News on Medial

Exclusive: Seekho app set to raise $8-10 Mn from Lightspeed and Elevation

EntrackrEntrackr · 9m ago
Exclusive: Seekho app set to raise $8-10 Mn from Lightspeed and Elevation
Medial

Learning-focused OTT platform Seekho is in the advanced stages of raising up to $10 million in a new funding round, according to sources familiar with the matter. This marks a consecutive round of funding for the Bengaluru-based company within a span of less than 18 months. “Seekho is looking to raise $8-10 million in Series A round, with Lightspeed and Elevation leading the investment,” said a source on condition of anonymity. It raised $3 million from Elevation and other investors in March of last year. Launched in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho helps people gain new skills and knowledge. It offers a variety of courses to prepare learners for jobs in different fields including parenting, share market, Instagram, and education, among others. Designed for tier II and beyond, its educational content includes concise 2-5 minute videos. These videos are structured in episodic series, providing valuable insights without overwhelming the audience. Seekho offers monthly and weekly subscription plans. “The terms of the deal have been finalized, and if nothing goes wrong at the last moment, the transaction will be executed soon,” said another source who wished to remain anonymous. “Seekho will be valued at around $45 million as two investors are looking to acquire 20% of the company.” Elevation Capital’s confidence in the three-year-old startup Seekho is evident from its decision to co-lead the new round. According to the VC firm, around 30% of Seekho users have opted for annual plans, suggesting that the platform’s popularity is not just a fleeting trend. Queries sent to Seekho, Elevation and Lightspeed did not elicit an immediate response. We’ll update the post in case they do. As per startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Elevation Capital acquired nearly 24% stake in the company after Series A round. All three co-founders have 16.65% stake each.

Related News

Exclusive: Seekho set to raise $25 Mn, hits $4 Mn monthly revenue

EntrackrEntrackr · 3m ago
Exclusive: Seekho set to raise $25 Mn, hits $4 Mn monthly revenue
Medial

Exclusive: Seekho set to raise $25 Mn, hits $4 Mn monthly revenue Established in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho is a platform that helps individuals build skills and knowledge through short-term courses. Learning-focused over the top (OTT) platform Seekho is raising another round to the tune of $25-30 million, sources aware of the development told Entrackr. The Bengaluru-based startup scooped up $8 million back in December 2024. “Bessemer is in late-stage talks to lead a $25–30 million round in Seekho OTT, with participation from existing investors such as Lightspeed and Elevation,” one of the sources said. “The investment discussions follow the company’s strong performance in user engagement and revenue growth.” Established in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho is a platform that helps individuals build skills and knowledge through short-term courses. It prepares users for careers in areas such as parenting, stock trading, Instagram growth, and education. The platform targets tier-II cities and beyond, delivering content through short, episodic videos lasting two to five minutes. So far, Seekho has raised $11 million across two rounds from Lightspeed, Elevation, PointOne Capital, Sprout Investment, AngelList, Succeed and several angel investors such as Gaurav Munjal, Anupam Mittal, Alok Mittal, Harsh Daga, Abhinav Daga, Hemant Goteti and Zishaan Hayath. “Seekho is currently generating an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $45-50 million, with monthly revenues in the range of $4-4.5 million (Rs 35–40 crore),” said another source. The person added that the company is expected to be valued at around $120–130 million post-money. The person added that the company is expected to be valued at around $120–130 million post-money. To be sure, the terms and contours of the deal could change at the last moment. Queries sent to Seekho, Bessemer, Lightspeed and Elevation did not elicit response until publication of the story. For the fiscal year ending in March 2024, five-year-old Seekho registered Rs 11.5 crore in revenue with Rs 4.6 crore losses. Investor interest in Seekho is evident as the company continues to show swift growth with deep markets — tier II, III, and even tier I cities — still to tap. The platform’s short video format is resonating well with Gen Z audiences, who prefer engaging with videos over traditional reading materials. Seekho appears to have found a strong product-market fit with a large market to serve. Its growth also highlights the presence of white spaces in the edtech sector, which has otherwise been going through a difficult and boring phase.

Seekho app raises $8 Mn in Series A led by Lightspeed

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
Seekho app raises $8 Mn in Series A led by Lightspeed
Medial

Learning-focused OTT platform Seekho has raised $8 million in its Series A round, with Lightspeed leading the investment, according to a LinkedIn post by the company’s founder and CEO, Rohit Choudhary. The round also saw participation from Elevation Capital. Previously, the Bengaluru-based startup raised $3 million from Elevation and other investors in March of last year. Entrackr exclusively reported about the deal in September. “This is a testament to the trust our users, team, and investors place in us as we build India's go-to short video platform for Lifelong Learning,” said Choudhary via Linkedin post. While the company did not provide many details about the round, it was expected to be valued at around $45 million. Founded in 2020 by Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho helps individuals acquire new skills and knowledge. The platform offers a variety of courses to prepare learners for careers in fields such as parenting, the stock market, Instagram, and education, among others. Targeting audiences in tier-II cities and beyond, Seekho delivers educational content through short 2-5 minute videos in episodic series. The platform provides flexible subscription plans, with weekly and monthly options starting at Rs 149. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Elevation Capital acquired nearly a 24% stake in the company after the pre-Series A round. All three co-founders held 16.65% stake each as of that round. As per Entrackr's sources, Seekho is expected to dilute 20% of its equity in the Series A financing round.

