Introduction

Final yr has been a yr of ups and downs, particularly as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, which hit throughout the globe. Loads many sturdy entrepreneurs in India have dived into enterprise alternatives and examined their concepts. Whereas a few of them have failed, others thrived like something. India helps the rise of startups as a result of it has low-cost expert labor, funding from nationwide and worldwide buyers, and progress alternatives. In keeping with Monetary Specific, start-up funding has reached a brand new excessive in 2023. Along with the massive enterprise capitalists, institutional buyers and pension funds are additionally investing in lots of new on-line companies.  Within the interval of Jan-March 2021, buyers have infused round $4.4 billion into Indian startups, and this quantity is 26% greater than the investments made final yr in the identical quarter.  The highest gainers within the funding offers are the Fintech and Monetary Companies firms (123), adopted by Retail and Ecommerce firms (99) and EdTech firms (84).  This reveals that startups have discovered a method to keep aloft even after the turbulence as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Trying on the most important offers between firms in India, e.g., Walmart and Flipkart (having Myntra and PhonePe), it isn’t in any respect shocking to see that India is rising up as a hub of the most important startups. One 97 Communications (PayTM), Ola cabs, Dream 11, Swiggy, and Razorpay are just a few of the wealthy valued Indian startups the world over. The nation is now getting extra startup unicorns, together with firms from the sectors like Healthtech, social commerce, finance, and extra. Unicorn firms within the enterprise are these startups that worth at greater than $ 1 billion. As of April 2021, there are greater than 600 unicorns throughout the globe. In keeping with Inc42, India acquired its 10 startups listed within the record of Unicorns in 2023. On this weblog, we have now compiled a listing of some firms which can be amongst India’s prime startups. These startups have survived extremely over time and want to develop their attain additional.

Prime Startups in India

These are the highest 25 startups in India

• CRED
• Vernacular.ai
• PharmEasy
• Digit Insurance coverage
• Meesho
• Groww
• Nykaa
• Udaan
• Dream11
• Swiggy
• Instamojo
• PostMan
• Delhivery
• Slice
• InMobi
• Practo
• Boat
• Skyroot Aerospace
• LivSpace
• Ather
• PhonePe
• Licious
• PolicyBazaar
• Razorpay
• Paytm

Upskilling helps you land your dream job in one of many prime startups!!!

Based in 2018, CRED is a platform the place you may pay your bank card payments and get rewarded for it. The platform has created a brand new mannequin the place customers get “CRED cash” once they pay their payments by means of the CRED app. These cash can later be redeemed for purchasing any product, coming into a contest, or becoming a member of any workshop. The startup is Bangalore based mostly and offers a spread of companies like credit score and a premium catalogue of merchandise to the shoppers. The startup believes to incentivise folks so as to enhance their monetary behaviour. 

In keeping with TechCrunch, CRED is the youngest Indian startup to be valued at round $2.2 billion. This 2-year-old startup has greater than 6 million clients and about 22% of all bank card holders. As per the founder and CEO, Kunal Shah, the corporate is focusing on prosperous clients and has grow to be probably the most talked-about startups.  

Only a few firms concentrate on the high-end base and proceed sturdy progress over time. CRED can be planning to introduce a function the place CRED cash can be utilized by over a thousand retailers. The startup can be planning to personal an eCommerce retailer. It’s clearly seen that the startup is planning much more than simply offering reward cash to its clients. 

This startup is an AI-First SaaS enterprise aiming to grow to be the main voice automation and AI platform globally. The corporate offers Speech recognition and Voice assistants as a service to the banking, Meals and Beverage and Hospitality industries. Their companies have the least human interference and might deal with advanced servicing points as effectively.  Based in 2016, the corporate has raised $5.1 million in funding within the yr 2020.

As per Financial Occasions, Vernacular.ai is making ready to rent 100 folks in 2021 which might strengthen its management workforce. Whereas there have been retrenchments and pay cuts within the final yr, Vernacular.ai has strengthened its workforce by 4 occasions. The corporate is heading to grow to be the world’s most interesting Voice AI platform with staff having multifunctional experience. Not too long ago, the corporate introduced the appointment of Gangadhar Kodandaram as Chief income officer (former Microsoft worker) and Ankit Jain as Vice President for product administration (An alumnus of Amazon). Their expertise and intelligence will certainly take Vernacular.ai to new heights. 

As Voice and Automation are two trending applied sciences anticipated to develop massively sooner or later, Vernacular.ai can be more likely to scale up its operations. 

PharmEasy is a web based pharmacy and medical retailer in India which specialises in OTC merchandise, diagnostic assessments, and medical devices. The corporate was based in 2015 in Mumbai, Maharashtra and has seen unimaginable progress since then.  It’s a web based pharmacy with each product you possibly can ever think about in an offline medical retailer. 

