Faith-tech app Vama raises Rs 19 crore led by Dainik Bhaskar family office
By Arjun MehtaSenior Business Editor, Peepals Business
Representative image: picassoin / Pixabay
Spiritual services app Vama has raised Rs 19.03 crore in an ongoing pre-Series A round led by the Dainik Bhaskar family office, filings reported in late October 2026 show.
What Happened
Vama, an app that offers online temple services, astrology consultations and devotional products, has raised Rs 19.03 crore, about $2 million, in a pre-Series A funding round that is still open, according to regulatory filings reported in the last week of October 2026. The round is led by the family office of the promoters of the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper group, which invested Rs 12.5 crore through its company Writers and Publishers Private Limited. It appears to be one of the first start-up investments that the family office has disclosed publicly.
Key Facts
- Round size so far: Rs 19.03 crore in an ongoing pre-Series A, so more money may come in later tranches.
- Lead investor: the Dainik Bhaskar family office, through Writers and Publishers Private Limited, with Rs 12.5 crore.
- Other investors, including Wavemaker Partners and Silver Needle Ventures, put in about Rs 6.53 crore.
- The family office holds about 6.98% of Vama after the latest share allotment, according to the filings.
- A start-up tracker's estimate puts Vama's valuation in this round at about Rs 180 crore, up 20% from about Rs 150 crore in an earlier pre-Series A round; the company has not confirmed a valuation.
- Vama was founded in 2020 by Acharya Dev and Manu Jain.
Why It Matters
"Faith-tech", the use of apps to book temple rituals, offer prayers remotely, consult astrologers or buy devotional goods, has become one of the more visible consumer segments in Indian start-ups. Many Indians live far from their home towns or family temples, and apps promise a way to take part in rituals from a distance. Investors see a large market among middle-class families and the diaspora.
The investor is the more unusual part of this deal. A media family's office putting money into a consumer app is a strategic bet as well as a financial one. Dainik Bhaskar is one of the largest Hindi newspaper groups, and coverage of the deal suggests its reach in Hindi-speaking states could help Vama find users beyond the big cities, where awareness of such apps is lower. For start-ups in tier 2 and tier 3 markets, partnerships with regional media groups can lower the cost of reaching customers.
The numbers also show the current funding climate. A round of about $2 million at an estimated 20% higher valuation is a modest step up, in a month when venture investment in Indian start-ups was described in weekly trackers as subdued.
Readers should keep in mind that services such as astrology are matters of belief. This report is about the business and its funding, and makes no claim about the services' effects.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Round | Pre-Series A, ongoing |
| Amount so far | Rs 19.03 crore (about $2 million) |
| Lead investor | Dainik Bhaskar family office (Rs 12.5 crore) |
| Estimated valuation | About Rs 180 crore (industry estimate, not confirmed) |
| Founded | 2020, by Acharya Dev and Manu Jain |
Impact
Short-term: The new money gives Vama funds to market its app and expand its temple and product network. The family office's backing may bring promotional reach in Hindi-speaking regions.
Long-term: If media groups continue to invest in consumer start-ups, more young companies may raise money from strategic investors who can offer distribution, not just cash. The faith-tech segment's growth will depend on whether users keep paying for services after the first booking.
Who is affected: Vama's users and partner temples; rival faith-tech start-ups; investors in consumer internet; and media groups looking at start-up investments.
Key Takeaway
Vama's Rs 19 crore round shows a newspaper family's office entering start-up investing through faith-tech, at a modest valuation step-up in a cautious funding market.
Questions and Answers
How much has Vama raised and who led the round?
Vama has raised Rs 19.03 crore in an ongoing pre-Series A round. The Dainik Bhaskar family office led it with Rs 12.5 crore through Writers and Publishers Private Limited, with Wavemaker Partners and Silver Needle Ventures among other investors.
What does Vama do?
Vama is an app founded in 2020 by Acharya Dev and Manu Jain that offers online temple services, astrology consultations and spiritual products.
What is Vama's valuation?
The company has not announced one. An industry estimate based on the filings puts Vama's value at about Rs 180 crore, about 20% more than its previous round.
Why is the Dainik Bhaskar family office's investment notable?
It appears to be among the family office's first publicly disclosed start-up investments, and the group's reach in Hindi-speaking markets could help Vama grow outside large cities.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Arjun Mehta, Senior Business EditorCovers Start-ups & Opportunities and more for Peepals Business. All stories by Arjun Mehta
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Arjun Mehta is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
