LinkedIn’s 2025 Top Startups List Reveals D2C Brands And Quick-Commerce Platforms Dominate Bengaluru’s Startup Ecosystem

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has unveiled the 2025 Top Startups list for Bengaluru– an annual ranking of the emerging companies where careers can thrive. The list, based on exclusive LinkedIn data on employee growth, engagement interest, job interest, and attraction of top talent, surfaces insights that can help local job seekers identify opportunities in the city.

 

Quick-commerce unicorn Zepto (#1), which also leads the 2025 Top Startups India list, leads the Bengaluru list as well. It is followed by security compliance automation platform Sprinto (#2), and city’s own 10-minute food delivery service Swish (#3). Despite operating in different categories, all three are scaling rapidly and expanding into new markets, signalling that operational excellence, technology depth, and consumer-centric innovation are the defining advantages of Bengaluru’s top-performing startups.

 

The ‘quick economy’ continues to be strongly represented in the list with Zepto (#1) and Swish (#3) ranked amongst the top 3. The city’s enterprise tech backbone remains strong, led by innovators such as Lucidity (#5), which is revolutionizing cloud storage and BiteSpeed (#10) providing AI-powered marketing solutions. Consumer brands are also thriving, from jewellery maker GIVA (#8) and hair care brand Traya (#9) showcasing the city's diverse entrepreneurial landscape.

 

Meanwhile, fintech startups CRED (#4) and Jupiter (#7) reflect India’s growing appetite for smarter money management efficiently. Three of the top five companies also feature in India’s overall Top Startups list, reaffirming Bengaluru’s continued dominance as the country’s startup capital. Yet, with half the companies being new entrants, the ecosystem is clearly evolving, marked by fresh ideas and widening opportunity.

 

Commenting on this year’s list, Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and Sr. Managing Editor, LinkedIn India News, said, “Bengaluru's startup ecosystem continues to set the pace for India's innovation economy, with deep strengths across both consumer technology and enterprise solutions. The city’s mix of enterprise tech, fintech, and digital-first consumer brands shows an ecosystem that’s both maturing and diversifying. For professionals, the opportunity lies in this intersection, where technology meets creativity, and where new models are being built to serve a fast-changing India.”

 

Here’s the full list of 2025 LinkedIn Top Startups in Delhi:

 

1. Zepto

2. Sprinto

3. Swish

4. CRED

5. Lucidity

6. Pocket FM

7. Jupiter

8. Giva

9. Traya

10.  BiteSpeed

 

Here are some tips from Nirajita Banerjee on how to land a job at a LinkedIn Top Startup:

 

• Track where startups are scaling, not just who is hiring: 14 newcomers moved from niche to national in under two years. You won’t see that in job boards. Watch funding, product launches and market expansion to spot momentum early.

• Evaluate founders like you would evaluate future managers: In high-growth startups, leadership dictates your growth more than title. Use LinkedIn to see how founders build teams, communicate and retain talent. Trust and clarity matter more than hype.

• Look for business models with discipline, not just innovation:  This year’s top startups win by pairing innovation with execution. Quick commerce enters new categories, AI builds infrastructure, fintech solves depth. Go where ambition meets operational rigour.

• Chase sectors AND problems worth solving: This year’s top startups solve urgency, complexity or trust. Tools change, but problem-solving is the real moat. If you understand the problem a company is obsessed with, you’ll always stay relevant.

 

You can visit the LinkedIn Bangalore 2025 Top Startups list here.

Methodology
LinkedIn measures startups based on four pillars: employment growth, engagement, job interest and attraction of top talent. Employment growth is measured as percentage headcount increase in the city over methodology time frame, which must be a minimum of 510%. Engagement looks at non-employee views and follows of the company’s LinkedIn page among members in the city, as well as how many non-employees are viewing employees at that startup. Job interest counts the rate at which people are viewing and applying to jobs at the company in the city, including both paid and unpaid postings. Attraction of top talent measures how many employees in the city the startup has recruited away from any global LinkedIn Top Company, as a percentage of the startup’s total workforce. Data is normalised across all eligible startups. The methodology time frame is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

 

To be eligible, companies must be fully independent, privately held, have 30 or more full-time employees in the city, be 7 years old or younger and be headquartered in the country on whose list they appear. We exclude all staffing firms, think tanks, venture capital firms, law firms, management and IT consulting firms, nonprofits and philanthropy, accelerators and government-owned entities. Startups who have laid off 20% or more of their workforce based on corporate announcements or public, reliable sources between July 1, 2024 and the list launch, are not eligible. These decisions are made by the LinkedIn News team based on company statements and/or reputable news outlets.

