August 2026

417 briefs archived this month.

• AI

  Pentagon Adds Custom Versions of ChatGPT and Grok to AI Portal

  The United States Department of Defense has integrated tailored versions of OpenAI's ChatGPT and xAI's Grok into its centralized portal for artificial intelligence tools. These new additions will operate alongside Google's Gemini on the secure military platform. The initiative aims to provide defense personnel with access to advanced frontier large language models within controlled operational environments. The deployment reflects growing collaboration between top artificial intelligence labs and national defense agencies, expanding institutional adoption of generative AI systems for defense analytics, operational planning, and administrative workflows while maintaining federal security and compliance standards.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  BlackRock Buys Ather Energy Shares Worth ₹445.3 Crore in Open Market

  Global asset manager BlackRock has acquired 25.9 lakh shares in Indian electric vehicle maker Ather Energy for ₹445.3 crore through an open-market transaction via BlackRock Global Funds. Purchased at ₹1,713.02 per share, the stake acquisition coincides with Ather's addition to the MSCI India Domestic Small Cap Index. The move follows Ather’s launch of its mass-market Konarc electric scooter priced at ₹99,999 on its new EL platform. Additionally, Hero MotoCorp recently acquired an extra 3% stake in Ather for ₹1,758 crore as the EV maker narrowed its net loss to ₹51 crore.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  BNP Paribas and Millennium Sell Eternal Shares Worth ₹3,265 Crore

  French financial giant BNP Paribas and US hedge fund Millennium Management have sold nearly 10 crore shares of listed foodtech giant Eternal in block deals totaling over ₹3,264.8 crore. According to National Stock Exchange data, BNP Paribas offloaded 5.09 crore shares for ₹1,670.9 crore, while Millennium affiliate Integrated Core Strategies sold 4.9 crore shares for ₹1,594 crore at an average price of ₹327.92 apiece. Overall, 20.2 crore Eternal shares worth ₹6,626 crore changed hands ahead of an upcoming MSCI index rebalancing scheduled for September 1.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• AI

  Instagram Limits Reach of Undisclosed AI Profiles Amid Backlash

  Social media platform Instagram is clamping down on undisclosed artificial intelligence profiles by limiting their distribution and reach across the network. The policy update comes amid mounting user frustration and industry debate regarding undisclosed AI influencers and computer-generated personas masquerading as real humans on the platform. The platform aims to enforce stricter transparency measures to ensure users clearly understand when content or creator accounts are artificially generated, curbing misleading AI-driven engagement tactics across feeds and recommendation surfaces.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Blue Voice Raises $6M Seed To Build Legal AI For Police

  Legal tech AI startup Blue Voice has raised $6 million in a seed funding round co-led by venture capital firms SignalFire and Las Olas VC. Founded by a Harvard Law dropout, Blue Voice aims to serve as an on-demand legal and departmental policy assistant for law enforcement officers operating in the field. The platform provides real-time guidance to help officers adhere to legal requirements and internal standard operating procedures. The startup plans to deploy the fresh capital toward expanding its engineering team, refining domain-specific models, and rolling out pilot deployments with municipal police departments.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  AI Video Search Platform Clipto Raises $15M at $250M Valuation

  AI video search platform Clipto has raised $15 million in a new funding round, propelling its valuation to $250 million. The three-year-old company specializes in enabling users to search through terabytes of video footage using artificial intelligence. Prior to this fundraise, Clipto achieved profitability and surpassed $15 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The startup's technology addresses the growing enterprise demand for fast, accurate video retrieval and indexing across large visual databases. The new capital will be used to accelerate product development, expand enterprise customer acquisition, and scale infrastructure to support increasing global data volumes.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  India's Electric Two-Wheeler Registrations Drop 16.2% to 1.72 Lakh in August

  India's electric two-wheeler registrations dropped by 16.2% month-on-month in August, falling to 1.72 lakh units from 2.05 lakh units in July, according to Vahan portal data. Despite the monthly contraction, registrations grew 64% year-on-year compared to 1.05 lakh units in August 2025. The decline comes amid reduced central government incentives, which halved subsidy support to ₹2,500 per kWh of battery capacity. Market leader TVS Motor maintained top positioning alongside Bajaj Auto, while Ola Electric improved its market share. Leading original equipment manufacturers are increasingly introducing models priced under ₹1 lakh to capture commuter segment demand.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  Nvidia Invests $3.5 Billion in MediaTek to Boost AI Infrastructure

  Semiconductor giant Nvidia has invested $3.5 billion into Taiwanese chip design firm MediaTek as part of its strategic roadmap to secure dominance in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The deal comes amid mounting pressure from major Big Tech hyperscalers, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, who are rapidly developing in-house custom AI chips to reduce their dependence on Nvidia’s GPUs. By partnering with MediaTek, Nvidia aims to expand its custom silicon capabilities, co-develop advanced architectures, and maintain an essential position across the broader hardware ecosystem powering enterprise AI workloads and next-generation compute environments globally.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  LEAP India Q1 Profit Rises 30% YoY to ₹24.7 Crore

  Newly listed Indian logistics and supply chain solutions provider LEAP India recorded a 30% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹24.7 crore for the first quarter of FY27, up from ₹19 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The pallet pooling firm saw its operating revenue increase 19% year-on-year to ₹203.4 crore compared to ₹170.8 crore in the prior-year period, though revenue remained flat sequentially. Total income reached ₹213.4 crore including other income, while overall expenses rose 17% year-on-year to ₹180.5 crore. The company incurred tax expenses of ₹8.3 crore.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple Reaches $10B India Sales

  Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down on August 31 after 15 years, leaving behind a significantly expanded footprint in India. Apple's annual sales in India crossed $10 billion for the first time in the year ended March 2026, according to Bloomberg data. Additionally, India assembled roughly 55 million iPhones in 2025, accounting for approximately 25% of Apple's global production. Cook's decade-long strategy positioned India as both a high-growth consumer retail market and a strategic manufacturing hub to reduce manufacturing reliance on China.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  41% of Merchants Refuse to Pay MDR on UPI, Survey Finds

  A survey of 32,796 participants conducted across Indian districts by LocalCircles found that 41% of merchants refuse to pay any Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above ₹2,000. Another 33% stated they would pay 0.25% or less, while 9% do not accept UPI. Zero MDR was introduced in January 2020. A related survey of over 45,000 consumers revealed that 53% of users would abandon UPI for high-value purchases if MDR charges were passed to them, opting instead for credit cards, debit cards, or cash.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Diksha Foundation Founder Uses AI for Grassroots Healthcare in Bihar

