Bengaluru-based proptech startup Helium has secured ₹5 crore in its first funding round, drawing backing from a prominent group of startup founders including Albinder Dhindsa, Kunal Shah, Pankaj Chaddah, Mohit Gupta, Akriti Chopra, Gunjan Patidar, Nitin Gupta, Surobhi Das, Miten Sampat and Aakrit Vaish.
At its core, Helium is trying to solve one of urban India’s most persistent rental challenges, the steep upfront security deposit that often locks in a large portion of a tenant’s savings. Instead of expecting tenants to pay the full amount, the company leases homes directly from property owners and pays the entire deposit itself. Tenants, in turn, can move in by paying a significantly lower upfront amount, with the remaining portion linked to their credit profile.
Founded in January 2025 by Sahil Ludhani and Ashutosh Tandon, Helium builds on the founders’ experience across consumer internet and managed housing. Both previously worked together at Zomato, after which Ludhani moved to Stanza Living and Tandon to CRED. Their current venture reflects a blend of those learnings, combining housing supply aggregation with credit-based financial structuring.
The startup’s immediate focus is on deepening its presence in Whitefield, one of Bengaluru’s busiest IT corridors, while gradually expanding into select micro-markets across the city. At present, Helium has onboarded over 170 homes and is concentrating on premium gated communities developed by established real estate players such as Prestige Group, Brigade Group, Sobha Limited and Godrej Properties.
Helium’s model is designed to work for both sides of the market. Property owners receive the full deposit they typically expect, along with reduced vacancy risk, as the company takes on the responsibility of finding tenants. For renters, the biggest advantage is liquidity, access to better homes without the need to arrange large sums upfront.
To enable this structure, Helium works with Fintree, an RBI-registered non-banking financial company, which covers the remaining deposit component. The arrangement operates without EMIs, while Helium and the NBFC handle settlement when a tenant exits the property.
The approach reflects a broader shift underway in India’s proptech ecosystem, where startups are increasingly focusing on solving structural inefficiencies rather than just improving discovery. Investor interest in the space has also shown signs of revival, with companies such as HouseEazy raising $16 million in October 2025 and Truva securing $9 million in January 2026.
Helium’s bet is that rental housing in India is ready for a financial layer that makes access more flexible. If executed well, its credit-linked deposit model could reshape how tenants enter homes in high-demand urban markets, turning what has long been a barrier into a more manageable, tech-enabled process.
Also Read: Perplexity Announces $1 Million Challenge to Build a Billion-Dollar AI Startup
