Parag Agrawal launches AI startup Parallel to build a machine-first internet, aiming to redefine how AI systems interact with the web.
Parag Agrawal, the former chief executive of Twitter, has officially returned to the tech spotlight with the launch of his new artificial intelligence startup, Parallel.
The announcement comes nearly three years after he stepped away from Twitter following Elon Musk’s takeover of the social media platform in 2022.
With Parallel, Agrawal aims to build what he calls the “web for machines”, a system designed to make AI models more accurate, efficient, and capable of interacting seamlessly with digital content across the internet. The company has already raised around ₹260 crore (approximately $31 million) in funding, signaling strong investor confidence in his vision.
According to Agrawal, today’s AI models excel at generating text, images, and code, but remain limited when it comes to navigating, understanding, and acting across the web autonomously.
Parallel’s mission is to solve this gap by creating a machine-readable web that allows AI agents to browse, extract information, and perform actions with higher accuracy.
The startup claims its technology is already demonstrating 10% better accuracy than GPT-5 in benchmark tests—a bold statement, considering GPT-5 is regarded as one of the most advanced models available today.
By focusing on machine-first infrastructure, Parallel aims to make the internet as accessible for algorithms as it is for humans.
Parallel’s launch has been backed by global venture capitalists and strategic investors who view Agrawal’s deep expertise in machine learning as a differentiator.
The ₹260 crore seed funding is one of the largest early-stage raises by an Indian-origin founder in recent years, underlining the rapid pace at which AI-focused startups are attracting capital worldwide.
The funds will be used to:
Expand Parallel’s research team
Build large-scale infrastructure
Partner with enterprises for machine-driven web access
Agrawal’s return is notable not just for its timing, but also for the broader AI arms race.
Before becoming Twitter’s CEO, he served as CTO, where he advanced AI and recommendation systems. His sudden departure in 2022, following Musk’s acquisition, left the tech world speculating about his future.
With Parallel, Agrawal leverages his Stanford PhD in computer science and expertise in AI and distributed systems to tackle one of AI’s biggest challenges: turning the web into a machine-compatible ecosystem.
Parallel’s infrastructure has the potential to transform industries:
E-commerce: AI agents comparing products, monitoring prices, and executing purchases in real time.
Finance: Automated systems tracking global markets and reacting instantly.
Healthcare: Streamlined AI retrieval of research, treatment guidelines, and patient data.
Enterprise Productivity: Tools for automating research, reporting, and decision-making.
These applications make Parallel attractive to both investors and corporations seeking a competitive edge.
Agrawal’s venture enters a competitive AI ecosystem, where companies race to commercialize breakthroughs in LLMs, web agents, and ML infrastructure.
Giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind push general-purpose AI.
Smaller startups focus on AI agents, robotics, and synthetic labor platforms.
Parallel differentiates itself by targeting infrastructure—the architecture of how machines use the internet—positioning itself as an enabler rather than a competitor.
Parallel plans to:
Scale its team in the US and India
Hire AI research engineers, systems designers, and data scientists
Open its platform to enterprise partners later this year
Agrawal emphasizes that Parallel’s long-term goal is not just to build another AI model, but to reshape the digital environment so machines can fully participate alongside humans.
If successful, this could mark the beginning of a new layer of the internet—one optimized for intelligent systems rather than browsers and apps.
Parag Agrawal’s re-entry into the tech world through Parallel highlights how AI remains the defining frontier of innovation in 2025.
With strong funding, a visionary mission, and bold claims of surpassing even the most advanced AI models, Parallel is set to be a company to watch.
As the global race to harness AI accelerates, Agrawal’s bet on building a web for machines could reshape not only how AI systems work, but how the internet itself evolves.
I am an entrepreneur, marketer, and mentor with a certification in entrepreneurship from IIT Delhi, one of the most prestigious institutions in India. I have a passion for connecting businesses with their ideal customers, solving real-world problems, and inspiring the next generation of founders.I founded and lead DevoByte, a digital marketing agency that provides a range of services, from SEO a
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