  Gautam Gauri, founder of Diksha Foundation and co-founder of Suchitra Cancer Care Foundation, is deploying artificial intelligence to expand healthcare and educational access in Bihar. After graduating from BIT Mesra and IMT Ghaziabad, Gauri left a corporate role at Cognizant in 2010 to launch grassroots initiatives in Patna. Following his mother's death from cancer, he expanded his mission into oncology awareness. The organization is now integrating AI-driven technology tools to deliver reliable healthcare information, diagnostics support, and educational opportunities to underprivileged communities across the state.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Broadcasters Introduce Advanced 360-Degree Camera Tech for Cricket

  Cricket broadcasting is deploying new visual technologies during the India-Afghanistan bilateral series in Delhi starting September 13. Broadcasters will introduce the 'Magic 360 Cam', which freezes live action and rotates across multiple angles to produce a Matrix-style effect. The broadcast will also feature 'Skel Track', a biomechanics tracking tool that maps player body movements during shots to provide technical depth for viewers. The innovations represent a growing trend of cinematic, data-led live sports broadcasting aimed at boosting audience engagement and offering fresh integration opportunities for advertising brands.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• AI

  AI Notetaker Circleback Launches Free Tier and New Pricing Plans

  AI-powered meeting notetaking platform Circleback has introduced a new free tier alongside revamped subscription pricing starting at $14 per month. The move is designed to attract a wider user base and accelerate customer acquisition in an increasingly competitive AI productivity market. Circleback provides automated meeting transcription, summary generation, and action item tracking across video conferencing platforms. By lowering the entry barrier with a zero-cost option, the company aims to convert casual users into paid enterprise subscribers while offering competitive multi-tier pricing for power users and growing teams seeking advanced AI meeting automation tools.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Snack Brand Jagdish Farshan Raises ₹43.5 Cr Led by Sharrp Ventures

  Gujarat-based traditional snack and sweet brand Jagdish Farshan has secured ₹43.5 crore in a Series A funding round led by Harsh Mariwala’s family office, Sharrp Ventures, with participation from select angel investors. This marks the 1938-founded company’s first institutional fundraise. Led by CEO Aakash Kandoi, the brand currently operates 27 retail outlets across central Gujarat and two in North America with over 500 SKUs. The fresh capital will be deployed to accelerate pan-India geographic expansion, boost manufacturing and supply chain capacity, expand retail distribution, and scale up digital commerce infrastructure.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  PhonePe Launches UPI 123Pay for 20 Crore Feature Phone Users

  Walmart-owned digital payments major PhonePe has rolled out PhonePe UPI 123Pay, enabling UPI transactions on feature phones without requiring internet access. Using an SMS-based architecture, the service functions in low-connectivity 2G environments. It comes pre-installed on devices from Nokia, HMD, Lava International, and Transsion Holdings' Itel Mobile, targeting over 20 crore feature phone users across India. The service supports peer-to-peer transfers, merchant payments via UPI IDs and QR codes, and includes an AI-powered multilingual voice helpline in English and 12 Indian languages to onboard non-smartphone users onto digital payment networks.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  NRI Inward Remittances and Property Investments Drive Real Estate Boom

  Indian real estate is seeing a substantial increase in non-resident Indian (NRI) investments, driven by rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion. A joint KPMG-NAREDCO report projects the Indian real estate sector to grow from approximately $290 billion in 2025 to $970 billion by 2030. According to Reserve Bank of India data, India received $144.79 billion in inward remittances in FY26. An Equirus Wealth report noted that NRI investments are expanding beyond residential housing into commercial districts, organized retail spaces, and emerging tier-two urban hubs.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Centre Notifies ₹1.28 Lakh Crore Semicon 2.0 to Boost Chip Ecosystem

  The Indian government has officially notified the ₹1.28 lakh crore ($15.3B) Semicon 2.0 scheme to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and design capabilities. The initiative spans six strategic pillars: semiconductor design, machines and materials, fabrication units, assembly and testing (ATMP/OSAT), research and development, and talent development targeting 1 lakh chip engineers. Under the design segment, fiscal support will be directed toward building domestic intellectual property (IP) cores, system-on-chips (SoCs), and specialized modules. The policy aims to build an end-to-end self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem to power national critical infrastructure and hardware electronics.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Ather Energy Shares Hit Record High Following Konarc Scooter Launch

  Electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ather Energy saw its share price surge 5.7% to touch a record intraday high of ₹1,703.90 on the BSE. The rally pushed Ather's market capitalisation to approximately ₹64,973 crore ($6.8 billion). The surge followed the debut of the Konarc electric scooter at Ather's annual Community Day, priced aggressively at ₹99,999 for entry-level buyers. Built on the new EL platform across S and Z product lines, Konarc offers 100 km to 200 km range options. Following the unveiling, brokerage Emkay Global raised its target price on the stock to ₹2,200.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• AI

  Sarvam AI Launches Champions Program to Give Creators Early Model Access

  Indian artificial intelligence startup Sarvam AI has launched an initiative called Sarvam Champions to expand its community engagement beyond software developers. The program offers content creators, builders, and local technology leaders early access to its latest sovereign generative AI models and tools. Participants can test experimental features, collaborate directly with the startup’s internal research and engineering teams, and provide actionable feedback to shape future AI offerings. Sarvam aims to foster a broader ecosystem of localized AI applications by empowering non-developer builders to create domain-specific solutions tailored for diverse Indian linguistic and commercial use cases.

