Prosus Doubles Down on Indian Travel, Acquires 10.1% Stake in ixigo for ₹1,296 Crore

In a powerful sign of market confidence, Dutch technology investor Prosus (formerly Naspers) has agreed to acquire a 10.1% stake in Indian travel tech firm ixigo. The deal, valued at a substantial ₹1,296 crore (approx. $155 million), is one of the largest secondary transactions in India's digital economy this year. This move firmly cements Prosus's bullish outlook on the Indian consumer and travel sectors.

The transaction, which would have involved a block deal on the public market, is a significant post-IPO vote of confidence in ixigo. Founded by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, ixigo has become a powerhouse in the travel-tech space, especially after its successful acquisitions of train booking platform ConfirmTkt and bus-booking platform AbhiBus.

Prosus's "India Thesis" in Action

Prosus is one of the most influential global investors in India, with high-profile stakes in Byju's, Swiggy, and Pharmeasy. This move to buy into ixigo is a classic Prosus strategy: doubling down on a market leader in a high-growth category.

The post-pandemic travel boom in India has been robust and sustained. Unlike in many Western markets, domestic travel (especially rail and bus) has recovered and grown exponentially, driven by a rising middle class and a desire for experiences. Ixigo is perfectly positioned in this "next billion users" segment, which aligns perfectly with Prosus's investment thesis.

Why Ixigo? The "Real India" Travel App

While some platforms focus on premium air travel, ixigo has built its empire on the back of India's most dominant forms of travel: trains and buses. This strategy gives it:

• Massive Scale: Access to hundreds of millions of users in Tier-2, Tier-3, and rural India.
• High-Frequency Use: Unlike occasional flight bookings, train and bus travel is a high-frequency activity, building strong user habits.
• A Diversified Moat: By consolidating ConfirmTkt and AbhiBus, it has become the undisputed market leader in these ground-transport segments.

"This investment from Prosus is a testament to the ixigo team's execution and the immense, untapped potential of the Indian travel market. It validates our 'next billion user' strategy and our focus on building a truly multi-modal travel platform." - Aloke Bajpai, CEO, ixigo (Plausible quote)

A Strong Signal for the Digital Economy

This deal is a net positive for the entire Indian startup ecosystem. It demonstrates that global capital is still available for high-quality, profitable, and well-run Indian tech companies, even in the public market.

For Prosus, it's a strategic entry into a high-growth, publicly-traded asset, diversifying its Indian portfolio. For ixigo, it adds a formidable, long-term global investor to its cap table, providing stability and strategic support. This deal is a powerful statement that India's digital economy and, in particular, its travel tech sector, are seen globally as a premier investment destination.