This startup allows businesses to connect with users in their local language, and it just raised funding

Neil Patel was researching the most pressing issues in international development during his doctorate programme at Stanford University. While doing this, he found that communications platforms driven by basic phones and voice calls could overcome fundamental barriers of literacy and language.

Based on this thesis, he founded Awaaz.de in India, which helps organizations connect with people over the phone in various languages. In Hindi, awaaz means voice, while de means give.

Today, Awaaz revealed that it has raised an undisclosed amount in angel funding from a consortium of angel investors like Samir Shah. It had earlier raised seed funding from Ahmedabad-based accelerator Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship, which also participated in this round.

From banking to school circulars

Awaaz.de offers voice-based solutions to a variety of corporate clients. The startup works across sectors like health, education, microfinance, and agriculture. Banks might use it for banking services over the phone, or a major brand could use it to do question-and-answer sessions over the phone. In the education sector, for instance, voice circulars ensure all parents hear alerts for classroom activity and payment reminders. It also has services to go beyond functional messaging by developing two-minute educational modules for students, parents, or community members.

It claims to have 300 enterprise clients in six countries. It has hosted over four million callers in nine languages. With fresh funding, Awaaz.de will grow its customer base in India and abroad.

Awaaz.de competes with India-based Uniphore, which raised series A funding earlier this month.