Survey Highlights:

• 63% of those who attempted to raise had a favorable fundraising experience in 2024, down from 68% in 2022
• 79% are optimistic about fundraising environment in 2025 … SaaS, Fintech, and Consumer founders most bullish
• 53% founders have a higher bias on profitability vs. growth, but down from 62% in 2023
• 41% founders claim EBITDA profitability…up from 30% in 2023 and 19% in 2022
• 60% founders expect business model disruption due to AI, up from 28% last year… FinTech and SaaS most impacted
• 73% believe that a domestic IPO is the most likely mode of exit…up from 64% (2023), 63% (2022) and 58% (2021)
• 47% founders expect pace of hiring to increase in 2025, up from 39% last year
• 83% of startups have less than 20% women in leadership… 51% with less than 10% women in leadership
• 45% founders rate government efforts as positive, down from 52% last year… 38% believe there is scope to do more
• AI chosen as the most overhyped sector second time in a row, HealthTech as the most underhyped sector
• Zerodha picked as the most admired start-up (fifth year in a row), Deepinder Goyal as the most admired founder