Wealth management startup CREST has emerged from stealth mode with a significant $3.1 million (₹29.3 crore) pre-seed funding round. Led by Atrium Ventures and supported by other prominent investors, CREST aims to strengthen its technological platform and expand its asset management services. This development highlights the growing interest and investment in wealth management solutions targeting India’s affluent individuals and family businesses.
### The Rise of CREST
Founded in 2025 by Zuhaib Khan, formerly of LEAP India, and Girish Singhi, a former co-chief investment officer at Welspun One, CREST is a Mumbai-based startup offering bespoke wealth management services. The company targets the top 0.01% of India’s affluent population, providing family office services that include investment management, asset allocation, succession, and estate planning. Operating as an exclusive, invite-only platform, CREST differentiates itself by offering comprehensive CIO, CFO, and COO functionalities to its clients.
With its recent funding, CREST plans to enhance its technological infrastructure, expand its team, and deepen its regulatory compliance capabilities. The startup’s focus on both Indian and global markets aims to create a robust asset management offering that caters to high-net-worth individuals and large family businesses.
### Navigating a Competitive Landscape
CREST enters a competitive market that includes established firms like Waterfield Advisors and Julius Baer India, which have long served India’s wealthy families. According to the UBS Global Wealth Report, India is home to over 9 lakh millionaires, a number projected to nearly double by 2030. This anticipated growth presents a lucrative opportunity for wealth management firms to capture a share of the expanding financial wealth, projected to increase by $2.4 trillion.
CREST seeks to carve out its niche by offering a fiduciary-first, incentive-aligned model that eliminates retrocessions, appealing to both domestic and international investors. As family offices increasingly diversify their investments beyond traditional asset classes like real estate and equities, CREST is well-positioned to capitalize on this shift.
### Implications for India’s Startup Ecosystem
The emergence of CREST underscores the evolving role of family offices in India’s startup ecosystem. Traditionally focused on wealth preservation, these entities are now becoming active investors in startups, providing a critical source of funding and support for new ventures. Data from Inc42 indicates that domestic family offices have already backed over 230 Indian startups, with Mumbai serving as a central hub for such investments.
This trend reflects a broader shift in the investment landscape, where wealthy individuals and family offices are seeking alternative investment opportunities and direct involvement in the startup ecosystem. CREST’s entry into the market could further accelerate this trend, providing more capital and expertise to burgeoning startups.
### Looking Ahead
As CREST continues to expand its operations and refine its offerings, it is poised to make a significant impact on India’s wealth management sector. For founders and investors, the growing involvement of family offices in startup funding presents new opportunities for collaboration and growth. Observers should watch how CREST leverages its unique business model to attract clients and influence the broader market dynamics in India’s wealth management and startup ecosystems.
