May 11, 2025: Startup funding in India catapulted into a new high during the first week of March, pulling in an impressive $618 million across 29 funding deals — marking the strongest week of 2025 so far. This resurgence, was led by two mega-deals exceeding $200 million, which comes at a time when broader market sentiment has been weighed down by regional tensions and global economic headwinds.
The sharp 494% jump from the previous week’s modest $104 million signals a strong vote of confidence from investors despite external uncertainties. Leading the pack were PB Healthcare Services, which secured $218 million in a round led by General Catalyst, and logistics platform Porter, which raised $200 million from a consortium of heavyweight investors including Kedaara Capital, Wellington Management, and Vitruvian Partners.
Remarkably, these sizeable transactions, particularly PB Healthcare’s Series F funding, indicate maturing confidence in later-stage startups — a rare occurrence in recent months. Importantly, capital this week flowed across various funding stages, suggesting that investor appetite is not limited solely to growth-stage ventures but is balanced across early and mature companies alike.
According to market experts – This week’s activity points at a broad-based resurgence in risk appetite across the ecosystem, which is tuned towards a positive trend in the near future.
Startup Funding in India garner a record $618M in a Week
Beyond headline-grabbing deals, other interesting startup funding included Routematic ($40 million), Flipspaces ($35 million), and Celcius ($29 million), reflecting strong momentum across sectors ranging from transport solutions and commercial space design to cold-chain logistics.
Consumer brands also attracted attention: Lahori, a homegrown beverage brand, raised $23 million, while The Good Bug, a nutraceutical startup, secured nearly $12 million.
The revival in private capital comes alongside policy tailwinds. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recently expanded its credit guarantee scheme for startups — a move welcomed by founders seeking easier access to growth capital. Meanwhile, electric vehicle maker Ather Energy’s stock market debut, albeit modest, is viewed as paving the way for more public listings from startups. Simple Energy has already announced its intent to explore a listing this year.
Despite this startup funding surge, challenges linger. Listed startups such as Swiggy and Paytm continue to grapple with profitability pressures, as evidenced by their recent financial disclosures. Whether this week’s capital influx signals a sustained recovery or an isolated spike driven by a few large deals remains to be seen.
Still, the momentum offers a refreshing boost to India’s startup funding ecosystem as it navigates 2025’s uncertain waters.
