Flent, a proptech startup focused on reshaping urban renting in India, has raised INR 6.5 Cr in a pre-seed funding round led by WEH Ventures. The funding round saw participation from US-based 2 AM Ventures, Pareto Holdings, and a notable group of angel investors including Sanchan S Saxena (Ex-GM, Airbnb), Aneesh Reddy (Founder, Capillary Technologies), Arjun Vaidya (Founder, Dr. Vaidya’s), Shradha Sharma (Founder, YourStory), and Abhilash N (Co-founder, Ivy Homes).
The funds will be directed towards expanding Flent’s core team and further developing India’s first full-stack renting platform, designed to make renting easier and faster for the country’s new-age working professionals.
Co-founder and CEO of Flent, Shail Daswani, explained the startup’s vision: “People compromise on so many things when it comes to renting—settling for outdated & unfurnished homes, hefty deposits, subpar brokers, and one-sided terms. We believe that in today’s world, compromise isn’t an option, especially for the new generation. At Flent, we’re making renting as simple as booking an Uber.”
Founded in October 2023 by Shail Daswani, Mayank Lalwani, and Rishabh Agnihotri, Flent has gained significant traction with its flagship product, Flent Reserve. The platform allows customers to move into fully furnished, designer turnkey homes with zero brokerage, minimal deposits, and flexible stay durations ranging from 3 to 11 months. Within just 15 days of signing up and sharing preferences, customers can settle into their new homes.
Speaking about Flent’s disruptive approach to the traditional renting model, Rohit Krishna, General Partner at WEH Ventures, said, “Think of Flent as India’s first experience-led broker that doesn’t charge brokerage fees. Flent has shown solid validation that a full-stack model can deliver a superior experience for both tenants and property owners, offering a real alternative to the outdated renting process. Just as Amazon, Myntra, Swiggy, and Ola brought disruption via superior experience, Flent is creating an irreversible shift in the world of renting.”
Since its launch, Flent has rented out 120 rooms across Bangalore, ranging from 1 BHK to 3 BHK configurations, all within 10 days of release. With over 500 people on the waiting list and 100% occupancy in their current properties, the startup is on a strong growth trajectory.
“Urban renting in India is a $10 billion industry, but it remains fragmented and focused on sales rather than the experience. Our investment in Flent reflects a straightforward belief: young Indians want hassle-free, high-quality homes, and Flent is uniquely positioned to meet this demand,” added Hershel Mehta, Managing Partner at 2 AM VC.
In line with its latest marketing campaign, Flent also released a music video highlighting the frustrations of urban renting in India. Drawing inspiration from pop star Dua Lipa’s approach to redefining love in her work, the video humorously portrays the challenges renters face with landlords and outdated rental practices. The video has gained significant traction, going viral on LinkedIn and X, with over 500,000 views.
