Two very different Indian startups have announced major funding developments. GIVA, a fine-jewellery brand, is preparing for a much larger offline retail presence. Armatrix, a deep-tech robotics company, is building machines designed to work in cramped and hazardous industrial locations.

Their products may have little in common, but both stories show investors backing businesses that solve very clear problems – making everyday jewellery more accessible and making dangerous industrial work safer.

GIVA raises over USD 100 million for its next growth phase

As per Mint, Bengaluru-based jewellery brand GIVA has raised more than USD 100 million in a funding round led by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. Existing investors Epiq Capital and Edelweiss Discovery Fund also participated.

GIVA was founded in 2019 by Ishendra Agarwal, Nikita Prasad and Sachin Shetty. The brand began with sterling-silver jewellery and later expanded into gold and lab-grown diamond products. It sells through its website, online marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms and physical stores.

The funding round includes both primary and secondary capital. Primary capital goes into the business for growth, while secondary capital allows some early investors and shareholders to sell part of their stake. The deal also includes an employee stock ownership plan buyback, giving eligible employees a chance to benefit from the company’s growth.

GIVA plans to use the fresh funds for three key areas – expanding its store network, improving manufacturing capabilities and supporting working-capital needs such as inventory. The company has more than 400 stores across India and Sri Lanka and aims to cross 1,000 outlets over the next three to five years.

This is a big shift from the idea of GIVA as only an online jewellery brand. Jewellery buyers often want to see, touch and try products before spending money. More physical stores could help GIVA build trust, especially in Tier II cities.

GIVA faces tough jewellery competition

GIVA operates in a crowded market. Its competitors include BlueStone, CaratLane, Melorra, Candere and established jewellery names such as Tanishq. The company is betting that lightweight, everyday jewellery and an omnichannel model – where online and offline shopping work together – can help it stand out.

Its challenge is not only opening stores. The company must manage store costs, inventory, gold-price changes and customer expectations while moving towards profitability.

Armatrix raises Rs. 67.28 crore seed funding

As per Entrackr, Armatrix has raised Rs. 67.28 crore in a seed funding round led by UK-based Crane Venture Partners. Existing investor pi Ventures, along with gradCapital, Boundless Ventures, Inuka Capital, NKSquared and other investors, also took part.

Founded in 2024 by Vishrant Dave, Prateesh Awasthi and Ayush Ranjan, Armatrix develops snake-like robotic manipulators. These are flexible robotic arms designed to enter narrow, hard-to-reach and potentially unsafe spaces.

Think of a maintenance task inside a ship, an oil-and-gas facility or a nuclear installation. Rather than sending a worker into a confined area first, an operator may use a robot to inspect equipment, carry tools or perform a task from a safer location.

Armatrix says its technology is relevant to shipbuilding, aviation, oil and gas, nuclear energy and other industries where safety and access are major concerns.

What will Armatrix use the money for?

According to a regulatory filing-based report, Armatrix will use the funds for business expansion and general corporate purposes. The round appears to be ongoing, which means the final amount could increase through later tranches.

The report estimates the company’s valuation at around Rs. 360 crore, up from about Rs. 75 crore in its pre-seed round. However, Armatrix has not publicly confirmed a final valuation, so this number should be treated as an estimate.

Armatrix will compete with conventional inspection and maintenance teams as well as companies offering industrial robotics solutions. Its success will depend on proving that its robots are reliable, cost-effective and easy to deploy in real industrial environments.

India’s AI story is moving in two directions at once. One is inside companies, where AI is being used to help experts handle more work. The other is inside research labs, where AI could help scientists study complex questions and plan experiments.

These two ideas are at the centre of recent announcements from Neuraluna and NovAtom Labs, a student-led startup created by BITS Pilani Hyderabad students. Their products serve different users, but both are based on the same promise – AI should help people do better work, not blindly replace them.

Neuraluna expands its enterprise AI presence

As per BS, Seattle-headquartered Neuraluna has announced an expanded presence in India as part of its global enterprise AI strategy. The company was founded in December 2024 by Dinesh Chahlia and Phani Solomou.

Neuraluna is aimed at expert-led businesses such as consulting firms, legal practices, healthcare advisers and professional-services teams. Its platform lets organizations build AI agents around their own knowledge, methods and documents without requiring employees to write code.

For example, a consulting firm could create an internal AI assistant that follows its project-planning method, uses approved templates and helps teams prepare first drafts. A law firm could use a similar setup to help lawyers find relevant past work more quickly.

The company says every client engagement can be kept in a separate workspace. This matters because professional firms often work with confidential information from multiple clients. Neuraluna also uses models from several AI providers rather than tying users to one model family.

The opportunity is clear, but businesses should still check data location, permissions and compliance requirements before uploading sensitive information. Neuraluna’s privacy policy states that its servers are located in the United States, a point Indian companies should consider when handling regulated or confidential data.

BITS Pilani students build Research Copilot

At BITS Pilani Hyderabad, students Arnav Kulshreshtha and Sattwik Das have built Research Copilot through their student-led deep-tech startup, NovAtom Labs.

As per DC, the platform is designed to assist scientists through several parts of research – understanding a problem, reviewing existing papers, identifying useful variables, planning experiments and learning from results.

This is more than a chatbot that summarizes an article. The aim is to help researchers connect ideas across a large body of scientific literature and decide what to investigate next.

For instance, a materials-science researcher studying a new battery material may have to compare hundreds of papers, test different chemical combinations and track several experimental conditions. A research assistant like this could help organize findings, identify gaps and suggest questions worth examining. The final scientific judgement, however, must remain with researchers.

According to reports, the platform has been evaluated by researchers connected with ETH Zurich, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Toronto. NovAtom Labs has also demonstrated it at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali.

How these AI tools could affect us

Neuraluna could help Indian expert firms serve more clients without forcing professionals to start from scratch on every assignment. That may make specialized knowledge easier to access for smaller businesses.

Research Copilot could save time in laboratories by reducing repetitive reading and helping researchers organize complex information. In areas such as semiconductors, biotechnology, energy and advanced manufacturing, faster research cycles could eventually lead to better products and stronger local innovation.

However, both tools have limits. Enterprise AI can produce incorrect answers or expose confidential information if poorly managed. Research AI can identify patterns, but it cannot replace peer review, experiments, safety checks or scientific ethics.

Competition and the road ahead

Neuraluna enters a market that includes Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini for Workspace and several specialist enterprise AI platforms. Its focus on isolated client workspaces and reusable expert knowledge is its main differentiator.

Research Copilot faces competition from academic AI tools such as SciSpace, Elicit and Perplexity. Its strength will depend on whether it can offer reliable scientific reasoning, useful citations and practical support for real experiments.

For a person with low vision, a medicine label, unfamiliar staircase or crowded railway platform can turn into a difficult moment. Oculosense wants to make such daily tasks easier with Drishti Vision Live, a new AI smart-glasses device built in India.

The glasses are designed mainly for blind and visually impaired users, but Oculosense also sees a use case in workplaces where employees need hands-free visual guidance. The standout feature is live video support, which can allow a trusted family member, caregiver or support agent to view what the wearer sees when an internet connection is available.

What is Drishti Vision Live?

Drishti Vision Live is the newest product in Oculosense’s Drishti smart-glasses range. Oculosense was incorporated in 2021 by Rishabh Dhenkawat and Uttkarsh Chaurasia, while work on the Drishti concept began at NIT Hamirpur in 2019.

The device uses a camera, voice controls and AI software to describe parts of the user’s surroundings. Unlike many smart devices that depend fully on the internet, Oculosense says core functions work directly on the glasses without a data connection.

That matters in places with weak mobile coverage. A user should still be able to hear printed text, receive obstacle alerts, identify Indian currency notes and activate an SOS feature without depending on Wi-Fi.

