The founders of Groww are reportedly preparing to set up a new Rs. 400-500 crore investment fund to back consumer and deeptech startups in India. If this plan moves ahead, it could become one of the more closely watched founder-led funds in the Indian startup market.

The idea is interesting because Groww itself is one of India’s biggest startup success stories. The company started with a simple goal which is to make investing easy for ordinary Indians. Now, its founders appear ready to support the next set of builders who may be solving tough problems in consumer markets and deep technology.

This is not just another fund announcement. It shows a larger shift in India’s startup world. Successful founders are no longer only building their own companies. Many of them are also becoming investors, mentors, and early backers for younger entrepreneurs.

Who are the Groww founders

Groww was started by four former Flipkart employees, Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal.

The idea took shape in 2016, and Groww began operations in 2017 as a direct mutual fund investment platform. Over time, it expanded into stocks, ETFs, IPOs, mutual funds, loans, and wealth products.

Groww’s rise came from one clear insight. Investing in India felt confusing for many beginners. The founders built a clean and simple platform that helped first-time investors start without feeling lost.

That experience can be valuable when they back new startups. They have seen how a large Indian consumer product is built from the ground up.

What the new fund may focus on

According to report, the Groww founders are planning a fund in the Rs. 400-500 crore range. The fund is expected to focus on consumer and deeptech startups.

Consumer startups are businesses that sell directly to people. These can include food brands, beauty products, fashion, health, fintech, education, home products, travel, and lifestyle services.

Deeptech startups are different. They are built around serious technology or scientific work. This can include AI, robotics, semiconductors, space technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, biotechnology, and cybersecurity.

The combination is unusual but sensible. Consumer startups understand people and markets. Deeptech startups build difficult products that can create long-term value. India needs both.

Why this fund matters

Founder-led funds bring something different to the table.

Traditional investors can offer capital, networks, and board-level guidance. Founder-investors can add lived experience. They know what it feels like to hire the first team, struggle with product-market fit, manage cash, handle regulations, and build trust with customers.

For example, a young consumer startup may need help with pricing, distribution, brand positioning, and customer trust. Groww’s founders understand how important simplicity and trust are when dealing with Indian users.

A deeptech startup may need patient capital and better storytelling. Many such founders are strong engineers, but they may struggle to explain their product to customers and investors. A good founder-backed fund can help them sharpen both product and business thinking.

Why consumer startups need backing now

India’s consumer market is changing fast.

People in smaller cities are buying more online. Young customers are open to new brands. Digital payments, quick delivery, and social media have made it easier for new companies to reach buyers.

But the market is also tough. Customer acquisition is expensive. Many direct-to-consumer brands struggle with repeat purchases, margins, and offline expansion.

This is where experienced investors can help. A founder-led fund can push startups to build stronger products, not just louder marketing campaigns.

The next strong consumer company in India may not come only from Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru. It may come from a smaller city, with a product made for real Indian habits and price points.

Why deeptech needs patient money

Deeptech is harder than normal software.

A SaaS company can launch a product quickly and improve it every week. A robotics or semiconductor startup may need years of research, testing, manufacturing, and certifications.

This makes fundraising difficult. Many investors want quick growth, but deeptech companies often need time before revenue becomes large.

That is why a Rs. 400-500 crore fund can be useful if it takes a long-term view. India has strong engineering talent, but many deeptech startups need better access to capital, labs, mentors, manufacturing partners, and global customers.

If the Groww founders’ fund supports such companies early, it can help bring more serious technology businesses out of India.

Competitors and market view

The new fund will enter a busy early-stage investment market.

In consumer startups, it may compete with firms such as Fireside Ventures, DSG Consumer Partners, Sauce VC, Titan Capital, and early-stage arms of larger funds like Accel, Peak XV Partners, Lightspeed, and Matrix Partners India.

In deeptech, the fund may run into names such as Speciale Invest, pi Ventures, GrowX Ventures, Endiya Partners, 3one4 Capital, Blume Ventures, and Anicut Capital.

But competition is not a bad thing here among venture capital companies. Good startups usually attract multiple investors. The bigger question will be what extra value the Groww founders bring beyond money.

Their edge may come from building a trusted consumer platform at scale and understanding how digital India behaves outside the usual metro audience.

What young founders may expect

If the fund becomes active, startups may look for more than cheques.

They may expect help with product design, hiring, brand building, user growth, compliance, fundraising, and long-term planning.

A fintech founder, for example, may want advice on trust and regulation. A consumer brand may want help understanding digital distribution. A deeptech founder may want help converting research into a business story.

This is where the Groww founders’ journey can be useful. They built in a regulated sector, served everyday users, and scaled in a highly competitive market.

Conclusion with key takeaways

The reported Rs. 400-500 crore fund by Groww’s founders could become an important new source of capital for Indian consumer and deeptech startups.

It also shows how India’s startup cycle is maturing. Founders who built large companies are now starting to support the next generation. That is healthy for the market because young startups need more than money. They need people who understand the long and messy road of building a company.

Key takeaways –

1. Groww’s founders are reportedly planning a Rs. 400-500 crore fund.
2. The fund is expected to focus on consumer and deeptech startups.
3. Groww was founded by Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal.
4. The company began operations in 2017 after the idea took shape in 2016.
5. The fund may compete with early-stage consumer and deeptech investors, but its founder-led experience could be its strength.

Facts Input- ET

India’s deep-tech startup ecosystem has received a steady push from the Electronics Development Fund, better known as EDF. According to official government data, EDF-backed daughter funds have invested Rs. 1,335.77 crore, or about $139.23 million, across 128 startups and ventures.

EDF works differently. It is a government-backed fund-of-funds, which means it invests in venture funds, and those funds then invest in startups.

The model appears indirect, but it has a clear purpose. It helps bring professional fund managers, private investors and government-backed capital together to support startups working in serious technology areas like electronics, nanoelectronics, IoT, robotics, drones, AI, healthtech and cybersecurity.

What is EDF

The Electronics Development Fund was launched by the Government of India on 15 February 2016. Its main aim is to support research, development and entrepreneurship in electronics, nanoelectronics and information technology.

EDF is backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, or MeitY. Canara Bank acts as the trustee and sponsor, while Canbank Venture Capital Funds Ltd. manages the fund.

In simple language, EDF does not usually write cheques directly to startups. Instead, it invests in professionally managed “daughter funds”. These daughter funds are venture capital or angel funds registered in India. They use their own investment judgment to back startups that fit the broader technology mission.

Why this model matters

A fund-of-funds model is useful because the government does not have to pick every startup directly.

Startup investing needs market knowledge, sector understanding and regular portfolio monitoring. Venture funds already have teams for this work. By investing through them, EDF can support more startups while still using professional fund management.

Think of it like this. Instead of one large institution trying to find every promising startup on its own, it backs multiple experienced fund managers. Those fund managers then search for companies in different technology areas.

This helps spread risk and increases reach.

How much has EDF supported

As of 30 September 2025, EDF had invested Rs. 257.77 crore in eight daughter funds. These funds then invested Rs. 1,335.77 crore across 128 startups and ventures.

The larger amount was deployed by the daughter funds, while EDF’s own investment into those funds was Rs. 257.77 crore.

The official data also says these supported startups have created more than 23,600 jobs in high-technology sectors. They have also created or acquired 368 intellectual properties, or IPs. In startup language, IP can include patents, designs, software, technical processes or other protected innovation.

EDF-backed daughter funds have also exited from 37 investments, and EDF has received Rs. 173.88 crore in cumulative returns from exits and partial exits.

Where the money went

EDF has backed eight daughter funds. These include Unicorn India Ventures Trust, Aaruha Technology Fund – 1, Endiya Seed Co-creation Fund, Karsemven Fund, pi Ventures Fund 1, YourNest India VC Fund II, Ventureast Proactive Fund – II and Exfinity Technology Fund Series II.

These funds have invested in startups across several frontier technology areas.

Some startups are working on Internet of Things, where devices are connected and exchange data. A simple example is a smart factory machine that alerts the maintenance team before it breaks down.

Some are in robotics and drones. These can be used in agriculture, warehouses, mapping, defence, inspection and disaster response.

Others are in AI and machine learning, where software learns from data to make predictions or automate decisions. Healthtech and cybersecurity startups are also part of the supported ecosystem.

Why this matters for India

India has become a large electronics and digital market, but the country still wants to build more of its own technology at home.

That is where EDF becomes important. It supports startups that can create local designs, products and intellectual property. This helps India move beyond assembly and services into deeper technology creation.

For example, if an Indian startup builds a cybersecurity product for local enterprises, it can reduce dependence on foreign tools. If another startup creates drone technology for farms or infrastructure, it can serve Indian conditions better than imported products.

The long-term goal is clear. India wants stronger domestic capability in electronics, IT and advanced technologies.

Why startups need this kind of capital

Deep-tech startups are harder to build than many app-based businesses.

A consumer app can be tested quickly. A hardware or electronics startup may need prototypes, labs, testing, manufacturing partners, certifications and longer development time. This usually needs patient capital.

For example, a robotics startup cannot simply launch a website and start selling. It must build hardware, test movement, check safety, improve design, manage parts, and support customers after deployment.

Similarly, a cybersecurity startup needs strong technical validation before customers trust it with sensitive systems.

EDF-backed capital helps such startups survive the early and difficult stages.

Competitors and similar support systems

EDF is not the only startup support mechanism in India. It works alongside other public and private funding channels.

The Startup India Fund of Funds, managed through SIDBI, supports venture funds that invest in startups across broader sectors. The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme helps early-stage startups with proof of concept, product trials and market entry. BIRAC supports biotech startups. iDEX supports defence innovation.

Private venture capital firms such as Accel, Peak XV Partners, Blume Ventures, Matrix Partners India, Lightspeed, pi Ventures, Endiya Partners and YourNest also invest in Indian startups.

EDF’s difference is its sector focus. It is more closely linked to electronics, IT and technology-led product development.

Challenges ahead

The EDF numbers are encouraging, but some challenges remain.

1. First, India still needs more deep-tech capital. Hardware, AI infrastructure, electronics and semiconductor-linked startups need larger and longer funding cycles.
2. Second, startups need better access to labs, testing facilities and manufacturing partners. Money alone cannot solve everything.
3. Third, India must turn more research into commercial products. Creating IP is good, but building globally competitive businesses from that IP is the harder part.
4. Fourth, funding should spread beyond a few strong startup hubs. Reports show Karnataka has received a large share of EDF-linked support, which reflects its strong tech ecosystem. Over time, more states will need to build similar capacity.

Conclusion with key takeaways

EDF’s support for 128 startups shows how targeted government-backed capital can help build India’s technology ecosystem. The fund may not make daily headlines like large private VC rounds, but its impact is visible in jobs, IP creation, fund activity and deep-tech startup support.

The most important point is that EDF’s role is indirect but strategic. It strengthens venture funds that then back startups in advanced technology areas. This helps India build a wider innovation base in electronics, IT and future-facing sectors.

Key takeaways –

1. EDF-backed daughter funds have invested Rs. 1,335.77 crore, or about $139.23 million, across 128 startups and ventures.
2. EDF itself has invested Rs. 257.77 crore in eight daughter funds.
3. The fund was launched by the Government of India on 15 February 2016.
4. Supported startups work in areas such as IoT, robotics, drones, AI, healthtech and cybersecurity.
5. EDF-backed startups have created more than 23,600 jobs and 368 intellectual properties.

Facts Input- PIB-Gov

India’s spacetech ecosystem is entering a more serious phase. The early excitement around private space companies is now turning into a harder question: how do young startups move from research labs and prototypes to real customers, revenue, and global markets?

Abyro Capital’s new spacetech accelerator, “Beacon”, is being introduced at this important moment. According to reports, Abyro Capital has floated the accelerator to support spacetech startups in India.

The move matters because space startups need more than capital. They need technical validation, business clarity, regulatory understanding, investor confidence, and patient guidance. Beacon’s larger purpose appears to be helping such founders become more ready for the commercial world.

Abyro Capital and its background

Abyro Capital is a technology-focused investment firm founded in 2024. The firm is led by Vamsi Kora, Founder and Managing Partner.

Abyro is an investment firm that supports entrepreneurs building impactful and sustainable businesses. The firm focuses on transformative technologies and offers hands-on help through its startup ecosystem called HIVE.

Abyro Capital is looking into areas such as deep tech, enterprise technology, AI, supply chain, logistics, and hard technology. Its listed portfolio includes names such as Navaflex, Monetize360, Navata SCS, Reva Commerce, and HComb.

Beacon now gives Abyro a sharper theme in India’s spacetech market.

Why Beacon matters

Spacetech is not an easy startup category.

A food delivery app, SaaS tool, or consumer brand can test its idea with customers fairly quickly. A spacetech startup may need years of engineering, testing, certification, manufacturing, launch partnerships, and regulatory approvals before its product becomes commercially useful.

That is why an accelerator can be helpful.

A programme like Beacon can give founders structured support during the early stage. It can help them understand whether their technology has a real market, how to speak to investors, how to price their solution, and how to build partnerships.

For example, a startup building satellite components may have a strong engineering team, but it still needs help with testing, supply chains, customer discovery, and funding. Another startup using satellite images for agriculture may need to figure out whether its paying customer is the farmer, an insurer, a bank, a government agency, or an agritech company.

These are not small questions. They decide whether a startup becomes a company or remains only a promising project.

What Beacon may aim to solve

The biggest gap in Indian spacetech is not talent. India has strong engineering talent and a long space legacy through ISRO.

The gap is often in commercialization.

Many founders know how to build the technology, but they may not know how to take it to market. Some may also struggle to explain their business to investors who are more used to software startups. Space products take longer, need more capital, and carry higher technical risk.

Beacon can help bridge this gap if it focuses on three things.

1. The first is investor readiness. Spacetech founders need to explain timelines, risks, cost of development, revenue potential, and market size in a clear way.
2. The second is customer access. A satellite analytics startup needs customers in sectors like agriculture, insurance, climate, defence, logistics, or infrastructure. A launch or hardware startup may need enterprise and government-linked partnerships.
3. The third is founder guidance. Many spacetech founders are first-time entrepreneurs. They may need help with hiring, financial planning, legal structure, intellectual property, go-to-market strategy, and future fundraising.

India’s spacetech moment

India’s private space sector has grown quickly after major reforms.

IN-SPACe was created as a single-window agency to promote, authorize, and supervise private space activities. The Indian Space Policy 2023 also gave private companies a clearer role across the space value chain.

According to PIB, India’s space economy was estimated at about $8.4 billion, with a target of nearly $44 billion by 2033. Another PIB update said nearly 400 space startups were active in India across launch vehicles, satellites, propulsion systems, and space-grade electronics.

This growth has changed the mood of the market. Startups are no longer only talking about space as a dream. They are building rockets, satellite systems, propulsion tools, earth observation platforms, space electronics, and data services.

Beacon is entering this market when founders need serious business-building support.

Competitors and similar programmes

Beacon will operate in a space where other accelerator and support programmes are already active.

T-Hub’s ORBIT spacetech accelerator has supported multiple startups across propulsion, orbital servicing, satellite intelligence, and downstream geospatial solutions. AWS also launched its Space Accelerator in India with T-Hub and Minfy. ISRO and Social Alpha earlier launched SpIN, a platform focused on space innovation and venture development.

