When it comes to startups, there is no country like India. Home to some of the world's most successful startups, India has the potential to take over the world.
In India, there are many startups that have been successful. Some of these startups have revolutionized the way we live and work. Others have made a significant impact on the economy. Here are a few of the top successful startups in India.
India has been home to some of the most successful startups in recent years. These companies have not only made a name for themselves in India but have also made a global impact.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most successful startups in India.
Read More - Successful Indian Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing The World
▶️History of Indian Startups
There is no doubt that India is a fast-growing startup ecosystem and 3rd largest startup ecosystem and has had a great track record in the global markets.
This is due in part to the country's supportive entrepreneurial environment, skilled workforce, and focus on customer service.
Additionally, Indian startups have tapped into the global market by focusing on local needs and developing innovative solutions.
The first Indian startup was founded in 2008, and since then the ecosystem has grown rapidly.
As of 29th August 2022, there are 77,000 DPIIT-recognized startups across 656 districts in India, making it the third largest ecosystem for startups globally. with new ones being founded every day.
The vast majority of these startups are based in the major cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi.
The Indian startup ecosystem is highly innovative and dynamic, with startups working on a wide range of products and services.
There are startups working on everything from e-commerce and social media to healthcare and clean energy.
And with the backing of some of the world’s biggest investors, Indian startups are well on their way to becoming global leaders.
So if you're looking for inspiration or want to know about the top most successful Indian startups of all time, read on!
Read More - Why Startups Matter For The Indian Economy
▶️Factors That Contributed To The Success of Indian Startups
➡️Strong network of support from angel investors, venture capitalists, and other startup enthusiasts.➡️Highly talented and passionate workforce
➡️Availability of government and academic research facilities.
➡️Strong focus on product design and user interface
➡️A supportive government
➡️Strong focus on innovation and customer experience
➡️Strong partnerships with global companies
➡️The strong ecosystem that helps startups access funding, mentorship and expertise, and global market access
▶️What Is Unicorn Startup
The Unicorn category of startups in India are those that have been valued at over $1 billion.
These startups are typically high-growth companies in sectors such as technology, e-commerce, and healthcare.
Some of the most well-known Unicorn startups in India include Flipkart, Ola, and Paytm.
These companies have all achieved massive success in their respective fields, and have helped to make India a leading hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship.
Read More - Challenges Faced by Indian Startups
▶️Most Successful Startups in India
When it comes to startups, the success rate can be quite variable. However, what is certain is that a combination of innovation, passion and hard work is what separates the successful ones from the rest.
It all starts with a good strategy and a team who are passionate about your venture both of which need to be in place from day one if you want to have any chance at succeeding.
However, we can take a look at some successful startups in India, based on various measures such as funding raised, revenue generated, market share, etc.
1) Paytm
✅Overview Of Paytm
- Headquarters - Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Sector - Fintech
- Parent Organization - One97 Communications
- Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma
- Founded - 2010
- Total Funding - 3.5 Billion Dollar
- Total Company's Valuation - $5B
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 1680 Cr
- Website - www.paytm.com
2)Delhivery
Delhivery is one of the most popular logistics delivery platform in india . The company was founded in 2011 by Sahil Barua, Mohit Tandon, Bhavesh Manglani, and Kapil Bharati.
Entrepreneurs looking to start a startup in india should be inspired by the Delhivery .the founders were all college friends who decided to start their own business after graduation.
They had no prior experience in the logistics industry but they quickly learned the ropes and grew their business at a rapid pace.
Delhivery has over 10,000 employees and operates in more than 200 cities across India. Startup has raised over $1 billion from investors such as SoftBank, Tiger Global Management, Carlyle Group, and Fosun International.
✅Overview Of Delhivery
- Headquarters - Gurgaon, Haryana
- Sector - Logistics
- Founder - Sahil Barua, Mohit Tandon, Bhavesh Manglani,Suraj Saharan, Kapil Bharati
- Founded - 2011
- Total Funding - $1.7 Billion
- Total Company's Valuation - $ 4.77 billion
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 7038 Cr
- Website - www.delhivery.com
3)OYO Rooms
✅Overview Of OYO Rooms
- Headquarters - Gurgaon, Haryana
- Sector - Hospitality
- Founder - Ritesh Agarwal
- Founded - 2012
- Total Funding - $4 Billion
- Total Company's Valuation - 2.7 billion
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 4781.4 Cr
- Website - www.oyorooms.com
4)UpGrad
UpGrad is an online learning platform that helps people to get ahead in their careers. It offers courses on a wide range of topics, from business to tech.
