Indus OS raises $4M in pre-series B funding round

Indus OS, India's homegrown smartphone operating system and native applications platform has raised $4 million as pre-series B funding from existing investors Omidyar Network, Ventureast and JSW Ventures. The latest funding values the company at $13 million and the funds will be used to accelerate brand partnerships, user acquisition, and new product development.

Launched in 2015, Indus OS climbed to number 2 position in India within a year, ahead of global giants such as Apple’s iOS and Microsoft’s Windows. Currently, it commands a user base of 10 million, across its smartphone brand partners such as Micromax, Intex, Karbonn, Celkon, and Swipe.

Rakesh Deshmukh, Co-Founder, and CEO, Indus OS, said, “The continued faith shown by our existing investors will help us achieve our vision of empowering a billion Indian users with a smartphone platform of their choice. We will strengthen our efforts to build the Indus OS platform for developers to reach the Indian masses through dedicated Brand Accounts, a new way for Indians to discover the Internet."

Badri Pillapakkam, Investment Partner at Omidyar Network said, “Indus OS continues to innovate for the smartphone user through its differentiated suite of regional language and system/ native application products that help accelerate Internet adoption by the Indian masses. We are confident that the team will cement strategic partnerships with international smartphone brands and build on the momentum gathered over the past few years.”

The company said, "The latest round of funds will see Indus OS partnering with some of the major developers in the country through the expansion of its Brand Accounts, a novel integration of internet services within the OS platform. These Brand Accounts on the Indus OS platform aim to power the digital needs of users in a revolutionary contextual and seamless interface that is made to reduce battery and data consumption while making the experience intuitive."

Earlier this year, the company announced the development of the first Aadhaar authenticated and UPI integrated OS in the country.