We're building a world where voice-first interfaces replace typing as the primary mode of input, driving seamless man-machine communication

In a country where over 90 per cent of the population isn't fluent in English, Mihup is breaking the language and literacy barrier by enabling people to talk to technology in their native languages.

- RITWIK MUKHERJEE

Mihup's mission is that of inclusivity. Its focus is on empowering India's diverse linguistic population with voice technology that understands accents, dialects, and colloquial speech, making digital access universal.

Interestingly, it is the founder's rural background that inspired the vision, and a local language like Kalma Gudi (spoken in Cooch Behar) shaped the product roadmap.

At a time when startups flock to Bengaluru, homegrown Mihup doubled down on its roots in Kolkata and succeeded, with an underdog narrative of building deep-tech from Kolkata, landing major clients like Tata Motors, and replacing global giants like Nuance in voice applications.

It envisions a future without screens or keyboards. You can actually imagine controlling your car, AC, washing machine, or even filing a complaint, all by talking.

Speaking to The Statesman, Tapan Barman, Founder and CEO, Mihup, narrates the growth story of Mihup, how their embedded voicebot for automotive use has come in handy to Tata Motors and the future ahead.

Q: How and when did you begin your entrepreneurial journey?

A: Our entrepreneurial journey began in 2016, driven by a fundamental question: Why should technology assume that everyone is fluent in English or comfortable typing? In a country as linguistically diverse as India — with over 800 languages and countless dialects — that assumption excludes millions of users. We saw this as both a challenge and an opportunity. What if people could interact with technology using just their voice, in their own language and accent? That idea laid the foundation for Mihup. The name itself — "May I Help You Please"— captures our mission: to make technology more human, more accessible, and truly inclusive for all.

Q: Had you always wanted to become an entrepreneur or was there any trigger?