Awestruck
Category: AI Agents
World's first AI for your free time — an AI agent called "Awwee" that discovers and books local experiences based on mood, budget, and group, in under 60 seconds. Awestruck was founded in 2022. The company is led by Pancham SN Bannerrjee. Based in Thane, Maharashtra, India. Team size: 11-50. Latest round: Bootstrapped.
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Thane, Maharashtra, India
- Team size
- 11-50
Value proposition
An AI agent named "Awwee" that eliminates the paradox of choice in leisure — users tell it their mood, budget, and group composition, and it recommends 1-2 perfectly matched local experiences and books them in under a minute, replacing endless searching and group-chat negotiation.
Products and solutions
Awwee AI Agent (conversational AI for experience discovery and booking), Awestruck mobile app (iOS & Android), Awestruck web platform (bookawestruck.com), Awestruck Partner onboarding (free self-serve listing for experience operators)
Unique value
Not a directory to search or a feed to scroll — an AI that understands intent and makes decisions on the user's behalf. Zero listing/ad fees for businesses (pay-per-booking only), so recommendations are based on fit/mood not advertising spend.
Target customer
Consumers with free time (students, couples, families, working professionals, corporate teams, travelers); Experience/activity operators (pottery studios, escape rooms, spas, adventure sports, cooking classes, comedy clubs, etc.)
Industries served
Experiences & activities marketplace, Leisure/travel, Local events & entertainment, Wellness, Food & drink, Adventure sports, Creative arts workshops
Technology advantage
Proprietary AI ("Awwee") powered by deep learning that learns from user conversations, booking choices, repeat behavior, and experience performance data. Intent-interpretation surpassing traditional search. Business model: zero listing/ad fees (unlike 20-30% commission models), operators pay only on confirmed bookings. Self-reinforcing network effects — more operators = more variety = better matches = more customers = more operators.
How they differentiate
Unlike Thrillophilia, BookMyShow, MakeMyTrip (directory/search-based models with listing/ad fees), Awestruck is AI-first: it recommends rather than lists, uses mood/personality matching rather than search, charges businesses zero upfront fees (pay per real booking only), and small operators compete equally with big brands. Bootstrapped — no outside funding — giving freedom to prioritize user experience over investor growth targets.
Main competitors
Thrillophilia (India tours & activities marketplace), BookMyShow (events & entertainment ticketing), MakeMyTrip/Ixigo (travel booking platforms with AI features)
Key partnerships
500+ experience operators/businesses in Mumbai region onboarded before launch
Major milestones
Founded 2022, 500+ businesses joined before launch, AI became core product driver (growth multiplied ~100x), Live in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane (2024-2026), iOS & Android apps launched, Featured in YourStory, DNA India, Mid-Day, Zee Business (May-June 2026)
Growth metrics
10,000+ Google Play downloads; 500+ businesses onboarded pre-launch; growth multiplied ~100x after AI became product core; 133 LinkedIn followers (Book Awestruck company page)
Market positioning
First-mover as an AI-native experience discovery and booking platform targeting the $250B-$310B global experience economy. Starting in Mumbai, growing to 50+ cities within 2 years with Dubai as first international market.
Geographic focus
India (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane currently; expanding to 50+ cities); Dubai (planned next year)
About Pancham SN Bannerrjee
Founder & CEO of AdEngage (marketing & technology company); CEO of Awestruck Gifts; held positions at Sooperb.io. Studied at Mumbai University.
Official website: https://bookawestruck.com/