Press & Media
In India, astrology is a guide subconsciously woven into the daily lives of people and continues to shape decisions both big and small across generations and social spectrum. Prominent business families to local kirana store owners, closely follow cosmic signs to inform the most important decision in their lives.
Vedic astrology, one of the world’s oldest knowledge systems, is built on the belief that cosmic movements influence life on Earth and is one of the oldest and most structured astrological systems in the world. It draws on planetary positions, zodiac signs, houses, dashas (planetary periods), and nakshatras (lunar mansions) to understand an individual’s personality traits and life path. The system is quite nuanced, relying on detailed calculations rather than broad generalisations.
Astrology is a significant part of Indian society, influencing personal, social, and professional life. The belief runs so deep that wedding dates, business launches, and even baby names are often chosen based on astrological guidance. A recent survey shows that more than half of Indians consider zodiac compatibility when choosing a partner, and more than 70% of the population believes in astrology to some extent.
Apart from individual belief systems, there are entire communities and institutions that rely on astrology as the major festivals and religious ceremonies follow the Hindu calendar, which itself is based on planetary positions.
Despite all its cultural significance, the astrology industry remains largely unstructured. Though platforms like Astrotalk have emerged as a big online player, crossing $200 million in annual revenue, only 1.5% of India’s $10 billion astrology market has gone digital. Most consultations still happen through informal networks, with absolutely no standardisation. For customers, this often means dealing with inconsistent experiences, making the search for a trustworthy astrologer feel like a gamble.
Vaya is addressing this gap by combining deep astrological knowledge with AI to deliver more consistent and personalised guidance at scale. The platform works with a select group of experienced astrologers, supported by technology that can process complex astrological variables, from planetary strengths and house placements to nakshatras, mahadashas, and divisional charts like the D9, to synthesize more nuanced predictions.
This approach helps astrologers focus on interpretation with human intuition and experience, while the system handles the heavy lifting of analysis. Vaya’s AI also maintains detailed consultation histories for each user, allowing astrologers to provide continuity and deeper context over time. By working only with vetted experts, the platform ensures that the final guidance is rooted in experience, not just computation.
In a field that has long depended on word of mouth and fragmented networks, Vaya is building a more structured, trustworthy way for people to engage with astrology without losing the human touch that’s always been at its core.
Sources:
https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/relationship/story/whats-your-raashee-51-of-indian-singles-prioritise-zodiac-compatibility-survey-2700075-2025-03-27
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/religious-beliefs-2/
About the Founders
Vaya was started by Maahin Puri and Nitesh Kumar Niranjan, two second-time founders who are doing the zero to one journey for a third time. The duo first teamed up at Atlys - a travel-tech startup backed by a16z and PeakXV - where Maahin was Head of Product & Nitesh Lead Engineering. They grew the Atlys consumer product to $5M in Revenue in less than a year. Vaya is backed by Accel Partners, Weekend Fund (Run by Ryan Hoover & Vedika Jain) and Arkam Ventures. This is Weekend Fund’s first investment in an Indian entity and Arkam’s youngest investment.