  Aug 31 · Business Today

• Funding

  Wedding services startup Meragi to raise Rs 28.7 Cr bridge round

  Bengaluru-based wedding services startup Meragi is set to raise Rs 28.68 crore in a fresh bridge funding round at a flat post-money valuation of around Rs 305 crore. Existing backer Accel India is leading the round with Rs 14.34 crore, while Peak XV Partners is investing Rs 5.56 crore and DG Daiwa Ventures is contributing Rs 9.56 crore. Founded in 2021 by Mukund Mohan Raj, Abhinav Chandran, and Lakshminarayan B, Meragi offers wedding decoration, photography, catering, and venue services. Post-allotment, Accel will hold 22.14% in the company, followed by Venture Highway with 15.92%.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Zomato Bans Analogue Cheese and Paneer to Enforce Food Safety

  Food delivery platform Zomato announced a zero-tolerance policy prohibiting the sale of dishes made with analogue dairy, including imitation cheese and paneer, across its restaurant network. Analogue ingredients replace conventional dairy with cheaper alternatives like plant oils while mimicking original textures. Following food safety crackdowns by Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Zomato has delisted declared analogue dishes with immediate effect. The aggregator warned that non-compliant restaurant partners will be permanently removed from its marketplace to ensure consumer transparency.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Government Backed Bharat Innovates Selects 120 Pioneering Deeptech Startups

  India's deeptech ecosystem expanded significantly with the Bharat Innovates initiative, anchored by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The program partnered with over 15 higher education institutions and key departments including DST, DPIIT, and NITI Aayog. After evaluating more than 3,000 applications, the advisory committee selected 120 ventures across sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space, biotechnology, advanced materials, and climate tech. India currently hosts over 4,000 active deeptech startups, supported by expanding capital access, focused institutional research, and public policies promoting intellectual property-led domestic innovations.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Zomato lays off 240 employees, shuts Hyderabad customer support hub

  Eternal-owned food delivery giant Zomato has laid off approximately 240 customer support employees as it shuts down operations in Hyderabad. Over the past six months, the company has transitioned a larger share of customer support functions to specialized external partners while consolidating remaining in-house teams at its Gurugram headquarters. Affected staff will receive August salaries along with four months of pay as severance, extended medical insurance through March 2027, retention of company laptops, and outplacement support. Zomato clarified that the restructuring is strictly limited to the Hyderabad customer support unit.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  Purple Style Labs IPO sees muted 8% subscription on Day 1

  The initial public offering of Purple Style Labs, the parent company of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, saw a muted response with an overall 8% subscription on its opening day. Retail individual investors led demand by subscribing to 39% of their allocated portion, while non-institutional investors booked 4% and qualified institutional buyers subscribed to under 1%. The luxury fashion e-commerce firm aims to raise Rs 680 crore entirely via a fresh issue of shares, seeking a valuation of Rs 4,604 crore at the upper band. The public issue is scheduled to close on September 2.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  NIIF Secures Rs 19,000 Crore First Close For Infrastructure Fund II

  The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund has marked the first close of its second infrastructure fund at Rs 19,000 crore, targeting a total corpus of Rs 30,000 crore. Anchored by the Government of India, the fund drew investments from major global institutional investors including AustralianSuper, CPP Investments, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and Temasek. Domestic participants included ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Life, and HDFC Life. Alongside the main vehicle, NIIF expects to mobilise an additional Rs 9,000 crore in co-investment capital to support large-scale infrastructure assets across India.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Zomato Bans Analogue Dairy Products And Delists Violating Restaurant Partners

  Zomato has implemented a zero-tolerance policy prohibiting the sale of dishes containing analogue dairy products across its food delivery platform. Dishes declared by restaurant partners to contain synthetic or imitation dairy substitutes, such as analogue paneer made using vegetable oils and starches instead of milk, have been delisted immediately. CEO Aditya Mangla stated that restaurants must either switch to natural dairy ingredients or remove such items from their menus to avoid complete platform delisting. The policy aims to improve food transparency, safeguard consumer health, and ensure accurate menu labeling amidst growing scrutiny over dairy authenticity.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  Groww AMC Closes Rs 580 Crore Strategic Investment From State Street

  Groww Asset Management has completed a Rs 580 crore strategic investment from US-based State Street Investment Management following regulatory clearances, including Competition Commission of India approval. The transaction, executed through a combination of primary share subscription and secondary purchase, gives State Street a 23% economic interest and 4.85% voting rights in Groww AMC. Groww AMC's assets under management reached approximately Rs 4,730 crore across 1.2 million investors by mid-2026. The partnership enables Groww to leverage State Street’s institutional capabilities in indexing, exchange-traded funds, quantitative research, and global portfolio construction to expand offerings.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Government Notifies Rs 1.27 Lakh Crore Semicon 2.0 Scheme Contours

  The Indian government has officially notified the Rs 1,27,500 crore Semicon 2.0 scheme, establishing eligibility norms and incentive structures to expand domestic semiconductor capabilities. The comprehensive programme aims to build an end-to-end chip ecosystem covering commercial fab facilities, indigenous design, intellectual property, packaging, materials, and specialized talent development. IT Secretary S Krishnan confirmed that chip design startups will be supported through grants and equity co-investments, while larger enterprises will access royalty financing. The scheme is designed to enhance India's technological self-reliance and capitalize on soaring global demand for artificial intelligence and memory semiconductors.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Startup

  Online Grocery Startup Satvacart Shuts Down After 12-Year Journey

  Gurugram-based grocery delivery startup Satvacart has ceased operations after a 12-year run, having failed to secure necessary scale capital or complete an acquisition. Founded in 2014 by Deepika Saxena and Rahul Saxena, the platform offered scheduled grocery delivery and later piloted ten-minute quick commerce deliveries using local dark stores. Cofounder Rahul Saxena confirmed that while the startup received small tranches of funding, extensive talks for large investments and strategic acquisitions collapsed because its profitability-oriented model lacked scale. The company disbanded its operational team on August 28 after exhausting strategic alternatives to sustain its business.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Zomato to shut Hyderabad support center with 250 staff following AI rollout

  Zomato is reportedly closing its customer support facility in Hyderabad, impacting approximately 250 employees. The strategic decision comes roughly 18 months after the food delivery giant introduced Nugget, its in-house proprietary artificial intelligence-powered customer support platform. The deployment of automated AI customer agents has significantly reduced the operational requirement for large manual support teams, prompting the company to restructure its workforce. The move reflects a broader trend among major Indian tech platforms replacing routine human service functions with automated conversational AI tools to lower operational overheads and improve resolution times.

