As organisations aim to get more value from their data, Indian businesses are leading the way by embedding AI at the very heart of their decision-making processes. Whether it is enabling smarter credit decisions, boosting footfall in physical stores, or crafting personalised marketing campaigns, founders are now seeing AI not merely as a tool but as a core strategic enabler.
StartupTalky connected with several inspiring business leaders who are using AI to turn data into real insights. Here is how they are doing it, and what others can take away.
Transforming Hyperlocal Retail with AI-Powered Insights
For Rakesh Raghuvanshi, Founder & CEO of Sekel Tech, AI is not just about automation, it is about real-world impact at every store location. His company’s OmniLocal platform empowers retail brands to capture and activate hyperlocal data for real-time results.
“At Sekel Tech, we use AI to transform hyperlocal data into actionable insights, enabling smarter decisions and streamlined operations,” Rakesh shared. “Our All-in-one platform leverages tools like AI-powered geofencing, CDP, peak-hour targeting, real-time conversion analytics, intelligent IVR systems, and targeted lead management to help a retail brand increase foot traffic by 30%.”
Sekel Tech also enhances digital discoverability using store microsites, automated reviews, and AI dashboards that manage everything from inventory to CRM. “These innovations not only enhance operational efficiency and ROI but also empower brands to connect with customers at every location through a single, advanced OmniLocal platform,” he added.
Driving Financial Inclusion Through AI
At fintech startup Olyv, CTO and Co-Founder Amit Chandel says AI is reshaping how they assess credit risk and improve user experiences, particularly for underserved communities.
“At Olyv, we leverage our in-house advanced AI and machine learning tools to extract useful insights from large amounts of data, more particularly in the area of alternative credit scoring, user engagement, and customer support,” Amit explained. “The effect has been dramatic; we’ve seen greater customer satisfaction, improved retention levels, and quicker response to market requirements.”
One standout innovation is Olyv’s AI-based risk assessment engine.
“Earlier, creditworthiness for those with minimal or no formal credit history was a major challenge,” he said. “We have developed advanced AI algorithms to scan alternative data points such as transaction history and behaviour patterns to measure credit risk more accurately. We’ve not only increased our loan disbursal rates but also had very healthy repayment rates, which validates the success of our AI-based engine.”
Olyv’s strong tech stack supports its scale and innovation. “Our AI engine enables us to segment the users more effectively, detect trends, and forecast future financial behaviour,” he added.
Rishi Mundra
AI in Strategy: A Dual Approach to Human + Machine Intelligence
For Amit Gandhi, CEO and Founder of The Insight Tribe, AI is about going beyond dashboards to deliver live, strategic insights. The company uses AI not just to analyse, but to interpret, contextualise, and empower smarter decision-making.
“The role of AI is on the leading edge of what we are able to do to transform raw data into useful business intelligence within Insight Tribe,” he said. “We apply machine learning technology and advanced data analysis to identify patterns, trends, and predictive analysis that guide strategic decision-making.”
In one project for a retail client, The Insight Tribe’s AI-powered recommendation engine yielded measurable business results.
“The algo refreshed the recommendations every now and then based on real-time interactions as well as likes/dislikes, the outcome yielding a 25% increase in conversion and 30% rise in ROI per campaign,” he said.
Beyond algorithms, Gandhi believes the strength lies in pairing AI with human insight.
“At The Insight Tribe, AI plays a key role in enhancing how we translate raw data into actionable intelligence… The real value lies in moving beyond static dashboards into dynamic, real-time insights. This enables faster, evidence-based decisions and helps us tailor strategies that are both contextual and outcome-oriented.”
When a US-based healthcare client sought to expand into India, The Insight Tribe used AI to mine parental sentiment from online reviews.
“The AI-driven sentiment and pattern analysis helped shape a go-to-market strategy that was deeply aligned with consumer behaviour on the ground,” Gandhi explained.
The firm uses platforms like Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, Azure ML and Tableau, integrated with NLP sentiment analysis. “This change enabled our staff to spend more time on higher-level thinking and fewer hours on mechanical data number-crunching,” he added.
Common Threads: AI as a Foundation, Not Just a Feature
Despite working in different industries, retail tech, fintech, and analytics, these founders share a common belief: AI must serve a strategic purpose. Whether it is improving credit access, refining campaign performance, or offering precise local recommendations, the technology is most effective when built into the DNA of a company.
These insights highlight a broader shift in the Indian startup ecosystem, where data is no longer just a by-product of operations but a goldmine waiting to be tapped, and AI is the pickaxe.
As the technology matures, expect more Indian startups to follow suit, not just adopting AI, but weaving it deeply into their growth playbook.
Muskaan Kapoor
