From Startups to Unicorns: Discover the Success Stories of India’s 100+ Billion-Dollar Companies

Unicorns of India – Unicorn Mastery: 100 Game-Changing Startups in India

India’s Thriving Startup Ecosystem: Exploring the Rise of 108 Unicorn Startups

In recent years, India has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem, boasting an impressive count of 108 Unicorn Startups as of 2022. While the concept of unicorn startups has become more common globally, building one remains a formidable challenge. It requires unwavering dedication, perseverance, and relentless effort throughout the startup’s journey. This article delves into the discussion of the remarkable startups that have earned the coveted unicorn status.

The term “Unicorn Startup” combines two words: “Unicorn” and “Startup.” In business parlance, a unicorn refers to a startup with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. The credit for coining this term goes to Aileen Lee, a venture capitalist and seed investor. Meanwhile, startups are privately-owned companies typically in their early stages of development. In this context, we explore the intricacies of what makes a unicorn startup and how to embark on the journey of building one.

In 2021, India secured the 3rd position among countries hosting unicorn companies. The subcontinent witnessed an impressive tally of 33 startups turning into unicorns, surpassing the UK, which managed only 15 during the same period. Notably, the US took the lead with 254 new unicorns, while China recorded 74, as reported in 2021.

Expressing optimism and support for India’s unicorn culture, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, predicted a tenfold increase in the country’s unicorn count within the next 2-3 years, surpassing 1,000. The Indian government also expects the upcoming wave of startup founders to emerge from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across the nation.

In 2021, several startups joined India’s unicorn club, including Flipkart Moglix, BharatPe, CoinDCX, upGrad, Groww, BlackBuck, Droom, OfBusiness, Meesho, Chargebee, CRED, Digit, Gupshup, Infra.Market, MindTickle, Five Star Business Finance, Innovaccer, Pharmeasy, Sharechat, Urban Company, Zeta, Eruditus, Zetwerk, BrowserStack, Apna, Vedantu, Licious, CoinSwitch Kuber, Rebel Foods, CarDekho, MobiKwik, Acko, The Good Glamm Group, CureFit, Mensa, NoBroker, Spinny, Upstox, Slice, Pristyn Care, GlobalBees, Mamaearth, and many more. The total count of companies joining the unicorn league in 2021 reached an impressive 44.

These Indian startups raised over $42 billion in funding through 1,584 deals throughout 2021. Since 2016, the Indian startup ecosystem has witnessed the establishment of more than 60,000 new startups across 56 diverse sectors. This surge in entrepreneurial activity has generated over 600,000 job opportunities in the country. President Ram Nath Kovind acknowledged this achievement in his Presidential address on January 31, 2022, underscoring the new avenues of opportunity being created by Indian startups.

As 2022 commenced, India continued to witness the emergence of unicorns. Mamaearth took the lead as the first unicorn of the year, followed by Fractal Analytics, LEAD School, Darwinbox, DealShare, ElasticRun, Livspace, Xpressbees, Uniphore, Hasura, CredAvenue, Amagi, CommerceIQ, Oxyzo, Games 24×7, Open, PhysicsWallah, Purplle, LeadSquared, OneCard, and 5ire. These startups embody the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that propels India’s thriving startup landscape.

Below is a table listing 108 Indian Unicorn Companies as of 2022, sorted from the latest to the oldest based on the year they achieved unicorn status:

