These are the hottest startup sectors of the decade

• The top five sectors which are under investors’ radar are retail, fintech, energy, enterprise applications and auto tech, according to Tracxn.
• In 2019, seven startups joined the unicorn club taking the number of total unicorns to over 30.
• As many as 50 startups are lined up as soonicorns or soon-to-be unicorns.

Over the decade, Indian startups have grown and how. Not only did they bring in innovative ideas and disrupted many sectors from retail to transport, they also changed the way angel investors and VCs view Indian entrepreneurs.

From Paytm to Ola, to Oyo and Zomato, there have been many that also grew beyond the boundaries of India. This year alone, seven startups joined the unicorn club taking the number of total unicorns to over 30. And, 50 more lined up as soonicorns or soon-to-be unicorns.

Interestingly, these startups come from various different sectors.

The startups that received the most funding in the decade are Paytm, Ola, Oyo, Swiggy, ReNew Power Ventures, Grofers, Byju’s, BigBasket, Udaan and Delhivery.

Over the last decade, the top five sectors to receive investor attention are retail, fintech,energy, enterprise applications and auto tech, according to data intelligence platform Tracxn.

The retail sector tops the list with 1,856 rounds of funding amassing a total of $19.96 billion. In the previous decade (2000-2009) the sector was still in infancy with just 58 rounds. The growth of Flipkart and similar others fueled the sector’s funding. Fintech comes second with 1,222 rounds of funding in the last ten years.


As we step into a new decade, a set of interesting new sectors like social commerce have come into the picture. Riding on the growth of WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, India’s social commerce startups like Meesho, Mall91, W Mall are believed to hold the potential to reach out to the next 200 million users.

Meanwhile, the Indian internet industry will be worth $160 billion by 2025, according to a Goldman Sachs report, which is three times its current value – bringing in more scope for investments and growth.

See Also:
2020 is the time to bet on India’s internet industry which will be worth $160 billion in 5 years
These are the top 10 most-funded Indian startups of the decade