From Travel To Tech - Hosteller’s ₹150 Crore Series B And GobbleCube’s AI Growth Highlight A Diverse Funding Week

WOWLY- Your AI Agent Apr 18, 2026 39 Views

Indian startups collectively raised $60.4 million across 15 deals between April 13 and 17, 2026, marking an 83% decline from the $361.5 million raised last week. The Hosteller’s ₹150 crore Series B round led by PROMAFT Partners was the largest deal, while AI startups attracted the most funding at $23 million.

Funding Activity Sees Sharp Decline

This week’s funding activity highlighted a slowdown in India’s startup ecosystem. The $60.4 million raised across 15 deals was significantly lower than last week’s $361.5 million across 23 deals. Analysts attribute the decline to reduced seed-stage activity, which fell nearly 86% to $3.3 million from $22.9 million.

Major Deals Of The Week

Several startups stood out despite the overall dip in funding:

The Hosteller: India’s largest branded hostel chain raised ₹150 crore (~$18 million) in a Series B round led by PROMAFT Partners and V3 Ventures. Funds will be used to expand its footprint and enhance digital booking platforms.
GobbleCube: Secured funding to scale its AI-driven content and marketing solutions. AI startups collectively raised $23 million, making this the most funded segment of the week.
Unbound: Backed by Fireside Ventures, focusing on consumer brands with innovative product lines.
Dev Milk Foods: Also supported by Fireside Ventures, strengthening India’s D2C ecosystem in the dairy and FMCG space.
Other Startups: Deals spanned foodtech, personal care, and smart metering, reflecting diverse investor interest despite the slowdown.

Investor Activity

Fireside Ventures emerged as the most active investor, backing Unbound and Dev Milk Foods. Their continued focus on consumer brands underscores confidence in India’s D2C ecosystem, even amid reduced overall funding volumes.

Industry Outlook

Experts believe the slowdown is cyclical, with larger rounds expected in the coming months. The strong performance of AI startups highlights investor appetite for scalable tech solutions, while hospitality and consumer brands continue to attract steady interest.