Startup NameIndustryFounding YearUnicorn Entry YearProfit in 2021Current ValuationAcquisitionsIPO Status
PhysicsWallahEdtech20162022-$0.877 Million$1.1 Billion0Unlisted
LeadSquaredSaaS- CRM20112022-$1 Million$1 BIllion0Unlisted
ElasticRunE-commerce Logistics20152022-$12 Million$1.5 Billion0Unlisted
LEAD SchoolEdtech20122022-$15 Million$1.1 Billion1Unlisted
PurplleE-commerce Personal Care20122022-$6 Million$1.1 Billion1Unlisted
DealShareE-commerce20182022-$8 Million$1.7 Billion0Unlisted
XpressbeesE-commerce Logistics20152022-$8 Million$1.2 Billion0Unlisted
OpenFintech20172022-$8 Million$1 BIllion2Unlisted
Games24x7Gaming20062022$13 Million$2.5 Billion0Unlisted
AmagiMedia, Advertising20082022$2 Million$1 BIllion0Unlisted
Fractal AnalyticsSaaS- Analytics20002022NA$1 BIllion7Unlisted
DarwinboxSaaS- HR20152022NA$1.07 BIllion0Unlisted
LivspaceE-commerce Interior Design20142022NA$1.2 Billion4Unlisted
UniphoreSaaS- Conversational Automation20082022NA$2.5 Billion3Unlisted
HasuraSaaS- Programming Tools20172022NA$1 BIllion0Unlisted
Yubi (CredAvenue)Fintech20172022NA$1.3 Billion2Unlisted
CommerceIQE-commerce Management Platform20122022NA$1 BIllion0Unlisted
OxyzoFintech20162022NA$1 BIllion0Unlisted
OneCardFintech20182022NA$1.4 Billion0Unlisted
MoglixB2B E-commerce20152021-$10 Million$2.6 Billion1Unlisted
NoBrokerPropTech20142021-$12 Million$1 BIllion1Unlisted
MobiKwikFintech20092021-$13 Million$1 BIllion1Registered
SpinnyAutomotive20152021-$13 Million$1.75 Billion3Unlisted
MPLESports20182021-$16 Million$2.3 Billion3Unlisted
AckoInsurtech20162021-$16 Million$1.1 Billion1Unlisted
ShareChatSocial Media20152021-$183 Million$5 Billion6Unlisted
EruditusEdtech20102021-$242 Million$3.2 Billion1Unlisted
upGradEdtech20152021-$26 Million$2.25 Billion11Unlisted
ApnaMarketplace- Employment20192021-$3 Million$1.1 Billion0Unlisted
Urban CompanyHome Services20142021-$31 Million$2.1 Billion3Unlisted
BharatPeFintech Payments20182021-$34 Million$2.85 Billion1Unlisted
CarDekhoE-commerce Automotives20072021-$42 Million$1.2 Billion3Unlisted
LiciousE-commerce Meat Products20152021-$46 Million$1.3 Billion0Unlisted
ZetwerkMarketplace- Consumer goods20182021-$5 Million$2.5 Billion3Unlisted
MeeshoE-commerce20152021-$62 Million$4.9 Billion0Unlisted
Blinkit (ex-Grofers)E-commerce- Groceries20132021-$69 Million$0.568 Billion2Unlisted
Pristyn CareHealthtech20182021-$7 Million$1.4 Billion1Unlisted
VedantuEdtech20112021-$75 Million$1 BIllion2Unlisted
UpstoxFintech20102021-$8 Million$3.4 Billion0Unlisted
SliceFintech20162021-$8.9 Million$1.4 Billion1Unlisted
CREDFinancial Technology20182021-$80 Million$6.4 Billion2Unlisted
CureFitHealthcare20162021-$83 Million$1.5 Billion14Unlisted
MamaearthE-commerce Personal Care20162021$24 Million$1.07 Billion4Unlisted
Infra.MarketB2B E-commerce20162021$3 Million$2.5 Billion2Unlisted
Five Star Business FinanceFinancial Services19842021$44 Million$1.4 Billion0Registered
OfBusinessBuilding Materials20152021$6 Million$5 Billion1Unlisted
CoinSwitch KuberCryptocurrencies20172021$8 Million$1.9 Billion0Unlisted
CoinDCXCryptocurrency Exchange20182021NA$2.15 Billion0Unlisted
BlackBuckLogistics20152021NA$1.02 Billion0Unlisted
DroomMarketplace- Automotives20142021NA$1.2 Billion1Registered
PharmEasyOnline Pharmacy20152021NA$5.6 Billion3Registered
MyGlammPersonal Care Marketplace20152021NA$1.2 Billion5Unlisted
Digit InsuranceInsurance20162021NA$4 Billion1Unlisted
InnovaccerHealthcare20142021NA$3.2 Billion0Unlisted
GrowwFintech20172021NA$3 Billion1Unlisted
GupshupSoftware20042021NA$1.4 Billion5Unlisted
ChargebeeFinancial Services20112021NA$3.5 Billion3Unlisted
ZetaFintech20152021NA$1.5 Billion0Unlisted
BrowserStackCloud Infrastructure and Software20112021NA$4 Billion3Unlisted
Mohalla Tech (Moj)Software20152021NA$5 Billion6Unlisted
Matic Network / PolygonBlockchain20182021NA$10 Billion2Unlisted
MindTickleSaas- Enterprise Software20112021NA$1.2 Billion0Unlisted
Rebel FoodsE-commerce Food Delivery20112021NA$1.4 Billion1Unlisted
MensaFinancial Services20212021NA$1.2 Billion16Unlisted
GlobalBeesE-commerce Retail20212021NA$1.1 Billion11Unlisted
DailyhuntSocial News20072020-$101 Million$5 Billion4Unlisted
UnacademyEdtech20152020-$192 Million$3.4 Billion12Unlisted
Cars24B2C E-commerce20152020-$28 Million$3.3 Billion0Unlisted
Glance, InmobiMobile Technology20192020-$9 Million$1.8 Billion4Unlisted
RazorPayFintech20142020$0.875 Million$7.5 Billion5Unlisted
ZerodhaStockbroker20102020$140 Million$2 Billion0Unlisted
PhonePeFintech Payments20152020$217 Million$5.5 Billion5Unlisted
FirstCryE-commerce20102020$26 Million$2 Billion2Unlisted
NykaaE-commerce20122020$7 Million$8.3 Billion5Listed
Pine LabsFintech19982020NA$5 Billion5Unlisted
HighradiusFintech20062020NA$3.1 Billion0Unlisted
Verse InnovationContent Technology20072020NA$5 Billion3Unlisted
ZenotiSaas- Spa and Salon Services20102020NA$1.5 Billion1Unlisted
PostmanSaas- API Development and Testing20142020NA$5.6 Billion0Unlisted
DelhiveryE-commerce Logistics Services20112019-$14 Million$4 Billion3Listed
IcertisSaas- Contract Management20092019-$2 Million$5 Billion0Unlisted
Ola ElectricAutomotive20172019-$24 Million$5 Billion1Unlisted
DruvaSaas- Data Management20082019-$4 Million$2 Billion3Unlisted
BigBasketE-commerce- Groceries20112019-$51 Million$2.7 Billion6Unlisted
RivigoLogistics20142019-$67 Million$1.09 Billion0Unlisted
LenskartE-commerce- Eyewear20102019$3 Million$4.3 Billion2Unlisted
Dream11Fantasy Sports20082019$41 Million$8 Billion2Unlisted
CitiusTechHealthcare Technology20052019NA$2.4 Billion2Unlisted
FreshworksSaaS – CRM20102018-$188 Million$3.5 Billion13Listed
UdaanE-commerce20162018-$310 Million$3.1 Billion0Unlisted
OYO RoomsHospitality20132018-$495 Million$9 Billion8Registered
Paytm MallE-commerce20172018-$62 Million$0.013 Billion0Unlisted
SwiggyFoodtech20142018$203 Million$10.7 Billion5Unlisted
BYJU’SEdtech20112018$6 Million$22 Billion19Unlisted
PolicybazaarInsurance company20082018NA$2.4 Billion0Listed
BilldeskFintech20002018NA$4.7 Billion0Unlisted
ReNew PowerRenewable Energy20112017NA$8 Billion5Listed
OLATransportation20102015-$105 Million$7.3 Billion8Unlisted
ZomatoFoodtech20082015-$153 Million$5.4 Billion15Listed
PaytmE-commerce Finance20102015-$214 Million$16 Billion12Listed
Mu SigmaSaaS- Analytics20042013NA$1.5 Billion1Unlisted
FlipkartE-commerce20072012-$307 Million$37.6 Billion18Unlisted
InMobiAdtech20072011-$9 Million$1 Billion10Unlisted
MakeMyTripOnline Travel20002010-$56 Million$2.52 Billion9Listed
Unicorns of india
Unicorns of india

