Top 12 Most Profitable Startups in India – 2026 Updated List

India’s startup ecosystem ranks as the third-largest in the world in 2026. The country has over 6.1 lakh startups, including 1.5 lakh DPIIT-recognized ventures and 94 unicorns. This scale shows how rapidly entrepreneurship is rising, but it also raises an important question: how many of these companies have actually become profitable startups in India?

Profitability is more than a number. It’s an achievement that only a small share of startups can reach. It shows that a company has built a business model that works in the real world. It also proves that the startup serves a genuine market need and can grow without depending endlessly on investor funding.

A profitable startup is one that has reliable and repeatable revenue, not temporary spikes in sales. It maintains healthy unit economics, where each transaction contributes positively instead of burning cash. It also operates with strong cost discipline, designing its operations for efficiency from the ground up. Most importantly, it maintains positive cash flow, giving the company stability even in unpredictable or competitive markets.

In India, achieving profitability is a significant accomplishment. It means the startup has managed to win customer trust and create consistent demand. It also shows the company has optimized expenses, strengthened margins, and scaled operations in an economy known for price-sensitive consumers and fierce competition.

In this article, you’ll find a data-driven list of the most profitable startups in India and a sector-wise breakdown. It also offers key lessons for entrepreneurs, including insights useful for those considering Startup India registration.

What Makes a Startup Profitable in India? Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs

To identify profitable Indian startups 2024, it’s crucial to use clear criteria showing sustainable revenue growth rather than reliance on external funding. Entrepreneurs can apply these principles during Startup registration to establish a profitable business from the start.

In the points below, we explain how to judge profitable startups and what makes them stand out in the Indian market:

1. Profit After Tax (PAT): PAT indicates the actual profit a startup makes after expenses and taxes. A strong PAT reflects disciplined operations, controlled costs, and sustainable growth.

2. Positive Cash Flow: Startups with more inflow than outflow operate independently of constant funding. Efficiency and revenue focus drive long-term stability. 

3. Sustainable Revenue Model: Startups with reliable, repeatable income, like subscriptions or regular customers, ensure predictable earnings and long-term success.

4. Profitability is Rare: Many startups burn cash chasing growth amid low margins and tough competition. Those with cost discipline and scalable models achieve real profits.

5. Data Reliability and Caveats: Private startups may have incomplete or delayed financials, but available data highlights truly profitable companies for entrepreneurs to learn from.

A profitable startup in India earns steadily, grows responsibly, and builds a business model strong enough to survive without constant investor support.

Even high-performing startups need the right investors to fuel future growth. Discover essential strategies for raising funds in India’s startup ecosystem.

India’s Most Profitable Startups: 12 Snapshots of Growth and Earnings

The Indian startup ecosystem is evolving, with profitability going hand-in-hand with expansion. From fintech and e-commerce to healthcare and service marketplaces, several of the highest-earning startups in India have scaled while generating significant profits.

Below is a detailed look at 12 of the most profitable startups in India in 2024/25, highlighting their business models, earnings, and the factors driving profitability.

1. Groww – Fintech / Investment platform

Founded in 2016, Groww started as a mutual fund investment platform and later expanded to stocks, ETFs, and US stocks. It focuses on providing a simple, mobile-first investing experience for retail users.

Profit (FY25): ₹1,824.4 crore

Profit (FY24): ₹535 crore

Revenue (FY25): ~₹4,061.65 crore     

Why are they profitable:

• Very low operating overheads: Operating expenses remain at 14% of total revenue, far lower than traditional brokers who spend 25–35%.
  
• Massive scale advantage: Over 12 million active users reduce cost per active investor and drive high daily trading volumes.
  
• Strong brokerage income: Even small per-order charges compound into large earnings due to high transaction frequency.
  
• Growing subscription revenue: Premium features and add-on services contribute ₹100–130 crore annually, providing stable recurring income.
  
• Digital-first operations: Fully online KYC, support, and onboarding cut acquisition costs by 40–50% compared to offline brokerages.

