Varun Puri
Varun Puri is the CEO and cofounder of Yoodli, an AI startup focused on sales training, manager coaching, public speaking, and interview preparation. He previously served as Entrepreneur in Residence at the Allen Institute for AI and held roles at Google, Infosys, and Intuit.
Yoodli Expands to 60-Person Headquarters at Seattle’s Pier 70, Growing from Three Offices
Yoodli expanded from three offices to a 60-person headquarters at Seattle’s Pier 70, demonstrating the advantages of operating within a connected AI and flexible workspace ecosystem.
Seattle Startup Yoodli Scores Free FIFA World Cup Broadcast Ad with Cardboard Sign at Pier 62
Seattle startup Yoodli used a cardboard sign to get its name and web address featured on Fox Sports' live FIFA World Cup broadcast from Pier 62. This guerrilla marketing effort was a spontaneous move by Yoodli's team during the 2021-founded company's participation at AI House events nearby.
Seattle-Based AI Startup Yoodli Doubles Workforce Amid $120M Fundraising by AI House Incubator
Seattle is attracting AI startups like Yoodli, which develops AI speech-coaching software and recently doubled its staff to about 100 employees. Yoodli originated from the AI2 Incubator (now AI House) on Seattle's waterfront, which has raised around $120 million since 2020 to fund emerging startups.
Allen Institute for AI, Carbon Robotics, DAT Freight & Analytics, Humanly, and Yoodli Named 2026 GeekWire Workplace of the Year Finalists
The 2026 GeekWire Awards Workplace of the Year finalists include Allen Institute for AI, Carbon Robotics, DAT Freight & Analytics, Humanly, and Yoodli, recognized for building exceptional workplace cultures based on core values like trust and openness. The award ceremony occurs on May 7 in Seattle, with public voting open through April 16.
How Yoodli is Replacing Boring Sales Training with AI Roleplays | Varun Puri, Co-Founder & CEO of Yoodli
In this episode, Varun, co-founder of Yoodli, shares insights into how his startup leverages AI to enhance communication skills, from public speaking to enterprise sales training. Tune in to understand how AI can empower humans rather than replace them, and the strategic evolution from consumer to enterprise products. Key Topics: The origin story of Yoodli and its focus on helping people find their voice Transition from B2C to B2B: What was learned along the way The role of storytelling as a meta-skill in a world dominated by AI Using AI to make communication more authentic and human How large organizations…
Seattle AI Startup Yoodli Raises $40M, Valuation Hits $300M, Shifts to Enterprise Experiential Learning
Seattle startup Yoodli, which offers AI-powered conversation coaching software, has tripled its valuation to about $300 million following a $40 million funding round announced just eight months after a $13.7 million raise. The company is shifting focus from consumer public speaking to enterprise experiential learning, partnering with firms like SAP and Google to improve employee communication skills.
Seattle AI Startup Yoodli Raises $40M Series B Led by WestBridge Capital Amid 900% Revenue Growth
Seattle AI startup Yoodli raised $40 million in a Series B round led by WestBridge Capital, after reporting 900% revenue growth and tripling its staff to over 40. The company offers AI-powered conversational practice software used by major clients like SAP and Google, and plans to expand into experiential learning.
Redefining Communication: Yoodli Founders on AI Roleplays, Confidence & Building in Seattle
In this episode of Founded & Funded, Madrona Venture Partner Patrick Ennis sits down with Varun Puri and Esha Joshi, co-founders of Yoodli, an AI-powered communications coach helping people become more confident speakers. Varun and Esha share their leap from Big Tech into startup life, eating noodles on secondhand couches while chasing a bold mission: making effective communication accessible to everyone. They dive into: The origin story behind Yoodli, (and where the name came from!) How AI roleplays bring "exposure therapy" to speaking practice. Use cases ranging from sales training to doctors having end-of-life conversations. The decision to build in…
Seattle Startups Yoodli and A-Alpha Bio Appoint New C-Suite Execs, TiE Seattle Names Siddhartha Srinivasa as President
Seattle startups Yoodli, A-Alpha Bio, and MoxiWorks have added senior executives, including Andy Larson as Yoodli's CFO and Troy Lionberger as A-Alpha Bio's chief business officer, while TiE Seattle appointed Siddhartha Srinivasa as president. These moves highlight growth and leadership shifts in the Seattle tech sector, with companies focusing on AI, biotech, and robotics.
Yoodli Raises $13.7M to Expand AI Roleplay Software Helping Enterprises Enhance Employee Communication Skills
Yoodli, founded by CEO Varun Puri, has raised $13.7 million to grow its AI roleplay software that helps employees improve communication skills through interactive speech analysis and feedback. The startup, spun out of AI2 in 2021, is shifting focus to enterprise clients and has increased revenue fivefold in eight months.
Neotribe-led $13.7M Series A in Yoodli to Expand AI Roleplay Enterprise Platform Serving Google, Databricks and More
Neotribe Ventures led a $13.7 million Series A in Yoodli, an AI roleplay enterprise platform that helps users rehearse high-stakes conversations with real-time feedback; existing investors including Madrona, Cercano, AI2 and Neotribe (who previously invested) highlighted Yoodli’s enterprise traction with customers like Google, Databricks, RingCentral, Snowflake and BDO. The funding will expand sales, customer success, and engineering while improving personalization and realism in roleplays to address communication training gaps at scale.
Seattle AI Startup Yoodli Raises $13.7M to Enhance Sales Pitch Training with Generative AI
Seattle-based AI startup Yoodli raised $13.7 million to advance its generative AI platform that helps sales teams practice pitches by simulating conversations and providing communication feedback. Founded in 2021 by Varun Puri and Esha Joshi, Yoodli serves companies like Databricks and RingCentral and partners with Toastmasters and Korn Ferry.
