Oxfordcaps works directly with universities and colleges as well to build a tailored experience for the student community, both via on-campus and off-campus housing

Oxfordcaps, a branded and tech-enabled student housing startup with operations in India and Singapore, has raised S$11 million (US$8.15 million) in Series A funding led by Times Internet, a digital unit of India’s leading media company, The Times of India Group.

Existing investors Bangalore-based Kalaari Capital and 500 Startups also co-invested in this round.

The new capital will be used for fuelling its growth with expansion into 10-plus cities in India and standardisation of its student housing product. Oxfordcaps aims to grow its operations across education hubs in India, including Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Dehradun, Indore, Jaipur, Pune, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

Founded by INSEAD graduate Annu Talreja (CEO) and IIM-Calcutta alum Priyanka Gera (COO), Oxfordcaps provides a technology-driven living experience to Gen Z students in India and Singapore.

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The company operates via three sub-brands and caters to students across price segments, including Oxfordcaps Premium Residences, Oxfordcaps Student Residences, and Oxfordcaps Dorms for the budget segment. It offers fully-fitted out and custom designed residences with full- stack service model, including wifi, laundry, nutritious meals, professional housekeeping and an array of events and activities focused on career development and lifestyle for students.

With Gen Z’ers at the core of its business, it is also investing heavily on technology, particularly focusing on IoT and Deep Learning architectures, to provide a customised and engaging living experience for students.

The startup works directly with universities and colleges as well to build a tailored experience for the student community, both via on-campus and off-campus housing.

The founders claim the firm has clocked a 30x growth in less than 10 months since its launch in India, and has expanded from 200 beds to acquisition of over 6,000 beds.

Vani Kola, Managing Director at Kalaari Capital, said: “More than 10.4 million students across India migrate to cities every year to pursue their academic dreams. However, student housing today suffers from a high level of fragmentation, lack of quality solutions, price transparency, reliability and complete lack of tech enablement of processes. OxfordCaps is addressing this gap.”

“An avalanche of institutional capital is pouring into the fast growing student accommodation sector. We are confidently doubling-down on our initial investment in OxfordCaps to further propel their mission of providing an unparalleled student housing experience,” said Vishal Harnal, General Partner at 500 Startups.

In 2017, Oxfordcaps received seed funding from 500 Startups, ReadyVentures and a group of undisclosed angel investors. In the same year, Your-Space.in, another student housing startup from India, secured US$500,000 in angel funding from a group of unnamed High Net-worth Individuals.

Placio, yet another startup operating in this vertical, announced a US$2 million in pre-Series A round from Singapore-based private equity fund Prestellar Ventures in 2018.

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