2. IndiaMART – B2B Marketplace

Launched in 1999, IndiaMART connects millions of buyers and suppliers across India, helping businesses find products and suppliers efficiently. It is India’s largest B2B online marketplace.

Profit (FY25): ₹550.7 crore (FY25)

Profit (FY24): ₹334 crore

Revenue (FY25): ₹1,388 crore

Why are they profitable: 

• Asset-light business model: IndiaMART does not hold inventory, which minimizes operational costs.
  
• Recurring revenue: Subscription fees and lead-generation services from ~217,000 paying suppliers provide predictable income.
  
• High scalability: Adding new suppliers and buyers requires minimal additional infrastructure.
  
• Digital-first operations: Online onboarding, KYC, and support reduce administrative costs.
  
• Sustainable margins: The company consistently maintains strong EBITDA margins through low overheads and efficient operations.

3. Myntra – E-commerce / Fashion & Lifestyle

Founded in 2007, Myntra is one of India’s leading online fashion and lifestyle retailers, offering apparel, footwear, and accessories from domestic and international brands.

Profit (FY25): ₹548.3 crore 

Profit (FY24): ₹30.9 crore 

Revenue from operations (FY25): ₹6,042.7 crore

Why are they profitable: 

• Revenue growth faster than cost rise: Myntra’s revenue grew 18% YoY to ₹6,042.7 crore, whereas its expenses rose by a lower rate, helping improve margins.
  
• Diversified revenue streams: Their income comes not only from sales, but also from logistics services, marketplace commissions, and advertising, spreading risk across multiple streams.
  
• Improved efficiency and scale: With scale and optimized operations, Myntra likely reduced per‑order and per‑customer costs compared to earlier years. Lower relative cost pressure helped deliver profit.
  
• Business models shift toward services rather than inventory-heavy retailing: By emphasizing marketplace services, logistics and value‑added features (rather than purely inventory-led retail), they manage working capital better and improve cash flow.

4. Eternal – Healthcare / Pharma

Founded in 2008, Eternal operates in the healthcare and pharmaceutical space, producing high-demand health products and medicines.

Profit (FY25): ₹527 crore 

Profit (FY24): ₹351 crore 

Revenue from operations (FY25): ₹20,243 crore

Why are they profitable: 

• Scale of operations: A large consumer base across food‑delivery, quick commerce, and B2B supply gives massive order volumes, which helps spread fixed costs over large revenues, leading to improved margins.
  
• Diversified business model: With multiple revenue streams (food delivery, quick commerce, B2B supplies, services), Eternal isn’t dependent on just one vertical; success in one helps balance others.
  
• Improved unit economics: In FY25, growth in high-margin segments (food delivery) and a reduction in losses from quick‑commerce helped overall profitability.
  
• Operational efficiencies & scale leverage: As operations scale, overheads per order drop, while fulfillment infrastructure, logistics, and supply‑chain optimization spread across many orders, delivering stable margins.
  
• Resilient fundamentals despite volatility: Even though some quarters (e.g., Q4 FY25) saw profit dip due to expansion costs, the annual consolidated numbers show healthy profit and growth, proving resilience.

5. Digit Insurance – Insurtech / Digital Insurance

Established in 2017, Digit is a technology-driven insurance company providing motor, health, travel, and property insurance with a fully digital interface.

Profit (FY25): ₹425 crore 

Profit (FY24): ₹182 crore 

Gross Written Premium (GWP) FY25: ₹10,282 crore

Why are they profitable: 

• Strong premium growth: GWP increased ~14% in FY25 over FY24, rising from ₹9,016 crore to ₹10,282 crore.
  
• Efficient underwriting and claims management: Lower claim and expense ratios compared to peers helped improve net margins.
  
• Digital‑first operations: Digit uses a fully online model for policy issuance, claims processing, and customer service, which reduces overheads compared to traditional insurers.
  
