AI-powered blue-collar worker recruitment startup Vahan.ai bags investment from LemmaTree
Khosla Ventures-backed AI-startup Vahan.ai has also acquired L.earn, the mobile-first digital upskilling platform from GoodWorker.
Vahan.ai, an AI-powered recruitment platform for blue-collar workers, has secured a strategic investment from LemmaTree, a Singapore-headquartered firm founded by Temasek. The partnership is expected to support Vahan’s ongoing efforts to expand its platform, which currently facilitates approximately 40,000 job placements per month, with a target of reaching 1 lakh monthly placements, the company stated.
Meanwhile, Vahan.ai has also acquired L.earn—a digital upskilling platform from GoodWorker, which was backed by LemmaTree. The acquisition enables Vahan to integrate mobile-first, vernacular skilling modules directly into the job-seeking experience, aiming to enhance worker readiness and improve access to better-paying roles.
The developments come at a time of structural shifts in India’s labour market. According to recent estimates by McKinsey & Company, blue-collar workers are projected to drive 70% of the country's job growth by 2030, with gig work alone expected to reach $455 billion in gross volume by decade’s end. Vahan aims to meet this demand by building intelligent infrastructure that helps bridge gaps in access, skill, and opportunity.
Commenting on the development, Madhav Krishna, Founder and CEO of Vahan.ai, said, “This partnership accelerates our ambition to build advanced, AI-led employment infrastructure for the informal workforce. By embedding voice, multilingual support, and adaptive skilling into the hiring journey, we aim to improve both access and advancement for workers. With LemmaTree’s support and the acquisition of L.earn, we’re creating a full-stack career ecosystem for Bharat.”
Since its inception, Vahan has placed over one million workers across 920+ cities, serving employers such as Zepto, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zomato. With the new capital, the company plans to enhance its proprietary AI technology, expand support to eight more Indian languages, and strengthen its footprint in Tier II and Tier III markets. It is also eyeing international expansion in Southeast Asia and MENA.
The addition of L.earn introduces a skilling layer into the hiring journey, enabling users to upskill while applying for jobs, the startup stated. Designed for gig and frontline workers in logistics, retail, and manufacturing, L.earn provides contextual, bite-sized content accessible via mobile and in regional languages—allowing workers to build capabilities without disrupting their livelihoods.
“We are excited to support Vahan as they reshape how businesses engage with frontline workers across India and beyond. Their platform is unlocking opportunity at scale and redefining recruitment through AI and empathy,” added Glenn Gore, CEO of LemmaTree.
Edited by Kanishk Singh