Source – Image credit: Inc42

Top Unicorns Startups in India

  1. InMobi – Unicorn of India
  2. Flipkart – Unicorn of India
  3. BharatPe – Unicorn of India
  4. Dream11 – Unicorn of India
  5. PhonePe – Unicorn of India
  6. BYJU’S – Unicorn of India
  7. OLA – Unicorn of India
  8. OYO Rooms – Unicorn of India
  9. Swiggy – Unicorn of India
  10. Zomato – Unicorn of India
  11. Freshworks – Unicorn of India
  12. Moglix – Unicorn of India
  13. upGrad – Unicorn of India
  14. MakeMyTrip – Unicorn of India
  15. Nykaa – Unicorn of India
  16. Policybazaar – Unicorn of India
  17. CoinDCX – Unicorn of India
  18. Pine Labs – Unicorn of India
  19. Highradius – Unicorn of India
  20. Zetwerk – Unicorn of India
  21. BlackBuck – Unicorn of India
  22. Droom – Unicorn of India
  23. OfBusiness – Unicorn of India
  24. ShareChat – Unicorn of India
  25. Verse Innovation – Unicorn of India
  26. PharmEasy – Unicorn of India
  27. MyGlamm – Unicorn of India
  28. CRED – Unicorn of India
  29. Meesho – Unicorn of India
  30. Urban Company – Unicorn of India
  31. Infra.Market – Unicorn of India
  32. Digit Insurance – Unicorn of India
  33. Innovaccer – Unicorn of India
  34. Five Star Business Finance – Unicorn of India
  35. Groww – Unicorn of India
  36. Gupshup – Unicorn of India
  37. Eruditus – Unicorn of India
  38. Chargebee – Unicorn of India
  39. Zeta – Unicorn of India
  40. BrowserStack – Unicorn of India
  41. Paytm – Unicorn of India
  42. Paytm Mall – Unicorn of India
  43. Zerodha – Unicorn of India
  44. ReNew Power – Unicorn of India
  45. BigBasket – Unicorn of India
  46. Udaan – Unicorn of India
  47. Ola Electric – Unicorn of India
  48. Mohalla Tech (Moj) – Unicorn of India
  49. FirstCry – Unicorn of India
  50. Lenskart – Unicorn of India
  51. Blinkit (formerly Grofers) – Unicorn of India
  52. Glance (InMobi) – Unicorn of India
  53. Dailyhunt – Unicorn of India
  54. Zenoti – Unicorn of India
  55. Cars24 – Unicorn of India
  56. RazorPay – Unicorn of India
  57. Unacademy – Unicorn of India
  58. Postman – Unicorn of India
  59. CitiusTech – Unicorn of India
  60. Icertis – Unicorn of India
  61. Druva – Unicorn of India
  62. Rivigo – Unicorn of India
  63. Matic Network / Polygon – Unicorn of India
  64. MindTickle – Unicorn of India
  65. Delhivery – Unicorn of India
  66. Billdesk – Unicorn of India
  67. Mu Sigma – Unicorn of India
  68. MPL – Unicorn of India
  69. Apna – Unicorn of India
  70. Vedantu – Unicorn of India
  71. Licious – Unicorn of India
  72. CoinSwitch Kuber – Unicorn of India
  73. Rebel Foods – Unicorn of India
  74. CarDekho – Unicorn of India
  75. MobiKwik – Unicorn of India
  76. Acko – Unicorn of India
  77. CureFit – Unicorn of India
  78. Mensa – Unicorn of India
  79. NoBroker – Unicorn of India
  80. Spinny – Unicorn of India
  81. Upstox – Unicorn of India
  82. Slice – Unicorn of India
  83. Pristyn Care – Unicorn of India
  84. GlobalBees – Unicorn of India
  85. Mamaearth – Unicorn of India
  86. Fractal Analytics – Unicorn of India
  87. LEAD School – Unicorn of India
  88. Darwinbox – Unicorn of India
  89. DealShare – Unicorn of India
  90. ElasticRun – Unicorn of India
  91. Livspace – Unicorn of India
  92. Xpressbees – Unicorn of India
  93. Uniphore – Unicorn of India
  94. Hasura – Unicorn of India
  95. CredAvenue – Unicorn of India
  96. Amagi – Unicorn of India
  97. CommerceIQ – Unicorn of India
  98. Oxyzo – Unicorn of India
  99. Games 24×7 – Unicorn of India
  100. Open – Unicorn of India
  101. PhysicsWallah – Unicorn of India
  102. Purplle – Unicorns of India
  103. LeadSquared – Unicorns of India
  104. OneCard – Unicorns of India
  105. 5ire – Unicorns of India
  106. Shiprocket – Unicorns of India
  107. Tata 1mg – Unicorns of India
  108. Molbio Diagnostics – Unicorns of India

Please note that while many of these companies were indeed unicorns in 2022, the status may have changed since then.

Here are some former Indian unicorn companies:

  1. Snapdeal: Snapdeal was once one of the leading e-commerce platforms in India but faced significant challenges and financial difficulties, leading to a decline in valuation and loss of unicorn status.
  2. Quikr: Quikr was a popular online classifieds platform in India but saw a decline in valuation and lost its unicorn status due to increased competition and operational challenges.
  3. ShopClues: ShopClues was an e-commerce marketplace that struggled to compete with larger players like Flipkart and Amazon. It faced financial difficulties and eventually merged with another e-commerce platform, Qoo10.
  4. Housing.com: Housing.com was a real estate platform that experienced rapid growth but faced internal management issues and financial challenges, leading to a decline in valuation and loss of unicorn status.
  5. Yatra: Yatra was an online travel agency that faced intense competition in the travel industry and struggled to maintain profitability. It was acquired by a subsidiary of Ebix, an international supplier of on-demand software and e-commerce services.

Please note that the status and details of companies can change over time, so it’s advisable to verify the current information for the most accurate and up-to-date data on unicorn companies in India.

InMobi

Startup NameInMobi
HeadquartersBangalore, Karnataka, India
IndustryAdvertising, Digital Media
FoundersAbhay Singhal, Amit Gupta, Mohit Saxena, Naveen Tewari, Piyush Shah
Founded2007
InvestorsLightbox Ventures, Softbank Group, Kleiner Perkins
Products and ServicesInMobi Pulse, Mobile Marketing
Valuation$12 billion (April 2021)

InMobi, founded in 2007, is a Bengaluru mobile ad platform optimizing ad ranks on phones. India’s first unicorn, it sparked the unicorn league, with its subsidiary Glance also becoming a unicorn in 2020.

Flipkart

Startup NameFlipkart
HeadquartersBengaluru, Karnataka, India
IndustryEcommerce, Marketplace
FoundersBinny Bansal, Sachin Bansal
Founded2007
InvestorsWalmart, Tencent, Softbank and more
Products and ServicesEcommerce marketplace that offers over 150 million products
Valuation$37.6 billion (July 2021)

Flipkart, India’s top eCommerce marketplace, needs no introduction. Its Big Billion Days are eagerly awaited by millions. It was the second Indian unicorn, after inMobi, achieving that valuation during 2011-2012. With 350 million users, 150+ million products, and 80+ categories, Flipkart is a household name. Walmart acquired it in 2018 for $16 bn, boosting its growth. Founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, it is now valued at over $37.6 billion, the highest in India as of 2022.

BharatPe

Startup NameBharatpe
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
IndustryPayments platform, Fintech, Financial Services
FoundersAshneer Grover, Bhavik Koladiya, Shashvat Nakrani
Founded2018
InvestorsSteadfast Capital, Coatue, Dragoneer, Sequoia
Products and ServicesPayments App
Valuation$2.85 billion (February 2022)

BharatPe, a New Delhi-based digital payments app and merchant aggregator, tripled its valuation to $2.85 billion and became a unicorn on August 4, 2021. However, its co-founder Ashneer Grover has been embroiled in controversy for alleged abusive behavior towards a Kotak employee and blunt remarks. He is also being investigated for financial fraud with his wife and five others, leading to a mandatory leave of absence. Sources suggest he may not return and could be fired. BharatPe is a private limited company, not a government entity.

Dream11

Startup NameDream11
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
IndustryFantasy Sports, IT
FoundersBhavit Sheth, Harsh Jain
Founded2008
InvestorsSteadview Capital, Tencent, Tiger Global Management, Falcon Edge
Products and ServicesDream11 sports platform
Valuation$8 billion (November 2021)

Dream11 is a fantasy sports platform based in India that offers various sports, including but not limited to cricket, football, hockey, volleyball, handball, futsal, and rugby, for Indian sports enthusiasts to enjoy. As a locally grown sports platform, Dream11 aims to help Indian sports fans showcase and expand their sports knowledge.

In April 2019, Dream11 joined the unicorn league of Indian startups after raising $60 million in funding from Steadview Capital and other investors. The company’s latest valuation stands at $8 billion, following an $840 million investment in November 2021.

PhonePe

Startup NamePhonePe
HeadquartersAndheri, Maharashtra, India
IndustryFintech, Mobile Payments
FoundersBurzin Engineer, Rahul Chari, Sameer Nigam
Founded2015
InvestorsFlipkart, Walmart
Products and ServicesPhonepe payments app
Valuation$5.5 billion (December 2020)

PhonePe, headquartered in Andheri, Maharashtra, India, is a digital payment and merchant aggregator platform that has significantly contributed to the seamless, fast, and easy digital payments for Indian customers and merchants. Since its establishment in 2015, the company has secured the largest market share among UPI apps, demonstrating immense growth potential and attaining unicorn status before 2020. In April 2016, Flipkart acquired the company, leading to substantial growth. Moreover, PhonePe’s business model and revenue generation strategy are quite intriguing.

BYJU’S

Startup NameBYJUS
HeadquartersBangalore, Karnataka, India
IndustryEdtech, Distance education, M-learning
FounderByju Raveendran & Divya Gokulnath
Founded2011
InvestorsAarin Capital, BOND
Products and ServicesBYJU’S – The Learning App
Valuation$16.5 Billion (July 2021)

Byju’s, an edtech platform based in Bangalore, is an online tutoring and coaching firm that operates on a freemium model. Founded by Byju Raveendran in 2011, the platform has garnered a user base of over 15 million students worldwide, with more than 900,000 subscribers paying for its services. The current valuation of Byju’s stands at a remarkable 16.5 billion USD. If you want to know more about the business and revenue model of Byju’s, there are plenty of details to explore.

