The next wave of AI innovation is no longer limited to automating tasks—it’s now helping people build their careers.
Former Swiggy and Zomato executives Anuj Rathi and Prashant Parashar have launched Profound, an AI-native professional networking startup that has already attracted strong investor interest. The company has raised $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Stellaris Venture Partners and 3one4 Capital.
Profound is developing an AI-powered AI rep—a voice-first career companion that helps professionals present their experience, connect with recruiters, and discover new opportunities. Rather than relying solely on traditional resumes, the platform aims to make career discovery more interactive and personalized.
The fresh funding will primarily be used to expand the company’s engineering and AI teams as it scales its product. Profound has set an ambitious goal of onboarding one million professionals over the next year.
The startup has also earned the backing of several well-known names from India’s startup ecosystem, including Sriharsha Majety, CEO of Swiggy; Kunal Shah, founder of CRED; and Harshil Mathur, co-founder of Razorpay, along with other angel investors.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape recruitment and hiring, startups like Profound are exploring new ways to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. Instead of replacing human interaction, the platform aims to make professional networking smarter, faster, and more meaningful.
With AI becoming an integral part of the workplace, Profound’s approach reflects a broader shift in how professionals may build their careers in the years ahead.
