India is ageing quick. Its care infrastructure is not ready. As institutions fall behind, the necessary for reliable, respectful elder care is growing rapidly. Citraverse Healthcare, a Bangalore-based startup, is building a new model. One that combines skilled human support, AI-powered tools and a focus on the wellbeing of both patients and care professionals.
Founded in March 2024, Citraverse is working to professionalise caregiving in India while introducing technology that supports, rather than replaces, human care. In doing so, it aims to create a system where dignity and empathy are built into every touchpoint. This applies to families, care workers and ageing individuals alike.
A human-first response to a national challenge
Citraverse did not emerge from a personal family story. Instead, it grew from a clear-eyed assessment of a national crisis. The founder studied computer science in India, and later completed a Master’s in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University in Boston, US.
He worked in product leadership roles at startups in San Francisco and Pittsburgh. But as he explored pressing issues in India, elder care stood out as a challenge that was growing quickly and lacked strong solutions.
“I’ve always wanted to work on difficult problems in India that benefit society at large,” he declares. “Elder care stood out. It necessaryed urgent, structured responses, not half-baked tech solutions.” That clarity of purpose drove him to build something structured, scalable and rooted in care for all the stakeholders.
A team committed to dignified care
The leadership team reflects the company’s dual commitment to care and innovation.
- Ganga Raj, co-founder & COO, who has done a maternity care startup before, heads operations, including caregiver recruitment, training and customer relationships
- Jai Ganesh, co-founder & CTO, leads the AI product division, developing tools that assist caregivers, and
- Venkat Prasath, co-founder & CEO, manages marketing, sales, and product
Their growing team is driven by shared values of benefitting all the stakeholders in the loop and not just focussing on revenue topline.
Transforming how India sees caregiving
One of the first challenges Citraverse faced was how many families viewed and treated caregivers. In many hoapplyholds, care professionals were not given the respect they deserve – like hygienic restrooms, attention to care fatigue, and privacy. This lack of dignity of labour was the main hurdle to create it a white-collar job for young professionals.
The team responded decisively. They launched terminating customers who mistreated staff and created it clear that they would not compromise on basic respect. They also launched awareness campaigns to shift public perception. “We had to reveal that respecting caregivers is not optional. It is essential,” declares the founder.
Using AI to support human-led care
Technology is central to Citraverse, but not in the way most startups apply it. The company’s AI division is building tools to monitor health indicators, track care protocols and support professionals with timely insights. The goal is not to replace humans, but to enhance their ability to provide consistent, high-quality care.
In January 2026, Citraverse will pilot its AI caregiving monitoring system for their at-home customers, and launch the B2B version for three health institutions. Families and providers will be able to track key metrics, ensure continuity of care and catch early signs of concern like any abapply to elderly or care plans for elderly not being completed. This integration of data with empathy & accountability sets a new standard for care that is both smart and personal.
Growth, support and global ambitions
Citraverse is backed by the accelerator Build3 (Goa) & other angel investors from the US, who provided pre-seed funding, and Ashoka University, alma mater of Venkat, which supported early customer outreach. This foundational support supported the startup gain traction and credibility.
In the upcoming year, the company aims to serve 100 families in India. It is also preparing for expansion to the Middle East, where demand for professional elder care is growing. With each step, the company is aligning services and products to meet global standards while staying grounded in local cultural sensitivity.
Reconsidering the economics of care
Citraverse charges families for services in a way that allows caregivers to be paid fairly. There are no hidden costs or exploitative pricing. The goal is to create a sustainable model that supports both service quality and workforce wellbeing.
As the company scales, it aims to influence wider policy and industest norms. This includes better regulations, public recognition for care work and more pathways for caregiver training and advancement. He also emphasises the importance of good operational practices early on. “Be meticulous with your paperwork from day one. It becomes essential during growth and funding.”
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