• Improved capital & solvency position: As of FY25, Digit’s solvency ratio stands at 2.24x, comfortably above regulatory norms, indicating financial resilience.
  
• Diversified revenue across segments: Motor, health, and other non-life insurance together help spread risk, reducing dependence on any single line while ensuring stable premium income.

6. InCred Finance – NBFC / Lending & Financial Services

InCred began operation in 2012 and provides personal loans, education loans, and SME financing with a focus on digital lending and faster approvals.

Profit (FY25): ₹372 crore

Profit (FY24): ₹315 crore

Revenue / Total Income (FY25): ₹1,873–1,875 crore approximately

Why are they profitable: 

• Rapid growth in loan book: The loan portfolio expanded 37% YoY, driven by consumer loans, education loans, and SME financing, enabling higher interest income.
  
• Strong underwriting and asset quality: Gross NPA stood at just 1.9% and Net NPA at 0.7%, showing disciplined lending and controlled credit risk.
  
• Diversified revenue mix: Besides interest income, fees and commissions jumped significantly (4× growth), boosting non‑interest income and improving margins.
  
• Cost‑efficient operations: As a fintech‑driven NBFC, InCred keeps overheads lower than traditional lenders, making business more scalable with each loan sanctioned.

7. PB Fintech – Fintech / Insurance Aggregator

Founded in 2008, the Parent company of platforms like PolicyBazaar and Paisabazaar, it aggregates insurance, loans, and financial products online.

Profit (FY25): ₹353 crore

Profit (FY24): ₹64 crore

Revenue from operations (FY25): ₹4,977 crore

Why are they profitable: 

• Massive scale + recurring premiums: In FY25, it processed insurance premiums worth ₹23,486 crore. This creates a strong recurring revenue base.
  
• Efficient digital distribution: Operating online keeps overheads low. Digital onboarding and streamlined operations reduce the cost per customer acquisition.
  
• Strong margin improvement: PAT margin grew from ~2% in FY24 to ~7% in FY25. Cost control and efficient underwriting helped improve profits.
  
• Diversified revenue mix: Income comes from insurance fees, Paisabazaar credit services, and value-added offerings. This spreads risk and stabilizes earnings.
  
• Healthy cash reserves: PB Fintech maintains a robust cash balance. This allows flexibility to invest in growth or handle slowdowns without heavy external funding.

8. Lenskart – D2C Eyewear

Founded in 2010, Lenskart is an omnichannel eyewear retailer providing glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses with online and offline stores.

Profit (FY25): ₹297.3 crore

Profit (FY24): ₹‑10.2 crore (i.e., a loss) 

Revenue (FY25): ₹6,652.5 crore 

Why are they profitable:  

• Vertical integration lowers costs: Lenskart controls design, manufacturing (frames & lenses), and retail. This removes many middle‑man markups and helps maintain product margins near 70% gross margin.
  
• Scale and omnichannel advantage: With thousands of online + offline stores globally (over 2,800 stores as of mid-2025), it scales sales volume, which spreads fixed costs across many units.
  
• Improved margins via efficiency: As sales grew 22–25% in FY25, cost control and supply‑chain efficiencies helped turn a previous loss into profit.
  
• Diversified revenue streams: Income comes from eyewear sales, eye‑tests, online + offline channels, reducing reliance on any single source and making revenue more stable.

9. OYO – Hospitality / Travel-Tech

Established in 2013, OYO operates an asset-light hotel franchise model, standardizing budget accommodations across India and internationally.

Profit (FY25): ₹623 crore (PAT) 

Profit (FY24): ₹229 crore

Revenue (FY25): ₹6,463 crore

Why are they profitable:

• Recovery in travel demand & volume growth: Gross Booking Value (GBV) rose significantly in FY2, driving higher room‑night bookings and occupancy.
  
• Improved yield management & better pricing: Increased revenue per booking from premium and mid‑segment offerings helped raise margins.
  
