Cube26

Cube26, initially founded as PredictGaze in 2012, operated in the mobile technology and artificial intelligence sector before its acquisition by Paytm in June 2018. The company was established by Saurav Kumar, Abhilekh Agarwal, and Aakash Jain, all alumni of Cornell University, who brought together expertise in machine learning, computer vision, and scalable software architecture. Saurav Kumar, who served as CEO, had a background in computer science from Delhi College of Engineering and Cornell, with experience at INRIA in France working on driving assistance systems and at US-based startups. This technical foundation drove the company's initial focus on making devices smarter.

The firm's core business involved developing software solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the smartphone market. Cube26 provided customized Android operating systems and applications for major brands like Micromax and Panasonic, embedding features such as gesture control. Notable innovations included 'Blink to Capture' for taking selfies and 'Look Away to Pause' for video playback, which were integrated into millions of devices. The business model centered on licensing this technology to OEMs and forming B2B partnerships for user acquisition and monetization, which at one point generated over ₹1 crore in monthly revenue. Cube26 also developed its own app and game store to connect developers with users and enable monetization.

In 2015, Cube26 secured a significant seed funding round of $7.7 million from prominent investors Tiger Global Management and Flipkart. The company later ventured into the Internet of Things (IoT) space, launching a smart bulb called IOTA Lite. However, this expansion was short-lived, and the IoT division was shut down in 2017 to refocus on the core software and services business amid market challenges. By 2018, the company and its team were acquired by Paytm. The acquisition was a strategic move for Paytm to enhance its platform's user experience and integrate more social engagement features, leveraging Cube26's expertise in machine learning and mobile user interface development.

Keywords: gesture control, mobile technology, Android customization, computer vision, OEM solutions, user experience, smart devices, acquired, Paytm, machine learning