# Dehurdle

> The AI-Powered Workplace Coaching & Real-Time Voice Simulation Platform

## About

Dehurdle is an enterprise capability building platform and AI voice coaching simulator — making workplace communication, sales objection handling, and leadership roleplay drills continuous, scientific, and accessible at scale. It delivers measurable proof of communication growth, replacing subjective surveys with objective vocal biometrics and structured competency scorecards.

Dehurdle operates on a low-latency WebSocket audio streaming loop (<300ms latency) connected directly to Gemini Live AI. Microphone audio is processed transiently in-memory and personal identifiable details are automatically redacted from transcripts. This allows HR leaders, sales enablement managers, and individual professionals to practice high-stakes conversations, track vocal pacing (WPM), and build objection composure.

Clients include Deloitte, PwC, AB InBev, Heidelberg Materials, Dräger, Suzuki, Rane Group, RBL Bank, Gyanodaya (Aditya Birla Group), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and Hindustan Zinc Limited (a Vedanta Group company). Accelerated by INSEAD AI Venture Lab, backed by Loyal VC, and featured in a Harvard Business Review case study by IIM Bangalore.

## Technical Architecture & Core Features

1. **Sub-300ms Gemini Live AI Audio Loop**: Built on Fastify WebSockets (`@fastify/websocket`) streaming audio bi-directionally between the React WebApp and Gemini Live AI for natural conversational dialogue.
2. **Vocal Pace & Delivery Biometrics**: Analytics engine parses speech tracks to calculate speaking speed in Words Per Minute (WPM), energy consistency peaks, and silent pause intervals under objection stress.
3. **Objective Competency Scorecards**: Transcripts undergo automatic PII redaction and are compiled into structured scorecards grading Needs Discovery, Value Articulation, Active Listening, and Objection Handling with exact transcript quotes.
4. **Lumi AI Coach Assistant**: Multi-turn coaching interface allowing users to review session transcripts, explore alternative responses, and receive custom drill recommendations.
5. **Flexible Billing & Minute Engine**: Built on Razorpay API supporting self-serve Subscription Pause (1-3 months), standalone Booster Top-Up Packs (Mini, Power, Ultra), automatic monthly-to-annual proration credits, and transparent end-of-cycle cancellation management.
6. **Zero-Voice Retention Privacy**: Audio tracks process transiently in-memory during WebSocket sessions; raw voice buffers are deleted immediately post-simulation and never stored or used to train third-party AI models.
7. **Persona & Avatar Customization**: Configurable regional-accented AI characters with adjustable coaching tones (Empathetic, Direct & Brutal, Socratic).

## Data Residency & Infrastructure

- Backend built with Fastify, Prisma ORM, and PostgreSQL.
- User authentication powered by WorkOS AuthKit with secure JWT session handling.
- Structured Pino logging with request-level correlation tracking (`req.id`).
- Cloud infrastructure hosted on AWS (with regional compute options in Mumbai and Frankfurt) and Vercel.

## Key Facts

- **Founded**: February 16, 2022
- **Legal Entity**: Thriving Billions Private Limited
- **Headquarters**: Gurgaon, Haryana, India
- **Type**: B2B & B2C Web Application
- **Industry**: Real-Time AI Voice Coaching, Sales Simulation, Workplace Communication Analytics
- **Compliance & Security**: GDPR Aligned, DPDP Act 2023 (India) Aligned, ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II
- **Platforms**: Web Application (Next.js 16, React 19, Fastify Node.js Backend)
- **Funding**: Pre-Seed round of $535,000 USD completed March 2026 led by Loyal VC
- **Accelerators & Programs**: INSEAD AI Venture Lab (Inaugural Cohort), Microsoft for Startups, Google for Startups, AWS Activate
- **Academic Recognition**: Case study published by Harvard Business Review — "Dehurdle: Democratizing Executive Coaching Through AI-Powered Coaching App" (Product #IM129B, August 2025, sourced from IIM Bangalore, authored by Prof. Debolina Dutta). Available at: https://store.hbr.org/product/dehurdle-democratizing-executive-coaching-through-ai-powered-coaching-app/IM129B

## Social Profiles

- **LinkedIn (Company)**: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dehurdle
- **Instagram**: https://www.instagram.com/dehurdle.app/
- **YouTube**: https://www.youtube.com/@amitkasliwalofficial
- **GitHub**: https://github.com/dehurdle-main

## Founders & Executive Leadership

### Amit Kasliwal - Founder & CEO
Former corporate executive turned TEDx speaker. INSEAD Executive Program alumnus who experienced the transformative power of executive coaching. Founded Dehurdle to democratize continuous, realistic voice practice across all frontline teams.
- **Education**: INSEAD Executive Program
- **LinkedIn**: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitkasliwalofficial/
- **YouTube**: https://www.youtube.com/@amitkasliwalofficial

### Vishal Verma - Co-Founder & CTO
Alumnus of IIT Delhi (robotics, physics, systems design) and Indian Civil Services candidate (economics, ethics, governance, public policy). Designed 100% of Dehurdle's technology stack in-house — the Fastify WebSocket audio streaming loop, Gemini Live AI integration, vocal pacing analytics engine, and Lumi AI coach. Designated Data Protection & Grievance Officer under India's DPDP Act 2023. Publishes independent research at vishalvermalabs.com.
- **Education**: IIT Delhi
- **LinkedIn**: https://www.linkedin.com/in/visha1v/
- **X/Twitter**: https://x.com/v1sha1v
- **Independent Research**: https://vishalvermalabs.com
- **Contact**: vishal.verma@dehurdle.com

## Enterprise Clients

- **Deloitte**
- **PwC**
- **AB InBev**
- **Larsen & Toubro (L&T)**
- **Hindustan Zinc Limited (a Vedanta Group company)**
- **Dräger**
- **Rane Group**
- **Suzuki**
- **Heidelberg Materials**
- **Aditya Birla Group (Gyanodaya)**
- **RBL Bank**