The Indian startup ecosystem is no longer just a domestic ecosystem, it is now a global innovation engine. Indian startups are now solving problems not only for India but also for the world with their cutting-edge technology, business models, and world-class talent. In 2025, several Indian startups will boom across the globe in different sectors like fintech, e-commerce, EVs, and EdTech. In this blog, let us explore the top Indian startups in detail.
Table of Contents:
Why are Indian Startups recognized by the world?
Over the past decade, India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, after the US and China. The following factors are contributing to this:
- Abundant tech talents
- Digital Infrastructure (e.g., UPI, Aadhaar)
- Mobile-first market approach
- Investing in upcoming markets
- Support for startups from the Government through Startup India and Digital India
The Indian Startups are scaling globally, not just by depending on the local markets. They are getting customers across the globe, solving problems at the international level.
There are many Indian Startups that are transforming the world. Here are the top 10 Indian Startups.
1. Zepto
Founded: 2021
Sector: Quick commerce
Headquarters: Mumbai
Zepto is a global quick commerce platform that delivers groceries in Indian metro cities in under 10 minutes. Zepto is now expanding its business to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. By using real-time inventory tracking and hyperlocal delivery, Zepto is consistently completing the orders within the time.
Global Impact: Customer expectations on delivery speed have been redefined.
2. Zerodha
Founded: 2010
Sector: Finance technology
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Zerodha is one of the most successful startups in the fintech sector. This is mainly because Zerodha offers zero brokerage for investment and flat fees for intraday trading. It has become India’s largest stockbroker without even relying on venture capital funding.
Global Impact: Proving that sustainable, profitable fintech can scale without cash burn, it has become a desirable business model.
3. Freshworks
Founded: 2010
Sector: Customer Engagement
Headquarters: Chennai
Freshworks is the first Indian SaaS company to get listed on NASDAQ in 2021. It serves over 50,000 customers around the globe, including popular companies such as Honda, Bridgestone, and Delivery Hero. Freshworks products often compete with the likes of Salesforce and Zendesk.
Global Impact: Showing the ability to create world-class enterprise software from India.
4. Ola Electric
Founded: 2017
Sector: Electric Vehicles
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Ola Electric, a spin-off from Ola Cabs, focuses on designing EVs. Its e-scooters, batteries, and electric cars aim to create a fully localised EV ecosystem.
Global Impact: Providing low-cost EV alternatives to emerging markets where Tesla and others fail due to pricing.
5. Razorpay
Founded: 2014
Sector: Finance technology
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Digital payments are made simpler by Razorpay for Indian and global businesses. Products from Razorpay include payment gateways, payroll products, and neobanking capabilities. Now, Razorpay plans to expand into South Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
Global Impact: Establishing the standard of developer friendliness for full-stack payment infrastructure.
6. Meesho
Founded: 2015
Sector: E-Commerce
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Anyone with a smartphone can become an online reseller in Meesho. By serving in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, Meesho allows us to become micro-entrepreneurs, particularly for women in small towns, to earn online.
Global impact: The social commerce model will be exported to other developing nations facing similar types of issues.
7. InMobi
Founded: 2007
Sector: Advertising technology
Headquarters: Bengaluru
InMobi is India’s first unicorn and is one of the largest independent mobile advertising platforms in the world, offering AI-powered ad solutions for clients, including Unilever, Samsung, and Coca-Cola, in over 60 countries.
Global impact: Facing competitors like Google and Facebook, InMobi’s ad solutions often outperform global giants in targeted markets.
8. CRED
Founded: 2018
Sector: Finance technology
Headquarters: Bengaluru
CRED offers rewards to users for paying credit card bills on time. Apart from loyalty points, it has also taken some major steps towards becoming a fintech super app, with credit lines, rent payments, and now UPI-based services.
Global Impact: Creating a good digital finance experience for the credit-savvy millennials.
9. Skyroot Aerospace
Founded: 2018
Sector: Aerospace Technology
Headquarters: Hyderabad
Skyroot Aerospace is at the forefront of India’s private space sector revolution. It focuses on affordable launches and efficient launch systems, thus creating a new generation of launch vehicles designed to launch small satellites into space.
