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  • Key Developments in Indian Startup Funding and Acquisitions: June 16 – June 21

    Key Developments in Indian Startup Funding and Acquisitions: June 16 – June 21

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    Indian Startups Raise $197.71 Million This Week

    This week, Indian startups secured around $197.71 million in total funding, with 7 deals at the growth stage and 8 at the early stage, while 2 startups chose to keep their funding amounts undisclosed.

    In comparison, the week prior saw 20 startups, spanning both early and growth stages, raise about $184.75 million.

    Growth-stage Deals

    This week, growth and late-stage funding reached $138.7 million, spearheaded by the fintech firm Aspora, which raised $53 million through a round co-led by Sequoia and Greylock. Following closely was telecom startup WIOM, raising $35 million, led by Accel and Prosus. Spinny also acquired $30.6 million from WestBridge Capital, while the Chennai-based NBFC Mahaveer Finance raised Rs 200 crore (approximately $23.1 million). Other significant fundraises came from CLR Facility, RenewBuy, and electric two-wheeler manufacturer Okinawa.

    Early-stage Deals

    Meanwhile, 8 early-stage startups collectively garnered around $24 million in funding. The NBFC startup Techfino led this segment with a $7.5 million (Rs 65 crore) round, followed by EV producer Oben Electric, and fintech companies like Dugar Finance and Saswat Finance. The creative media agency One Hand Clap Media and logistics startup Xportel also secured funding, although they did not disclose the amounts raised.

    For more detailed funding insights, several sources are available.

    City and Segment-wise Deals

    In terms of geographical distribution, Bengaluru startups led with 6 deals, trailed by Delhi-NCR with 5 deals. Startups in Mumbai, Chennai, and Pune also secured funding.

    Segment-wise, fintech startups held the lead with 6 deals, followed by EV startups with 2 deals. Other sectors like telecom, cybersecurity, mobility, Insurtech, and edtech also obtained funding.

    Series-wise Deals

    This week highlighted Series B and Seed funding with 3 deals each, along with Series A, pre-Series A, Series F, and others.

    Week-on-week Funding Trend

    Compared to the previous week, startup funding increased by 7% to $197.71 million, up from approximately $184.75 million. The average funding over the past eight weeks is approximately $228.35 million, with an average of 22 deals per week.

    Key Hirings and Departures

    This week featured significant hirings. Honasa Consumer Limited, the parent company of Mamaearth, appointed Yatish Bhargava as Chief Business Officer. GyanDhan has promoted Aman Jain to Co-founder. Pocket Entertainment has elevated Umesh Bude to Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

    There were also notable departures, including Gaurav Jain, the Chief Business Officer of ShareChat, and Shalabh Shrivastava, the senior vice president of Driver Org at Swiggy.

    For further details, various sources can be consulted.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    The rewards-first UPI payments app POP raised $30 million from Razorpay to expand its payment and commerce platform, granting Razorpay a majority stake in the Bengaluru-based startup. InCred Money, the retail wealthtech arm of InCred Group, is preparing to acquire the trading platform Stocko for Rs 300 crore (approximately $35 million). AI startup Krutrim, led by Bhavish Aggarwal, has purchased BharatSahAIyak, a public-sector AI solutions company, from technology consulting firm Samagra.

    For a more detailed account, several sources can be accessed.

    Fund Launches

    Investors from the early-stage angel network JIIF have backed a Rs 350 crore fund by Atomic Capital, a newly established consumer-focused venture capital firm. Quadria Group announced the launch of HealthQuad Fund III, with plans to raise up to $300 million for healthcare investments. Steptrade Capital has declared the initial close of its third Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), Steptrade Revolution Fund-II (SRF-II), with a deployment target of Rs 1,000 crore.

    For a breakdown of series-wise deals and additional insights, various sources are available for reference.

    Potential Deals

    Get My Parking is set to raise fresh funds with a 90% valuation increase.

    New Launches and Partnerships

    ZOFF Foods has entered the ready-to-cook market through a collaboration with Reliance Retail. Bhindi AI is partnering with WarpSpeed Hackathon to enhance conversational AI. Simplilearn has announced the launch of SimpliMentor GPT, an AI-powered career coach. Additionally, The Trade Desk is partnering with Zepto to introduce a new retail media advertisement model on the Open Internet. NODWIN Gaming has teamed up with Chess.com and ChessBase India, while Swiggy is piloting a travel and lifestyle concierge application named Crew. Virohan is partnering with Orange Health Labs to place skilled Medical Laboratory Technologists across 76 Indian cities.

