In the bustling lanes of Kolkata, where tradition meets technology, a young AI company is quietly attempting something revolutionary — to build machines that understand people as deeply as people understand themselves.
Meet Assessli, founded in 2022 by Suraj Biswas, Aruna Dey, and Saurabh Gupta — a trailblazing startup creating the world’s first Large Behavioural Models (LBMs). Their bold mission? To personalize human decision-making by blending genomics, psychology, and real-time behavioral data — essentially teaching AI how to think and feel like the individual it serves.
From Delivery Routes to Data Models: The Founder’s Grit
Suraj’s story reads like a modern-day parable of resilience. Once a Zomato delivery boy in Bangalore, he spent late nights delivering food while funding his education in genomics and behavioral science. But those rides gave him something beyond a paycheck — they gave him perspective.
He noticed how every human behaves differently, even when faced with similar situations. That observation led to a radical question:
“What if AI could understand people not as data points, but as living systems — shaped by biology, emotions, and experiences?”
From that vision, Assessli was born.
Despite an early rejection from ISI Kolkata, Suraj persisted. He surveyed over 80,000 people during the COVID-19 pandemic, studying patterns in mental health, learning, and motivation. The team refined their hypothesis — and eventually won a research grant that turned their dream into a funded, credible technology venture.
The Science Behind Empathy
At the heart of Assessli lies its Large Behavioural Model (LBM) — a deep learning framework that decodes what Suraj calls “the language of the self.”
By combining genomic insights, psychological markers, and behavioral signals (like biosensor or wearable data), the system continuously learns how an individual feels, reacts, and decides. The result? AI companions and digital twins that evolve in sync with the user — adapting to mood, stress, or learning preferences with over 99% personalization accuracy.
This isn’t AI that predicts what you’ll click next.
It’s AI that understands why you would — and how to help you choose better.
From mental health support to personalized learning journeys and even career guidance, Assessli’s technology promises to reshape how humans interact with machines — making them intuitive, responsive, and genuinely supportive.
From Kolkata to the World
Setting up headquarters in Kolkata wasn’t just a cost-saving decision — it was strategic. The city’s academic heritage, access to top-tier researchers from ISI and IIT, and strong local talent made it an ideal base for deep tech innovation.
In just two years, Assessli has raised ₹44 crore in seed funding, formed partnerships with institutions like Narayana Group (bringing in 200,000 users), and caught the attention of investors like Foxhog Ventures.
Recognized by programs like NASSCOM’s Gen AI Foundry, Assessli now employs a growing team of AI scientists, cognitive researchers, and product engineers — all driven by one shared goal: to make AI human-centric.
The Road Ahead: When AI Becomes a Mirror
Assessli’s next chapter is ambitious — scaling its AI companions to millions of users across education, healthcare, and self-development. Their dream is a future where every person has access to an intelligent, empathetic companion that understands their biology, mindset, and motivations — and guides them toward better life decisions.
Suraj calls it “AI for the human condition.”
By standing at the crossroads of genomics, psychology, and artificial intelligence, Assessli isn’t just building technology — it’s shaping a new paradigm of personalized intelligence.
And as the global AI race accelerates, this Kolkata-born startup reminds the world that the next frontier of AI innovation might not just be smarter machines — but kinder ones.
