India’s energy and lending sectors are seeing fresh investor interest. Bengaluru-based Enerzolve and Chennai-based Tan90 Thermal are reportedly in advanced discussions for much larger funding rounds. At the same time, Kirloskar Group-backed Arka Fincap has signed an agreement for an initial Rs. 525 crore investment from TPG’s The Rise Funds.

These are different businesses, but they share one theme. Investors are backing companies that solve practical problems: reliable power systems, energy-efficient cooling, and access to formal credit.

Enerzolve is building equipment for a changing power grid

Enerzolve Smart Technologies, founded in 2025 by Abhay Adya and Anupam Kumar Bhatt, develops smart-grid equipment, power conversion systems, energy storage products, and metering solutions.

In simple terms, its products help power companies monitor electricity use, manage faults, and connect battery-storage systems to the grid. This matters because solar and wind power are not available at the same level throughout the day. Storage and better grid controls can help balance supply when demand rises.

The startup had earlier raised around $5.1 million in a seed round co-led by Jungle Ventures and Kae Capital. It is now reportedly in talks to raise about $20 million from its existing investors and Schneider Electric. The company has not publicly confirmed the proposed round, so the amount and final investor list may change.

If the deal happens, the funding could help Enerzolve take its products through testing, certification, manufacturing, and wider deployment. Its larger competitors include established electrical-equipment companies such as Schneider Electric, Siemens, and ABB. Enerzolve’s opportunity is to create products suited to Indian power conditions rather than relying entirely on imported systems.

Tan90 Thermal wants to make cooling less power-hungry

Tan90 Thermal was founded in Chennai in 2019 by Soumalya Mukherjee, Rajnikant Rai, and Shiv Sharma. The company makes thermal-management products for food, medicines, cold-chain logistics, and other temperature-sensitive goods.

Its core product uses phase-change materials, or PCMs. These are materials that absorb and release heat while changing state. Put simply, they can keep a delivery box cold for longer without needing a refrigerator to run continuously.

Think of a food-delivery company carrying dairy products in an insulated box. Instead of depending only on an active cooling unit, it can use thermal packs that store cooling energy. This can be useful for last-mile delivery, farm produce, vaccines, and pharmaceutical shipments.

Tan90 is reportedly discussing a funding round of about Rs. 100 crore led by Blume Ventures. The company and the investor had not commented on the report at the time of publication. Tan90 previously raised Rs. 20 crore in a Series A round led by NABVENTURES.

The fresh capital, if finalized, could support wider manufacturing, new thermal products, and expansion into cold-chain, HVAC, and data-centre applications. Its competitive set includes conventional refrigerated transport providers, cold-storage firms, and other makers of temperature-control packaging.

Arka Fincap gets growth capital for secured retail lending

Arka Fincap is not an early-stage startup. It is a Kirloskar Group-promoted non-banking financial company, founded in 2018, and led by Managing Director Samrat Gupta.

The company has signed definitive agreements for an initial Rs. 525 crore investment from TPG’s The Rise Funds, TPG’s impact-investing platform. A further Rs. 275 crore may be invested later, subject to agreed business goals and regulatory approvals. That could take the total investment to Rs. 800 crore.

Arka provides secured loans, including financing for vehicles and small businesses. A secured loan is backed by an asset or collateral, which can reduce risk for the lender compared with an unsecured loan.

Arka said it plans to use the capital to expand its presence, improve technology, and strengthen risk-management systems. This could help it serve more small businesses and vehicle operators who may find it difficult to access credit from traditional banks.

What this funding activity tells us

The three stories show where investor attention is moving. Energy hardware needs more money than a software-only business because products must be designed, tested, certified, and manufactured. Meanwhile, lending businesses need capital to grow their loan books safely.