Humanizing AI Communication in the Enterprise with Yoodli CEO Varun Puri
In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Boaz Ashkenazy welcomes back Varun Puri, founder of Yoodli, for a discussion about his journey transforming a consumer-focused public speaking tool into an enterprise powerhouse. Since his last appearance, Varun has pivoted Yoodli into what he calls "the Grammarly for speech," now serving 50 companies through AI-powered communication training and role-playing scenarios. With candid reflections on the startup rollercoaster—from the challenges of enterprise sales to building a vibrant company culture—Varun shares his vision of "grounded optimism" for the future of AI. This conversation offers valuable insights for founders navigating the enterprise market…
GeekWire Awards 2024 Startup of the Year Finalists Auger, CalmWave, Clearbrief, Oleria, and Yoodli Showcase AI-Driven Innovations
The five finalists for the GeekWire Awards’ Startup of the Year—Auger, CalmWave, Clearbrief, Oleria, and Yoodli—are all leveraging AI to enhance their products and internal processes, utilizing automation and AI-driven insights across diverse sectors such as supply chain, healthcare, legal, web3, and communications. Their CEOs shared how AI empowers their companies to innovate and improve customer experiences.
Varun Puri, Ex-Google X Speech Coach, Launches Yoodli AI Communication Coach to Boost Career Confidence
Varun Puri, former Google X speech coach and CEO of Seattle-based startup Yoodli, developed an AI communication coach to help individuals improve speaking skills and build confidence for career advancement. The Shift AI podcast highlights his insights on overcoming workplace communication biases with AI-powered, judgment-free feedback.
Building Confidence through AI with Yoodli CEO Varun Puri
In this episode of the Shift AI podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy interviews Varun Puri, the founder and CEO of Yoodli, who shares his journey from working at Google to starting his own AI startup Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered speech coaching tool that helps individuals improve their communication skills. Puri discusses the importance of effective communication and how Yoodli can be used as a personalized coach. He also highlights the positive response of Yoodli by users and organizations and shares his thoughts on the role of AI in the future of work. Summary of topics covered: 00:00 Introduction and Background…
Seattle AI Startup Yoodli Launches Speech-Analyzing Dating Coach to Boost Users' Communication Skills
Seattle startup Yoodli has launched an AI-powered dating coach that analyzes speech and visual cues to help users improve their communication skills and confidence for dating. The tool offers real-time feedback and personalized coaching, aiming to reduce social anxiety and enhance conversational abilities ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Varun Puri - Yoodli - What Fuels You
Varun Puri is the co-founder of Yoodli, an AI powered communication coach. Yoodli helps you ace your next presentation or interview by providing private and judgment-free analytics on your filler words, body language, content and more. Yoodli (www.yoodli.ai) is being rolled out to 300k+ Toastmasters members globally, has raised $7M+ in funding, and been featured across media outlets such as the Wallstreet Journal and Inc. Before Yoodli, Varun led Africa Operations for a GoogleX initiative that used invisible lasers to bring the internet to unconnected areas. He also ran special projects for Sergey Brin, one of Google’s founders. Varun is…
Varun Puri - Co-founder of Yoodli
Varun Puri is the co-founder of Yoodli, an AI powered communication coach. Yoodli helps you ace your next presentation or interview by providing private and judgment-free analytics on your filler words, body language, content and more. Yoodli (www.yoodli.ai) is being rolled out to 300k+ Toastmasters members globally, has raised $7M+ in funding, and been featured across media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and Inc. Before Yoodli, Varun led Africa Operations for a GoogleX initiative that used invisible lasers to bring the internet to unconnected areas. He also ran special projects for Sergey Brin, one of Google’s founders. Varun…
Seattle Startup Yoodli Launches AI VC Pitch Coach to Help Founders Practice Investor Presentations
Seattle startup Yoodli launched an AI-powered VC pitch coach that helps startup founders practice investor presentations by simulating various VC question personas and providing detailed feedback. The tool aims to reduce pitch preparation anxiety and lessen mentors' workload, offering five free practice sessions before subscription fees start.
Startups, superheroes, and the economy at a crossroads: Voices from Seattle's tech community
After holding the GeekWire Awards virtually for the past two years, there was a feeling of real catharsis Thursday evening as hundreds of people streamed through the doors of the Showbox Sodo in Seattle for our annual celebration of the Pacific Northwest's top tech startups, leaders, and innovations. For the finalists in the 2022 GeekWire Awards, recognition at the superhero-themed show came with the added bonus of knowing that their companies made it through a period of unprecedented challenge and change. But the week also brought a new sense of uncertainty about what's to come. [Related Post: 2022 GeekWire Awards…
GeekWire returns in person for 2022 Awards at Showbox SoDo, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with 16,000+ votes
GeekWire held its first in-person GeekWire Awards in three years at Showbox SoDo in Seattle, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with over 16,000 community votes and appearances by local tech leaders and entertainers.
Yoodli unveils AI speech-coaching platform, opens beta waitlist and raises $1M pre-seed from AI2 and Madrona
Seattle startup Yoodli launched an AI-enabled platform that analyzes users' speech delivery and offers improvement tips, and is opening a beta waitlist while announcing a $1 million pre-seed round. The spinout from AI2 is founded by Ehsan Hoque, Esha Joshi and Varun Puri, who aim to help people communicate more effectively and access opportunities.
Organizations
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Education
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Claremont McKenna College Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics · 2012–2016
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Sanskriti School High School · 1999–2012