  Aug 31 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  State Street closes ₹580 crore investment in Groww AMC

  Global asset manager State Street Investment Management has completed its strategic investment of ₹580 crore in Groww's mutual fund unit, Groww AMC, following regulatory approvals. The transaction grants State Street a 23% economic interest and 4.85% voting rights, valuing Groww AMC at roughly ₹2,500 crore. Groww parent Billionbrains Garage Ventures retains majority ownership. Under the deal, ₹381 crore went toward secondary share purchases and ₹198 crore was fresh capital. Groww AMC will leverage State Street's institutional expertise in exchange-traded funds, indexing, and portfolio construction while launching a GIFT City platform.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  Truemeds Eyes Acquiring E-Commerce Unicorn DealShare for Over $90 Million

  Online pharmacy Truemeds is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire social e-commerce platform DealShare via a share-swap transaction valuing DealShare at just over $90 million. The proposed valuation represents a steep 95% discount from DealShare’s peak valuation of $1.7 billion achieved in 2022. Under the proposed structure, Truemeds will issue shares to DealShare’s investors at a valuation of approximately $600 million. DealShare’s valuation mirrors its existing cash balance of over $90 million, granting Truemeds access to capital without upfront cash spending. WestBridge Capital is a common investor in both Indian startups.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  PhonePe Launches Offline UPI 123Pay for Feature Phone Users Across India

  Walmart-backed digital payments major PhonePe has launched UPI 123Pay, enabling feature phone users across India to execute UPI transactions without internet access. Aimed at India’s 200 million feature phone user base, the SMS-based service facilitates peer-to-peer transfers, merchant payments, transaction history checks, and balance inquiries over 2G networks. UPI 123Pay will come pre-installed on select devices from Nokia, HMD, Lava, and Itel. PhonePe also introduced an AI-powered voice helpline supporting English and 12 Indian languages to assist users. The launch comes as PhonePe dominates the UPI ecosystem, processing over 45% of total volumes.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Startup

  NPCI to Enable Interoperable UPI AutoPay Mandate Portability Across Apps

  The National Payments Corporation of India is preparing to introduce mandate portability for UPI AutoPay, allowing users to transfer recurring payment mandates between different UPI applications without cancellation. Under this framework, consumers can seamlessly shift mandates for OTT subscriptions, insurance premiums, SIPs, EMIs, and utility bills from apps like PhonePe to Google Pay using UPI PIN authentication. The move is expected to eliminate a major source of customer lock-in for dominant fintech platforms, lowering switching friction and helping challenger apps compete more effectively for high-frequency recurring digital transactions across India.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Funding

  YOGa Clean Air Secures Rs 20 Crore Series A from Info Edge

  Gurugram-based indoor air-quality startup YOGa Clean Air has secured Rs 20 crore in a Series A funding round led by Info Edge Ventures. The round also saw participation from Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal and Three Words Capital. Founded in 2019 by Sachin Panwar, Deepak Raina, and Gaurav Nagar, the company provides patented Clean Air Bubble technology that manages air pressure and carbon dioxide levels indoors. YOGa plans to deploy the capital to expand across Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, as well as into public transit systems and outdoor commercial environments across India.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Startup

  NPCI to Enable Portability of UPI AutoPay Mandates Across Apps

  The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is set to introduce interoperability for UPI AutoPay, allowing users to port recurring payment mandates seamlessly across different UPI apps. Rather than cancelling and recreating mandates for subscriptions, SIPs, insurance premiums, or loan EMIs, users will be able to transfer them directly without altering the underlying bank account. Merchants can also migrate recurring billing across payment gateways without customer re-registration. The feature, expected to be unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, will likely benefit emerging apps like super.money, FamApp, and Navi.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Healthians Turns Profitable in FY26 as Operating Revenue Grows 36%

  Gurugram-based diagnostics platform Healthians turned profitable for the first time in FY26, reporting a net profit of ₹5.4 crore compared to a net loss of ₹4.77 crore in FY25. Operating revenue jumped 35.7% year-on-year to ₹357 crore from ₹263 crore, with diagnostics contributing 99% of operating income. Total expenses increased 32.4% to ₹364 crore, driven by employee benefit costs of ₹134 crore. The startup offers at-home testing across 250 cities and has conducted over 10 crore tests, though it still carries accumulated losses of ₹976 crore.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Funding

  ESDS IPO Subscribed 8X on Day 2 Driven by NII Demand

  Enterprise cloud and AI infrastructure provider ESDS Software Solution saw its ₹720 crore initial public offering subscribed 8.08 times on Day 2 of bidding. Non-institutional investors led demand with a 22X subscription, while retail investors bid 6.72 times their allocated quota. Bids for qualified institutional buyers remained muted at 0.04X. Overall, investors placed bids for 9.99 crore shares against the 1.24 crore on offer. The fresh issue-only IPO closes tomorrow, with shares expected to list on the BSE and NSE on September 4.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  Clean-Air Startup YOGa Bags ₹20 Cr in Series A Round

  Clean tech startup YOGa Clean Air raised ₹20 crore ($2.1 million) in its Series A round led by Info Edge Ventures, marking its first external fundraise. The round saw participation from Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal and Three Words Capital, split equally between ₹10 crore in primary capital and ₹10 crore in secondary transactions. Founded by Sachin Panwar, Deepak Raina, and Gaurav Nagar, YOGa builds whole-building indoor air-quality systems. The company plans to expand to Tier-I and Tier-II cities, target public transport systems, and reach ₹100 crore in revenue.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Bira 91 Faces Insolvency Threat Over ₹11.8 Cr Unpaid Glass Dues

  Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Ltd (HNGIL) has served an insolvency default notice under Section 8 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code to B9 Beverages, the parent company of craft beer brand Bira 91. The notice demands ₹11.77 crore for unlifted custom-manufactured glass bottles. B9 Beverages has 10 days to settle dues or show proof of a pre-existing dispute before HNGIL can approach the NCLT for insolvency proceedings. HNGIL stated that over 51 lakh customized bottles remain stored in its warehouses despite previously encashing bank guarantees worth ₹3.91 crore.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Gurugram E-Grocery Startup Satvacart Shuts Down After 12 Years

  Gurugram-based online grocery startup Satvacart has officially ceased operations after 12 years, founder Rahul H. Saxena announced. August 28 was the company's final operational day, after which its team was disbanded. The shutdown follows failed attempts to secure growth capital or close an acquisition. Saxena noted that Satvacart received capital only in small tranches and its profitability-first focus failed to deliver the scale required by prospective investors. Founded in 2014, Satvacart originally launched with milk subscriptions before scaling to an inventory-led micro-cluster grocery model across Gurugram.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Good Flippin’ Burgers to Raise ₹55 Crore at ₹481 Crore Valuation

  Mumbai-based quick-service burger chain Good Flippin’ Burgers is raising ₹55 crore in fresh capital from Delhi-based S.R. Foundation, an entity linked to the DS Group promoter network. The board approved issuing 58,668 CCPS at ₹9,374.77 per share, valuing the company at approximately ₹481 crore, representing a 20% premium over its previous extended Series A round. Founded in 2019, the startup operates 67 outlets across Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The company plans to deploy the capital towards expansion and general corporate purposes after scaling revenue to ₹111 crore in FY25.

