Some of India’s biggest startups are adding a dash of AI to their core businesses and even spinning off new ventures with AI at the heart. From Eternal to Cars24
, consumer-facing platforms are converting internal operational tools into standalone enterprise AI ventures to unlock enterprise revenue.
Eternal’s Nugget Track: Eternal’s AI venture began as an internal solution for Zomato, but has since evolved into a standalone platform offering conversational AI, voice assistants, workflow automation and agentic systems to external enterprises. Closing an average of one deal a week without spending on ads, Nugget’s customers now span private banks, insurance companies, D2C brands, epharmacy and even rival Swiggy.
With a revenue of ₹7.2 Cr in FY26, the venture is valued at ₹350 Cr and is currently cash-flow positive.
CARS24’s AI Play: The auto tech giant is taking a slightly different route with Deployment Inc, its independent AI platform designed to help enterprises operate AI systems. Instead of tools, it will deploy forward-deployed engineers (FDEs) at companies to connect AI models with internal data, redesign workflows and measure outcomes. It plans to hire 50 FDEs initially.
The Race For Enterprises AI: But Zomato and CARS24 are not alone. Fintech major Paytm plans to sell its in-house AI capabilities to external merchants and businesses, while Razorpay is also developing an agentic commerce studio. The common thesis is that consumer platforms possess valuable workflow data, distribution and operational experience that can be repackaged for enterprise customers, unlike early stage AI startups.
The Native Problem: While consumer tech startups may have an edge in distribution, enterprise software demands more than a successful internal use case. Players must navigate long sales cycles, complex integrations, data governance and relentless product support. Winning customers will also require proving measurable returns, building trust beyond their parent brands and competing with specialised AI startups.
So, can consumer tech giants turn internal AI success into durable, independent businesses? Let’s find out…
Moving cities can often be a hassle. Young professionals have to pay a big chunk of money to brokers even before they even enter a new home. FlatX is trying to remove this friction with an AI-powered rental platform that connects tenants, landlords and flatmates.
Cutting Out The Broker: Founded in 2025, FlatX enables users to discover flats, rooms and shared accommodation without relying on intermediaries. Listings come directly from landlords and existing tenants, giving renters access to the people who actually control the property and helping owners reach more serious prospects.
FlatX’s Matchmaking Algo: Its key differentiator is an AI-driven flatmate matching system. Users can discover potential roommates based on lifestyle preferences, budget, location and living habits. The platform also assists with property visits and rental agreements, creating a more streamlined rental journey.
A Win-Win For All: Besides matching tenants, the Y Combinator-backed startup also claims to verify users and listings to reduce the uncertainty that often surrounds rental searches. Its model is designed to lower upfront costs for tenants, while giving landlords a brokerage-free channel to reach verified, serious renters.
What’s Next? Currently operational only in Bengaluru, FlatX plans to expand to Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Delhi NCR. It is eyeing a piece of the homegrown rental housing market, which is projected to become a $32 Bn opportunity by 2031. So, can FlatX streamline India’s urban rental market with AI?
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Source: Inc42 - Startups