• Cost and structural optimisation: Use of an asset‑light franchise model limits capital expenditure compared to owning properties, helping reduce fixed costs.
  
• Sustained operational profitability: Adjusted EBITDA remained positive for 10 consecutive quarters, showing operational stability before factoring in one‑time gains.

10. Urban Company – Gig Economy / Home Services

Founded in 2014, Urban Company connects customers with professionals offering beauty, cleaning, and maintenance services across India.

Profit (FY25): ₹239.8 crore (~₹240 crore) 

Profit (FY24): -₹92.7 crore (loss) 

Revenue (FY25): ₹1,144.5 crore 

Why are they profitable: 

• Revenue surge: Operating revenue grew 38% in FY25, driven by high demand for home and beauty services.
  
• Operational improvements: Better cost control and fixed‑cost leverage helped shift the company from loss to profit.
  
• Platform-based model: As a marketplace, Urban Company does not own heavy physical assets. This lowers fixed costs and helps with scalability.
  
• Diverse service offerings: A mix of services, home repair, beauty & wellness, appliance fixes, etc., reduces dependence on any one segment and spreads risk.
  
• Gig‑based workforce structure: Using a flexible partner/service‑professional model keeps staffing/fixed‑cost burden lower compared to full‑time employment, helping improve margins.

11. TBO.com – B2B Travel Marketplace

Founded in 2006, TBO.com provides a B2B travel platform connecting travel agents with hotels, flights, and other travel services worldwide.

Profit (FY25): ₹230 crore

Profit (FY24): ~₹200 crore (PAT crossed ₹200 cr in FY24)

Revenue from operations (FY25): ~₹1,393 crore in FY24

Why are they profitable: 

• Commission-based / asset-light model: TBO doesn’t hold hotels or transport assets. It earns via commissions/platform take‑rates on bookings made by agents. This eliminates inventory risk and heavy capital expenditure.
  
• Strong demand rebound & scale: Rising global and domestic travel demand, plus demand surge in hotel and package bookings, scaled up operations. In Q4 FY25, revenue rose, and profit grew 28.3% YoY.
  
• Cost control despite rising volume: Even with higher booking volumes, TBO managed costs, service fees, and employee expenses remained proportionate, allowing net profitability.
  
• Global & diversified supplier/agent network: Broad supplier and agent base across regions, which supports volume-based margins and reduces dependence on any single geography or vendor. 

12. Navi – Fintech / Lending & Insurance

Founded in 2018, Navi is a digital financial services company offering loans, insurance, and wealth products with a strong focus on mobile-first solutions.

Profit (FY25): ₹222 crore

Profit (FY24): ₹668.8 crore (was boosted by a one‑time gain from the sale of a subsidiary)

Revenue from operations (FY25): ₹2,271.2 crore, up 19% compared to FY24.

Why are they profitable: 

• Strong top‑line growth: Revenue rose ~19% in FY25, despite macroeconomic headwinds.
  
• Digital‑first operations: The company’s tech‑driven model lowers costs. Digital onboarding, lower overhead and efficient processes help maintain margins.
  
• Diversified financial services: Income comes from interest (on loans) and insurance offerings, spreading risk across credit and insurance verticals.
  
• Resilience despite one‑time headwinds: The sharp drop in profit is due to the loss of a large one‑time gain (from a subsidiary sale), not a structural collapse, showing the business remains fundamentally stable.

The list of India’s most profitable startups shows that Indian startups are moving beyond mere growth ambitions, evolving into sustainable, profit-driven businesses. 

Methodology: How We Selected the Most Profitable Startups in India?

To create a credible list of profitable startups in India, we used verified data and clear criteria to highlight startups demonstrating real financial performance today. These insights are valuable for entrepreneurs planning to apply for company registration. Below is how we selected and evaluated the companies:

1. Eligible Companies: Only Indian startups or unicorns with publicly reported profits or credible disclosures in the latest fiscal year were included. The preferred reference year is FY 2025–26.