    Financial Results This Week

    Capillary Technologies has achieved profitability in FY25. Urban Company reported Rs 1,144 crore in revenue and Rs 28.5 crore in profit before tax for FY25.

    News Flash This Week

    Delhivery is launching an on-demand intracity shipping app named ‘Delhivery Direct’ to compete with Porter and Uber. Capillary Technologies has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) to raise Rs 430 crore through a fresh issue. SEBI has simplified IPO norms for startups concerning ESOPs and reverse-flipping reforms. GlobalBees is currently facing an insolvency plea from the directors of Kuber Industries. MakeMyTrip is seeking to raise $2.5 billion to reduce Trip.com’s stake. Auric, ISAK, and Fix My Curls were named winners of Amazon’s Propel Global Business Accelerator Season 4; the announcement for Season 5 has been made.

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  • April Sees Indian Startup Funding Plummet to 5 Million, Reveals Startup Superb Report

    April Sees Indian Startup Funding Plummet to $745 Million, Reveals Startup Superb Report



    Startup Funding in India: Trends and Insights for 2025

    Startup Funding in India: Trends and Insights for 2025

    Startup funding in India has seen a notable decline in April, amounting to $745 million, a significant drop from the $1.76 billion secured in January. This sharp decrease is largely attributed to a reduction in substantial deals and an increasing focus of investors on public markets. Data further suggests that startup funding has remained relatively flat during the first four months of 2025.

    According to various sources, Indian startups garnered a total of $745 million through 116 deals in April. The growth and late-stage funding segments contributed $562 million from 23 deals, while early-stage funding raised $186 million from 77 deals. It should also be noted that 16 rounds of funding did not disclose their amounts.

    Month-over-Month Trend

    April exhibited a month-over-month funding drop of 34.65% when compared to March, which reported $1.14 billion. Year-on-year, this marks the lowest amount of funding recorded for April in the last five years.

    Top 10 Growth-Stage Deals

    In the realm of growth and late-stage funding, Spinny, an e-commerce platform for used cars, raised $131 million in Series E funding, followed by Juspay, which secured $60 million in Series D. Other significant deals included Rebel Foods with $25 million in Series G, Tonbo Imaging at $21 million in Series D, and Uniqus Consultech at $20 million in Series C.

    Top 10 Early-Stage Deals

    In April 2025, multiple early-stage startups achieved considerable funding. Kult, a beauty tech platform, raised $20 million, and Aerem, focused on clean energy, secured $12 million. RapidClaims, a healthtech startup, garnered $11 million, while Xindus, a cross-border logistics venture, secured $10 million. Edtech startup SigIQ.ai also raised $10 million. Other notable deals comprised Optimized Electrotech with $6 million and The Bear House, a men’s fashion brand, at $5.8 million.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    The Indian startup ecosystem recorded key mergers and acquisitions in April 2025, with Delhivery acquiring Ecom Express for $166 million, the largest deal for the month. Findi purchased fintech company BANKIT for $18.7 million, while Accenture and Ampivo AI carried out strategic acquisitions in deeptech and AI. In edtech, Arihant Academy acquired Carmel Classes for $1.2 million, and Creativefuel took over MissMalini Entertainment for $0.69 million. Other relevant deals included CARS24 acquiring Team-BHP, Jaipuria Group’s acquisition of ClearDekho, and NABARD purchasing 24*7 Moneyworks Consulting.

    City and Segment-wise Deals

    Bengaluru emerged as the leading city for startup funding in April, raising $268.94 million across 35 deals, while Delhi-NCR followed with $253.44 million from 31 deals. Mumbai ranked third with $122.96 million across 15 deals. Pune and Chennai recorded funding amounts of $35.67 million and $29.84 million from 7 and 8 deals, respectively. Collectively, Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR accounted for over 70% of the total funding raised during the month.

