Silicon Valley Investor Bets Big on India’s On-Demand Home Services Boom with $20M Investment in Pronto
Bengaluru, India – In a move that underscores the growing allure of India’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, Silicon Valley investor Lachy Groom has invested $20 million in Pronto, an Indian startup revolutionizing the on-demand home services sector. The deal, which valued the Bengaluru-based company at $200 million post-investment, marks Groom’s latest high-profile bet on a rapidly scaling startup. What makes this investment remarkable is the speed at which it materialized: Groom, known for his sharp instincts and founder-centric approach, decided to back Pronto just 20 minutes into his first meeting with its 24-year-old founder, Anjali Sardana.
The transaction, finalized earlier this year as an extension of Pronto’s Series B round, highlights the investor’s confidence in Sardana’s vision: building what he describes as “the world’s largest platform for organizing domestic labor.” This ambitious goal begins with India, a country home to one of the largest and most unstructured workforces globally, where demand for on-demand home services is skyrocketing amid rapid urbanization and shifting consumer habits.
A Founder-Centric Approach
For Groom, one of Silicon Valley’s most closely watched solo investors, the deal was as much about the founder as it was about the business. “He indexes two things,” Sardana told TechCrunch. “One is the founder, and that’s 95% of it. If he loves the founder, then he will invest.” Groom’s faith in Sardana stems from her impressive track record and operational discipline. Before founding Pronto in 2025, Sardana honed her skills at Bain Capital and venture firm 8VC, gaining invaluable exposure to high-growth startups and investment strategies.
Groom, who co-founded robotics startup Physical Intelligence, is no stranger to ambitious ventures. He was introduced to Sardana through Paul Hudson, founder of Glade Brook Capital, who connected the pair during Sardana’s visit to San Francisco earlier this year. Hudson has backed both Groom and Sardana’s ventures, underscoring the interconnected nature of the global startup ecosystem.
The Promise of India’s On-Demand Home Services Market
Pronto’s rapid ascent comes at a pivotal moment for India’s on-demand home services sector. A recent Bank of America report estimates the market could balloon to $15 billion to $18 billion by the end of the decade, driven by increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and a growing preference for convenience among consumers. The sector is already highly competitive, with players like Urban Company’s InstaHelp and Snabbit commanding significant market share.
Despite trailing competitors in market penetration, Pronto has been scaling at an impressive clip. The startup has grown from 18,000 daily bookings to 26,000 in just over a month, fueled by its focus on driving repeat usage. Sardana believes that converting occasional users into habitual customers will be key to winning the category—a strategy that seems to be paying off, as Pronto’s top 10% of users now account for nearly 40% of bookings.
Challenges and Opportunities
Pronto’s growth has not come without challenges. The startup has expanded its network of service workers to 6,500, up from 1,440 in January, but demand continues to outstrip supply. Sardana cites forecasting and capacity management as critical hurdles as the company scales. “The work underneath that is genuinely hard, and most attempts in adjacent categories have struggled with the operational discipline,” Groom noted, praising Sardana and her team for executing “at a level I haven’t seen elsewhere in this space.”
The broader market remains fiercely competitive, with heavy capital inflows and aggressive pricing strategies aimed at capturing first-time users. Bank of America estimates that Snabbit and Urban Company’s InstaHelp each hold about 40% of the market, while Pronto controls roughly 20%. Industry experts predict the sector will remain “burn-heavy” for the next two to three years, requiring sustained investment to achieve profitability.
A Global Opportunity
Groom’s investment in Pronto underscores the growing interest in India’s tech ecosystem among global investors. The country has emerged as a hotbed of innovation, driven by its vast population, rapid digital adoption, and untapped potential across sectors. Pronto’s focus on organizing India’s fragmented domestic labor market highlights the transformative potential of tech solutions in addressing real-world challenges.
Beyond India, the startup’s model could have broader implications. As Sardana puts it, “We’re not just building a platform for India—we’re building a blueprint for how to organize domestic labor globally.” Groom’s backing lends credence to this vision, positioning Pronto as a potential disruptor in a space ripe for innovation.
Looking Ahead
As Pronto continues to scale, it faces the dual challenges of managing rapid growth and navigating intensifying competition. Yet, with Groom’s support and Sardana’s leadership, the startup is well-positioned to carve out a significant niche in India’s burgeoning on-demand home services market.
For Groom, the investment is a testament to his belief in the power of exceptional founders to drive transformative change. For Sardana, it’s validation of her ambitious vision and the potential to reshape an industry that touches millions of lives daily.
As India’s tech ecosystem continues to evolve, Pronto’s journey serves as a reminder of the opportunities—and challenges—that come with building the next generation of tech-driven solutions. Whether Pronto becomes the global leader Groom envisions remains to be seen, but its story is emblematic of the dynamism and promise of India’s startup landscape.
“The best companies are built by founders who see the world differently,” Groom said, echoing a sentiment that resonates across Silicon Valley and beyond. In Pronto, he may have found just that.
The global investment community will undoubtedly be watching closely.