Globally, programmes such as Techstars Space Accelerator and Seraphim Space Accelerator are known for helping spacetech startups become investor-ready.

Beacon’s opportunity lies in its US-India positioning and Abyro Capital’s deep-tech investment focus. If the accelerator can connect Indian founders with technical mentors, global investors, enterprise customers, and strategic partners, it can create real value.

Challenges ahead

The success of Beacon will depend on execution.

A spacetech accelerator cannot work like a normal startup workshop. Founders in this sector need very specific help. They need access to domain experts, testing facilities, regulatory guidance, manufacturing partners, patient capital, and serious customer conversations.

Another challenge is funding depth. India’s spacetech funding has improved, but the sector still needs more long-term capital. Hardware-heavy companies cannot scale on small cheques alone.

There is also the issue of time. Space businesses take longer to mature. Investors and founders must be prepared for slow but meaningful progress.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Abyro Capital floating Beacon is a timely move for India’s spacetech ecosystem. The country has the talent, policy support, and ambition. What many startups now need is structured help to move from promising technology to real business outcomes.

Beacon can play that role if it gives founders practical support, not just visibility. The accelerator’s real impact will be seen in how many startups become fundable, build working products, win customers, and enter global markets.

Key takeaways –

1. Abyro Capital has floated Beacon, a spacetech accelerator in India.
2. Abyro Capital was founded in 2024 and is led by Vamsi Kora.
3. Beacon aims to support young spacetech startups as they move toward commercial readiness.
4. India’s space economy is expected to grow strongly, with official projections pointing toward nearly $44 billion by 2033.
5. Beacon will operate alongside programmes such as T-Hub ORBIT, AWS Space Accelerator India, and ISRO-Social Alpha’s SpIN.

Facts Input- HinduBusinessLine

Anicut Capital has launched a new Rs. 175 crore early-stage fund, giving India’s young startup ecosystem another pool of patient capital at a time when founders are becoming more careful about growth, costs, and profitability.

The fund is called Grand Anicut Seed Fund, or GASF. It is Anicut’s second early-stage fund and will focus on startups in consumer, enterprise technology, deep tech, and financial services. According to reports, the fund is nearing its first close after securing Rs. 65 crore from existing investors, mainly high-net-worth individuals.

For early-stage founders, this fund comes at an interesting time. The easy-money phase of startup funding is over. Investors now want stronger business models, better unit economics, and founders who can build with discipline. Anicut’s new fund seems built for exactly that kind of market.

Anicut Capital and its journey

Anicut Capital began its journey in 2015. The firm was founded by Ashvin Chadha and IAS Balamurugan, and started with a focus on private credit for growing Indian companies.

Over the years, Anicut has expanded into seed investments, growth equity, private credit, and late-stage equity. Its official website says the firm manages more than Rs. 3,500 crore in assets across different investment strategies.

The firm is known for backing companies across consumer, technology, food, finance, aerospace, and lifestyle sectors. Its portfolio has included names such as Agnikul Cosmos, Neeman’s, Blue Tokai, GalaxEye, The ePlane Company, ShareChat, Wow! Momo, SUGAR Cosmetics, and Bira 91.

That mix explains why Anicut is not positioning itself as a narrow tech-only investor. It appears more interested in businesses that can scale with strong fundamentals.

What the new Rs. 175 crore fund will do

The Grand Anicut Seed Fund will invest in around 20 startups. These companies will be at the pre-seed to Series A stage.

In simple words, the fund will support startups that are still young, but not always at the idea stage. Some may already have a product in the market. Some may have early customers. Some may be solving a difficult technology problem that needs capital before revenue becomes large.

The fund is expected to write cheques between Rs. 5 crore and Rs. 8 crore. This is meaningful money for a young startup. It can help a founder build the first team, improve the product, test customer demand, enter new markets, or prepare for a larger institutional funding round.

The fund also has a greenshoe option of Rs. 75 crore. A greenshoe option simply means the fund may raise extra capital beyond its original target if investor demand is strong.

Where the money will go

Anicut plans to invest in four broad areas.

1. The first is consumer startups. These may include brands selling food, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, personal care, home products, or new-age services. India’s consumer market is changing fast, especially as smaller cities buy more online and discover more branded products.
2. The second is enterprise technology. These are companies that sell software or technology tools to other businesses. For example, a startup may build software for accounting, supply-chain management, sales teams, factories, hospitals, or banks.
3. The third is deep tech. This is a more complex area. It includes startups working on serious engineering or science-led ideas such as space technology, drones, robotics, advanced manufacturing, climate technology, semiconductors, or AI-led infrastructure. These companies often need patient investors because product development can take longer.
4. The fourth is financial services. This may include fintech companies working on lending, payments, wealth, insurance, compliance, credit scoring, or tools for small businesses.

Why the fund matters for founders

Early-stage capital can be the difference between a strong idea staying small and becoming a real company.

For example, a deep-tech startup building a drone component may need money for research, testing, hiring engineers, and certifications before it can sell at scale. A consumer brand may need capital for packaging, inventory, distribution, marketing, and retail partnerships. A fintech startup may need to build secure technology and meet regulatory requirements before reaching customers.

In each case, the founder needs more than money. They need guidance, networks, and follow-on investor access.

Anicut’s seed fund page says its early-stage approach includes mentoring, monitoring, and connecting founders with business and capital networks. That matters because a first-time founder may know the product deeply but still need help with hiring, pricing, finance, legal structure, or fundraising.

The aim behind the fund

The main aim of Anicut Capital’s Rs. 175 crore fund is to back strong founders early and help them move from the “0 to 1” stage.

This phrase is common in startup investing, but the meaning is simple. It refers to the difficult early phase where a startup goes from an idea or early product to a working business with customers, revenue, and a clearer path.

Anicut partner Ajay Anand told ToI that the second fund aims to build on the firm’s earlier strategy by supporting founders with both capital and strategic help as they create new categories and long-term businesses.

The fund has already started deploying money and has closed three investments, all led by Anicut. That shows the fund is not only a plan on paper. It is already active in the market.

Competitors and market landscape

Anicut will compete with several early-stage investors in India.

Funds such as Blume Ventures, India Quotient, Titan Capital, 100X.VC, Together Fund, Arkam Ventures, Venture Highway, and early-stage arms of larger firms like Accel, Peak XV Partners, Lightspeed, and Matrix Partners India are active in this space.

Each investor has a slightly different style. Some focus more on software. Some like consumer brands. Some invest very early with smaller cheques. Others prefer startups that already have strong traction.

Anicut’s edge may come from its multi-asset experience. Since it works across debt, seed, growth equity, and late-stage investments, it can understand startups at different points of their journey. That can be useful for founders who may need different kinds of capital as they grow.

Still, the market is crowded. To stand out, Anicut will need to show that its portfolio companies can raise follow-on capital, grow sustainably, and build durable businesses.

What this says about India’s startup mood

The launch of this fund also tells us something about India’s startup market in 2026.

Investors are still interested in startups, but they are more selective. The focus has moved away from growth at any cost. Founders are now expected to show clearer revenue, better margins, and a practical plan for survival.

This is healthier for the ecosystem. It may reduce hype, but it can also create stronger companies.

A Rs. 175 crore fund may not sound huge when compared with billion-dollar global funds. But for early-stage Indian startups, it can still have real impact. If the fund backs around 20 companies with focused cheques, it can help a meaningful group of founders build from the ground up.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Anicut Capital’s Rs. 175 crore Grand Anicut Seed Fund arrives at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is becoming more mature and more careful.

The fund will target young companies in consumer, enterprise technology, deep tech, and financial services. With planned cheque sizes of Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 8 crore, it can give early founders enough room to build products, hire teams, and find stronger market fit.

For Anicut, this is also a deeper push into early-stage investing. The firm has already built experience across private credit, seed, growth equity, and late-stage investments. Now, with GASF, it is trying to catch promising companies earlier in their journey.

Key takeaways –

• Anicut Capital has launched its second early-stage fund, Grand Anicut Seed Fund.
• The fund has a target corpus of Rs. 175 crore and a greenshoe option of Rs. 75 crore.
• It is nearing first close after securing Rs. 65 crore from existing investors.
• The fund will back around 20 startups from pre-seed to Series A.
• Focus sectors include consumer, enterprise technology, deep tech, and financial services.
• Anicut Capital was founded by Ashvin Chadha and IAS Balamurugan and began its journey in 2015.

Facts Input- ToI

Chennai-based Hegdinvst has raised $1.3 million, or about Rs. 11.5 crore, in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. The round was backed by domestic and international high-net-worth investors, according to reports.

The fresh capital is mainly meant to support the sponsor and manager commitment for Hegdinvst’s proposed SEBI Category III Alternative Investment Fund. In simple words, the company is preparing to strengthen its alternative investment platform and build a fund that can use more flexible public-market strategies.

Hegdinvst was founded in 2025 by Aditya Bhandari. The firm is based in Chennai and works in investment management, with a focus on alternative assets across private and public markets. Its larger idea is to connect institutional capital with opportunities coming from “Bharat”, especially businesses and markets beyond the usual metro-led investment story.

What Hegdinvst does

Hegdinvst is an alternative investment manager. That means it does not work like a normal mutual fund company selling simple investment products to retail investors.

Instead, it builds investment strategies for family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and sophisticated investors who understand higher-risk products. These investors usually look beyond fixed deposits, mutual funds, and plain equity portfolios.

The firm’s own website says its investment thinking is built around Bharat-focused businesses, value discipline, governance, and long-term wealth creation. Its team highlights themes such as rural growth, Tier II to Tier VI markets, infrastructure, access, inclusion, women-centric impact, and climate.

This gives Hegdinvst a slightly different positioning. It is not only talking about returns. It is also trying to back companies and strategies linked to India’s wider economic shift outside the large-city bubble.

Why the $1.3 million funding matters

For many startups, Series A funding is used to hire people, build technology, and expand sales. In Hegdinvst’s case, the purpose is more finance-specific.

The company plans to use the money mainly for sponsor and manager commitment linked to its proposed Category III AIF. This is important because fund managers are usually expected to keep their own skin in the game. When the sponsor or manager puts money into the fund, it shows alignment with investors.

Think of it like a restaurant owner eating at their own restaurant every day. It gives customers more confidence that the owner believes in the product. In fund management, sponsor commitment works in a similar way. It tells investors that the manager is also financially exposed to the fund’s performance.

For a new investment manager, this can help build trust.

What is a Category III AIF

AIF stands for Alternative Investment Fund. These are privately pooled investment vehicles regulated by SEBI. They are not meant for small retail investors. SEBI’s framework says an AIF generally cannot accept an investment of less than Rs. 1 crore from an investor.

Category III AIFs are the most flexible of the three AIF categories. They can use trading-oriented strategies, derivatives, and leverage within regulatory limits. Many people compare them with hedge-fund-style products, though they still operate under SEBI rules.

A simple example may help.

A normal equity fund usually buys stocks and hopes they go up. A Category III AIF may use a more active strategy. It can buy stocks it believes are undervalued and use derivatives to hedge risk or benefit from market movements. Some funds may follow long-short, arbitrage, quant, or multi-asset strategies.

This flexibility can create opportunity, but it also brings higher complexity. That is why these products are designed for experienced investors, not beginners.

The aim behind Hegdinvst’s proposed fund

The main aim appears to be building a multi-asset hedge fund platform under the Category III AIF structure. A multi-asset approach means the fund may not depend on only one kind of investment. It can look at different asset classes or market opportunities, depending on its strategy and regulatory approval.

For investors, this can be attractive when markets are uncertain. A fund that has the freedom to hedge, shift exposure, or use different strategies may try to reduce the impact of sharp market swings.

But it is important to be clear. These funds are not risk-free. They can use complex tools, and performance depends heavily on the fund manager’s skill, discipline, and risk controls.

Hegdinvst’s stated style focuses on value, downside protection, and disciplined investing. If the proposed Category III AIF follows that thinking, it may try to offer investors a more controlled way to participate in public markets.

Why investors may be interested

India’s wealth market is changing. More family offices and wealthy investors are looking beyond traditional products. They want strategies that can handle volatility, protect gains, and still find growth.

Category III AIFs have gained attention because they offer more room for active investment strategies. In strong markets, they can search for return opportunities. In weak markets, some strategies may try to hedge downside risk.

Hegdinvst also brings a Bharat-focused angle. Many investors now believe the next phase of Indian growth will come from smaller cities, rural demand, local manufacturing, financial inclusion, and profitable regional businesses.

If Hegdinvst can combine public-market discipline with its Bharat investment view, it may find a clear place in the alternative investment space.

Competitors and market view

Hegdinvst will not be entering an empty market. India already has several established players in the Category III AIF and alternative investment space.

Names such as Avendus, Alpha Alternatives, Nuvama, Tata Asset Management, ASK, Edelweiss, IIFL, True Beacon, Abakkus, and Motilal Oswal are often discussed in the broader alternative investment and hedge-fund-style market.

Some focus on long-short equity. Some use quant models. Some follow arbitrage or absolute-return strategies. Larger players already have brand trust, track records, distribution strength, and deep research teams.

Hegdinvst’s challenge will be to prove itself with performance, transparency, risk management, and investor communication. Its opportunity lies in building a sharper identity around Bharat-linked investing and disciplined alternative strategies.

What this means for India’s alternative investment market

Hegdinvst’s Series A round is small compared with large startup fundraises, but it is meaningful for the alternative investment industry.

It shows that capital is also moving into fund-management platforms, not only tech startups, fintech apps, or consumer brands. As more wealthy Indians look for differentiated strategies, new asset managers may find room to grow.

The timing is also interesting. Public markets have become more volatile, and many investors are no longer satisfied with simple “buy and hold” products. They want managers who can think about both growth and protection.

That is where Category III AIFs are trying to find their place.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Hegdinvst’s $1.3 million Series A round is not just another funding update. It is a sign that India’s alternative investment space is slowly becoming deeper, more specialised, and more competitive.

Founded in 2025 by Aditya Bhandari, Hegdinvst is building an investment management platform focused on Bharat-linked opportunities and alternative strategies. The new capital will mainly support sponsor and manager commitment for its proposed SEBI Category III AIF.

For investors, the bigger story is clear. India’s wealth market is maturing. More sophisticated investors are looking at hedge-fund-style products, but these products need careful understanding because they carry higher complexity and risk.

Key takeaways –

• Hegdinvst has raised $1.3 million, or around Rs. 11.5 crore, in Series A funding.
• The round was backed by domestic and international high-net-worth investors.
• The company was founded in 2025 by Aditya Bhandari.
• The funding will mainly support the sponsor and manager commitment for its proposed Category III AIF.
• Category III AIFs are SEBI-regulated alternative funds that can use more flexible and complex market strategies.

Facts Input- StartupTalky, Launch of Hegdinvst, SEBI AIF Regulation, SEBI AIF Regulation Updated

Bengaluru startup Revspot has raised $4.80 million in a Series A funding round, giving the young company more room to build its AI-led revenue intelligence platform for consumer-facing businesses.

The round saw participation from Inflexor Ventures, Info Edge Ventures, Pentathlon Ventures, Silicon Road Ventures, and Titan Capital, according to reports. For a startup founded in 2024, this is a strong signal that investors are paying attention to AI tools that can solve everyday sales and marketing problems.

