Companion Labs
Category: AI in Media / Gaming / Entertainment
An AI-powered interactive entertainment platform that creates personalized, vernacular language storytelling experiences where users play as the main character in AI-driven narratives. Companion Labs was founded in 2025. The company is led by Akshay Jhanwar. Based in Bengaluru, India. Team size: 2-10. Total funding raised: $2.5M. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include Peak XV Partners (Surge Program), All In Capital, UntitledVC, DeVC, Angel investors.
AMW Analysis
Companion Labs operates an AI-powered interactive entertainment platform that creates personalized, vernacular language storytelling experiences where users play as the main character in AI-driven narratives. The company targets India’s vernacular audiences across six or more regional languages through its app Mello, which features AI bots conversing in multiple Indian languages. In February 2026, Companion Labs raised $2.5 million in seed funding led by Peak XV Partners’ Surge, with participation from All In Capital, UntitledVC, DeVC, and angel investors. The funding news flow consistently highlights a strategic focus on culturally localized, entertainment-led AI for users in Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, moving beyond English-first, metro-centric applications. The company’s direction emphasizes capturing India’s vernacular internet user base through deeply personalized, culturally-rooted narratives at scale.
AMW analysis, generated from 5 tracked news signals.
- Founded
- 2025
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, India
- Team size
- 2-10
- Total funding
- $2.5M
Value proposition
Delivers interactive, personalized AI entertainment experiences at scale in local Indian languages, allowing users to explore alternate paths and identities in deeply personal, culturally-rooted narratives.
Products and solutions
AI-Driven Interactive Story Platform, Vernacular Language Entertainment Content, Personalized Narrative Engine, Multi-language Content Library (Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali), Character-Driven Interactive Stories
Unique value
First-of-its-kind AI-native entertainment platform specifically designed for India's vernacular audiences, combining interactive storytelling with regional language AI capabilities.
Target customer
Young, digitally native Indians aged 18-35 who prefer vernacular content and seek entertainment in regional languages
Industries served
Consumer AI, Digital Entertainment, Gaming AI, Vernacular Content, Interactive Media, Edutainment
Technology advantage
Leverages advanced AI and LLM technologies to generate interactive, personalized storytelling experiences at scale in regional Indian languages. Combines consumer AI expertise with deep understanding of Indian regional preferences.
How they differentiate
First AI-native interactive entertainment platform specifically designed for India's vernacular audiences in 6 regional languages. Focuses on immersive, character-driven experiences where users become the protagonist, unlike global companions or traditional publishing platforms.
Main competitors
Character.AI, Replika, Pratilipi
Key partnerships
Peak XV Partners (Surge Program), India AI Impact Summit 2026, All In Capital, UntitledVC, DeVC
Major milestones
Selected for Peak XV's Surge 11 cohort (September 2025), Raised $2.5M seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge (February 2026), Featured at India AI Impact Summit 2026, Developed beta platform with ~25 interactive vernacular stories
Growth metrics
Pre-revenue, beta stage with ~25 interactive stories; targeting 150-200 million users over 5-10 years
Market positioning
Early-stage vernacular AI entertainment pioneer targeting India's 150-200 million digitally native, regional language users.
Geographic focus
India (Bengaluru-based), with focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
Patents and IP
No registered patents disclosed as of latest update
About Akshay Jhanwar
Over 4 years as Engineer at CRED (2020-2024). Previous roles at JDA Software (2019-2020) and betterhalf.ai (2018-2019). B.E. from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (2015-2020). Experience in consumer internet, fintech, and AI-driven entertainment applications.
Latest news about Companion Labs
- Bengaluru-based Companion Labs secured $2.5M in seed funding led by Peak XV Partners' Surge to build AI-native entertainment experiences for India's vernacular audiences across 6+ regional languages.
- Companion Labs raised $2.5M seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge to build AI-native entertainment for India's vernacular audiences across 6 regional languages. This investment signals a pivotal shift i
- Companion Labs secured $2.5M seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge to build AI-native entertainment for India's vernacular audiences across 6 regional languages including Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali. Thi
- Companion Labs has secured $2.5 million in seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge to build AI-native interactive entertainment for India's vernacular audiences across 6 regional languages. This investmen
- Companion Labs has secured $2.5 Mn in seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge to build vernacular AI entertainment experiences for India's tier 2, 3 and 4 cities through its app Mello, which features 12 A
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Official website: https://www.companion-labs.com/
