Two Indian startups from very different sectors have raised fresh capital for their next stage of growth. Bengaluru-based EloElo Group has secured $80 million in a Series C round for its mobile entertainment and consumer AI business. Meanwhile, IIT Gandhinagar-incubated Cellegant Energy Systems has raised Rs. 2.61 crore to develop hydrogen fuel-cell systems for longer-flying drones.

One company is betting on short video dramas and AI-powered content creation. The other is working on clean-energy systems that could help drones stay in the air for much longer. Together, the funding rounds show the variety of ideas attracting investor attention in India.

EloElo raises $80 million for mobile entertainment

EloElo Group has raised $80 million in a Series C round led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal. MIT Investment Co. and existing investors, including Kalaari Capital, Waterbridge Ventures, Play Ventures and Griffin Gaming Partners, also participated reported Yahoo.

Founded in Bengaluru in 2020 by Saurabh Pandey, a former Flipkart executive, EloElo Group operates several consumer products. Its best-known platform is Story TV, which offers short, serialized dramas designed for phone viewing. It also runs Master, a micro-learning platform, as well as Dolphin AI and Voxy AI.

Micro dramas are brief episodes made for viewers who watch content in short bursts on their phones. Instead of sitting down for a two-hour film, a user may watch a few short episodes during a commute, lunch break or before sleeping.

The company said the new funding will be used to create more original content in Indian languages, support Story TV’s international expansion and strengthen Dolphin AI, its AI-based creative suite. It has raised a total of $130 million so far.

Why NBCUniversal’s investment matters

NBCUniversal is a major global media company, so its participation gives EloElo more than financial support. It could help the startup learn from global content production, storytelling and distribution practices as it explores overseas markets as per reports.

However, the companies have not announced a specific content-distribution or production agreement. It is best to view the investment as a strategic signal rather than a confirmed global rollout partnership.

EloElo faces strong competition in the micro-drama space from other short-form entertainment platforms. The real challenge will be retaining viewers, producing compelling stories at scale and turning free users into paying subscribers or advertising customers.

Cellegant raises Rs. 2.61 crore for hydrogen-powered drones

Cellegant Energy Systems has raised Rs. 2.61 crore from GVFL Prarambh Fund Trust, CoCreate Aarambh and IIT Gandhinagar’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre reported ITN.

The startup was founded by Dr. Atul Bhargav, a professor of mechanical engineering at IIT Gandhinagar. Cellegant Energy Systems Pvt Ltd was incorporated in 2022 and is working on fuel-cell-based energy systems for drones, unmanned vehicles, robots, marine applications and stationary power.

The company’s immediate goal is to demonstrate a hydrogen-powered drone with a 35 kg payload capability. The funding will support technology development, intellectual-property protection and team expansion.

How hydrogen-powered drones work

Most drones use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. These batteries are useful but have a key limitation – flight time. A drone often needs to return for charging after a relatively short mission.

A hydrogen fuel-cell system generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. That electricity powers the drone’s motors. Instead of repeatedly charging a heavy battery, operators can potentially refuel the drone with hydrogen.

Cellegant is developing a hybrid hydrogen fuel-cell electric drivetrain. In simple terms, this combines a fuel cell with battery support and power-management systems to deliver electricity efficiently during different parts of a flight.

The company believes its systems can help drones fly for two to three hours, compared with the shorter endurance common in many battery-powered drones. This needs to be proven through successful field demonstrations before it becomes a commercial reality.

Hydrogen fuel cells can produce water at the point of use, but their wider environmental benefit depends on how the hydrogen itself is produced, stored and transported.

Where the technology could be useful

Longer flight time can matter in defence surveillance, agricultural mapping, disaster response and remote-area deliveries. For example, a drone used to inspect farmland could cover more land in one mission instead of returning repeatedly for battery replacement.

Cellegant will compete indirectly with battery-drone makers and other companies developing hydrogen aviation systems. Its advantage, if the technology performs reliably, could be longer endurance with locally developed fuel-cell engineering.