Investor Spotlight : Top Startup Funding Deals (August 23–29)

India’s startup ecosystem continues to demonstrate resilience and dynamism, with fresh capital pouring into companies across financial services, housing finance, and lifestyle segments.

Investor Spotlight : Top Startup Funding Deals (August 23–29)
Investor Spotlight : Top Startup Funding Deals (August 23–29)

The week saw innovative ventures—ranging from digital banking infrastructure to jewelry brands for millennials—secure sizeable funding, reaffirming investor confidence in the country’s entrepreneurial growth story.Below are the top deals from August 23–29:

Vistaar Financial Services – Empowering MSMEs

Inception Year: 2010

Founders: Brahmanand Hegde, Ramakrishna Nishtala

Headquarters: Bengaluru

Funding Raised: USD 164 Million

Investors: Motilal Oswal Alternates, ABC Impact, and others

Vistaar Financial Services continues to play a pivotal role in enabling financial inclusion. Catering to micro, small, and medium enterprises—ranging from shopkeepers to home-based businesses—the company’s secured lending model ensures underserved entrepreneurs gain access to organized credit. This latest funding underscores its growing influence at the grassroots level.

TransBnk – Reimagining Transaction Banking

Inception Year: 2022

Founders: Vaibhav Tambe, Lavin Kotian, Sachin Gupta, Pulak Jain

Headquarters: Mumbai

Funding Raised: USD 25 Million

Investors: Bessemer Venture Partners, Arkam Ventures, Fundamentum Partnership, 8i Ventures, Accion Venture Labs, GMO Venture Partners

TransBnk is building the backbone of modern transaction banking with API-led solutions for escrow management, reconciliation, and cash flow automation. By offering “escrow-as-a-service,” it is simplifying operations for startups, lenders, and enterprises, cementing its position as a vital player in India’s digital-first economy.

Kiwi – Credit Meets UPI

Inception Year: 2022

Founders: Siddharth Mehta, Mohit Bedi, Anup Agrawal

Headquarters: Bengaluru

Funding Raised: USD 24 Million

Investors: Vertex Ventures SEA & India, Nexus Venture Partners, Stellaris Venture Partners, Omidyar Network

At the intersection of UPI adoption and credit access, Kiwi is bridging two financial ecosystems. Its integration of RuPay credit cards with UPI allows consumers to transact seamlessly while enjoying rewards and flexible credit features. With EMI options and new add-ons in the pipeline, Kiwi is poised to tap into India’s growing digital payments market.

Altum Credo Home Finance – Democratizing Housing Loans

Inception Year: 2016

Founders: Vikrant Bhagwat, Ganesh Rao, Ashish Tewari

Headquarters: Pune

Funding Raised: USD 19.5 Million

Investor: British International Investment (BII)

Altum Credo Home Finance is addressing one of India’s most pressing needs—affordable housing finance. Focused on low-income and first-time homebuyers, it provides flexible loans ranging from INR 4–40 lakh, enabling urban and semi-urban households to achieve home ownership.

CredRight – Phygital NBFC for Micro Enterprises

Inception Year: 2016

Founders: Neeraj Bansal, Vineet Jawa

Headquarters: Hyderabad

Funding Raised: USD 10 Million

Investors: Abler Nordic, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Unleash Capital

CredRight combines physical presence with digital lending to extend credit access to India’s micro-entrepreneurs. By leveraging alternate data and machine learning for faster disbursals, the NBFC is empowering shopkeepers and traders who traditionally lack formal credit histories.

Palmonas – Modern Jewelry for Millennials

Inception Year: 2022

Founders: Pallavi Mohadikar, Dr. Amol Patwari; joined by Shraddha Kapoor as Co-founder in 2023

Headquarters: Pune

Funding Raised: USD 6.6 Million

Investor: Vertex Ventures SEA & India

Palmonas is reshaping India’s jewelry market with its demi-fine collections—crafted from sterling silver, stainless steel, and 18K gold plating. Positioned between high-end luxury and affordable accessories, the brand offers durable, stylish pieces that resonate with modern, everyday wearers.

This week’s funding activity reflects the sheer breadth of India’s entrepreneurial vision. From fintech players enabling seamless credit and banking access, to financial inclusion through housing and MSME lending, and even lifestyle ventures catering to aspirational consumers, startups continue to attract robust backing from both domestic and global investors.With innovation at its core and capital at its side, India’s startup ecosystem is steadily building pillars of long-term growth and impact.