In the bustling port city of Kochi, Kerala, where the Arabian Sea whispers tales of trade and traditions, two young engineers dared to dream beyond their cubicles.
Aiju T. Biju and Athul Peter, both 28, were strangers until they met by chance in 2021.
United by their passion for technology and a burning desire to make a social impact, they embarked on a journey that would lead to the birth of Genezez—a tech startup poised to redefine the global market for community networking for startup founders.
Their story is one of grit, vision, and a relentless pursuit to empower young entrepreneurs worldwide
Aiju, a serial entrepreneur with a computer science degree, had already tasted the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. In August 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he quit a stable job to found Wecodelife Pvt Ltd, a technology services company.
“I always wanted to build tech products that could help society,” Aiju T. Biju, the co-founder & CEO of Genezez, reflects on his early days as an entrepreneur during an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.
His ambition was infectious, and when Athul, an electronics engineering graduate, joined Wecodelife as an intern, a new partnership was born.
Aiju and Athul with their team members
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The Background Story:
Athul Peter’s rise at Wecodelife was meteoric. Starting as an intern, he climbed to HR head and then director within two years, mentored by Aiju.
Their shared roots in Ernakulam and a mutual goal to create meaningful technology forged a bond stronger than mere colleagues.
By October 2023, they co-founded Reality Mind Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to revolutionising education by training over 1,000 young entrepreneurs and students in socially responsible entrepreneurship and technology.
“We saw how traditional educational systems failed to nurture confident, impactful tech-led founders and entrepreneurs,” says Athul Peter, now the co-founder & COO of Genezez.
But it was a revelation during their work at Reality Mind that sparked Genezez.
Aiju recalls the struggle of his early entrepreneurial days, “When I started as an entrepreneur in 2020, there was no support system. Finding mentors or investors was like searching for a needle in a haystack.”
He noticed a glaring gap in the Indian startup ecosystem—first-time entrepreneurs, especially those with socially inclined ventures, lacked a platform to connect seamlessly with like-minded founders and investors.
Thus, in November 2023, Genezez was born, an AI-powered, invitation-only networking platform designed to be the ultimate digital ecosystem for serious entrepreneurs and investors.
Aiju T. Biju and Athul Peter together
Building a Global Marketplace for Founders:
Genezez isn’t just another social media app; it’s a founder-to-founder (F2F) marketplace where entrepreneurs and investors connect without middlemen.
Launched in beta on Android and iOS in October 2024, the Genezez app offers key features like AI-powered business matchmaking, a ‘Business Requirement Wall’ for posting needs, and the Genezez Angel Investors Network (GAIN) for funding opportunities.
“Genezez is a one-stop solution—a socially inclined global tech platform for F2F networking and collaboration,” Aiju explains, his eyes gleaming with pride.
The platform’s exclusivity sets it apart.
Operating on an invite-only basis, Genezez verifies all applicants to ensure a high-value and sincere community. With over 2,800 users from 10+ countries and 2,200 more on the waiting list, the platform is gaining traction.
Entrepreneurs can join curated groups—like an e-commerce founders’ group or mobile app innovators club—to share resources, while investors can access a curated deal flow through Genezez’s GAIN.
“Genezez is built only by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, and investors, not job seekers or freelancers,” Aiju explains the business-first ethos of the app to Startup Pedia.
The Genezez mobile app
A Bootstrapped Battle: Trials and Triumphs
Building Genezez wasn’t without its share of challenges. As a bootstrapped, pre-revenue, and pre-seed startup, Aiju and Athul faced financial crunches that tested their resolve.
“There have been many instances where it was tough to sustain, but we’ve overcome challenges through our hard work, self-belief, and willpower,” Aiju admits.
Marketing a global product from Kochi posed another hurdle.
With no external funding, every rupee came from their pockets, yet they relied on word-of-mouth and influencer marketing to grow. Despite tight finances, their team of 10 is expanding, with plans to hire a CFO and a CGO.
“We’ve survived hard times and now we’re looking for long-term partnerships with VCs and incubators to scale,” Athul Peter reveals.
The co-founders’ belief in Genezez’s social impact keeps them grounded.
The platform’s beta phase, ending in June 2025, was a crucible for further refining the app based on user feedback, proving its proof of concept.
Founders from across the globe are now forming collaborations and securing clients through Genezez, a testament to its potential.
A Vision Beyond Borders:
Genezez’s ambitions are as vast as the global startup ecosystem it serves.
With the community networking market for startup founders projected to hit $1.7 billion by 2033, Genezez is poised for exponential growth.
“Our long-term goal is to build a massive global platform, something like Instagram or LinkedIn, that originated in India. In the short term, we aim to onboard 5 lakh founders and 1,000 investors to GAIN within a year, alongside hosting exclusive events to broaden our community,” Aiju announces with pride.
Genezez’s revenue model is threefold: a premium app subscription at ₹199/month, GAIN membership at $500/year for investors, and featured listings for founders and companies looking for enhanced visibility.
“We want to keep Genezez accessible for all types of founders, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the world,”Athul explains, highlighting their commitment to democratizing opportunities.
By focusing on long-term sustainability over short-term profits, Genezez is carving a unique path in the global startup ecosystem, challenging giants like LinkedIn with its niche, business-only focus.
Looking at the Future:
Genezez isn’t just a tech startup; it’s fast becoming a movement.
From Kochi’s shores to a global stage, Aiju and Athul are empowering entrepreneurs with a platform that eliminates barriers.
“As India’s startup scene thrives—boasting lakhs of startups and hundreds of unicorns—Genezez is ready to be a beacon of hope for even more founders seeking mentorship, funding, and collaboration,” Aiju concludes.
With plans to integrate more AI-powered tools and expand their community, Genezez is redefining how entrepreneurs connect in the contemporary digital ecosystem.
For Aiju and Athul, their vision is clear: to create a unified global networking platform where founders, entrepreneurs, and investors – regardless of location – can thrive.
The Genezez app allows founders, entrepreneurs, and investors to network & collaborate with each other
Genezez is an AI-powered founder-to-founder networking platform designed to connect serious entrepreneurs and investors globally.
Who are the founders of Genezez?
Genezez was founded by Aiju T. Biju and Athul Peter, two young engineers from Kerala.
When was Genezez founded?
Genezez was founded in November 2023; however, the operation started in October 2024 on a beta basis.
What type of products & services does Genezez offer?
The Genezez mobile app offers various features like AI-based business matchmaking, a Business Requirement Wall, curated founder groups, and the Genezez Angel Investors Network (GAIN) for funding opportunities, etc, targeting both founders and investors.