NumberOne Academy, an AI-powered enablement platform focused on empowering SME entrepreneurs, has raised a strategic investment of ₹3 crore from T.I.G.E.R Santosh Nair as part of the pre-seed funding round.
The funds raised will be used to expand its suite of business courses in Hindi and other regional languages, catering to India’s vast Hindi-speaking market and further enhancing NOA into a Virtual Business Coach, capable of conversing in over 10 regional languages.
NumberOne Academy has already attracted significant investments from prominent figures, including Kochouseph Chittilapilly, Chairman of V-Guard, and Mohan Kumar, CEO of Strides Pharma Global Pte Ltd – Singapore, alongside investors from the Middle East and Kerala.
Speaking on the investment, Santosh Nair said, “I am thrilled to partner with NumberOne to empower MSMEs and transform entrepreneurship in India. With a technology-driven platform, we aim to reach every corner of the nation, fostering job creation and helping entrepreneurs achieve the four freedoms—time, money, relationships, and purpose—while preparing India for a brighter, self-reliant future.”
For NumberOne Academy’s Co-founder and CEO, Lajesh Kolath, said, “We’re thrilled to be validated by an industry leader like Santosh Nair, confirming we are on the right track to support India’s MSME entrepreneurs. It’s also a personal achievement to receive investment from my former boss.”
Founded in 2022 by Lajesh Kolath and Madhu Bhaskaran, NumberOne Academy offers upskilling courses tailored to help Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) business owners achieve sustainable growth and scale operations.
A significant milestone for the platform was the launch of NOA, an AI-powered chatbot designed to assist SMEs in tackling GST-related challenges—a solution that has garnered praise for its practicality and innovation.
By integrating a multi-lingual AI layer over upskilling courses, digital tools and community engagement, the platform aims to revolutionize the SME ecosystem.
