Kunal Khanna, founder of Gurugram-based AI-powered networking platform Match It Up and B2B production company White Frog Films, created the platform to address the frustration that networking "has now started becoming a game of elites" requiring "a lot of time, energy, and money." Inspired by dating apps and the concept of swiping left and right, Match It Up connects professionals based on intent rather than popularity. After joining, users describe what they need or how they can help, and the platform's AI matches people based on shared purpose. Founded in January this year and bootstrapped with personal savings, Match It Up is not trying to replace LinkedIn, which Khanna calls "an amazing directory of people." Instead, he says, "LinkedIn helps you discover people. We help you meet the right people." The platform's proprietary AI engine, Network Bot, moves beyond traditional keyword matching to understand networking intent and purpose.