Features and specifications

Drishti Vision Live weighs 49 grams, which is close to the weight of regular eyewear. It has a 13MP camera with a dedicated image processor, 32GB storage, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi and USB-C charging.

According to Oculosense, a full charge takes around 1.5 hours. The company lists a live-video delay of roughly 200 to 500 milliseconds, meaning the person watching remotely should see events with only a short delay.

Key offline functions include text reading through optical character recognition, obstacle and step detection, currency-note identification, voice commands and SOS alerts with location sharing. When connected, the glasses add scene description, translation, object and face recognition, an AI assistant and live video streaming.

A practical example is a student reading a printed notice on campus. The glasses can read the text aloud. If the student reaches an unfamiliar location and needs help, they may connect with a trusted contact who can see the live camera view and guide them.

How does the live AI system work?

The glasses use an edge-and-cloud approach. Basic tasks are processed on the device itself. More complex tasks, including continuous scene description and live video support, use an internet connection.

Oculosense says the glasses can send an HD video feed and microphone audio to a connected caregiver or support person. The company also claims up to 30 minutes of continuous live AI in one session. These performance figures are company claims and may vary based on connectivity, battery condition and the task being performed.

The company is also promoting an open software development kit, or SDK. In simple terms, this could let developers create software features for the glasses, including tools for education, industrial inspection or guided work instructions.

Potential impact and important limits

Assistive technology like Drishti Vision Live can support greater independence. Reading labels, recognizing money and getting remote help may reduce the need to wait for assistance with everyday tasks.

For factories and field workers, the same hands-free camera could help with remote troubleshooting, inspections and documentation. An expert could view the worker’s perspective and offer guidance without being physically present.

Still, the glasses should not be treated as a replacement for a white cane, mobility training, medical advice or human judgement. AI can misread text, miss objects or give incorrect descriptions. Users should also understand the privacy implications before sharing a live video feed with another person.

Price and competition

There is a pricing difference that buyers should clarify before ordering. Oculosense’s launch release mentions an introductory price of Rs. 30,000, while its official Drishti Vision Live product page currently lists the device from Rs. 50,000, including an SDK developer licence.

Global alternatives include OrCam and Envision Glasses, while smartphone accessibility apps remain a lower-cost option. Drishti’s offline-first design and India-focused functions could be its main differentiators.

Facts Input- Tribune India

ASUS has launched the ProArt P16 and ProArt P14 in India, bringing two high-end AI laptops aimed at video editors, designers, 3D artists and AI developers.

These are not ordinary thin-and-light laptops. Their main selling point is NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X computing, which is designed to handle demanding creative work and supported AI tasks directly on the device. The ProArt P14 starts at Rs. 3,29,990, while the most powerful ProArt P16 configuration goes up to Rs. 6,49,990.

What makes these ProArt laptops different?

The ProArt P16 and P14 are made for professionals who work with large media files, 3D scenes or local AI models. Local AI means certain supported tasks can run on the laptop itself instead of sending files to a cloud service.

For example, a video editor may use AI tools to organize clips or assist with editing. A designer may work with image-generation tools while keeping sensitive project files on their own machine. This does not replace cloud services, but it gives users more flexibility and control.

Both laptops use NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X hardware, combining NVIDIA graphics with an NVIDIA Grace CPU. ASUS says the machines support more than 1,000 AI-accelerated applications and workflows, including tools used for content creation and development.

ASUS ProArt P16 features and specifications

The ProArt P16 is the larger and more powerful model. It has a 16-inch 4K ASUS Lumina Pro OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Pantone Validation for colour accuracy.

Its RTX Spark N1X platform includes a 20-core CPU and a 6,144-core GPU. ASUS is offering the laptop with up to 128GB of unified memory, which means the processor and graphics system can access the same high-speed memory pool. This can be useful for larger AI models, complex 3D work and demanding editing projects.

The P16 includes a 99Wh battery, weighs around 1.77kg and is 12.9mm thin. It also features an ASUS HapticPad, which gives touch-based feedback while using the trackpad.

In India, the 64GB memory and 1TB SSD variant costs Rs. 4,99,990. The 128GB and 1TB SSD version is priced at Rs. 6,49,990. A 48GB configuration is expected later.

ASUS ProArt P14 features and specifications

The ProArt P14 is built for professionals who want a more portable machine. It carries a 14-inch 3K ASUS Lumina Pro OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Pantone Validation.

It uses an RTX Spark N1X configuration with an 18-core CPU and a 5,120-core GPU. The Indian variant comes with 24GB of unified memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

The P14 weighs around 1.48kg and measures 13.9mm in thickness. Its 90Wh battery is smaller than the P16’s, but still substantial for a portable creator laptop. It also gets the HapticPad and ASUS ProArt Creator Hub software for managing settings and creative workflows.

The ProArt P14 is priced at Rs. 3,29,990. A Neo White version will be available later.

Competition and who should buy them

At these prices, the ProArt range competes with Apple MacBook Pro models, Dell Precision workstations, Lenovo ThinkPad P-series laptops and premium Windows creator machines.

The P14 makes more sense for a photographer, designer or developer who travels often. The P16 is better suited to users handling longer video edits, heavier 3D projects or large local AI workloads.

These laptops are unlikely to be practical purchases for students or casual users. Their value depends on whether buyers can genuinely use the advanced graphics, large memory and AI-focused capabilities.

Facts Input and Image

TRAI has announced two important changes that could affect both telecom customers and operators in India. One focuses on what happens when a user has a billing issue, network problem or unresolved service request. The other updates the behind-the-scenes systems that allow calls and data to move between different telecom networks.

Together, the changes signal a move towards always-available customer support and modern internet-based telecom infrastructure.

Complaint centres must remain available round the clock

Under the Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal Fourth Amendment Regulations, telecom companies and larger internet service providers must make their complaint centres available 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

Earlier, complaint centres were required to operate for 16 hours daily. Now, companies can use human representatives, automated systems, AI agents or a combination of these methods. However, human support must still be available for at least 16 hours each day.

There is one important safeguard. Customers must be told when they are speaking with an AI agent, and technology-led systems must operate with human oversight.

For a user, this could mean being able to report a suddenly inactive SIM, failed recharge or broadband outage at midnight through an app, chatbot or automated call system. Straightforward issues may be handled quickly by an AI tool, while complicated complaints should move to a human representative.

More ways to complain, but a shorter appeal window

TRAI has also widened the ways in which users can register complaints, file appeals, make service requests or ask service-related questions. Telecom apps are now part of the complaint process alongside call centres, websites and web portals.

This is useful for customers who prefer tracking a ticket on an app instead of waiting on a customer-care call. The rules also require accessibility support for persons with disabilities through dedicated helpdesks, helplines or assistive technology.

There is a change users should remember. The time available to challenge a complaint decision has been reduced from 30 days to 15 days. In return, the appellate authority must communicate its final decision within 15 days of receiving an appeal.

TRAI has also introduced feedback surveys after a complaint or appeal is closed. Operators will need to publish quarterly results from these customer-satisfaction surveys.

Operators face tougher checks and penalties

For telecom operators, the rules increase compliance work. They must maintain proper complaint records, submit performance reports and bring complaint data and customer feedback before their CEO or board every quarter.

TRAI can review grievance systems through audits, inspections, performance reports and user feedback. Financial disincentives can apply when complaints or appeals are wrongly handled, or when reports are delayed.

This may push operators to invest more in customer-service software, trained staff and AI systems. The risk is that companies may use automation mainly to cut costs. The real measure of success will be whether users can reach a capable human when an AI agent cannot solve the problem.

IP-based interconnection becomes the new direction

In a separate move, TRAI has overhauled telecom interconnection rules. Interconnection is the system that lets an Airtel user call a Jio number, or a Vi customer connect with someone on another network.

From January 1, 2027, every new interconnection must use Internet Protocol, or IP-based, technology. Existing E1 and TDM-based interconnection systems must shift to IP-based systems in phases within three years.

