Rocket, an AI startup based in India, has raised $15 million in seed funding to help users build fully functional, scalable applications simply by using natural language prompts.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- Rocket raised $15M in seed funding led by Salesforce Ventures, Accel, and Together Fund
- The startup lets users build production-ready apps from natural language, not just prototypes
- It already has 400,000 users in 180 countries and $4.5M in annual recurring revenue
- Rocket is expanding into the U.S. with a new Palo Alto HQ and doubling its engineering team
What Happened?
Rocket, a fast-growing app development platform powered by AI, closed a $15 million seed round just four months after launching. Backed by Salesforce Ventures, Accel, and Together Fund, the startup plans to use the funds to expand globally, enhance its proprietary AI systems, and open a U.S. headquarters in Palo Alto, California.
Today we’re putting $15M from @SalesforceVC and @Accel_India to work on a simple belief: every imagination deserves production, not just prototypes. pic.twitter.com/wa7yHFbWgF
— Rocket (@rocketdotnew) September 23, 2025
Built for the Age of AI: Rocket’s Unique Approach
Founded by Vishal Virani, Rahul Shingala, and Deepak Dhanak, Rocket is designed to go far beyond basic code generation. While many AI coding tools stop at prototypes or mockups, Rocket enables users to create production-ready, scalable applications that are ready for real-world use from day one.
- Users type out an idea in natural language
- Rocket’s AI builds out the app with all required modules
- It supports everything from dashboards and internal tools to consumer-facing apps
“Our belief is simple: building applications should be as natural as thinking,” said CEO Vishal Virani. “Rocket turns imagination into real products that launch and scale.”
The platform already powers over 500,000 completed applications, with thousands more added daily. Use cases span solopreneurs, startups, digital agencies, and large enterprises like Meta, PayPal, and PwC. About 80% of users build serious applications like fintech platforms, ecommerce stores, B2B tools, and mental health apps, rather than simple websites or landing pages.
Built in Surat, Scaling Globally
Rocket’s story is rooted in Surat, a city better known for diamonds and textiles than for tech. But that hasn’t slowed its momentum. In just a few months, the platform has attracted:
- 400,000 users from 180+ countries
- $4.5M in ARR, with projections of $20–$25M by end of year
- A user base building 45% mobile apps and 55% websites
- Conversion of users from platforms like Replit and Lovable, who use Rocket to scale to mobile apps
Rocket is setting up its North American headquarters in Palo Alto to better serve its largest market. The U.S. alone contributes 26% of its revenue, followed by Europe (15-20%) and India (10%).
“Rocket’s platform represents the next evolutionary leap for developer tools,” said Kartik Gupta of Salesforce Ventures. “They’re arming a new generation of builders to seamlessly translate ideas into complete, production-grade solutions.”
A New Class of Vibe-Coding Startup
Rocket is part of a growing group of platforms in the “vibe-coding” space, where code is generated based on how the user envisions the product rather than following strict syntax. But Rocket stands apart by focusing on scalability and real-world use, not just idea prototyping.
Its tech stack includes:
- Large language models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google Gemini
- Proprietary deep learning systems trained on data from the team’s earlier startup, DhiWise
- A unique architecture that CEO Virani claims is “completely different” from competitors like Lovable, Bolt, and Cursor
Rocket’s pricing model includes a free trial (up to 1 million tokens) and starts at $25/month for premium access. The company enjoys gross margins of 50–55%, aiming to push that to 60–70% as it scales.
SQ Magazine Takeaway
I love seeing an Indian startup from outside the usual tech cities building something this bold. Rocket is solving a real pain point for builders who don’t want to mess around with half-baked code or clunky mockups. This is about going from “here’s my idea” to “here’s my live app” in minutes. That’s powerful. They’re not just joining the vibe-coding trend, they’re elevating it with real-world functionality and global ambitions. With early traction like this, Rocket is definitely one to watch.
