Ayush Varshney (Grexa AI)
Overview
Ayush Varshney, an accomplished entrepreneur and technologist, is best known for co-founding Grexa AI, a marketing tech startup aimed at revolutionizing digital marketing for small businesses in India. Varshney, holding a significant role as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Grexa AI, has been a pivotal force in integrating autonomous AI-driven solutions to serve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across diverse industries. Previously, he gained recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree in 2018, due to his impactful contributions to technology and innovation in edtech through Testbook, an online learning platform he helped scale significantly.
Recent Developments
Recent years have been pivotal for Ayush Varshney and Grexa AI, with several significant milestones:
- July 2025: Grexa AI raised ₹15.5 crore (~$1.85 million) in a seed funding round led by prominent investor Utsav Somani, with participation from various angel investors and funds such as the Bharat Founders Fund and DeVC. The funding aims to bolster product innovation and expand Grexa AI’s market reach, with a focus on empowering India’s SMEs through automated marketing solutions. 1
- August 2025: Grexa AI announced its ambitious goal to support one million small businesses by automating their digital marketing processes using AI technology, consolidating key marketing strategies like SEO, social media management, and advertising into one seamless platform. 2
- 2024: Grexa AI was founded by Ayush Varshney alongside partners from the successful edtech platform, Testbook. Leveraging their extensive experience in AI and edtech, Grexa AI was envisioned to tackle the prevalent challenges in small business marketing, providing affordable, efficient, and tech-driven solutions. 3
Personal Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ayush Varshney |
| Born | Unknown (Origin: India) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, CTO, Technologist |
| Known For | Co-founding Grexa AI, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018 |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur |
Early Life and Education
Ayush Varshney was raised in Kanpur, India, within a middle-class family, where he developed a keen interest in technology from a young age. His father, an employee at the Reserve Bank of India, and his mother encouraged his fascination with computers. This interest was catalyzed when Ayush received his first personal computer and quickly became known locally as a "computer mechanic." His passion led him to pursue a degree at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, where he excelled in computer science, robotics, and developed a strong foundation in programming.
Career and Notable Achievements
Ayush Varshney's career is marked by entrepreneurial ventures and significant technological contributions:
- Testbook: Joining as CTO in 2018, Ayush played a crucial role in transforming Testbook into one of India’s leading online educational platforms, reaching over 90 million users. His innovative approach led to Testbook's robust technical infrastructure that supported widespread adoption.
- Forbes Recognition: Varshney was honored in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2018, recognized for his outstanding contributions to the tech industry through his work at Testbook.
- Grexa AI: Co-founded in 2024, Grexa AI embodies Varshney’s vision to simplify marketing for small businesses using AI. Under his technical leadership, Grexa has rapidly grown to serve over 21,600 businesses across India, offering automated marketing solutions.
Current Work and Impact
Currently, Ayush Varshney is focused on expanding Grexa AI's reach and refining its platform to better serve the burgeoning needs of India’s SMEs. The platform integrates a variety of AI technologies to automate marketing tasks, thus reducing costs and complexities for small business owners. Grexa AI's impact is already notable, as it helps democratize marketing technologies that were previously inaccessible to smaller enterprises due to budget constraints.
Conclusion
Ayush Varshney's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to his vision and technical prowess. By founding Grexa AI, he has significantly contributed to bridging the digital divide for small businesses in India, allowing them to compete more effectively in the digital age. His foresight and innovative solutions have not only advanced SME marketing but also set a new standard for AI-driven solutions in business. As he continues this trajectory, Varshney's influence is poised to make lasting impacts, potentially reshaping how small businesses operate and thrive in competitive markets.