Indian startups collectively raised $222.87 million across 43 deals this week, marking a significant 83% drop compared to the previous week’s $1.3 billion haul.
While overall capital inflow slowed, early-stage activity remained strong, indicating continued investor appetite for emerging ventures.
Out of the total deals:
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3 were growth-stage
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36 were early-stage
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4 startups did not disclose funding amounts
WEEKLY FUNDING SNAPSHOT
Total Funding: $222.87 Million
Total Deals: 43
Growth-Stage Funding: $45.2 Million (3 Deals)
Early-Stage Funding: $177.68 Million (36 Deals)
Week-on-Week Change: ↓ 83%
8-Week Average: $354 Million | 32 Deals/Week
Growth-Stage Highlights ($45.2M)
Despite fewer late-stage rounds, three companies secured notable growth capital:
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Constelli (Defence Tech) – $20M Series A led by General Catalyst
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Wishlink (Creator Commerce) – $17.5M Series B led by Vertex Ventures
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Home Essentials (D2C Brand) – ₹70 Cr pre-Series B led by 360 ONE Asset
Defence tech and creator economy platforms stood out among larger deals.
Early-Stage Activity Leads the Week ($177.68M)
Early-stage startups drove momentum with 36 transactions.
Top Early-Stage Deals:
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Temple (Wearable Tech) – $54M led by Deepinder Goyal
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Xflow (Cross-border Payments) – $16.6M Series A
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Prayaan Capital (MSME Lending) – $12M
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MeltPlan (Pre-construction AI) – $10M
On the debt side:
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GalaxEye (Deeptech) – ₹5 Cr from SIDBI
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Agrizy (Agritech) – ₹10 Cr from SIDBI
AI-driven B2B marketing platform Gushwork, proptech startup Spintly, and nutraceutical brand ZeroHarm Sciences also secured funding.
CITY-WISE DEAL DISTRIBUTION
📍 Bengaluru – 21 Deals
📍 Delhi-NCR – 11 Deals
📍 Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai & others – Active participation
Bengaluru retained its position as India’s top startup hub.
SEGMENT-WISE TRENDS
AI – 7 Deals
Deeptech – 7 Deals
Healthtech – 6 Deals
E-commerce – 5 Deals
Fintech, SaaS, Agritech – Continued activity
AI and deeptech remained the most active investment themes.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Seed – 19 Deals
Series A – 10 Deals
Pre-Seed – 5 Deals
Debt & Others – Multiple Deals
Seed-stage funding led activity, reflecting strong early investor confidence.
M&A and Strategic Moves
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LAT Aerospace acquired Sharang Shakti
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Capillary to acquire US-based Session M for $20M
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BillDesk to acquire Worldline India operations
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upGrad acquired Internshala
ESOP Buyback
Unacademy announced a ₹50 Cr ESOP buyback program, providing liquidity to employees.
Weekly Funding Trend Analysis
While funding volume declined sharply, the number of deals remained robust. The absence of mega late-stage rounds primarily contributed to the week-on-week dip.
The 8-week rolling average of $354 million indicates that capital flow remains steady over the medium term.
Key Takeaway
This week reflects a recalibration phase in Indian startup funding — fewer large cheques, but sustained early-stage momentum. AI, deeptech, and fintech continue to attract investor interest, with Bengaluru leading geographically.
Despite volatility, the ecosystem remains active and resilient.
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape.