(L-R): Pankaj Parwanda, Co-Founder & CSO, goSTOPS; and Pallavi Agarwal, Founder & CEO, goSTOPS
goSTOPS, India’s leading youth travel hostel brand, has raised Rs 35 Crore ($4.2 million) in its Series A funding led by Blume Ventures with continued support from co-lead investor 1Crowd. Other existing investors, including Mumbai Angels, Chennai Angels, Indian AngelNetwork, Lead Angels, and Yuj Ventures, also participated in the round, reaffirming their confidence in goSTOPS’ vision and its strong growth trajectory.
With this fresh infusion of equity capital, goSTOPS is set to expand its capacity from 2,500 to 10,000 beds across 100 locations in the next 24 months, achieving 4X growth. The funding will be used to strengthen operations, enhance technology, and elevate the social and experiential aspects of its existing properties, reinforcing goSTOPS as the preferred travel and lifestyle brand for India’s youth. In addition, the company is also finalising debt partnerships to expand its war chest for the brand’s expansion.
Pallavi Agarwal, Founder & CEO at goSTOPS, said, “At goSTOPS, we’re redefining how young travellers experience India — offering vibrant, social, and design-led spaces for the new generation. This investment reflects the trust our investors have in our vision and the category we are building. With their continued support, we are set to scale goSTOPS into India’s most preferred youth travel brand — by expanding our footprint while staying true to our promise of making the transformative power of travel accessible to young Indians.
Founded by Pallavi Agarwal and Pankaj Parwanda, goSTOPS has redefined travel for India’s youth. Over the past few years, the company has demonstrated remarkable resilience, scaling rapidly despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, as travel surges and young travellers increasingly choose hostels over hotels, goSTOPS is leading this shift with its vibrant, community-driven spaces.
Ashish Fafadia, Partner at Blume Ventures said, “goSTOPS has built a category-defining brand by combining deep operational expertise, smart asset management, and tech-driven efficiencies. Their ability to optimise unit economics while scaling rapidly is a testament to the team’s tenacity and strategic vision. We are excited to back their journey as they continue to expand and transform the youth travel experience in India.”
Anil Gudibande, Co-founder of 1Crowd, who has co-lead the funding, said, “As an early backer of goSTOPS, we always believed that the brand was more than just a hostel chain — it’s a youth brand with the potential to shape travel and lifestyle choices. The founders’ ingenuity, and deep understanding of their audience have been key to their success. Their team isn’t just about asset utilisation; it’s about creating experiences that resonate with young travellers. This belief has been central to us leading the company’s multiple rounds of equity financing, and we are now excited to see the next phase of their growth.”
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