Surat-based artificial intelligence startup Rocket has raised $15 million in funding from global technology giant Salesforce and venture capital firm Accel. The investment will help the company scale its Complete App Platform, an AI-driven ecosystem designed to simplify enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence across workflows, applications, and customer engagement.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for India’s rapidly growing AI startup landscape, highlighting both investor confidence and the global relevance of homegrown innovation. Rocket, headquartered in Surat with operations in Palo Alto, has positioned itself as a bridge between advanced AI capabilities and practical business applications.
Founded in 2021, Rocket initially focused on developing tools that automate real-time content creation and intelligent insights for media and enterprises. Over time, the startup expanded into building a full-stack AI platform capable of integrating data, analytics, and application development under a single framework. The new funding will accelerate efforts to scale this platform globally.
According to company executives, the Complete App Platform allows enterprises to build AI-native applications without deep technical expertise. By offering pre-built modules, integration layers, and automated data pipelines, the platform is designed to reduce complexity and speed up deployment for organizations across sectors such as retail, finance, healthcare, and logistics.
Salesforce’s involvement underscores the alignment between Rocket’s vision and the broader enterprise AI ecosystem. Salesforce has been steadily expanding its AI footprint through its Einstein and Data Cloud platforms. Partnering with RocketNews AI adds another layer of innovation, especially as enterprises seek customizable and scalable AI solutions. For Accel, the investment is consistent with its strategy of backing high-growth technology startups with strong product-market fit and global potential.
Industry observers note that the $15 million funding round will not only strengthen Rocket’s product roadmap but also boost confidence in regional innovation hubs like Surat. Traditionally, India’s technology startups have been concentrated in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurgaon. Rocket AI’s rise from Surat reflects the geographic diversification of India’s startup ecosystem and the increasing accessibility of venture capital for emerging cities.
Rocket's co-founders highlighted that the investment will be utilized to scale engineering teams, strengthen product innovation, and expand global market reach. The company is planning to open additional offices in North America and Europe while building deeper partnerships in Asia-Pacific. Hiring domain experts in data science, machine learning, and user experience design is also a key priority as the startup aims to refine its platform for large-scale enterprise use.
The investment comes at a time when enterprise AI adoption is accelerating worldwide. A recent industry survey revealed that over 65% of organizations plan to increase spending on AI platforms in 2025, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and customer engagement. Rocket’s offering positions it directly within this growth trajectory, providing enterprises with tools to integrate AI seamlessly into daily operations.
Executives from Salesforce commented that their support of Rocket aligns with their mission of democratizing AI for businesses of all sizes. They emphasized that Rocket’s modular and customizable platform complements Salesforce’s ecosystem by enabling customers to create industry-specific AI solutions. Accel, meanwhile, stated that Rocket’s ability to scale quickly and its strong early traction made it a compelling investment opportunity.
Analysts suggest that Rocket’s dual presence in Surat and Palo Alto gives it a unique advantage. The Surat base allows the company to tap into India’s expanding engineering talent pool at competitive costs, while its Palo Alto operations provide proximity to global customers, investors, and technology partners. This hybrid model is increasingly being adopted by Indian startups looking to balance scale with global reach.
The funding also comes amid intensifying competition in the enterprise AI platform space. Companies such as Databricks, OpenAI, and Anthropic are building tools to streamline enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence. Rocket differentiates itself by focusing on a complete, end-to-end app-building environment rather than point solutions, offering a single interface for enterprises to manage data, build models, and deploy applications.
Market experts believe that the strategic backing from Salesforce and Accel could help Rocket carve a niche in the global AI landscape. With Salesforce’s market presence and Accel’s experience in scaling high-growth companies, Rocket is positioned to accelerate customer acquisition and establish itself as a trusted enterprise partner.
The startup’s leadership emphasized that responsible AI development remains a core priority. Rocket plans to invest in building transparent and ethical AI frameworks that address concerns around bias, data privacy, and explainability. This focus reflects growing enterprise demand for AI solutions that are not only effective but also aligned with global regulatory and ethical standards.
For India, Rocket’s success story illustrates the country’s ability to produce globally competitive AI platforms. The government’s increasing emphasis on AI innovation through initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission provides additional momentum for startups in the sector. Rocket’s trajectory could serve as a model for other regional startups aspiring to build globally scalable solutions.
Looking ahead, Rocket aims to integrate advanced capabilities such as multi-modal AI, generative AI, and real-time analytics into its Complete App Platform. The goal is to help enterprises move beyond experimentation and adopt AI as a core component of business strategy. With fresh capital and strong backers, the company is preparing to scale its vision of making AI-driven applications accessible to businesses worldwide.
The $15 million funding represents more than just capital infusion. It highlights the convergence of global investor interest, enterprise demand, and India’s growing innovation pipeline. For Rocket, it marks the beginning of its next growth phase, where it will look to prove its capabilities not just as a regional startup but as a global AI platform provider.