Vahan
Vahan is an Indian technology company specializing in blue-collar workforce recruitment and staffing. Founded in 2016, the company leverages AI-powered chatbot technology to connect employers with job seekers across India. Vahan facilitates high-volume hiring for gig economy businesses, offering services such as recruitment, payroll management, and staffing solutions. The platform aims to reduce hiring turnaround times and operational overheads while providing access to a workforce pool of over 30 crore individuals through partnerships with companies like Airtel. Vahan has emerged as a key player in India's recruitment technology sector, serving prominent startups such as Zomato, Dunzo, and SquadStack.<
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Recruitment Technology |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Madhav Krishna |
| Headquarters | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
Area served | India |
Key people | Madhav Krishna (CEO) |
| Services | Blue-collar workforce recruitment, staffing, payroll management |
| Website | vahan |
Founders & Leadership
- Madhav Krishna (Founder and CEO): Madhav Krishna holds a degree in Computer Science from the IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior to founding Vahan, he worked in technology and consulting roles in the United States. Krishna was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2020 for his contributions to recruitment technology.[1]
Origin & Founding Story
Vahan was founded in 2016 by Madhav Krishna in Bangalore, India, with a mission to streamline blue-collar workforce hiring using AI technology. Inspired by the challenges faced by businesses in sourcing reliable workers in India’s fragmented labour market, Krishna developed an AI-driven chatbot platform to automate recruitment processes. The platform initially focused on connecting gig economy employers with workers through WhatsApp-based interactions, addressing the accessibility needs of India’s vast blue-collar workforce.[2]
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Vahan founded by Madhav Krishna in Bangalore. |
| 2017 | Launched AI-powered chatbot for blue-collar recruitment. |
| 2018 | Partnered with Airtel to expand hiring campaigns to 30 crore users.[3] |
| 2020 | Madhav Krishna featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. |
| 2021 | Secured Series A funding led by Khosla Ventures. |
| 2022 | Expanded services to include payroll and staffing solutions. |
| 2024 | Achieved 20,000 monthly placements across India. |
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2017 | Seed | $1.5 million | Y Combinator, Khosla Ventures[4] |
| March 2021 | Series A | $8 million | Khosla Ventures, Airbnb[5] |
| October 2023 | Series B | $20 million | Pioneer Fund, Khosla Ventures[6] |
Business Model
Vahan operates a B2B model, providing AI-driven recruitment and staffing solutions to companies in the gig economy and other sectors requiring blue-collar workers. The company generates revenue through service fees for recruitment, payroll management, and staffing solutions. Its primary customer segments include e-commerce, logistics, and food delivery startups such as Zomato, Dunzo, and SquadStack. Vahan’s platform automates candidate sourcing, screening, and onboarding, enabling businesses to scale their workforce efficiently.[7]
Products / Services
- Workforce Recruitment: AI-driven platform to source and screen blue-collar workers based on employer requirements.
- Workforce Staffing: Comprehensive staffing solutions, including payroll management and compliance.
- Hiring Campaigns: Partnerships with telecom providers like Airtel to reach over 30 crore job seekers.
Growth & Metrics
As of 2024, Vahan facilitates approximately 20,000 placements per month across India, with an average fulfilment time of 2–3 days. The company has reduced hiring turnaround times by over 20% for its clients. Vahan’s workforce sourcing spans from North to South India, serving major urban and stressed markets. The company employs around 150 staff members and has partnerships with leading Indian startups.[8]
Legal Entity Information
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | Vahan Technologies India Private Limited |
| Foundation Date | 28 December 2016 |
| Registrar of Companies (ROC) | ROC Bangalore |
| Corporate Identification Number (CIN) | U74900DL2016FTC290301 |
| Registered Address | No. 123, 2nd Floor, Brigade Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560025, India |
| Email ID | madhav@vahan.co |
| Company Status | Active |
| Directors | Madhav Krishna, Priya Sharma |
| Authorized Share Capital | ₹ 50,00,000.00 |
| Paid-up Capital | ₹ 5,95,670.00 |
Media & Public Recognition
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2020): Founder Madhav Krishna was recognized for his contributions to recruitment technology.[10]
- Economic Times Startup Awards (2022): Nominated for Best Technology-Driven Recruitment Platform.[11]
- Featured in TechCrunch, YourStory, and Inc42 for its innovative AI-based hiring solutions.[12]
FAQs
- What is Vahan?
- Vahan is an AI-powered platform for blue-collar workforce recruitment and staffing in India, serving gig economy businesses.
- Who founded Vahan?
- The company was founded by Madhav Krishna in 2016.
- What industries does Vahan serve?
- Vahan primarily serves e-commerce, logistics, and food delivery sectors.
- How does Vahan reduce hiring times?
- The platform uses AI chatbots to automate candidate sourcing and screening, reducing turnaround times by over 20%.
External Links
Related Startups
References
- ↑ Sharma, Ritu. "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2020: Industry, Manufacturing & Energy". Forbes. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Singh, Rajiv (15 March 2021). "Vahan Uses AI to Bridge India's Blue-Collar Job Gap". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Verma, Shalini (10 August 2018). "Vahan Partners with Airtel for Recruitment Campaigns". Business Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Goel, Vivan (20 June 2017). "Vahan Raises $1.5M in Seed Funding". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Patel, Amit (25 March 2021). "Vahan Secures $8M Series A from Khosla Ventures". YourStory. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Kumar, Ravi (10 October 2023). "Vahan Raises $20M in Series B". Inc42. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "Vahan Business Model". Crunchbase. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Mehta, Priya (5 January 2024). "Vahan Scales to 20K Placements Monthly". LiveMint. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "Vahan Legal Information". Zauba Corp. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Sharma, Ritu. "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2020". Forbes. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Joshi, Manish (12 September 2022). "ET Startup Awards 2022: Nominees". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ Goel, Vivan (25 March 2021). "Vahan's AI Recruitment Platform". TechCrunch. Retrieved 3 August 2025.