Indian startup ecosystem is bustling with new startups every day, growing on the back of rising venture capital interest. With the rise in the number of startups, love has found its way, in the form of couples venturing out to build successful businesses.
Here is a list of top 20 successful startups founded by Indian couples:
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Chumbak
Bengaluru-based design-led lifestyle brand Chumbak was founded by Vivek Prabhakar, along with his wife Subhra Chadda in 2010. The brand offers a range of products across categories including apparel, bags, dining, decor, beauty, and gifting, through both online and offline channels.
In November 2017, Chumbak raised ₹85 crore in a venture funding round led by Gaja Capital.
Cashkaro
Gurugram-based coupon and cashback platform Cashkaro was founded by two London School of Economics alumni turned life partners Swati Bhargava and Rohan Bhargava in 2013. The platform enables customers to save money through coupons and cashbacks while shopping on online retailers like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Jabong, and Yatra.
In January 2016, Cashkaro raised an undisclosed amount of funds from Ratan Tata. Earlier in November 2015, the startup raised $3.8 million in a series A funding round led by Kalaari Capital.
Mad Street Den
India and US-based computer vision and AI startup Mad Street Den was founded by Ashwini Asokan, along with her husband Anand Chandrashekran in 2013. The startup’s primary product is Vue.ai, an artificial intelligence and image recognition platform for the apparel industry.
In September 2018, Mad Den Street raised an undisclosed amount of funds from KDDI. It also counts GrowX Venture Management, Exfinity Venture Partners, Array Ventures, and Sequoia Capital India, among its investors.
WedMeGood
Gurugram-based wedding planning startup WedMeGood was founded by a husband-wife duo Anand Shahani and Mehak Sagar in 2014. The startup provides a comprehensive wedding platform offering services like the venue, photographers, makeup artists, decorations, catering, and DJs.
In September 2015, WedMeGood raised ₹2.7 crore in a seed funding round through the Indian Angel Network.
POSist
New Delhi-based Point of Sale solutions provider POSist was founded by Ashish Tulsian, along with his wife Sakshi Tulsian in 2011. It provides a comprehensive restaurant management platform helping food businesses to manage functions like Billing, CRM, Inventory Control, Recipe and Wastage Management, Centralized Menu Management, Vendor Management and more.
The startup serves over 5,000 customers in more than 100 cities spread across six countries.
Gigstart
New Delhi-based online party planning startup Gigstart was founded by a married couple Atit Jain and Madhulika Pandey in 2013. The startup provides a marketplace to connect entertainers with party planners in a transparent manner. The platform claims to have more than 4,000 artists across 16 categories for different occasions.
In August 2016, Gigstart was acquired by Kwan Entertainment & Marketing Solutions. The couple exited from Gigstart and moved on to their next venture Pluss App, which was later acquired by Netmeds.
Fullonwedding
Bengaluru-based online wedding planning startup Fullonwedding was founded by Khushbu Jagwani, along with her life partner Shalabh Jhalawad and her brother Himanshu Jagwani in 2016. The startup offers a wide range of wedding services like venue search, design & decor, and wedding management.
In April 2018, Fullonwedding raised an undisclosed amount of funds from a clutch of high net-worth individuals.
MobiKwik
Gurugram-based digital payments startup MobiKwik was founded by IIT Delhi graduate Bipin Preet Singh, along with his wife Upasana Taku in 2009. The startup provides a platform to enable users to recharge and pay bills for mobiles, electricity, transfer money, and book bus tickets, among a number of other services.
In August 2017, MobiKwik raised $35.4 million in a series D round from Bajaj Finserv Limited. Till date, the startup has raised over $100 million, across all funding rounds, according to Crunchbase.
BankBazaar
Chennai-based fintech startup BankBazaar was founded by Adhil Shetty, along with his brother Arjun Shetty and his wife Rati Shetty in 2008. It helps consumers to compare offers across various banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) for products such as credit and debit cards, loans, savings and investment products, and insurance.
In October 2017, BankBazaar raised ₹191 crore in a series D funding round from Experian. The startup has raised over $100 million across all funding rounds, according to Crunchbase. It also counts Amazon, Sequoia Capital India, Eight Roads Ventures, among its investors.
