Spiritual tech startup scales operations with Sri Mandir app, recording strong growth in users and rituals, but rising spends push FY25 losses to INR 45.3 Cr.
Revenue Grows 3.8X, But Losses Persist
AppsForBharat, the spiritual tech startup behind the Sri Mandir app, posted a 3.8X jump in operating revenue to INR 69.6 Cr in FY25, up from INR 18.5 Cr in FY24. Including other income of INR 3 Cr, the company’s total income stood at INR 72.6 Cr.
Despite the strong topline growth, net loss widened to INR 45.3 Cr, a 16% increase from the INR 39 Cr reported in FY24. The spike in losses was driven by a 97% jump in total expenses, reaching INR 117.9 Cr for the fiscal year.
Growing Devotional Footprint via Sri Mandir
Founded in 2020 by Prashant Sachan, AppsForBharat operates the Sri Mandir app, which enables users to:
- Book online poojas,
- Make virtual offerings (chadhavas),
- Receive prasad,
- Access devotional content from temples across India.
In FY25, the platform achieved notable scale:
- 4 Cr+ downloads
- 3.5 Mn monthly active users
- 100+ temples partnered
- 3 Mn+ poojas and chadhavas conducted
- 5.2 Mn rituals facilitated by 1.2 Mn users across its temple network
Sri Mandir also served as the official digital partner for the Vedashram Trust at Mahakumbh Mela 2025, facilitating hybrid devotional experiences for over 3 Lakh pilgrims.
1. Advertising & Publicity
- FY25 spend: INR 51.9 Cr
- Up 233.4% from INR 15.6 Cr in FY24
- Accounts for 44% of total expenditure
AppsForBharat ramped up marketing to build user acquisition and brand recall, but the cost burden has significantly impacted its path to profitability.
2. Employee Benefit Expenses
- FY25 spend: INR 32.2 Cr
- Up 28.8% from INR 25 Cr
- Makes up 27.3% of total spending
With rising user scale and expansion plans, talent costs remained a key expenditure head.
3. Puja & Chadava Costs
- FY25 spend: INR 11.4 Cr, up 204.5% from INR 3.7 Cr in FY24
- Reflects growing ritual volumes and temple partner payouts
This expense category is closely tied to the core service delivery, indicating product-market fit and deeper religious engagement.
Investor Backing and Funding Milestones
AppsForBharat has raised $53.4 Mn to date from marquee investors, including:
- Susquehanna Asia VC
- Fundamentum (Nandan Nilekani)
- Elevation Capital
- Peak XV Partners
- Mirae Asset VC
The backing reflects strong investor belief in spiritual-tech as a growing niche and the potential of religious consumer platforms in India and abroad.
Global Reach, Local Connect
While rooted in Indian traditions, Sri Mandir has expanded globally, with availability in 30+ countries. Its platform approach combines spiritual utility with cultural experience, aiming to serve diaspora audiences alongside domestic users.
What Lies Ahead?
To sustain growth and move toward profitability, AppsForBharat will likely need to:
- Optimize marketing spends to improve CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)
- Explore monetisation beyond rituals – including subscriptions, digital donations, and premium experiences
- Expand partnerships with temples and religious organizations
- Increase user engagement and retention through content and community features
With India’s digital devotional economy expanding, the company sits at the intersection of faith and technology, but its financial discipline will be tested in FY26.
