A new matchmaking startup has secured seed funding from Google’s first ever investor, Dr. David Cheriton.
The California-based startup Banihal uses neuroscience research from American universities to bring together potential husbands and wives across India.
The service recently launched at Indian startup conference UnPlugged.
Users create their own profile, and are then asked a few simple questions by Banihal, helping them to construct a model of the ideal match for each user.
Banihal uses neuroscience research to pair up its users using a thought process similar to the one humans have when they meet someone in person.
The formula used by the platform is designed to then generate five matches for each user, which have an optimal chance of leading to marriage.
The company said: “The old system of finding a partner is not working and we currently do not have a new system that works well. We know it’s the most important decision and currently the system does not enable us to meet that one person we can say yes to. Banihal is focused on making that introduction where both individuals can confidently say yes.”
The founder of Banihal, Ishdeep Sawhney is an ex-Microsoft and Apple software engineer, who worked on the developments of the iPad, iPhone 5 and iPad mini.
And the startup has now been funded by Dr David Cheriton – who initially made his fortune at Google, writing a $100,000 check to Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998.
Today, the check he wrote now renders over $1bn in Google stock.
The Canadian entrepreneur is also the founder of Kealia Inc and Granite Systems, co-founder of Arista Networks and a Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University.
Banihal is currently available on Android devices and at Banihal.com, with an iOS to be released in the near future.