TutorVista
Bengaluru-based edtech startup TutorVista was founded by the Husband-Wife duo Krishnan Ganesh and Meena Ganesh in 2005. It provides an online platform to offer quality online tutoring to students at affordable prices. Apart from tutoring, it also provides test prep help, homework help, supplemental tutoring and expert assistance before tests and exams.
Earlier in July 2017, TutorVista was acquired by the Indian edtech giant Byju’s.
According to Crunchbase, TutorVista has raised more than $100 million across all funding rounds.
SmartVizX
Noida-based virtual reality (VR) startup SmartVizX was founded by the husband-wife duo of Gautam Tewari and Tithi Tewari in 2015. The startup offers VR solutions to enable design visualization, interaction, communication and collaboration in an intuitive and immersive environment.
In July 2018, SmartVizX raised ₹10 crore in a pre-series A funding led by YourNest Venture Capital and Indian Angel Network’s IAN Fund.
BabyOye
Mumbai-based online marketplace for baby care products BabyOye was founded by Sanjay Nadkarni, along with his wife Arunima Singhdeo. The marketplace offers a wide range of products across categories like pregnancy care, infant-care, and mother care.
In October 2016, BabyOye was acquired by online babycare startup FirstCry in a deal worth $54 million.
Impact Guru
Mumbai-based crowdfunding platform Impact Guru was founded by Piyush Jain, along with his wife Khushboo Jain in 2014. It provides complete crowdfunding solutions to empower individuals, NGOs and social enterprises to raise funds for medical emergencies, personal needs, creative projects or any social cause.
In May 2018, ImpactGuru raised $2 million in a series A funding round from Apollo Hospitals Enterprise.
Thrillophilia
Bengaluru-based adventure travel company Thrillophilia was founded by Chitra Gurnani Daga, along with her husband Abhishek Daga in 2009. The company offers more than 10,000 curated travel experiences to its customers across over 25 countries.
In October 2015, Thrillophilia raised an undisclosed amount of funds in a round led by NuVentures. It also counts Hyderabad Angels, Peepul Capital, Mu Sigma, Navlok Ventures, and CIIE IIM Ahmedabad, among its investors.
Menstrupedia
Ahmedabad-based women-focused online platform Menstrupedia was founded by Aditi Gupta, along with her husband Tuhin Paul and Rajat Mittal in 2012. The platform is focused on promoting safe women health and hygiene by delivering informative and entertaining content through different media.
AapKaPainter
Bengaluru-based online painting solutions provider AapKaPainter was founded by the Husband-Wife duo Anupam Singh Chauhan and Divya Raghavan in 2015. The startup connects homeowners with design consultants and painters, through its technology platform to make painting homes and offices a hassle-free experience.
The startup is currently operational in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune.
CultureAlley
Jaipur-based edtech startup CultureAlley was founded by Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies alumnus Pranshu Bhandari and Nishant Patni, in 2012. The startup provides a technology platform to enable individuals to learn English, using their regional language.
In July 2015, CultureAlley raised $6.5 million in series A funding round led by Tiger Global Management, along with participation from Kae Capital and 500 Startups, according to Crunchbase.
ShopClues
Gurugram-based e-commerce startup was founded by the husband and wife duo of Sandeep Aggarwal and Radhika Aggarwal, along with Sanjay Sethi in 2011. It provides an online marketplace for customers to shop across various categories like clothing, mobile, electronics, sports, and kitchen.
The e-commerce startup has tried to distance itself from Sandeep Aggarwal, post his arrest in 2013. Sandeep Aggarwal moved on to his new venture Droom, an online marketplace for pre-owned cars, while his estranged wife Radhika continues to head ShopClues, as its Chief Business Officer.
In August 2018, ShopClues raised ₹110 crore in a funding round from Matrix Partners India, Unilazer Ventures, and GIC.
Mu Sigma
Bengaluru-based data analytics startup Mu Sigma was founded by Ambiga Subramanian, along with her husband Dhiraj Rajaram in 2004. The startup offers data analytics services and decision support system tools to many big companies around the globe. Major analytics tools offered by the company to its clients include muOBI, muUniverse, muPDNA, and muDSC.
In 2016, Dhiraj Rajaram took over as CEO from his estranged wife, after their divorce. While the founder couple split, Mu Sigma continues on its growth journey.
Till date, Mu Sigma has raised over $200 million across various funding rounds, according to Crunchbase. The startup also counts Sequoia Capital India, MasterCard, and General Atlantic, among its investors.