital.com to learn more.