The Indian startup ecosystem has raised over $954 Mn across 33 deals in the first week of April — a week-on-week growth of 54%
The week saw a total of six acquisitions, including Gupshup acquiring conversational AI platform Active.Ai
Leading this week’s funding was Dailyhunt and Josh’s parent VerSe Innovation’s $805 Mn mammoth round — the highest fundraise amount in CY22 so far
The beginning of the new financial year FY23 and of the second quarter CY22 marked a 54% week-on-week rise in funding raised by the Indian startup ecosystem. Between April 3 and 9, 2022, the country’s ecosystem has raised $954 Mn across 33 deals.
Last week, Indian startups raised $618 Mn across 41 deals.
Leading this week’s funding was Dailyhunt and Josh’s parent VerSe Innovation’s $805 Mn mammoth round — the highest fundraise amount in CY22 so far. The week also saw six acquisitions, including upGrad completing the acquisition of Talentedge.
120 investors invested in Indian startups this week, of which only Cloud Capital invested in two startups — in fintech Tortoise and deeptech startup OWN.
The Indian Startup Funding Deals Of The Week
Updates On Indian Startup IPOs
From The Startup Acquisition Desk
- Edtech unicorn upGrad completed the acquisition of higher education startup Talentedge which was announced in December 2021
- Rebel Foods acquired a majority stake in luxury chocolate brand SMOOR, eyeing to grow its revenue by 3X in FY23
- Real estate consultant Anarock acquired a 75% stake in flexible workspace providing startup myHQ, in a cash and stock deal of INR 125 Cr
- MakeMyTrip’s fintech arm TripMoney acquired a majority stake in BookMyForex for an undisclosed amount
- Gupshup acquired Active.Ai, a conversational AI startup used by banks and fintech firms in an all-cash deal
- Raise Financial Services is set to acquire online learning startup Valuationary, in a cash and stock deal
Startup Funds This Week
Other Developments From The Indian Startup Ecosystem
- Micro VC fund 100X.VC has unveiled 10 startups that are part of its seventh cohort – Class 07. The list includes fintech startups Zerobalance, ToastApp and GoCrow, cybersecurity startup BugBase, EV OEM Emo Energy, edtech Helppr, D2C startup Pilk, enterprisetech startup Kloudmate, social media Quriverse and petcare brand Papa Pawsome
- Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC is reportedly set to lead a fresh funding round of $200 Mn in CRED, valuing the fintech startup at $6.5 Bn
- Global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has joined hands with AIM, NITI Aayog, AGNIi, FITT, IIT-Delhi and Social Alpha to launch the Pfizer INDovation Program which will back oncology startups in India providing a grant of up to INR 65 Lakhs
- Nazara Technologies is investing $2.5 Mn in US-based gaming fund BITKRAFT Ventures for co-investment opportunities
- Sports fantasy unicorn Mobile Premier League (MPL) is likely to raise funds from crypto exchange FTX, among others, to drive web3 proliferation and adoption in the Indian gaming industry
- SoftBank is reportedly looking to slow down investments globally in 2022.