Think of it as replacing older, fixed voice-network equipment with a more flexible digital system. TRAI says the change can improve bandwidth use, call quality and overall call performance.

The rules also move traffic handling towards licensed service area-level connection points. This could simplify routing, reduce delay and improve reliability, though operators will need to upgrade networks and manage the migration carefully.

Facts Input- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

India’s startup funding scene is rarely limited to one sector. This week’s activity moves from a croissant-waffle food chain and kids’ snacks to mutual fund advice and AI chips.

The Croffle Guys and Troovy have announced fresh funding rounds. PowerUp Money has raised USD 10 million for its wealth-management push. Meanwhile, Agrani Labs is reportedly in talks for a much larger round, though that deal is not confirmed yet.

The Croffle Guys plans a bigger store network

Mumbai-based quick-service restaurant startup The Croffle Guys has raised Rs. 14 crore at a reported post-money valuation of Rs. 100 crore. V3 Ventures led the round, with N.A.N Partners also participating.

Founded in 2025 by Rahul Vohra, Annanya Agarwal, Amay Thakkar and Veer Pinto, the company sells croffles – a mix of a croissant and a waffle – in sweet and savoury flavours.

The funding is meant to support rapid expansion. The company plans to add more than 40 outlets, mainly in Mumbai and Delhi, while also exploring selected locations in Pune. It currently operates eight outlets after starting with two stores.

The challenge will be keeping product quality and store-level profits steady while growing fast. In the food-service market, The Croffle Guys will compete for attention with café chains, dessert outlets and quick-service brands that already have deeper reach.

PowerUp Money looks beyond mutual fund tracking

Bengaluru-based PowerUp Money has raised USD 10 million, or about Rs. 95 crore, in a round led by Flourish Ventures. Existing backers, including Peak XV Partners, Accel, Blume Ventures, Kae Capital, 8i Ventures and DeVC, also participated.

Founded by Prateek Jindal, who earlier co-founded Uni Cards, PowerUp Money helps people review, select and manage mutual fund investments. The company was incorporated in 2025 after being developed within the Uni Cards ecosystem.

Its fresh capital will be used to build AI-led wealth-management tools, grow its managed advisory service and offer more personalized financial planning. In practical terms, the company wants to help an investor understand whether their mutual fund mix matches their goals, risk level and time horizon.

PowerUp Money’s competitors include traditional wealth managers, banks, mutual fund distributors and digital investment platforms. Its pitch is that technology can make advisory services more accessible, but investors should remember that no app can guarantee market returns.

Agrani Labs may be heading for a major AI-chip round

As reported earlier also, Agrani Labs is reportedly in discussions to raise USD 100 million at a valuation of around USD 300 million to USD 350 million. Google, HCLTech, Groww founders’ Stargazer fund, Peak XV Partners and 360 ONE are among the names linked to the talks.

This remains a reported discussion, not a completed funding announcement. The final amount, valuation and investor list may change.

Founded in 2024 by Dheemanth Nagaraj, Ashok Jagannathan, Srikanth Nimmagadda and Rajesh Vivekanandham, Agrani Labs is building AI chips and related software for enterprise and data-centre computing. The founders have experience at companies including Intel and AMD.

If the round closes, the money could go towards chip development, research and engineering. Agrani is entering a difficult market dominated by global companies such as Nvidia. Its aim is not simply to design hardware, but to develop software that makes the chips useful for AI workloads.

Troovy doubles down on children’s snacks

Gurugram-based Troovy has raised Rs. 100 crore in a Series B round led by Fireside Ventures, with Sharrp Ventures and other investors participating.

Founded in 2021 by Mansi Baranwal and Aditya Mukherjee, Troovy makes snacks and food products for children and families, including chips, puffs, cookies, sauces, spreads and milk mixes. The brand focuses on ingredients that avoid refined sugar, palm oil, preservatives and artificial additives.

The new funding will help Troovy improve research and development, expand manufacturing and grow its presence on quick-commerce platforms and offline stores. It competes with brands such as Slurrp Farm, Farmley and phab in the growing better-for-you food category.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available reports and company announcements. Funding figures, valuations, investor participation and business plans may change or remain unconfirmed, especially where a deal is reported to be under discussion. This is not investment, financial, legal or business advice.

As expected in earlier article, Karbonn is back in India’s smartphone market with two new budget phones – the Karbonn Rebel and Karbonn Rebel Pro. Both are 4G devices aimed at buyers who want a large display, long battery life and clean Android software without spending too much.

The headline price starts at Rs. 10,999, but that figure depends on a bank offer. The regular launch prices are Rs. 11,999 for the Rebel and Rs. 12,499 for the Rebel Pro. For just Rs. 500 more, the Pro version brings a faster display, upgraded cameras and slightly faster charging.

Karbonn Rebel and Rebel Pro price in India

Karbonn has announced a Rs. 1,000 bank discount on both phones. This brings the effective price of the Rebel to Rs. 10,999 and the Rebel Pro to Rs. 11,499.

Both phones are scheduled to go on sale on Amazon from November 4 at 12 PM. The company is also teasing a Rebel 5G model, but its launch date, price and specifications have not yet been confirmed.

Display and performance

The standard Karbonn Rebel gets a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and up to 650 nits brightness. In everyday use, the 90Hz panel should make scrolling through social media, web pages and menus look smoother than a regular 60Hz screen.

The Rebel Pro has a slightly smaller 6.7-inch HD+ LCD screen, but it offers a quicker 120Hz refresh rate and up to 720 nits brightness. It may be a better choice for users who watch plenty of videos or prefer smoother animations.

Both phones use the MediaTek Helio G81 processor. It is a 4G chip made for regular tasks such as calls, messaging, YouTube, UPI payments and casual games. Buyers should not expect flagship-level gaming performance, but the phones should handle day-to-day usage comfortably.

Karbonn has listed storage support of up to 1TB through a microSD card. Reports point to up to 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, though buyers should check the final Amazon listing for the exact configuration available at launch.

Battery, cameras and charging

Battery life is where the regular Rebel stands out. It packs a large 7,000mAh battery with 18W charging. It could suit users who travel often, use mobile data heavily, or simply do not want to charge every night.

The Rebel Pro gets a smaller 6,000mAh battery, but charging increases to 20W. It also brings a 64MP rear camera and a 16MP front camera for selfies and video calls. The standard Rebel has a 50MP main rear camera.

Megapixels alone do not guarantee better photographs. Still, the Pro is the more sensible option for buyers who care about camera flexibility, while the regular Rebel makes more sense for battery-first users.

Software and useful extras

Both devices run Android 16. Karbonn says the phones have no pre-installed third-party apps and will receive two Android software updates along with two years of security updates.

Other shared features include IP64 dust and splash resistance, USB Type-C charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, face unlock and Google Gemini support. Including a charger in the box is also welcome in this price segment.

Competition and buying advice

The Karbonn Rebel series enters a crowded market where brands such as Redmi, realme, Motorola, Infinix and Lava already offer budget smartphones. The main drawback is that both new Karbonn models are limited to 4G at a time when several rivals are selling 5G phones near this price range.

You can choose the Karbonn Rebel if battery life is your top priority. Spend the extra Rs. 500 on the Rebel Pro if you want a smoother 120Hz display, a better camera setup and faster charging. Buyers who specifically need 5G should wait for the Rebel 5G or compare current alternatives before placing an order.

A customer service call can quickly become awkward when a voice bot mispronounces a name, cannot understand Hinglish, or pauses too long before replying. Bengaluru-based Arrowhead AI wants to fix that problem with Fletch, its new in-house text-to-speech voice model.

Fletch is designed for India and Southeast Asia, where people often move between languages during a single conversation. It is aimed at banks, NBFCs, insurers, fintech companies and other businesses that make or receive large volumes of customer calls.