  Aug 31 · Entrackr

• AI

  US Drone And Robotics Barriers Shift Global Competition To Chinese Manufacturers

  The United States is accelerating restrictions against foreign-made drones and autonomous robotics hardware, aiming to protect domestic technology infrastructure from geopolitical rivals. However, industry analysts highlight that China’s massive manufacturing scale, established component supply chains, and aggressive cost advantages allow Chinese drone and robotics makers to bypass Western barriers by dominating emerging international markets across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. As American protectionist policies rise, global robotics trade is increasingly fragmenting, forcing enterprise automation startups worldwide to navigate diverging technology standards, regulatory compliances, and supply chains divided between Western security mandates and affordable Chinese hardware alternatives.

  Aug 31 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Meta Settles US Child Safety Lawsuit, Sparks Scrutiny Over Indian User Protections

  Meta has agreed to pay approximately $18 billion to settle US lawsuits accusing Facebook and Instagram of harming minors. Under the agreement, Meta will enforce safety features in the US, including a two-hour daily limit for users under 18, midnight-to-6 AM access restrictions, muted notifications during school hours, hidden like counts, and a non-algorithmic feed option. However, the settlement lacks international mandates, leaving Indian users without mandatory protections despite India being Meta’s largest user base. Legal and cyber policy experts are now urging Indian regulators to mandate similar statutory product safety designs.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Startup

  Early Indian e-grocery startup Satvacart shuts down after 12 years

  Early e-grocery startup Satvacart has shut down after operating for nearly 12 years. Founded in 2014 by Rahul H. Saxena, the Gurugram-based company began with milk subscriptions before transitioning into an inventory-led grocery delivery model, well before the rise of modern quick commerce. Saxena stated that the startup actively explored fresh funding and potential acquisition opportunities, but ultimately decided to wind down operations. The closure marks the end of one of India’s earliest pioneers in online grocery delivery, highlighting the intense competitive pressures and unit economics challenges in the country's rapid delivery and ecommerce sector.

  Aug 31 · YourStory

• Funding

  Purple Style Labs to Launch ₹680 Crore IPO on August 31

  Luxury fashion platform Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop parent Purple Style Labs is launching its initial public offering on August 31, 2026. The company has raised nearly ₹306 crore from anchor investors ahead of the issue. The public offering comprises a fresh issue of up to 1.18 crore equity shares aggregating up to ₹680 crore with no offer-for-sale component. At the upper end of the price band, the IPO values the startup at approximately ₹4,600 crore. Purple Style Labs plans to deploy ₹371.1 crore toward lease liabilities for Experience Centers and offices, with remaining proceeds backing sales and marketing expansion.

  Aug 31 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian Startups Secure Over $215 Million Led by Third Wave Coffee

  Indian startups raised more than $215 million in funding between August 24 and August 29, 2026, demonstrating continued investor interest across consumer, tech, and enterprise sectors. Specialty coffee chain Third Wave Coffee topped the weekly fundraising charts, securing a major share of the total capital deployed. The funding momentum reflects sustained venture activity in growth-stage consumer brands alongside emerging technology startups. Detailed round metrics, participation from leading venture capital funds, and sector allocations across early and late stages contributed to the weekly total across the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem.

  Aug 30 · Indian Startup News

• AI

  Elon Musk Taps SpaceX Foundry to Accelerate AI Gas Turbine Deployment

  Elon Musk is developing an in-house foundry at SpaceX to cast proprietary gas turbine blades, aiming to deploy natural gas power infrastructure 18 months faster than traditional timelines. The initiative seeks to bypass severe supply chain bottlenecks for data center electricity demand. However, the aggressive push into gas power has sparked mounting environmental scrutiny, health studies, and regulatory lawsuits across multiple sites hosting these installations. As hyperscalers and AI infrastructure developers scramble for megawatts to power massive compute clusters, Musk's rapid deployment strategy underscores the escalating tension between immediate energy requirements and regional pollution limits.

  Aug 30 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Caterpillar Applies Decades of Mining Automation Experience to AI Deployments

  Caterpillar is leveraging its extensive experience in deploying autonomous machinery across remote mining sites to enhance its artificial intelligence strategy. Having spent decades refining industrial automation and robotics under harsh conditions, the heavy equipment manufacturer aims to apply these operational insights to enterprise AI rollouts. The initiative focuses on scaling machine intelligence, edge computing, and real-time operational efficiency across industrial workflows. By transferring proven safety, monitoring, and autonomous system protocols from mining operations, Caterpillar seeks to navigate complex AI deployment challenges and improve automated industrial solutions for commercial clients globally.

  Aug 30 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Smartworks to Invest Up to Rs 600 Crore in Expansion Capex

  Gurugram-based managed workspace provider Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd plans to invest Rs 550 crore to Rs 600 crore in capital expenditure during this fiscal year to expand its footprint and meet rising enterprise demand. Founder and MD Neetish Sarda shared that the capex covers triennial centre refurbishments as well as fresh capacity additions. Smartworks has already signed up over 3.5 million square feet of space under construction. The company manages 16.9 million square feet across 70 centres in 15 cities, serving more than 760 enterprise clients, and generated Rs 1,850 crore revenue in FY26.

  Aug 30 · YourStory

• Startup

  HNGIL Issues Insolvency Notice to Bira 91 Over ₹11.77 Cr Default

  Hindusthan National Glass and Industries Ltd (HNGIL) has served a demand notice under Section 8 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to B9 Beverages, maker of Bira 91 beer. HNGIL, an operational creditor, claims an unpaid default of ₹11.77 crore for manufactured glass bottles ordered by B9 Beverages but allegedly not lifted. B9 Beverages has 10 days to settle the dues or prove a pre-existing dispute, failing which HNGIL plans to initiate Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) at the NCLT. The notice follows founder Ankur Jain's recent exit from executive roles.

  Aug 30 · YourStory

• AI

  US Companies Spend Median $11 Per Employee on AI Tools: Ramp

  The median US company spends approximately $11 per employee on artificial intelligence software, according to recent spending data analyzed by corporate card and finance automation platform Ramp. The data highlights a substantial divergence across enterprise spending, with top spenders investing significantly more on specialized AI infrastructure, productivity tools, and software integrations compared to the median enterprise. Ramp's analysis provides a benchmark for how corporate adoption of AI is evolving beyond early pilot projects into standard corporate operational expenses, though per-employee budget allocation remains modest across the broader mid-market.