    Fintech led the segment-wise funding chart in April, amassing $189.11 million from 9 deals, followed by e-commerce with $64.88 million from 17 deals. The foodtech sector raised $44.84 million through 13 transactions, healthtech secured $32.82 million across 12 deals, and edtech brought in $21.66 million from 7 deals. Notably, fintech accounted for more than a quarter of the total funding for the month, demonstrating sustained investor interest in financial services.

    Series-wise Deals

    In terms of deal volume, seed funding led in April with 38 deals, trailed by Series A with 24, and pre-Series A and pre-seed with 18 and 11 deals, respectively. Series A funding raised $240 million, making up 32% of the total funding for the month.

    Layoffs, Key Hires, and Departures

    Zomato, now a public entity, recorded the largest layoff, reducing its workforce by 600 employees. Gupshup and Zopper also reduced their teams by 200 and 100 employees, respectively.
    In April, the startup ecosystem faced significant leadership changes, with five senior executives, including CEOs, MDs, CTOs, co-founders, and a Group CFO, stepping down. Concurrently, over 30 key executive roles were filled, indicating a period of transition.

    Trends

    Venture capitalists have increasingly stepped in. Despite a flat funding landscape in the final week of April 2025, the $4.2 billion raised by India-focused VC firms such as A91 Partners, Accel, and Bessemer signifies growing investor confidence. Additionally, Peak XV is set to raise between $1.2 to $1.4 billion, hinting at a potential uptick in funding momentum in the upcoming months.

    Startups like Urban Company and Ather Energy have scaled back their IPO sizes due to market conditions and investor hesitance. Urban Company, initially planning a Rs 3,000 crore IPO, has reduced it to Rs 1,900 crore. Similarly, Ather Energy has trimmed its IPO size from Rs 3,100 crore to Rs 2,981 crore.

    In the edtech sector, startups are attempting to rebound despite challenges. Unacademy aims for profitability in the near future, while PhysicsWallah is preparing to file its IPO papers soon and is considering acquisitions in the UPSC preparation space.

    Many startups have recently secured funding rounds but often at flat or reduced valuations. Spinny, for instance, raised $131 million maintaining its previous valuation, while Euler Motors also retained its valuation in its Series D round. Conversely, content platform Pratilipi experienced a significant 60% decline in its valuation.


  • Startups in India Secure .7 Billion in Funding During Q1: The Startup Excellence Report

    Startups in India Secure $3.7 Billion in Funding During Q1: The Startup Excellence Report



    Indian Startups Raise $3.7 Billion in Q1 2025

    Indian Startups Raise $3.7 Billion in Q1 2025

    Indian startups raised $3.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025 through a combination of growth and early-stage investments. This quarter featured several significant fundraising efforts, with multiple transactions exceeding $250 million and consistent early-stage funding activity. The merger and acquisition scene remained vibrant, highlighted by Hindustan Unilever Limited’s acquisition of Minimalist for $350 million. The trend of layoffs continued to lessen, with only a handful of companies making cuts, resulting in a limited impact on employment overall.

    Funding Breakdown for Indian Startups

    Data from various sources indicates that during the first quarter of 2025, Indian startups garnered around $3.7 billion. This comprised 68 growth and late-stage investments amounting to $3.05 billion, coupled with 209 early-stage transactions worth $683 million. In addition, 42 funding deals remained undisclosed during this timeframe, although no company achieved unicorn status in Q1 2025.

    Quarter-on-Quarter Trend

    In comparison to the previous quarter (Q4 2024), the $3.7 billion raised in Q1 2025 reflects an increase of nearly 10%. Additionally, Q1 2025 ranks among the highest in funding compared to the same quarters over the past two years, notably Q1 2023 and Q1 2022, when the startup ecosystem witnessed $12 billion in funding during a funding boom.

