Mumbai: RUNO,A modern Mobile SIM-based Outbound Call Management CRM, has secured $1.5 million in a Pre Series A funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures and Callapina Capital.

The investment is earmarked primarily for hiring a senior management team in Product and Development. RUNO aims to utilize this capital to expand its operations into the MENA region, as well as the United States and Canada, establishing a global presence in the sales and outbound calling productivity sector.

Founded in 2019 by Rajsekhar Pattnaik and Venkata Sai Vamsi Penupothu, RUNO offers a user-friendly interface, customizable features, and action-driven analytics to streamline outbound sales operations. Its integration with popular CRMs and lead sources centralizes lead management, enhancing productivity in sales and outbound calling.

Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, says, “With a proven success track record of RUNO, we decided to invest in the company due to its product that is enabling companies to achieve a higher conversion rate. The increasing use of advanced technologies, cloud based CRM is gaining traction. In the coming years the penetration of CRM is going to be AI driven and RUNO is already working on pioneering solutions on that front. We believe the fresh funds will not only help RUNO in its expansion plan but also create a path for new products to come in the market that will target MSMEs”

Vinod Jose, Co founder CEO, Callapina Capital, adds, “As remote work and distributed workforces have become the norm in the post-pandemic world, there is a clear need for innovative tools and infrastructure to support these changes. Runo’s mobile-first solution is expertly designed to manage distributed workforces and enhance productivity in a variety of call-based operations, from outbound and inbound call centres to sales and hiring initiatives. Their groundbreaking approach, which integrates CRM functionality directly at the SIM level, not only simplifies communication but also drastically improves operational efficiencies and contact ratios, as evidenced by the transformative results seen by their clients. We are excited to back Raj and Vamsi as they bring this solution to the world from India and take the lead in revolutionizing business communications.”

RUNO has experienced significant expansion, with a consistent 30% increase in growth each quarter over the past two years. Building on this momentum, the company is striving to achieve an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $2.5 million within the coming 12 to 18 months.

Commenting on the recent funding round, Rajsekhar Pattnaik, Founder and CEO, says, “Backed by a Rockstar Team over the last 2 years and recent funding, Runo is aiming for 7X revenue growth in next 8 Quarters. Our client roster boasts over 800 businesses, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises like Reliance Nippon, and most of these businesses have come as organic leads. Leveraging organic growth and client referrals, the company’s focus for the next two quarters is clear: doubling down on distribution, go-to-market strategies And as we set our sights on the Middle East and Africa, Runo, is poised to redefine industry standards and serve a global clientele.”

Venkata Sai Vamsi Penupothu, Co-Founder & CTO, adds, “The recent capital infusion will further boost Call Management CRM, merging sim-based call tracking with CRM, empowering businesses with deep customer insights. Our focus on AI integration in the product roadmap promises smarter call analytics, predictive customer behaviour insights, and streamlined CRM operations.”

According to Grand View Research Report the global customer relationship management market size was valued at USD 65.59 billion in 2023 and is estimated to touch the CAGR of 13.9% from 2024 to 2030, giving hyper growth opportunity to RUNO.