AI Blocks Spam Calls
India-Focused Equal AI Raises $30 Million Series B for Its Popular Call-Screening App
Key Points
Equal AI’s product is framed as a more aggressive version of Google’s Pixel “Call Screen,” addressing a market where spam and scam calls are more pervasive than in the US/EU. One report notes Indian users get an average of roughly 15–20 unwanted calls per week.
Beyond pre-set quick replies, the Android app can show contextual prompt buttons such as “Leave the delivery near the door” / “Give it to the neighbor,” and users can also type custom messages for the AI to read back to the caller.
The Series B’s “three tranches” structure includes an unusual feature: it allows the company to advertise the highest valuation achieved even if most of the equity in the round is sold at a lower price.
The round’s individual backers listed by reporting extend beyond Prosus/Tomales Bay: it includes PhonePe founder Sameer Nigam, Airtel Family Office’s Zubin Bharti Mittal, Skyflow AI co-founder Anshu Sharma, Meta’s VP Sandhya Devanathan, and CtrlS Datacenters chairman Sridhar Pinnapureddy.
Equal AI, a Hyderabad-based startup that answers phone calls on your behalf using artificial intelligence, has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by Prosus Ventures and Tomales Bay Capital, TechCrunch reported. The company now has more than one million monthly active users and 300,000 daily active users — a milestone that helped it lock in the new funding.
The round brings Equal AI's total funding to over $42 million. Individual backers include PhonePe founder Sameer Nigam, Meta VP Sandhya Devanathan, and Airtel Family Office's Zubin Bharti Mittal, among others. The deal is split into three tranches tied to performance targets, and the company has not disclosed its valuation.
India's Spam Call Crisis Fuels Equal AI's Growth
Indian mobile users receive an average of 15–20 unwanted calls per week — nearly double the global average, according to Truecaller Insights. Spam, scams, and sales calls have made answering the phone feel like a gamble. Tools like Truecaller can show a caller's name, but they can't screen intent or stop the conversation from happening.
Equal AI takes a more aggressive approach. Its Android app picks up the call for you. It asks the caller why they're calling, then sends you a text summary or live transcript. You can choose to join the call, dismiss it, or let the AI handle it entirely. The company claims it deflects 85% of identified spam calls without any action from the user.
Contextual Quick Replies Built for India's Gig Economy
Equal AI goes beyond simple spam blocking. The app shows users contextual reply buttons based on the caller's purpose. If a delivery rider calls, you might see options like
Leave the delivery near the door
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