 

About LinkedIn:
LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms the way companies hire, learn, market, and sell. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through the ongoing development of the world’s first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has more than one billion members and has offices around the globe. www.linkedin.com / mobile.linkedin.com.

Toshiba Invites Innovators To Shape The Future Of IoT At GridDB Cloud IoT Hackathon

Apply Now to Join India’s Tech Community and Pioneer Real-time IoT Applications 

Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation, together with Toshiba Software India Pvt. Ltd., is pleased to announce the first ever GridDB Cloud IoT Hackathon, a two-day, in-person event that will take place in Bengaluru, India from January 31 to February 1, 2026. The hackathon invites startups, students, and developers to take on the challenge of developing real-time IoT applications using GridDB® Cloud, Toshiba’s fully managed time-series database available on Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

Toshiba is organizing the hackathon to promote the capabilities of GridDB® Cloud, which became available worldwide in April this year. GridDB® Cloud serves as a core data infrastructure for digital transformation, enabling organizations to collect and analyze large volumes of data, uncover valuable insights, and drive new business initiatives. Rapid data ingestion, low-latency querying, and robust reliability make it a stand-out into supporting real-time analytics and mission-critical operations across industries.

 

Hackathon participants will have the opportunity to develop and prototype IoT solutions that address real-world challenges in areas as diverse as smart manufacturing, energy, mobility, and healthcare. The top five teams will be selected as finalists from a pool of online submissions. Once selected, they will receive direct technical support and mentorship from GridDB® engineers during the onsite event, helping them deepen their expertise in time-series data management and cloud-native development. Finalists will present their proofs-of-concept to a panel of judges, with outstanding projects eligible for additional support and recognition.

 

Throughout the hackathon, participants can get hands-on experience with the latest IoT technologies, connect with fellow innovators, and receive valuable feedback. The event offers a unique chance to grow technical skills, expand professional networks, and make a meaningful impact in the IoT field.

 

Applications are open now through December 14, 2025. For more details and to apply, please visit: https://griddb-iot-hackathon.devpost.com/?utm_source=TDSL&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=topics

 

About GridDB® and GridDB® Cloud

GridDB® is Toshiba’s high-performance, distributed time-series database, purpose-built for IoT and big data. It combines time-series data management, petabyte-scale scalability, and high reliability with dual NoSQL/SQL interfaces for flexible development. Designed for real-time analytics, it supports mission-critical operations across industries like manufacturing, energy, automotive, and healthcare.

GridDB® Cloud, available on Microsoft Azure Marketplace, brings these capabilities to a fully managed cloud service. It offers seamless integration with tools like Azure IoT Edge and Grafana, intuitive GUI-based cluster management, and elastic scaling—reducing setup time, infrastructure costs, and operational overhead. With global availability in 26 countries, it enables enterprise-scale real-time analytics with ease.

 

GridDB® Product Website

https://www.global.toshiba/ww/products-solutions/ai-iot/griddb.html

GridDB® Cloud Product Website

https://www.global.toshiba/ww/products-solutions/ai-iot/griddb/product/griddb-cloud.html

GridDB® Cloud at Azure Marketplace

https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?search=griddb%20cloud&page=1

GridDB® Open Source Website

https://github.com/griddb/

For GridDB® Developers

https://griddb.net/

 

*GridDB is a registered trademark of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation in Japan.

 

About Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation

Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation is developing businesses globally which utilize digital and quantum technologies, such as IoT and artificial intelligence (AI), as the Toshiba Group company which handles digital solutions. By maximizing the power of various data generated in the wide range of business areas of the Toshiba Group and creating platforms, we will create a series of valuable services and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality and a circular economy.

Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation will continue to create new value, together with our customers and partners, based on the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group: “Committed to People, Committed to the Future.”

https://www.global.toshiba/ww/company/digitalsolution.html

 

About Toshiba Software India Private Limited

Toshiba Software India Private Limited (TSIP) is a Toshiba Group company specializing in the innovative software solutions. Since its inception in the year 2002, TSIP has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies and software solutions. TSIP works for software solutions at all layers of software architecture - Drivers, OS & schedulers, Multi-Core Firmware, Middleware and Applications. TSIP functions as a technology hub by leveraging technologies including AI/ML, IoT, Cloud solutions, Embedded Software & Systems Development, Application Development, Software Testing, Data Science and ERP Solutions to create state-of-art products & services across multiple domains. These domains are broadly categorized under Retail & Printing Solutions, Electronic Devices & Storage Solutions, Energy Systems & Solutions, Infrastructure Systems & Solutions, Digital Solutions and Battery Business. As a CMMI Level 5 and ISO 27001 certified company, TSIP has been growing with the results of strategic planning with a vision to contribute towards its group of companies worldwide.