What is Arrowhead AI Fletch?

As per their LinkedIn update, Fletch converts written text into spoken audio. In simple terms, it gives an AI calling agent its voice.

Arrowhead AI says Fletch supports 14 languages, including Indian languages as well as Malay and Indonesian. It can also handle code-mixed speech, such as a customer saying, “Mera EMI payment kal due hai,” instead of using only Hindi or English.

That may sound like a small feature, but it matters in real calls. Financial terms, product names, addresses and customer names often appear in English even when the rest of the conversation is in a regional language.

The company says Fletch can start producing audio in under 100 milliseconds and has been tuned for local pronunciation. These are company-reported figures and have not been independently benchmarked.

How does it work?

A voice AI call usually has three main parts. First, speech recognition converts the customer’s spoken words into text. Then, a language model understands the request and decides what to say. Finally, Fletch turns that written reply into speech.

Imagine a customer calling an insurer to ask why a policy renewal payment failed. The AI can listen to the question, check the required information in the company system, explain the next step, and speak back in the customer’s preferred language. If the query becomes too complex, the call can be passed to a human agent.

Arrowhead says it has built several parts of this system in-house, including speech recognition, its language model and the voice layer. The company believes this offers better control over speed, pronunciation and data handling for financial services clients.

The startup behind Fletch

Arrowhead AI was founded in 2022 by Devyani Gupta and Vengadanathan Srinivasan. Gupta is the company’s CEO, while Srinivasan is its CTO.

The startup focuses on voice AI for banks, non-banking financial companies, insurers and fintech platforms. In January 2026, Arrowhead raised USD 3 million in a seed round led by Stellaris Venture Partners. The company has said it operates across India and Southeast Asia.

Fletch is a logical next step for Arrowhead. Rather than depending fully on an outside voice provider, it can tailor its own speech technology for regional languages and industry-specific terms.

Who are the competitors?

Arrowhead enters a busy voice AI market. Global names such as ElevenLabs, Deepgram and Amazon Polly offer speech tools for businesses. Indian AI companies, including Sarvam AI, are also working on language technology for the country’s diverse market.

However, Arrowhead’s approach is more specific. It is not only selling a voice generator. It is offering full calling agents built for sales, collections, renewals and support teams.

That focus could help the company, but it also brings responsibility. For financial calls, businesses must ensure customer consent, data protection, accurate information and an easy way to reach a human agent.

Noida has gained a new learning hub for young people interested in artificial intelligence, climate action and greener industries. 1M1B Foundation, MeitY Startup Hub and Microsoft have launched the Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence at Gautam Buddha University.

Students should not only learn about AI in classrooms, they should also understand how it can solve real problems such as high energy use, industrial waste and inefficient manufacturing.

What is the new Centre of Excellence?

The Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence, often called a CoE, is designed to help students and young professionals build practical skills. Its focus areas include applied AI, sustainable manufacturing, renewable energy, electric mobility and climate-focused innovation.

1M1B, short for One Million for One Billion, was founded in 2014 by Manav Subodh. The non-profit works on youth skills, entrepreneurship and social impact. In this project, 1M1B will manage implementation, while Microsoft will support training with technology, learning material, mentoring and innovation challenges. MeitY Startup Hub brings the startup ecosystem link.

The Noida centre is part of a five-city network being developed across India. Other centres are linked to Bengaluru, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

How will it work for learners?

The programme is expected to move beyond lectures. Participants can work on projects, meet industry mentors and explore how AI is used in real workplaces. The larger plan also connects learning with internships, jobs and entrepreneurship.

For example, a student could use AI tools to study electricity consumption in a factory. The same project may help identify machines that waste power or spot patterns that lead to unnecessary production waste. This is where “applied AI” becomes useful. It means using AI for a real task instead of only studying the theory behind it.

The centre also gives students a clearer view of green careers. These may include roles in electric vehicles, clean energy, sustainable supply chains, data analysis and climate-tech startups.

Why Noida is a useful location

Noida is already home to technology companies, electronics manufacturing and a growing startup scene. That makes it a practical place for a centre that combines digital skills with industrial sustainability.

The biggest strength of this initiative is the mix of partners. Microsoft brings technology support. MeitY Startup Hub connects the programme to India’s innovation network. Gautam Buddha University provides the academic base, while 1M1B works with learners on the ground.

Still, the real test will be outcomes. Training programmes become valuable only when students get access to meaningful projects, mentors and employment opportunities. The stated national target is to engage 100,000 young people in green skills and applied AI by 2030. It is an ambitious goal, and results will matter more than announcements.

Facts Input

E2E Networks has launched Blaze, a pay-per-token artificial intelligence inference service for open AI models. The product is aimed at developers and businesses that want to use powerful AI models through an application programming interface, or API, without renting and managing GPUs themselves.

The launch is important because many Indian companies are moving from AI experiments to real products. A chatbot, document-reading tool or coding assistant may work well in a pilot, but running it for thousands of users requires reliable infrastructure, speed and predictable billing. Blaze is designed to address that production stage.

What is Blaze AI inference service

Blaze gives users access to supported open AI models through a single API that follows the OpenAI-compatible format. This can make adoption easier for developers who already use software tools built around that format.

E2E Networks says Blaze runs on NVIDIA GPU infrastructure hosted in India and uses NVIDIA DSX OS, a software layer for serving AI models at scale. The service is designed for tasks such as chat applications, document processing, voice tools, coding agents, image generation and video-related workloads.

The company has listed open-model families including NVIDIA Nemotron, Sarvam, DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM and Gemma. The exact models available, speeds and pricing may change as the platform develops.

How pay-per-token billing works

A token is a small unit of text that an AI model reads or produces. It can be a word, part of a word, punctuation mark or a short piece of code.

For example, when a user asks an AI assistant to summarize a 20-page report, the model first processes the text in the report. These are input tokens. It then creates the summary, which becomes output tokens.

Under a pay-per-token model, the customer pays according to the amount of text or other model usage processed. This is different from renting a GPU server by the hour. With a GPU rental, a company may pay even during quiet periods. With token-based billing, costs rise mainly when the AI service is actively used.

This can be useful for a small business with irregular demand. A legal-tech startup, for instance, may use Blaze to summarize contracts only when customers upload documents. It does not need to keep a dedicated GPU running all day.

Why it matters for Indian AI companies

For developers, the attraction is convenience. They can select a model, generate an API key and add AI features without handling server deployment, scaling or model updates themselves.

For larger organizations, data location may also matter. Companies working with sensitive customer data often consider where their AI workloads are processed. E2E is positioning Blaze as an India-hosted option, although businesses should independently review data handling, retention policies, security controls and legal compliance before using any AI service.

Blaze also gives developers a choice beyond closed-model platforms. Open models can be attractive when companies want more flexibility in model selection, fine-tuning or cost planning.

Similar AI inference technologies

Blaze enters a crowded market. OpenAI, Anthropic and Google offer API-based access to their own models, generally billed by usage. These services are popular for teams that want strong proprietary models and managed platforms.

For open-model inference, companies such as Together AI, GroqCloud, Hugging Face and OpenRouter offer different combinations of model access, fast inference, routing and developer tools. Cloud providers including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure also offer managed AI model services.

The key difference is not just price. Developers should compare model quality, response speed, context limits, uptime, data controls, regional hosting, API compatibility and support. A lower token price is useful only if the model performs well for the actual task.

What users should watch next

Blaze’s success will depend on clear pricing, reliable performance and a useful catalogue of models. Developers should test the same prompt across two or three services before making a long-term choice.

AI inference is becoming a basic business utility, much like cloud storage or payment processing. If Blaze can offer dependable India-based access to capable open models, it may become a practical option for startups and enterprises building AI products at scale.

Facts Input- E2E Announcement, E2E PDF, Stockssena, E2E Pricing

India’s startup funding news is not only about consumer apps and quick commerce. The latest announcements cover last-mile delivery technology, advanced manufacturing, venture capital and space systems.

