Hunar.AI, a startup using multilingual voice artificial intelligence to automate frontline hiring and workforce management, has raised Rs 39.3 cr in a Series A funding round led by Blume Ventures, taking its estimated valuation to around Rs 180 Cr. The round also saw participation from Seedstars, Hyderabad Angels Fund, AVNM Ventures and PhysicsWallah co-founders Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari.
According to regulatory filings reported by Source, Hunar.AI allotted 5,206 compulsorily convertible preference shares at Rs 75,492 each to raise fresh capital. Blume Ventures invested Rs 29 crore, followed by Seedstars with Rs 3.31 crore, Hyderabad Angels Fund with Rs 3 Cr and AVNM Ventures with Rs 2 crore. Pandey and Maheshwari invested Rs 1 crore each.
The reported valuation of approximately Rs 180 crore represents an increase of more than 71% from the estimated Rs 105 cr valuation at the startup’s pre Series A round. The valuation is based on reported transaction details rather than a publicly listed market price.
- Krishna Khandelwal and Shantanu Bhattacharyya build AI for frontline hiring
Founded in 2022 by Krishna Khandelwal, co founder and CEO, and Shantanu Bhattacharyya, co-founder and CTO, Hunar.AI develops voice AI agents that help businesses recruit, onboard, train and engage frontline employees. Its technology supports multilingual conversations for high-volume hiring, where businesses often need to reach and screen large numbers of candidates quickly.
The company’s platform is designed for sectors such as logistics, retail, field operations and other businesses that rely on distributed workforces. By automating candidate calls, screening and follow ups, it aims to reduce repetitive work for recruitment teams and improve coordination throughout the hiring process.
Hunar.AI had previously raised around Rs 18 cr in a pre Series A round led by existing investor Together Fund, according to the reported filings. The latest funding will support working capital, capital expenditure, operations and business expansion.
- Revenue rises, but losses remain a consideration
Hunar.AI’s reported financials show that it is still investing in growth. According to The Unicorn Magazine’s financial database, the company generated approximately Rs 1.9 crore in revenue in FY25, up 143% from Rs 79.4 lakh in FY24, while recording a net loss of around RS 5.6 crore.
The revenue figures differ from the Rs 47 lakh to Rs 1.7 crore comparison cited in some reports, so the exact figures should be checked against the company’s statutory filings before publication.
The funding comes as businesses increasingly explore AI tools for high-volume recruitment and employee engagement. For Hunar.AI, the opportunity is to show that voice AI can deliver measurable value in real hiring workflows, not just automate calls, but help employers fill roles faster and improve candidate follow through.
The Unicorn Magazine:- Editing by Deepak Singh
