Kolkata is not just about art and heritage anymore; it’s rapidly becoming a key player in India’s startup revolution. The city is home to over 300 startups, with sectors like fintech, health tech, and e-commerce leading the charge.
In 2024, Kolkata saw a remarkable surge in venture capital, with several startups securing millions in funding. The Indian startup ecosystem itself is thriving, with India housing over 116 unicorns as of early 2024, and Kolkata is fast catching up with other major tech cities.
The city’s government has also invested in nurturing innovation, supporting over 500 companies through initiatives like Startup Bengal. These startups are not just growing locally but are making waves in national and international markets. With many of them seeing double-digit revenue growth annually, Kolkata is quickly becoming a tech powerhouse in India.
In this article, we dive deep into the top startup companies in Kolkata that are shaping this new wave of growth in Kolkata, offering insights into the companies transforming sectors like technology, healthcare, and financial services. Read on to see how Kolkata is becoming a breeding ground for groundbreaking startups.
What Makes Kolkata a Good Place for Startups
Affordable operational costs: Compared to cities like Bangalore and Mumbai, Kolkata offers lower costs for office space, salaries, and living expenses, allowing startups to stretch their budgets further.
Strong talent pool: With prestigious institutions like the Indian Statistical Institute and Jadavpur University, Kolkata provides a steady stream of highly skilled professionals in fields like technology, analytics, and engineering.
Government support: Initiatives like Startup Bengal offer funding, incubation, and mentorship to emerging businesses, making it easier for entrepreneurs to grow and succeed in the city.
Growing infrastructure: Kolkata is expanding its tech parks, co-working spaces, and incubators, creating a supportive environment for startups to collaborate, innovate, and scale their businesses.
Cultural and regional diversity: Kolkata’s diverse population and multilingual workforce make it easier for startups to test products across various markets and demographics, especially those targeting Eastern and Northeastern India.
What are Some Challenges Startup Companies in Kolkata Face
Top 10 Startups in Kolkata
1. Karma Kettle
With over 60 distinct tea varieties, Karma Kettle is one of India’s best artisanal tea blenders. Since its founding in 2015, Karma Kettle has made a name for itself as a specialty tea company with a large selection of teas. Indians may affordably enjoy a genuine cup of Japanese matcha, Genmaicha tea, or Moroccan mint tea.
It began as an online platform, grew its clientele online, and currently sells goods via its website and additional e-commerce platforms. The business now serves a number of prestigious five-star hotel brands across several nations. Nowadays, Novotel, Le Meridien, CGH Earth, and numerous more reputable hotels serve Karma Kettle teas.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Dhiraj Arora | 2015 | Not Discloed |
2. Sasta Sundar
Sasta Sundar is an online pharmacy with its headquarters located in Kolkata, West Bengal. It provides high-quality medical care, cosmetics, and medications.
Additionally, Sasta Sundar offers a knowledge-based website that gives consumers access to information about different medications so they may fully understand them before choosing one.
Additionally, the portal offers orthopedic and surgical care facilities, as well as a variety of ayurvedic and herbal medications, for the many illnesses that users may be experiencing.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| B. L. Mittal | 2013 | $19.9 Million |
3. Meraqi
Some of the biggest brands have been served by this Kolkata-based firm. The agency capitalized on India’s growing social media usage to establish its footprint.
With clients like WOW! Momo, MP Birla Group, Emami Group, PC Chandra Jewellers, Sreeleathers, Jindal India, Himalaya Opticals, The GRID, Chai Break, Rush Fitness, and others, Meraqi Digital, which focuses on digital marketing, content strategy and marketing, brand strategy, design, and communication, has quickly established a strong reputation in the industry.
By helping its clients with everything from strategy and brand development to routine daily operations, the organization expands their market reach and makes sure their business makes money.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Ankit Safar | 2016 | $5.1 Billion |
4. TruckHall
TruckHall was founded to provide a fresh perspective on the road transportation sector in India. The lives of those who work in the road transportation sector are not easy.
Moving goods requires a lot of manual labor. This component involves a chain of individuals who frequently face difficulties in their line of work, including truck drivers, booking agents, and their assistants.
They work strange hours to earn a living and don’t get to see their families too frequently. The Kolkata-based startup is cleaning up the transportation sector by filling in the identified holes.
