4 rising startups in India – May 17

An emergency response app funded by Ratan Tata makes our list of startup investments today, while a cashback portal makes its series B round. An edtech startup that uses robotics and augmented reality and a home health startup with a female entrepreneur focus round out our list of four.

MUrgency

Developing countries like India don’t have uniform, reliable emergency response services like the 911 number in the US or the 999 number in the UK. MUrgency, a mobile app that seeks to connect aid-seekers with medical response personnel in the area, has therefore received a lot of attention, counting Stanford ChangeLabs, Harvard Asia Center, MIT Global Health, and SXSW among its supporters. Now, it can count Ratan Tata among its investors. The businessman and serial investor has invested an undisclosed amount in the startup.

Founded two years ago by Shaffi Mather and Sweta Mangal, MUrgency also helps its users book nurses and other healthcare professionals for more routine check-ups. It also helps patients chat with doctors for quick advice, and locate places of assistance including hospitals, police stations, and gas pumps.

Crownit

Gurgaon-based mobile marketing and customer rewards app Crownit has secured a series B investment round from two undisclosed investors based in Silicon Valley and Mumbai. Existing investors Accel Partners and Helion Venture Partners have also participated in the round.

The total amount was undisclosed, but the new investors contributed about US$4 million.

Founded in March 2014 by Delhi College of Engineering graduate Sameer Grover, Crownit provides cashback offers to customers while giving local businesses technology to help run their marketing programs. It is present in the Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore at over 10,000 merchants with 800,000 users.

Cashback isn’t a bad way to go in India, as far as startup funding goes. CupoNation raised US$11 million in February from investors including Rocket Internet. CashKaro raised an undisclosed amount from Ratan Tata in January and US$3.8 million from Kalaari Capital in November last year.

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