OLA

Startup NameOla
HeadquartersBangalore, India
IndustryTransportation
FounderBhavish Aggarwal & Ankit Bhati
Founded3 December 2010
InvestorsSoftBank Group, Tiger Global, Tencent, Matrix Partners, and DST Global
Products and ServicesMobile app, website, Vehicle for hire, Goods and food delivery, Mobile payment and digital wallet
Valuation$6.5 billion (FY20)

Launched on December 3rd, 2010, Ola is a ride-sharing company based in India. Currently, Ola has a network of over 1.5 million drivers across 250 cities as of 2019. The company has even expanded its reach into overseas markets, including Australia and New Zealand, in September 2018. Additionally, Ola has introduced auto-rickshaws to its operations in the UK.

OYO Rooms

Startup NameOYO Rooms
HeadquartersGurgaon, Haryana, India
IndustryHospitality
FounderRitesh Agarwal
Founded2013
InvestorsSoftBank Group, Didi Chuxing, Greenoaks Capital, Sequoia India, Lightspeed India, Hero Enterprise, Airbnb, and China Lodging Group.
Products and ServicesOYO Rooms, OYO Hotels & Homes
Valuation$9 billion (July 2021)

OYO, founded in 2013 by Ritesh Agarwal, a 21-year-old at the time, is one of the leading travel startups in India. The company, India’s largest hospitality startup, primarily focuses on budget hotels. OYO collaborates with existing hotels, providing travelers with vacant rooms at a more affordable rate. The cost of an OYO room starts at a nominal price of Rs 999. Additionally, the company has invested in its properties besides bulk renting hotels.

Swiggy

Startup NameSwiggy
HeadquartersBangalore, India
IndustryRetail
FounderNandan Reddy, Sriharsha Majety, and Rahul Jaimini
Founded2014
InvestorsNorwest Venture Partners, Naspers, Accel, SAIF Partners, Meituan-Dianping
Products and ServicesFood delivery
Valuation$5.5 billion (July 2021)

Swiggy, established in 2014 by Nandan Reddy, Sriharsha Majety, and Rahul Jaimini, is a highly valuable online food ordering and delivery platform. In early 2019, the company expanded its services to general product deliveries under the name Swiggy Stores. Currently, Swiggy boasts over 5 million mobile application installations.

Zomato

Startup NameZomato
HeadquartersGurgaon, Haryana, India
IndustryOnline food ordering and Retail
FounderDeepinder Goyal, Pankaj Chaddah
Founded2008
InvestorsInfo Edge, Sequoia Capital, Vy Capital, Ant Financial, Baillie Gifford
Products and ServicesRestaurant Search & Discovery, Online Ordering, Table Reservations & Management, POS Systems, Subscription Services
Valuation$8 billion (July 2021)

Zomato, an Indian startup that aggregates restaurants and offers food delivery services, was founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah. The platform provides detailed information, menus, and user reviews of restaurants. Additionally, Zomato offers food delivery options in select cities through its partnered restaurants. Despite the pandemic’s severe impact on individuals and businesses, Zomato, a food delivery unicorn, persevered and thrived.

Freshworks

Startup NameFreshworks
HeadquartersSan Mateo, California, United States
IndustryIT, CRM, Saas
FoundersGirish Mathrubootham, Shan Krishnasamy, Vijay Shankar
Founded2010
InvestorsAccel, Steadview Capital, Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management
Products and ServicesCRM software, Software suite
Valuation$3.5 billion (August 2021)

Freshworks offers innovative customer engagement software designed for businesses of various sizes and industries. The company was founded in Chennai in 2010 and is now headquartered in San Mateo, USA. Its products provide a 360-degree view of customers, and the SaaS products are designed for instant and easy use, providing quick returns on investments.

In July 2018, Freshworks achieved the prestigious unicorn status, becoming the first SaaS startup in India to join the coveted unicorn club. With Freshworks’ customer engagement solutions, increasing customer engagement and retention rates for SaaS companies is now easier than ever before.

Moglix

Startup NameMoglix
HeadquarterIndia
IndustryInternet
FounderRahul Garg
Founded2015
InvestorsTiger Global Management, Composite Capital Management, Sequoia Capital India and Harvard Management Company
Products and ServicesB2B Trade Platform, e-commerce, Mobile, Supply Chain Network
Valuation$2.6 Billion (January 2022)

Moglix is an Asia-based B2B E-commerce company founded by Rahul Garg in 2017. With headquarters in Singapore and head offices in India, the company aims to revolutionize the manufacturing supply chain in the country through digitization and transform the unorganized B2B commerce sector through technology.

Moglix serves the manufacturing sector, institutional clients (B2B), and private clients (B2C) with a focus on the automotive sector, metals and mining, and FMCDs. The platform provides industrial products and services, including safety equipment, electrical and lighting products, cleaning and laundry products, office supplies, and industrial tools, among others. With an inventory of 150,000 industry essentials across 30 categories and 25,000 SME clients, Moglix has established itself as a trusted eCommerce site for industries worldwide, delivering world-class services.

upGrad

Startup NameupGrad
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
IndustryEdtech, E-learning
FounderMayank Kumar, Phalgun Kompalli, Ravijot Chugh, Ronnie Screwvala
Founded2015
InvestorsIIFL, Temasek Holdings
Products and ServicesLearning courses and materials
Valuation$1.2 bn (August 2021)

upGrad is an online coaching program that offers a diverse range of industry-ready courses, including Bachelor’s degrees, MBA, Data Science, Machine Learning, and more, for students seeking higher education. The company partners with some of the top universities in the world to provide its services. Recently, upGrad achieved unicorn status on August 6, 2021, with a $185 million fundraising effort.