• Focus on the most profitable startups that demonstrate real earnings.
• Excludes startups without verified profit data or only projected profitability.

2. Reliable Data Sources: We used official financial statements, audited reports, and trusted industry research.

• Cross-checked with credible startup blogs, ecosystem reports, and reputed media coverage.
• Ensures the list reflects true profitable startup businesses, not estimates or rumors.

3. Financial Metrics Considered: We considered Profit After Tax (PAT), positive cash flow, and recurring revenue.

• Helps identify profit-making startups in India that are financially stable.
• Focuses on companies with sustainable revenue models rather than one-time spikes.

4. Age and Stage of Startups: Both early-stage and mature startups were considered if they reported profits.

• Highlights profitable startups across different sectors and growth stages.
• Captures diverse examples of Indian companies turning revenue into profit.

5. Sector Coverage: Startups from multiple industries, fintech, SaaS, logistics, e-commerce, and consumer services, were included.

• Allows the list to show the breadth of profitable startup businesses in India.
• Emphasizes sector trends in profitability.

6. Possible Omissions: Many Indian startups are privately held or delay publishing financials.

• Some profit-making startups in India may not appear due to unavailable data.
• Differences in accounting and reporting practices may also affect visibility.

This methodology ensures the list highlights profitable startups with verified earnings.

Sector-wise Profitability Trends: Which Industries are Profitable in India?

Certain sectors consistently dominate the list of profitable startups, while others, despite being high-profile, continue to burn cash. Here’s a brief mention of all the sectors that are churning more profits than others:

1. Fintech / Digital Financial Services

Digital financial services are booming with rising retail investing, insurance penetration, and credit demand, coupled with increasing smartphone adoption and internet penetration.

Examples of Profitable Startups: Groww, PB Fintech, Digit Insurance, InCred, Navi

Why profitable:

• Recurring revenue: Subscription fees, commissions on transactions, insurance premiums, and lending interest.
  
• Scalability: Platforms can add millions of users digitally without proportionally increasing costs.
  
• Market demand: Growing digital adoption, rising retail investing, insurance penetration, and credit demand.

Key characteristic: High-volume, low-cost-per-user digital platforms with recurring monetization streams.

2. B2B Marketplaces / SaaS

Businesses increasingly rely on digital procurement, travel booking, and software solutions for efficiency and cost savings.

Examples of Profitable Startups: IndiaMART, TBO.com

Why profitable:

• Recurring revenue: Subscriptions, lead-generation fees, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) charges.
  
• Scalability: Once the platform is built, adding new suppliers or customers costs very little.
  
• Market demand: Businesses need procurement, travel booking, and B2B services efficiently.

Key characteristic: Asset-light, predictable revenue, and strong network effects make marketplaces highly profitable.

3. E-commerce & D2C Retail

Consumers increasingly prefer online shopping for convenience, variety, and competitive pricing; direct-to-consumer models also enable brands to control margins.

Examples of Profitable Startups: Myntra, Lenskart

Why profitable:

• Operational efficiency: Vertical integration, supply chain optimization, and logistics control improve margins.
  
• Recurring demand: Regular fashion, lifestyle, and eyewear purchases drive repeat customers.
  
• Scalability: Omnichannel models and digital presence allow a large geographic reach without proportional cost increases.

Key characteristic: Scale and operational excellence convert large revenues into sustainable profits.

4. On-demand / Gig Economy / Service Marketplaces

Consumers increasingly seek convenience for home services, maintenance, and hospitality, while flexible gig work supply is growing.

Examples of Profitable Startups: Urban Company, OYO

Why profitable:

• Asset-light approach: Franchises, gig professionals, and platform-based services reduce capital expenditure.
  
• Recurring demand: Cleaning, maintenance, home services, and hospitality are high-frequency or seasonal services.
  
• Scalability: Platforms grow by increasing users and providers without heavy investment.

Key characteristic: Matchmaking platforms with a revenue per transaction model and low fixed costs.