Together, these developments show capital moving across different stages of the ecosystem. One company is raising money to improve delivery riders’ work. A private-equity fund is backing industrial businesses. A new venture firm is preparing to invest in technology startups, while the government is supporting complex space hardware.

Dispatch Network raises Rs. 5 crore for delivery technology

Pune-based Dispatch Network has raised Rs. 5 crore in a pre-seed round led by Antler India. Angel investors Krishi Fagwani, Yashin Mahadevia and Parth Modwadhia also participated.

The startup was founded in 2026 by Rajit Arya and Navneeth Kannan. It operates a last-mile delivery network designed to improve how delivery orders are assigned to riders.

As per ISN, Dispatch plans to use the fresh capital to grow its artificial-intelligence team and develop its logistics model. In simple terms, the company wants to help a rider receive the most suitable next order, reducing the time and distance spent travelling without a delivery.

This matters because empty travel reduces rider earnings and adds to traffic and fuel use. Dispatch says it works with platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Instamart and BigBasket. Its challenge will be proving that its technology can work reliably as it expands beyond Pune, including its planned Mumbai entry.

ValueQuest Tristar Fund crosses Rs. 2,100 crore

ValueQuest Tristar Fund has secured investor commitments of more than Rs. 2,100 crore as per SME Street. This is not a single startup funding round. It is a private-equity fund that will invest in businesses operating in advanced manufacturing.

The fund is focused on areas such as aerospace, defence, precision engineering and energy-transition manufacturing. It has already invested in Hi-Q Electronics, Rangsons Aerospace, Waaree Energy Storage Solutions and Trusted Aerospace & Engineers.

The importance of this fund lies in the sector it supports. Manufacturing businesses often need patient capital for machinery, quality systems, customer approvals and capacity building. A company making a mission-critical component cannot grow overnight like a software app.

For India, investments in these areas can strengthen domestic supply chains and support exports. But returns will depend on execution, quality control and the ability of portfolio companies to win long-term customers.

Mettle Capital launched with a $350 million fund

Mettle Capital has raised a $350 million fund to invest in Indian technology companies as per VI. The venture firm was set up by Ashish Agrawal, Tejeshwi Sharma and Ishaan Mittal, who were formerly partners at Sequoia India, later known as Peak XV Partners.

The new fund reflects continued investor interest in India’s technology market. Mettle Capital is expected to back companies that have a clear product, early customer traction and room to scale.

For founders, a new fund can mean another source of capital and experienced investors. For Mettle Capital, the real test will be selecting companies that can grow sustainably, not simply those benefiting from market excitement around artificial intelligence or digital consumption.

IN-SPACe offers Rs. 67.15 crore to four space firms

IN-SPACe has offered Rs. 67.15 crore under its Technology Adoption Fund to Manastu Space, Inspecity Space Laboratories, VyomIC and MumbaiSemi reported The Print. This is milestone-linked government support, not a traditional equity investment.

The projects cover iodine-based satellite thrusters, refuellable microsatellite propulsion, highly stable clocks for navigation and a receiver chip that works with India’s NavIC and GPS signals.

Manastu Space has been offered the largest amount, Rs. 22.08 crore, for its iodine-based propulsion system. The broader aim is to help Indian companies build important space technologies locally instead of relying heavily on imported parts.

Space hardware needs long testing cycles and significant capital. This support could help promising technologies move from laboratory development to commercial use. However, the companies will need to meet technical milestones before funds are released.

The final rallies before the United States midterm elections have turned the campaign into a high-pressure contest over who will control Congress for the next two years. Voters go to the polls on 3 November, choosing members of the House of Representatives, some senators, governors and many state-level officials.

President Donald Trump used the final campaign stretch for rallies in Iowa and Kansas, while Democrats continued their own turnout drives in competitive states. The campaigning shows why midterms matter so much. They do not elect a president, but they can strongly affect what a president can achieve during the rest of a term.

What the final rallies are trying to achieve

In the closing days, rallies are less about changing every voter’s mind and more about motivating supporters to vote. Candidates and party leaders use these events to create urgency, attract media attention and give local workers a final push.

A high-profile rally can help a candidate in three ways. First, it can bring volunteers together for door-to-door outreach and phone calls. Second, it can raise the visibility of a local race. Third, it can turn a contest for one House or Senate seat into a larger argument about the economy, immigration, healthcare, foreign policy or the president’s record.

For Republicans, the final push is about defending their position in Congress and persuading voters that their agenda deserves more time. For Democrats, the campaign is an opportunity to make the election a verdict on the administration’s performance and cost-of-living concerns.

However, a national leader’s visit is not always a guaranteed advantage. In a closely contested state, it can energize loyal supporters but also motivate opponents. Candidates therefore need to balance national messaging with local issues such as jobs, farm policy, public safety or housing costs.

How US midterm elections work

US midterms take place halfway through a president’s four-year term. The president is not on the ballot, but the election is often treated as a public judgement on the government.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are contested every two years. House members represent individual districts and serve two-year terms. The party that wins a majority controls the House and has major influence over bills, spending and investigations.

The Senate has 100 members, with two senators from each state. Senators serve six-year terms, so only about one-third of Senate seats are contested in a normal election cycle. Senate races are state-wide, while House races are district-based.

Each state runs its own elections under its laws. This means rules for early voting, postal ballots, voter registration and primary elections can differ from state to state. Voters usually choose party nominees in primary elections before the main general election.

Unlike a presidential election, congressional candidates do not compete through the Electoral College. In most House and Senate races, the candidate with the most votes wins, though some states hold a runoff if no candidate reaches a required threshold.

Why control of Congress changes the political picture

If the president’s party controls both the House and Senate, it generally has a smoother path for passing legislation. If the opposition wins one or both chambers, it can block or amend bills, launch congressional investigations and make budget negotiations tougher.

For example, a president may want to increase spending on infrastructure or change tax policy. Without enough support in Congress, those plans can face delays or fail altogether. That is why midterms can reshape the final two years of a presidency even when the White House does not change hands.

What to watch after voting ends

The most watched results will be close House districts and key Senate races. Turnout among young voters, women, rural communities and suburban voters may influence the outcome.

Results may also take time. Early voting, mail ballots and close margins can delay final counts in some states. A delayed result does not automatically mean anything is wrong; election officials need time to process ballots under state rules.

Facts Input- AP, USA-Gov, FEC

The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana, or PM VGSY, as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31. The programme is designed to strengthen Panchayats, improve village-level planning and make the use of public funds more transparent.

This is not a direct cash-benefit scheme for individual families. Instead, it aims to improve the local systems that decide how villages plan roads, water facilities, sanitation, livelihoods and other development work. Its success will depend on whether Panchayats use the new tools well and whether citizens take part in local decision-making.

What the PM Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana includes

As per PIB report, the scheme has a total outlay of Rs. 7,395.55 crore. The Central Government will contribute Rs. 4,869.48 crore, while states will contribute Rs. 2,526.07 crore.

It will cover all states and Union Territories, including traditional rural local bodies in areas where formal Panchayats do not exist. According to the government, more than 2.55 lakh Panchayats and traditional local bodies will be covered.

The plan focuses on helping Panchayats prepare better Gram Panchayat Development Plans, or GPDPs. These are local roadmaps that identify a village’s needs and link them with available funds and government schemes.

For example, a village may need better drainage, a drinking-water project and repairs to an anganwadi centre. Instead of treating these as separate demands, the Panchayat can include them in one plan, identify departments responsible for each task and track progress.

How people may benefit

The biggest benefit could be more local and practical planning. A Panchayat understands whether a village needs a bus stop, irrigation support, streetlights, health access or a better approach road. The scheme is meant to give local representatives and staff the skills to turn those needs into organized proposals.

