D2C home appliance startup upliance.ai is in advanced talks to raise $3 Mn to $4 Mn (around ₹28-₹37 Cr) in a Series A funding round, sources told Inc42.

A new investor is expected to join the startup’s cap table, while existing backers, including Khosla Ventures, are looking to invest further, the sources said.

The startup could use the fresh capital to strengthen R&D, improve its interface, and expand into international markets, they added.

Inc42 has reached out to upliance.ai for comment. The story will be updated based on the startup’s response.

The startup previously raised ₹34 Cr in a seed funding round led by Khosla Ventures in February 2024, at a valuation of ₹143 Cr.

Founded in 2021 by former Ather Energy executive Mahek Mody and former Chaayos employee Mohit Sharma, upliance.ai builds smart kitchen appliances. Its portfolio includes the upliance 2.0+ cooking assistant and a 12L Smart Air Fryer Oven launched in July.

The startup uses generative AI to translate recipes into instructions its cooking assistant can execute. For instance, its YouTube recipe feature breaks cooking videos into steps and maps them to the appliance’s capabilities, including chopping ingredients and adjusting cooking sequences.

In an earlier interaction with Inc42, Mody said customers can also access recipes through the company’s app and leave a voicemail if something goes wrong while cooking. The team responds to these queries and uses ratings and feedback to improve recipes over time. 

The funding talks come amid growing activity in India’s smart kitchen appliances market.

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