The transportation sector has come to be associated with terms like corruption and inefficiency.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Anup Agrawal | 2015 | $555 Million |
5. Mihup Communications
Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, Mihup Communications is an intelligence-based personal mobile help app that says it has paved the way for conversational artificial intelligence.
Mihup’s platform enables business developers to create personalized speech interfaces that provide them complete control over their privacy and brand identity.
Additionally, the business offers a special and potent interaction analytics solution that offers a 100% study of a call center’s customer interactions in order to produce actionable insights and improve customer service, sales, and collections.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Tapan Barman | 2016 | $500 Million |
6. Stock Edge
One of the top Indian stock market applications for Android and iPhone users is StockEdge, also known as Kredent InfoEdge Private Limited, which was established in Kolkata, West Bengal.
With the aid of sufficient education, precise data, and useful analytics, StockEdge aims to empower individual investors to make their own financial decisions.
The goal of StockEdge’s innovative platform is to improve personal financial management in India and assist all Indians in integrating into the rapidly evolving financial industry.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Vivek Bajaj | 2015 | $13.4 Million |
7. mPokket
In order to help its clients become financially independent, mPokket, also known as Maybright Ventures Pvt. Ltd., is a mobile-based platform that was established in 2016 and functions as a digital lending marketplace.
Customers can aspire to obtain credit at any time and from any location with the aid of the mPokket smartphone app, which offers rapid loans to both salaried professionals and students.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Gaurav Jalan | 2016 | $1.33 Billion |
8. Atlas Software
Atlas Software is a Kolkata-based IT solutions provider that helps businesses surpass their technological goals by providing top-notch application services.
Atlas Software offers services ranging from SAP architecture and web/app development projects to the implementation of SalesForce CRM and SharePoint.
In addition, it offers off-site development services, SaaS implementation, SAP management, Microsoft SharePoint deployment, SalesForce.com implementation, network virtualization, technical staffing, IT infrastructure planning, recruitment process outsourcing, and custom software development.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Ashok Walia | 1999 | $6 Million |
9. Labkafe
One of Kolkata’s leading startups is Labkafe. Labkafe offers reasonably priced lab furniture and equipment. It provides a wide range of goods, including glassware, chemicals, labware, and the necessary accessories for chemistry, biology, physics, and pharmacy labs, among many other things.
The typical order basket is worth approximately one lakh Indian rupees. The company distributes equipment to nations including Canada, Nigeria, and Bhutan and has Indian clients like Baidyanath Pharma, NIT Rourkela, NIT Allahabad, and ONGC.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Aniket Thakur | 2015 | $100 K |
10. Taxmantra
A fintech company based in Kolkata, Taxmantra assists its clients with cross-border tax and legal compliance, legal services, and financing.
The founder and CEO of Taxmantra, Alok Patnia, is a chartered accountant by trade and founded the company using the two years of job experience he had.
He graduated from St. Xavier’s College in Calcutta and wants to establish Taxmantra as a major force in the world of law and taxes.
The business has locations in Singapore, the US, and India. Additionally, it helps Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with their legal and tax concerns.
Additional Information:
| Founder | Founding Year | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Alok Patnia | 2009 | Not Discloed |
Ending Note
In conclusion, Kolkata’s startup scene is evolving into a dynamic hub of innovation, where businesses are pushing the boundaries in various industries. From tech solutions to healthcare advancements, the city’s entrepreneurs are making their mark both nationally and globally. These startups are not only creating jobs but are also helping solve pressing problems with creative and impactful solutions.
As Kolkata continues to attract talent and investment, its influence in the startup world will only grow. The journey of these top startup companies in Kolkata reflects the city’s potential to become a major player in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether you’re an aspiring founder or an industry enthusiast, Kolkata’s startup community offers inspiration and opportunities for everyone. Keep following these businesses as they pave the way for future innovations!
FAQs
Are investors showing interest in Kolkata-based startups?
Yes, investors are increasingly interested in Kolkata startups. With multiple success stories and businesses scaling nationally and globally, venture capitalists and angel investors are paying close attention to the city’s growing startup scene.
How can I get involved in the Kolkata startup ecosystem?
If you’re looking to get involved, you can join local startup communities, attend networking events, or apply for government initiatives like Startup Bengal. There are also incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces across the city where you can connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors.
Which industries are most popular for startups in Kolkata?
Startups in Kolkata are thriving in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, health tech, and AI. With businesses solving local and global problems, these industries are attracting significant investments and driving the city’s growth as a startup hub.
