While most startups are racing to build the next big thing in the digital world, Misfits is going the opposite way — and thriving. The Gurugram-based platform, which helps people bond over hobbies in the real world, has just raised ₹5 crore in seed funding, with Info Edge Ventures and Better Capital leading the round.
Started in 2022 by Shashwat Narhatiyar, Chaitanya Dhawan, Saurabh Sharma, and Shaswat Kar, all IIT Kanpur alumni, Misfits isn’t just another app trying to keep you glued to your screen. Instead, it helps people find and join local clubs — whether it’s for poetry, fitness, board games, dance, or anything else that gets people off their phones and into the real world.
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What began as a few weekend hangouts in someone’s Gurgaon apartment has quietly ballooned into a movement. Today, Misfits claims over 20,000 members, spread across 40+ active clubs, with more than 3,000 in-person meetups hosted in the Delhi NCR region alone.
“The idea took shape while we were still in college,” says Shashwat Narhatiyar, who now leads the company as CEO. “We realized how empty online interactions can feel. Likes and comments don’t replace genuine, face-to-face conversations. That’s when the idea of creating an offline-first community platform really clicked.”
With the new funding, Misfits plans to improve its mobile experience, making it easier for users to discover, join, or even start their own interest-based clubs. The team also has its sights set on expanding beyond Gurugram to more areas in Delhi NCR over the next few months, with a long-term goal of entering other major urban hubs across India.
Chaitanya Dhawan, Misfits’ CMO, puts it simply: “We weren’t trying to start a business. We were trying to fix something that felt broken in our own lives — the lack of genuine social connection. People are lonely. We felt it. Our friends felt it. And so did thousands of others.”
Their timing seems spot on. As digital fatigue sets in and people crave more tangible experiences, Misfits’ model — which empowers local “club leaders” to run their own communities — is catching on fast.
Investors are buying into the vision.
“There’s a real, unmet need here,” says Rishabh Katiyar, Principal at Info Edge Ventures. “Misfits is showing impressive traction, and their approach — letting passionate individuals lead their own communities — is scalable, sustainable, and refreshingly real.”
Vaibhav Domkundwar, CEO of Better Capital, adds: “If AirBnB is about places, Misfits is about people. It’s the AirBnB of human connection, and we’re thrilled to back a team that’s built something so unique, so timely.”
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In a world increasingly dominated by algorithm-driven feeds and virtual avatars, Misfits is betting on something much simpler: shared interests, face-to-face conversations, and a good old-fashioned sense of belonging.
