Nikhil Kamath Unveils Second Cohort of WTFund to Support Young AI Entrepreneurs
WTFund is back with its second cohort, featuring 22 founders leading nine startups in its initiative for entrepreneurs under 25. Led by investor and co-founder of Zerodha, Nikhil Kamath, WTFund provides up to ₹20 lakh in grant funding, along with mentorship and strategic support, to help early-stage startups scale their impact. The initiative aims to foster a culture of innovation, risk-taking, and resilience, equipping emerging and first-time entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to grow their ventures. “Entrepreneurs can build at any age, but there’s something about being young—the audacity, the relentless energy, the willingness to take risks before the world tells you otherwise,” said Kamath. “With Cohort 2, we’re backing founders who aren’t just dreaming of change but are actually building it.” The second cohort reflects the diverse entrepreneurial talent across India, with applications pouring in from over 50 cities, spanning Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 locations. The selected startups represent a wide range of sectors, including Tech/SaaS, D2C, EdTech, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and CleanTech, all working to address pressing local and global challenges. Interestingly, 6 of them provide AI-based solutions. The Chosen Nine The startups selected for WTFund’s second cohort are: Nasadya (H2ive): Founded by Chaitanya Gulati, Subhechchha Paul, and Suhani Mohan, the startup develops solid-state hydrogen storage solutions for safer, more efficient industrial energy use, supporting sustainable fuel adoption. InnerGize: Founded by Shalmali Kadu, Sidharth Bhargava, and Mitansh, this venture offers a wearable device designed to reduce chronic stress and anxiety using non-invasive technology. Armatrix: A robotics company founded by Vishrant Dave, Prateesh Awasthi, and Ayush Ranjan, focusing on industrial automation with flexible robotic arms for hazardous environments. Drnk: A specialty beverage brand founded by Raj Thakkar and Aryan Gandhi, offering affordable drinks with a community-driven brand experience. Neoperk: Led by Satyendra Gupta, Neoperk provides AI-powered soil testing solutions to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. ReferRush: Founded by Vikram Pai and Rohan Verma, this platform enables AI-powered referral programs for eCommerce brands. Modus AI: Created by Sunit Gautam and Somesh Lund, this startup offers an AI-driven fraud detection system for financial institutions. Bytes: Founded by Aayush Kumar and Prakhar, Bytes develops an AI-powered Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) for two-wheelers, enhancing road safety. Ai.gnosis: Led by Raksheet Jain and Divyansh Mangal, this startup provides an AI-based developmental screening tool for early autism detection. The First Cohort WTFund’s inaugural cohort, launched last year, featured 13 startups across various sectors. These startups received critical early-stage support, allowing them to refine their business models, expand their teams, and secure further investments. Several founders from the first cohort have also become mentors for the new batch, reinforcing WTFund’s commitment to building a collaborative and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. WTFund Inaugural Cohort Founders
The initiative has selected 22 founders under the age of 25 to support through funding and mentorship.
The initiative has selected 22 founders under the age of 25 to support through funding and mentorship.
["AI founders", "Nikhil Kamath"]
["startup", "AI", "innovation", "Nikhil Kamath", "RAG", "AI founders", "automation", "Aim", "ViT", "GAN", "R", "fraud detection"]
["AI", "Aim", "RAG", "fraud detection", "R", "GAN", "ViT", "automation", "innovation", "startup"]
As a rare blend of engineering, MBA, and journalism degree, Vandana Nair brings a unique combination of technical know-how, business acumen, and storytelling skills to the table. Her insatiable curiosity for all things startups, businesses, and AI technologies ensures that there's always a fresh and insightful perspective to her reporting. She now hosts her tech segment 'Point Break' on AIM Tv.