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Wiom Raises USD 40 Mn to Expand Affordable Internet Across Rural India
Wiom Raises USD 40 Mn to Expand Affordable Internet Across Rural India

Entrepreneur

time27-06-2025

  • Business
  • Entrepreneur

Wiom Raises USD 40 Mn to Expand Affordable Internet Across Rural India

The round was led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Accel, with participation from Prosus, Promaft Partners, and RTP Global. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Delhi-based internet services company Wiom has raised USD 40 million in a fresh funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Accel, with participation from Prosus, Promaft Partners, and RTP Global. The funding will be used to scale its product offering, hire more talent in technology and operations, and expand to under-connected towns and rural districts across India. Wiom, previously known as i2e1, was founded in 2015 and rebranded in 2021. The company offers an innovative, asset-light internet distribution platform that allows individuals and small Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to resell home broadband as sachet-sized internet packs, starting at just INR 5. Through this model, users can share their broadband connection and earn money, often reducing or eliminating their own internet bills. "We bring down the cost of internet access by 40-60%. In some cases, it's entirely free for the host," said Satyam Darmora, one of Wiom's co-founders. Customers benefit from a pay-as-you-go model, bypassing the financial burden of upfront broadband payments. Wiom functions as India's largest licensed Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) under the PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme, aiming to bridge the digital divide in underserved regions. The company partners with around 100 regional ISPs, primarily in tier II and III towns and villages, especially across Uttar Pradesh and Eastern India. Its proprietary software, embedded in home routers, enables nearby users to connect through a login portal—similar to hotel Wi-Fi—without needing an app. "Wiom is addressing one of the most fundamental yet underserved challenges in India—affordable and unlimited internet for the masses," said Rohit Sood, Partner at Bertelsmann India Investments. "Their scalable, asset-light model is laying the digital foundation for the next 500 million Indians." Pratik Agarwal, Partner at Accel, added, "Only 10% of India's 200 million households have affordable unlimited internet. Satyam, Nishit, Ashutosh, and Maanas are reimagining how access can be delivered. We're proud to support their mission to close India's digital divide." With over one million monthly active users, Wiom plans to more than double its reach annually. It is also investing in next-generation technology, including proprietary firmware and hardware, through its "Tech for Future" initiative. "This is a win-win segment—for users and existing ISPs alike," Darmora emphasised.

21 Indian startups raise $139.5 million this week
21 Indian startups raise $139.5 million this week

Time of India

time26-05-2025

  • Business
  • Time of India

21 Indian startups raise $139.5 million this week

Indian startups raised USD 139.5 million this week across 21 deals -- reflecting continued investor confidence despite broader market uncertainties. This week's funding activity featured five growth-stage and 13 early-stage deals, with three startups choosing to keep their funding amounts private. Delhi-NCR emerged as the leading region with eight deals, followed by Bengaluru with four. Startups from Mumbai, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, and Ahmedabad also featured in this week's funding round-up. Fintech dominated the sector-wise distribution with three deals, followed by strong performances from e-commerce and media and entertainment. Other sectors like deep tech, AI, health tech, and cybersecurity also drew interest -- showcasing the wide appeal of India's tech landscape. Seed funding dominated this week with eight deals, followed by investments across Series A, B, and D stages, indicating that investors are actively backing both new ideas and scaling businesses. In the growth and late-stage segment, startups brought in USD 65.75 million. Healthtech startup CureBay led the charge with a Series B round backed by Bertelsmann India Investments. Cybersecurity firm CloudSEK followed with a USD 19 million Series B round, while electric vehicle maker Euler Motors raised USD 15 million in another tranche of its USD 60 million round. Fintech players Dvara KGFS and Borderless (Stockal) also secured funding. On the early-stage side, startups collectively raised USD 73.75 million. Among them, Mythik -- launched by entrepreneur Jason Kothari -- stood out with a USD 15 million seed round. Other early-stage winners included deep tech firm ALT Carbon, AI startup Biostate AI, and SaaS platform Data Sutram. However, PierSight, BlackCarrot, and The Sock Street did not disclose their funding amounts. The average funding over the past eight weeks stood at USD 216.99 million across 25 deals per week. Meanwhile, in the previous week, Indian startups collectively raised around USD 194.22 million across 28 deals. The funding in the last week included nine growth and late-stage rounds and 18 early-stage deals, while one startup chose not to disclose its funding amount.

CureBay raises USD 21 million to expand national footprint
CureBay raises USD 21 million to expand national footprint

New Indian Express

time25-05-2025

  • Business
  • New Indian Express

CureBay raises USD 21 million to expand national footprint

BHUBANESWAR: CureBay, an Odisha-based hybrid healthcare platform, has raised USD 21 million to strengthen its in-house technology stack and expand its footprint to new states. The fresh raise of CureBay under its series B round funding from Bertelsmann India Investment is a significant milestone for the startup to build infrastructure for rural health by driving equity, access and innovations across under-served geographies in the country, officials said. They said the latest capital infusion will be utilised for strengthening of CureBay's in-house proprietary technology stack and expansion to lead the equitable healthcare movement in the country. The startup operates 150 plus eClinics across Odisha and Chhattisgarh and has served around 5.5 lakh patients by utilising its AI and data capabilities for improving predictive care and operational efficiency. It is planning to expand its footprint to new states including Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Its investment plan also includes upgrading proprietary algorithms and rural-first workflow automation tools that can one day be adapted for global healthcare. CureBay founder and CEO Priyadarshi Mohapatra said the fundraiser is a mandate to build India's trust infrastructure for rural health. 'The capital will help us scale technology, talent, and reach to bring dignified, affordable healthcare to the last mile,' Mohapatra added. Bertelsmann India Investments MD Pankaj Makkar said their investment reflects Bertelsmann India's strong commitment to supporting mission-driven companies that are transforming India.

