Wiom raises $40M in growth funding led by Bertelsmann India, Accel

Wiom, a Delhi-based internet infrastructure platform focused on expanding affordable broadband access, on Thursday said it raised $40 million in a growth equity round led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Accel.

Prosus, Promaft Partners, and existing backer RTP Global also participated. The round is largely primary, with a small secondary component, founder Satyam Darmora told YourStory in an exclusive interview.

He added, "Most of it—90%—is primary," said Darmora in an interview. “We are more of a tech company, which is enabling existing players to sell more internet. That requires heavy investment in tech and talent.”

The firm will use the capital for product development, hiring across technology and operations, and scaling distribution into more underserved towns and districts.

Wiom runs a unique asset-light platform that helps individuals and small internet service providers (ISPs) redistribute their home broadband in sachet-sized internet access packs, starting as low as Rs 5.

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Founded in 2015 as i2e1 and rebranded as Wiom in 2021, the company operates as India’s largest licensed Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) under the government’s Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme, which helps expand affordable public Wi-Fi hotspots across India, especially in rural and underserved areas. 

The company uses proprietary software installed on home routers, which allows nearby users to connect via a hotel-like login portal without needing to download any app. A portion of the earnings is shared with the original broadband user, helping to bring down their own internet bills.

Wiom partners with around 100 ISPs, mostly small regional players in Tier II, III towns and villages, particularly across Uttar Pradesh and parts of Eastern India. The company currently facilitates access for about one million monthly active users.

“The cost comes down by around 40-60%, and in some cases, the entire internet bill becomes free because others in the vicinity are using their internet,” Darmora explained. Customers can also pay in daily increments, bypassing the typical upfront payment barriers of broadband plans.

“Wiom is addressing one of the most fundamental yet underserved challenges in India—affordable and unlimited internet for the masses. Using its unique asset-light, scalable approach, Wiom is laying the foundation for digital infrastructure that can serve the next 500 million Indians," said Rohit Sood, Partner, Bertelsmann India Investments.

“We’re inspired by founders who don’t just make things better—they rethink entire industries. Satyam, Nishit, Ashutosh and Maanas are doing exactly that. Only 10% of India’s 200 million households have access to affordable unlimited internet, and they’ve made it their mission to change that. We’re proud to back this team as they work to close India’s digital divide,” said Pratik Agarwal, Partner at Accel

Looking ahead, Wiom expects to grow its footprint by over 100% annually and is working on next-generation tech, including firmware and hardware innovations under an internal “Tech for Future” initiative. The company says it is not just competing with ISPs but complementing them by bringing first-time broadband users into the ecosystem.

“This is a segment that’s a win-win for existing players as well as end users,” said Darmora.