I built Saathi during the SarvamAI Epoch Buildathon as a voice‑only AI companion for senior Indian users, leveraging a simple phone call as the sole interface.
Target user base: 149M+ elderly Indians already know how to use one interface, a ringing phone.
Core features: An AI companion that calls seniors in their native language, reminds them to take their medicines, checks in on them, and alerts family members when then ran out of medicine or if something is wrong.
Delivery model: No app. No onboarding. Just a phone call.
Funding perception in Bangalore: If you haven’t raised money? “Bro, you’re just building.”
Co‑founder criteria (per @AadityaYuvraj): When they stop having an exit. When their time, money, and name are tied to this one thing. When walking away would cost them as much as it costs you.