21 Indian startups raise $139.5 million this week
21 Indian startups raise $139.5 million this week

Hans India

time25-05-2025

  • Business
  • Hans India

21 Indian startups raise $139.5 million this week

Mumbai: Indian startups raised $139.5 million this week across 21 deals -- reflecting continued investor confidence despite broader market uncertainties. This week's funding activity featured five growth-stage and 13 early-stage deals, with three startups choosing to keep their funding amounts private. Delhi-NCR emerged as the leading region with eight deals, followed by Bengaluru with four. Startups from Mumbai, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, and Ahmedabad also featured in this week's funding round-up. Fintech dominated the sector-wise distribution with three deals, followed by strong performances from e-commerce and media and entertainment. Other sectors like deep tech, AI, health tech, and cybersecurity also drew interest -- showcasing the wide appeal of India's tech landscape. Seed funding dominated this week with eight deals, followed by investments across Series A, B, and D stages, indicating that investors are actively backing both new ideas and scaling businesses. In the growth and late-stage segment, startups brought in $65.75 million. Healthtech startup CureBay led the charge with a Series B round backed by Bertelsmann India Investments. Cybersecurity firm CloudSEK followed with a $19 million Series B round, while electric vehicle maker Euler Motors raised $15 million in another tranche of its $60 million round. Fintech players Dvara KGFS and Borderless (Stockal) also secured funding. On the early-stage side, startups collectively raised $73.75 million. Among them, Mythik -- launched by entrepreneur Jason Kothari -- stood out with a $15 million seed round. Other early-stage winners included deep tech firm ALT Carbon, AI startup Biostate AI, and SaaS platform Data Sutram. However, PierSight, BlackCarrot, and The Sock Street did not disclose their funding amounts. The average funding over the past eight weeks stood at $216.99 million across 25 deals per week. Meanwhile, in the previous week, Indian startups collectively raised around $194.22 million across 28 deals. The funding in the last week included nine growth and late-stage rounds and 18 early-stage deals, while one startup chose not to disclose its funding amount.

CureBay Raises USD 21 Mn Series B to Scale Rural Healthcare Delivery
CureBay Raises USD 21 Mn Series B to Scale Rural Healthcare Delivery

Entrepreneur

time20-05-2025

  • Business
  • Entrepreneur

CureBay Raises USD 21 Mn Series B to Scale Rural Healthcare Delivery

The Series B round was led by Bertelsmann India Investments, with continued support from existing investors Elevar Equity and British International Investment. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. CureBay, a hybrid healthcare platform focused on rural India, has raised USD 21 million in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments. The round also saw participation from existing investors Elevar Equity and British International Investment. The capital will be deployed to strengthen CureBay's proprietary tech stack and fuel its expansion into new states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The company plans to invest in AI-driven platform upgrades, rural-first workflow automation tools, and proprietary algorithms that support predictive healthcare and operational efficiency. "We are focused on addressing healthcare access challenges in underserved regions," said Priyadarshi Mohapatra, Founder and CEO of CureBay. "The funding will support the next phase of our scale-up, including technology development, team building, and operational expansion." Founded in 2021 by Priyadarshi Mohapatra, Shobhan Mohapatra, and Sanjay Swain, CureBay was created to bridge the healthcare gap in rural India, where doctor access is limited, and hospital visits often lead to income loss and exploitation by healthcare brokers. "They get lured into clinics that promise quick treatment, pay money, and often get subpar care. That's the reason they avoid traveling for care," Mohapatra explained. To address this, CureBay provides concierge-style support for rural patients referred to tertiary hospitals. A dedicated assistant accompanies them—like a trusted family doctor—ensuring they receive the right treatment without confusion or exploitation. CureBay's hybrid model combines tech-enabled eClinics with a digital infrastructure that offers doctor consultations, diagnostics, pharmacy delivery, and referrals—all under one platform. Its unique "circle" clinic network is supported by integrated logistics, local diagnostics, and medical partnerships. "While most rural solutions remain fragmented, CureBay uniquely delivers the full continuum of care under one platform," said Pankaj Makkar, Managing Director, Bertelsmann India Investments. "This investment reflects our commitment to mission-driven companies transforming Bharat." CureBay operates over 150 eClinics across Odisha and Chhattisgarh, delivering affordable and accessible healthcare to rural households. Its preventive care program has 90,000 active members with a renewal rate exceeding 60%. The company reported that its Balasore and Puri circles have achieved operational profitability, showcasing the viability of its rural-first healthcare model.

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