Equal AI Raises $30M to Let Indians Outsource Their Phone Calls to AI Assistants

India’s constant flood of phone calls—from spam and scams to delivery updates and service promotions—has created a daily communication overload for millions. While tools like Truecaller and government-backed caller ID systems help identify who is calling, they often fail to explain why someone is calling in the first place. Equal AI is trying to fix that gap with an AI-powered assistant that answers and screens calls on behalf of users.

The startup’s Android app, launched last year, has already grown rapidly, reaching over one million monthly active users and more than 300,000 daily users. Instead of just showing caller identity, the app picks up unknown calls, interacts with the caller, and explains the purpose of the call in real time. Users can then decide how to respond without ever picking up the phone themselves.

Beyond simple screening, the app introduces interactive AI-driven replies such as “Leave the delivery near the door” or “Give it to the neighbor,” which the system reads out to the caller. Users can also type custom responses, while the app records calls and provides transcripts and summaries afterward, turning missed calls into structured, searchable information.

Equal AI announced it has raised $30 million in Series B funding led by Prosus Ventures and Tomales Bay Capital, bringing its total funding to over $42 million. The round also attracted investors including PhonePe co-founder Sameer Nigam and executives from Airtel Family Office, Meta India, and other major tech and investment firms, signaling strong confidence in AI-driven communication tools tailored for emerging markets.

Founded in 2022 by Keshav Reddy, Equal AI began as a data platform for financial services before shifting toward consumer AI assistants. The company now plans to expand beyond unknown-call screening into handling known contacts, making outbound calls, and even sending messages on users’ behalf. With support for over 10 languages and a growing focus on India’s multilingual “code-mixing” communication style, the startup is positioning itself in a highly competitive space dominated by players like Google, Apple, and Truecaller.

source: techcrunch