Nagpur: What would happen if potential investors were no longer sitting across the table and were analyzing project proposals in seconds with algorithmic precision? Enter LemonBuddy, an AI-powered ‘smart investor’ built in Nagpur. This investor is reshaping the way startups get noticed, valued, and funded. Developed by entrepreneur Abhishek Mulay, who won last year’s Viksit Bharat Conclave, the bot aims to replicate the thought patterns of experienced investors while operating at a scale that humans cannot match. The platform will be actively used by startups participating in this year’s conclave.In an exclusive chat with TOI, Murray said that unlike the traditional investment process where venture capitalists sift through a limited number of pitches, LemonBuddy processes thousands of applications simultaneously. “The platform helps investors quickly identify high-potential ventures by filtering, sorting and ranking startups based on customized criteria. From sector preferences to risk appetite, users can adjust the AI’s evaluation parameters, making the process efficient and aligned with strategic goals,” he said.LemonBuddy integrates large language models (LLM) with a scalable front-end interface. Rather than simply scanning documents, the AI interacts with founders through dynamic surveys. This ensures a due diligence process by human investors.“The system not only evaluates what is presented, but also investigates further if necessary. It generates a comprehensive report along with a scoring mechanism,” said Mulay. This allows investors to easily identify the best-performing startups without having to manually review every application.LemonBuddy is being tested in a conclave with 84 participating startups joining the platform. Each member received a link via email to upload their pitch materials. Once submitted, an AI avatar interacts with them, guides them through the evaluation process, and generates a detailed report for investors.“We want founders of all backgrounds to have equal access to opportunity,” Moulay said, adding that scaling across regional languages remains a technical challenge, but one they are actively working on.