MakeMyTrip

Startup NameMakeMyTrip
IndustryOnline travel
FounderDeep Kalra
Founded2000
InvestorsProsus & Nasper, Sierra Ventures, Helion Venture Partners, Helion Venture Partners, Tiger Fund
Products and ServicesBooking tickets for shows, movies, flights, hotels, holidays, buses, trains, etc.

Founded by Deep Kalra in 2000, MakeMyTrip is a top online travel company in India headquartered in Gurgaon. The company provides services such as booking holiday packages, hotel reservations, and transportation tickets, including flights, buses, trains, and cars. MakeMyTrip operates in 14+ cities worldwide with over 30 franchise stores, including 28 cities in India alone. The MakeMyTrip route planner feature allows users to access basic information on over one million routes across India.

Nykaa

Startup NameNykaa
IndustryE-commerce
FounderFalguni Nayar
Founded2012
InvestorsSteadview Capital, Fidelity, TPG Growth, Hero Corporate Service Private Limited
Products and ServicesCosmetics, skin & wellness products, etc.
Valuation$2.3 billion (June 2021)

Nykaa, founded in 2012 by Falguni Nayar, is a leading eCommerce platform specializing in cosmetics. With its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Nykaa has become well-known for its website and app, which offers a wide variety of skin, wellness, and cosmetic products. The company has expanded its reach by opening over 26 offline stores throughout India and achieved Unicorn startup status in 2020. As of 2020, Nykaa offers a vast inventory of 200,000 products from 2000 national and international brands. Notably, Nykaa has also collaborated with Bollywood actresses such as Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif as brand ambassadors.

Policybazaar

Startup NamePolicy Bazaar
IndustryInsurance Company
FounderYashish Dahiya, Alok Bansal and Avaneesh Nirjar
Founded2008
InvestorsIntel Capital, Wellington Management Group, Inventus Capital Partners, Softbank Group True North and IDG Venture Partners
Products and ServicesLife, Health, Motor, travel insurance, etc
Valuation$2.4 billion (July 2021)

Policybazaar, founded in 2008 by Yashish Dahiya, Alok Bansal, and Avaneesh Nirjar, is a highly trusted and popular insurance company in India. It started as an insurance comparison website and expanded its services to include various types of insurance plans such as Life insurance, Health, Motor, and Travel. As the largest insurance company in the country, Policybazaar.com has gained popularity in UAE as well. The company offers both a website and an app, enabling its users to compare financial services from the top insurance providers. Discover how Policy Bazaar achieved impressive growth through its effective marketing strategies.

CoinDCX

Startup NameCoinDCX
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
IndustryCryptocurrency, Blockchain, Fintech
FounderNeeraj Khandelwal, Sumit Gupta
Founded2018
InvestorsB Capital Group, Polychain
Products and ServicesCryptocurrency buying, selling and exchange services
Valuation$2+ billion (April 2022)

CoinDCX, headquartered in Mumbai, is an aggregator of Indian cryptocurrency exchanges that provides specialized crypto-enabled financial services. The company’s goal is to develop financial services that can cross borders and facilitate a more straightforward and uninterrupted flow of capital with robust security measures. In its Series C funding, CoinDCX raised $90 million and became a unicorn, making it India’s first cryptocurrency unicorn.

Pine Labs

Startup NamePine Labs
HeadquartersNoida, Uttar Pradesh, India
IndustryFintech, Financial Services, Payments
FoundersRajul Garg, Tarun Upaday
Founded1998
InvestorsMastercard, Lone Pine Capital, Flipkart, Temasek, Sequoia
Products and ServicesPOS devices and software solutions
Valuation$5+ billion (Marh 2022)

Pine Labs is an Indian merchant platform that offers financing and last-mile retail transaction technology to enable merchants and institutions to receive secure and easy payments through POS apps and devices. In January 2020, Pine Labs partnered with Mastercard, a New York-based financial services giant, and became a unicorn soon after. It was the first company to achieve unicorn status in 2020.

Highradius

Startup NameHighradius
IndustryFintech, AI, Saas, Software
FounderSashi Narahari
Founded2006
InvestorsTiger Global, D1 Capital Partners, ICONIQ and more
Products and ServicesAI-based order-to-cash and treasury management software
Valuation$3.1+ billion (March 2021)

Highradius, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a fintech enterprise software as a service (SaaS) platform that utilizes artificial intelligence and data to manage order to cash (O2C), treasury, and record to report (R2R) processes. It claims to be the world’s leading data-driven AI software platform for “lower DSO, optimize working capital, fast-track financial close, and improve productivity.” In a Series B funding round led by ICONIQ Capital, Highradius raised $125 million at the beginning of 2020, making it India’s first unicorn company in that year. Susquehanna Growth Equity and Citi Ventures, as well as existing investors, participated in the funding round.

Zetwerk

Startup NameZetwerk
HeadquartersBengaluru, Karnataka, India
IndustryB2B, Marketplace, Consumer goods
FoundersAmrit Acharya, Rahul Sharma, Srinath Ramakkrushnan, Vishal Chaudhary
Founded2018
InvestorsIIFL, Accel, Sequoia Capital
Products and ServicesManufacturing and supply chain systems
Valuation$1.33+ bn (December 2021)

Zetwerk is a Bengaluru-based B2B marketplace that specializes in manufacturing items. The platform connects large manufacturing companies with vendors and suppliers to provide various components for industrial tools and machinery. In August 2021, Zetwerk achieved unicorn status, becoming India’s youngest billion-dollar company.