Global Impact: To make India a low-cost and agile launch option for global small satellite demand.
10. Groww
Founded: 2016
Sector: Finance technology
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Groww provides a simple interface to help users invest in stocks, mutual funds, gold, etc. With the help of edtech, Groww is bringing up investing education and financial literacy and performing the impossible i.e., bringing the first-time investor into the market in a big way.
Global Reach: Making investing accessible for the next billion.
Emerging Indian Startups with Global Potential
- Skyroot Aerospace: Private launcher capabilities beyond the reach of the Indian Government
- AgniKul Cosmos: 3D-Printed Rockets
- Log9 Materials: Battery technology
- Niramai: AI-based breast cancer screening
- KukuFM: Vernacular audio content platform
Women-Led Indian Startups Changing the Game
- Nykaa (Falguni Nayar): Beauty products and lifestyle e-commerce platform
- Sheroes (Sairee Chahal): Women’s community and social networking platform
- Clovia (Neha Kant): D2C intimate wear brand expanding globally
All women-led startups are demonstrating that stereotypes are broken while driving tech and entrepreneurship toward gender diversity.
Indian Deep-Tech & AI Startups with Global Reach
- Yellow.ai: Conversational AI for global enterprise
- SigTuple: AI for medical diagnosis
- Arya.ai: AI infrastructure
These are some of the globally recognised deep-tech startups with a strong focus on AI, ML, and healthcare.
How Are Indian Startups Championing Sustainability?
- Ola Electric: Renewable energy over fossil fuels
- Recykal: Digital waste recycling
- Chakr Innovation: Emission capture for pollution control
- Ather Energy: Electric scooters with a green footprint
Sustainability is no longer optional. Indian start-ups are now making green innovation a core part of their mission.
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Government Support for Global Expansion
Programs such as the India Innovation Hub and international startup summits allow Indian startups to showcase their innovations outside of India. The Indian government drives collaboration and trade partnerships, and builds digital platforms to increase the potential for cross-border collaboration between local and international startups.
Domestic program support from a global market perspective, through intellectual property rights, export promotional initiatives, and ease of doing business, ultimately strengthens the ability of a startup to enter international markets through global outreach. Consequently, more and more founders are choosing to venture into the developed markets of the world with greater confidence than ever before.
Challenges of Indian Startups Going Global
- Barriers to entry in a foreign market
- Cultural adaptation for product-market fit
- Talent retention on a global scale
- Currency value fluctuations
Despite these challenges, we are seeing incredible techniques used by Indian founders to tackle them.
The Future of Indian Innovation on the World Stage
Over the next ten years, we will likely see Indian startups:
- More IPOs on world exchanges
- Becoming leaders in AI, EVs, and health technology sectors
- Building for the next billion users from Asia, Africa, and LATAM
- Being innovators in climate change and infrastructure
India is no longer just exporting talent (like Sundar Pichai or Satya Nadella); it is now exporting products and platforms that can change the world.
Conclusion
The startup ecosystem in India is beyond borders; it’s going global. Whether it’s a fintech, a space-tech innovator, sustainable mobility, or healthtech, the Indian startups continue to deliver real-world solutions through innovative ideas and technologies. Startups are supported by government initiatives, investor enthusiasm, and global demand; the overall goal is to transform industries and leverage India as a main hub of innovation on the global map. As startups continue to evolve and stimulate domestic and global action, they aren’t simply disrupting India, but they’re creating shifts to change the world.
Q1. Which is the most successful startup in India?
Freshworks is one of the most successful startups since it is listed on NASDAQ with over 50,000 global clients.
Q2. In what sectors are Indian startups successful globally?
SaaS, fintech, EVs, healthtech, and social commerce.
Q3. Are Indian startups going global?
Yes, many Indian startups are growing globally, mainly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Q4. Which Indian startup is a differentiator in the EV space?
Ola Electric and Ather Energy are performing well in the EV sector
Q5. How is the Indian government helping on a global scale for startups?
There are a few policies, such as Startup India, tax incentives, and international investor outreach programs, to help Indian startups.