Startup Funding Round (Aug 23–29): Investors Ventures Leads The Week
India’s startup ecosystem continues to demonstrate resilience and dynamism, with fresh capital pouring into companies across financial services, housing finance, and lifestyle segments.
Meenu Rapria. 
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.