Lessons from Profitable Startups in India: A Guide for Aspiring Startup Founders

While the path from startup to profitability is never easy, India’s successful startups offer important lessons for emerging entrepreneurs. By examining these profit-making ventures, aspiring founders can discover strategies that effectively balance growth with long-term sustainability. 

Key takeaways include:

1. Profitability over hype: Startups should prioritize building sustainable businesses rather than chasing valuations or media attention. A clear path to profit ensures longevity and attracts serious investors, even in competitive markets. This mindset is a defining trait of profitable startups in India.

2. Selecting the right sector & product-market fit: Entrepreneurs must align their startup with India’s evolving consumer and industrial landscape. Sectors with high digital adoption, recurring demand, and scalability, like fintech, B2B marketplaces, and service platforms, tend to reach profitability faster. 

Choosing the right niche increases the likelihood of becoming one of India’s profitable startups or even a top unicorn.

3. Operational excellence: Efficiency and scalability are critical for long-term profitability. Many of India’s profitable startups have demonstrated that disciplined operations, combined with recurring revenue streams, drive sustainable growth.

• Lean operations: Minimize unnecessary costs and focus on efficiency. This is a key reason why Indian startups in profit maintain strong margins.
  
• Scalability: Design products or services that can grow without proportional increases in cost, allowing startups to expand rapidly.
  
• Recurring revenue & customer retention: Subscription-based or transaction-driven models create predictable cash flow and improve long-term profitability, a hallmark of profitable startups in India.

4. Need for transparency and good financial practices: Investors and stakeholders value clear, honest financial reporting. Maintaining transparent accounting, disciplined budgeting, and realistic projections builds trust, supports growth, and positions startups for sustainable profitability. Good financial practices are a common trait among India’s profitable startups.

Following these principles increases the chances of becoming one of the Indian startups in profit that endure beyond hype.

Risks and Challenges: Why Profitability is Still Rare for Startups in India

Most startups in India struggle to become profitable due to operational hurdles, sector-specific constraints, and valuation risks. Key challenges include:

• Operational and Market Challenges: High customer acquisition costs, intense competition, market volatility, and scaling expenses can delay profitability.
  
• Structural Constraints in Certain Sectors: Capital-intensive industries and long gestation periods make some sectors slower to generate profits.
  
• Risk of Mis-valuation vs Actual Profitability: High valuations often reflect projected growth rather than real earnings, and sustainability remains a concern.

Overcoming these challenges requires founders to adopt lean, scalable, and disciplined business models to achieve sustainable profitability.

Final Thoughts

As India’s startup ecosystem matures, the focus is clearly shifting from hype to real earnings. Profitable startups in India are increasingly those that combine scalable operations, recurring revenue, and disciplined financial management, proving that sustainable growth is achievable across sectors like fintech, B2B marketplaces, e-commerce, and services.

Aspiring founders and investors should focus on creating businesses that deliver real profits today, rather than chasing high valuations tomorrow. For guidance, insights, and support in building one of India’s profitable startups, RegisterKaro provides strategies to transform ideas into sustainable, revenue-generating ventures.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What proportion of Indian startups are profitable today?

According to a recent tracker, of 112 “new‑age tech” startups covered in FY24, 45 reported net profits, up from 36 profitable firms out of 146 in FY23. This shows roughly 40–45% success among tracked firms, indicating profitability remains challenging for many startups.

2. Which sectors are currently producing the most profitable startups in India?

Sectors like fintech (digital finance, lending, investment), B2B marketplaces/SaaS, e‑commerce/D2C retail, and asset‑light service/hospitality platforms dominate profit reports. These sectors benefit from recurring revenue, scalability and lower capital intensity.

3. Why do many startups that seemed promising still run losses even after several years?

High customer‑acquisition costs, aggressive growth strategies, discounting or price wars, and heavy spending on marketing/staff inflate expenses. Coupled with competitive pressure and thin margins, especially in user‑heavy or asset‑intensive sectors, this often delays or prevents profitability.