  Aug 30 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Gurugram-Based Online Grocery Startup Satvacart Shuts Down After 12 Years

  Gurugram-based online grocery startup Satvacart has officially shut down operations after a 12-year run, founder Rahul H Saxena announced on LinkedIn. The company, which ceased operations on August 28, disbanded its entire team following prolonged challenges in raising sufficient growth capital. Founded in 2014, Satvacart initially began with milk subscriptions before pivoting to an inventory-led grocery model. While it secured smaller funding tranches and focused heavily on profitability, discussions for large strategic investments and potential acquisitions failed to materialize due to lack of scale amid intense quick commerce competition.

  Aug 30 · YourStory

• AI

  Tech and Media Sectors Lead Global AI Adoption: Ramp Index

  Technology and media companies continue to lead artificial intelligence adoption across American businesses, according to the latest data from the Ramp Economic Index. While tech and media enterprises remain the primary drivers of AI spending and integration, the report highlights that the gap between front-runners and traditional industries is beginning to narrow steadily. Businesses across various sectors are increasingly deploying AI tools to boost operational efficiency and automate workflows. The index tracks corporate spending patterns, showcasing how generative AI technologies are rapidly expanding beyond early software adopters into broader commercial applications across diverse enterprise markets.

  Aug 30 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Indian Government Offers Up to Rs 4.58 Lakh Monthly for AI Talent

  The Indian government is offering competitive remuneration of up to Rs 4.58 lakh per month to attract top-tier artificial intelligence talent, according to a tender reopened by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). The initiative aims to recruit specialized AI professionals, data scientists, and technology experts to drive public sector AI implementation and national digital initiatives under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). By offering market-aligned compensation packages, the government seeks to bridge the compensation gap with private technology firms, addressing critical talent shortages across state-led digital infrastructure, governance solutions, and AI deployment programs.

  Aug 30 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Elon Musk Mocks OpenAI VP Over Level 5 Autonomous Driving Timeline

  OpenAI Vice President Srinivas Narayanan recently stated that affordable Level 5 fully autonomous self-driving technology remains five to ten years away. In response, Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk dismissed the estimate on social media using a single clown emoji. The exchange underscores the persistent divide between AI research executives and Musk, who has consistently promised imminent full self-driving capabilities for Tesla vehicles over the past decade. The debate highlights unresolved challenges in reaching true unsupervised vehicular autonomy at commercial scale.

  Aug 30 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Indian Startup IPO Wave Expands With 32 New DRHP Filings

  Indian startups are extending their public market momentum in 2026 following a record 2025, when 18 startups listed on domestic bourses to raise ₹41,248 crore. Ten new-age tech companies, including Shiprocket, Kissht, LEAP India, Klassroom, and SEDEMAC, have already made market debuts this year with strong investor reception. The pipeline remains robust, with 32 startups having filed draft red herring prospectuses with SEBI and over 24 preparing filings. The boom is supported by SEBI regulatory reforms, retail investor participation, and a growing market preference for profitability and sustainable unit economics over valuation hype.

  Aug 30 · Inc42

• Startup

  Zerodha Diversifies Revenue as Core Broking Engine and Trading Activity Slow

  Discount brokerage Zerodha is increasingly pivoting to non-brokerage revenue streams as regulatory changes and cooling trading activity slow its core business. In FY26, broking revenue dropped 10.4% to ₹2,738 crore from ₹3,066 crore in FY25, while net transaction charges fell to zero due to SEBI's true-to-label norms. Total revenue stayed flat at around ₹8,847 crore, but profit rose slightly to ₹4,283 crore. Growth was cushioned by ₹2,269 crore in interest income, ₹448 crore from delayed payment and margin trading facility charges, and asset management fees. Nearly 40% of Q1 FY27 revenue came from non-core operations.

  Aug 30 · Inc42

• Startup

  Gifts World Expo Concludes Bengaluru Edition With 250 Exhibitors

  The Bengaluru edition of the Gifts World Expo took place at Palace Grounds, organized jointly by MEX Exhibitions and Messe Frankfurt India. The three-day corporate gifting and lifestyle exhibition brought together an estimated 250 exhibitors, 1,000 brands, and 8,000 products. Participating enterprises included sustainable and homegrown brands such as Seed Paper India, Bangalore Box Company, Ecoline Clothing, House of Gulab, and Sidapur Coffee. Participating founders highlighted strong demand from enterprise buyers for authentic brand storytelling and sustainable alternatives beyond conventional merchandise, connecting directly with corporate gifting and event agencies.

  Aug 30 · YourStory

• Funding

  Jio Platforms Secures SEBI Nod for Record $3.8B IPO

  Reliance Industries' digital unit, Jio Platforms Ltd, has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India to launch an initial public offering to raise approximately $3.8 billion (₹37,700 crore). The planned offering is set to become India’s largest IPO to date, overtaking Hyundai Motor India’s $3.3 billion listing in 2024 and outstripping the National Stock Exchange’s proposed ₹30,000 crore public issue. The milestone clearance paves the way for billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s telecom and digital services heavyweight to make its highly anticipated debut on domestic public stock exchanges.

  Aug 30 · YourStory

• AI

  Sony Music and Warner Sue Anthropic Over Alleged Copyright Infringement

  Music industry giants Sony Music and Warner Music have filed a major lawsuit against AI startup Anthropic, alleging widespread intellectual property theft and illegal piracy. The broad legal action accuses Anthropic of systematically scraping copyrighted musical works and lyrics without authorization to train its large language model, Claude. The lawsuit intensifies the ongoing legal battle between copyright holders and generative AI developers over data scraping practices, fair use doctrines, and licensing frameworks for foundational models. The outcome could significantly impact how AI labs globally negotiate rights with creative industries.

  Aug 29 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  TechBBQ 2024 Highlights European Debates Over Human Agency in AI

  At the annual Nordic TechBBQ conference in Copenhagen, European startup founders, venture capitalists, and technology operators gathered to discuss governance and human agency over rapidly evolving artificial intelligence systems. Discussions centered on ensuring human oversight across enterprise AI deployments, mitigating algorithmic autonomy risks, and establishing clear accountability structures for automated decision-making platforms. Attendees examined how regulatory frameworks and responsible design practices can prevent loss of control as foundation models advance. The debates reflected broader European tech ecosystem efforts to balance aggressive AI product innovation with rigorous safety standards and user control mechanisms.

