Bengaluru-based tech-enabled real estate rental management startup Helium has successfully raised ₹5 crore in its maiden funding round from a distinguished group of startup founders, thereby strengthening its position in India’s rapidly evolving proptech ecosystem. Notably, the investor lineup includes Albinder Dhindsa, Kunal Shah, Pankaj Chaddah, Mohit Gupta, Akriti Chopra, Gunjan Patidar, Nitin Gupta, and Surobhi Das, along with Miten Sampat and Aakrit Vaish.
Founded in January 2025 by Sahil Ludhani and Ashutosh Tandon, Helium has quickly emerged as a promising startup in the rental housing segment. Both founders previously collaborated at Zomato, after which Ludhani transitioned to Stanza Living and Tandon moved to CRED. Leveraging their industry experience, they are now building a scalable solution to address inefficiencies in India’s rental market.
“The capital will primarily be deployed towards product and marketing, with a focused strategy of deepening our presence in the Whitefield cluster while beginning expansion into select micro-markets across Bangalore,” said Tandon.
Helium operates on a differentiated business model wherein it leases residential properties directly from homeowners and pays the full security deposit upfront. Consequently, tenants can access premium homes with significantly reduced upfront costs. Importantly, the platform dynamically links the tenant’s deposit to their credit profile, thereby enhancing affordability and accessibility.
Furthermore, Helium collaborates with Fintree, a Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-registered non-banking financial company (NBFC), to cover the remaining deposit amount. This structure operates at zero cost with no EMIs, while Helium and the NBFC efficiently manage settlements when tenants exit the property.
Currently, the startup focuses on high-quality gated communities developed by leading real estate brands such as Prestige Group, Brigade Group, Sobha Limited, and Godrej Properties. At present, Helium has onboarded over 170 homes and operates exclusively in Whitefield, one of Bengaluru’s major IT corridors.
“What we’ve realised is that the best homes people are looking for often never come online, largely because most owners don’t upload properties themselves. So, we tell owners we will rent out their apartment instantly and take on the vacancy risk,” said Ludhani.
“It’s a win-win — owners get the full deposit they expect, while tenants pay significantly less upfront as the remaining amount is covered through a credit line,” Ludhani added.
Meanwhile, investor interest in India’s proptech and real estate startup ecosystem continues to gain momentum. Although the sector has historically seen limited large-scale players, recent funding activity indicates renewed confidence. For instance, HouseEazy raised $16 million (₹148 crore) in a Series B round led by Accel in October 2025. Similarly, Truva secured $9 million (₹83 crore) from Stellaris Venture Partners and Orios Venture Partners in January 2026.
Helium’s innovative credit-linked deposit model, combined with strong backing from prominent startup founders, positions it to redefine rental housing in Bengaluru and beyond. As demand for flexible, tech-driven rental solutions rises, the startup looks to capitalise on emerging opportunities within India’s proptech landscape, thereby enhancing convenience for tenants and unlocking greater value for homeowners.
