Nidhi Kumra and Shubha Lal’s Your-Space Raises $10 Million in Series-A Funding to Redefine Student Housing

Your-Space, co-founded in 2016 by Nidhi Kumra and Shubha Lal, has raised $10 million in Series-A investment, a noteworthy achievement for the student housing industry. Leading investors in the investment round, which consisted of a calculated combination of convertible debentures and pure stock, were Ajay Gupta’s family firm AJAX Capital, Holy Basil Consultancy Private Ltd., and Shantanu Rastogi of General Atlantic. Sanjaya Gupta, the former MD and CEO of PNB Housing Finance Limited, and the family offices of Manish Choksi and Sunidhi Group are also involved in the round.

Your-Space, a pioneering player in the student housing market, was founded with a vision to redefine the living experience for students. Currently operational across multiple cities in India, including Delhi, Noida, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and more, the company has carved a niche for itself in providing tech-enabled, secure, and community-centric student accommodations. The newly acquired funds will play a pivotal role in the company’s expansion strategy, allowing it to deepen its presence in a highly competitive market.

Shubha Lal, Co-founder, and Chief Operating Officer of Your-Space expressed the significance of the funding, stating, “The funds will help us deepen our presence in a competitive crowded market. It gives us the firepower to continue delivering global service standards at scale.” The company aims to leverage these funds to grow its operational capacity and increase its footprint in key metros and Tier I cities.

One of the key elements of Your-Space’s success lies in its tech-enabled approach to student housing. With over 60 smart spaces equipped with features such as facial recognition, biometrics, and digital locks, the company places a strong emphasis on ensuring a secure and convenient living environment for students. The newly acquired funds will be directed towards further enhancing its scalable, modular technology platform, thereby improving user experience and facilitating the development of a robust student community.

Your-Space, which currently boasts more than 7,000 operational beds, has ambitious plans to scale its capacity to over 20,000 beds by July 2022, aligning with the upcoming academic year. The company’s strategic approach involves a keen focus on becoming the preferred student housing brand in India. The funds raised will also be allocated to strengthen and retain the core team, essential for sustaining and accelerating growth.

Nidhi Kumra, Co-founder, and CEO of Your-Space highlighted the company’s expansion strategy, stating, “Our strategy for expansion is to remain focused on being the most preferred student housing brand in India.” The student housing segment in India is poised for significant growth, projected to reach over $25 billion per annum by 2025. Ajay Gupta of AJAX Capital emphasized the potential in the student housing sector, stating, “The future of student housing is going to be driven by technology and building a strong community, and Your-Space is at the cusp of bringing about this change.” The funds raised in this Series-A round position Your-Space strategically to lead this transformative change in the student housing landscape.

Shantanu Rastogi of General Atlantic emphasized the pressing need for quality student housing operators in India to address the growing demand. He stated, “There is a significant unmet need for safe, comfortable, convenient, and affordable lodging & community spaces for 30M+ migrant undergrad and post-grad students in India.”

With a clear vision, innovative technology-driven solutions, and substantial funding, Your-Space, under the leadership of Nidhi Kumra and Shubha Lal, is well-positioned to shape the future of student housing in India, providing a secure and enriching living experience for students across the country.