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the corporate has grow to be an important service that has contributed to its progress. The rivals of PharmEasy in India are 1mg and Netmeds. This well being tech startup has raised a large $350 million, turning into the primary Epharmacy unicorn in India. The funding has been raised after the merger of PharmEasy with its rival Medlife. PharmEasy has acquired a 100 per cent stake in Medlife, and the latter acquired a 19.95% stake within the merged entity. Each the businesses have joined palms and merged so as to beat off the competitors from rival gamers like Netmeds (Reliance Jio), Flipkart and Amazon Pharmacy who’ve simply entered the pharmacy section in India. 

The buyers of PharmEasy are those who additionally invested within the startups like Swiggy and Byju’s. The founders Dharmil Sheth and Dr Dhaval Shah have deliberate to achieve over 100,000 pharmacies within the subsequent 12 months within the new geographical markets of India. 

Digit Insurance coverage is an insurance coverage firm based in 2016 and claims to simplify insurance coverage merchandise for everybody in order that the view of insurance coverage merchandise can change amongst folks. Digital Insurance coverage raised its first funding within the yr 2020, wherein Indian superstar couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have additionally infused their $340K. 

The reason being greater than 20 lakh Indian inhabitants have purchased sickness insurance coverage in opposition to COVID-19 and different illnesses like malaria, chikungunya, dengue, and others. Digit is a Bangalore-based startup which reached its break even in 2020 due to its decrease working prices and wonderful enterprise metrics. . The Chairman, Kamesh Goyal confirmed that the corporate has managed to develop its enterprise by 30% in 2020 when your complete insurance coverage business was struggling.  Digit has bagged many awards like “ Hottest Startups in India 2019”, “Asia’s Finest common Insurance coverage Firm of the 12 months 2019”, “Fintech 250 Record” and extra. Kamesh Goyal additional ensured that the funding raised might be used to develop enterprise and applied sciences. 

Based in 2015 by IIT-Delhi Graduates, Meesho is the reseller platform that’s all set to grow to be the large e-commerce distribution channel the place the homepreneurs promote merchandise by means of WhatsApp, Fb, and Instagram. The corporate is valued at $2.1 billion after elevating funds of $300 million.

Meesho is the ecosystem that permits small companies to carry out on the web platform. This platform has raised $490 million until date, and its buyers embody Fb.  Meesho connects sellers with the shoppers in a web based market and presents administration of logistics, orders, and funds to the sellers. It’s related with greater than 13 million entrepreneurs in Indian cities dealing in grocery, house and kitchen home equipment, attire and extra. As Indian social commerce is predicted to develop at a fee of 55%-60%, Meesho has a large potential to upscale retailing to new heights sooner or later. It’s competing with the businesses like GlowRoad, Dealshare and CityMall who’re additionally getting consideration from the buyers. Dealshare which was based in 2018, has raised $21 million in December 2020. 

Meesho has claimed that it has made deliveries from greater than 100000 registered suppliers, producing greater than 500 Cr i.e., $68 million in earnings for the homepreneurs. 

Groww is an investing platform that enables its clients to put money into shares, ETFs, Mutual funds, IPOs and extra utilizing its platform. The platform works on each cell functions and the net. The corporate was based in 2016 by 4 ex-Flipkart staff who observed how troublesome it’s to put money into India. This realisation made them begin Groww which has greater than 15 million customers registered until now. In keeping with Groww, greater than 60% of the corporate belongs to smaller cities of India which have by no means invested earlier than. As per one of many founders, Lalit Keshre, Groww is used throughout India and never simply in metro cities. The customers are unfold throughout all the most important cities of the nation who’re working class, younger and wish to make investments their hard-earned cash. 

The corporate raised $83 million in 2021 and entered into the Unicorn membership. This firm is trying ahead to investing this quantity in new merchandise, recruiting new expertise, and constructing schooling platforms for buyers.

Nykaa is a web based magnificence retailer and a vogue e-commerce platform that was based in 2012.  The corporate presents wellness and wonder merchandise to clients at affordable costs. It’s attention-grabbing to know that it raised $25 million in March 2020 and is now valued at $1.2 billion. The corporate’s buyers embody Bollywood celebrities like Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif.

Falguni Nayar, the platform founder and a former funding banker, has visioned to create a platform with 1000’s of product choices. Now, the corporate has greater than 55 retail shops and fulfils round 1.5 million orders each month. Nykaa has greater than 5 million month-to-month lively customers and offers with greater than 500 manufacturers by means of its web site and the shops. The corporate has additionally began its new enterprise Nykaa Trend which presents attire and equipment. It has launched its personal non-public label for intimate put on named Nykd. In keeping with RedSeer Consulting’s report, India’s on-line magnificence market is predicted to develop at a CAGR of 9%. This is a chance for Nykaa to develop extra within the Indian market and develop its enterprise. The corporate is in a run-up of IPO by 2022 and is predicted to boost $3.5 billion within the public market. 

