Startup Networking Platform Medial Shuts Down After Funding Crunch
In December 2024, Medial raised $500,000 in a Pre-Series A funding round led by OG Capital.
Professional networking startup Medial has begun winding down operations after failing to secure fresh funding, bringing an end to its attempt to build a dedicated social platform for India’s startup ecosystem.
Founder and CEO Niket Raj Dwivedi announced the decision in a LinkedIn post, stating that the company had been battling a prolonged cash crunch and was ultimately unable to build a sustainable monetisation model. Reflecting on the journey, he wrote, “We might not have timed it well,” while thanking the platform’s users, investors, employees, and supporters.
Founded in 2023 by Niket Raj Dwivedi, Aishwarya Raj Pandey, Harsh Dwivedi, and Prateek Kaien, Medial launched its platform in early 2024 with the vision of creating a dedicated professional network for founders, startup operators, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Beyond networking, the platform evolved into a startup discovery ecosystem by introducing startup news aggregation, company showcases, funding updates, job listings, community discussions, and premium resources for founders.
The Bengaluru-based startup gained national visibility after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 4, where it secured a ₹50 lakh investment commitment from OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal. The founding team was also featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 India 2025 list, further boosting the startup’s profile.
In December 2024, Medial raised $500,000 in a Pre-Series A funding round led by OG Capital (Ortella Global Capital). At the time, the company had crossed 100,000 users and said it was targeting profitability within two quarters through premium subscriptions, hiring products, and founder-focused services.
Following its Shark Tank appearance, Medial expanded its premium offerings to include VC and grant databases, accelerator and incubator directories, startup job listings, and exclusive founder resources. According to the founders, the platform was also in advanced discussions to raise a $4-5 million Series A round, but the fundraising did not materialise.
Before announcing the shutdown, Dwivedi revealed that Medial had grown to over 500,000 users across more than 30 countries. He noted that several startups discovered through the platform later went on to raise venture funding and even appeared on Shark Tank India, highlighting the platform’s impact despite its relatively short journey.
The company has not yet announced a timeline for the complete shutdown or clarified how user accounts, subscriptions, and platform data will be handled during the wind-down process.