    Leading Growth-Stage Deals

    Throughout Q1 2025 (January to March), the top 15 Indian startups amassed remarkable funding across various sectors including AI, fintech, healthtech, and enterprise solutions. Impetus Technologies topped the list with $350 million, followed by Innovaccer at $275 million and Zolve at $251 million. Significant funding also flowed to Darwinbox ($140 million), Infra.Market ($125 million), Leap Finance and Aragen (both at $100 million), Netradyne ($90 million), ToneTag ($78 million), and Udaan ($75 million). The comprehensive list is displayed below:

    Leading Early-Stage Deals

    In the early-stage funding arena, Atomicwork led the pack with $25 million, followed by Lucidity ($21 million), Harsoria ($20 million), and TrueFoundry at $19 million. Waterfield Advisors raised $18 million, while Spyne secured $16 million. Others like Cognida.ai, Abound, Geri Care, and Navadhan collectively raised between $12.8 million and $15 million.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    The first quarter of 2025 experienced substantial merger and acquisition activity within the Indian startup ecosystem, culminating in 50 deals. A standout transaction involved D2C skincare brand Minimalist being acquired by Hindustan Unilever Limited for nearly $350 million. Wingify’s sale to Singapore-based PE firm Everstone for $200 million also marked a significant M&A event. Other notable acquisitions included Flipkart’s Super.money taking over BharatX, and fintech unicorn Chargebee acquiring AI-centric customer tracking platform Trainn.

    City and Segment-Wise Deal Analysis

    Bengaluru startups emerged as the leaders in funding activity during Q1 2025, securing 122 deals and raising over $1.4 billion, which accounted for 38% of the total capital. Following Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR startups closed 79 deals worth $884.53 million, representing 23.85% of the total funds raised. Startups based in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune secured the next highest deal volumes with 54, 14, and 13 transactions respectively. Notably, Mumbai startups contributed 12.61% of total funding, gathering $467.68 million.

    Fintech led the funding categories in Q1 2025, with 41 startups drawing over $905.37 million. Healthtech, e-commerce, and AI sectors also performed well, achieving 38 deals ($496 million), 35 deals ($308.66 million), and 24 deals ($475 million) respectively. Furthermore, sectors like SaaS, foodtech, proptech, and electric vehicles also secured investments this quarter.

    Series-Wise Deal Overview

    In Q1 2025, seed-stage deals dominated in volume, recording 98 transactions that raised $181.33 million. This was followed by Series A, which had 57 deals securing $401.7 million. In terms of total funding, Series D led with $748.6 million amassed from 9 deals, accounting for 20.18% of the overall funding, while Series B brought in $682.34 million from 18 transactions, contributing 18.4% of the capital raised.

    Layoffs, Shutdowns, and Departures

    In terms of layoffs, there was a modest decline with only three startups implementing job cuts affecting around 350 employees. Ola Electric, now a publicly listed company, also conducted layoffs affecting 1,000 employees. Compared to 1,200 layoffs in Q4 2024, the overall numbers remained stable. The year 2024 saw approximately 4,700 employees face layoffs, a significant drop from 24,000 in 2023 and 20,000 in 2022. During Q1 2025, four startups closed down, including ANS Commerce, which was acquired by Flipkart, and others such as Deep Rooted, O’Be Cocktails, and Thrive.

    Additionally, the startup ecosystem faced notable exits of high-level executives in Q1. Reports show that 38 top executives, encompassing CEOs, CBOs, CFOs, co-founders, managing directors, and presidents, resigned during this period, contrasted by 102 key hires.

    Emerging Trends

    Despite the ongoing funding winter, early-stage investments have remained robust, with a total of 209 deals generating $683 million, suggesting a sustained interest in new ventures, particularly within SaaS, AI, and fintech sectors. The merger and acquisition landscape displayed strong momentum with 50 recorded deals in Q1 2025, including high-profile transactions such as HUL’s acquisition of Minimalist and Wingify’s sale to Everstone. Other significant trades involved PayU acquiring Mindgate Solutions, Jumbotail taking over Solv, and the Amazon-Axio transaction. This points towards an increasing tendency for market consolidation and strategic exits within the startup framework.

    The absence of new unicorns in Q1 2025 signifies a shift from previous years characterized by frequent unicorn milestones, reflecting a more prudent valuation outlook among investors. Layoffs decreased notably with only a few startups announcing job cuts, indicating that closures are diminishing and firms are devising strategies to remain operational. The executive transitions hint at possible strategic adjustments as startups prepare for upcoming funding rounds, shifts, or public offerings.


  • Startup Highlights: Funding and Acquisitions in India (March 24 – March 29)

    Startup Highlights: Funding and Acquisitions in India (March 24 – March 29)


    Indian Startups Secure $152.49 Million in Funding

    This week, Indian startups have collectively raised around $152.49 million, comprising 5 growth-stage and 17 early-stage funding deals, with one startup opting to keep its funding information confidential.