Revspot was founded by Darshan Subash, Chirag Wadhera, and Varun Garg. The company is based in Bengaluru and works mainly with high-growth B2C businesses. In simple words, Revspot helps companies find better leads, understand which buyers are more serious, and pass cleaner opportunities to sales teams.

Why Revspot’s funding is getting attention

Many B2C companies spend heavily on ads, agencies, call centres, CRMs, and lead generation tools. Still, their sales teams often receive messy leads. Some people are not ready to buy. Some do not match the product. Some have missing details. Some need quick follow-up, but get lost in the system.

This is the gap Revspot wants to fix.

The startup brings lead generation and lead qualification into one system. That means it does not only help a company find possible buyers. It also helps check whether those buyers are worth the sales team’s time.

Take a real estate company as an example. It may receive thousands of enquiries from property portals, ads, and landing pages. But only a small part of those people may have the right budget, location interest, and buying timeline. A platform like Revspot can help sort those leads and push the most promising ones to the sales team first.

For sectors where every lead costs money, that can make a real difference.

What Revspot does

The company describes itself as an AI-first revenue intelligence platform for B2C businesses. It combines data, enrichment, and AI-based lead qualification to help revenue teams speak to better prospects.

This may sound technical, but the idea is simple.

If a business has 10,000 leads, Revspot tries to help answer three basic questions. Who is most likely to buy? Who should be contacted first? What extra information does the sales team need before making the call?

Its platform is aimed at sectors such as real estate, fintech, edtech, wealth management, and high-ticket sales. These are categories where customers usually take time before making a purchase. A school admission, investment product, home loan, property purchase, or premium service is not an impulse buy. The sales team needs better context before starting the conversation.

That is where buyer intelligence becomes useful. It helps teams avoid blind calling and focus on people with stronger intent.

How the company plans to use the funding

Revspot plans to use the fresh funds to strengthen its product and engineering teams in India. This is important because AI sales products need constant improvement. The data has to be clean, the scoring has to be useful, and the system must work with the tools that companies already use.

The company also aims to improve its AI-powered buyer intelligence and lead qualification platform. In plain language, it wants to get better at finding the right buyers and separating serious prospects from weak leads.

Another part of the plan is sector expansion. Revspot already serves high-value consumer categories, but the new funding may help it enter more industries where businesses deal with large lead volumes and long sales cycles.

The startup also plans to grow in selected international markets. This could be useful if its model works well in India, where B2C sales can be complex, price-sensitive, and heavily dependent on timing.

Why this matters for B2C companies

For many companies, the problem is not a lack of leads. The problem is too many poor-quality leads.

A fintech company may run campaigns for loans or investment products. An edtech company may get enquiries from students and parents. A wealth management firm may attract people who are curious but not ready to invest. In each case, sales teams spend hours calling people without knowing who is serious.

This wastes time and money.

If Revspot can help businesses improve lead quality, it can directly affect revenue. Salespeople can spend more time with serious buyers. Marketing teams can understand which campaigns are actually working. Managers can see where leads are dropping off.

The value is not just in automation. The value is in better decision-making.

Competitors and market view

Revspot operates in a busy space. It touches parts of the CRM, sales intelligence, lead management, and customer engagement markets.

LeadSquared is one of the closest names in India when it comes to sales CRM and lead management for industries like education, financial services, healthcare, automotive, and real estate. It helps teams manage enquiries, follow-ups, sales journeys, and field activity.

MoEngage, WebEngage, and CleverTap work more on customer engagement, retention, and marketing journeys. These platforms help brands communicate with users across channels and improve repeat engagement.

Salesforce is another large global player, though it serves a much broader enterprise market.

Revspot’s focus appears sharper. It is not trying to be a traditional CRM or only a marketing automation tool. It is trying to sit closer to the early sales funnel, where companies find, enrich, qualify, and activate leads before sales teams step in.

That focus can help, but it also brings pressure. Revspot will need to show that its platform improves conversion rates, reduces wasted sales effort, and fits smoothly into existing business workflows.

Why investors may like this space

Investors are now more careful about AI startups. A company cannot raise serious money only by saying it uses AI. It has to show a clear business problem and a clear path to revenue.

Revspot’s problem area is easy to understand. Companies spend money to get leads. Many leads do not convert. Sales teams lose time. Marketing spend becomes harder to justify.

If a tool can reduce that waste, businesses may be willing to pay for it.

This is why Revspot’s funding round is worth watching. It sits at the meeting point of AI, sales, marketing, and data. These are areas where Indian businesses are actively looking for better tools.

The road ahead for Revspot

Revspot will need to keep improving data accuracy, because poor data can hurt sales teams instead of helping them. It will also need to prove that its AI-based qualification works across different industries, not just in one or two early sectors.

Customer trust will matter too. B2C companies handle sensitive customer information, so security, privacy, and responsible data use will be important as the company grows.

If Revspot gets these parts right, it can become a useful revenue tool for brands that depend on high-quality leads and quick sales follow-up.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Revspot’s $4.80 million Series A funding gives the Bengaluru startup fresh strength at a time when businesses want better sales results without wasting money on weak leads.

Founded in 2024 by Darshan Subash, Chirag Wadhera, and Varun Garg, Revspot is building an AI-first revenue intelligence platform for B2C companies. The company plans to use the funding to grow its product and engineering teams, improve buyer intelligence, expand into more consumer sectors, and enter selected international markets.

Key takeaways-

• Revspot has raised $4.80 million in Series A funding.
• The round included Inflexor Ventures, Info Edge Ventures, Pentathlon Ventures, Silicon Road Ventures, and Titan Capital.
• The startup was founded in 2024 by Darshan Subash, Chirag Wadhera, and Varun Garg.
• Revspot helps B2C companies improve lead quality and qualification.
• Its focus sectors include real estate, fintech, edtech, wealth management, and high-ticket sales.

Facts Input- IPOPlatform

UpGrad is reportedly close to completing its acquisition of Unacademy in an all-stock deal valued at Rs. 1,955 crore. The deal is expected to close within three weeks, after the Competition Commission of India cleared the proposed combination on July 7, 2026.

This is one of the biggest consolidation moves in India’s edtech sector after the pandemic boom cooled down. Unacademy was once among India’s most valued education startups, while upGrad has built its name in higher education, professional upskilling, study abroad and enterprise learning.

If the deal closes as reported, it will bring two different learning businesses under one roof. upGrad gets a stronger entry into competitive exam preparation, while Unacademy gets a place inside a larger education platform at a time when standalone edtech valuations have corrected sharply.

What is the upGrad-Unacademy deal

The reported transaction is an all-stock deal. This means Unacademy shareholders will receive shares of upGrad instead of cash.

The deal value is now reported at Rs. 1,955 crore, which is lower than the earlier discussed Rs. 2,055 crore valuation. ET reported that Unacademy’s investors are expected to get one board seat in upGrad after the merger.

The acquisition is not fully completed yet. As of July 29, 2026, reports say most investor approvals and paperwork are nearly done, and the transaction may close in around three weeks.

Why upGrad wants Unacademy

upGrad was founded in 2015 by Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar, Phalgun Kompalli and Ravijot Chugh. It focuses mainly on online higher education, career courses, professional certificates, study abroad programmes and workforce training.

Unacademy, founded as a full edtech platform in 2015 by Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh, is known for test preparation. Its journey started earlier as a YouTube education channel in 2010. Over time, it became popular among students preparing for exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, GATE and other competitive tests.

That is the simple reason this deal makes sense for upGrad. It fills a gap.

upGrad already talks to college students, working professionals and companies. Unacademy brings school-leaving students, college aspirants and exam-focused learners. Together, the combined company can serve a learner from exam preparation to college, job skills and career growth.

What changes for online education

The biggest impact will be consolidation. India’s edtech market became crowded during the Covid years. Many companies grew fast, hired aggressively and spent heavily on marketing. But after schools and coaching centres reopened, online learning demand became more selective.

Parents and students stopped paying for every app. Investors also became careful. Companies had to cut costs, shut weak products and focus on profit.

The upGrad-Unacademy deal shows that the industry is moving into a more mature phase. Smaller or struggling platforms may look for mergers. Larger companies may try to build full education ecosystems instead of running one narrow category.

In simple terms, the online education market is moving from growth at any cost to useful growth.

Impact on students

For students, the deal could bring both benefits and questions.

The benefit is that Unacademy’s test prep content may get connected with upGrad’s career and higher education offerings. A student preparing for engineering entrance exams today may later need college support, internships, coding courses or job-linked programmes. A combined platform can offer that longer journey.

There may also be better investment in AI-based learning tools, doubt-solving, personal study plans and performance tracking. upGrad has already shown interest in AI-led education products, while Unacademy has a large base of exam learners and educators.

But students will also watch pricing carefully. If courses become too expensive or if free content reduces, the deal may not feel positive for everyone. The real test will be whether the combined platform improves learning outcomes, not just sells more courses.

Impact on teachers and creators

Unacademy built a large educator-led learning model. Many teachers became well-known through live classes, recorded lessons and test-prep batches.

After the acquisition, educators may get access to a larger platform and broader student base. Strong teachers could benefit if upGrad uses Unacademy’s educator network well.

At the same time, there may be changes in contracts, incentives, course formats and business targets. Edtech mergers often bring restructuring. Some overlapping roles may be reduced, and some products may be merged or closed.

For creators, the message is clear. Teaching quality will still matter, but platforms may now demand stronger student retention, better results and more efficient course delivery.

Impact on competitors

The deal will put pressure on other edtech players.

Physics Wallah, Allen Digital, Vedantu, Adda247, CareerWill, Testbook and other test-prep platforms will continue to compete strongly. In higher education and upskilling, upGrad already faces competition from Coursera, Simplilearn, Great Learning, Scaler, Emeritus and others.

Physics Wallah is especially important because it has built a strong low-cost test-prep brand and has expanded into offline learning as well. Allen has deep coaching credibility. Vedantu and other online players still have loyal users in specific categories.

So, this acquisition does not mean upGrad automatically wins the market. But it gives the company a wider base and a stronger story for investors, learners and enterprise partners.

Why valuation reset matters

Unacademy’s reported valuation in this deal is far below its pandemic-era peak. During the funding boom, Unacademy was valued at around $3.4 billion to $3.5 billion. The current reported deal value of Rs. 1,955 crore shows how much the market has changed.

This is not only about Unacademy. It reflects the larger correction in edtech.

Investors are no longer valuing companies only on user growth or app downloads. They want revenue quality, lower losses, repeat customers and a clear path to profit.

For founders, this is a tough but useful lesson. A large brand is not enough. The business model must work when market conditions become normal.

What could happen next

If the deal closes, upGrad may integrate Unacademy’s core test-prep business into its broader learning platform. Gaurav Munjal has earlier said he would continue to lead Unacademy after the transaction.

The combined company may focus on AI-powered education, online test prep, career-linked learning, study abroad, enterprise training and possibly hybrid learning models.

The bigger question is execution. Mergers look clean in announcements, but the real work begins after closing. Teams, technology, educators, brands, pricing and student support all need careful handling.

If upGrad manages this well, the deal could create one of India’s broadest edtech platforms. If integration is messy, students and educators may move to rivals.

Conclusion with key takeaways

The upGrad-Unacademy acquisition is more than a deal between two edtech companies. It signals a new phase for India’s online education industry, where scale, profitability, AI tools and practical learning outcomes will matter more than hype.

For upGrad, Unacademy brings test-prep strength. For Unacademy, upGrad brings a larger platform and a fresh chance to rebuild inside a broader education business.

Key takeaways –

• upGrad is reportedly close to acquiring Unacademy in an all-stock deal worth Rs. 1,955 crore.
• CCI approved the proposed deal on July 7, 2026.
• The transaction is expected to close within around three weeks from late July reports.
• upGrad was founded in 2015 by Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar, Phalgun Kompalli and Ravijot Chugh.
• Unacademy became a full edtech platform in 2015, founded by Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh.
• The deal may strengthen upGrad’s presence in online test preparation.
• The biggest industry impact will be more consolidation, sharper competition and stronger focus on profitable learning models.

Facts Input- ET, TC, MC

Fixxly has raised $5.5 million in seed funding to build an AI-powered procurement and delivery platform for building materials. The round was backed by Accel, Fireside Ventures and Lightspeed India Partners.

The Bengaluru-based startup is preparing for its commercial launch on September 1, 2026. It plans to start operations in Bengaluru before expanding to other Indian cities.

This is not a regular quick commerce story. Fixxly is not trying to deliver snacks or groceries. It wants to solve a daily problem at construction, renovation and repair sites, where work can stop because one small item is missing.

What Fixxly does

Fixxly is building a quick delivery platform for construction and home-improvement materials. Its planned product categories include plywood, paint, electrical items, lighting, plumbing materials, hardware and other trade essentials.

The platform is aimed at contractors, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, interior designers and homeowners.

For example, if a plumber reaches a site and realises one fitting is missing, the usual option is to leave the site and search nearby shops. That wastes time. Fixxly wants to make such materials available quickly, with some orders delivered in as little as 30 minutes.

Founders and purpose

Fixxly was founded in 2026 by Shezan Bhojani and Sachith Varma.

Bhojani earlier co-founded DesignCafe and has spent more than two decades in the home-improvement sector. That experience matters because building materials are not easy to manage. There are many product types, sizes, brands and urgent use cases.

The startup’s purpose is simple – reduce work-site delays caused by missing materials. Its larger aim is to make construction procurement faster, more predictable and less dependent on last-minute store visits.

Use of funding

Fixxly will use the $5.5 million seed funding to strengthen its technology platform and expand operations before launch.

The company plans to use local dark stores and AI-led order matching. In simple terms, its system will try to match customer orders with nearby stock, location and demand in real time.

This matters because quick delivery works only when the right products are stored close to the customer. If inventory planning is poor, a 30-minute promise becomes hard to keep.

What makes Fixxly different

Fixxly is applying the quick commerce model to a more serious work category.

In grocery delivery, speed brings convenience. In building materials, speed can save labour hours and prevent project delays.

Its AI-powered platform may help contractors check availability, place urgent orders and get products without stopping work. If done well, this can be useful for small repair jobs, home renovation projects and interior work.

Competitors

Fixxly will compete with traditional hardware shops, local suppliers and construction procurement platforms. Larger companies like Infra.Market and OfBusiness work in broader B2B building material supply, while newer startups are also trying to solve fast delivery and procurement gaps.

Fixxly’s focus is different because it is going after urgent, smaller and faster site-level orders.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Fixxly’s $5.5 million seed round shows that quick commerce is moving beyond consumer convenience. The startup is targeting a real problem in construction and renovation – delays caused by unavailable materials.

If Fixxly can deliver the right item quickly and reliably, it could become a useful partner for contractors and home-improvement professionals.

Key takeaways –

• Fixxly raised $5.5 million in seed funding.
• The round was backed by Accel, Fireside Ventures and Lightspeed India Partners.
• The startup was founded in 2026 by Shezan Bhojani and Sachith Varma.
• Fixxly will commercially launch on September 1, 2026.
• It will begin in Bengaluru before expanding to other cities.
• The startup will use funding to improve technology and expand operations.

