2025 In Review: The Best Of Inc42’s 30 Startups To Watch
by Akshit Pushkarna · Inc42SUMMARY
- As we step into 2026, we present the 66th cohort of 30 Startups To Watch, featuring early-stage ventures that shone brightest this year
- From breakthrough AI ventures to trailblazing deeptech and scalable consumer platforms, these startups are poised to shape India’s innovation landscape in the years ahead
- While some in the cohort have already gone public, many are approaching soonicorn status
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With a record number of startup IPOs, consistent private capital flow and new avenues for tech innovation emerging in India, 2025 was a defining year for the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
The funding landscape remained resilient, with Indian startups raising more than $11 Bn in fresh capital and maintaining the recovery momentum seen in 2024. While investors remained discerning, dry powder flowed into promising ventures across sectors ranging from AI and deeptech to consumer tech and enterprise platforms.
But what drove the ecosystem forward was the surge in startup IPOs. Marquee names like Groww, Meesho, Lenskart, Pine Labs and Ather Energy debuted on domestic exchanges, unlocking liquidity for founders and early investors.
On the innovation front, 2025 saw startups embrace frontier technologies at an unprecedented pace. GenAI became mainstream, with integration across the existing ecosystem accelerating sharply. The semiconductor revolution gained traction, as well as ventures in spacetech, robotics, climate tech and sustainable mobility.
Against this backdrop, Inc42 presents the best up-and-coming startups that caught our eye this year. While some in the cohort have already gone public, many are approaching soonicorn status.
From breakthrough AI ventures to trailblazing deeptech and scalable consumer platforms, these startups are poised to shape India’s innovation landscape in the years ahead.
As we step into 2026, we present the 66th cohort of 30 Startups To Watch, featuring ventures that shone brightest this year.
Editor’s Note: The list below is presented alphabetically and is not a ranking.