Rukam Sitara, Flipkart Back Xportel to Boost Export Ecosystem

In a significant boost to India’s growing export-tech landscape, Xportel, a cross-border trade enablement startup, has raised capital in its ongoing seed funding round. The round was co-led by Rukam Sitara and Flipkart Ventures, with participation from Venture Catalysts and a consortium of angel investors from the trade-tech and logistics sectors.

The fresh infusion of funds will help Xportel expand its technological capabilities, strengthen its operations and sales teams, and onboard a broader network of exporters across the country. The startup also plans to invest in marketing and product innovation to build a seamless, tech-driven export ecosystem for Indian businesses.

Rukam Sitana & Flipkart Ventures Invests in Xportel

Founded by Anshul Mahindru, Darpan Lamba, and Sanchit Narang, Xportel aims to simplify international trade for Indian SMEs and emerging digital-first brands. The platform offers an end-to-end export management solution covering opportunity discovery, compliance, documentation, logistics, and post-shipment tracking.

By digitizing these traditionally complex processes, Xportel is helping businesses navigate the export journey with ease, bringing them closer to global markets and reducing the friction associated with international trade.

“We’re building Xportel to make exports as easy as domestic selling for Indian businesses,” said Sanchit Narang, Co-founder, Xportel. “Our vision is to create a cross-border ecosystem that supports businesses from pre-order processes to post-order logistics. This funding is a major step towards achieving that goal.”

Bridging India’s Export Readiness Gap

Despite contributing 45–50% of India’s export volume, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often face significant barriers in global trade. These include fragmented documentation systems, compliance hurdles, limited logistics infrastructure, and a lack of access to global buyers.

Xportel addresses these pain points through a tech-first approach, offering automation and visibility across the export lifecycle. The platform's capabilities are especially timely as India prepares to position itself as a global export hub.

“At Rukam Sitara, we are constantly looking for value-driven ventures solving real friction points for underserved but high-potential markets,” said Archana Jahagirdar, Founder & Managing Partner, Rukam Sitara. “The export readiness gap in India is one such area. Xportel’s mission directly aligns with India’s larger ambition to become a global export powerhouse.”

Export-Tech: A Growing Sector in India’s Startup Economy

India’s export sector is at a strategic inflection point. The government has set an ambitious $2 trillion export target by 2030, with a growing focus on infrastructure, compliance ease, and digitization to help achieve that milestone.

Startups like Xportel are emerging as enablers in this space, especially as global supply chains diversify and international buyers look towards India as a credible sourcing alternative.

Recent government measures such as RoDTEP, PLI schemes, ONDC’s integration with international trade, and customs reforms like CSB-IV and CSB-V, are supporting this shift by simplifying processes and lowering entry barriers for small exporters and D2C brands.

With rising interest from institutional investors and the expansion of digital infrastructure, export-tech is rapidly becoming a critical pillar of India’s startup economy.

Strategic Backing from Flipkart and Rukam Sitara

Flipkart Ventures’ participation adds further validation to Xportel’s business model and future potential. The investment is also aligned with Flipkart’s broader interest in enabling supply chain innovations and supporting digitally native Indian brands looking to scale globally.

For Rukam Sitara, this investment is consistent with its focus on early-stage ventures that align with the aspirations of "New India." The firm continues to support startups that are using technology to solve systemic inefficiencies and unlock long-term growth.

“We believe India is entering a new phase of trade competitiveness,” said Jahagirdar. “Solutions like Xportel are going to play a vital role in unlocking that potential—especially for MSMEs and digital-first brands who often lack structured access to international markets.”