    Growth-Stage Funding Highlights

    In the realm of growth-stage investments, the wealthtech firm Smallcase secured $50 million in its Series D funding round, driven by Elev8 Venture Partners, while Jindal Stainless acquired a 9.62% share in M1xchange. Additionally, DCDC Kidney Care successfully obtained Rs 150 crore from ABC Impact. The agritech enterprise VAHDAM, known for its direct-to-consumer tea products, also obtained financial support this week.

    Early-Stage Funding Insights

    Seventeen early-stage startups achieved a total funding of $54.09 million this week. Fintech startup Abound led this group with a $14 million funding round, followed by NBFC startup Ecofy, manufacturing company GreenFortune, climate tech enterprise FluxGen, and the direct-to-consumer diamond jewellery brand Firefly Diamonds, among others. Edtech startup KollegeApply also secured funds, although the raised amount has not been disclosed.

    For a comprehensive funding breakdown, please explore various sources.

    City and Segment-wise Funding Analysis

    Looking at the geographical distribution of funding, startups in Delhi-NCR topped the list with 8 deals, followed by Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

    From a segment perspective, fintech businesses led with 6 deals. E-commerce and healthtech sectors followed with 5 and 3 deals, respectively. Agritech, climate tech, AI, and other sectors also secured financing.

    Series-wise Funding Overview

    This week, seed funding deals took the lead with 7 transactions, followed by pre-Series A, Series D, debt, Series A, and others.

    Week-on-Week Funding Trend

    In week-to-week comparisons, startup funding experienced a decrease of 13.57%, dropping to $152.49 million from approximately $176.44 million acquired in the preceding week. Over the last eight weeks, the average weekly funding stands at around $243.62 million with 24 deals each week.

    Significant Hiring News

    This week witnessed notable leadership changes across multiple organisations. Delhivery appointed Milind Sharma, co-founder of the now-defunct Peppertap, as Head of Rapid Commerce and D2C Brands. B2B SaaS company MaxIQ named Sastry Malladi as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Camb.Ai has brought on Anupam Sengupta to lead AI Business for the India Subcontinent and SEA region, while Times Internet has recruited former Razorpay executive Johney Maheshwari to oversee its corporate development division.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    A variety of significant mergers and acquisitions were reported this week. B2B platform Jumbotail acquired Solv India from SC Ventures, the innovation and investment arm of Standard Chartered. KRAFTON, creators of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), gained a controlling interest in Pune-based Nautilus Mobile for Rs 118 crore ($13.7 million). SaaS unicorn Chargebee acquired Trainn, an AI-powered customer tracking solution, to bolster its revenue management and customer retention capabilities. In addition, JungleWorks secured AI-based startup Outplay.

    For further details, check various sources.

    Fund Launches and Expansion Initiatives

    The Indian government has unveiled a Rs 1,000 crore funding initiative aimed at enhancing the space sector startup ecosystem. NuVentures, a venture capital firm established by Venk Krishnan in 2015, has announced the launch of a $75 million fund with a focus on investing in startups that possess strong ties to India. Singularity AMC revealed that its second private equity fund, which is oversubscribed, has amassed Rs 1,800 crore ($210 million).

    For a complete overview of fund launches, series-wise deals, and additional insights, please refer to various sources.

    Layoffs

    A report from Mint indicates that electric mobility startup Zypp Electric has laid off around 250 employees, which represents 10% of its workforce, over the last three months, citing performance issues.

    Shutdowns

    Alcoholic beverage startup O’Be Cocktails has ceased its operations after over five years in the market.

    New Launches and Partnerships

    • SaaSBoomi introduces BoomiAI to assist AI-driven founders.
    • RedBeryl, a luxury lifestyle management firm, partners with Tata CLiQ Luxury.
    • Twid collaborates with redBus to launch reward points for users.
    • TenderCuts’ founder Nishanth RaviChandran launches an AI-based analytics startup.
    • The Centre plans to launch ‘Sahkar Taxi’ to compete with existing players like Ola and Uber.

