Inc42

Inc42, founded in 2015 by Vaibhav Vardhan, Utkarsh Agarwal, and Pooja Sareen, operates as a media and information platform with a sharp focus on the Indian startup ecosystem. The founding trio, who began this journey as recent college graduates, aimed to create a definitive voice for India's burgeoning internet economy. Vaibhav Vardhan, the CEO, brought his experience as a writer and industry analyst to the venture. Utkarsh Agarwal, with a background in Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani and early entrepreneurial projects, contributes to the operational and strategic direction. Pooja Sareen, the Editor-in-Chief, leveraged her prior experience in media at companies like NDTV to shape the platform's editorial voice.

The company's primary business revolves around providing news, data-backed analysis, and in-depth research on technology, startups, and market trends in India. Its client base is diverse, encompassing entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, and policymakers who rely on the platform for insights. Inc42's revenue model is multifaceted, deriving income from both B2B services and direct-to-consumer subscriptions. A significant portion of revenue comes from its BrandLabs division, which creates sponsored content and hosts curated events like VC Dinners and Pulse42, connecting brands with decision-makers in the startup community. The other major revenue stream is Inc42 Plus, a premium subscription service launched in February 2020. This membership grants users unlimited access to over 50,000 articles, exclusive research reports, educational content through Inc42 Academy, and member-only events.

The platform has established itself as a source for intelligence on the Indian market, publishing over 100 research reports that are cited by government bodies and global firms. With Inc42 Datalabs, the company actively tracks more than 10,000 tech startups, providing market intelligence crucial for strategic decision-making. This data-driven approach supports its editorial content and has helped the company build a reputation for credible analysis. The firm has successfully raised approximately $5.44 million in funding over several rounds from investors including Unicorn India Ventures and Eximius Ventures, which has supported its growth and expansion into new offerings like executive courses and workshops.

Keywords: Indian startup ecosystem, venture capital India, technology news India, startup funding report, market intelligence platform, entrepreneurship media, Inc42 Plus, BrandLabs, Vaibhav Vardhan, Pooja Sareen, Utkarsh Agarwal, startup analysis, tech media, Indian economy, business news India, startup data, investment trends, corporate innovation India, D2C brands India, fintech news India, e-commerce market India