AppsForBharat Secures Rs 175 Crore for Sri Mandir Expansion

AppsForBharat, the parent company behind the devotional platform Sri Mandir, has successfully raised Rs 175 crore (approximately $20 million) in a Series C funding round. This round was headed by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with continued support from existing investors like Nandan Nilekani’s Fundamentum, Elevation Capital, and Peak XV Partners.

Recent Funding History

This funding round follows AppsForBharat’s Series B round, where the company raised $18 million in September 2024. Since its inception, the Bengaluru-based startup has raised in excess of $50 million through various funding rounds.

Plans for Expansion

The latest influx of funds will be allocated to expanding operations in over 20 temple towns, including prominent locations like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Haridwar. Also, the company intends to establish logistics and service fulfillment hubs while developing AI-driven features to enhance user interaction and content discovery.

Sri Mandir User Engagement

Sri Mandir has achieved over 40 million downloads. In the past year alone, 1.2 million users conducted 5.2 million online pujas and offerings spanning more than 70 temples. Approximately 20% of the platform’s usage originates from users in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Features and Offerings

The app facilitates users in performing rituals online, offering chadhava, receiving prasad, and enjoying devotional content. During the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, Sri Mandir collaborated with Vedashram Trust to provide services for over 3 lakh users, inclusive of digital rituals and the delivery of Triveni Sangam Jal.

Impact on Temples

According to the company, online puja bookings have resulted in a 25 to 30% increase in temple earnings, alongside a growing demand for prasad and ritual supplies among local vendors. Plans are in place to enhance commerce and logistics operations in temple towns while also hiring local teams to oversee service delivery.

Innovative AI Development

AppsForBharat is actively developing AI tools to aid users in navigating rituals, addressing queries, and providing content recommendations based on personal devotional preferences. The company’s founder and CEO, Prashant Sachan, noted that the firm has seen growth double within the last six months and has played a pivotal role in helping temples monetize their services through digital means. He further stated that the platform continues to support temple partners and vendors by sustaining demand year-round.

Company Overview

Founded in 2020, AppsForBharat now serves over 40 million users worldwide. The leadership team includes Pulkit Pujara, a former founder of AirBlack, and Ayush Chamaria, previously associated with Matrix Partners. Earlier in the year, the firm executed an ESOP buyback for 25 employees.

Financial Performance

For the fiscal year ending March 2024, AppsForBharat noted a remarkable increase in its operating revenue, amounting to Rs 18.53 crore up from Rs 3.53 crore in FY23. Additionally, the company successfully reduced its year-on-year losses to Rs 39 crore from Rs 44.97 crore. The results for FY25 have yet to be released.

Competitive Landscape

AppsForBharat faces competition from platforms such as DevDham, Utsav App, Sutradhar, Ghar Mandir, and 27 Mantra.