A tech-based startup that gives B2B e-commerce options was based in 2016. Began by the previous executives of Flipkart, Sujeet Kumar, Vaibhav Gupta and Amod Malviya, the corporate has gained a community of greater than 3 million customers in 900 cities. It helps in connecting greater than 25000 sellers in India. The corporate has signed up 1000’s of manufacturers which additionally consists of Boat Life-style, PepsiCo, LG,  ITC, and plenty of different large names. In 2018 and within the shortest time period, the corporate has gained a unicorn standing. Not too long ago, Udaan has raised $280 million from its present and new buyers. The corporate has raised total $1.15 billion as of now and has a price of over $3.1 billion.

As per the Co-founder of Udaan, the pandemic COVID-19 has fast-tracked the expansion of the digital-led evolution of the unorganised Indian commerce retail business. This is a chance for Udaan to stay within the main place of e-commerce platforms within the nation.

As per Entracker, Udaan is making an attempt to penetrate into B2C markets by means of a brand new app known as Pickily.  The app is reside on the Google Play Retailer providing the FMCG merchandise throughout totally different places in Bangalore.  With this enterprise, the corporate will be capable of compete with the businesses in the identical section as Massive Basket, Swiggy Shops, Flipkart and extra. 

Based in 2008, DREAM 11 is a web based fantasy sports activities platform that now has greater than 10 crore customers in India. Primarily based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the corporate was based by two younger cofounders, Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth. DREAM 11 has raised $400 million simply earlier than the graduation of IPL 2021. One of many buyers is TCV which has additionally backed the giants like Airbnb and Netflix. DREAM 11 can be India’s first Unicorn start-up as the corporate’s valuation is now escalated to $5 billion. The corporate has grown at a CAGR of 230 per cent within the final 3 years. 

Dream 11 is the primary and main fantasy gaming platform in India. It has attracted a number of younger customers who’re loopy about video games. It took three years for the corporate to hit the mark of 1 million customers and put up that it crossed 3 million mark in lower than 2 months. The corporate had round 75 million customers earlier than pandemic COVID-19 began in India and now reached 100 million customers. As per the reviews of Deloitte, the fantasy Sports activities in India has grown by almost 200% that may be a catalyst for the expansion of the corporate. 

Who doesn’t know Swiggy? Think about you’re engaged on a Monday and longing for a cheesecake put up lunch. Swiggy has made that simple so that you can satiate your cravings even whereas sitting at house. The biggest meals supply platform in India, Swiggy is serving in 27 cities and has partnered with greater than 40,000 eating places. Headquartered in Bangalore, the corporate has not too long ago raised funding of $800 million and is now valued at almost $5 billion.

The corporate’s goal market has additionally grown to 50 million over the interval, which is sort of a lifetime alternative for Swiggy. The meals supply companies began simply with 5 supply boys and 25 restaurant companions in 2014 when Zomato was already there out there. Nevertheless, in lower than 4 years, the corporate acquired itself within the unicorn class of startups and is giving robust competitors to Zomato. The corporate’s success is constructed on its splendid buyer expertise worth chain. 

The corporate has all the time been customer-obsessed, which makes it stand out amongst different startups. When different meals supply startups like TinyOwl and FoodPanda had been struggling, Swiggy made its means by standing out from the remainder of the group.  That’s the reason it is without doubt one of the most profitable startups in India. 

Because the “easiest cost resolution,” Instamojo has decreased entrance hurdles, akin to technical experience and upfront bills, and has given small enterprises entry to distribution channels on the net and cell by means of numerous up-selling and cross-selling e-commerce instruments and options.

PostMan is an API platform for creating and utilising APIs and that can assist you design higher APIs quicker, Postman improves collaboration and simplifies each stage of the API lifecycle.

Delhivery is a provide chain administration agency based by Bhavesh Manglani and a workforce that makes a speciality of transportation, warehousing, freight, and order fulfilment.

Slice is a FIntech startup backed by Tiger World Administration, Moore Strategic Ventures, Perception Companions, and GMO VenturePartners which has contributed $50 million in a Sequence C spherical of funding. The enterprise claimed that it’ll utilise the funding to help the expansion of its new UPI product line. Slice has to this point raised a complete of $270 million in funding.

InMobi turned the primary unicorn startup agency in India in 2011. It has 22 workplaces unfold throughout 12 nations and 5 continents, with about 1,500 people working there. Mushy Financial institution, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Ram Shriram’s Sherpalo Ventures are the corporate’s backers. The Native Adverts platform from InMobi permits cell publishers and app builders to supply their finish clients an enticing, in-context native advert expertise.

Practo is a well being tech startup based in 2008 by Abhinav Lal. This healthcare startup helps customers to seek out the most effective medical doctors, ebook instantaneous appointments, and make higher well being choices.

