AppsForBharat Raises $20 Million in Series C Round for Sri Mandir Devotional App
AppsForBharat, the Indian startup behind the popular Hindu devotional app Sri Mandir, has secured $20 million in a new funding round, just nine months after raising $18 million. The latest investment was led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with participation from existing investors such as Nandan Nilekani’s Fundamentum Partnership, Elevation Capital, and Peak XV Partners.
The religious devotion market in India is significant, with 53 temples for every 100,000 people. The Hindu temple economy is valued at ₹3.02 trillion, but services like prayers and offerings are still largely offline and unorganized. AppsForBharat aims to address these challenges with Sri Mandir, which allows devotees to perform prayers and make offerings virtually at Indian temples.
Since its launch in November 2020, Sri Mandir has amassed over 40 million downloads and facilitated online prayers and offerings at more than 70 temples across India. The app currently has 3.5 million monthly active users, with a growing user base outside India.
One of the key differentiators of Sri Mandir is its revenue model. While the app’s user base is primarily domestic, the average revenue per user from international users is significantly higher. The app has also seen a 15% quarter-over-quarter growth in registered users outside India.
Founder and CEO Prashant Sachan revealed that Sri Mandir has surpassed a $12 million run rate in early 2025, with a six-month retention rate of 55%. The app’s success can be attributed to the recurring nature of the transactions it facilitates.
Sri Mandir’s user behavior varies by geography, with a higher percentage of users in the U.S. engaging in both prayers and offerings due to their distance from Indian temples. Despite competition from other apps entering the religious tech space, Sri Mandir remains the leading Hindu devotional app.
With the new funding, AppsForBharat plans to expand its presence in over 20 temple towns in India, starting with Varanasi, Ayodhya, Haridwar, and Ujjain. The startup will also enhance the app’s user experience with AI-led features and aims to achieve profitability by 2027–28.
Overall, AppsForBharat has emerged as a frontrunner in the religious tech sector, having raised a total of $33.4 million before the Series C round. The startup’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance religious experiences sets it apart in an increasingly competitive market.