  Aug 29 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Ex-a16z Partner Vijay Pande Launches VZVC to Back AI-Native Biotech

  Vijay Pande, former head of Andreessen Horowitz's approximately $4 billion biotech practice, has launched VZVC, a focused investment firm dedicated to AI-native biotechnology startups. Pande highlighted a fundamental transition in biology from an observational discovery discipline to an engineering science powered by computational intelligence. He argued that open, shared datasets are essential to transforming modern medicine, rather than siloed proprietary data pools. Pande also noted that while AI accelerates drug discovery phases, high clinical trial expenses remain a critical hurdle. VZVC intends to make selective, high-conviction investments rather than deploying high-volume venture bets.

  Aug 29 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Indian Startups Secure Over $215 Million Across 20 Deals

  Indian startups raised over $215 million in funding across 20 deals between August 24 and August 29, 2026. The capital inflows were distributed across multiple sectors, including artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, logistics tech, foodtech, skincare, healthtech, petcare, autotech, and wellness. The broad deal activity highlights continued investor interest in Indian ventures spanning early-stage and growth-stage rounds across both consumer-facing and business-to-business sectors.

  Aug 29 · instagram.com

• AI

  Sony Music and Warner Music Sue Anthropic Over Alleged IP Theft

  Major music publishers, including Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music, have filed a massive copyright infringement lawsuit against generative AI startup Anthropic. The lawsuit accuses the creator of the Claude AI model of engaging in what the publishers describe as the largest intellectual property theft in history. The legal action alleges Anthropic systematically scraped and utilized copyrighted song lyrics and musical compositions without proper licensing or authorization to train its large language models. The high-stakes litigation comes as Anthropic prepares for a potential initial public offering, intensifying scrutiny on AI training data sources and IP protection.

  Aug 29 · OfficeChai

• AI

  OpenRouter Data Shows AI Token Usage Surged Following Price Cuts

  AI routing platform OpenRouter reported that token consumption across AI models spiked sharply after recent price reductions on advanced frontier models like GPT-5.6 Terra and Luna. The surge highlights Jevons Paradox in artificial intelligence economics, where making computational resources cheaper and more efficient drastically increases total consumption rather than lowering demand. OpenRouter, which aggregates and routes AI traffic across hundreds of LLMs, noted that developers scaled up multi-agent workflows and high-volume background tasks in response to cheaper API costs, underscoring how decreasing inference costs accelerates overall developer adoption and usage.

  Aug 29 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Ola Electric Secures ₹95.81 Crore Under Centre's PLI Auto Scheme

  Bhavish Aggarwal-led EV maker Ola Electric has secured a ₹95.81 crore incentive under the Ministry of Heavy Industries' Production Linked Incentive scheme for automobiles. This marks the company's third consecutive PLI disbursement, following sanctions of ₹73.74 crore for FY24 and ₹366.78 crore for FY25. The scheme offers financial incentives of up to 18% on sales to bolster domestic manufacturing. Additionally, Ola Electric is eligible for up to ₹7,240 crore under the Advanced Chemistry Cell PLI scheme over five years, even as its two-wheeler registrations fell 20% to 13,085 units in July.

  Aug 29 · Inc42

• AI

  Nvidia Shifts AI Focus From Raw GPU Power to Data Center Efficiency

  Nvidia is expanding its artificial intelligence hardware moat beyond standalone graphics processing units toward comprehensive data center architecture. As modern AI workloads scale exponentially, computing efficiency increasingly depends on intelligent traffic management, interconnect bandwidth, and optimized data flow rather than merely adding raw processor cycles. By integrating specialized networking gear, advanced software stacks, and smarter switch architectures directly into its cluster systems, Nvidia aims to eliminate data transfer bottlenecks across massive computing clusters. This full-stack infrastructure approach solidifies the semiconductor giant's dominant hold over global enterprise and hyperscaler AI model training operations.

  Aug 29 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  AADYAH Aerospace Develops Critical Steering Components for Indian Rockets

  Bengaluru-based aerospace startup AADYAH Aerospace is developing precision subsystems, electro-mechanical actuators, and specialized components that steer India's rockets and spacecraft. While mainstream space-tech attention focuses on launch vehicles and satellites, AADYAH addresses the critical engineering layer underneath, supplying indigenous aerospace hardware to defense and commercial space programs. Founded to strengthen domestic capabilities, the venture develops flight-critical actuators, electro-optics, and power systems tailored for harsh space environments. Its efforts aim to reduce reliance on imported aerospace components as India accelerates private space exploration, commercial launch operations, and national defense readiness across global supply chains.

  Aug 29 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Indian Tech Stocks Show Mixed Performance as Market Capitalisation Holds at $167B

  Indian new-age tech stocks witnessed a mixed trading week, maintaining a combined market capitalisation of 166.91 billion dollars across 62 tracked companies. Market sentiment remained subdued despite fresh listings, with 36 stocks closing in the red and 26 posting gains. Electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy, Turtlemint, Paytm, and Lenskart reached fresh 52-week highs, while BSE SME-listed Klassroom surged 25.2 percent to 218 rupees. Conversely, IndiaMART InterMESH touched a 52-week low. Meanwhile, Purple Style Labs secured nearly 306 crore rupees from anchor investors, and venture firms Alpha Wave and Qualcomm Ventures pared stakes in portfolio firms.

  Aug 29 · Inc42

• Funding

  Logistics Tech Startup OORJAA Raises Rs 9.7 Crore From Equentis

  Bengaluru-based logistics technology startup OORJAA has secured Rs 9.7 crore in a fresh funding round led by Equentis Angel Fund. The company plans to use the newly raised capital to enhance its core technology platform, expand operational reach across key Indian logistics corridors, and onboard more enterprise clients. OORJAA provides technology-driven freight and intra-city logistics solutions designed to optimise supply chain operations and improve delivery efficiencies for commercial fleets.