4. Are positive cash flows or PAT (Profit After Tax) more reliable for assessing a startup’s health? 

Both matter, but PAT indicates end‑to‑end profitability after expenses and taxes, while positive cash flow shows operational liquidity. A startup may have positive cash flow but still be unprofitable, or vice versa. For sustainability, consistent PAT combined with healthy cash flow and recurring revenue models signals sturdier financial health.

5. Can a startup become profitable even in a “funding winter”?

Yes, many startups are cutting back on heavy burn, optimizing operations, and shifting focus to revenue and efficiency instead of growth‑at-all‑costs. For example, in FY25, many tracked startups posted profits despite tighter funding, showing that profitability is achievable when unit economics and cost discipline are prioritized.

6. Does profitability mean a startup is “safe” from failure?

Not necessarily, profitability helps, but it doesn’t guarantee immunity. External risks, market shifts, regulatory changes, and increased competition still apply. Additionally, profits can come from one‑time gains or favorable market conditions, so consistent, sustainable performance matters more than a single profitable year.

7. What are the common pitfalls even for profitable startups in India?

Even profitable firms face challenges like over‑dependence on a narrow user base, high competitive pressure eroding margins, scaling pains, or dilution of unit economics as they expand. Moreover, macroeconomic volatility or shifting consumer behavior can impact recurring revenue, so continuous innovation and efficiency remain critical.

8. Is it easier for earlier‑stage startups to become profitable now compared to a few years back?

Data suggests yes: the ecosystem is maturing, many more startups are reporting profits or narrowing losses, partly because investors and founders now emphasize unit economics, lean operations, and sustainable business models instead of valuation‑driven growth. That said, success still depends heavily on market fit, execution, and financial discipline.

9. What role does recurring revenue (subscriptions, commissions) play in startup profitability in India?

Recurring revenue provides predictability, smoother cash flow, and reduces dependence on constant user acquisition. Startups with subscription models, repeat customers, or transaction‑based commissions are better poised to sustain profits. This makes recurring‑revenue models, common in fintech, marketplaces, and SaaS, especially powerful for “Indian startups in profit.”

10. Should founders target profitability immediately or focus on growth first? 

It depends, but current data and investor sentiment favor startups that balance growth with sustainable operations. Given funding uncertainty and market pressure, a strategy emphasising efficient growth, cost control, and a clear path to profitability tends to be more resilient. Founders who build with profitability in mind, not just growth or valuation, are more likely to create long‑lasting, successful businesses.

11. Which startup is the MOST profitable?

Profitability varies widely depending on sector, scale, and business model. Startups in fintech, marketplaces, and SaaS often report the highest profits due to recurring revenue streams, low capital intensity, and strong scalability. Exact rankings fluctuate as companies grow and reinvest earnings, but consistently profitable startups tend to be those with predictable cash flow, efficient operations, and disciplined cost management. These examples set benchmarks for aspiring founders in India.

12. Which sector shows consistent profitability?

Sectors such as fintech, B2B SaaS, marketplaces, and D2C retail consistently generate profits. These industries benefit from scalable operations, recurring revenue, and lower dependence on heavy infrastructure or inventory. Their predictable cash flows, combined with efficient customer acquisition strategies and unit economics, allow startups to maintain sustained profitability over time. Investors often prioritize these sectors because they demonstrate resilience and growth potential with lower financial risk.

13. Which loss-making sectors still struggle?

Capital-intensive and long-gestation sectors like hardware, deep-tech, logistics, and industrial startups often remain unprofitable for years. High upfront investments, lengthy R&D cycles, and delayed revenue generation create structural challenges. Additionally, competition, operational inefficiencies, and market volatility can exacerbate losses. Startups in these sectors require careful cost management, strategic funding, and patient scaling before they can achieve sustainable profitability, making them inherently riskier than asset-light, recurring revenue sectors.