Indian Startups Raise $102.93 Million Across 25 Deals, Early-Stage Funding Dominates.

Indian startups had a robust funding week, securing approximately $102.93 million across 25 deals, signaling sustained investor interest despite global macroeconomic headwinds. This week’s performance underscores a strong resurgence in early-stage investment, with sectors like healthtech, cleantech, cybersecurity, edtech, and SaaS emerging as favorites among venture capitalists and institutional investors.

Early-stage companies led the charge, both in volume and in innovation. Investors demonstrated growing confidence in India’s startup ecosystem, particularly in startups offering solutions aligned with sustainability, digital transformation, and financial inclusion. The diversity of sectors also highlights the increasing maturity and breadth of India’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Among the most notable deals of the week was Kult, a beauty tech startup, which secured $20 million in a Series A funding round. Kult has been building a platform that combines AI-powered personalization with a wide marketplace of beauty products and services. The company plans to use the capital to enhance its technology stack and scale operations across major Indian metros, tapping into a rapidly growing digital-first beauty consumer base.

Another standout was Fuze, a SaaS startup, which raised $12.2 million in early-stage funding. Fuze offers collaborative tools for enterprise productivity, catering to remote and hybrid work environments. Its innovative approach to integrating workflow automation with communication solutions attracted strong investor interest. The funding will be directed toward R&D and market expansion, particularly in North America and Southeast Asia.

In the cleantech space, Metafin made headlines by raising $10 million. The startup focuses on financing solar and other renewable energy projects in underserved regions of India. With increasing regulatory and social emphasis on clean energy, Metafin’s business model resonates with impact-focused investors. The new capital will be deployed to scale its lending operations and develop advanced credit assessment tools.

Cybersecurity continued to be a critical area for investment as digital threats evolve. QNu Labs, a Bengaluru-based quantum cybersecurity startup, raised $7 million in a growth round. The company specializes in quantum-safe encryption, which is expected to be a crucial pillar of data security in the coming decades. The funds will be used for product development and to explore international partnerships, particularly in regions with heightened data protection regulations.

In the neobanking space, Kaleidofin secured $5 million, extending its focus on financial services for the underbanked and informal sector workers. The Chennai-based fintech has gained traction with its tailored savings and insurance products. The funding will help enhance its mobile platform and expand its footprint in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

The healthtech and edtech sectors also continued to attract capital, though with slightly smaller individual deal sizes. These sectors remain key pillars of digital transformation in India, particularly post-pandemic, with startups offering everything from AI-powered diagnostic tools to personalized learning platforms.

While mega-late-stage funding rounds remained sparse—reflecting ongoing global caution—the trend of early and growth-stage investments paints a more optimistic picture. Investors are taking a selective yet long-term approach, betting on startups that demonstrate strong unit economics, scalable models, and alignment with emerging macro trends such as sustainability, digital inclusion, and enterprise tech.

In terms of deal distribution, Bengaluru and Mumbai remained the leading startup hubs, with Delhi NCR also witnessing active investor engagement. International VCs continued to participate alongside Indian funds, with several cross-border syndicates forming around promising startups.

In summary, this week’s funding activity reaffirms confidence in the Indian startup ecosystem, especially in sectors that align with current and future economic priorities. With over $100 million raised across 25 deals, and strong early-stage momentum, the ecosystem appears to be regaining traction. As investors shift focus from valuation peaks to sustainable growth, startups offering real-world impact and tech-driven solutions are increasingly in the spotlight.