Facts Input- ISN

Inflexor Ventures has announced the first close of its third fund at Rs. 400 crore. The fund, called Inflexor Technology Discovery Fund, has a total target size of Rs. 1,250 crore.

For India’s startup market, this is an important update because Inflexor is not chasing short-term app trends. The firm is known for backing science, engineering and technology-led companies. These are startups that may take longer to build, but can create strong intellectual property and global products if they work.

The fund is backed by investors such as the Self-Reliant India Fund, HDFC AMC, HDFC AMC Select AIF FoF and international institutions. With the first close done, Inflexor has already started looking at new investments and is expected to announce its first deals from this fund soon.

What Inflexor Ventures does

Inflexor Ventures is a technology-focused venture capital firm. It invests in early-stage startups, mainly from seed to Series A and beyond.

The firm was incorporated in 2019 and is led by Venkat Vallabhaneni and Jatin Desai, Pratip Mazumdar is also part of the leadership team as co-founder and partner.

Inflexor’s investment style is built around what it calls science, engineering and technology. In simple words, it looks for startups that are not only using technology, but building technology of their own.

This can include companies in deeptech, healthtech, spacetech, cybersecurity, clean energy, enterprise software, digital infrastructure, robotics, semiconductors and other specialized areas.

What first close means

A first close means the fund has received enough commitments from investors to start deploying money. It is not the final fund size.

In this case, Inflexor has closed Rs. 400 crore as the first part of its Rs. 1,250 crore target. The firm can now start investing from Fund III while continuing to raise the remaining amount.

Think of it like building a large pool of capital in stages. Once the first stage is complete, the fund does not need to wait for the full amount before backing startups.

Aim and purpose of Fund III

The main aim of Inflexor Ventures Fund III is to back Indian startups building strong technology products with global potential.

The fund will mainly invest in pre-Series A and Series A startups. Its cheque size is expected to range from Rs. 15 crore to Rs. 45 crore per company.

This is useful for deeptech founders because their capital needs are often higher than normal software startups. A company building a space component, medical device, robotics system or semiconductor tool cannot grow only with laptops and cloud subscriptions. It needs labs, testing, hardware, patents, talent and long product cycles.

Inflexor’s purpose is to provide not only money, but also long-term support. Deeptech companies need patient investors because revenue and scale can take time. A product may need years of research, pilot projects and industry approvals before it becomes commercially strong.

Why this fund matters now

India’s startup funding market has become more careful in recent years. Investors are asking tougher questions about revenue, margins, technology depth and customer demand.

That shift is helping serious technology startups. Earlier, consumer internet companies often got most of the attention. Now investors are looking more closely at companies that build hard-to-copy products.

This is where Fund III becomes relevant.

India is seeing more founders work in areas like spacetech, defence tech, clean energy, climate technology, industrial automation, AI infrastructure and enterprise security. These sectors need larger early cheques and deeper guidance.

For example, a drone navigation startup may need money for sensor testing, field trials and certifications. A biotech startup may need research validation and manufacturing partnerships. A cybersecurity company may need enterprise pilots before large customers sign contracts.

A fund like Inflexor III is designed for this kind of journey.

What kind of startups may benefit

Fund III is likely to benefit startups that have moved beyond just an idea and are ready to scale early customer traction.

A pure concept may not be enough. Inflexor has usually preferred companies with strong technology, a serious team and early proof that customers care.

The fund may look at startups in sectors such as healthcare technology, financial services, logistics, cybersecurity, spacetech, clean energy, semiconductors and industrial technology.

These sectors have one thing in common. They solve real problems and can build strong entry barriers if the technology works.

For a founder, this means the fund is not just looking for a trendy pitch. It is likely to ask whether the technology is defensible, whether the market is large, and whether the team can sell to serious customers.

Inflexor’s earlier portfolio

Inflexor has backed companies such as Atomberg, Bellatrix Aerospace, CloudSEK, Entropik, BioPrime, Chakr Innovation, PlayShifu, ClickPost and GramCover, among others.

These names show the firm’s broader technology focus. Atomberg built energy-efficient consumer appliances. Bellatrix works in spacetech. CloudSEK operates in cybersecurity. BioPrime works in sustainable agriculture technology.

This gives a hint of what Fund III may continue doing. It may not limit itself to one sector, but it will likely look for technology-led companies where innovation is central to the business.

Competitors and peer funds

Inflexor is not alone in this space. India now has several funds backing deeptech, enterprise software and technology-heavy startups.

Peer names include Exfinity Venture Partners, Speciale Invest, Pi Ventures, Ideaspring Capital, Blume Ventures, Peak XV Partners, 8X Ventures and deeptech-focused arms of larger funds.

There are also government-backed or institution-led initiatives supporting deeptech and strategic sectors. The Self-Reliant India Fund’s participation in Inflexor Fund III also reflects this broader push to support domestic innovation.

The competition is good for founders. More deeptech-focused capital means more options, better sector understanding and less pressure to fit into a consumer-app style growth story.

What this means for Indian deeptech

The first close of Inflexor Ventures Fund III sends a positive signal to India’s deeptech ecosystem.

It shows that investors are willing to back companies that may take longer to mature but can create stronger technology value. This is important because India cannot become a global technology hub only by building marketplaces and apps. It also needs companies that build core products, hardware, software infrastructure, scientific platforms and intellectual property.

For founders, the message is clear. If the product solves a real problem, has technical depth and can scale globally, capital is available.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Inflexor Ventures Fund III’s Rs. 400 crore first close is a meaningful development for India’s startup funding market. The fund is aimed at early-stage technology companies, especially those building science and engineering-led products.

Its purpose is to support deeptech founders with patient capital, larger early cheques and strategic guidance. As India’s startup ecosystem becomes more mature, funds like this can play an important role in helping serious technology companies move from lab to market.

Key takeaways

• Inflexor Ventures announced the first close of Fund III at Rs. 400 crore.
• The total target size of the fund is Rs. 1,250 crore.
• The fund will mainly invest in pre-Series A and Series A startups.
• Expected cheque size is Rs. 15 crore to Rs. 45 crore.
• Inflexor focuses on science, engineering and technology-led companies.
• The firm was incorporated in 2019 and is led by Venkat Vallabhaneni, Jatin Desai and Pratip Mazumdar.

Facts Input- Mint

Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Yaanendriya has raised Rs. 15 crore in its first institutional funding round led by Piper Serica. The startup is working on a very specific but important part of the robotics and drone world – sensors and navigation systems.

This may not sound as flashy as an AI chatbot or a consumer app. But without reliable sensors, drones cannot fly safely, robots cannot move accurately, and autonomous machines cannot understand their position properly.

That is why this funding matters. Yaanendriya is trying to build core hardware technology in India for sectors like drones, robotics, aerospace, defence, industrial automation and autonomous vehicles. In simple words, it wants to help machines know where they are, how they are moving, and how to stay stable even in difficult conditions.

What Yaanendriya does

Yaanendriya builds sensor and navigation products for autonomous systems. These products are used in drones, ground robots, industrial machines, unmanned platforms and other hardware systems that need accurate motion and position data.

Its product range includes IMU modules, AHRS modules, navigation controllers and industrial wireless communication products.

An IMU, or Inertial Measurement Unit, is a sensor system that measures movement, tilt and rotation. It usually combines sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes. An AHRS, or Attitude and Heading Reference System, goes a step further and helps calculate direction, roll, pitch and heading.

That may sound technical, so here is a simple example.

When a drone is flying, it needs to know if it is tilting left, rising, falling, turning or drifting. If the sensor data is poor, the drone may shake, lose balance or fail to hold its path. A good navigation system helps the drone stay steady and follow instructions more accurately.

Yaanendriya is building these “inside the machine” technologies that most users never see, but every serious autonomous system depends on.

Founders and founding year

Yaanendriya was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in Bengaluru. The company has links to ARTPARK and its early work reportedly began around the IISc Biomechanics Lab.

Yaanendriya’s was founded by Vamshi Bharadwaj M V, Vyshak Y and Vijay H P.

Why Piper Serica invested

Piper Serica has been increasing its focus on deeptech, defence technology, spacetech, semiconductors, AI and engineering-led startups. The firm also launched its Bharat Tech Fund in 2026 with a target corpus of Rs. 600 crore and a greenshoe option of Rs. 200 crore.

Yaanendriya fits that investment theme well. It is not building a software wrapper. It is building hardware, sensors and control systems that can become useful for India’s defence, aerospace and industrial robotics ecosystem.

The startup had earlier received grant support from government-linked bodies, including the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Department of Science and Technology, according to reports. This new Rs. 15 crore round helps it move from research and early pilots toward commercial scale.

Purpose of the funding

Yaanendriya plans to use the money to speed up development of its navigation controllers, inertial measurement units, GNSS-based systems and precision sensors.

GNSS means Global Navigation Satellite System. It includes satellite navigation systems used for positioning. But in real-world use, machines cannot depend only on satellite signals. In cities, tunnels, defence zones, forests, mines or industrial sites, satellite signals may be weak or blocked.

That is where inertial sensors become useful. They help machines continue estimating movement even when satellite signals are not perfect.

The startup also wants to expand product development, support customer contracts, and convert its existing MoUs into larger commercial orders. Reports say Yaanendriya has over 20 customers and more than 10 MoUs, including an engagement with the 515 Army Base Workshop in Bengaluru.

What is Yaanendriya’s aim

Yaanendriya’s larger aim is to build reliable Indian sensor technology for the machines of the future.

Today, many advanced sensors and navigation systems come from global suppliers. For sensitive sectors like defence, aerospace and drones, depending too much on imported components can become risky. Costs can be high, supply chains can be uncertain, and customisation may be difficult.

Yaanendriya wants to solve this gap by building local technology that can be used in Indian and global products.

Its purpose is not just to sell one sensor board. The startup wants to create an electronics and navigation ecosystem for robots, drones and autonomous machines. That includes hardware, firmware, sensor fusion algorithms and integration support.

Sensor fusion simply means combining data from different sensors to get a more accurate picture. For example, a drone may use a gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, barometer and satellite signal together. One sensor alone may not be enough, but together they can give better stability and direction.

Why this technology is important for India

India is pushing harder into drones, defence manufacturing, robotics, spacetech, industrial automation and electric mobility. All these sectors need strong electronics and sensing systems.

A delivery drone, a defence UAV, an underwater robot, an automated factory vehicle or a mining robot all need accurate movement data. If Indian companies can build these core components locally, the whole ecosystem becomes stronger.

This also supports India’s “make in India” push in strategic technology. Instead of only assembling products using imported parts, startups like Yaanendriya can help build intellectual property within the country.

That is why this funding round is bigger than the amount suggests. Rs. 15 crore is not a huge number compared with late-stage startup rounds, but for a deeptech hardware startup, it can fund meaningful product development, testing and customer validation.

Competitors and market landscape

Yaanendriya operates in a technically demanding market. Globally, companies such as VectorNav, SBG Systems, Advanced Navigation, Xsens, Honeywell and Bosch Sensortec offer inertial sensing and navigation solutions. Open autopilot ecosystems such as Pixhawk, PX4 and ArduPilot are also widely used in drone development.

In India, the competitive landscape is more spread out. Some drone and robotics companies build parts of their navigation stack internally, while others rely on imported modules. Yaanendriya’s opportunity is to become a trusted supplier for companies that want reliable, locally built sensor and navigation systems.

Its challenge will be quality. Hardware customers care about accuracy, durability, temperature performance, vibration handling, calibration and long-term reliability. A sensor may look small, but proving it in the field takes time.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Yaanendriya’s Rs. 15 crore funding from Piper Serica is an important early step for India’s deeptech hardware ecosystem. The startup is working on sensor and navigation products that can support drones, robots, defence systems, aerospace platforms and industrial machines.

Its aim is clear – build reliable, India-made sensing and navigation technology for autonomous systems. If it can turn pilots and MoUs into large customer orders, Yaanendriya could become a valuable deeptech company to watch.

Key takeaways

• Yaanendriya raised Rs. 15 crore from Piper Serica in its first institutional funding round.
• The startup works on IMUs, AHRS modules, navigation controllers and precision sensor systems.
• Leadership includes Vamshi Bharadwaj M V, Vyshak Y and Vijay H P.
• The funds will support product development, customer expansion and commercialization.
• Its technology can be useful for drones, robotics, aerospace, defence and industrial automation.

Facts Input- WhalesBook

Indian startup funding between June 29 and July 24, 2026, had an interesting mix of large growth rounds, selective early-stage bets and strong action in AI, EVs, enterprise software, healthtech, spacetech and consumer brands.

The period did not move in a straight line. Some days were packed with deals, while others were quiet. But one thing was clear. Investors were not writing cheques randomly. They were backing companies with sharper use cases, better revenue visibility, strong founders or clear IPO plans.

This India startup funding update June 29 to July 24, 2026, brings together the key funding deals, investors and founders to watch from publicly reported updates during this window.

Funding mood during the period

1. The last days of June opened strongly. On June 29, Incuspaze raised Rs. 150 crore, Rusk Media raised Rs. 100 crore, Mykare closed seed funding at $3.2 million, and smaller rounds went to The Func. Lab, Lytmus AI, The Capitalist Ventures and Clairva.
2. June 30 continued with consumer and SaaS activity. The Indus Valley raised $17 million led by Gaja Capital, Kapture CX raised $10 million from Bajaj Finserv Ventures, and YoLearn.ai raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding.
3. July started with bigger consumer and manufacturing-linked deals. Limelight Diamonds raised Rs. 275 crore on July 1, while Celloraa Energy received Rs. 160 crore from StarlinePS Enterprises for a solar cell plant. Dovetail Capital, Supply6, Data Science Wizards and Spense also raised funding the same day.
4. After that, July became uneven. According to Inc42, Indian startups raised $71.9 million across 17 deals between July 4 and July 10, down from $104.6 million in the previous week. Then the third week bounced back sharply, with reports saying startups raised around $281.4 million across 24 deals between July 11 and July 17. The fourth week, July 18 to July 24, cooled again to around $209.1 million across 14 deals.

Biggest deals to know

1. Ather Energy was one of the biggest names in this period. The electric two-wheeler maker raised Rs. 1,300 crore through a QIP on July 21, after earlier funding activity around a preferential issue. This money is important because EV manufacturing needs heavy spending on factories, R&D, batteries, marketing and working capital.
2. BusinessNext raised $40 million in Series C from ServiceNow Ventures at a reported $700 million valuation. The company builds banking software and private AI tools for financial institutions. This was one of the strongest enterprise SaaS stories of the period.
3. Emergent became one of the biggest AI funding stories, raising $130 million in Series C at a $1.5 billion valuation. The company works on AI software creation, and its round showed that investors are still willing to fund serious AI companies when the product has strong demand.
4. Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group raised $40 million in Series B, co-led by Norwest and Skegen Asset Management. This deal showed investor interest in aerospace manufacturing and defence-linked deeptech.
5. SolarSquare also stood out with its $53 million Series C round. The residential rooftop solar startup has become an important clean energy company to watch, especially as Indian households look for lower electricity bills and cleaner power.

