I am thrilled to have Akshat Mandloi, the co-founder of Smallest.ai, a voice AI startup recently named among Inc42's "30 Startups to Watch" for 2025. A former senior data scientist at Bosch and IIT Guwahati alum, he's building hyper-realistic voice agents that support 30+ languages with ultra-low latency for enterprises worldwide.

In this conversation, Akshat Mandloi, co-founder of Smallest AI, discusses his journey from working at Bosch to starting his own company, the challenges of operating in different markets, and the intricacies of developing voice AI technology. Akshat shares insights on language prioritization, the competitive landscape, and what it means to create enterprise-ready solutions. The conversation also touches on funding, building a strong company culture, hiring practices, and the future of voice AI technology.

Timestamps

00:00 The Journey to Smallest AI

02:11 Navigating Operational Challenges

05:12 Language Prioritization in Voice AI

06:57 Building a Competitive Edge in Voice AI

10:15 The Build vs. Buy Debate

12:11 Funding and Investor Insights

14:11 Cultivating a High-Ownership Culture

16:21 Designing for User Needs

18:17 Remote Work vs. In-Person Collaboration

19:11 The Future of Voice AI

21:07 Speed as a Competitive Advantage

22:57 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

25:01 Vision for the Future

Akshat's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshat-2503/

Website - https://smallest.ai/

My Links

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/