The government plans to support around 32 lakh elected representatives, Panchayat functionaries and other stakeholders each year through training and digital assistance. This matters because many village representatives are expected to manage budgets, meetings, records and public works without enough technical support.

The scheme also aims to reach at least one crore citizens during each awareness campaign. If done well, these campaigns can help people understand which schemes are available and how they can raise issues through Gram Sabhas.

A resident who knows when a Gram Sabha is being held is more likely to ask why a handpump has not been repaired or why an approved road has not started. That kind of participation can make local governance more responsive.

Focus on transparency and accountability

PM VGSY will use platforms such as eGramSwaraj and AuditOnline for planning, accounting and audit work. The target is to support more than 2.55 lakh development plans and a similar number of online audit plans every year.

This could make it easier to follow how Panchayat funds are planned and spent. Better accounts and public disclosure may also help reduce delays and make it harder for projects to disappear from view after an announcement.

The scheme also encourages Panchayats to raise their own revenue where possible. This could include lawful local fees or better management of community assets. A financially stronger Panchayat may be less dependent on waiting for every small requirement to be funded from outside.

The real test will be implementation

The approval is significant, but money and digital platforms alone will not transform village governance. Internet access, trained staff, regular Gram Sabha meetings and timely release of funds will remain important (PDF).

There is also a risk that plans become paperwork if villagers are not actively consulted. A development plan should reflect real local priorities, not just what is easy to upload online. State governments, district officials and Panchayat leaders will need to work together for the scheme to produce visible results.

Students eligible for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, or NMMSS, have received more time to complete their application. The Ministry of Education has extended the 2026-27 application deadline to 15 November.

For many student, this is more than a date change. The scholarship can ease the cost of continuing school after Class VIII, when expenses for books, uniforms, travel and tuition support often rise. Students and parents should still avoid waiting until the final day because the application must also go through school and district-level verification.

What is the NMMSS scholarship

NMMSS is a Central Government scholarship scheme designed to help meritorious students from economically weaker families continue their secondary education. It provides Rs. 12,000 per year to selected students.

One lakh fresh scholarships are awarded nationally each year to eligible Class IX students. The award can continue from Class X to Class XII, subject to the scheme’s renewal conditions and academic requirements.

The money is sent through Direct Benefit Transfer to the selected student’s bank account. This can help a family pay for practical needs such as school supplies, exam fees, transport or digital learning access. It may not cover every expense, but regular support can reduce pressure on families who are deciding whether a child can continue studying.

Who is Eligible

The scheme is mainly for regular students studying in State Government, government-aided or local-body schools. It is not meant for students in private unaided schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas or many residential schools.

For the NMMSS selection examination, the annual parental income from all sources should not exceed Rs. 3.50 lakh. A student generally needs at least 55 percent marks in Class VII. For SC and ST students, the required Class VII score is relaxed to 50 percent.

Students must also clear the state or Union Territory-level NMMSS examination. The test has two parts – the Mental Ability Test, which checks reasoning and problem-solving, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test, which checks school-level academic understanding. The minimum combined qualifying score is generally 40 percent, with relaxation for SC and ST students.

Eligibility and examination schedules can differ slightly by state. Students should therefore check their state education department or SCERT notice in addition to the National Scholarship Portal.

15 NOVEMBER 2026: EXTENDED DEADLINE TO APPLY!

The Ministry of Education has extended the last date for submission of applications under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) for the academic year 2026–27.

Read more: https://t.co/oRclksGrQG https://t.co/nCpBcfAEMu

— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) October 31, 2026

New NMMSS deadline and verification dates

As per Newsonair, the extended deadline of 15 November is for submitting fresh and renewal applications on the National Scholarship Portal. It is not the date of the NMMSS selection examination.

After a student submits the form, the school’s Institute Nodal Officer must verify it by 30 November. District-level verification is scheduled until 15 December. This means students should not simply submit the form and forget about it. They should ask the school whether any document or correction is pending.

How students can use the extension well

First, complete the One-Time Registration, or OTR, on the National Scholarship Portal. It is required before applying. The portal uses Aadhaar or Aadhaar enrolment details for registration.

Next, keep basic documents ready, including the student’s Aadhaar details, bank-account information, income certificate, school details, marksheet and any required caste certificate. Upload clear documents and carefully check names, bank details and mobile numbers before submitting.

For example, if a student has been selected but their bank account is linked to an incorrect name spelling, the payment process may be delayed. A quick check before submission can prevent such problems later.

Why this extension matters

The extra two weeks are especially helpful for students in rural areas, families facing document delays and schools managing many applications at once. It also gives renewal applicants time to correct errors.

The real benefit of NMMSS is continuity. A capable student should not have to leave education early because money is tight. This scholarship cannot solve every challenge, but it offers timely support at an important stage of schooling.

The INDIA bloc’s large protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on 1 November has turned the Election Commission into the centre of a major political battle. Opposition leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while the BJP answered with counter-rallies and sharp criticism of the campaign.

At the heart of the dispute is the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls. The Opposition alleges that the process has wrongly removed or affected voters and raises questions about the Election Commission’s independence. The BJP rejects these allegations and says the protests are an attempt to create disorder after electoral setbacks.

What happened at Ramlila Maidan

The INDIA bloc’s “Chalo Dilli” mobilization brought together leaders from several opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, RJD and others. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav were among the prominent leaders at the rally.

The protest focused on alleged irregularities in voter-list revision and demanded action against the Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition speakers framed the campaign as a fight to protect voting rights and democratic institutions.

The issue is important because electoral rolls decide who can vote. A genuine error in the process can deny an eligible person a vote. At the same time, election authorities also need to remove duplicate, deceased or relocated voters to keep lists accurate. That is why the argument is not only political. It affects public confidence in the election process itself.

BJP’s response and counter-campaign

The BJP dismissed the Opposition’s claims and described the Ramlila Maidan event as political theatre. Party leaders argued that the INDIA bloc was making serious allegations without proving them through proper legal and institutional channels.

The ruling party also organized counter-mobilization in Delhi and other locations, shifting its message towards Congress’s record and accusing Opposition leaders of attempting to create instability. Reports said Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off a BJP march, while BJP president Nitin Nabin was scheduled to lead a rally in Rohtak.

This is a familiar political strategy. When one side gathers a large crowd, the other side responds quickly to avoid allowing a single narrative to dominate public discussion. The result is a battle not only on the streets, but also on television, social media and local party networks.

Why the protest matters beyond one rally

The Ramlila Maidan event showed that the INDIA bloc can still bring leaders and supporters together around a common issue. Maintaining that unity will matter, particularly when regional parties have different priorities in their own states.

For the BJP, the response is about defending the credibility of the Election Commission and preventing the Opposition’s “vote chori” allegation from becoming a wider public belief. The party will likely continue to argue that voter-list corrections are routine administrative work, not political interference.

For ordinary citizens, the key question is simpler. Are voter lists being updated transparently, fairly and with a clear process for correction? Public trust will depend on detailed answers, accessible grievance systems and evidence-based communication from institutions.

What should happen next

Political speeches may energize supporters, but the dispute needs facts that can be independently examined. The Election Commission can help reduce distrust by clearly publishing its process, correction mechanism and reasons for deletions or additions where legally appropriate.

Opposition parties, meanwhile, should support their allegations with verified data and use formal legal remedies alongside public protests. The BJP should address concerns directly instead of relying only on political counter-attacks.

Facts Taken- Associated Press, Indian Express, Indian Express report on the Opposition’s display of unity, NDTV

Disclaimer

This article reports political claims and responses attributed to the parties and leaders involved. It does not treat allegations as proven facts. Readers should follow official Election Commission notices and credible reporting for verified updates.

Diwali is a time for lights, sweets, family visits and long-awaited conversations. A thoughtful message may be short, but it can make someone feel remembered, especially when they live far away.

