In a testament to India’s burgeoning AI ecosystem, Surat-based startup Rocket has raised $15 million in a seed round led by Salesforce Ventures and Accel, with participation from Together Fund. Announced on September 23, 2025, the funding will propel the AI-powered app-building platform’s global ambitions, including a new headquarters in Palo Alto, California, and enhanced R&D for its “vibe-coding” tools that transform natural language prompts into production-ready applications. For developers, investors, and AI enthusiasts searching Rocket India seed funding, vibe-coding startup 2025, or AI app builder Surat, this raise highlights Rocket’s meteoric rise—reaching 400,000 users and $4.5 million ARR in just three months—positioning it as a challenger to global rivals like Cursor and Bolt in the no-code/low-code revolution.
Founded in 2024 by Vishal Virani, Rahul Shingala, and Deepak Dhanak, Rocket democratizes app development by enabling users to create full-stack apps, websites, dashboards, and tools from simple descriptions, bypassing traditional coding hurdles. With a 60-member team split between Surat and Palo Alto, the startup plans to double its India headcount over the next year.
The Raise: Fueling Global Expansion and Innovation
The $15 million infusion comes at a time when AI developer tools are exploding, with Rocket’s platform generating comprehensive, scalable apps in ~25 minutes—faster than manual coding but thorough enough for enterprise use. Gross margins stand at 50-55%, with ambitions to hit 60-70% soon, driven by a freemium model that prioritizes serious builders over hobbyists.
Key uses for the funds:
- R&D Acceleration: Enhancing proprietary models for more accurate, multi-page app generation.
- Go-to-Market Push: Organic growth via word-of-mouth will evolve into targeted marketing in the US (26% of revenue) and Europe (15-20%).
- Infrastructure Scale: Palo Alto HQ to serve North American users, alongside Surat’s diamond-and-textile hub roots.
Kartik Gupta of Salesforce Ventures praised: “Rocket’s platform represents the next evolutionary leap for developer tools.” Accel’s Sameer Brijwani added: “This investment highlights global interest in India-founded tech for worldwide audiences.”
| Investor | Role | Notable Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Salesforce Ventures | Lead | “Arming builders with power to create production-grade solutions” |
| Accel | Lead | “Global interest in India-founded tech” |
| Together Fund | Participant | Supports AI innovation ecosystems |
Rocket’s Edge: Vibe-Coding for Production-Ready Apps
Rocket stands out in the crowded AI coding space by focusing on end-to-end functionality, not just prototypes. Users describe ideas in natural language (e.g., “Build a task manager for remote teams with integrations”), and the platform outputs deployable code with essential modules like authentication and databases—achieving a “fuzzy sphere” of innovation beyond snippets.
Traction highlights:
- User Base: 400,000 in three months, with viral social posts driving organic adoption.
- Revenue Model: Healthy margins from premium tiers; US leads at 26%, India at 10%.
- Competitive Moat: Unlike Lovable or Bolt’s quick mocks, Rocket delivers scalable, multi-page apps.
CEO Virani emphasized: “Building applications should be as natural as thinking—Rocket turns imagination into production-ready solutions.”
Market Context: India’s AI Boom and Global Ambitions
India’s startup scene is AI-obsessed, with over half of 80+ investors eyeing early-stage AI bets in H2 2025. Rocket joins recent raises like OnFinance AI’s $4.2M, but its vibe-coding niche—blending generative AI with dev tools—taps a $50 billion global low-code market growing 25% annually.
Challenges include competition from established players and the need for robust security in production apps, but Rocket’s Surat-Palo Alto duality positions it for cross-cultural scaling.
Conclusion: Rocket’s $15M Launchpad for AI App Democracy
Rocket’s $15M seed round isn’t just capital—it’s rocket fuel for a startup redefining how ideas become apps, from Surat’s streets to Silicon Valley’s suites. With 400K users and $4.5M ARR already, the funding promises bolder R&D and US dominance. For those tracking Indian AI startups 2025 or no-code tools, Rocket exemplifies the vibe-coding wave. Will it outpace Cursor globally? Early traction says yes—stay tuned for Palo Alto unveils. Tech Crunch