BlackBuck

Startup NameBlackBuck
HeadquartersBangalore, India
IndustryLogistics, Transportation
FoundersChanakya Hridaya, Rajesh Yabaji, Ramasubramaniam B
Founded2015
InvestorsTrifecta Capital Advisors, Sequoia, Accel, InnoVen Capital
Products and ServicesTrucks, logistics and transportation services for shippers and fleet operators
Valuation$1.02 billion (August 2021)

BlackBuck is a truck aggregator that addresses transportation and logistics challenges faced by numerous Indians. It is one of the largest truck aggregators in India, and has the largest trucking network in the country with freight and fleet management technology platforms. In July 2021, BlackBuck entered the unicorn club after securing $67 million in its Series E funding round, valuing the company at $1.02 billion. With over 1.2 million trucks in its fleet, BlackBuck operates in more than 2,000 locations, serving over 15,000 satisfied clients.

Droom

Startup NameDroom
HeadquartersHaryana, India
IndustryAutomotives, B2B, Marketplace
FounderSandeep Aggarwal
Founded2014
InvestorsLightbox, Toyota Tsusho, SevenTrain Ventures, Integrated Capital
Products and ServicesMarketplace for used cars, bikes, scooters and other merchandise
Valuation$1.2 billion(August 2021)

Droom is a leading online marketplace that specializes in used cars, bikes, scooters, and various other automotive products and merchandise. Utilizing advanced data science technology, Droom enables customers to buy and sell automobiles and related products with ease.

With a massive inventory of 600K automobiles, Droom commands a dominant 80% market share in online automobile transactions. As India’s largest online automobile platform, Droom is also recognized as one of the country’s biggest E-commerce companies.

OfBusiness

Startup NameOfBusiness
HeadquartersHaryana, India
IndustryBuilding Materials, FinTech
FoundersAsish Mohapatra, Bhuvan Gupta, Chandranshu Sinha, Nitin Jain, Ruchi Kalra, Srinath Ramakkrushnan, Vasant Sridhar
Founded2015
InvestorsFalcon Edge Capital, Softbank, Matrix Partners
Products and ServicesRaw materials for SMEs
Valuation$5+ billion (December 2021)

OfBusiness, also known as OFB Tech, is a platform that procures raw materials and offers credit to SMEs, with a primary focus on the manufacturing and construction industries. Using advanced technology, OfBusiness seamlessly integrates with the purchasing habits of SMEs to provide superior products at competitive prices and within the required timelines.

ShareChat

Startup NameShareChat
HeadquarterBangalore, India
IndustryInternet, Mobile Apps, Social Media, Social Network
FounderAnkush Sachdeva, Bhanu Pratap Singh, and Faris Ahsan
Founded2015
InvestorsLightspeed Venture Partners, Tiger Global Management, Twitter Ventures, SAIF Partners, Shunwei Capital, and Xiaomi
Products and ServicesSocial Networking and Regional Contents
Valuation$3.7 Billion (December 2021)

ShareChat is a social networking service for video sharing developed by Mohalla Tech Private Limited in 2015. The company was founded by Ankush Sachdeva, Bhanu Pratap Singh, and Farid Ahsan and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

ShareChat App is a content consumption and sharing platform exclusively in Indian vernacular languages, catering to over 1.17 billion wifi users in India. The app allows users to share different types of media, messaging, tagging, and user-generated content creation on its platform. ShareChat has over 50 million creator communities and 400+ employees. The company raised $500 million from investors, increasing its valuation to $3 billion.

Verse Innovation

Startup NameVerSe Innovation
IndustryContent, Technology, Social Media, Internet
FoundersUmang Bedi, Virendra Gupta
Founded2007
InvestorsGoogle, Sequoia Capital, Microsoft, ByteDance, B Capital and more
Products and ServicesPowers Josh, Dailyhunt with technological support and expertise
Valuation$5 billion (April 2021)

VerSe Innovation, based in Bengaluru, is the parent company of Dailyhunt, the top vernacular news aggregator. The company is a local language technology platform that powers two of India’s leading applications, Josh and Dailyhunt, with an impressive user base of over 300 million.

In December 2020, VerSe Innovation raised nearly $100 million from a group of investors, including Google, Microsoft, Falcon Edge’s Alpha Wave Incubation, Sequoia Capital India, and Sofina Group, among others, making it a member of India’s coveted unicorn club. In 2020, VerSe became the 10th Indian startup to reach unicorn status.

PharmEasy

Startup NamePharmEasy
IndustryHealthcare and Online Pharmacy
FounderMikhil Innani, Dharmil Sheth and Dhaval Shah
Founded2015
InvestorsB Capital, Prosus, Temasek, Think Investments, Tiger Global, A Velumani, etc.
Products and ServicesOnline pharmacy services, medicines, healthcare products, diagnostic test, etc.
Valuation$5.6 billion (JuOctoberne 2021)

PharmEasy, a Mumbai-based online healthcare delivery platform, was established in 2015 by Mikhil Innani, Dharmil Sheth, and Dhaval Shah. The company has become India’s foremost online healthcare aggregator, with headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. PharmEasy facilitates the sale of medicines online and helps patients find the nearest local pharmacy and diagnostic center based on their medical requirements. The platform offers medicine delivery services in more than 1,000 cities and across 22,000 pin codes. PharmEasy has delivered over 1.5 crore orders and offers over one lakh medicines on its website.