Exclusive: Ex-ShareChat CXO Shashank Shekhar’s new startup to raise $4 Mn led by Peak XV

EntrackrEntrackr · 3d ago
Exclusive: Ex-ShareChat CXO Shashank Shekhar’s new startup to raise $4 Mn led by Peak XV
Medial

Exclusive: Ex-ShareChat CXO Shashank Shekhar’s new startup to raise $4 Mn led by Peak XV Shashank Shekhar, a former head of content strategy and operations at ShareChat, is raising $4 million for his new startup focused on AI-led learning, according to two sources familiar with the development. “Peak XV Partners is leading the round with participation from a few early-stage institutional and angel investors,” said one of the sources requesting anonymity. “Shekhar has been quietly building this for the last few months and has early prototypes in place.” According to sources, the startup is currently in stealth and is expected to go live later this year. While details remain limited, its model draws similarities to Seekho, a career-focused learning platform. Entrackr recently reported that Seekho is in talks to raise $25-30 million. Shekhar was Head of Content at ShareChat between December 2016 and May 2018. He then co-founded the hyperlocal information platform Circle Internet, which was acquired by ShareChat in August 2020. Following the acquisition, he served as Head of Content Strategy and Operations at the Google-backed company until his resignation in March this year. “The round is expected to close in the coming weeks. The startup is likely to use the capital to expand its AI and product team, continue development and prepare for an initial rollout,” said another source. The startup’s name could not be confirmed. Queries sent to Shekhar and Peak XV did not elicit a response until the time of publication. While Shekhar’s startup will be the first direct rival to Seekho, platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram offer indirect competition through creator-led educational content aimed at the same audience.

Exclusive: 60-min fashion delivery startup Slikk to raise $10 Mn led by Nexus

EntrackrEntrackr · 4m ago
Exclusive: 60-min fashion delivery startup Slikk to raise $10 Mn led by Nexus
Medial

Exclusive: 60-min fashion delivery startup Slikk to raise $10 Mn led by Nexus Slikk, a fashion delivery platform promising 60-minute delivery, is all set to raise another funding round following its recent seed investment, sources familiar with the matter told Entrackr. "Nexus is spearheading a $10 million funding round at a $40 million valuation," said one of the sources. "The deal has already been finalized, and existing investors are expected to participate." On Tuesday, Slikk announced $3.2 million seed round led by Lightspeed with participation from Multiply Ventures and angel investors including Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Abhinav Pathak (Perpule), Madhav Tandan, Nikhil (Panthera), and Saurabh Gupta (DST Global). Slikk targets young, impulse-driven shoppers, including students, professionals, and trend-savvy urbanites influenced by social media. Over the next five years, it plans to expand into tier I and tier II cities, offering 60-minute fashion delivery while diversifying into seven-plus lifestyle categories. The startup features more than 80 brands, including Snitch, The Souled Store, Freakins, Uptownie, Off Duty, Bonkers, and Bewakoof. "Quick commerce is trending, and investors have recently shown strong interest in the fashion segment. With Myntra introducing a 30-minute delivery service for fashion and beauty products, more startups are likely to follow suit and seek funding,” said another source. Slikk declined to comment on the story while queries sent to Nexus did not elicit an immediate response.

Exclusive: SriMandir’s parent AppsForBharat in talks to raise $15-20 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Exclusive: SriMandir’s parent AppsForBharat in talks to raise $15-20 Mn
Medial