The Ambassador Program Launched By TEN x YOU Celebrates Cricket From Grassroot To Elite Level

The TEN x YOU Ambassador Program recognizes and empowers grassroots coaches, embedding their insights into product innovation and advocacy.

TEN x YOU, the performance-driven sports and lifestyle-brand from SRT10 Athleisure Pvt. Ltd., recently announced the launch of its flagship Ambassador Program, in Mumbai. Co-founded by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, along with Karthik Gurumurthy, Chief Executive Officer and Karan Arora, Chief Operating Officer, the initiative strives to establish TEN x YOU as a credible, grassroots-anchored cricket brand.

As part of this program, the brand partnered with leading academies and clubs across the country to strengthen its grassroots connect. These include the SRT10 Academy, Cricket Academy of Pathans (founded by the Pathan Brothers and mentored under the visionary guidance of Managing Director Mr. Harmeet Vasdev), Uttam Mazumdar Cricket Academy, Rx Murali Cricket Academy to name a few. The Ambassador Program builds on this philosophy by bringing grassroots voices, especially coaches-into the heart of the brand’s innovation and advocacy efforts.

The launch was designed to be both symbolic and immersive. Sachin Tendulkar inaugurated the Ambassador Program by signing a Giant Replica Shoe, a moment that was further celebrated as esteemed guests and attendees also added their signatures, marking the collective beginning of the journey. The venue featured a Welcome Display and Product Zone that showcased TEN x YOU gear alongside storytelling on product design. Additionally, the Dugout Content Booth provided a dedicated space for ambassadors to share their journeys and training philosophies, creating a library of authentic voices to be featured on TEN x YOU’s digital platforms.

Karthik Gurumurthy, CEO of TEN x YOU, added, “The TEN x YOU Ambassador Program is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy to redefine cricket in India and become the biggest cricket brand globally. By empowering grassroots coaches, we are building a credible, performance- driven ecosystem where real insights directly shape product innovation, advocacy, and community engagement. By embedding these voices into our design and development process, we ensure that every piece of gear reffects the true needs of the cricketing community and delivers an authentic experience of the brand.”

Structured around the three strategic pillars of Recognize, Reward, and Empower, the TEN x YOU Ambassador Program is designed to build long-term credibility and impact within the grassroots cricketing ecosystem. The Recognize pillar highlights not just coaches but also academies that have built strong infrastructures for cricket in the country, ensuring their contributions are celebrated through storytelling-led initiatives. The Reward pillar delivers tangible value to coaches, players, and academies through preferential access to products, bespoke gear solutions, and exclusive discounts, directly aligning innovation with on-ground needs. The Empower pillar focuses on creating opportunities for deserving and talented students by enabling upward mobility through sponsorship pathways, ensuring that promising talent receives the support it needs to thrive.

TEN x YOU distinguished itself from traditional celebrity labels by adopting an insight-led, performance-first development process. The program leveraged professional expertise and rigorous testing to deliver products designed with performance and quality in mind to serve best to its customers.

Al Ain Museum Reopens To The Public From October 2025

The first museum in the United Arab Emirates remains the preeminent source of knowledge on the rich archaeological and cultural heritage of the Al Ain Region

 

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has officially reopened Al Ain Museum to the public following an extensive redevelopment designed by Dabbagh Architects. The museum now spans more than 8,000 square metres and retains the original museum structure as a key part of its architectural narrative.

 

The UAE’s first museum, originally founded in 1969 by the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Museum remains the centre of knowledge on the history and heritage of the Al Ain Region.

 

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Al Ain Museum holds a unique place in our collective memory and stands as a tribute to the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed, who understood the importance of safeguarding our past to inspire future generations. The reopening of the nation's first museum marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to continue this legacy by preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates. Through its invaluable collections and dynamic new visitor experience, this institution will connect visitors, both local and international, to the deep roots of Al Ain Region’s history and its integral role in shaping the identity of our nation.”