The platform has a strong following and has helped many people achieve their career goals.
✅Overview Of UpGrad
- Headquarters - Mumbai, India
- Sector - Education
- Founder - Mayank kumar,Ravijot Chugh,Ronnie Screwvala,Phalgun Kompalli
- Founded - 2015
- Total Funding - 631.8M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $ 2.25 Billion
- Company's Valuation - INR 302.26 Cr
- Website - www.upGrad.com
5)Urban Company
Urban Company is one of the most successful Indian startups of all time that is shaking up the home services industry.
The company offers a platform that connects customers with service professionals for a variety of tasks, including home cleaning, plumbing, and electrical work.
What makes Urban Company different is its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
In just a few years, Urban Company has become one of the most popular home services brands in India, and it is now expanding into other countries .
✅Overview Of Urban Company
- Headquarters - Gurugram, India
- Sector - Web-Based Personal Services
- Founder - Varun khaitan, Raghav Chandra and Abhiraj Bhal
- Founded - 2014
- Total Funding - $445.8M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - Rs 387 crore
- Total Company's Valuation - $2billion (INR 437.6 Cr)
- Website - www.urbancompany.com
6) Bharatpe
Bharatpe is an Indian startup that has developed a platform for merchants to accept digital payments. The company was founded in 2018 by Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani, and is based in Delhi.
Bharatpe is one of the leading companies in the digital payments space in India and is looking to expand its operations to other countries in the future.
✅Overview Of Bharatpe
- Headquarters - New Delhi, India
- Sector -Fintech
- Founder - Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani
- Founded -2018
- Total Funding - $680.5M
- Total Company's Valuation- $900M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $627.5M
- Website - www.bharatpe.com
7)Swiggy
Swiggy is an Indian startup that delivers food from restaurants to customers. It was founded in August 2014 by Nandan Reddy, Phani Kishan Addepalli, Rahul Jaimini, Sriharsha Majety. The company is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Swiggy is one of the most popular food delivery startups in India. It has raised over $700 million from investors and has more than 4,000 employees.
✅Overview Of Swiggy
- Headquarters - Bengaluru, India
- Sector - Online Food Ordering and Delivery Platform
- Founder - Nandan Reddy, Phani Kishan Addepalli, Rahul Jaimini, Sriharsha Majety
- Founded -2014
- Total Funding - $3.6B
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 2675 Cr
- Total Company's Valuation- $ 10.7 Billion
- Website - www.swiggy.com
8) MakeMyTrip
MakeMyTrip is an Indian online travel company founded in 2000 by Deep Kalra. The company provides online travel services including flight tickets, domestic and international hotel bookings, holiday packages, and bus and rail reservations.
MakeMyTrip became one of the most popular online travel companies in India and also launched its operations internationally. The company started off as a web-based travel portal and later expanded its services.
One of its most popular services is the MakeMyTrip India Trip Planner tool. The tool helps travellers to find the best travel options for their needs and budget.
✅Overview Of MakeMyTrip
- Headquarters - Gurugram, Haryana, India
- Sector - Online Travel Booking
- Founder - Deep Kalra, Keyur Joshi, Rajesh Magow, Sachin Bhatia (resigned as Co-founder and CMO)
- Founded -2000
- Total Funding - $748M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $ 303.9 M ( FY 22)
- Total Company's Valuation- $3.30 Billion
- Website - www.makemytrip.com
9)Meesho
Meesho is an Indian startup that allows users to sell products online through social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
The company was founded in 2015 by two Indian entrepreneurs, Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal. Meesho has been a success story in the Indian startup ecosystem.
The company has been growing rapidly, with over 125 million monthly active users on its platform.
Meesho is one of the leading players in the indian social commerce and has the potential to become a major player in the global e-commerce market.
✅Overview Of Meesho
- Headquarters - Bengaluru,India
- Sector - E-commerce Retailer
- Founder - Sanjeev Barnwal, Vidit Aatrey
- Founded - 2015
- Total Funding - $515.2M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $ 46.6 M ( FY 22)
- Company's Total Valuation - $2.1 B
- Website - www.meesho.com
10)Zoho Corporation
Zoho Corp is an innovative and leading Indian tech company that offers a variety of products such as office productivity software, email marketing services, and cloud storage solutions.
Founded in 1996, the company has over 4,000 employees and offers its services to over 18 million customers worldwide.
Zoho Corporation has over 4,000 employees and its headquarters are located in Chennai, India.