MyGlamm

Startup NameMyGlamm
IndustryCosmetics, Beauty, Marketplace
FounderDarpan Sanghvi, Priyanka Gill
Founded2015
InvestorsProsus, Warburg, Trifecta, Amazon and more
Products and ServicesBeauty and cosmetics products marketplace
Valuation$1.2+ billion (November 2021)

MyGlamm is a Mumbai-based D2C beauty and cosmetics startup that offers an e-commerce marketplace with a diverse range of products for stylists, beauticians, and other users. By combining technology with content and social media, MyGlamm aims to help customers easily shop for their preferred products while also gaining personalized tutorials and expert content.

In November 2021, MyGlamm achieved unicorn status after raising $150 million in funding from Prosus Ventures and other investors. The company became the 34th Indian startup to attain unicorn status in 2021 and the 76th Indian company overall to enter the exclusive club of unicorn companies in India.

CRED

Startup NameCRED
IndustryFinancial Technology
FounderKunal Shah
Founded2018
InvestorsFalcon Edge Capital, Coatue Mnagement LLP, Insight Partners, Tiger Global, RTP Global, DST Global, Greenoaks Capital, etc.
Products and ServicesRentpay, CRED Stash, Store, Credit Card Payments and Cred Pay
Valuation$2.2 billion (April 2021)

CRED, a fintech startup founded by Kunal Shah in 2018, is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The company’s app allows users to pay credit card bills and earn rewards. Additionally, CRED offers access to credit and a premium catalog of products from top brands. The platform has over 5.9 million users and has processed about 20% of all credit card bill payments in India. CRED’s services include CRED RentPay, CRED Cash, CRED Pay, CRED Store, and CRED Travel Store. The company’s business model is dependent on the app, its customers, and its partnerships with other businesses.

Meesho

Startup NameMeesho
IndustryE-commerce
FounderVidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal
Founded2015
InvestorsSoftbank, Facebook, Prosus Ventures, Shunwei Capital, venture highway and Knollwood Investment
Products and ServicesClothes, cosmetics, household items, etc
Valuation$4.9 billion (September 2021)

Meesho, a Bengaluru-based social e-commerce company founded in 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, offers a platform for small and medium businesses and individuals to launch their online stores via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company also provides an online reselling website and app, enabling people to sell their products without any upfront investments. With 2.6 million resellers across the country, Meesho became a unicorn on April 6, 2021, after raising $300 million in a funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank Group. To learn more about Meesho’s business and revenue model, click here.

Urban Company

Startup NameUrban Company
IndustryHome Services
FounderAbhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan and Raghav Chandra
Founded2014
InvestorsProsus Ventures, Dragoneer, Wellington Management, Vy Capital, Tiger Global, and Steadview
Products and Servicesprofessionals for cleaning, beauticians, masseurs, carpenters, etc
Valuation$2.8 billion (June 2021)

Urban Company is an all-in-one platform that connects users with professionals for a range of home services, making it the largest company in Asia to do so. With headquarters located in Gurgaon, the platform offers services such as home cleaning, beauty treatments, massages, and carpentry. Founded in 2014 by Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra, Urban Company has served over 5 million customers in India, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, and Singapore. It has also become the UAE’s largest home services company. Learn about Urban Company’s business model and marketing strategies here.

Infra.Market

Startup NameInfra.Market
IndustryBuilding material
FounderSouvik Sengupta
Founded2016
InvestorsNexus Venture Partners, Foundamental, Tiger Global, Accel Partner
Products and ServicesConstruction Materials, Infrastructure, and Heavy Equipment Rental
Valuation$2.5 billion (August 2021)

Infra.Market is a leading online procurement marketplace that leverages technology to provide an exceptional procurement experience for the real estate and construction materials industry. The company, founded in 2016 by Souvik Sengupta, is headquartered in Thane, Maharashtra. Infra.Market specializes in manufacturing construction materials, infrastructure, and heavy equipment rental for all sectors of the construction ecosystem, catering to both institutional customers and the construction materials sector to build their projects. In February 2021, Infra.Market became a unicorn company after raising $100 million in funding.

Unicorn of India- Flipkart Success Story

What is a unicorn startup?

A unicorn startup refers to a privately-held startup company with a valuation of over $1 billion. These companies are often considered rare and exceptional due to their rapid growth and potential for high returns.

How many unicorn startups are there in India?

As of 2022, there are several unicorn startups in India. The exact number can vary as new companies achieve unicorn status and others may lose their status over time.

Which are the top unicorn startups in India?

Some of the top unicorn startups in India include Flipkart, OYO Rooms, Swiggy, Paytm, BYJU’S, Zomato, and many others. These companies have achieved significant success and garnered substantial investments.

What sectors do unicorn startups in India operate in?

Unicorn startups in India operate across various sectors, including e-commerce, food delivery, fintech, edtech, healthtech, transportation, and more. These startups are disrupting traditional industries and driving innovation.

How do unicorn startups impact the Indian economy?

Unicorn startups play a vital role in driving economic growth and creating job opportunities in India. They attract significant investments, foster technological advancements, and contribute to the overall development of the startup ecosystem.

How can I invest in unicorn startups in India?

Investing in unicorn startups in India typically requires participation as a venture capitalist, angel investor, or through specialized investment platforms. It’s important to conduct thorough research, evaluate risks, and seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.

Are unicorn startups guaranteed success?

While unicorn startups have achieved substantial valuations, success is not guaranteed for every company. Startups face various challenges, including market competition, scalability, profitability, and regulatory hurdles. It’s crucial for these companies to maintain innovation, adaptability, and sustainable growth strategies.

What is the future outlook for unicorn startups in India?

The future outlook for unicorn startups in India is promising, given the country’s growing digital landscape, expanding consumer base, and supportive government initiatives. These startups are expected to continue driving innovation, creating employment opportunities, and contributing to India’s economic growth.