Daily deal snapshot

• June 29 – Incuspaze, Rusk Media, Mykare, The Func. Lab, Lytmus AI, The Capitalist Ventures and Clairva raised funds.
• June 30 – The Indus Valley, Kapture CX and YoLearn.ai closed funding rounds.
• July 1 – Limelight Diamonds, Celloraa Energy, Dovetail Capital, Supply6, Data Science Wizards and Spense were among the major updates.
• July 2 – BatX Energies raised Rs. 105 crore, Age Care Labs raised Rs. 85 crore, and Tulon Materials raised Rs. 10 crore.
• July 3 – CUNIN raised $450,000 in a quiet funding day.
• July 6 – TOCAL raised Rs. 9 crore in seed funding.
• July 7 – Econovus Packaging raised Rs. 40 crore, Mowito raised $3 million, and Fizzy Goblet received investment from Kareena Kapoor Khan.
• July 8 – Elevate Education raised Rs. 170 crore from WestBridge Capital, while Milo Drive, Doodhvale Farms, Neothera and others also raised capital.
• July 9 – Wheelocity raised Rs. 82 crore, while BAAS Technologies raised Rs. 5 crore in pre-seed funding.
• July 10 – Purple Style Labs raised Rs. 162.5 crore debt, and Aukera raised Rs. 90 crore.
• July 13 – Dhruva Space raised Rs. 60 crore from Antariksh Venture Capital Fund.
• July 14 – BUILT raised $2 million in pre-seed funding.
• July 15 – Ather Energy, Emergent and E3 Electric.Ai were among the headline names.
• July 16 – Naturis Cosmetics raised Rs. 100 crore, Vorflux raised $15 million, and NapTapGo raised Rs. 8 crore.
• July 17 – Neo Group raised Rs. 350 crore led by Peak XV Partners.
• July 20 – Raghu Vamsi Aerospace raised $40 million, Plazza raised $15 million, and LNGVTY raised Rs. 5 crore.
• July 21 – Ather Energy, SolarSquare, 30 Sundays, Suminter India Organics, FireAI and Khageshvara Aviation Technology were in the funding news.
• July 22 – Bioscan Research raised $1 million in seed funding led by Unicorn India Ventures.
• July 23 – BusinessNext, CARPL.ai, Farm Watt Innovations, Wiffy, NeuralKart and UpKraft raised funds.
• July 24 – Sortmyprep funding round was reported in as daily update.

Founders to watch

• Sanjay Choudhary and Sanjay Chatrath of Incuspaze are worth watching as managed office demand keeps rising in India.
• Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain of Ather Energy remain key names in India’s EV story, especially as the company prepares for higher manufacturing needs.
• Shreya Mishra and Nikhil Nahar of SolarSquare are building in rooftop solar, a category that can grow as power costs and clean energy awareness rise.
• Vidur Mahajan of CARPL.ai is building in medical imaging AI, a space where hospitals need practical tools, not just fancy dashboards.
• Anupam Lavania and Shilpa Malik of Bioscan Research are working on CEREBO, a medical device for non-invasive brain injury screening.
• Manoj Raju, Shreyas R. Halageri and Vidvath Kamireddy of NeuralKart are building AI products for insurance and industrial safety.

Why investors are backing these sectors

1. AI was the loudest theme, but not every AI startup got easy money. Investors seemed more interested in practical AI, such as banking automation, medical imaging, tutoring, customer support, software creation and decision intelligence.
2. Clean energy also stayed hot. SolarSquare, Celloraa Energy, BatX Energies, Farm Watt Innovations and Suminter India Organics show that investors are still betting on energy transition, recycling, biomass and solar supply chains.
3. Enterprise software saw strong interest through BusinessNext, Kapture CX, Data Science Wizards, CARPL.ai and Wiffy. These companies sell to businesses, hospitals or banks, where revenue can be more predictable than consumer apps.
4. Consumer brands did not disappear either. Limelight Diamonds, Supply6, The Indus Valley, The Func. Lab, Naturis, BUILT, Aukera and LNGVTY show that investors still like brands with sharp positioning and clear customers.

Conclusion with key takeaways

The India startup funding update June 29 to July 24, 2026, shows a market that is active but careful. Big rounds went to companies with stronger business models, while early-stage funding stayed selective.

Key takeaways

• Ather Energy, Emergent, SolarSquare, BusinessNext, Raghu Vamsi Aerospace, Neo Group and Limelight Diamonds were among the biggest funding names.
• AI, enterprise SaaS, EVs, clean energy, healthtech, spacetech and consumer brands saw strong investor interest.
• Early-stage funding continued, but investors were choosy.
• The IPO pipeline also remained active, with companies like OYO parent PRISM, Fibe, Cult.fit, InMobi and others making public-market moves.

The overall message is simple. Indian startup funding is not slow. It is becoming more disciplined.

NeuralKart has raised Rs. 2.35 crore in a seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures. For a young Bengaluru-based startup, this is an important step because it is working in a sector where technology adoption is no longer optional.

The startup builds AI-led products for insurance companies and industrial businesses. Its main aim is to reduce slow manual work in areas like underwriting, claims, audits, document processing and risk monitoring.

That may sound technical at first, but the problem is easy to understand. Insurance companies deal with huge volumes of forms, bills, policy documents, claim photos, medical records and customer requests. If every file has to be checked manually, the process becomes slow, expensive and error-prone. NeuralKart wants to make these workflows faster and more reliable with AI.

What NeuralKart does

NeuralKart is an AI and insurtech startup. Insurtech simply means technology built for the insurance industry.

The company’s flagship platform is called InsureMind. It helps insurers automate important parts of their operations, including medical underwriting, motor claims, audits, renewals and document intelligence.

Underwriting is the process where an insurer checks risk before issuing a policy. For example, if a person applies for health insurance, the company may need to review age, medical history, reports and policy rules before deciding approval and pricing. Doing this manually can take time.

NeuralKart’s platform is designed to read documents, pull out useful information, check guidelines and support faster decision-making. The goal is not to remove humans completely. The idea is to help teams spend less time on repetitive checking and more time on decisions that need judgment.

In claims, especially motor insurance, the platform can support damage assessment, invoice checks, fraud detection and mapping repair invoices with actual damage. This matters because inflated bills, missing documents and slow claim reviews can hurt both insurers and customers.

Founders and founding year

NeuralKart was founded in 2024 by Manoj Raju, Srigopal Gopisetty, Shreyas R H and Vidvath Reddy as part of the founding team. The company’s official website lists Manoj Raju as Chief Executive Officer, Vidvath Reddy as Co-founder and Shreyas R H as Chief Technology Officer.

The startup is based in Bengaluru and operates in the enterprise AI and insurance technology space.

Why the Rs. 2.35 crore funding matters

Seed funding is usually the stage where a startup has built an early product and now needs money to improve it, hire better talent, find more customers and build a stronger business engine.

NeuralKart plans to use the fresh funds for product development, AI and machine learning engineering, customer acquisition, go-to-market expansion and working capital.

In simple words, the company needs money to improve its technology, sell to more insurers and support day-to-day growth.

This is important because enterprise software does not grow like a consumer app. Selling to insurance companies takes time. Buyers need security checks, compliance comfort, proof of accuracy, integration support and strong service. A startup has to invest before large customers fully adopt its platform.

What is NeuralKart’s aim and purpose

NeuralKart’s purpose is to make complex insurance and enterprise workflows easier with AI.

The company’s own positioning is built around one clear idea – insurance operations should become faster, more accurate and more customer-friendly. It wants to help insurers move from manual processes to AI-assisted decision systems.

This can help in many practical ways.

A health insurer can review medical documents faster.

A motor insurer can check claim photos and repair invoices more carefully.

A broker or third-party administrator can handle policy and claim documents with less manual sorting.

An industrial site can use cameras and sensors to identify safety risks before they become serious problems.

The larger aim is not just automation for the sake of automation. NeuralKart is trying to solve delays, operational costs, claim leakage and weak audit systems. These are everyday problems inside insurance companies, even if customers do not always see them directly.

InsureMind and FieldSense

NeuralKart’s insurance platform, InsureMind, is focused on underwriting, claims, audits, renewals and document workflows.

The company is also reported to be building FieldSense, a computer vision platform for industrial safety and risk monitoring. Computer vision means software that can understand images or video. For example, a system may use CCTV, drone footage or sensor data to spot unsafe conditions at a factory or worksite.

This gives NeuralKart two related but different business areas.

InsureMind helps insurance companies improve back-office and decision workflows.

FieldSense helps industrial companies monitor risk and safety using visual data.

Both products are connected by one idea – using AI to find patterns, reduce manual work and support faster decisions.

Why insurers need this kind of technology

Insurance companies run on trust, speed and accuracy. If a genuine claim takes too long, customers get frustrated. If a fraudulent claim passes through, the insurer loses money. If underwriting is slow, customers may choose another provider.

Manual review also becomes difficult when document volumes are large. A claim file may include photos, bills, medical records, identity documents, policy terms and internal notes. Reviewing all of this by hand can create delays.

AI tools can help by reading documents, flagging unusual patterns, comparing invoices with damage records and giving teams a clearer view of what needs attention.

For example, if a motor claim includes a repair bill for parts that do not match the visible damage, the system can flag it for review. A human can then check the case more carefully instead of treating every claim the same way.

Competitors and market landscape

NeuralKart operates in a growing but competitive market. Insurance automation is attracting both startups and larger technology companies.

Globally, companies such as Tractable, Shift Technology, FRISS and Sprout.ai work in areas like AI claims automation, fraud detection and insurance workflow support. In India, players such as Artivatic.ai, Riskcovry and other insurance technology vendors operate in nearby areas, though their exact focus may differ.

NeuralKart’s challenge is to prove that its products work well inside real insurance environments. Insurers do not buy software only because it sounds modern. They look for accuracy, data security, easy integration, compliance readiness and measurable cost savings.

The startup says it is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, which is relevant because insurance companies handle sensitive personal and financial data. Security can become a strong selling point if the company continues to build enterprise trust.

What this means for customers

Customers may not directly use NeuralKart’s platform, but they can still feel its impact.

If insurers use better automation, claims may move faster. Policy approvals may become smoother. Fewer customers may be asked to submit the same document again and again. Fraud checks may also improve, which can help insurers control losses over time.

Of course, AI in insurance has to be used carefully. Customers should not be unfairly rejected because of a machine-generated decision. The best use of AI is when it supports human teams with better information, not when it becomes a blind approval or rejection engine.

This is why accuracy, audit trails and human review will matter as NeuralKart grows.

Conclusion with key takeaways

NeuralKart’s Rs. 2.35 crore seed funding is a meaningful early step for a startup building AI tools for insurance and industrial safety. The company is targeting a real business problem – too much manual work in claims, underwriting, audits and risk monitoring.

Its main platform, InsureMind, helps insurers automate and improve core workflows. Its reported FieldSense product takes the same AI thinking into industrial safety through computer vision.

The opportunity is strong, but the test will be execution. NeuralKart has to show insurers that its systems are accurate, secure, easy to integrate and useful in daily operations.

Key takeaways

• NeuralKart raised Rs. 2.35 crore in seed funding led by Inflection Point Ventures.
• The startup was founded in 2024 and is based in Bengaluru.
• Its leadership includes Manoj Raju, Srigopal Gopisetty, Shreyas R H and Vidvath Reddy, according to startup coverage and company information.
• NeuralKart’s main platform, InsureMind, supports insurance underwriting, claims, audits, renewals and document workflows.
• The startup also works on industrial safety technology through computer vision-led risk monitoring.
• Its aim is to make complex insurance and enterprise processes faster, safer and easier to manage.

Facts Input- StartupFox

Sortmyprep has raised $350,000 in a pre-seed funding round, last week but mentioning this story now because it is related to education and we do not want to leave educational efforts related story unnoticed, and this funding is giving the young edtech startup fresh money to build its AI-based exam preparation platform. The round saw participation from well-known angel investors, including Boman Irani of Rustomjee Group and Rustomjee International School, Sameer Mehta, co-founder of boAt, Subrat Pani, co-founder of OneAssist, Rohini Kasturi of HG Insights, and Ranjit Pawar of London Stock Exchange Group.

The startup is also backed by PIEDS, the business incubator at BITS Pilani. That early support matters because sortmyprep is trying to solve a problem that almost every school student understands. Students do not only need more notes, videos or PDFs. They need a clearer way to practise, find weak topics and prepare for exams with less guesswork.

At its core, sortmyprep is building an AI-powered exam preparation platform for school students, especially those studying international curricula such as IGCSE, IB and A Levels. The company now wants to expand into Indian boards such as CBSE and ICSE as well.

What sortmyprep does

Sortmyprep helps students prepare for board exams using past paper questions, step-by-step solutions, topic-wise practice, performance tracking and an AI tutor called Sorty.

The idea is simple. Instead of giving students a large pile of study material, the platform tries to organise preparation around what actually appears in exams.

For example, a student preparing for IGCSE Maths may not know whether they are weak in algebra, geometry or statistics. They may keep solving random papers and still feel unsure. Sortmyprep breaks questions by topic, shows detailed solutions and tracks performance. This helps the student understand where to spend more time.

Its AI tutor, Sorty, is designed to solve doubts at any time. If a student is stuck on a step in a question, they can ask Sorty for help instead of waiting for the next tuition class.

This is useful because exam preparation is often lonely. Many students study late at night or revise on weekends. A 24×7 doubt-solving tool can reduce waiting time and help them keep moving.

Founders and founding year

Sortmyprep is founded by Ananya Pritam, Aryaman Adhikary and Naman Kothari. The company operates under ZKAP Edtech Services Private Limited, from February 13, 2026.

Although the startup is very young as a registered company, it has already built early traction. Reports say it serves students in more than 15 countries and has built a proprietary academic dataset with over one million human-generated learning data points.

That last part is important. In education, AI can make mistakes if it is trained or used carelessly. Sortmyprep is trying to combine AI with expert-validated academic content so that students get exam-focused answers, not random explanations.

Why this funding matters

Pre-seed funding is usually the first serious outside funding a startup raises. At this stage, investors are not only betting on revenue. They are betting on the problem, the team and early signs of demand.

Sortmyprep said it will use the money to strengthen its AI infrastructure, expand curriculum coverage, improve product development and grow in India and international markets.

In simple, that means the company wants to support more subjects, more boards and more students. It also needs stronger technology because AI-based learning platforms can become expensive to run when usage grows.

The company has said that 71 percent of its users came through referrals and word of mouth without paid marketing. For an early-stage startup, that is a good signal. It suggests students are recommending the product to other students, which is often stronger than running ads.

Why students may need a platform like this

Many students prepare for exams in a scattered way. They download PDFs from different websites, watch YouTube videos, save notes from tuition classes and solve past papers at the last minute. The content is everywhere, but the plan is missing.

That is the gap sortmyprep wants to fill.

A good exam prep tool should answer three simple questions for a student.

What should I study today?

Which topics am I weak in?

How close am I to exam-level performance?

Sortmyprep’s platform is built around these questions. Its analytics dashboard tracks strengths, weaknesses, accuracy and difficulty-level performance. The platform also offers topic-wise past paper practice, which can help students improve one concept at a time instead of jumping across the whole syllabus.

Think of a student who keeps losing marks in probability questions. A normal question bank may just show more papers. A smarter platform can point out the weak topic and recommend similar questions until the student improves.

That is where adaptive learning becomes useful. Adaptive learning simply means the platform changes the practice plan based on how the student performs.