 

The collection and narrative of Al Ain Museum trace the human inhabitation of the Al Ain Region, featuring archaeological artefacts dating back over 8,000 years, material culture objects that highlight the customs and practices of its people and exhibitions that explore the area's rich cultural heritage through to the present day.

 

Omar Salem Al Kaabi, Director of Al Ain Museum, said: “Al Ain Museum serves as the gateway to understanding the cultural and archaeological significance of Al Ain Region. It offers visitors essential historical and interpretive context that brings to life the UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering insight into the outstanding universal value of the historic locations that surround it and their contribution to our collective understanding of human history. Our vision is for the museum to be the starting point of a wider journey, one that inspires visitors to explore the remarkable landscapes, ancient tombs and architectural landmarks of Al Ain Region with a deeper appreciation of their enduring value to human history and local heritage.”

 

Al Ain Museum features newly discovered archaeological sites unearthed during the redevelopment process, which have been meticulously excavated and preserved to form a central part of the visitor experience. A key highlight of the museum’s narrative is the development of the ancient aflaj irrigation system, one of the most significant technological and cultural advancements in the region’s history. This innovation enabled sustainable agriculture and made long-term settlement in Al Ain Region possible, laying the foundations for the area's continuous human habitation and its emergence as a centre of life and culture in the desert.

 

Al Ain Museum is located next to the Sultan Fort, also known as the Eastern Fort, which lies at the eastern edge of Al Ain Oasis and once lay at the heart of the former village, or hara, of Al Ain, which also took its alternative name of ‘Haret Al Hosn’ from the fort. Sultan Fort was built in 1910 by the son of Sheikh Zayed the First, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed, who was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922–26.

 

Housing a vast collection of archaeological artefacts that span thousands of years of human settlement in the region, Al Ain Museum serves as a vital centre for archaeological scholarship and education. The museum features a dedicated research facility designed to support ongoing excavations, interdisciplinary studies and conservation efforts. By providing researchers, academics and students with access to primary material culture and specialised resources, the museum fosters a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural development of Al Ain Region and its surrounding areas. This commitment to advancing knowledge ensures that the museum is not only a place of preservation but also a dynamic hub for discovery, interpretation and academic exchange that contributes to the broader field of regional and global archaeology.

 

Al Ain Museum features a thoughtfully designed educational space that hosts interactive workshops and hands-on learning activities, offering visitors of all ages the opportunity to engage directly with the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Complementing the visitor experience is the museum café and retail space, a dedicated reading room and a temporary exhibition space.

About Al Ain Museum

Al Ain Museum is the first museum established in the United Arab Emirates, originally founded in 1969 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE. Situated in the heart of Al Ain and home to the historic Sultan Fort, it has long served as the country’s primary repository of archaeological and ethnographic knowledge. The museum’s collections and exhibitions trace the continuous human habitation of the region, from the Palaeolithic period to the present day, highlighting major historical developments such as the ancient aflaj irrigation system and the customs and lifeways of the people who shaped this desert oasis. It serves as a key interpretive hub for visitors seeking to understand the broader network of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and cultural landmarks across Al Ain.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

 

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

 

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, visit: dct.gov.ae

Motovolt Mobility Forays Into Karnataka, Opens First Retail Touchpoints In Bengaluru

Motovolt Mobility Pvt. Ltd, an advanced and reliable electric two-wheeler solutions provider, has expanded its retail footprint in Karnataka and opened its new and exclusive dealership in Bengaluru. This move reaffirms the brand’s commitment to bringing its range of micro-mobility solutions and multi-utility scooters to one of the biggest markets of e-transportation options. These products are the best suited for catering to the demands of last-mile delivery to commuting across city traffic.

Motovolt’s new dealership, Team Cycle World, is strategically located at HAL, Old Airport Road and spans 1,250 sq. ft. It showcases the brand’s comprehensive product portfolio, catering to diverse consumer needs: multi-utility high-speed e-scooters M7 and M7 Lite; a high-speed e-scooter with Battery as a Service (BaaS) and battery swapping facilities in collaboration with Indofast Energy MVS7; a sturdy and stylish e-bike URBN; an e-cycle for heavy-duty use and cargo mobility HUM; and an easy daily commute and lifestyle e-cycle KIVO.

Speaking about the expansion, Tushar Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Motovolt Mobility, said:
“At Motovolt, our mission is to make sustainable mobility accessible to every Indian by offering innovative and purpose-driven products. Bengaluru represents one of India’s most dynamic EV markets, and with the launch of our new dealership at HAL, we aim to provide consumers with future-ready solutions backed by robust after-sales service. The introduction of our battery swapping model will further enhance convenience and accelerate EV adoption in the city.”

