India has seen a rise in astro and religious startups, with around 950 such ventures, according to data platform Tracxn. The sector is also seeing an increase in funding with some companies like Astrotalk reportedly eying for an IPO in 2026.
In terms of funding, the sector received investment from top firms such as Peak XV Partners, Blume Ventures, Matrix Partners, Left Lane Capital and more
India has seen a rise in astro and religious startups, with around 950 such ventures, according to data platform Tracxn. The sector is also seeing an increase in funding with some companies like Astrotalk reportedly eying for an IPO in 2026.
The growing popularity of the religious tech sector, deeply rooted in faith, reflects a broader cultural shift towards the online ecosystem. According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India had 936.16 million internet subscribers by December 2023.
Many, including tech-savvy millennials, are increasingly engaged with these apps. The reason? Faith is integral to daily life, and as technology integrates into every aspect of living, many users see this as the next logical step.
At the same time, the other debate that some might point out is the fact that faith cannot be online. In a country with around 2 million temples and with religious tourism being a significant part of lives, the question that arises is: where do these apps stand?
The Ministry of Tourism reports that by 2028, religious tourism is projected to bring in $59 billion and by 2030, it will have created 140 million jobs, as per the Ministry of Tourism.
Experts suggest that any shift takes time. Food delivery was a new concept in India, but it did pick up eventually. That is the same thing that will happen with these apps, add experts.
Further, there's growing demand from people who want to participate in religious activities but face limitations due to distance or time constraints and that's the gap that these religious tech start-ups can bridge as per experts.
Prashant Sachan, Founder and CEO, AppsForBharat (Parent Company of Sri Mandir), highlights the key needs of users regarding these apps. He says, "Many visit temples only once in several years, and what they experience is a basic darshan. However, this behavior feels incomplete without full participation." Sachan suggests the need for a digital solution that allows people to engage more meaningfully with religious practices, even on days when they cannot physically visit a temple.
As per data platform Tracxn, India is home to 951 religion tech start-ups, which include Astrotalk, AppsForBharat, InstraAstro, Phool and VAMA.
Astrotalk’s operating revenue in FY24 increased to Rs 651 crore, more than doubling the previous year. This is as per an Economic Times report. Additionally, the report says that the company had a more than tenfold growth in net profit, reaching Rs 94 crore. Meanwhile, the company is also planning to file for an IPO by 2026.
Meanwhile, on September 10, devotional technology platform AppsForBharat, the parent company of India's largest devotion platform, Sri Mandir, raised $18 million in Series B funding led by Fundamentum. The start-up primarily provides two services: Sri Mandir for booking pujas and Jehovah for making offerings at temples. Sachan, says that with the fundraise, the company aims to scale operations, onboard more temples, launch new spiritual experiences, and create a tech stack for temples.
The company claims that in the last year, people have made 2.7 million offerings through their platform, including a significant number from outside India.
The core of these apps lies in their ability to offer personalisation. “While pujas and offerings are conducted within temples, Sri Mandir offers a standard devotional experience digitally. The platform provides personalised experiences at affordable prices, making devotional practices accessible and tailored to individual needs,” says Sachan.
Astrotalk also focuses on a one-on-one personalised approach. The company, as per Inc42, gets 90 per cent of its revenue via one-on-one consultation. Under the model, users have to pay per minute while talking to astrologers. The calls range from Rs 10 to Rs 200 per minute.
Additionally, religious app Vama charges users on the basis of the pujas that they book. The app gives a wide range of services, including virtual puja, astrology and prasad delivery. It also includes services such as Gau seva for around Rs 301, where the customer will be informed about the services once they are done.
In terms of funding, the sector received investment from top firms such as Peak XV Partners, Blume Ventures, Matrix Partners, Left Lane Capital and more. The sector saw a rise of funding from $88.5K in 2015 to $50.7 million in 2024, as per Tracxn.
“When I started in December 2020, many people doubted whether this space would attract significant funding. However, we demonstrated momentum, growth and user engagement, which caught investors' attention. They no longer see us as merely a devotional or religious startup; they view us as a platform solving a broader problem,” says Sachan.
VCs have been increasing their interest in this sector and seeing it as a sizeable business. However, the question that persists is whether these start-ups will be able to maintain the increased momentum.
“Building trust and credibility in a digital format is crucial, as many potential users may be skeptical about the effectiveness of online consultations compared to traditional, in-person experiences,” said Milan Sharma, founder and MD, 35North Ventures to Outlook Business earlier.
Some users remain skeptical about using these apps due to negative experiences, such as the unprofessional attitude of online astrologers they’ve consulted.
“Although my first few months on the app (Astrotalk) were decent, and I connected with skilled tarot card readers, the readings weren’t very accurate. They were close, but not quite reliable. I also felt that the online format made it hard to trust the readings, as there was no video call and I couldn’t even be sure they were genuinely drawing cards. Overall, this experience made me hesitant to continue using the app,” says Zainab Najmi, Senior Account Executive at Edelman. It will be interesting to see how these apps perform and try to maintain their popularity and build trust for users.