The international curriculum focus

Sortmyprep currently focuses on international school curricula such as IGCSE, IBDP and A Levels. These exams are popular among students in India and overseas, especially in international schools.

This market is attractive because students often depend on past papers, mark schemes and structured practice. Parents are also willing to pay for tools that help improve exam performance.

The company’s website says its content is aligned to syllabuses and marking schemes. That matters because international board exams are very specific. A correct final answer is not always enough. Students also need to show steps in the format examiners expect.

If sortmyprep can make those step-by-step solutions reliable and easy to understand, it can become a useful tool for students who cannot afford constant one-on-one tutoring.

Competitors in the exam prep space

Sortmyprep will not have an easy road. The exam prep market already has strong players and free alternatives.

For international curricula, students often use platforms such as Save My Exams, Revision Village, Physics & Maths Tutor and Khan Academy for different subjects and exam needs. For Indian boards and competitive exams, companies like BYJU’S, Vedantu, Unacademy and Toppr have already built large user bases, although their focus and formats differ.

Sortmyprep’s edge is its narrow focus on curriculum-aligned, AI-led exam preparation. Instead of being a broad learning app for every type of student, it is trying to become a more personalised exam-prep assistant.

The challenge is trust. Parents and students will only rely on AI if the answers are accurate. In school exams, one wrong explanation can create confusion. So the startup will need to keep accuracy, expert review and syllabus updates at the centre of its growth.

Why investors may be interested

Investors are likely watching three things.

1. First, education is moving from generic content to personalized learning. Students do not want another folder full of notes. They want guidance that tells them what to do next.
2. Second, AI can make doubt-solving faster and more affordable if used carefully. A student who cannot access a tutor at 11 pm can still ask questions and continue studying.
3. Third, sortmyprep has early organic traction. When users come through referrals, it usually means the product is solving a real pain point.

The startup is also supported through programmes and partnerships linked to Nvidia, Google for Startups, OpenAI, BITS Pilani and Ashoka University, according to reports. That gives it access to technical and startup ecosystem support while it builds further.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Sortmyprep’s $350,000 pre-seed funding is a small round compared with large edtech deals, but it is meaningful for a young startup solving a focused student problem.

The company is not trying to replace schools or teachers. It is trying to make exam preparation more organized, more personal and less stressful. If it can keep its solutions accurate and expand across boards without losing quality, it could find a strong place in the school exam prep market.

Key takeaways

1. Sortmyprep raised $350,000 in pre-seed funding from angel investors.
2. The startup was founded by Ananya Pritam, Aryaman Adhikary and Naman Kothari.
3. It operates under ZKAP Edtech Services Private Limited, incorporated in 2026.
4. The platform offers past paper practice, step-by-step solutions, performance analytics and an AI tutor called Sorty.
5. It currently focuses on IGCSE, IB and A Levels, with plans to expand into CBSE, ICSE and other boards.
6. Its main challenge will be maintaining accuracy while scaling fast.

Facts Input- ET, MC, Business Today

BusinessNext has raised $40 million from ServiceNow Ventures at a reported valuation of $700 million. For a software company from India’s banking technology space, that is a serious vote of confidence.

The funding is important for two reasons. First, BusinessNext works in a space that is not always flashy, but it sits very close to how banks serve customers. Second, ServiceNow Ventures is not just a financial investor. ServiceNow is a global workflow automation company, so this deal may also help BusinessNext expand its AI and automation play for banks.

For everyday readers, the big question is simple. What does BusinessNext actually do, and why would investors value it so highly? Let’s break it down without heavy tech language.

What BusinessNext does

BusinessNext builds software for banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Its platform helps these companies manage customer relationships, sales, service requests, lending journeys and internal workflows from one place.

In simple words, it helps a bank understand and serve its customers better.

Think about what happens when you apply for a credit card, ask for a loan, complain about a failed transaction or get a call from your relationship manager. Behind each of these actions, the bank needs customer data, approval steps, service tickets, risk checks and follow-up reminders.

If all this information is scattered across many systems, the customer experience becomes slow. One department may not know what the other department has already done. BusinessNext tries to solve this by giving financial institutions a connected platform.

Its products include CRMNEXT for customer relationship management, LendingNext for loan journeys, CustomerNext for digital customer journeys, DataNext for customer data and AgentNext for AI-based banking workflows.

CRM simply means customer relationship management. It is the software a company uses to track customers, requests, leads, complaints and sales opportunities.

Founders and founding year

BusinessNext is the brand used by Acidaes Solutions. Public company records show Acidaes Solutions was incorporated in 2001. Startup databases list Nishant Singh as founder and CEO, along with Bidhan Choudhary and Manoj Kumar Singh as co-founders linked to CRMNEXT and the wider BusinessNext journey.

The company is headquartered in Noida, with a presence in international markets including the United States. BusinessNext says its platform is used by more than 1 million users and manages customer interactions for more than 1 billion customers globally.

Why the $40 million funding matters

The fresh funding is expected to help BusinessNext expand its private AI products for banks and strengthen global growth. Reports say the company is also looking at markets such as Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Private AI is a key phrase here, but the idea is easy to understand. Banks deal with sensitive information. They cannot casually send customer data into open systems without strong controls. So they need AI tools that work inside secure environments, follow rules and keep customer data protected.

BusinessNext is trying to build AI tools that can help banks automate routine work while staying within compliance needs.

For example, a bank employee may spend time checking customer history, product eligibility, previous complaints and next steps. An AI layer can bring this information together and suggest what action should be taken. The final decision may still need a human, but the routine search and sorting can become much faster.

Why ServiceNow Ventures’ entry is interesting

ServiceNow is known globally for software that helps large companies manage workflows. These workflows may include IT support, employee requests, customer service or business approvals.

By investing in BusinessNext, ServiceNow Ventures is backing a company that already understands banking workflows deeply. That makes the deal more strategic than a normal funding round.

Banks do not just need generic automation. They need automation designed for financial services. A loan request, for instance, has customer checks, document checks, risk rules, approvals and regulatory requirements. BusinessNext’s value comes from building these flows specifically for banks and financial institutions.

This is where the partnership can become useful. BusinessNext brings banking-focused software, while ServiceNow brings a global workflow and enterprise software ecosystem.

What problem is BusinessNext solving for banks

Most banks have old systems, new apps, call centres, branch software and digital channels running together. Customers do not care about this complexity. They simply expect quick answers.

If a customer walks into a branch after raising a complaint on mobile banking, the branch officer should ideally see the full history. If someone applies for a loan online, the relationship manager should know where the file is stuck. If a customer is likely to leave, the bank should notice early and respond better.

BusinessNext helps banks connect these moments.

It is not only about storing names and phone numbers. It is about giving bank employees a full view of the customer and helping them take the right action faster.

Where BusinessNext fits in the banking software market

BusinessNext competes in a crowded but valuable market. Large global players such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle and Pegasystems offer customer engagement and workflow tools for enterprises. Banking technology companies such as Temenos and Backbase also work in nearby areas of digital banking and customer experience.

BusinessNext’s edge is its focus on financial services. Instead of selling a broad CRM to every industry, it has built many banking and insurance-specific workflows into its platform.

That focus can help because banks prefer systems that understand their day-to-day work. A generic sales tool may not be enough for loan processing, service complaints, compliance tracking and relationship banking.

At the same time, competition is tough. Global software companies have deep pockets, strong sales teams and existing enterprise relationships. BusinessNext will have to keep proving that its domain focus gives banks faster results.

Why valuation jumped to $700 million

Reports say BusinessNext’s valuation has reached around $700 million after this round, much higher than its earlier reported valuation in 2021.

A valuation rise usually reflects investor belief in future growth. In BusinessNext’s case, investors may be looking at three things.

The first is the size of the banking software market. Banks across the world are modernising customer service, lending and digital journeys.

The second is AI adoption. Financial institutions want automation, but they need it with safety, audit trails and data controls.

The third is BusinessNext’s existing customer base. A company already working with large banks may find it easier to sell more products to the same industry.

What this means for the startup ecosystem

This funding round is also a reminder that not every big startup story has to be a consumer app. Some of the most valuable companies are built quietly inside enterprise software.

BusinessNext is a good example of that. It does not sell scooters, food delivery or smartphones. It sells the software layer that helps banks run better.

For India’s SaaS and enterprise tech ecosystem, this is encouraging. It shows that global investors are still interested in Indian companies building serious software for global markets.

Conclusion with key takeaways

BusinessNext’s $40 million funding from ServiceNow Ventures is more than a capital raise. It points to a larger shift in banking technology, where customer experience, workflow automation and AI are becoming deeply connected.

The company helps banks and financial institutions manage customer relationships, lending journeys, service requests and internal processes through one platform. With ServiceNow Ventures on board, BusinessNext now has stronger backing to expand its AI-led banking software in international markets.

Key takeaways

1. BusinessNext raised $40 million from ServiceNow Ventures at a reported $700 million valuation.
2. The company builds CRM, lending, customer journey, data and AI workflow software for banks and financial institutions.
3. BusinessNext is linked to Acidaes Solutions, incorporated in 2001.
4. Nishant Singh is listed as founder and CEO, with Bidhan Choudhary and Manoj Kumar Singh also named as co-founders in startup databases.
5. Its major competitors include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle, Pegasystems, Temenos and Backbase.
6. The big bet is on private AI and automation for banking workflows.

Facts Input- NDTV Profit, Mint

Bioscan Research has raised $1 million in seed funding, giving the medical device startup fresh capital to expand its brain injury detection technology. The round was led by Unicorn India Ventures, an early-stage investment firm that backs technology-led startups.

This is an important funding story because Bioscan is not building a regular health app or hospital software tool. It is working on a medical device called CEREBO, which is designed to help doctors and emergency teams screen for brain injuries without cutting into the body or using harmful radiation.

For a country like India, where road accidents, falls and delayed access to advanced scans remain serious problems, a faster first-level screening tool can be useful. Bioscan’s idea is simple to understand. When a patient has a head injury, every minute matters. If doctors can spot warning signs early, they can decide who needs urgent care, CT scan priority or transfer to a better-equipped hospital.

What Bioscan Research does

Bioscan Research is a medical device startup focused on early brain injury detection. Its main product is CEREBO, a portable device that uses near-infrared light and machine learning to help screen for possible bleeding inside the skull.

Near-infrared light sounds technical, but the basic idea is not too hard. The device sends safe light through parts of the head and studies how that light is absorbed. Blood absorbs light differently, so an unusual pattern can suggest a possible internal bleed.

The device then uses software to read these patterns and support clinical decision-making. It does not replace a CT scan. Instead, it works more like an early warning and triage tool.

For example, imagine a patient reaches a small hospital after a road accident. The patient may look stable, but there is still a chance of internal bleeding. If a CT scanner is not nearby, a portable screening device can help the medical team decide whether the patient needs urgent transfer or closer observation.

Founders and startup journey

Bioscan Research was founded by Anupam Lavania and Shilpa Malik in 2017.

The company is based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and works in the medical device space. Its work sits at the crossing point of healthcare, electronics, optics and software. That matters because building a medical device is much harder than building a consumer gadget. It needs clinical testing, safety checks, manufacturing quality and regulatory approvals.

Why this $1 million funding matters

Bioscan plans to use the funding for market expansion, regulatory approvals, product improvement and intellectual property development. In plain words, the company wants to take CEREBO to more hospitals and markets, improve the device further, and protect its technology.

This kind of funding can be useful at the seed stage because medical devices need patient capital. A startup cannot simply build a product, launch it online and scale overnight. Hospitals want proof. Regulators want documentation. Doctors want accuracy. Buyers want service support.

That is why the money is not just for sales. It is also for the slower, less glamorous work that makes a medical device reliable.

The startup has also reportedly seen strong revenue growth over the past year and is targeting further growth in the next 12 months. For investors, this suggests that the product is not only a lab idea. It is moving toward wider real-world use.

Why brain injury screening needs better tools

Traumatic brain injury, often called TBI, can happen after road accidents, falls, sports injuries, workplace accidents or physical impact. The problem is that symptoms are not always obvious in the beginning.

A person may walk into a hospital, talk normally and still have bleeding inside the skull. In other cases, mild symptoms may be ignored until the condition becomes worse.

CT scans remain the standard tool for confirming many serious head injuries. But CT scanners are expensive, not always available in smaller centres, and cannot always be used immediately in crowded emergency departments. That gap creates space for point-of-care devices.

Point-of-care simply means the test can be done close to the patient, rather than waiting for a large machine or sending samples away. If CEREBO can help doctors decide faster, it may reduce delays in treatment.

Where CEREBO can be useful

CEREBO is designed for emergency rooms, ambulances, trauma centres, defence settings and smaller healthcare facilities where quick screening is important.

In a large hospital, it may help doctors decide which patient should go for CT first. In a rural or semi-urban setting, it may help identify patients who need urgent transfer. In defence or disaster-response situations, portability can be a major advantage.

The device may also be useful in public health settings where resources are limited. India has many places where advanced imaging is not available round the clock. A portable screening device cannot solve the whole problem, but it can help bridge the first decision-making gap.

Competitors and market landscape

Bioscan Research is working in a specialized area, so its competition is not the same as a typical consumer health startup. Its closest comparison comes from other brain injury screening devices and older near-infrared based tools such as Infrascanner, which has been used in some international markets.

The bigger competition is also the existing hospital workflow. Doctors already depend on CT scans, neurological exams and clinical judgment. For Bioscan to grow, it has to prove that CEREBO fits naturally into this workflow and gives useful information without slowing teams down.

In India, other healthtech and medtech startups are also building diagnostic tools, but Bioscan’s focus on non-invasive brain injury screening gives it a fairly distinct position.

What investors may be betting on

Unicorn India Ventures appears to be backing a product that solves a real medical problem, not just a convenience problem. Brain injury detection is a serious area, and hospitals need better ways to manage emergency cases.

The investor interest may also come from the fact that medical devices built in India can serve both domestic and global markets. If a product is affordable, portable and clinically useful, it can find demand in countries where access to large hospital infrastructure is uneven.

For Bioscan, the next challenge is execution. The company has to scale sales, handle approvals, keep product quality strong and win doctor trust. In healthcare, trust grows slowly. But once a product earns it, adoption can become meaningful.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Bioscan Research’s $1 million seed funding is a strong step for a startup working on a serious healthcare problem. Its CEREBO device aims to make early brain injury screening faster, simpler and more accessible, especially in places where CT access may be limited or delayed.

The company still has a long road ahead. Medical device startups must pass through clinical, regulatory and commercial tests before becoming mainstream. But the need is clear, and the product is aimed at a problem where time can change outcomes.

Key takeaways

1. Bioscan Research raised $1 million in seed funding led by Unicorn India Ventures.
2. The startup was founded by Anupam Lavania and Shilpa Malik.
3. Its main product, CEREBO, screens for possible brain bleeding using near-infrared light and machine learning.
4. The device is meant to support early triage, not replace CT scans.
5. The funding will support expansion, regulatory approvals, product upgrades and IP creation.

Facts Input- Express Healthcare, Tech Observer, PubMed, India Science

Image Credit

Ather Energy has raised around Rs. 1,300 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement, or QIP, and the timing is interesting. It comes at a point when the electric (EV) two-wheeler market is growing fast, competition is getting sharper, and manufacturing scale is becoming more important than ever.