The opening of this outlet is part of Motovolt’s broader strategy to expand its retail footprint across metros as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, ensuring deeper market penetration and greater consumer access. It offers the best-in-class customer experience through dedicated sales and service touchpoints. So far, the brand has 100 touchpoints across India and has delivered over 32,000 vehicles.

Infibeam Avenues Receives In-Principle Approval From IFSCA To Operate As Payment Service Provider At GIFT-IFSC

Infibeam Avenues Ltd (NSE: INFIBEAM, BSE: 539807), a leading listed AI-fintech company, today announced that the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has granted in-principle approval to its wholly-owned subsidiary, IA Fintech IFSC Private Ltd (IA Fintech), to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City – International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC).

 

GIFT-IFSC, based in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is India’s premier special economic zone (SEZ) and a strategic international financial hub designed to host global financial operations that traditionally take place in centers such as London, Dubai, or Singapore. The IFSCA, a Government of India’s unified regulatory body, oversees and promotes all financial products, institutions, and services within the GIFT- IFSC or SEZ ecosystem.

 

With this in-principle approval, IA Fintech is set to deliver a broad suite of digital payment and cross-border financial services to businesses operating within GIFT-IFSC and international markets. These services will include escrow account operations, cross-border money transfer facilitation, and merchant acquisition — supporting enterprises with faster, more efficient, and regulated payment solutions.

 

“We are delighted with this approval and deeply grateful to the IFSCA for their trust in our fintech capabilities,” said Mr Vishal Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director, Infibeam Avenues Ltd. “This opportunity marks an important expansion of our business, creating a new and high-potential revenue stream that can meaningfully contribute to our overall growth.”

 

Upon obtaining final authorization and meeting statutory requirements, IA Fintech will be permitted to:

 

Ø  Provide escrow services for secured financial settlements.

 

Ø  Enable cross-border remittances into and out of the GIFT-IFSC/SEZ area.

 

Ø  Facilitate payment processing and settlement for merchants.

 

Currently, many firms within GIFT-IFSC rely on traditional correspondent banking arrangements for international payments, involving multi-step routing through overseas banks via Nostro accounts and SWIFT networks. This process can take up to 36–48 hours and often incurs higher costs. IA Fintech’s PSP framework aims to streamline these transactions through advanced digital settlement infrastructure, ensuring near-instant, cost-effective, and transparent cross-border transactions.

 

The GIFT-IFSC ecosystem continues to grow rapidly — hosting over 16 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), 75 broker-dealers, 16 bullion trading entities, 23 aircraft leasing companies, 9 ship leasing firms, 118 qualified jeweler firms notified by IFSCA, 94 fund management firms and others. Collectively, these enterprises represent a significant addressable market for IA Fintech’s regulated digital payment services.

 

According to estimates, GIFT-IFSC is positioned to capture over USD 500 billion in financial opportunities spanning external commercial borrowings, trade finance, HNI wealth management, ESG pools, and lease financing across aviation and maritime sectors. For instance, trade finance transaction volumes have more than doubled — rising from USD 20 billion in FY22 to USD 46 billion in FY25.

 

IA Fintech as a regulated payment service providers intent to play a pivotal role in transforming GIFT-IFSC into a global fintech and cross-border payments hub, enabling faster financial flows, digital commerce efficiency, and greater competitiveness for Indian and international enterprises operating within the GIFT-IFSC/SEZ area.

 

About Infibeam Avenues Limited

 

Infibeam Avenues Ltd. is one of the leading global financial technology (fintech) company offering comprehensive digital payment solutions, Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and enterprise software platforms to businesses and governments across industry verticals. The company's payment infrastructure solution includes acquiring and issuing solutions and offering infrastructure for banks. The core Payment Gateway (PG) business provides over 200 plus payment options to the merchants allowing them to accept payments through website and mobile devices in 27 international currencies. Infibeam Avenues' enterprise software platform hosts India's largest online marketplace for government procurement. The company processed transaction worth INR 8.67 trillion (US$ 106 billion) in FY25. Company currently has over 10 million plus clients across digital payments and enterprise software platforms. The company's vast clientele includes merchants, enterprises, corporations, governments, and financial institutions in both domestic (India) as well as international markets. Infibeam Avenues' international operations are based in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Australia, and the United States of America. We also have business presence in Oman working with three of the largest banks in the country.