InnerGize, a mental health startup has raised ₹6.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by Antler India and AC Ventures.
The round also participation from angel investors such as Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures), Aman Gupta (Co-founder and CMO of boAt Lifestyle), Harnidh Kaur (Co-founder of WTFund), Ritesh Agarwal (Founder and Group CEO of OYO), Sharan Hedge (Finance with Sharan), Varun Mayya (CEO and founder of Avalon Labs), and Azhar Iqbal (Founder of Inshots), Dr Agni Bose (renowned dermatologist) and Dr Sid Warrier (neurologist and public speaker).
The fresh funds raised will be used for manufacturing, clinical trials, R&D, and the launch of its flagship product, InnerGize Gen 1 on April 15, 2025.
Dr Siddhant Bhargava, Co-founder of InnerGize, said, “The funds and pre-orders we have raised are evidence of our investors’ conviction in the efficacy and urgency of a solution like InnerGize for a country like India, where mental health remains largely overlooked to date. We are certain that the launch of this device is only the beginning of a new age of wellness, and will open the doors to countless possibilities that will change the way we regard and treat mental health, not only in India but also globally.”
“Creating something that can help people to manage stress and anxiety, and witnessing so many people connecting with our mission fills me with so much gratitude. InnerGize stemmed from our own personal struggles; seeing it come to life because of the support we’re getting is incredibly humbling,” said Shalmali Kadu, Co-founder & Engineer and Product Head, InnerGize.
“Technology is solving so many problems in the world; so why not use it to address mental health? With the increasing adoption of wearables and health-focused features in gadgets, there is already a vast amount of health data being generated. Most of this data is being used for commercial purposes—why not turn it around and use it for people’s own wellbeing? For us, the proposition of building, not just an innovative product, but creating a solution that is accessible and credible was thrilling. And we’re so proud to see InnerGize receiving an outpouring of support in its early days,” said Mitansh Khurana, Co-founder & Tech and Compliance Head, InnerGize.
Founded in 2023 by Dr Siddhant Bhargava, Shalmali Kadu, and Mitansh Khurana, InnerGize aims to address growing mental health concerns through innovative technology. The startup’s flagship product, InnerGize Gen 1, is a wearable device designed to tackle stress and anxiety by sending calming signals to the brain’s relaxation centers.
The startup is also a recipient of the Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme (BIG), a flagship scheme of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), as well as a beneficiary of Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath’s WTF Fund.
InnerGize is backed by more than five years of proprietary research, the expertise of more than 50 experts, and feedback compiled from 10,000+ user sessions. Pre-clinical studies have revealed that users experienced a 32% reduction in anxiety, a 36% reduction in stress, and an 86% increase in their relaxation levels.
Since making its public debut on an electrifying episode of Shark Tank, InnerGize received more than 1,000 pre-orders in just four days. The product will be formally launched on April 15, 2025.