    Financial Results This Week

    • AlgoBulls reports a remarkable 4.4X revenue increase for FY24 and achieves positive EBITDA.
    • VerSe reduces its cash burn by 51% in FY24 and aims for profitability in the second half of CY25.
    • BharatPe reaches EBITDA breakeven in the first nine months of FY25.
    • BattRE surpasses Rs 100 crore revenue milestone in FY24, maintaining profitability.
    • Garuda Aerospace’s revenue and profit have more than doubled in FY24.
    • Mindgate, supported by PayU, reports a profit surge of 3.6X in FY24, achieving Rs 257 crore in revenue.
    • Celebal Tech nears Rs 300 crore in revenue for FY24 but incurs significant losses.

    Potential Financing Deals

    • Kareena Kapoor-backed Pluckk expected to raise $10 million in Series A funding.
    • Groww is in discussions to secure $200 million in a pre-IPO funding round.
    • Country Delight aims to raise $25 million from Temasek.
    • Zepto is negotiating for a $250 million secondary funding round.
    • Curefoods plans to secure debt financing from Blacksoil and Binny Bansal.
    • Apna Mart raises $25 million, led by Fundamentum and Accel.

    News Flash This Week

    • Mobikwik expands into stock broking with its new subsidiary.
    • Ola Electric’s subsidiary resolves its insolvency dispute with Rosmerta Group.

    Summary of the Week

    Startup funding this week decreased by 13.57%, totaling $152.49 million as compared to the previous week’s amount of around $176.44 million. Fintech firm Mobikwik is making strides into the securities broking field with the introduction of its fully owned subsidiary, Mobikwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), aiming to broaden its financial service offerings by including stock and commodity brokerage services.

    Home Minister Amit Shah announced the forthcoming launch of ‘Sahkar Taxi,’ a government-supported ride-hailing service aimed at competing with platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. This initiative is designed to empower drivers by providing them complete control over their earnings without the interference of third-party commissions.

    Numerous startups are currently in the process of raising capital, as indicated by regulatory filings reviewed by Startup Superb. Dairy startup Country Delight is looking to collect $25 million in its Series E funding round from Temasek. Another startup, B2C, seeks to raise $10 million in Series A funding from Euro Gulf Investment. Additionally, Apna Mart, a franchise-driven grocery and FMCG chain, is securing $25 million in a new round led by Fundamentum Partnership Fund and Accel.

  • Indian Startup Investments Plummet by Over 50% in February

    Indian Startup Investments Plummet by Over 50% in February


    February Sees Decline in Indian Startup Funding

    In February, Indian startups experienced a substantial drop in venture fund inflows, falling below the $1 billion threshold following a robust January. This decline is primarily due to a reduction in the number of significant funding rounds.

    As per data collected from multiple sources, Indian startups accumulated $802 million through 98 transactions in February. Of this, growth and late-stage investments contributed $633 million from 24 deals, while early-stage funding brought in $183 million across 63 deals. Notably, 11 funding rounds did not disclose their amounts.

    Month-on-Month Trend

    February’s figures represent a significant 54% decrease from January’s $1.76 billion. Nonetheless, when compared to trends over the past three years, funding in February appears relatively stable.

    Top 10 Growth-Stage Deals

    In January, the contactless payments provider ToneTag topped the list with $78 million, followed closely by Udaan and SpotDraft with $75 million and $54 million, respectively. Additionally, Cashfree, Zeta, and Geniemode successfully raised over $50 million each. Other notable transactions included 75F, Rapido, PMI Electro Mobility, and JQR. For further details, please consult various sources.

    Contrary to January, which saw three domestic startups each secure over $100 million, February lacked any deals surpassing the $100 million mark.

    Top 10 Early-Stage Deals

    SaaS company Lucidity raised $21 million in Series A funding, while AI venture TrueFoundry secured $19 million. The top five early-stage funding rounds also featured Spyne, Cognida.ai, and Singulr AI.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    February witnessed significant mergers within the Indian startup scene. Perfios acquired CustomerXPs, a platform focused on fraud detection known as Clari5, for an undisclosed sum. Furthermore, Veranda Learning expanded its footprint in commerce education by purchasing stakes in BB Virtuals and Navkar Digital. Head Digital Works also strengthened its offerings with the acquisition of the online poker site Adda52, among others.