AppsForBharat, the parent company of devotional app SriMandir, is in talks to raise a new round from new and existing investors, according to three people aware of the development. “AppsForBharat is in late-stage discussion with three new investors to raise $15-20 million,” said one of the sources requesting anonymity. “An Indian growth stage fund and a Singapore-based investor are in the race to lead the round.” Sources outline that the Bengaluru-based growth stage fund has backed companies including Spinny, Pharmeasy, FarEye and Probo. The Bengaluru-based startup had scooped up $10 million Series A in September 2021 and $4 million Seed round in August. As per sources, AppsForBharat is seeking a valuation of close to $100 million. “Existing investors including Peak XV and Elevation will also join the round on a pro-rata basis. The contours of the deal are being chalked out and the deal is likely to materialize later this month,” said another source who also wished not to be named as discussions are private. Queries sent to AppsForBharat didn’t elicit any response. AppsForBharat’s flagship product SriMandir allows users to create their personalized shrines, consume devotional content, connect with prayer groups, and access a large library of spiritual texts, scriptures and videos. Users can also consult with astrologers and priests. It claims to have over 10 million downloads since its inception in 2021. AppsForBharat’s long list of investors includes Peak XV, BEENEXT, Matrix Partners and angels such as Scott Schleifer, Ankush Sachdeva, Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh, Utsav Somani, Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, Kunal Shah and Sai Srinivas. AppsForBharat registered Rs 3.53 crore in revenue with Rs 45 crore loss in FY23, according to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible. The firm is expected to post a better result in the last fiscal year (FY24). It competes with DevDham, Utsav App, Sutradhar, and 27 Mantra. As per data compiled by TheKredible, astro and spiritual tech startups have raised around $25 million in the past 12 months. Besides Ustav App and DevDham, InstaAstro, AstroTalk, Vama, and Melooha also raised decent funding during the period.

Exclusive: Data Sutram to raise $10-12 Mn led by Lightspeed and B Capital

EntrackrEntrackr · 5m ago
Exclusive: Data Sutram to raise $10-12 Mn led by Lightspeed and B Capital
Medial

Exclusive: Data Sutram to raise $10-12 Mn led by Lightspeed and B Capital B2B SaaS company Data Sutram is in advanced stages of securing $10-12 million in a new funding round, according to sources familiar with the development. The new round is coming within 15 months for the Mumbai-based startup. “Lightspeed Venture Partners and B Capital are leading the new round in Data Sutram as the deal is expected to close soon,” said one of the sources. “Existing investors will also participate.” Founded in 2018 by Rajit Bhattacharya, Aisik Paul, and Ankit Das, Data Sutram’s proprietary AI and ML-driven data engine automatically converts raw unstructured data from satellites, mobile phones, POS machines, and several other sources. Its product suite—Find, Authenticate, and Grow—has gained significant traction among major banks, NBFCs, and fintechs worldwide. The company asserts that its data insights drive a 3X boost in sales, reduce fraud cases by 45%, and enhance customer lifetime value (CLTV) by 1.5X. In September 2023, Data Sutram secured $3 million in funding, led by Singularity Growth Fund and other investors. Earlier, in February 2022, the company raised $2.07 million in a funding round spearheaded by Varanium Capital and Yatra Angel Network. As per sources, Data Sutram is looking for a valuation of $60-70 million (post money). Queries sent to Data Sutram, Lightspeed and B Capital remained unanswered until publication of the story. For the fiscal year ended in March 2024 (FY24), Data Sutram reported Rs 5.6 crore in revenue with a loss of Rs 10.8 crore.

Exclusive: Durlabh Darshan set to raise $2 Mn led by Prime VP

EntrackrEntrackr · 1m ago
Exclusive: Durlabh Darshan set to raise $2 Mn led by Prime VP
Medial

Exclusive: Durlabh Darshan set to raise $2 Mn led by Prime VP Spiritual startup Durlabh Darshan is set to raise $2 million in its first institutional funding round, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Bhopal-based company will join a growing list of startups in the spiritual tech space that have secured funding in recent years. “Prime Venture Partners is in late-stage talks to lead a new funding round in Durlabh Darshan,” said one of the sources, requesting anonymity. “The terms of the deal have been finalised.” Earlier in 2022, Durlabh Darshan had raised Rs 7.45 crore from individual investors, including Saurav Jindal, Deepak Garg, Gaurav Raizada, Jasvir Singh, and Nitesh Gupta, according to regulatory filings. Founded in 2024 by Prashan Kumar Mishra, Durlabh Darshan creates 3D 360° darshan journeys of major Hindu temples and rituals—such as Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, and Vaishno Devi in Katra. According to the company’s website, its journey began with a patent for a low-cost XR controller for smartphones. The company offers Durlabh Darshan Kendras—physical centers in temple towns—and online services that provide VR headset sessions and home-viewing kits, with bookings available for in-person VR shows like the Bhasma Aarti in Ujjain or home sessions starting at Rs 150–250. As per sources, Durlabh Darshan will be valued at under $10 million post money. Entrackr has reached out to Prime VP and Durlabh Darshan for comments. Its competitors include Temple 360, Who VR, and the Pilgrimage Tour app. Data from TheKredible reveals that startups in the astro and spiritual tech sector, including AstroTalk, Vama, Ustav App, DevDham, InstaAstro, and Melooha, have collectively raised more than $75 million over the past two and a half years. The sector also saw consolidation, as BrahmVeda acquired Vedvaani and Melooha took over Munitalks.

Download the medial app to read full posts, comements and news.