The best Diwali message does not need fancy words. It only needs to match the person receiving it. A child may enjoy something cheerful, while a colleague may appreciate a warm but professional wish. Here are original Diwali messages for every age group and relationship.

Diwali Messages for Children

Children love the excitement of new clothes, sweets and colourful lights. Keep their wishes playful and bright.

“May your Diwali be full of sparkles, sweets, laughter and lots of happy surprises. Shine like the brightest diya!”

“Wishing you a Diwali filled with fun, family time and a box full of your favourite sweets. Have a safe and wonderful celebration!”

“May every diya bring you a new reason to smile. Happy Diwali, little superstar!”

For younger children, parents can add a small personal line such as, “Save one laddoo for me!” It makes the message feel less formal and more memorable.

Diwali Messages for Parents and Elders

For parents, grandparents and senior family members, a message with gratitude always works well.

“Happy Diwali to the people who fill our home with love, warmth and blessings. May this festival bring you good health and peaceful days.”

“Your blessings are the brightest light in our lives. Wishing you a joyful, healthy and beautiful Diwali.”

“May this Diwali bring comfort to your heart, happiness to your home and good health throughout the year.”

These messages work especially well when sent with a family photograph, a voice note or a quick video call.

Diwali Messages for friends and cousins

Friends are often the people who bring extra fun to Diwali celebrations. A casual and cheerful message feels right.

“May your Diwali be brighter than the lights, sweeter than the mithai and more fun than our old festival plans. Happy Diwali!”

“Here’s to good food, late-night talks, happy memories and a little too much dessert. Wishing you a fantastic Diwali!”

“May your home glow with diyas and your life glow with new opportunities. Happy Diwali, my friend!”

For a close cousin, add an inside joke or mention a shared childhood Diwali memory. It instantly makes the wish personal.

Diwali Messages for couples

A Diwali message for a partner can be simple, affectionate and genuine.

“You make every celebration feel warmer. Wishing us a Diwali full of love, laughter and peaceful moments together.”

“May our home always have light, our hearts always have hope and our lives always have reasons to celebrate. Happy Diwali, my love.”

“This Diwali, I am grateful for the happiness you bring into my life. Wishing you love and light, today and always.”

Diwali Messages for colleagues and clients

Professional Diwali wishes should be warm without becoming too personal.

“Wishing you and your family a prosperous, peaceful and joyful Diwali. May the festival bring success and fresh opportunities.”

“May the light of Diwali bring positivity to your work and happiness to your home. Happy Diwali!”

“Warm Diwali wishes to you and your loved ones. Thank you for your support and partnership throughout the year.”

A short message is usually best for office groups. For clients, use their name and keep the wording respectful.

Make the message feel special

A copied greeting can feel forgettable. Add one detail that belongs to the person, such as their name, a shared memory or a wish related to their work, studies or family.

For example, instead of writing only “Happy Diwali,” write, “Happy Diwali, Riya. I hope your first Diwali in your new home is full of warmth and happy memories.” That small change carries more feeling.

India’s electric-car market is set for a lively November. The month includes confirmed luxury launches, a new brand entry and a few highly anticipated models that could make EV ownership more interesting for different budgets.

From a premium Mercedes SUV to a compact VinFast city car, these vehicles are aimed at very different buyers. Here is what is known so far, and what buyers should wait to confirm before booking.

Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric arrives first

Mercedes-Benz will launch the GLC Electric in India on 4 November. It is expected to be locally assembled in Pune and sold as the GLC 400 4MATIC.

The electric SUV uses a 94kWh battery, dual motors and all-wheel drive. International specifications indicate 489bhp and 800Nm, with a claimed WLTP range of up to 715km. Mercedes also quotes rapid charging support of up to 330kW, which could add roughly 300km of range in 10 minutes under suitable conditions.

This is a luxury SUV for buyers who want strong performance without moving to a large flagship vehicle. Expected rivals include the BMW iX3 and Audi Q6 e-tron. Prices may be around Rs. 80 lakh to Rs. 85 lakh before options, though Mercedes will confirm this at launch.

Denza makes its Indian debut

BYD’s premium brand Denza will enter India on 13 November. While the brand launch is confirmed, its final Indian line-up and prices are yet to be announced.

The Denza D9 luxury electric MPV is widely expected to lead the charge. Globally, the D9 focuses on rear-seat comfort, lounge-like interiors and long-distance travel. Reports suggest a claimed range of around 600km for the expected model.

Its closest competitors would include the Kia Carnival, MG M9, Toyota Vellfire and Lexus LM. Denza could appeal to business owners, hotel fleets and families who prefer being driven rather than driving themselves.

VinFast VF3 could target first-time EV buyers

The VinFast VF3 is expected on 25 November, although the date has not been officially confirmed by VinFast India. It is a tiny, boxy electric vehicle designed mainly for city travel.

Reports point to a 39bhp motor, around 215km of claimed range and fast charging from 10 to 70 percent in about 36 minutes. An estimated price near Rs. 10 lakh would make it one of the more accessible EV options. Its earlier model which is available in India is MPV7.

Think of it as a practical second car for short office commutes, local shopping trips or college travel. Its real challenge will be proving service support, safety equipment and value against established names such as Tata Motors and MG.

Mini Cooper SE returns with more range

Mini will introduce the new-generation Cooper SE on 27 November. The three-door electric hatchback is expected to bring a bigger 54.2kWh battery, a 215bhp motor and a claimed WLTP range of 402km.

It can reportedly reach 100kmph in 6.7 seconds and support up to 95kW DC fast charging. The familiar Mini shape remains, but the cabin gets a modern circular OLED display. It will suit buyers looking for a stylish, quick city EV with a premium badge, rather than maximum cabin space.

Tata Safari EV remains one to watch

The Tata Safari EV is expected around 15 November, but Tata Motors has not officially confirmed that date. It could become Tata’s first three-row electric SUV and may share battery choices and technology with the Harrier EV.

Industry reports expect 65kWh and 75kWh battery options, with rear-wheel-drive and possible all-wheel-drive variants. The Safari EV could be especially attractive for larger families wanting electric travel without giving up six- or seven-seat practicality. Its likely rival is the Mahindra XEV 9S.

Disclaimer

Launch dates, prices, features, range figures and specifications mentioned in this article are based on information available at the time of writing. Some vehicles are officially confirmed, while others are expected based on industry reports. Final details may change at the time of launch. Buyers should check the official manufacturer website or authorized dealership before making a booking or purchase decision.

Two Indian startups from completely different markets have announced new funding rounds. Two Point O Capital is working to help businesses finance cleaner energy and water infrastructure. Hyeglo Beauty is building makeup products designed with skincare-focused ingredients.

The two deals show how investors are backing both practical business infrastructure and consumer brands with a clear product point of view.

Two Point O Capital raises $10 million for clean infrastructure

Two Point O Capital has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Transition Venture Capital. Existing investor Omnivore also participated, along with angel investors Chiranjeev Singh Saluja and Sudhir M. Reddy.

Founded in 2024 by Archit Mehrotra, Karan Bhutani, Manya Ranjan, and Shashidhar Reddy, the company helps commercial and industrial customers finance and set up clean-energy and water-treatment projects.

Its work includes rooftop solar, energy-efficiency upgrades, wastewater treatment, and battery energy storage. These are useful areas for businesses such as factories, hospitals, data centres, pharmaceutical companies, automotive firms, and large commercial buildings.

The company’s model is different from simply selling solar panels or water-treatment equipment. It combines financing, project execution, and monitoring. This can help a company adopt clean infrastructure without carrying the entire upfront cost alone.

For example, a manufacturing company may want to install solar panels but may not want to spend a large amount immediately. Two Point O can help structure the financing and manage the project, allowing the customer to focus on its own operations.

As per BW Disrupt, the new funding will support the company’s entry into battery energy storage and help expand its solar, energy-efficiency, and wastewater-treatment businesses. It also plans to serve more small and medium enterprises across India.

