Nikhil Kamath backs startup funding warning: Raise capital now for a tough year ahead

Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath endorsed a social media post advising startups to raise capital immediately, warning that "next year could be bad" for fundraising. He replied with a "100" emoji to the post on X. The post, shared by user Aravind, urged founders to secure enough cash to remain comfortable for one to two years, spend diligently, and invest funds in liquid assets. India recorded 1,134 funding rounds in the first nine months of 2026, down from 1,838 last year, though total funding rose to $10.3 billion from $9.7 billion. The trend reflects fewer but larger rounds, with Bengaluru startups like CRED raising $540 million. At least 10 Indian startups have lost unicorn status since 2024 as investors prioritize fundamentals and AI-focused capital, including Accel's new $550 million India fund.