AppsForBharat Raises $20 Million in Series C: A New Chapter for Devotional Platforms
AppsForBharat, the parent company of the devotional platform Sri Mandir, has recently secured $20 million in a Series C funding round led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital. This funding comes less than a year after their Series B round, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey.
Expanding Horizons: The Vision Behind the Funding
With this new influx of capital, AppsForBharat plans to expand its presence into over 20 temple towns, including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Haridwar. The company aims to establish logistics and service fulfillment hubs and develop AI-based features to enhance user interaction and content discovery.
Sri Mandir, the platform under AppsForBharat, has recorded over 40 million downloads. In the past year alone, 1.2 million users have performed 5.2 million online pujas across more than 70 temples. Notably, 20% of the platform’s demand comes from international users in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
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The Digital Transformation of Devotional Practices
The app allows users to perform rituals online, offer chadhava, receive prasad, and access devotional content. At the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, Sri Mandir partnered with Vedashram Trust to deliver services to over 300,000 users, including digital rituals and the delivery of Triveni Sangam Jal.
According to the company, online puja bookings have increased temple earnings by 25 to 30%. This has also created demand for prasad and ritual supplies among local vendors, strengthening the local economy.
Harnessing AI for Spiritual Engagement
AppsForBharat is developing AI tools to help users navigate rituals, answer queries, and offer content suggestions based on devotional preferences. Founder and CEO Prashant Sachan noted that the company has doubled its growth in the past six months, helping temples generate income by digitizing their services.
Key Features of Sri Mandir:
- Online Rituals: Perform pujas and offerings digitally.
- Global Reach: Significant user base in countries like the USA and UK.
- AI Integration: Personalized content suggestions and ritual navigation.
Financial Growth and Future Prospects
Founded in 2020, AppsForBharat has seen impressive growth. For the fiscal year ending in March 2024, the company recorded a five-fold increase in operating revenue to Rs 18.53 crore from Rs 3.53 crore the previous year. Despite this growth, they managed to control losses, reducing them to Rs 39 crore from Rs 44.97 crore.
The company competes directly with other devotional platforms like DevDham and Utsav App. This competitive landscape challenges AppsForBharat to continually innovate and deliver unique value to its users.
Reflections on the Devotional Tech Space
The rise of platforms like Sri Mandir highlights a broader trend of digital transformation in religious practices. As technology becomes more integrated into daily life, how will it reshape traditional practices? Can digital platforms maintain the sanctity of rituals while offering convenience?
AppsForBharat’s journey is a testament to the potential of technology in enhancing spiritual engagement. By bridging traditional practices with modern technology, they are setting a precedent for others in the space.
For more information on AppsForBharat, visit their official website.
As the company continues to expand and innovate, its impact on both local economies and global users will be worth watching. How will the balance between tradition and technology evolve in the coming years? Only time will tell.
