The week of November 18 to 23 was a promising one for Indian startups and $595.86 million was witnessed being raised in funding. It is a significant leap compared to the previous week of $182.62 million and signals renewed confidence of investors in the startup ecosystem.
Growth-stage startups dominated the funding wave and secured $541.7 million across six key deals. Zepto emerged as the top gainer by raising $350 million followed by HealthKart with $153 million. Other notable contributors included insurtech player Zopper and drone-based geospatial solutions Matrix Geo.
15 early-stage startups collectively raised $54.16 million. Semi-urban commerce platform OneCell Diagnostics and decentralized gamer network KGeN caught the attention investors.
Bengaluru maintained its position as India’s startup hub by securing 10 deals while Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune followed. The healthtech and e-commerce sectors led the charge with four deals each. Fintech, foodtech and SaaS startups also stayed active.
Acquisitions were another highlight of the week. MakeMyTrip acquired Happay from CRED and The Good Glamm Group purchased The Moms Co. Moglix acquired Khatema Fibres and 360 ONE Asset bought OneSource Speciality Pharma.
The week also saw the launch of three new startup-focused funds. IIT Bombay’s Incubator Fund with $36 million stood out. It showcased strong institutional support for innovation.
Employee recognition emerged as a growing trend and HealthKart announced a ₹55 crore ($6.5 million) ESOP buyback. The move reflects a shift toward rewarding employees and fostering a culture of ownership.
The powerful funding activity of the week highlights growing strength and diversity of India’s startup ecosystem. Indian startups are proving their resilience and potential to become leaders in the global innovation landscape with innovative ideas, investor interest as well as global aspirations.
