Startups That Captured India’s Spotlight in 2025
In a year characterised by cautious funding, sharper unit economics, and a renewed emphasis on profitability, India’s startup ecosystem continued to attract significant public and media attention. According to Wizikey’s Newsmakers – Top Startups in India 2025 report, Dream11 emerged as the most prominent startup of the year, leading the pack with its remarkable media presence. Despite facing a challenging macroeconomic environment, several consumer-tech brands managed to stay consistently in the limelight, influencing discussions across gaming, quick commerce, fintech, and hospitality sectors.
Dream11 Takes the Lead in Media Visibility
Fantasy gaming giant Dream11 secured the top spot with an impressive NewsScore of 77.03, showcasing its unparalleled media dominance. The company was featured in over 32,500 news articles and more than 21,000 headlines, achieving a staggering cumulative reach of nearly 20 billion. From impactful IPL partnerships to ongoing debates surrounding online gaming regulations, Dream11 remained at the forefront of India’s digital entertainment narrative. Its sustained visibility highlights how leading a category, combined with timely storytelling, can keep a brand relevant even during broader industry slowdowns.
Quick Commerce and Hospitality Remain Key Focus Areas
Zepto claimed the second position with a NewsScore of 73.71, solidifying quick commerce as one of India’s most closely monitored startup segments. The 10-minute delivery platform garnered over 21,600 news mentions and reached more than 26 billion readers, underscoring the sector’s widespread appeal and investor enthusiasm. Zepto’s ascent reflects the dominance of convenience-led, high-frequency use cases in capturing consumer attention.
OYO closely followed in third place with a NewsScore of 69.87. The hospitality giant maintained strong visibility through updates on business expansion, debt restructuring, and the gradual recovery of the travel and tourism sector. With over 11,800 media mentions and a cumulative reach of 23.2 billion, OYO’s presence illustrates how established startups can remain relevant by aligning with broader economic and sectoral trends.
Top Startups Shaping India’s Media Landscape
Beyond the top three, the list also included Zerodha, Rapido, Meesho, Razorpay, Lava International, boAt Lifestyle, and ACKO, completing the top ten rankings. Together, these companies reflect the rich diversity of India’s startup ecosystem, spanning fintech, mobility, e-commerce, consumer electronics, and insurance. Their consistent media presence indicates that visibility is now driven not just by funding announcements but by deeper narratives surrounding governance, scale, regulation, and long-term impact.
Evolving Narratives in India’s Startup Ecosystem
The 2025 rankings also highlight structural shifts in how India’s startup stories are being communicated. High-engagement, daily-use platforms such as gaming and instant delivery now command a significant share of public attention. Simultaneously, the inclusion of Zerodha, Razorpay, and ACKO underscores the growing importance of retail investing, digital payments, and new-age insurance in India’s financial landscape.
Brands like Lava International and boAt Lifestyle represent the emergence of “Made in India” and value-driven consumer products in the mainstream startup dialogue. These companies are shaping narratives around affordability, design, and local manufacturing, transitioning from niche positioning to national relevance.
Visibility as a Strategic Advantage
As noted by Wizikey’s leadership, the standout brands of 2025 treated communication as a strategic function rather than an afterthought. Across various sectors, startups that combined strong execution with clear, data-driven storytelling achieved more consistent and lasting visibility. The leadership of Dream11, Zepto’s rapid ascent, and OYO’s sustained presence together highlight a clear trend: in today’s competitive ecosystem, visibility has become a crucial growth lever, intentionally built through launches, partnerships, and purposeful engagement with the news cycle.
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