Roposo Cofounder’s New Bet, Shuru, Raises ₹29 Cr to Power Hyperlocal Communities
In a world ruled by global platforms, two Indian entrepreneurs are bringing the focus back to your neighborhood.
Shuru, a hyperlocal community app co-founded by Roposo’s Mayank Bhangadia and Harsh Chhabra, has raised a whopping ₹29 crore in a fresh funding round. The round was led by KRAFTON’s India arm, with Omidyar Network India and Eximius Ventures also backing the vision.
This isn’t just another social platform—it’s an app designed to strengthen the digital backbone of India’s neighborhoods, towns, and small cities.
Who Invested in Shuru—and Why?
Let’s break down the funding round:
- KRAFTON India (the publisher of PUBG and Battlegrounds Mobile India) led the round with an investment of ₹21.62 crore
- Omidyar Network India chipped in ₹6.48 crore
- Eximius Ventures contributed ₹86.32 lakh
For a relatively young startup founded in 2021, that’s a big vote of confidence.
What is Shuru—and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Shuru is not your typical social media app. Instead of targeting national or global audiences, it focuses on hyperlocal engagement—bringing neighbors, local businesses, and civic concerns together on one platform.
Key Features:
- Local updates: Users can share real-time news and happenings in their neighborhoods
- Support for small businesses: Promote local shops, services, and offers
- Civic problem-solving: Address potholes, sanitation issues, and more with direct community engagement
- Community building: Create a digital version of your local town square
The goal? To digitally empower India’s micro-communities—from Tier 1 cities to rural towns—while enabling trust, connection, and accountability.
Meet the Founders: Mayank Bhangadia and Harsh Chhabra
Mayank Bhangadia is a name already familiar to India’s startup world. As the co-founder of Roposo, a fashion-focused social media platform that was acquired by Glance, he’s no stranger to building for scale.
With Shuru, he and co-founder Harsh Chhabra are applying the same product-first, user-focused philosophy to community infrastructure. The difference? Shuru aims for depth over breadth—it’s not about going viral, it’s about going local.
“We want to empower every Indian to connect with their neighborhood, not just the internet,” the founders have said in previous interviews.
Why This Matters: The Rise of the Hyperlocal Internet
India’s internet is evolving. The next wave of innovation is not just about content, but community.
With the rise of:
- Smartphones in rural and semi-urban areas
- Regional language usage online
- Demand for local information and commerce
Platforms like Shuru are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between digitization and daily life. From housing societies and market areas to small towns and mohallas, Shuru’s vision is to become the WhatsApp + Nextdoor + Justdial for India’s neighborhoods.
What’s Next for Shuru?
Armed with new capital, the startup plans to:
- Scale across more Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
- Expand its community engagement features
- Deepen support for local businesses
- Strengthen its content moderation and civic integration tools
The team is also expected to invest in AI and vernacular tech, ensuring the platform works well across India’s diverse linguistic and social fabric.
Final Thoughts: A Big Bet on Going Small
While the tech world is often obsessed with global scale, Shuru is proving that there’s power in going local. With ₹29 crore in fresh capital and backing from some of the most respected names in tech and impact investing, the startup is poised to redefine how Indians interact with the world right outside their door.
This isn’t just about technology—it’s about rebuilding real-world relationships in a digital age. And Shuru might be just the app to make that happen.