The issue was reportedly subscribed more than eight times, with institutional investors placing bids worth over Rs. 10,000 crore. Ather allotted over 1.08 crore equity shares at Rs. 1,202 per share, according to reports based on the company’s exchange filing.

For a normal buyer, this may sound like a stock market update. But for Ather, it is closely linked to a bigger question. Can the company build enough scooters, improve costs, and compete with large players like TVS, Bajaj, Hero MotoCorp and Ola Electric without losing its technology-first identity?

Why Ather Energy needed this money

Ather Energy was founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain. The Bengaluru-based company started as a premium electric scooter maker and slowly built its own ecosystem around vehicles, software, charging and battery technology.

That approach helped Ather build a strong brand, especially among urban buyers who wanted a refined electric scooter rather than just a low-cost option. But the EV market has changed. Electric scooters are no longer a niche product. Families, office commuters and first-time EV buyers are entering the market, and they care about price, range, service reach and reliability.

This is where manufacturing becomes important.

Ather already makes electric two-wheelers and battery packs at its Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu. Reports around its IPO documents said the Hosur facility had an annual installed capacity of about 4.2 lakh electric two-wheelers and nearly 3.8 lakh battery packs. The company has also been working on a larger Factory 3.0 project in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, which is expected to increase its total production capacity significantly after completion.

In simple words, Ather needs money because growth in EVs is not cheap. A company has to spend before the benefits show up. New factories, tooling, automation, battery pack lines, supplier payments, testing, quality checks and dealer expansion all need capital.

What a QIP means in simple language

A QIP is a way for a listed company to raise money from large institutional investors such as mutual funds, banks, insurers and foreign funds. It is faster than many other fundraising routes and does not directly target small retail investors.

For Ather, this QIP gives it fresh capital without waiting for another large public issue. It also sends a signal that big investors are still interested in the company’s long-term EV story.

The oversubscription matters because it shows demand was much higher than the shares on offer. That does not guarantee future success, of course. But it does suggest that institutions see Ather as one of the serious players in India’s electric two-wheeler race.

The manufacturing angle is the real story

Ather’s funding need is not only about selling more scooters next month. It is about preparing for the next few years.

Electric two-wheeler companies face a practical challenge. If demand rises and factories cannot keep up, waiting periods increase and buyers may shift to competitors. If a company expands too early and demand is weak, factory costs become a burden. The balance is tricky.

Ather appears to be betting that the market will keep expanding and that it needs stronger manufacturing capacity to stay relevant. Its family scooter, Rizta, has helped the company move beyond performance-focused buyers. That is important because the family scooter market is much larger than the enthusiast segment.

For example, a buyer choosing a scooter for office runs, school drops and grocery trips may not care about sporty acceleration as much as comfort, boot space, service support and battery warranty. To serve such buyers at scale, Ather needs broader production, better cost control and a larger retail network.

Why scale can improve Ather’s business

Manufacturing scale can help an EV company in several ways.

1. First, larger production can bring down per-unit costs. When a company buys more parts, negotiates with suppliers, improves automation and runs assembly lines more efficiently, each scooter can become cheaper to build.
2. Second, scale can support more product launches. Ather has already built its name around the 450 series and Rizta. If it wants to enter more price points or categories, it will need capacity and working capital.
3. Third, better manufacturing depth can improve quality control. In EVs, small issues in battery packs, electronics or software can hurt customer trust. Ather has usually positioned itself as a quality-focused brand, so expanding while keeping reliability intact will be a key test.
4. Fourth, fresh funds can support the supply chain. EV makers need stable access to batteries, cells, electronics, chargers and other critical parts. Even when some components are sourced from suppliers, the company still needs money to manage inventory and production cycles.

Competition is now tougher than before

Ather is not operating in an empty lane. TVS Motor has grown strongly with the iQube range. Bajaj Auto has pushed its Chetak electric scooter aggressively. Hero MotoCorp is building its Vida electric mobility business. Ola Electric, despite losing share from earlier highs, remains a known EV brand with wide public visibility.

Recent market reports show that India’s electric two-wheeler growth is being captured mainly by a few large names. TVS, Bajaj, Hero and Ather have gained as buyers look for scale, service networks and dependable products.

This makes Ather’s position interesting. It is still an EV-first company, unlike TVS, Bajaj and Hero, which already have large traditional two-wheeler businesses. That gives Ather a focused EV identity, but it also means it must fund its expansion carefully.

Legacy companies can use their existing dealer networks, supplier relationships and manufacturing experience. Ather has to keep building those strengths while also spending on technology, software and product design.

Why investors may be interested

Institutional investors may be looking at three things.

1. One, India’s electric two-wheeler market still has room to grow. Petrol scooters remain widely used, and EV adoption can rise as charging improves and running costs stay attractive.
2. Two, Ather has a clear brand. It is not seen as a random scooter assembler. It has built products, software and user experience with a premium image.
3. Three, the company is entering a stage where manufacturing scale could improve its financial performance. If volumes rise and costs reduce, the business can become healthier over time.

But there are risks too. EV demand can be affected by subsidies, battery costs, pricing pressure and service issues. Competition can also force companies to offer discounts, which hurts margins. For Ather, the big task is to grow without becoming just another price-war player.

What this means for customers

For customers, this fundraise may not change showroom prices overnight. But over time, it can matter.

If Ather uses the money well, buyers may see better availability, more models, wider service coverage and possibly more competitive pricing. A stronger factory setup can also help the company reduce delivery delays during high-demand periods.

The bigger benefit may come in trust. In EVs, people want to know whether a brand will be around for the long run. Fresh institutional capital can help strengthen that confidence, especially for buyers making their first EV purchase.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Ather Energy’s Rs. 1,300 crore QIP is not just a financial move. It is a signal that the company is preparing for a larger manufacturing and market battle.

The money is needed because EV growth requires heavy spending on factories, battery capacity, supply chains, product development and retail expansion. Ather has a strong brand, but it now has to prove that it can scale like a serious mass-market two-wheeler company.

Key takeaways

1. Ather Energy raised around Rs. 1,300 crore through a QIP.
2. The issue was reportedly oversubscribed more than eight times.
3. The company was founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain.
4. Manufacturing expansion is a major reason behind the fresh capital need.
5. Ather faces strong competition from TVS, Bajaj, Hero Vida and Ola Electric.
6. The next challenge is clear. Ather must turn investor confidence into factory output, better availability and stronger customer trust.

Facts Input- ET, ET, WEF, BS, Upstox

InMobi is preparing for a major public market moment. The SoftBank-backed mobile advertising company has reportedly appointed four investment banks for a planned IPO that could raise around $1 billion.

According to reports, JPMorgan Chase, Jefferies, Kotak Mahindra Capital and Axis Capital have been selected for the IPO process. The listing is expected to take place in India, though the final size, valuation and timing can still change.

InMobi is often remembered as India’s first unicorn. If the listing moves ahead smoothly, it could become one of the most closely watched technology IPOs in India.

What InMobi does

InMobi is a mobile advertising and consumer technology company. In simple words, it helps brands show ads to the right users on mobile phones, apps and connected digital surfaces.

For example, when a brand wants to promote a shopping app, a game, a credit card or a new phone, it needs to reach people who are likely to care about that product. InMobi provides technology that helps advertisers find those users and run campaigns across mobile apps and other digital channels.

It also works with app publishers. These are companies or developers who own apps and want to earn money from ads. InMobi helps them show ads inside their apps and earn revenue.

So, InMobi sits between advertisers and publishers. Advertisers want attention. Publishers want income. InMobi’s technology connects both sides.

Who founded InMobi and when

InMobi was founded in 2007. It began as mKhoj, an SMS-based search and monetization business in Mumbai, before moving into mobile advertising.

The company was started by Naveen Tewari, Abhay Singhal, Amit Gupta and Mohit Saxena. Current company leadership also lists Piyush Shah as a co-founder and President of Glance.

Naveen Tewari is the founder and CEO of InMobi and Glance. In 2011, InMobi became India’s first unicorn after SoftBank invested in the company. A unicorn is a privately held startup valued at $1 billion or more.

Why the IPO is important

InMobi’s IPO matters for three reasons.

1. First, it would bring one of India’s oldest global technology startups to the public market. Many newer startups have already listed, but InMobi belongs to an earlier generation of Indian internet companies.
2. Second, the IPO may test investor appetite for adtech and AI-led consumer internet businesses. InMobi is not a food delivery company, a marketplace or a lending platform. Its business is more technology-heavy and global.
3. Third, the listing could be part of a larger trend where Indian-origin companies move their holding structure back to India before going public. Reports say InMobi is in the process of shifting its domicile from Singapore to India for the listing.

How large could the IPO be

The latest report says InMobi may raise about $1 billion through the IPO. Earlier reports had suggested a possible valuation range of around $5 billion to $6 billion.

These numbers are still reported figures, not final IPO terms. The final valuation will depend on market conditions, investor demand, financial performance and regulatory approvals.

IPO plans can also change. Companies often appoint bankers first, then work on documents, valuation, investor roadshows and regulatory filings. So, the banker appointment is a strong signal, but it is not the same as a confirmed listing date.

What are the four bankers expected to do

Investment banks play a big role in an IPO.

They help the company prepare documents, speak with large investors, decide the price range, manage demand and support the share sale process.

InMobi has reportedly appointed two global banks, JPMorgan and Jefferies, along with two Indian banks, Kotak Mahindra Capital and Axis Capital. This mix makes sense because InMobi has a global business, but the planned listing is expected in India.

What changed in InMobi’s business

InMobi started mainly as a mobile advertising company. Over time, it expanded into marketing technology, consumer internet and commerce-led products.

Its advertising business works with brands and app publishers. Its consumer side includes Glance, a lock-screen content and commerce platform, and Roposo, a video and creator-led platform.

InMobi’s website says its advertising platform serves more than 30,000 brands and reaches over 2 billion users across more than 150 countries. The company is also positioning itself around GenAI-powered discovery, shopping and engagement.

Put simply, InMobi wants to be more than an ad network. It wants to build technology that helps people discover content, products and services on phones before they even search for them.

A practical example

Suppose a smartphone user is interested in cricket, travel and fashion. A brand selling sports shoes may want to reach that user during a high-attention moment.

InMobi’s advertising technology can help the brand run a campaign across mobile apps or surfaces where the user is likely to engage. If the campaign works well, the brand gets visibility or sales, the app publisher earns ad revenue, and InMobi earns by powering the ad transaction.

With Glance, the idea goes a step further. Content, shopping suggestions or entertainment can appear on a lock screen or similar surface, making discovery faster and more visual.

Competitors InMobi faces

InMobi operates in a tough market. Its biggest global competitors include Google, Meta, AppLovin, The Trade Desk, Unity and other mobile advertising platforms.

Google and Meta dominate digital advertising because of their huge user base and data strength. AppLovin is strong in mobile app advertising and gaming. The Trade Desk is a major name in programmatic advertising, which means automated buying and selling of digital ads.

InMobi’s advantage is its mobile-first experience, global reach and India-origin story. But to impress public market investors, it will need to show steady growth, strong margins and a clear path in AI-led advertising and commerce.

What investors will watch

Before the IPO, investors will likely look closely at revenue growth, profitability, customer concentration, competition and the performance of Glance.

They will also watch how much of the IPO is fresh issue and how much is offer for sale. A fresh issue brings money into the company. An offer for sale lets existing shareholders sell some of their stake.

SoftBank’s role will also be watched. Reports say SoftBank recently sold a large part of its stake back to the company, while still keeping a smaller holding.

Conclusion with key takeaways

InMobi’s reported $1 billion IPO plan could be a major moment for India’s startup ecosystem. The company has travelled a long road from mKhoj in 2007 to a global mobile advertising and consumer technology platform.

Key takeaways

• InMobi has reportedly appointed JPMorgan, Jefferies, Kotak Mahindra Capital and Axis Capital for its IPO.
• The company may look to raise around $1 billion.
• InMobi was founded in 2007 and became India’s first unicorn in 2011.
• The company works in mobile advertising, marketing technology, content discovery and commerce.
• Its competitors include Google, Meta, AppLovin, The Trade Desk and Unity.
• The IPO plan is still subject to market conditions, regulatory steps and final company decisions.

Facts Input- BS, MC

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as financial or investment advice. IPO plans, valuations, banker appointments and listing timelines may change based on market conditions, regulatory approvals and company decisions. Readers should consult with their financial advisor, check official filings, company announcements and SEBI documents before making any investment decision.

AI startup Ema is back in the funding spotlight. The company is reportedly in advanced talks to raise around $80 million in a fresh round led by investment firm Creaegis. If the deal goes through, Ema could be valued at about $800 million.

The important point here is that this funding has not been officially announced as closed. So, it should be understood as a funding discussion for now, not a completed transaction.

Still, the report is worth watching because Ema works in one of the hottest areas of artificial intelligence. It builds AI employees for large companies. In simple words, Ema wants to help businesses automate regular office tasks without making every team build its own AI tools from scratch.

What Ema does

Ema stands for Enterprise Machine Assistant. The company builds what it calls a “Universal AI Employee”.

Ema creates AI workers that can perform business tasks across departments such as customer support, HR, finance, sales, marketing, healthcare, compliance and internal operations.

For example, a company can use Ema to answer customer queries, prepare reports, support employees with HR questions, help sales teams with follow-ups, or handle paperwork-heavy workflows. Instead of only giving answers like a chatbot, Ema is designed to complete multi-step work.

Think of it like this. A normal chatbot may answer, “Here is how to create a refund request.” An AI employee may check the customer record, confirm the order status, follow company rules, create the refund request and update the support system.

That is the difference Ema is trying to sell.

Who founded Ema and when

Ema was founded in 2023 by Surojit Chatterjee and Souvik Sen.

Surojit Chatterjee is the co-founder and CEO. He earlier worked as Chief Product Officer at Coinbase and held senior product roles at Google. Souvik Sen is the co-founder and CTO. He has worked at Okta and Google in data, machine learning and security-related areas.

Ema is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and also has a strong India connection through its Bengaluru office. The company’s official website says it was founded in California in February 2023.

Why investors are interested

Investors are looking closely at companies that can turn AI from a demo tool into a real business product. This is where Ema’s story becomes interesting.

Many companies have already tested generative AI tools, but using AI safely inside a large business is not easy. A bank, insurance company or healthcare firm cannot simply paste private customer data into random AI tools. They need security, accuracy, control and proper approval flows.

Ema is trying to solve that problem with AI employees that can be trained for business use and connected to internal systems.

The company has said its platform includes a Generative Workflow Engine and EmaFusion. In plain English, these are systems that help Ema understand tasks, choose the right AI model, use business context and act across different software tools.

Ema has also attracted well-known investors in earlier rounds, including Accel, Section 32, Prosus Ventures, Wipro Ventures and others. Some prominent individual investors such as Jerry Yang, Sheryl Sandberg and Dustin Moskovitz have also been linked with the company’s cap table in earlier reports.

About the reported $80 million round

The latest report says Ema is in advanced talks to raise about $80 million, with Creaegis likely to lead the round. The valuation being discussed is reportedly around $800 million.

Creaegis is a Bengaluru-based growth investment firm. It has backed companies in sectors such as technology, financial services, consumer and healthcare. The firm has recently shown interest in AI-led businesses, including its role in Emergent’s large funding round.

