Bengaluru-based wealth-tech startup Wealthy has secured a significant ₹130 crore (approximately $14.5 million) in a Series B funding round, signaling strong investor confidence in its AI-powered platform designed to empower financial advisors.[1][2][3] The investment was led by Bertelsmann India Investments, with participation from existing investor Alphawave Global and new backer Shepherd's Hill, alongside a group of technology entrepreneurs.[1][3] This capital infusion is earmarked for a strategic expansion of Wealthy's technological infrastructure, a push into smaller Indian cities, and a substantial increase in its network of financial professionals, highlighting a pivotal moment for the firm and the broader Indian wealth management landscape.[1][2] The company is making a contrarian bet on the value of human financial advisors augmented by technology, a move that stands in contrast to the do-it-yourself (DIY) investment app trend.[4]

Founded by Aditya Agarwal and Prashant Gupta, Wealthy has developed a comprehensive digital ecosystem aimed at independent mutual fund distributors (MFDs) and wealth management professionals.[1][5] The platform's core offering is a suite of AI-enabled tools that streamline and automate many of the burdensome administrative tasks that traditionally consume a large portion of an advisor's time.[1] According to the company, distributors often spend nearly 70% of their efforts on manual processes like client onboarding (KYC), compliance, and portfolio management.[1][6] Wealthy's technology addresses this inefficiency with features like AI-powered advisory workflows, advanced analytics, and onboarding tools that can complete the KYC process in under two minutes.[1] By handling the operational heavy lifting, the platform frees up advisors to focus on building client relationships and providing personalized financial advice, a critical element in a market where trust and human connection remain paramount.[5][6]

This latest funding round will fuel an ambitious growth strategy for Wealthy. The company plans to use the capital to significantly scale its technology, expand its physical presence from its current 20 offices into more Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and aggressively grow its network of distributors.[1][7] The stated goals are to onboard a total of 50,000 distributors and to increase the assets under management (AUM) on its platform to ₹1 lakh crore.[1][6] The firm has already demonstrated impressive growth, with its AUM climbing from ₹200 crore to ₹5,000 crore over the last three years.[7][8] Currently, the platform processes over ₹300 crore in monthly transactions and supports a network of more than 6,000 distributors who serve over 100,000 clients across more than 1,000 towns.[1][5] This expansion is not just about numbers; it's about tapping into a growing segment of independent wealth professionals, including former bankers and relationship managers who are leaving institutional roles to establish their own practices.[1]

The investment in Wealthy arrives at a time of significant transformation within India's wealth management sector. The market is projected to experience substantial growth, with some estimates suggesting it could double to ₹200 trillion by FY29.[3] This expansion is driven by rising disposable incomes, increasing financial literacy, and a cultural shift towards professional financial advice.[9] However, there is a recognized "advice gap" in the country; while a massive number of Indians have life insurance, far fewer—only about 5 crore—are invested in mutual funds, a discrepancy attributed to a shortage of qualified advisors equipped with the right tools.[5][6] Wealthy's business model directly targets this gap by empowering the existing and future pool of advisors. The number of independent distributors has already doubled to nearly 2 lakh in the past five years, yet many still lack the digital infrastructure to compete with large financial institutions.[1] By providing enterprise-grade digital tools, research support, and access to a wide array of financial products—including mutual funds, equities, bonds, and insurance—Wealthy is positioning itself as a critical enabler for this burgeoning class of financial entrepreneurs.[1]

In conclusion, Wealthy's successful ₹130 crore funding round is more than just a financial milestone; it is a strong endorsement of its vision to merge artificial intelligence with human expertise in the wealth management sector. By providing sophisticated, AI-driven tools to a growing army of independent financial advisors, the company is not only simplifying complex processes but is also aiming to democratize access to quality financial advice across India. The fresh capital will allow Wealthy to enhance its technological capabilities and extend its reach into underserved markets, potentially unlocking a new wave of wealth creation. As the Indian wealth-tech market continues its rapid evolution, Wealthy's focus on empowering financial professionals rather than replacing them represents a significant and strategic approach to capturing the immense opportunities that lie ahead in one of the world's fastest-growing economies.