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Equal AI, backed by GVK scion Keshav Reddy, secures $30 million Series B to roll out a conversational call‑screening app that rivals Google, Apple and
Equal AI, the Hyderabad‑based startup founded by GVK Group heir Keshav Reddy, announced a $30 million Series B round aimed at expanding its AI‑powered call‑screening app, which it markets as India’s first conversational call assistant [1]. The funding, led by Prosus Ventures and Tomales Bay Capital, brings the company’s total capital raised to over $42 million [1].
Key takeaways
Equal AI’s product differs from traditional caller‑ID tools by not only identifying the caller but also engaging in a brief dialogue to extract the call’s intent. Users can approve actions such as “Leave the delivery near the door” or type custom instructions, which the AI vocalises to the caller [1]. The app records each interaction, providing users with transcriptions and summaries within the interface [1]. Built on a blend of speech‑recognition, automatic speech‑recognition (ASR) and speech‑generation models, the system supports more than ten Indian languages to handle code‑mixing—a common practice where speakers blend English with regional tongues [1].
The company’s growth has attracted notable investors. The Series B round, structured in three tranches with variable valuations, raised $30 million and pushed total funding past $42 million [1]. Individual investors span fintech (PhonePe), telecom (Airtel’s family office), and data‑center leadership (CtrlS) [1]. While the exact valuations for each tranche were not disclosed, the multi‑stage structure allows the startup to publicise its highest achieved valuation [1].
Google and Apple already offer call‑screening features on their mobile operating systems, and Truecaller dominates India’s caller‑ID market with a crowdsourced database. Equal AI argues that these global solutions lack the nuanced understanding of Indian call patterns, such as frequent spam, scam, and delivery calls that often involve multiple languages [1][3]. Prosus Ventures’ global co‑head highlighted this local advantage as a differentiator [1].
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The app screens incoming calls, provides the reason for the call, records conversations, and allows users to send automated text replies to callers.
Equal AI has built support for over 10 languages, specifically designed to handle code-mixing, where users blend multiple languages in a single sentence.
The app is currently available on Android, with the company working on a future version for iOS.
Looking forward, Equal AI intends to broaden its capabilities beyond unknown callers to include known contacts, introduce proactive functions like sending delivery addresses with user consent, and launch an iOS version [1]. A paid subscription tier is also in development, promising additional features for power users [1]. The company’s roadmap suggests a focus on deepening user stickiness and expanding into related AI‑assistant use cases.
India’s telecom landscape sees users receiving four to five unknown calls daily, many of which are spam or time‑sensitive deliveries [3]. By automating the initial interaction, Equal AI aims to reduce the cognitive load on busy urban consumers while preserving important communications. If the startup can scale its multilingual AI and secure a foothold against entrenched players, it could reshape how Indian users manage inbound calls and set a precedent for localized AI services in emerging markets. The upcoming public beta and planned iOS rollout will be key tests of its market traction.
AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 3 outlets · Jun 12, 2026 · How we report
Beyond its consumer-facing AI assistant, the company operates an enterprise platform providing data for financial analysis and KYC verification services.