Zoho provides a variety of online office suite products, including Zoho Writer, Zoho CRM, Zoho Sheet, Zoho Show, Zoho Projects, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Creator,Zoho Docs, Zoho Invoice, Zoho People, Zoho Mail, Zoho Assist, Zoho Reports, Zoho Recruit, Zoho Support, Zoho Books, Zoho Bug Tracker, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Sites and more.
The company has been profitable since 2002 and Zoho's products are used by over 30 million users worldwide, including major corporations such as Coca-Cola, Honda, Honda, Dell, Toshiba and Nikon .
✅Overview Of Zoho Corporation
- Headquarters - Chennai, India
- Sector - Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Founder - Sridhar Vembu, Tony Thomas
- Founded - 1996
- Total Funding - Zoho has not received any funding till date
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $ 5230 Cr
- Company's Total Valuation - $ 1 Billion
- Website - www.zoho.com
11)Unacademy
Unacademy is an indian ed-tech startup that offers online courses taught by experienced educators. The company was founded in 2010 by Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini, and Hemesh Singh.
Unacademy's mission is to make quality education accessible to everyone. The company offers courses in a variety of subjects, including math, science, history, and English.
Unacademy is one of the most popular startups in India with over 750,000 active paid subscribers enrolled on their platform and Unacademy has been able to grow rapidly because of the way it manages its content .
Unacademy was originally created in 2010 as a YouTube channel and officially launched in 2015. It has helped millions of students learn new things and improve their skills
✅Overview Of Unacademy
- Headquarters - Bengaluru,India
- Sector - EdTech
- Founder - Gaurav Munjal, Hemesh Singh, Roman Saini, Sachin Gupta
- Founded - 2015
- Total Funding - $838.5M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 1,100 Crore ( FY 2022)
- Company's Total Valuation - $ 3.44B
- Website - www.unacademy.com
12)Flipkart
Flipkart is one of the most successful Indian e-commerce company based in Bengaluru, India. Founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, the company initially focused on book sales, before expanding into other product categories such as consumer electronics, fashion, and lifestyle products.
Flipkart has faced criticism for its unsustainable discounting model and alleged violation of FDI regulations. However, it continues to be one of the most valued startups in India, with a valuation of $37.6 billion as of 2022.
In recent years, Flipkart has been facing tough competition from other e-commerce giants like Amazon, but it continues to be a leading player in the Indian market.
✅Overview Of Flipkart
- Headquarters - Bengaluru,India
- Sector - E-commerce
- Founder - Binny Bansal, Sachin Bansal
- Founded - 2007
- Total Funding - $12.9B
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 43,357 Cr
- Company's Total Valuation - $37.6 B
- Website - www.flipkart.com
13)Ola
Ola is an best startups in india that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. The company provides a mobile app that allows users to book and pay for cabs.
Ola Cabs has been able to successfully compete with other similar companies, such as Uber, by offering cheaper fares and better customer service.
The company operates in over 250+ cities across india, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. and offers a variety of services, including Ola Share (ride-sharing), Ola Prime (premium rides), and Ola Shuttle (fixed-route rides).
In addition to its convenient and affordable services, Ola Cabs also offers a number of safety features, such as live tracking and in-app SOS buttons.
Additionally, the company has also expanded its services to include electric scooters and bicycles. In 2010, Ola was founded by two IIT Bombay graduates, Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati.
✅Overview Of Ola
- Headquarters - Kormangala, Karnataka, India
- Sector - Online Transportation
- Founder - Ankit Bhati, Bhavish Aggarwal
- Founded - 2010
- Total Funding - $5B
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $330 million, 2019
- Company's Total Valuation - $7.3B
- Website - www.olacabs.com
14)Groww
Groww is an successful Indian startup that helps people invest in the stock market ,mutual funds and track their portfolios. The company was founded in 2016 by Harsh Jain and Neeraj Singh.
Groww has raised a total of $13.5 million in funding from investors such as Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator, and Accel Partners.
The platform gives information about mutual funds, systematic investment planning, equity-linked savings, and everything from the personal finance world.
Which helps new investors by having a simplified user interface to make investing easy, accessible, transparent, and paperless, so that users can invest in mutual funds without any problems.
Customers can also invest in IPO and US stocks through the Groww platform.
✅Overview Of Groww
- Headquarters - Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Sector - FinTech(Stock Exchanges)
- Founder - Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal Dean, Lalit Keshre, Neeraj Singh
- Founded - 2016
- Total Funding - $393.3M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 40.4 Cr
- Company's Total Valuation - $3B
- Website - www.groww.in
15)GoMechanic
GoMechanic is an Indian startup that allows users to book car service and repair appointments online. The company was founded in 2016 by Amit Bhasin, Kushal Karwa, Nitin Rana and Rishabh Karwa
GoMechanic offers a convenient, hassle-free and affordable car repair service that is designed to fit the needs of busy modern consumers.
