upliance.ai in Talks to Raise Up to $4 Mn in Series A Round

Indian smart kitchen startup upliance.ai is in advanced talks to raise $3 Mn to $4 Mn (roughly ₹28–37 Cr) in a Series A round, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deal is expected to close by January 2027.

A new investor is expected to join the company's cap table, while existing backers, including Khosla Ventures, are looking to put in more money. The startup has been approached for comment.

What the money is for

The fresh capital could go toward strengthening research and development, improving the product interface and expanding into international markets, the sources said.

Founded in 2021 by former Ather Energy executive Mahek Mody and former Chaayos employee Mohit Sharma, upliance.ai builds smart kitchen appliances. Its lineup includes the upliance 2.0+ cooking assistant and a 12L Smart Air Fryer Oven launched in July. The company previously raised ₹34 Cr in a seed round led by Khosla Ventures in February 2024, at a valuation of ₹143 Cr (about $15 Mn).

Generative AI sits at the core of the product. It converts recipes into instructions the cooking assistant can execute. A YouTube recipe feature, for example, breaks a cooking video into steps and maps them to what the appliance can do, such as chopping ingredients and adjusting the cooking sequence. Customers can also reach recipes through the app and leave a voicemail if something goes wrong; the team replies and uses ratings and feedback to refine recipes over time.

A growing, crowded market

The talks come as India's smart kitchen appliances market expands. MarkNtel Advisors estimates it at $800 Mn in 2026, rising to $2.99 Bn by 2032 at a CAGR of 25%. Cooking appliances make up about 48% of the market this year.

Competition includes established brands. Wonderchef launched the Chef Magic kitchen robot in April 2024, automating chopping, stirring, steaming, sautéing and kneading, with more than 600 preloaded recipes. Philips introduced OneChef in India in March 2026, combining air frying, stir frying, steaming and boiling in one appliance.