ET Soonicorns Sundowner 2025: How healthcare and HRTech are quietly powering Hyderabad's startup ascent
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Healthcare Booking Platforms have demonstrated remarkable capital efficiency, raising a massive $335.7 million across just 20 funding rounds from 58 unique investors. This translates to an average funding of $16.8 million per round, a testament to the high conviction investors have in the scalability and market potential of health-tech solutions emerging from the region. Companies are innovating in areas such as telemedicine, online diagnostics, and at-home healthcare services, addressing critical gaps in the healthcare landscape.
Similarly, the HRTech sector has been a hotbed of activity, securing $311.7 million from 43 investors across 40 rounds. The sector is not only attracting significant capital, including a mega-round, but is also witnessing a phenomenal entrepreneurial boom, with 155 new companies founded during the period. This indicates an intense focus on creating innovative solutions for modern workforce management, from recruitment and payroll to employee engagement and upskilling. Hyderabad-based startup Darwinbox has already achieved unicorn status, paving the way for others in this space.
While the titans of Bengaluru and Mumbai have long dominated India's startup narrative, a powerful new current of innovation is surging from the heart of Telangana. In a surprising twist, it's not the usual suspects of e-commerce or fintech leading the charge. Instead, the Healthcare Bookings and HRTech sectors have emerged as the unexpected engines driving capital, innovation, and immense growth in the Hyderabad cluster, signalling a major shift in India's technology landscape.This month, the city's dynamic startup ecosystem is set for its most definitive pulse check yet. On July 31, 2025, The Economic Times, in collaboration with leading data intelligence platform Tracxn, will unveil the much-anticipated 'ET Top Soonicorns and Minicorns X Top Sectors AP-Telangana 2025' report at the inaugural ET Soonicorns Sundowner in Hyderabad. To be formally launched by Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana, the report signals the start of a new city-focused spin-off from the ET Soonicorns Summit , India's largest congregation for soonicorns or startups valued at or near $1 billion.The numbers speak for themselves. Between January 2020 and May 2025, the twin states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana saw a flurry of startup activity, but Hyderabad emerged as the undisputed epicentre. The city alone accounted for over 2,500 new startups and attracted a staggering $2.1 billion in funding. This represents an astonishing 99.7% of the total startup capital invested in the entire region, cementing Hyderabad's status as a complete and self-sustaining startup ecosystem.This surge has transformed the city into a magnet for talent and investment, fostering a vibrant landscape that spans from early-stage seed ventures to scalable 'soonicorns' and 'minicorns' or startups valued between $100 million and $500 million. This growth hasn't gone unnoticed, with Hyderabad now ranking among the top startup hotspots in Asia The forthcoming 'ET Top Soonicorns and Minicorns' report, which analyzes over 1500 companies, reveals a compelling story about where the smart money is flowing. The analysis classifies sectors into priority tiers, with 'P0' representing the top 10 sectors with the highest number of active investors—a clear signal of broad market confidence.Surprisingly, at the pinnacle of the P0 category are Healthcare Booking Platforms and HRTech. Together, these two sectors have attracted over $640 million in combined funding, drawing significant interest from a diverse range of investors.Here are some key insights:Beyond the top two: A diversified and thriving ecosystemWhile Healthcare and HRTech command the lead, the report highlights a robust and diversified ecosystem. The EdTech sector, particularly K-12 EdTech and Continued Learning, has seen the birth of over 370 new companies. Though the total funding is more moderate, the sheer volume of new ventures and investor interest points to a highly competitive and innovative early-stage environment.The E-commerce and logistics verticals also feature prominently in the P0 list. Online Grocery and Logistics Tech have attracted significant investor attention, reflecting the region's strengths in consumer-facing and supply chain technologies.Furthermore, MarketingTech stands out for having produced the highest number of minicorns at four among the P0 sectors, signaling a healthy pipeline of companies poised for significant growth.The report also identifies 'P1' sectors, characterised by high total funding from a more concentrated group of investors. These include high-growth frontiers such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), Beauty Tech, and Alternative Lending, which are attracting substantial capital and producing a new generation of promising startups.The ET Soonicorns Sundowner: Where data meets dialogueThe evening of July 31st promises to be a confluence of the sharpest minds in the region, bringing together founders, investors, and policymakers for insightful discussions, storytelling-led sessions, and exclusive networking opportunities.The data and insights from the upcoming 'ET Top Soonicorns and Minicorns' report, in collaboration with Tracxn, to be launched at the ET Soonicorns Sundowner Hyderabad, will provide the first truly definitive look into the mechanics of this silent revolution. As the spotlight shifts to Hyderabad, one thing is clear: the city is not just building startups; it is building the future, one innovative solution at a time. The nation will be watching closely as this southern powerhouse takes its well-deserved place on the main stage of India's startup-innovation economy.The new ET Soonicorns Sundowner 2025 series aims to cast a spotlight on the nation's undercelebrated innovation corridors, with Hyderabad rightfully claiming the inaugural stage.Now in its fourth year, the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 is scheduled to take place on 22 August.360 One is the presenting partner of the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 (This article is generated and published by the ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them at etspotlight@timesinternet.in .)
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