TapChief has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
TapChief's investors include Blume Ventures, DVx Ventures, GSF Accelerator, Hoxton Ventures, Mithril Capital Management, Runway Growth Capital, Sahin Boydas.
TapChief is a professional networking platform founded in 2016 in Bangalore, India, that connects businesses and individuals with top experts and freelancers for advice, short-term projects, and gigs across domains like management consulting, enterprise solutions, and professional services[1][2][3]. It serves over 150 enterprise customers in sectors including education, FMCG, e-commerce, enterprise SaaS, and upskilling, while enabling 150,000+ registered professionals to complete 50,000+ gigs for Fortune 500 companies, unicorns, and startups[1]. The platform solves the problem of accessing specialized expertise on-demand by streamlining discovery, scheduling, and execution of calls and collaborations, with early growth evidenced by $2.3M–$2.5M in total funding across multiple rounds before its acquisition by Unacademy in February 2021 for Rs 100 crore (approximately $13.5M at the time)[1][3][4].
TapChief was founded in 2016 by BITS Pilani alumni Shashank Murali (CEO), Binay Krishna, and Arjun Krishna, who started as undergraduates aiming to empower Indian professionals with career-enhancing opportunities[1]. The idea emerged to create a technology-driven marketplace for expert advice, allowing seamless discovery and scheduling of calls across domains, evolving into a broader platform for gigs and projects with global clients[1][2][3]. Early traction included serving 150+ enterprise customers and 150,000+ professionals, culminating in its acquisition by edtech unicorn Unacademy in February 2021, which allowed the team to scale their mission within a larger ecosystem[1].
TapChief rode the future-of-work trend, particularly the gig economy and remote expertise marketplaces, accelerated by the pandemic's shift to flexible professional services[1][3]. Its timing aligned with India's booming startup ecosystem and upskilling demand in edtech/SaaS, positioning it as a bridge between solopreneurs and enterprises amid rising freelance adoption[1][2]. Market forces like digital transformation and access to global talent favored its model, influencing the ecosystem by democratizing expert advice and powering Unacademy's expansion into professional networking post-acquisition[1].
Post-2021 acquisition, TapChief operates as part of Unacademy, likely integrating its expert network to enhance edtech offerings like upskilling and enterprise training. Upcoming trends in AI-driven matching and hybrid work could amplify its platform, evolving influence toward deeper enterprise gig solutions within India's unicorn landscape. This positions it to sustain momentum from its independent growth, fulfilling its founding mission at larger scale[1].
TapChief has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in December 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2019 | $2.0M Seed | Blume Ventures, DVx Ventures, GSF Accelerator, Hoxton Ventures, Mithril Capital Management, Runway Growth Capital, Sahin Boydas |