The company has a network of qualified and experienced mechanics who can carry out repairs and maintenance tasks at the customer's home or office.
GoMechanic is changing the way people think about car repair and maintenance, and is quickly becoming the go-to choice for many Indian drivers.
The company's innovative approach to car care is making it easier and more affordable for people to keep their cars in good condition, without having to take time out of their busy schedules to visit a garage.
✅Overview Of GoMechanic
- Headquarters - Gurgaon, Haryana, India
- Sector - Online Car Servicing Portal
- Founder - Amit Bhasin, Kushal Karwa, Nitin Rana, Rishabh Karwa
- Founded - 2016
- Total Funding - $54.8M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $ 40 million
- Company's Total Valuation - $300M
- Website - www.gomechanic.in
16)Rapido
Rapido is an famous Indian startup that enables users to book a bike within minutes via its app .with Rapido, you can book a bike ride while traveling alone.
Using this service, people traveling in a similar direction can meet up and reduce traffic congestion. Not only is this a good idea for reducing traffic, but it also reduces carbon footprints and air pollution.
This is a convenient and affordable option for those who do not have their own transportation or who want to avoid traffic.
✅Overview Of Rapido
- Headquarters - Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Sector - Automotive
- Founder - Aravind Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli, Rishikesh SR
- Founded - 2015
- Total Funding - $310.4M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $ 300 million
- Company's Total Valuation - $830M
- Website - www.rapido.bike
17)Mamaearth
Mamaearth is an successful Indian startup that was founded in 2016 by husband and wife duo, Varun and Ghazal Alagh. The company sells natural and eco-friendly baby and personal care products.
Their mission is to provide parents with safe and effective products that they can trust.
Mamaearth's products are made with natural ingredients and are free from harmful chemicals.
The company's revenue increased to Rs 460 crore by the end of 2021, and in early 2022 it became a unicorn.
✅Overview Of Mamaearth
- Headquarters - Gurgaon, Haryana, India
- Sector - Baby Products
- Founder - Ghazal Alagh, Varun Alagh
- Founded - 2016
- Total Funding - $111.6M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 920 Cr
- Company's Total Valuation - $3B
- Website - www.mamaearth.in
18)Netmeds
The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in online shopping, Netmeds is an Indian startup that has been operational since 2010.
The company is a leading online pharmacy in the country and offers a wide range of medicines and healthcare products. Netmeds also has a tie-up with leading hospitals and clinics across the country, which helps it provide quality medicines to its customers.
Reliance Industries Ltd has take a majority stake in online pharmacy Netmeds for approximately 6.2 billion rupees ($83.08 million) in cash, shortly after e-commerce giant Amazon.com launched an online medicine service in India.
✅Overview Of Netmeds
- Headquarters - Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Sector - Online Pharmaceutical
- Founder - Pradeep Dadha
- Founded - 2010
- Total Funding - $99M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $1.03M (Rs 7.7 crore in FY20)
- Company's Total Valuation - $125M
- Website - www.netmeds.com
19)Cred
Cred is an Indian startup that helps people with credit management. The company was founded in 2016 by Kunal Shah and Gaurav Chopra.
Cred has helped people manage their credit better and improve their financial health. Cred allows users to pay their bills and credit card debts using a mobile app.
The company has raised $251M million in funding from investors such as Alpha Wave Global, Tiger Global Management.
The company has a strong team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to helping people with their credit needs. Cred is a great example of an successful Indian startup that is making a difference in the lives of its customers.
✅Overview Of Cred
- Headquarters - Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Sector - FinTech
- Founder - Kunal Shah
- Founded - 2018
- Total Funding - $801M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - Rs 88.6 crore
- Company's Total Valuation - $6.5B
- Website - www.cred.club
20)Dukaan
Dukaan is a top startup in india that helps small businesses sell online. It offers a simple, easy-to-use platform that enables businesses to create an online store in minutes and start selling products to customers all over India.
Dukaan also offers a wide range of features and services to help businesses grow their online presence and sales.
