Kitchen appliance maker upliance ai in talks with Khosla Ventures, others to raise $4-M

Bengaluru-based upliance.ai is in talks to raise USD 3-4 million (INR 28-37 crore) in a Series A funding round. Existing backers, including Khosla Ventures, are expected to participate in this round.Founded in 2021 by former Ather Energy executive Mahek Mody and former Chaayos employee Mohit Sharma, the firm develops smart kitchen appliances. The company uses generative AI to convert recipes into actionable cooking instructions, enabling its hardware to execute tasks such as chopping, stirring, and temperature control. The company allows users to access recipes through a proprietary app and provides a feedback loop where user ratings and voicemails are used to refine future recipe instructions.The company intends to use the new capital to strengthen R&D efforts, enhance its user interface, and facilitate expansion into international markets.The firm previously raised INR 34 Cr in a seed funding round led by Khosla Ventures in February 2024 at a valuation of INR 143 Cr (approximately $15-M).