Rise of Spiritual Startups, PhysicsWallah Gets SEBI Nod, and LEAP India’s Dreams

In the past, seeking blessings meant standing in a queue outside a temple, waiting hours for a glimpse of the deity, or traveling hundreds of kilometers for a specific ritual. Today, all it takes is a tap on your phone. You can livestream a puja from Kashi, book a havan in Tirupati, or get your prasad couriered from Ujjain. This is not fiction - it’s India’s fast-growing spiritual tech sector, and it’s no longer fringe.

Startups like Astrotalk, Sri Mandir, DevDarshan, SmartPuja, 99Pandit, and MyPandit have turned age-old rituals into mobile-first, on-demand services. Their offerings range from daily aartis, live-streamed temple visits, astrological consultations, to full-fledged pujas performed on your behalf. These aren’t amateur operations; some of them now serve millions of users and are clocking multi-crore revenues.

India’s spirituality and religious services sector is already pegged at over $97 billion, one of the largest in the world. While most of it is still offline - donations at temples, pilgrimages, and ritual services - digital startups are now converting parts of this unstructured market into organized, scalable businesses. According to industry estimates, online astrology alone is a ₹1,200 crore annual market, growing at 15-20% CAGR.

The demand comes from all age groups, but especially from younger Indians living in metros or abroad. Many of them want to stay connected to their roots but don’t know the right rituals or don’t have access to family priests. These startups offer ease, variety, and even regional customization. Want a Tamil-style Ganesh puja or a Gujarati-style Satyanarayan katha? There’s an app for that.

But the real inflection point came during the pandemic. With temples shut and travel halted, Indians turned to their screens for spiritual comfort. Startups saw a surge in bookings - SmartPuja reported a 300% increase in demand, while others like DevDarshan expanded into new languages and geographies. What started as a crisis response soon became a habit.

And it’s not just about pujas. Astrology is booming too. Astrotalk claims over 4 crore consultations till date, and offers both chat and call-based sessions with vetted astrologers. Platforms like MyPandit even offer subscription models for daily predictions, personalized remedies, and gemstone recommendations. While traditionalists might scoff, the numbers speak for themselves.

VCs have started taking notice. Astrotalk recently crossed ₹100 crore in revenue and is said to be eyeing a large funding round. AppsForBharat, the parent company of devotion platform Sri Mandir, has raised $18 million in a funding round led by Fundamentum. These aren’t your usual edtech or fintech plays, but they’re chasing large, engaged user bases and monetizing through commissions, subscriptions, and service fees.

Internationally, this trend isn’t entirely new. In China, apps like Cece offer astrology services. In the US, platforms like Sanctuary or Co-Star have made horoscope-based apps trendy among Gen Z. But India’s mix of scale, diversity, and deep religious engagement makes it a uniquely fertile ground.

Still, there are unresolved challenges.

The biggest one is authenticity and trust. Religion is deeply personal, and one bad experience - be it with a fake astrologer or an unprofessional priest - can ruin a platform’s credibility. Startups are trying to address this through rigorous vetting, training modules, and user reviews, but it’s a constant battle.

Another issue is regulatory clarity. As of now, spiritual-tech platforms fall into a grey area. There’s no formal licensing for digital pujas or astrology consultations, and consumer protection is still weak. If this space grows into a billion-dollar industry, regulators will eventually step in.

There’s also the risk of commodifying faith. When everything becomes transactional - ₹1,100 for a Griha Pravesh puja, ₹499 for a career astrology session - some critics argue that it dilutes the sanctity of tradition. But as one startup founder put it, “We’re not replacing faith; we’re making it accessible.”

So what does it take to succeed in this market?

First, deep regional understanding. Language, ritual formats, festival calendars - all vary drastically across states. Platforms that localize their offerings well will win trust. Second, a strong supply chain of verified service providers - pandits, astrologers, delivery partners. And third, tech infrastructure that enables seamless discovery, booking, streaming, and support, especially for NRIs and older users.

In the long run, the real winners will be those who go beyond transactions. Think spiritual content, guided meditations, temple sponsorships, religious education for kids. Platforms that build communities, not just services, will create lasting value.

Let’s go through what else is happening in Indian startup world - Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“It’s The Time To Disco”: PhysicsWallah Gets SEBI Nod For IPO

PhysicsWallah just got the green light from SEBI for its ₹4,600 Cr IPO, less than four months after filing confidentially. That’s warp speed in edtech timelines.

With a $3.7 Bn valuation, Alakh Pandey’s blackboard-to-boardroom journey is now headed for Dalal Street.

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“Waah Kya Scene Hai”: Angel One Partners Singapore’s Livwell To Float Digital-First Insurance Co

Angel One is stepping into the insurance game with Singapore’s LivWell, floating a ₹400 Cr digital-first JV.

While Angel bags a 26% stake, industry veteran Wilf Blackburn is set to chair the ship. With LivWell’s CEO at the helm, this new-age insurer could shake up how India clicks for coverage.

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“Aaiye Aapka Intezaar Tha”: LEAP India To Convert Into Public Entity, Appoints Independent Director

LEAP India is switching gears to go public, dropping the ‘Private’ from its name as it eyes a long-awaited IPO.

After a pause post-KKR acquisition, the logistics startup is back on track with a fresh board lineup. With two independent directors, Harinarayanan Nair and Sanjiv Gupta, now onboard, the road to Dalal Street just got a green signal.

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3. SuperK has snagged ₹100 Cr in fresh funding led by Binny Bansal’s 3STATE Ventures, with a surprise swing from cricketer Shubman Gill. The kirana-tech startup now gears up for aggressive expansion and a talent blitz.
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4. Insurtech startup Bharatsure has raised ₹6 Cr from IPV, Capital A, and Atrium Angels to supercharge its insurance IaaS platform. With eyes on scaling embedded and group insurance, it’s quietly reshaping how India insures.
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