For Enerzolve and Tan90, the reported talks are still not completed funding announcements. For Arka Fincap, the signed deal provides more clarity, though the additional Rs. 275 crore remains conditional.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment, financial, legal, or business advice. Funding discussions involving Enerzolve and Tan90 Thermal are based on media reports and may change until officially confirmed. Readers should verify the latest information from company announcements or regulatory filings before making any financial decision.

Climate technology is often associated with solar panels, electric vehicles and clean energy. But some of the most useful solutions may come from biology, agriculture and healthcare.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, or C-CAMP, and Ashraya Hastha Trust have selected 11 biology-driven startups for a climate solutions programme. The initiative will provide funding support of up to Rs. 50 lakh for each startup, along with laboratory access, mentoring and help with commercialization as per C-CAMP announcement.

Why this programme matters

C-CAMP’s Centre of Excellence for Sustainability and Climate Action was created to support technologies that connect climate change with health, agriculture, waste and environmental protection.

The programme is not only about giving money to startups. Many science-based companies also need specialized laboratories, testing facilities, scientific guidance, intellectual property support and links to potential customers. C-CAMP aims to provide this wider support, while Ashraya Hastha Trust brings a philanthropy-led focus on social and environmental impact.

C-CAMP has supported several life-science and climate-focused innovations in the past. Ashraya Hastha Trust was established in 2000 by Maj. Retd. S. Nanjundiah and is guided by trustees including Infosys co-founder K. Dinesh, Asha Dinesh, Divvya Dinesh and Deeksha Dinesh as per the details about C-CAMP and AHT partnership.

The 11 startups and their focus areas

The selected companies are working on different problems rather than competing in one single market.

Genepath Diagnostics India is developing an open PCR platform to help detect tropical vector-borne diseases. Prodancy is working on a reusable system designed to reduce biomedical waste generated during surgeries. AeroDel Technology Innovations is developing respiratory monitoring solutions for people affected by air pollution and extreme heat.

In agriculture, Intello Labs uses artificial intelligence to improve the quality assessment and trading of fresh produce. String Bio is developing methane-based growth stimulants aimed at supporting climate-resilient sugarcane farming. Tealaa Innovations is building Aquarobo, a robotic sludge management system for aquaculture ponds.

The environmental and industrial sustainability group includes Ossus Biorenewables, which is working on technology that can convert industrial wastewater into green hydrogen. BPC Bioproducts, also known as Amylo, is developing biodegradable packaging materials.

Earthkind Foods Biotech is building a programmable lipid platform that uses agricultural residues. IIOT Innovation is working on a microalgae-based carbon capture and biorefinery platform. The 11th selected startup, according to the programme coverage, adds another biology-led approach to the portfolio of climate solutions as per the published Selection report.

How the support may be used

The funding can help these startups move from laboratory development to pilot projects. For example, a waste-treatment company may use the money to build a larger demonstration unit, while an agriculture startup may test its product across different soil and crop conditions.

Lab access can reduce development costs. Mentorship may help founders understand regulations, protect their inventions and prepare for future investment. Industry connections can also help startups find companies willing to test or buy their products.

The programme’s larger purpose is to help climate innovations reach real users. A prototype has value only when it works outside the laboratory and can be produced at a practical cost.

Challenges ahead

Climate-tech startups often face long development cycles, strict approvals and high testing expenses. Products used in healthcare, agriculture or industrial facilities also need strong evidence before customers adopt them.

The companies will therefore need to show measurable results, such as lower emissions, reduced waste, better crop performance or improved public-health outcomes. Funding is an important first step, but long-term success will depend on field testing, manufacturing and customer demand.

Conclusion with key takeaways

The C-CAMP and Ashraya Hastha Trust programme brings together biotechnology, climate action and startup development.

Key takeaways –

• Eleven biology-led startups have been selected.
• Each startup may receive funding support of up to Rs. 50 lakh.
• The programme covers climate-health, climate-agriculture and environmental solutions.
• Support includes labs, mentorship, intellectual property guidance and industry access.
• The main goal is to move science-based ideas from research stages to real-world use.

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