Vahan.ai, an AI-powered marketplace, has raised $10 million in a Series B funding round led by Khosla Ventures, founded by Vinod Khosla.
The funding round also saw participation from US investors such as Y Combinator Inc. and Gaingels LLC, and Paytm Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also participated.
The funds will be used to enhance the startup’s AI technology and broaden language support to tap into India’s vast hiring pool, particularly in remote and smaller towns. The company will also use the fresh capital to expand into industries such as manufacturing and retail as these sectors.
Currently, Vahan’s AI Recruiter conducts interviews in English and Hindi, with plans to support eight major Indian languages and numerous dialects within the next year.
Vahaan.ai raised $8 million in a Series A round led by Khosla Ventures in September 2021. Vahan was a participant in Airtel’s Startup Accelerator Program, and the telecommunications company acquired an 8.82% stake in the Madhav Krishna-led organization in October 2019.
Vahan AI, founded in 2016 by Madhav Krishna, is a recruitment platform based in Bangalore, India, that uses AI to simplify the hiring process for blue-collar and gig workers.
Since its inception, the Bengaluru-based startup claims to recruit 500,000 workers in more than 480 cities with leading companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon, Rapido, and Uber.
With 25,000 recruits per months, the company aims to increase this number to 100,000 placements per month by next year. By FY25, it plans to quadruple this number.
“We have come a long way from providing 600 jobs a month during the pandemic to 25,000 jobs a month now. With our impact growing multi-fold, we are excited to drive positive change and help the youth of Bharat find employment. This funding will enable us to further leverage AI, to provide these workers with unprecedented growth opportunities and elevate their professional journeys. Over time, we want to help over a billion people find livelihood,” said Madhav Krishna, Founder and CEO of Vahan.ai.
Vinod Khosla, Founder of Khosla Ventures, said, “Vahan.ai has consistently demonstrated a commitment to leveraging AI in a way that goes beyond mere technology—it’s about creating real-world impact. As an early supporter, I’ve seen firsthand how their innovative approach is redefining recruitment for the blue-collar workforce in India. AI has the power to shift paradigms, transforming challenges into opportunities. Vahan.ai stands out by not only reducing the effort in repetitive tasks but by providing meaningful, scalable solutions that open doors for millions.”
Paul Grossinger, Co-founder of Gaingels, stated, “Gaingels is excited to back Vahan.ai as they harness AI to create tangible impact in underserved segments. Vahan.ai’s approach to applying technology where it matters most aligns perfectly with our mission to support businesses that drive meaningful change in local communities.”
