Startup Daily

AI co-pilot Indi, which helps carers manage kids with complex needs, raises $1.46 million

Indi cofounders Jeff Quach and Orrin Bedford.
Indi, an AI-powered co-pilot app helping parents of children with complex care needs, has raised $1.46 million.

The round was led by Giant Leap and supported by Antler, along with several strategic angel investors.

The capital will be spent on talent to accelerate platform development and expand partnerships with allied health clinics and families.

Indi was born from lived experience of cofounder Orrin Benford, who cofounded the app five months ago with CTO Jeff Quach.

In December 2021, Benfordโ€™s daughter, Indi, suffered a seizure, resulting in 18 months dealing with a complex and often inaccessible system of care.

โ€œIn 2021, my life was turned upside down when my daughter Indi had a seizure. That moment set us on a journey I didnโ€™t even know existed,โ€ Benfordย said.

โ€œFor 18 months my partner and I fought to be heard by the system, until I realised the only way Indi would get the intervention she needed was if I stepped in and built something myself.

Benford hacked together the first version of the Indi AI co-pilot, and says “it completely changed the game for us”.

โ€œThen I partnered with Jeff to refine it, creating a tool thatโ€™s now essential for families going through the same experience. I still use it every day to navigate healthcare, allied health, education and the NDIS,” he said.

โ€œWhat most people donโ€™t realise is that these conversations arenโ€™t normalised – unless youโ€™re living it, you donโ€™t see how big or painful it is. This reality hits one in five Australian parents, and no one has solved for it – until now.โ€

Giant Leap partner Rachel Yang said Indi is the kind of mission-driven business the impact VC looks to back.

“It tackles a difficult and important problem, helping children who are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or facing challenges that prevent them from living a full, high-quality life,” she said.

โ€œBy connecting each childโ€™s โ€˜villageโ€™ of caregivers, including parents, therapists, and clinicians, Indi reduces mental load, streamlines communication, and enables faster, more informed decisions to improve outcomes.”

Yang said they were also impressed by the teamโ€™s pace and precision, shaped by duo’s startup and tech backgrounds.

Prior to coming to Australia, Benford spent several years as a founder and VC investor in San Fransicso’s Bay area.

Quach was Antler’s entrepreneur-in-residence last summer, prior to Indi and the founder of Haven AI, having also been a senior product manager at SafetyCulture.

“They are moving fast, applying AI thoughtfully, and creating meaningful impact with a lean, focused approach,” Yang said.