Peak XV has officially signaled its confidence in the next wave of Indian innovation by investing in five early-stage AI companies during the Impact AI PitchFest. The event, a cornerstone of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, served as a high-stakes arena where founders showcased their technology to a panel of top-tier investors and industry leaders.

The selected startups represent a broad spectrum of AI applications—from entertainment and creative storytelling to enterprise-grade hiring and productivity tools.

The New Portfolio: Redefining Sectors through AI

The five companies securing funding are tackling distinct challenges within the Indian and global markets:

• Companion Labs: Aiming to capture the “vernacular” market, this startup focuses on culturally nuanced, entertainment-led AI. Co-founders Akshay Jhanwar and Ajit Pol have developed a platform where users can explore “alternate lives” and narratives through interactive AI storytelling.

• Kello: This platform is disrupting traditional recruitment by moving away from “pedigree” (like Ivy League degrees or specific titles). Kello analyzes real-world capability signals and has already mapped 32 million professionals, with a goal to reach 100 million by the end of 2026.

• Memfold AI: Founded by Vinod Ganesan and Nischith Shadagopan, Memfold is developing AI-native workspaces. Their goal is to move beyond standard document editors and create a fundamental shift in how knowledge workers manage their daily tasks.

• Round1: Focused on the efficiency of the hiring funnel, Round1 currently conducts over 500 AI-led interviews daily. Founded by Saumil Tripathi, Shreeyash Dharmadhikari, and Jainam Talsania, the platform boasts a 90% qualification rate from the first to the second interview round.

• Zoop: Targeted at the commerce sector, Zoop builds scalable AI agents that integrate into a seller’s existing workflow. These agents handle everything from voice-based cataloguing and social media marketing to real-time AI coaching for sales teams.

Why It Matters

The investments highlight a shift in the VC landscape toward “AI-native” solutions—companies that aren’t just adding AI as a feature, but building their entire value proposition around it. By backing these five diverse entities, Peak XV is positioning itself at the center of India’s rapidly maturing AI ecosystem.

“These startups represent the bridge between raw AI capability and practical, scalable applications for the Indian market and beyond.”

By: Sandhya Bharti