Celestial Disruption

ASTROLOGY, OR THE STUDY OF THE FUTURE FORETOLD BY CELESTIAL BODIES, IS EXPERIENCING A COSMIC TRANSFORMATION, FUELLED BY DIGITAL DISRUPTION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND A $7-BILLION FAITH MARKET

- BY PALAK AGARWAL

The Indian business ecosystem is witnessing a surge in astrotech startups, blending centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge technology. Legacy players like Drik Panchang, Clickastro, Astroyogi and AstroSage have donned the tech avatar, while new-age startups such as Astrotalk, Cosmic Insights and InstaAstro are redefining astrology for the techsavvy generation.

What's fascinating is how astrology, deeply rooted in Indian culture, is not just surviving, but thriving in the age of artificial intelligence. From AI-driven horoscope predictions to algorithm-powered kundali matching for marriages, the sector isn't just keeping up with technology-it's leveraging it to expand its reach and precision.

The fusion of tradition and innovation is setting the stage for astrology's next big evolution.

Take for instance Astrotalk, an app-based platform providing on-demand consultation services to seekers of celestial divination. It first gained prominence during Covid-19, and caught the eye of venture capitalist Left Lane. Astrotalk raised $20 million in February 2024 in a Series A round of funding from New York-based Left Lane. It had attracted a seed round from QED Innovation Labs in August 2021, according to Tracxn, a platform that tracks start-ups.

Astrotalk founder and Chief Executive Officer Puneet Gupta told Business Today that investors may not have believed in astrotech earlier, but given increasing consumer interest as well as a rising number of start-ups in the space, they are rethinking their recalcitrance. In sum, Astrotalk has raised over $30 million in two back-to-back rounds, one in February 2024 and an extended Series A fund raising in April that same year.