    City and Segment-Wise Deals

    Bengaluru-based startups secured a notable $462.69 million across 46 transactions in February, representing 57.64% of total funding. Delhi-NCR followed with $154.59 million from 21 deals (19.26%). Mumbai attracted $142.65 million from 15 deals (17.77%), while Pune and Hyderabad had fewer transactions at 5 and 3 deals, respectively.

    The fintech sector garnered the highest funding with $183.62 million, trailed by e-commerce at $156.8 million. SaaS raised $147 million, while AI, healthtech, EV, and automotive sectors also received considerable investments. Smaller areas such as logistics and deeptech saw funding, though agritech and consumer electronics lagged behind. However, the number of deals told a different story.

    Series-Wise Deals

    February saw seed funding lead the deal count with 32 transactions, followed by Series A, pre-Series A, and pre-seed with 15, 11, and 10 deals, respectively. Series A funding raised $139.2 million, making up 17.34% of the total money collected. In funding amounts, Series B achieved the highest with $228 million across seven deals.

    Shutdowns, Key Hires, and Departures

    Flipkart announced the closure of ANS Commerce, its full-stack e-commerce enabler. Additionally, February marked a period of considerable changes in leadership within the startup ecosystem, with 13 senior executives—including CEOs, MDs, CPOs, co-founders, and managing partners—departing their positions. Simultaneously, over 28 executive roles were filled, indicating a wave of transitions. Detailed information on these changes can be found here.

    Trends

    A notable trend in funding is observed after lengthy gaps: Amazon-backed ToneTag became a rare startup to secure funding following a seven-year dry spell. Similarly, Cashfree attracted funds after a four-year hiatus, while Zeta (equity) and Oxyzo (debt) received investments following a three-year lull.

    The dominance of SaaS and AI in early-stage deals is evident. Analysis shows that among the $180 million raised in early-stage funding, SaaS and AI startups accounted for nearly $100 million in February.

    Quick commerce has received a boost as food tech leader Zomato invested $178 million in its quick commerce branch, Blinkit, while Swiggy allocated $117 million to its supply chain division, Scootsy Logistics, aiming to bolster its quick commerce platform, Instamart. Both companies are public now, which is likely to influence other participants in the quick commerce sector.

  • Indian Startups Secure .76 Billion in Funding This January

    Indian Startups Secure $1.76 Billion in Funding This January

    Venture Funding Sees a Strong Start in 2025

    The beginning of 2025 brought an air of positivity as venture capital investments for January surpassed $1.75 billion, outpacing figures from the previous six months. Most of the funding was directed towards growth and late-stage startups, though early-stage ventures also played a role in this upward momentum. Significant acquisitions, such as HUL’s purchase of the D2C brand Minimalist and Everstone’s acquisition of the SaaS company Wingify, highlighted the achievements of entrepreneurs creating innovative products for both the Indian market and beyond.

    Funding Overview for January

    According to aggregated data, Indian startups secured $1.76 billion through 128 transactions in January alone. Of this, growth and late-stage funding represented $1.5 billion across 32 deals, while early-stage funding contributed $261.26 million across 80 transactions. Additionally, there were 16 instances of funding that were not disclosed.

    Month-on-Month Trends

    In 2024, Indian startups saw varying funding levels, starting with $719.42 million in January and reaching a peak of $1.92 billion in June. Comparing month-to-month, January 2024 experienced a 33% uptick from December 2023, which recorded $1.32 billion. Conversely, January 2025 showed a more than double increase year-on-year in relation to January 2024.

    Top Growth-Stage Deals

    During January, Impetus Technologies, an AI-driven data analytics platform, topped the funding chart with $350 million raised. This was followed by Innovaccer, a healthcare AI firm, which secured $275 million. Infra.Market, a proptech startup, garnered $125 million, and Aragen obtained $100 million for drug research. Netradyne, providing AI SaaS solutions, raised $90 million, while both OYO and Leap attracted $65 million each.

    Additional significant deals included WeWork India, Infinity Fincorp Solutions, and Foxtale. More detailed information can be found through various sources.