Battery storage is especially important because solar power is generated during the day, while many factories need electricity beyond daylight hours. Stored energy can help businesses use power more efficiently and manage high electricity costs.

Two Point O will compete with green-finance firms, energy-service companies, solar developers, and infrastructure lenders. Its advantage will depend on how well it manages financing risk, project quality, and long-term asset performance.

Hyeglo Beauty raises Rs. 7 crore for product growth

Hyeglo Beauty has raised Rs. 7 crore in a funding round led by Sauce. Giga Capital, Consumer Collective, Reckitt executive Arjun Purkayastha, and The Patient Capital also participated.

The brand was founded in April 2026 by Kanupriya Ahluwalia. Hyeglo is a direct-to-consumer beauty company that combines makeup and skincare. Its products are designed for buyers who want colour cosmetics that also include active skincare ingredients.

This approach is often called hybrid beauty. A skin tint, for instance, may offer light coverage while also focusing on hydration or skin-friendly ingredients. The idea is to reduce the gap between a skincare routine and everyday makeup.

As per Indian Retailer, Hyeglo plans to use the fresh capital for research and development, new product launches, brand building, and hiring. For a young beauty brand, research matters because product texture, ingredient choice, shade range, performance, and packaging can all decide whether buyers return.

The company will compete with established beauty brands, online-first makeup labels, and skincare-focused cosmetics players. Its biggest task will be proving that its products work well as makeup while delivering the skincare benefits it promises.

Two different markets, one common goal

Two Point O Capital and Hyeglo Beauty are solving very different problems. One helps businesses adopt cleaner infrastructure, while the other aims to make makeup more skin-conscious.

Yet both startups are using fresh capital to deepen their core offering rather than move into unrelated categories. Two Point O is expanding clean-energy financing and storage. Hyeglo is investing in product development and brand building.

November is shaping up to be a busy month for Indian smartphone buyers. The upcoming lineup ranges from camera-focused Vivo flagships and Motorola’s premium Signature 27 to budget-focused Karbonn Rebel models and the new Wobble Speed 5G.

However, buyers should separate confirmed announcements from early reports. Motorola’s November 5 launch date is official, Vivo’s November 25 date is still tipped, and Wobble has confirmed only a November launch window, not a November 25 event.

Vivo X500 series may arrive on November 25

Vivo is expected to bring the X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max to India by the end of November. A recent report points to November 25 as the likely launch date, but Vivo has not confirmed it yet.

The series has already launched in other markets, giving a fair idea of the likely specifications. The standard Vivo X500 is expected to feature a 6.59-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 9600M chipset, and a 7,500mAh battery with 90W wired charging.

Its camera setup is expected to include a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera. The bigger story is the X500 Pro Max, which is expected to offer Zeiss-branded cameras and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera.

The X500 series will compete with premium camera phones from Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus. Indian pricing is still unknown.

Motorola Signature 27 launches globally on November 5

Motorola has confirmed that the Signature 27 will launch on November 5. The phone has also been showcased in India, and its Indian microsite is already live.

This is Motorola’s premium flagship phone. It is confirmed to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, which is expected to offer high-end performance for gaming, editing, multitasking, and AI-powered tasks.

A Geekbench listing suggests the device will have 12GB RAM and Android 17. Motorola has also confirmed its ArcticMesh cooling system, which is designed to manage heat during demanding use. The Signature 27 is expected in Pantone Coal Smoke and Pantone Capulet Green colours.

The phone is listed with a 50-megapixel rear camera and a 200-megapixel telephoto camera. Motorola is also promising seven years of Android upgrades. Its India price remains unannounced.

Wobble Speed 5G targets the sub-Rs. 20,000 segment

Wobble has confirmed that its second smartphone, the Wobble Speed 5G, will launch in India in November. Reports suggesting a November 25 launch should be treated as unconfirmed because the company has not announced an exact date.

The brand has revealed a circular rear camera module, a flat rear design, 5G support, and at least one red colour option. It has also indicated that the phone will target the highly competitive Rs. 20,000 segment.

The processor, display details, battery capacity, camera sensors, RAM, storage, charging speed, and sale date are still under wraps. Wobble will compete with Redmi, Realme, Poco, iQOO, Motorola, and Lava in this price range.

Karbonn Rebel and Rebel Pro launch in India today

Karbonn is returning to India’s smartphone market with the Rebel and Rebel Pro. Both are scheduled to launch on November 2 through Amazon, although their final prices, chipset details, camera specifications, and first-sale dates are still awaited.

The standard Karbonn Rebel has a 6.75-inch HD+ display with 650 nits brightness, a 7,000mAh battery, and 18W charging. The Rebel Pro has a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, 720 nits brightness, a 6,000mAh battery, and 20W charging.

Both phones run Android 16, feature Google Gemini, include a 3.5mm headphone jack, and promise a clean software experience without pre-installed third-party apps. Karbonn has also promised two Android upgrades and two years of security updates.

India’s consumer-brand market is attracting investment at two very different stages. Rotoris, a premium watch company, has raised Rs. 70 crore to build a global luxury brand from India. Qiroko, a young fashion accessories startup, has secured Rs. 1.5 crore to widen its product range and distribution.

The funding amounts are very different, but both companies are working on the same basic challenge – creating a strong brand in a crowded consumer market.

Rotoris raises Rs. 70 crore to build an Indian luxury watch house

Gurugram-based Rotoris has raised Rs. 70 crore in a Series A round led by Blume Ventures. The round also included 9Unicorns, Centricity, family offices, and individual investors, including Diwakar Goel, Atul Singh, Adhiraj Burman, and actor Rannvijay Singha.

Rotoris was founded by Aakash Anand and Prerna Gupta. The startup sells limited, numbered watch collections and is trying to create an independent luxury watch brand from India for international customers.

Luxury watch buyers often look at more than timekeeping. They consider design, craftsmanship, brand history, materials, and exclusivity. Rotoris is building its brand around this idea, selling watches through an invitation-led membership system called the Registry.

The company’s first launch of 2,100 numbered watches reportedly sold out within days. Rotoris says it has since received registrations from nearly 100,000 potential buyers, with a significant share of interest coming from outside India.

As per report, the fresh funding will be used for research and development, larger production capacity, and expansion of its physical retail presence in India and overseas. Rotoris is setting up a dedicated watch-assembly facility in Gurugram and plans to expand its appointment-led Rotoris House experience beyond Delhi.

The startup faces a difficult challenge. It is competing for attention with established global watch brands such as Tissot, Seiko, Rado, and Swiss luxury houses that have spent decades building trust. Rotoris will need consistent quality and strong service, not just limited-edition launches, to earn long-term credibility.

Qiroko raises Rs. 1.5 crore to grow beyond accessories

Bengaluru-based Qiroko has raised Rs. 1.5 crore in a Pre-Seed round led by ISV Capital, with participation from angel investors.

Founded in 2025 by Shivam Vasisht and Ashwin Krithik, Qiroko sells affordable everyday fashion accessories. The startup has remained bootstrapped until this round, meaning the founders ran it without external institutional funding.

As per Entrackr, Qiroko plans to use the money for new product development and expansion into watches and bags. It also wants to improve its reach through its own website, online marketplaces, and quick-commerce platforms.

The brand currently sells through its direct-to-consumer website, Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and Blinkit. Quick-commerce availability could be useful for small-ticket products, where buyers may make an impulse purchase and expect fast delivery.

The company says it has achieved an annualized revenue run rate of Rs. 6 crore within its first year. This is a company-reported figure, and detailed financial performance has not been disclosed publicly.

Qiroko’s challenge is different from Rotoris’s. It is not trying to sell exclusivity. It is aiming for wider adoption by offering wearable, affordable products across jewellery, watches, and bags. Its competition includes large fashion marketplaces, established accessories brands, and countless online sellers.