Gangtok: Apuphi, a Sikkim-based artificial intelligence startup, has secured USD 4.4 million (around ₹40 crore) in foreign direct investment (FDI) from German investors at a valuation of approximately $4.4 million — one of the state’s first structured overseas funding rounds for a tech company.
The investment, executed through Series I compulsorily convertible preference shares in compliance with Indian FDI norms, marks a breakthrough for India’s Northeast in the AI and startup ecosystem.
Founded by Diwash Kapil Chettri and Sulabh Raj Gurung, Apuphi is developing an AI-driven career platform designed to unify job discovery, skills development, mentorship, and personalised career guidance for a broad spectrum of job seekers — from fresh graduates and mid-career professionals to laid-off workers and blue-collar talent. The platform aims to tackle fragmentation in the employment ecosystem and enhance career clarity using data-driven insights.
The German FDI into a Sikkim startup underscores increasing global investor appetite for AI ventures beyond India’s traditional tech hubs. Investors were reportedly drawn to Apuphi’s clear product vision and potential for scalable impact across multiple workforce segments. The funding round aligns with broader patterns of rising capital interest in AI startups in India — a trend highlighted by strong investment activity across generative AI companies in 2025.
Apuphi’s founders say the capital will be used to strengthen AI capabilities, expand product features, and build a high-quality team, with a phased public launch of the platform planned for early 2026. They also emphasised recruiting regional talent, reinforcing Sikkim’s evolving role in the national startup landscape.
This development comes at a time when Tier II and Tier III cities across India are increasingly emerging as innovation hubs, with local talents and startups leveraging advanced technologies like AI to create value and attract capital — a shift that reflects a broader decentralisation of tech growth away from established metros.
For Sikkim, traditionally reliant on sectors like agriculture, tourism, and education, Apuphi’s funding signals a strategic pivot toward technology-led growth. The state government has also been advancing policies to support AI and innovation, aiming to cultivate higher-value employment opportunities and diversify the economic base.
As India’s AI startup ecosystem continues to mature with increasing FDI, venture rounds, and new entrants, Apuphi’s success could inspire more ventures from under-represented regions to seek global capital and build solutions with worldwide relevance.