The boat is an Indian Startup based by Aman Gupta in 2016. This Indian agency has been profitable in attracting shoppers with its fashionable and inexpensive digital items.

Skyroot Aerospace is India’s first non-public house launch startup fashioned in July 2018 by former Indian House Analysis Organisation scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana, and Naga Bharath Daka. This startup offers a business launch service and is already serving to in constructing the Vikram collection of rockets to hold small satellites into house.

LivSpace is an inside design startup based in 2014 by Anuj Srivastava Ramakant Sharma. That is the fifth unicorn startup in India which presents restoration and inside design companies in India.

With its headquarters in Bangalore, Ather Vitality is an Indian producer of electrical automobiles. In 2013, Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain began it. In keeping with reviews, Ather Vitality, which has efficiently bought 3677 items, is the fourth-best-selling two-wheeler EV in India within the first half of 2021.

PhonePe is a well-liked digital funds and monetary companies platform in India. It was launched in 2016 and is now one of many main cell cost apps in India. PhonePe permits customers to switch cash, pay payments, recharge cell phones, purchase insurance coverage and put money into mutual funds, amongst different monetary companies. The app makes use of Unified Funds Interface (UPI) expertise to allow transactions between financial institution accounts. PhonePe additionally presents a spread of cashback presents and reductions to its customers on numerous transactions. The app is out there for obtain on each iOS and Android platforms.

Licious is a meals tech firm that operates a web based meat and seafood supply platform in India. Based in 2015, Licious permits clients to order contemporary and hygienic meat and seafood merchandise by means of its cell app or web site. The corporate sources its merchandise immediately from farmers and fishermen, and makes use of a mix of expertise and professional high quality checks to make sure that the merchandise are of top of the range and protected for consumption. Licious presents a variety of merchandise, together with hen, mutton, seafood, and ready-to-cook merchandise, and offers handy supply choices to clients throughout main cities in India. The corporate has additionally applied strict hygiene and security protocols to make sure that its merchandise are dealt with and delivered safely, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policybazaar is an Indian on-line insurance coverage aggregator and monetary expertise firm. Based in 2008, the corporate presents a digital platform that permits clients to match and buy insurance coverage insurance policies throughout numerous classes, together with well being, life, motor, journey, and residential insurance coverage. Policybazaar companions with main insurance coverage firms in India to supply clients a variety of insurance coverage merchandise with aggressive pricing and options. The corporate’s platform makes use of information analytics and synthetic intelligence to offer personalised insurance coverage suggestions to clients based mostly on their particular person wants and preferences. Policybazaar has additionally expanded its companies to incorporate loans and bank cards, and presents clients the choice to use for these monetary merchandise by means of its platform. The corporate has been acknowledged for its revolutionary enterprise mannequin and has received a number of awards for its contribution to the Indian fintech business.

Razorpay is an Indian cost gateway firm that gives cost options to companies and organizations of assorted sizes. Based in 2014, Razorpay permits companies to just accept and handle on-line funds by means of its platform. The corporate presents a spread of cost companies together with cost gateway, subscription billing, cost hyperlinks, and good accumulate. Razorpay additionally offers a collection of developer-friendly APIs and SDKs that allow companies to customise and combine cost options into their web sites and cell apps. The corporate makes use of a safe and dependable platform that complies with the newest business requirements and rules to make sure that all transactions are protected and safe. Razorpay serves a variety of industries together with e-commerce, healthcare, schooling, and hospitality, and has acquired a number of awards for its innovation and contribution to the Indian fintech business.

Paytm is an Indian monetary expertise firm that gives a variety of digital cost and monetary companies to its clients. Based in 2010, the corporate initially began as a cell pockets service and has since expanded to grow to be a one-stop resolution for numerous monetary wants. Paytm presents companies like cell recharges, invoice funds, ticket reserving, cash switch, and on-line buying by means of its platform. The corporate has additionally launched Paytm Funds Financial institution, a digital financial institution that gives banking companies akin to financial savings account, debit card, and cell banking to its clients. Paytm has a large community of service provider companions and offers a unified cost resolution that permits clients to pay for services at numerous retailers utilizing their Paytm pockets or different cost strategies. The corporate has applied numerous safety measures to make sure that all transactions on its platform are safe and protected. Paytm has emerged as one of many main gamers within the Indian digital funds house, and has received a number of awards for its revolutionary enterprise mannequin and contribution to the fintech business.

Prime Startups in India FAQS

Conclusion

This record can go on as quite a few startups in India are doing very effectively of their industries. To call just a few, Flipkart, Massive basket, Ola cabs, FirstCry, and CureFit are the names that want no introduction. The emergence of those startups is pushed by the brand new power within the international economic system, tens of millions of recent clients, a brand new worldwide presence of India and schooling. 

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