Ultrahuman’s former hardware VP raises $5.5M for devices that control AI agents, not just record you

In the burgeoning landscape of AI interfaces, competition is heating up as Aina, a startup based in Bengaluru and San Francisco, announces a substantial funding round. The company has successfully raised $5.5 million, led by Redstart Labs and 360 ONE, with contributions from several notable investors including MIXI Global Investments, Antler, and Blume Founders Fund. Individual backers include prominent figures such as WhatsApp head Kunal Shah and Razorpay's co-founders Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar. Founded by Apoorv Shankar, the former VP of Hardware at Ultrahuman, Aina aims to carve out its niche in the crowded market of human-computer interfaces. Previously known as Project Mirage, the startup is driven by Shankar's vision to create devices that actively control AI agents rather than merely capturing data. "I left Ultrahuman last year driven by my curiosity about AI interfaces," Shankar remarked. His experience at LazyCo, where he developed control devices like a smart ring, informs Aina's innovative approach. The first product from Aina is Dune, a compact three-key keypad that offers users the ability to manage their microphone and camera during meetings while executing shortcuts tailored to their active applications. In addition, Aina has developed two other devices: Radiance, a remote control for video calls, and Shift, a one-touch button for activating AI agents for repetitive tasks. Early tests revealed that Dune generated the most interest, prompting Aina to prioritize its release. Shankar emphasized that the company is focused on creating an action-oriented device that leverages existing context from users' phones and laptops to streamline workflows. Unlike conventional passive devices that simply record information, Aina's offerings are designed to empower users to control and activate AI functionalities. As AI coding tools gain traction among developers and knowledge workers, there is a notable uptick in hardware designed to interface with these technologies. Recent developments from OpenAI, including a custom keypad for its Codex tool, illustrate this trend. As companies explore various hardware solutions—from rings and pins to keyboards and smart speakers—the quest to define what effective AI control looks like continues, promising an exciting future for the industry.