Kolkata is the third-largest city in India — the largest in West Bengal — and has many opportunities in tech and adjacent industries. The region is also investing in growing companies through public and private programs.
These programs create a vibrant ecosystem for tech founders by providing funding, mentorship and networking opportunities with like-minded individuals in similar fields. They operate similarly to renowned incubator and accelerator programs, like Y Combinator and Techstars, to help startups grow and succeed. Below are some of Kolkata’s top startups, many of which have participated in accelerator programs at home and abroad.
Top Startup Companies in Kolkata to Know
- Mihup
- Asanify
- mPokket
- StockEdge
- Wow Momo
- SleepyCat
- iKure Techsoft
Top Startup Companies in Kolkata
Veritas Finance provides financial services to micro, small and medium-sized businesses. Its aim is to make credit easily accessible to the underserved informal business sector in India, companies that might not have access to traditional banking services. Veritas Finance runs 420 branches across the country and serves more than 195,000 customers.
NowPurchase provides a digital marketplace for metal manufacturers to purchase raw materials like metal scrap, additives and alloys. The Kolkata-based company was founded in 2017 and raised $6 million in a 2024 funding round. The new investments will enable the company to expand its markets to several additional Indian states.
Healthtech startup Tata 1mg runs an online healthcare platform that provides medicine delivery, lab tests, online physician consultations and health information. In 2021, 1mg became a unicorn with a $40 million funding round led by Tata Digital, which also acquired the company. Tata 1mg has offices in over 1,000 cities across India.
Edtech company upGrad is a higher education platform that offers programs in management, law, data science and technology. It has more than 10 million users, ranging from college students studying abroad to working professionals hoping to further their careers. UpGrad is based in Mumbai and maintains a Learning Support Center in Kolkata.
SleepyCat is an e-commerce startup that sells and ships mattresses nationwide. Its mattresses promise to help its owner sleep through the night and come equipped with proprietary CoolTEC, a type of foam that regulates body heat.
Data Sutram is a big data company that helps businesses make informed decisions by gathering and analyzing data from a multitude of sources. It focuses specifically on fraud detection, cross-selling and customer acquisition for companies in the banking, financial services and insurance industries. Data Sutram was founded in 2018 and has offices in Mumbai and Kolkata.
TABLT Pharmacy is an e-commerce platform for medicine and health products. The digital storefront fulfills prescriptions and sells everything from personal care items to medical devices. TABLT launched in 2018 and provides next-day delivery services in Kolkata and various other cities.
Mihup is one of Kolkata’s few artificial intelligence startups. It develops a conversational intelligence platform that helps call and contact centers engage with customers over the phone, and is beneficial for note-taking, summarizing and assessing customer sentiment. To date, the platform has fielded over 100 million customer interactions.
Microfinance bank Arohan Financial offers banking, loans and other financial products to low-income households in India. Its focus is small, short-term loans for business operations, household needs and personal consumption. Arohan Financial is headquartered in Kolkata and employs nearly 2,000 people.
Logistics company Swiggy provides an on-demand online delivery platform. The company began as a hyperlocal food delivery service in Bengaluru in 2014 and has expanded to have a presence in 580 different Indian cities. In addition to food delivery, Swiggy also offers quick commerce services and same-day package delivery.
Logistics and delivery provider Shadowfax is India’s largest logistics platform for e-commerce. It offers low-cost delivery and courier services for products like food, groceries and pharmacy essentials. In 2023, the company launched its on-demand delivery app, Flash, making 30-minute delivery services available in 50 different Indian cities. Shadowfax was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Bengaluru.
CLIRnet is a digital platform that provides continuing medical education for Indian doctors. More than 350,000 doctors across the country use the platform for learning and peer collaboration. In 2024, the company created a new division devoted to providing scientific publishing and market research services. CLIRnet has offices in Mumbai and Kolkata.
Data Sutram’s products aim to make data understandable and usable for most businesses. Its software collects data from over 250 sources and helps discover business opportunities, detect fraud and improve customer experience. Data Sutram emerged from Kolkata’s Jadavpur University and succeeded in raising venture capital before relocating to Mumbai.
Fintech company, mPokket aims to simplify the loan application process. The company says individuals can apply for loans and get approval within 10 minutes through its mobile app. The platform also connects with the user’s bank and provides multiple repayment options. MPokket was founded in 2016 and has become popular with students and other groups.
Wow Momo is an extremely successful startup out of Kolkata. The company began selling burgers and desserts, and now it operates in 17 cities and has a sizable food e-commerce platform. During its growth phase, Wow Momo also raised $16 million in venture funding.
Asanify is a former Techstars company that develops HR software. Its products include payroll processing, applicant tracking systems and leave management. It integrates with other popular products, including Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Medikabazaar is an online marketplace for medical equipment and supplies. It helps hospitals and healthcare centers streamline their purchasing from suppliers across India. Medikabazaar was founded in 2015. In 2023, it announced plans to raise $250 million in an effort to expand into international markets.
Kolkata-based Glocal Healthcare works to make healthcare accessible to underserved areas in India. It provides care to more than 2.4 million people through mobile apps, digital dispensaries and acute-care hospitals. Glocal Healthcare is working to move away from a doctor-driven model of healthcare to a technology and process-driven one, incorporating next generation technology and low-cost solutions to make care more affordable.
StockEdge’s platform provides tools to understand and navigate Indian stock markets. It offers end-of-day market analytics, visualizations and alerts to help traders and investors make good investment decisions. StockEdge’s platform is available in Apple, Android and web app versions.
Loadshare Networks’ online platform connects logistics providers to a delivery network for groceries, food and e-commerce products. The platform serves as a connector, enabling small and medium-sized businesses to find logistics companies that can provide delivery services. Loadshare Networks is based in Bengaluru, with hubs located across India.
IMerit is an AI company that transforms raw data into actionable insights. Its platform allows companies to develop purpose-built solutions, including uses like computer vision, natural language processing and content generation. According to iMerit, over 500 clients in industries ranging from healthcare to financial services use its platform.
StockEdge is a fintech startup providing investors with research and analysis for the stock market. The company develops tools to conduct technical and derivative research and help individuals maximize their returns.
Founded by a social entrepreneur and backed by India’s most prominent investment groups, iKure is a healthtech company expanding medical services to rural areas. The company trains community members to provide last-mile care. Additionally, it developed a diagnostics platform called Wireless Health Incident Monitoring System, or WHIMs, which works on mobile phones to monitor and tracks patients in rural areas.
SentientGeeks develops custom software including web apps, mobile apps and digital solutions. It focuses on small and medium-sized businesses, and has worked with more than 500 clients since its founding in 2017. SentientGeeks is based in Kolkata, with a second office in Ontario, Canada.
Udaan’s e-commerce platform connects retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and traders. Founded in 2016, the company has grown into India’s largest eB2B platform, with more than 3 million users, including 1.7 million small businesses and 30,000 sellers. Udaan is based in Bengaluru with offices in every major Indian city.