✅Overview Of Dukaan
- Headquarters - Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Sector - DIY E-Commerce
- Founder - Kaustub Pandey, Subhash Choudhary, Sumit Shah
- Founded - 2019
- Total Funding - $17M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - $19.4M
- Company's Total Valuation - $71M
- Website - www.mydukaan.io
21)Bombay Shaving Company
The Bombay Shaving Company is an Indian startup that makes shaving products for men. The company was founded in 2015 by Deepu Panicker, Raunak Munot Rohit Jaiswal and Shantanu Deshpande. The company sells razors, shaving creams, aftershaves, and other grooming products.
The company's mission is to make men's grooming an enjoyable and hassle-free experience. Bombay Shaving Company's products are available online and in stores across India.
Bombay Shaving Company is a successful startup that has made it big in India. The company has raised $4 million in funding from investors including Sequoia Capital India and Accel Partners.
✅Overview Of Bombay Shaving Company
- Headquarters - New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Sector - Men's Grooming and skincare products
- Founder - Deepu Panicker, Raunak Munot, Rohit Jaiswal, Shantanu Deshpande
- Founded - 2015
- Total Funding - $45.9M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - INR 150 Cr
- Company's Total Valuation - $153.56M
- Website - www.bombayshavingcompany.com
22) Zerodha
Zerodha is an Indian startup that provides a platform for online stock trading. It was founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath. The company has over 1 million customers and is one of the largest online stock brokers in India.
Zerodha is a discount brokerage firm that has been around for more than 10 years and continues to be one of the most popular options in India.
They offer a variety of investment products and services to their customers, and their customer support is top-notch. They are also one of the few brokerage firms in India that offer a mobile app that allows you to do everything from trade stocks to manage your portfolio.
✅Overview Of Zerodha
- Headquarters - Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Sector - FinTech(Stock Exchanges)
- Founder - Nithin Kamath, Nikhil Kamath
- Founded - 2010
- Total Funding - Self-Funded
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - Rs 2,729 crore in FY21
- Company's Total Valuation - $2 Billion
- Website - www.zerodha.com
23) WOW Momo
Wow Momo is an Indian startup that has been making waves in the food industry. The company started out as a small momo stall in Kolkata and has now grown into a multi-million dollar business.
Wow Momo is known for its delicious and innovative momos, which have earned it a loyal following among foodies. The company has also expanded into other areas of the food industry, such as catering and delivery. With its strong growth trajectory, Wow Momo is poised to become a major player in the Indian food industry.
✅Overview Of WOW Momo
- Headquarters - Kolkata, West Bengal, India
- Sector - Food Delivery
- Founder - Sagar Daryani, Shah Miftaur Rahman
- Founded - 2018
- Total Funding - $70.6M
- Company's Total Revenue Allocation - 180 crores INR (2019)
- Company's Total Valuation - Rs 2,125 crore
- Website - www.wowmomo.com
▶️How Indian Startup Culture Differs From the U.S
Indian startup culture differs from the U.S. in a few key ways. First, the Indian startup ecosystem is much more collaborative.
Second, the focus is on building a sustainable business, rather than making a quick profit.this means that Indian startups are often more patient and deliberate in their decision-making.
Finally, there is a strong emphasis on social impact.
Many Indian startups are focused on solving problems in their communities, whether it’s providing access to clean water or developing new educational technologies.
🔺The culture in the U.S is typically more individualistic and competitive. In contrast, Indian startups are typically founded by a group of people who have a common goal or vision.
🔺There is usually a greater emphasis on collaboration and teamwork.
🔺Indian startups also place a higher value on customer feedback and engagement rather than revenue milestones.
🔺In the U.S, startup culture is driven by the lure of big money and quick returns.
🔺In India, startups are driven by the urge to solve bigger problems and make a difference.
🔺In the U.S, it is common for startups to be run as businesses first and then develop their technology. In India, technology development happens first and business later.
🔺In the U.S, startup culture is heavily tilted towards the venture capitalists and the investment bankers.
🔺In India, it is more about the founders and their team working together to build a great product.
🔺In India ,There are lot of collaboration and sharing of ideas.
🔺There is a lot of support and encouragement for startups by government of india .
🔺In India, the focus is on solving real world problems.
▶️Conclusion
In India, there are countless startups that have changed the way people live and work. startups are a big deal in India. They are seen as a way to create jobs and spur economic growth. there are many successful top indian startups, such as Flipkart and Ola.
However, there have also been some failures, such as Snapdeal. Despite the risks, many young people are drawn to starting their own businesses in India.
The Startup India initiative was launched in 2015 and provides a range of benefits to startups including tax exemptions and easier access to credit.
The success of Indian startups has attracted attention from global investors and there is a growing interest in investing in Indian startups.
India is well on its way to becoming a major startup hub and a key player in the global innovation economy.
