Japanese HR giant Persol invests in Indian-based Vahan
TOKYO, JAPAN — Persol Holdings, Japan’s human resources company, has announced an investment in Vahan.ai, an AI-powered recruitment platform based in India. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
The investment, made through Persol Venture Partners, marks an expansion into India‘s blue-collar workforce market.
Strategic partnership of Persol and Vahan
Persol Holdings, which recorded revenues of ¥1.33 trillion ($8.7 billion) in fiscal year 2024, operates across 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The company employs over 72,900 people and provides comprehensive human resource services through six business segments. It recently acquired Fujitsu Communication Services.
Vahan.ai, founded in 2016, has established itself as a prominent player in India’s blue-collar recruitment sector. The platform has facilitated 260,000 job placements across 920 cities for major companies, including Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Amazon, Zepto, and Blinkit. The company previously raised $10 million in Series B funding led by Khosla Ventures in September 2024.
Technology and market impact
“By combining Vahan’s AI-driven recruitment technology with PERSOL’s global expertise, we aim to revolutionize hiring at scale and create meaningful opportunities for millions of workers across India,” said Madhav Krishna, CEO and Founder of Vahan.ai.
The company’s AI-powered chatbot technology streamlines the recruitment process for blue-collar workers, particularly in the quick commerce sector, which is expected to grow 60% this year.
Shingo Ishida, Partner and Head of APAC Investment at Persol Group, commented, “Through this partnership, the Persol Group will support the expansion of Vahan’s reach, helping businesses in India access skilled talent more efficiently.”
The investment comes as Vahan.ai plans to expand into the manufacturing and retail sectors, leveraging its AI-driven solutions to address India’s growing workforce demands.
