Covid-era struggle to USD 3-million AI start-up: Sudeepa and Srijan’s journey to Intellivisa

Sudeepa Singh from Chandigarh and co-founder Srijan Magon are constructing Intellivisa, an AI-powered travel clearance platform meant to aid passengers in fulfilling international entry requirements before arriving at the airport. The concept behind Intellivisa originated from the duo's experience during the Covid-19 pandemic when they faced difficulties in getting their families to visit them due to travel restrictions, unclear rules, and uncertain application processes.

Sudeepa, who has expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and Srijan, who has a background in running a visa services business, recognized an opportunity to leverage technology to simplify a process that often relies on manual effort and specialized knowledge.

In October 2026, Intellivisa announced a $3 million pre-seed funding round from investors in the travel and AI sectors, including United Airlines Ventures. The company is now concentrating on integrating travel clearance into the booking process to help passengers determine if they possess the necessary documentation before reaching the airport.

Sudeepa Singh, an MTech graduate of IIT-Kanpur, has focused her career on utilizing data and artificial intelligence to tackle intricate problems that demand precision. She has worked on machine learning projects for cancer image analysis, led data initiatives at a renowned photography platform, and headed a team responsible for a 50,000-vehicle fleet deployment for one of the world's largest retailers.

Srijan Magon, a former aerospace and defence engineer from New Delhi, developed an interest in entrepreneurship during his studies. As a student, he operated a visa services business, assisting individuals in navigating applications for study, employment, and family visits. This experience provided him with firsthand knowledge of the repercussions of errors in documentation.

Subsequently, he worked in operations at start-ups and large global companies, learning how to manage complex systems at scale. When Sudeepa and Srijan joined forces to create Intellivisa, his expertise in visa services and operations complemented her technical proficiency. Initially, their solution consisted of software designed to expedite manual visa processes, but they soon realized that automating paperwork alone would not tackle the broader issue.

Consequently, they dismantled the initial product and restructured Intellivisa around AI agents intended to execute tasks and assist travelers in meeting entry requirements.

The founders acknowledge that the primary challenge lies in the vast array of variables involved in international travel. Passport type, destination, and circumstances all influence requirements, and regulations and documentation rules can change frequently. "The visa process isn't a single problem; it's thousands," they explained.

As they collaborated with airlines and travel businesses, Intellivisa shifted its focus towards developing a comprehensive clearance platform encompassing the requirements passengers must satisfy before crossing international borders. Srijan Magon emphasized that accuracy remains paramount for the company. A passenger denied boarding due to incorrect documentation faces consequences far more severe than a typical software malfunction.

"When a traveler is barred from boarding, it's not a bug report. It's a missed funeral, a lost contract, or a holiday a family saved years for," he stated.