by Garima Garg
AI based multilingual chabot Vernacular.ai raises undisclosed financing
Vernacular.ai
Founder(s): Sourabh Gupta, Akshay Deshraj and Manoj Sarda
Founded In: 2016
Set up by three IIT-Roorkee graduates, Vernacular.ai is a chatbot that aims to solve India’s linguistic barrier problem for business owners. Apart from English, most people are fluent in their native regional languages only which can prove to be a significant barrier in inter-state or inter-region communication.
The artificial intelligence based chatbot uses the natural language processing (NLP) technology in Indian languages. This allows companies to communicate with customers in their preferred language. The startup has also launched a B2C product called Aisha, which is a personal assistant in Hindi.
As per report, the Bengaluru-based Vernacular.ai has received an undisclosed amount from Kalaari Capital’s seed funding program, KStart Capital. With the fund, the platform aims to expand its services in India.
Hyperlocal food discovery app MagicPin raises USD 6.6 M
MagicPin
Founder(s): Brij Bhushan and Anshoo Sharma
Founded In: 2015
The Gurgaon-based MagicPin is a hyperlocal discovery platform that is a social network for food buyers and sellers. It allows users to discover restaurants and interact with sellers or merchants in their local region. The app also provides information about promotional offers, discounts and loyalty programmes.
The app functions in a unique way to give customers their reward points. A user is supposed to take a selfie at the eating joint and upload the bill along with it. Only then will the user earn reward points that can be redeemed at other affiliated eating joints. The app is currently live in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
In its Series B funding round, MagicPin has raised USD 6.6 M from existing investor, Lightspeed Venture Partners, as well as Vy Capital as per report. With the fund, the app will build on its services and expand to more cities.
(Top photo from Pixabay)
