78% eye bright funding future in 2024

In a survey conducted by venture debt firm InnoVen Capital, findings reveal that despite the lowest funding for startups in seven years in 2023, most founders are optimistic about the funding landscape in 2024.

The survey indicates that 85% of founders expect to raise their next funding round at a higher valuation this year.

Notably, 68% of those who attempted fundraising in 2023 reported a favourable experience, though slightly lower than the 71% recorded in 2022.

The report highlights sector-specific variations in optimism, with Enterprise/SaaS, DeepTech, and e-commerce founders reporting the most favourable funding experiences.

SaaS and Fintech founders stand out as the most optimistic, while EdTech and consumer/D2C founders express more pessimism about the 2024 funding environment. A significant portion of founders (60%) aims to target private equity and strategic investors for their upcoming fundraising rounds, with family offices and venture debt also on their radar.

Regarding hiring expectations in 2024, the report states that 61% of company founders in India anticipate the pace of hiring to either remain the same as in the previous year or slightly decrease. The survey, based on insights from founders across various sectors such as fintech, SaaS, D2C, logistics, e-commerce, and health tech, underscores the nuanced challenges.