If Ema closes this round, it would mark a sharp jump from its earlier funding stages. The company first came out of stealth in 2024 with $25 million in funding. Later, it expanded its Series A, taking the round size to around $50 million, according to Ema’s own news page.

How the funding may be used

Since the new round is not officially closed, Ema has not announced a fresh use-of-funds plan for this reported $80 million raise.

But based on its earlier funding plans and current business direction, the money will likely go into four main areas.

1. First, product development. Ema will need to keep improving its AI employees so they can handle more complex workflows with better accuracy.
2. Second, research and development. Enterprise AI is still changing quickly. Companies need AI systems that can understand context, reduce errors, protect data and work across many tools.
3. Third, go-to-market expansion. This simply means hiring sales, customer success and partnership teams to reach more large businesses.
4. Fourth, team growth across the US and India. Ema already has operations in both markets, and a larger funding round could help it hire more engineers, product leaders and enterprise sales talent.

Why Ema’s product matters for companies

The biggest promise of enterprise AI is not only faster answers. It is time saving.

A customer support team may spend hours sorting repeated questions. A finance team may manually check invoices. An HR team may answer the same policy questions every week. A sales team may lose time preparing follow-up notes.

If an AI employee can handle some of this work, human teams can focus on decisions, relationships and problem-solving.

But there is a catch. AI must be reliable. If an AI tool gives wrong information to a customer, sends the wrong invoice, or exposes private data, the damage can be serious.

That is why enterprise AI companies like Ema need to prove not just speed, but trust.

Competitors in the AI employee space

Ema is operating in a crowded and fast-moving market.

Its competitors include large technology companies and specialized AI startups. Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini for Workspace, Salesforce Agentforce, ServiceNow AI agents, OpenAI’s enterprise products and Anthropic’s Claude for business are all competing for enterprise AI budgets in different ways.

There are also many startups building AI agents for customer support, sales, coding, HR and finance workflows.

Ema’s challenge is to show that it can work across many departments while still giving companies enough accuracy, security and control. That is not easy, but if it works, the market can be large.

What to watch next

1. The first thing to watch is whether the $80 million round actually closes. Funding talks can change, and final deal size or valuation may differ from early reports.
2. The second thing is customer growth. In enterprise software, large customers matter because they show whether the product can survive real business conditions.
3. The third thing is cost. AI products can be expensive to run because they depend on models, computing power and support teams. Ema will need to show that it can deliver strong value without burning too much money.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Ema’s reported $80 million funding talks show how strong investor interest remains in enterprise AI. But this is not just about another AI startup raising money. The bigger story is how companies are moving from simple chatbots to AI systems that can actually complete work.

Key takeaways

1. Ema is reportedly in talks to raise around $80 million from Creaegis.
2. The deal may value the company at about $800 million if completed.
3. Ema was founded in 2023 by Surojit Chatterjee and Souvik Sen.
4. The startup builds AI employees for business tasks across support, HR, finance, sales and other teams.
5. If procured, the funding may be used for product development, research, hiring and market expansion.
6. The round has not been officially closed yet, so the details should be treated as reported information.

Facts Input- WhalesBook

MS Dhoni has made a new startup investment, and this time the bet is on rooftop solar. The former Indian cricket captain has invested in SolarSquare through his family office, Midas Deals, as part of the company’s $53 million Series C funding round.

Along with the investment, Dhoni will also join SolarSquare as its brand ambassador. That makes the deal more than a normal funding update. SolarSquare gets both capital and a trusted public face at a time when many Indian households are thinking about reducing electricity bills through rooftop solar.

For beginners, SolarSquare is not a solar panel maker in the usual sense. It is a residential rooftop solar company that helps homeowners and housing societies install solar systems from start to finish.

What SolarSquare does

SolarSquare works in the home solar space. Its main job is to make rooftop solar easier for families, apartment societies and homeowners.

A typical customer may not know which solar panel to buy, how much roof area is needed, how subsidies work, or who will maintain the system later. SolarSquare tries to handle this full journey.

The company offers consultation, site inspection, system design, installation, financing support, monitoring and after-sales service. In simple words, it tries to act like a one-stop platform for people who want solar power at home but do not want to manage ten different vendors.

For example, if a family in Pune has a high monthly electricity bill, SolarSquare can check the roof, estimate the right solar capacity, explain the expected savings, help with financing and install the system. After installation, the company also provides service and monitoring support.

Who founded SolarSquare and when

SolarSquare was founded in 2015 by Neeraj Jain, Shreya Mishra and Nikhil Nahar.

The company started in the solar energy space and later became strongly focused on residential rooftop solar. Shreya Mishra is the co-founder and CEO of the company.

Over the years, SolarSquare has positioned itself as one of India’s major residential rooftop solar players. Reports say the company has installed systems in more than 50,000 homes across 29 Indian cities.

MS Dhoni’s role in the funding round

MS Dhoni has invested through his family office, Midas Deals. The exact amount invested by him has not been publicly disclosed.

His role is also important from a brand point of view. Dhoni will become SolarSquare’s brand ambassador, which can help the startup build trust among regular Indian households.

That trust part matters. Rooftop solar is not an impulse purchase. A family may spend a large amount upfront and expect the system to work for many years. When a familiar name like Dhoni supports the brand, it can make more people curious about the category.

Still, customers should judge the product on practical points like pricing, warranty, service quality, subsidy support and real savings, not only celebrity backing.

About SolarSquare’s $53 million Series C round

SolarSquare raised $53 million in its Series C funding round in June 2026. The round was led by B Capital.

Existing investors such as Lightspeed, Elevation Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, Rainmatter by Zerodha and Good Capital also took part in the round. Reports say the company’s total capital raised has now crossed $100 million.

The funding is important because residential solar is a business where companies need money for expansion, technology, operations, customer service and working capital. Unlike a pure software startup, rooftop solar involves people on the ground, installation teams, equipment, logistics and long-term support.

How the funding will be used

SolarSquare plans to use the fresh money for city expansion, technology improvement, hiring and scaling operations.

The company is expected to expand into 30 to 40 more cities. This can help it reach customers beyond large metro markets.

A part of the money will also go into strengthening its technology platform. This may include better tools for system design, monitoring, customer support, sales operations and asset management.

The company also wants to improve financing options for homeowners. This is a key area because rooftop solar can reduce electricity bills over time, but the upfront cost can still feel heavy for many families.

SolarSquare has also spoken about building a wider home-energy platform. That could include solar installations, maintenance, battery solutions, financing and home energy management.

Why rooftop solar is becoming popular in India

Rooftop solar is gaining attention because electricity bills are rising in many cities, and households are looking for long-term savings.

Government support has also helped. India has been pushing rooftop solar through subsidy schemes and clean energy targets. For many homeowners, the idea is simple. Pay once, use sunlight to generate electricity, and reduce dependence on grid power.

India also has a large opportunity in this market. SolarSquare has said that around 70 million homes in India are suitable for rooftop solar, while adoption is still low compared with countries such as Australia and Germany.

That means the market is still early. If installation quality improves and financing becomes easier, more Indian homes may consider solar over the next few years.

Competitors in the rooftop solar space

SolarSquare is not alone in this market. India has several companies working in rooftop solar and clean energy services.

Tata Power Solar is a major name because of its strong brand and large energy background. Loom Solar is known for selling solar panels, inverters and rooftop solutions. Freyr Energy also works in residential and commercial rooftop solar. Other regional EPC players compete in different cities.

EPC means engineering, procurement and construction. In simple English, these companies design, source equipment and install solar systems.

SolarSquare’s advantage is its strong focus on residential customers and its full-stack model. But competition will become sharper as rooftop solar becomes more mainstream.

What customers should check before choosing rooftop solar

A homeowner should not buy rooftop solar only because of advertisements or discounts.

1. First, check your monthly electricity bill. Rooftop solar makes more sense if your power usage is steady and your bill is high enough to justify the investment.
2. Second, check roof space and sunlight. If your roof is shaded by nearby buildings or trees for most of the day, output may be lower.
3. Third, compare warranty, panel quality, inverter brand and service promises. A cheaper system may not always be better if support is weak.
4. Fourth, ask for a clear savings estimate. The company should explain how much power the system may generate, how long the payback period may be, and what happens during maintenance issues.

Conclusion with key takeaways

MS Dhoni’s investment in SolarSquare brings fresh attention to India’s residential rooftop solar market. But the bigger story is not just Dhoni’s name. It is the growing belief that home solar can become a large consumer category in India.

Key takeaways

• MS Dhoni has invested in SolarSquare through Midas Deals.
• He will also become SolarSquare’s brand ambassador.
• SolarSquare was founded in 2015 by Neeraj Jain, Shreya Mishra and Nikhil Nahar.
• The startup raised $53 million in Series C funding led by B Capital.
• The funds will be used for city expansion, technology, hiring, financing options and operations.
• SolarSquare works in residential rooftop solar and offers consultation, installation, financing support, monitoring and maintenance.

Facts Input- FE

Transition VC has launched its second fund with a target corpus of Rs. 1,500 crore, and the timing is interesting. India is no longer talking about clean energy as a distant goal. Solar, batteries, electric mobility, green hydrogen, power electronics, and industrial efficiency are now becoming serious business areas.

For a beginner, the news may sound like just another venture capital fund announcement. But this one matters because energy transition startups often need more than a laptop, a small team, and quick software testing. Many of them build real hardware, work with factories, test products in harsh conditions, and take longer to reach the market.

That is where Transition VC Fund II is trying to play a role. The fund aims to support companies that can help India move toward cleaner, more secure, and more efficient energy systems.

What Transition VC does

Transition VC is a Bengaluru-based venture capital firm focused on energy transition. The firm was founded in 2022 by Mohammed Shoeb Ali and Raiyaan Shingati. Its official website describes it as India’s first energy-transition-focused venture capital fund.

The fund backs engineering-led startups working in areas such as energy storage, electric mobility, industrial decarbonization, alternate fuels, and related manufacturing technologies.

In simple words, Transition VC is not mainly looking for the next food delivery app or social media platform. It is looking for startups that can solve hard energy problems. These may include better batteries, cleaner industrial systems, EV components, energy management tools, or technologies that help factories cut fuel and power waste.

What is Fund II and how big is it

Transition VC’s Fund II is targeting Rs. 1,500 crore. Reports say the fund may back around 20 engineering-focused startups and deploy capital over about four years, beginning around Q3 FY27.

This comes after its first fund, which was reported to have closed at around Rs. 723 crore. That first fund backed startups across energy storage, mobility, industrial decarbonization, and alternative fuels.

The larger second fund suggests that Transition VC wants to write bigger cheques, support more companies after the first investment, and help startups move from pilot projects to commercial scale.

Why this fund is being launched now

India’s energy needs are growing fast. More homes, factories, data centres, EVs, and cooling systems will need reliable power. At the same time, India has committed to a cleaner energy path. Government data shows India reached 50 percent non-fossil fuel installed power capacity in 2025, ahead of its 2030 target.

But installed renewable capacity is only one part of the story. A cleaner grid also needs storage, smarter equipment, better transmission systems, efficient motors, EV charging, demand forecasting, and cleaner industrial processes.

This is the gap where startups can help.

For example, solar power is useful during the day, but factories and homes also need electricity at night. That creates demand for battery storage and energy management. EV adoption needs better batteries, chargers, battery safety systems, and recycling. Heavy industries need cleaner heat, better process control, and lower-emission fuels.

These are not easy problems. They need patient capital. Transition VC Fund II is meant to support these kinds of companies.

The main purpose of the fund

The purpose of Transition VC Fund II is to back startups that are past the idea stage but still need capital, customers, and technical support to grow.

Many energy startups fall into what investors call the “missing middle”. In plain English, this means they have built something promising, maybe tested it with early customers, but are not yet large enough for big infrastructure investors or public markets.

A battery startup may have a working prototype but need money for certifications, manufacturing, and customer trials. A green cooling startup may have a better industrial system but need help selling to large factories. A power electronics company may have strong technology but need capital to build production capacity.

Transition VC wants to support such companies before they become obvious winners.

What kind of startups can benefit

Fund II is expected to focus on engineering-heavy companies. These are startups where the real value comes from deep product development, manufacturing knowledge, science, and field performance.

A few likely areas include energy storage, EV supply chain, industrial efficiency, green hydrogen, alternate fuels, advanced manufacturing, battery infrastructure, power electronics, and possibly newer areas such as geothermal or nuclear-related technologies, where allowed and commercially practical.

The fund’s official portfolio already includes companies such as Dynolt, Emo Energy, Hydgen, Promethean Energy, GreenFi, Matel Motion, WorkOnGrid, and others. These names show that the firm is interested in the less glamorous but very important parts of the energy system.

Why it matters for India

For India, this fund is about more than climate. It is also about energy security and industrial strength.

India imports a large part of its crude oil needs. It also needs to reduce pollution, build local manufacturing, and create new jobs. If Indian startups can build better batteries, cleaner fuels, efficient motors, and smart energy systems locally, the benefits can go beyond carbon reduction.

It can also reduce import dependence, create export opportunities, and help Indian factories become more competitive.

There is another practical point. Energy transition is not only about replacing petrol cars with EVs. It is also about making steel, cement, chemicals, logistics, agriculture, cold storage, and buildings more efficient. That is a huge market, and it will need many specialized companies.

Competitors and similar investors

Transition VC is not alone in this space. India now has several climate and deep-tech investors looking at similar opportunities, though each has its own focus.

Avaana Capital is one of the better-known climate-tech investors in India. Its climate and sustainability fund focuses on energy and resource management, mobility and supply chains, and sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Omnivore is another important investor, with a strong focus on agritech, food systems, climate, and rural transformation. It backs companies working in farm productivity, supply chains, and sustainability.

Micelio is more focused on electric mobility, while Speciale Invest often backs deep-tech and engineering-led startups, including space, manufacturing, and advanced technology companies.

The difference with Transition VC is its sharp focus on energy transition and engineering-led businesses. That makes it a specialist investor rather than a broad startup fund.

Challenges ahead

The opportunity is big, but the road will not be simple.

Energy and hardware startups usually take longer to build. They need factories, components, testing, certifications, and large customers. Sales cycles can be slow because industrial buyers do not change equipment overnight.

There is also the risk of policy changes, raw material price swings, and global competition from China, Europe, and the US. A startup may have good technology, but it still has to prove reliability, cost advantage, and after-sales support.

This is why Fund II’s success will depend not only on picking smart founders, but also on helping them scale carefully.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Transition VC’s Rs. 1,500 crore Fund II shows that India’s clean energy startup market is becoming more serious. The fund is not just chasing climate buzz. It is targeting companies that can build real technology for India’s next energy chapter.

Key takeaways

• Transition VC was founded in 2022 by Mohammed Shoeb Ali and Raiyaan Shingati.
• Fund II is targeting Rs. 1,500 crore and may back around 20 engineering-led startups.
• The focus is on energy transition areas such as storage, mobility, industrial decarbonisation, alternate fuels, and advanced manufacturing.
• The fund is meant to support startups that have promising technology but need capital and help to scale.
• Competitors and similar investors include Avaana Capital, Omnivore, Micelio, and Speciale Invest.

Facts Input- Entrackr