Startup Funding Crawls Up 5% YoY To $2.2 Bn In Q3 As Investors Get Picky

India’s startup ecosystem entered a more selective funding environment in Q3 2026, with investors deploying capital more cautiously amid macroeconomic pressures, elevated valuations and a sharper focus on high-conviction bets. According to Inc42’s ‘ Indian Tech Startup Funding Report, Q3 2026 ’, homegrown new-age tech ventures raised $2.2 Bn between July and September, up 5% from the $2.1 Bn raised in the year-ago quarter. However, the number of deals fell 13% from 240 in Q3 2025 to 210 in the j