    Top Early-Stage Deals

    Atomicwork, a B2B SaaS firm, received the highest early-stage funding, amounting to $25 million. Geri Care Health Services, focused on senior healthcare, raised $13 million. MicroMitti, a real estate investment platform, secured $10.3 million, while Sarla Aviation and Astrome Technologies each received $10 million for aerospace and telecommunications projects. Beyond Snack, VoltUp, Deconstruct, Ambak, and Medusa Beverages were also included among the top 10 deals.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    January was notable for record-breaking merger and acquisition activity. Minimalist was sold for $350 million, while Wingify was acquired for $200 million. Milk Mantra, a dairy tech firm, was purchased by Hatsun Agro in a deal worth $27.5 million. Additionally, Axio (previously Capital Float) is set to be acquired by Amazon. Other notable acquisitions included Filter Coffee by Raise Financials and AgriCentral by DeHaat, among others.

    City and Segment-Wise Deal Analysis

    In January, startups based in Delhi-NCR raised $525.67 million across 33 deals, which accounted for 29.74% of the overall funding. Bengaluru trailed closely with 39 deals totalling $397.415 million (22.48%). Mumbai recorded 21 deals worth $145.16 million (8.21%), while Chennai and Pune exhibited lower activity levels, with 5 and 4 deals respectively.

    The healthtech sector led in funding with $404.83 million, followed by AI which secured $355.68 million. The proptech industry raised $278 million, with SaaS, fintech, and e-commerce also reporting considerable sums. Smaller sectors, including EV and foodtech, attracted some funding, while deeptech and logistics received the least. However, the deal count reflected a different narrative.

    Series-Wise Funding Breakdown

    January saw seed funding dominate in terms of deal volume with 36 deals, followed by Series A, pre-seed, and pre-Series A with 26, 17, and 11 deals respectively. Debt funding amounted to $124.67 million, constituting 7.05% of the total funds raised. In terms of amount, Series D led with $441 million in funding.

    Layoffs, Shutdowns, and Executive Changes

    Layoffs saw a decrease in January, with only three startups laying off just over 200 employees. This indicates a positive shift in the job market compared to previous months. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola-backed foodtech startup Thrive ceased its operations.

    January also marked significant leadership changes in the startup scene, with over 17 senior executives, including CEOs, MDs, CPOs, and co-founders, stepping down. Additionally, more than 48 key executive positions were filled, signalling a wave of transformation. For a thorough breakdown of these shifts, further information can be accessed.

    Emerging Trends

    Healthtech funding is leading: In spite of various challenges, healthtech startups have outpaced fintech and SaaS to become the top-funded sector in January. In 2024, healthtech startups continued to secure the highest funding since the onset of Covid.

    Astrology tech might see a significant deal: The astrology sector may soon experience a major deal, either through mergers or new funding opportunities. Reports suggest that Flipkart is in discussions to acquire InstaAstro. Meanwhile, AstroTalk has ventured into the D2C market by launching an offline centre.

    IPOs in the co-working sector: The co-working space is anticipated to lead the IPO landscape within the Indian startup ecosystem. Awfis has recently become the first Indian co-working firm to go public, while Smartworks is progressing by securing SEBI approval for its planned IPO. Indiqube and WeWork India have also submitted their draft IPO papers. Media reports indicate that several other proptech firms, including Simpliwork, Table Space, and DevX, are preparing for public offerings, and OYO and Pepperfry are waiting for suitable market conditions.

  • OpenAI in Discussions to Secure Billion Funding at a 0 Billion Valuation

    OpenAI in Discussions to Secure $40 Billion Funding at a $340 Billion Valuation

    OpenAI may already have substantial financial resources at its disposal. However, it is preparing to acquire additional funds, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

    According to The WSJ, OpenAI is currently negotiating to raise as much as $40 billion in a funding round, which would place the startup’s valuation at an impressive $340 billion. SoftBank is expected to spearhead this round, investing between $15 billion and $25 billion into the developer of ChatGPT, as stated by The WSJ.

    If OpenAI successfully concludes this funding round, it would be a significant achievement for the startup, which was valued at $157 billion in October. The WSJ reports that OpenAI plans to utilise the new funds to support its ongoing operational deficits and advance its Stargate initiative, an ambitious project focused on establishing AI data centres across the United States.

    In 2024, OpenAI reportedly incurred a loss of approximately $5 billion against revenues amounting to $3.7 billion. These losses could continue to escalate. Together with partners like SoftBank, OpenAI aims to allocate billions of dollars to kickstart the Stargate project.