Aina Secures $5.5M to Move Beyond Passive AI Recording

The Bengaluru and San Francisco-based startup, formerly known as Project Mirage, plans to move away from the current wave of "always-listening" wearables that merely record meetings or ambient environment data. Instead, Shankar is betting on hardware designed to trigger and control AI agents directly. The company’s initial testing pointed to the success of Dune, a context-aware three-key macro keyboard that allows users to manage application-specific shortcuts and system controls like cameras or microphones.

While the company developed other prototypes—including a video call remote and a single-tap agentic button—user feedback solidified the focus on action-oriented interfaces. Investors in the round include high-profile figures such as WhatsApp head Kunal Shah and founders from Razorpay and Scribd. As the market remains fragmented between smart glasses, rings, and pins, Aina is positioning itself to capitalize on a growing demand for devices that act as command centers for AI-driven workflows rather than simple notetakers.