AppsForBharat, the company behind the fast-growing devotional platform Sri Mandir, has raised ₹175 crore (approximately $20 million) in its Series C funding round. The round was led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital (SAVC), with continued backing from existing investors—Fundamentum, Elevation Capital, and Peak XV Partners. This latest funding brings renewed momentum to AppsForBharat’s mission of building a digital ecosystem around India’s spiritual and devotional needs.
The company will deploy the fresh capital across more than 20 temple towns in India, including sacred cities like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Haridwar. It plans to invest in commerce, services, and logistics infrastructure, while also scaling temple partnerships and improving the app’s AI capabilities and digital infrastructure.
The Rise of AppsForBharat and Sri Mandir
AppsForBharat, founded by Prashant Sachan, launched Sri Mandir as a spiritual companion for millions of Indians who seek devotional content and connection with temples. Since its inception, Sri Mandir has rapidly gained traction across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, offering services like daily darshan, aartis, devotional songs, astrology consultations, and temple donations—all through a streamlined mobile app.
Unlike generic apps that provide scattered religious content, Sri Mandir creates localized experiences with curated rituals, stories, and spiritual services tied to specific temples and regional traditions. This localization has helped the platform reach and retain a large, loyal user base.
Why Investors Are Betting on Devotional Tech
India’s digital transformation has created fertile ground for niche platforms that address the needs of vernacular, spiritual, and cultural audiences. While fintech, edtech, and entertainment apps saw early investment booms, the faith-tech sector remained untapped until companies like AppsForBharat identified its vast potential.
India has over a billion people with spiritual inclinations. Devotional practices are deeply ingrained in daily life across age groups. AppsForBharat has successfully digitized this sentiment. By combining religious relevance, technology, and commerce, the company now sits at the intersection of tradition and innovation.
Investors such as Susquehanna, Fundamentum, and Elevation Capital see the opportunity to create a massive, culturally rooted digital ecosystem. Sri Mandir not only connects users to temples but also opens up opportunities in religious tourism, spiritual commerce, event participation, and personalized devotional experiences.
Where the New Funds Will Go
AppsForBharat will now expand its offerings in over 20 temple towns, where it already sees strong user engagement. The company will use the funds to strengthen the following verticals:
1. Commerce
Sri Mandir will scale its spiritual commerce operations. Users will soon have easier access to items like puja kits, prasad, rudraksh malas, idols, and spiritual literature. The platform will also onboard more local artisans and temple-affiliated vendors, ensuring authenticity while empowering traditional economies.
2. Services
The app will enhance its online astrology, puja booking, and customized ritual offerings. More priests and astrologers will join the platform to offer users real-time guidance for spiritual queries. With growing demand for virtual pujas, Sri Mandir aims to offer live-streamed rituals from popular shrines, all bookable in a few taps.
3. Fulfilment Logistics Infrastructure
To meet rising demand for physical goods like prasad and puja items, the company will set up fulfilment centers near temple towns. These logistics hubs will improve delivery speed, reduce costs, and ensure that sacred items reach devotees on time and in pristine condition.
4. Temple Partnerships
AppsForBharat wants to bring more temples onto the platform. These partnerships will offer temples a digital presence to showcase rituals, accept donations, and engage with devotees. By digitizing more temple ecosystems, the app will bridge the gap between physical sanctuaries and digital seekers.
5. AI and Digital Infrastructure
Sri Mandir already uses AI-based recommendations to personalize content, such as showing relevant chants and aartis based on user behavior. With this new funding, the team will scale AI efforts further to improve user experience, prediction models for ritual timings, and automated matchmaking for astrology services. The app will also support more regional languages, enhance data security, and improve overall platform performance.
What Sets Sri Mandir Apart
Several elements make Sri Mandir stand out in a competitive app landscape:
- Hyper-local content: From Tirupati to Kashi, users see content tied to their local traditions.
- Regional language support: The app speaks the language of the user, creating a strong emotional bond.
- Live participation: Users join live darshans and aartis, offering a temple-like experience from home.
- Community building: Features like collective chanting and group events foster a sense of belonging.
- Authentic offerings: All items and services come from verified religious sources.
By combining these elements, AppsForBharat has turned Sri Mandir into more than an app—it’s a devotional ecosystem.
Leadership and Vision
Founder Prashant Sachan, previously a co-founder of Trell, brings deep experience in building content and community-driven platforms. His vision for Sri Mandir revolves around building India’s largest spiritual tech platform, where technology amplifies tradition rather than replacing it.
Sachan believes that faith should not feel outdated in the digital world. With the right tools, he wants to ensure that spirituality stays accessible, personal, and fulfilling for every Indian, no matter where they live.
Under his leadership, the team has grown rapidly, blending engineering talent, religious scholars, and logistics experts to create a seamless user experience.
What the Investors Say
Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, the lead investor in this round, expressed strong belief in Sri Mandir’s growth story. “Faith is a daily part of life for millions in India. AppsForBharat has built a platform that respects and amplifies this tradition with digital innovation,” said a representative.
Fundamentum, co-founded by Infosys veteran Nandan Nilekani, has backed AppsForBharat since earlier rounds. The firm continues to see long-term potential in a platform that combines culture, commerce, and technology.
The Road Ahead
With this funding round, AppsForBharat steps into a phase of expansion and consolidation. The next 12–18 months will see the company:
- Deepen presence in temple towns
- Add regional content and more languages
- Boost devotional commerce
- Introduce personalized ritual packages
- Launch AI-powered user journeys
- Support offline engagement with local spiritual events
As India’s digital landscape matures, spiritual tech could become a key pillar in how people experience culture, tradition, and worship. AppsForBharat is already leading the way.
Conclusion
With ₹175 crore in Series C funding, AppsForBharat is all set to redefine how India connects with its temples, traditions, and spirituality. By building a bridge between ancient practices and modern convenience, the company is creating a tech-driven yet soul-centered experience for millions of users. Sri Mandir’s next phase will not only deepen digital devotion but also uplift temple economies, rural artisans, and spiritual communities across the country.
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