Whatfix Cofounder and CEO Khadim Batti Dies At 49

Khadim Batti, cofounder and CEO of enterprise software company Whatfix, has died at the age of 49 following a sudden cardiac arrest, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

Whatfix said Batti’s passing was unexpected and asked the media and public to respect the privacy of his family.

“It is with deep sorrow that we confirm the unexpected passing of our beloved cofounder and CEO, Khadim Batti, who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest today,” the company said in a statement. 

Batti co-founded Whatfix with Vara Kumar Namburu in Bengaluru in 2014. The two had previously worked together at Huawei Technologies India and had also co-founded SearchEnabler before starting Whatfix.

Under Batti’s leadership, Whatfix grew from an Indian startup into a global enterprise software company. Its digital adoption platform helps organisations improve how employees use workplace applications through in-app guidance, training, analytics and other tools.

The company now serves more than 700 enterprises, including more than 80 Fortune 500 companies, according to Whatfix. Its customers have included large organisations such as Microsoft, Cisco, Schneider Electric and other global enterprises.

Whatfix expanded beyond its core digital adoption platform through products including Whatfix Mirror, which allows enterprises to create simulations of software applications for training and learning.

The company has also increasingly shifted its focus towards artificial intelligence. In May 2025, Batti said Whatfix expected AI-powered products to contribute 15–20% of revenue by the end of 2026, up from around 1.5% at the time. He also said the company was working towards profitability and an initial public offering within roughly the same timeframe.

Whatfix’s most recent major funding milestone came in September 2024, when the company raised $125 million in a Series E round led by Warburg Pincus, with participation from existing investor SoftBank Vision Fund 2.

The transaction valued Whatfix at approximately $900 million, putting the company close to unicorn status. The funding was intended to support international expansion, product development, artificial intelligence initiatives and strategic acquisitions.

The company had previously raised $90 million from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 in 2021, which valued it at around $568 million.

Batti had more than two decades of experience in the technology industry. Before Whatfix, he worked at Huawei Technologies India and later co-founded SearchEnabler. He held a master’s degree in information technology from the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Bombay.

Beyond Whatfix, Batti was closely involved with India’s growing SaaS and AI founder community. He served on the SaaSBoomi governing council and was among the founding members of AIBoomi, an ecosystem focused on AI-first product companies.

His death drew tributes from founders and technology leaders across India’s startup ecosystem.

Avinash Raghava, a prominent member of the SaaS and AI founder community, described Batti as a friend, mentor and supporter of founders, saying his journey with Whatfix had inspired many entrepreneurs.

Whatfix cofounder Vara Kumar, who was also a close friend of Batti, told employees that the two had spoken at length on Monday night and discussed their respective health situations. Kumar said Batti had been maintaining his health well. Batti’s family has decided to hold his last rites and religious rituals in his hometown in Gujarat, according to Kumar’s communication to employees.

Whatfix said its leadership team remains committed to carrying forward the vision and values Batti championed.