  Aug 29 · Indian Startup News

• Startup

  Temasek Backs Singapore Airlines Investment in Tata-Run Air India

  Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek has reaffirmed its support for Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) ongoing investments in Air India, following public criticism over the Indian carrier’s losses. Singapore Airlines holds a 25.1% stake in Air India alongside Tata Sons, which acquired the airline in January 2022. Temasek highlighted that India represents the world’s third-largest air transport market, serving as a critical second hub for SIA's long-term international growth. Despite operational integration challenges and reported requests for an additional $1.5 billion in capital, Temasek emphasized its commitment to backing SIA's strategic expansion in Indian aviation.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• Startup

  Infosys Subsidiary CEO Lax Gopisetty Unreachable Following Flash Floods in Nepal

  Infosys has confirmed that Lax Gopisetty, the chief executive of its subsidiary Infosys Public Services, is currently unreachable following catastrophic flash floods in Nepal. Gopisetty was visiting the region in a personal capacity. Infosys Public Services primarily caters to public sector clients across the United States and Canada. The Bengaluru-based IT giant stated that its immediate priority is ensuring his safety and well-being, while actively coordinating with relevant government and rescue agencies to establish contact. Over 320 Indian nationals remain missing following the devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, while rescue efforts continue.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• Startup

  Meta Inks $18 Billion US Teen Safety Settlement Over Platform Harm

  Meta has agreed to pay approximately $18 billion to settle lawsuits brought by a bipartisan coalition of 52 attorneys general across US states and territories regarding teenage mental health harms. Under the agreement, Meta will implement mandatory platform safeguards for users under 18 in participating US jurisdictions. These include a default two-hour daily limit on Instagram and Facebook, night restrictions, muted notifications during school hours, non-algorithmic feed options, and stricter parental controls. However, Meta has not committed to introducing these protections in international markets, including India, directing inquiries to standard company statements.

  Aug 29 · Inc42

• AI

  VerSe Innovation Unveils SparkStation AI Platform for Content Production

  VerSe Innovation, the parent company of Dailyhunt and Josh, has launched an AI-powered content production platform named SparkStation at Film Expo 2026. The platform unifies end-to-end video and advertising production workflows into a single interface, encompassing scriptwriting, storyboarding, casting, shot creation, dialogue generation, and rendering. SparkStation uses a model-agnostic architecture to route specific tasks to optimal AI models while maintaining visual consistency across character faces, wardrobe, and scene locations. The software also exports seamlessly into industry-standard editing suites like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.

  Aug 29 · Entrackr

• Startup

  IIT Madras Global Launches Bharat Ascend to Back Tier-2 Innovators

  IIT Madras Global Research Foundation has partnered with startup platform Ideabaaz to launch ‘Bharat Ascend’, a national entrepreneurship initiative. The program aims to discover 100 high-potential innovation ideas from Tier II and Tier III cities across India within 365 days. Bharat Ascend will provide specialized mentorship, academic research access, and structured pathways to convert grassroots concepts into prototypes, market-ready products, and investable ventures aligned with the 'Viksit Bharat @2047' vision. Led by IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, the platform seeks to democratize entrepreneurship opportunities and build globally scalable technology enterprises beyond major metropolitan startup hubs.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• Funding

  Purple Style Labs Raises ₹306 Crore From Anchor Investors Ahead of IPO

  Luxury fashion house Purple Style Labs, parent of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, has raised Rs 306 crore from ten anchor investors ahead of its initial public offering. The company allotted 53.21 lakh equity shares at the upper price ceiling of Rs 575 apiece. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund emerged as the top investor, subscribing to Rs 88 crore worth of shares, followed by Jupiter India Fund with Rs 75 crore and Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance with Rs 68 crore. The anchor round comes prior to its Rs 680 crore fresh-issue IPO opening on August 31.

  Aug 29 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Optimized Electrotech Builds Indigenous Electro-Optic Systems for Defense

  Ahmedabad-based defense-tech startup Optimized Electrotech is developing indigenous electro-optics and surveillance systems for aerial and battlefield applications. While India has built capabilities in satellites and launch platforms, critical electro-optic payloads and surveillance optics have historically relied heavily on foreign imports. Optimized Electrotech designs advanced multispectral imaging, thermal cameras, and tracking solutions that provide real-time reconnaissance for border security and armed forces. By manufacturing specialized surveillance technology locally, the startup aims to enhance sovereign defense capabilities and support India’s self-reliance push across intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition systems in contested high-altitude border terrains.

  Aug 29 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise $218.7 Million Across 24 Deals This Week

  Indian startup funding reached $218.69 million across 24 deals between August 24 and August 29, recording a modest rise from the previous week's $198.33 million. Growth-stage funding contributed $68 million across two rounds, led by Bengaluru-based coffee chain Third Wave Coffee's $43 million fundraise from WestBridge Capital and electric motorcycle maker Matter's $25 million round. Early-stage startups scooped up $150.69 million across 22 deals, with aerospace firm Airbound securing $37 million in Series A funding led by Greenoaks, while agentic AI platform Runable raised $21 million from Susquehanna and Nexus Venture Partners.

  Aug 29 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Ather Energy Launches Mass-Market Konarc Electric Scooter at Rs 99,999

  EV manufacturer Ather Energy has launched its latest mass-market electric scooter, the Konarc, starting at Rs 99,999 during its annual Community Day. The scooter provides four claimed battery range options spanning 100 km, 120 km, 165 km, and 200 km on a single charge. Engineered with a 14-inch front wheel and long-travel suspension for long-distance ride comfort, the Konarc introduces Ather's Advanced Electronic Braking System, which improves peak braking force by 20%. The launch comes alongside built-in 450W charging capability, directly intensifying competition with rival Ola Electric's newly unveiled S1Z budget lineup.

  Aug 29 · Inc42

• Startup

  India Signs $45.7M Deal with US for Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles

  India has officially signed a $45.7 million agreement with the United States under the Foreign Military Sales program to procure 100 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and 25 launch units. Finalized on August 28, 2026, the deal aims to significantly bolster the Indian Army's anti-armor operational readiness. The man-portable, fire-and-forget missile system is designed to destroy fortified positions and armored vehicles. The agreement also paves the way for potential co-production initiatives with state-run defense enterprise Bharat Dynamics Limited, strengthening bilateral defense and industrial ties between the two nations.

  Aug 29 · Indianweb2.com

• AI

  Study Finds Grok Is Most Politically Neutral Major AI Model

  A new comparative analysis of leading artificial intelligence models reveals that xAI's Grok exhibits the most neutral stance on the political compass. In contrast, most other major AI models from prominent tech companies lean heavily left-libertarian in their generated responses and ideological positioning. As dozens of AI developers release increasingly sophisticated models, systemic alignment techniques have resulted in a distinct political clustering across the industry. The findings highlight ongoing concerns regarding algorithmic bias, neutrality, and the guardrails embedded within foundational AI systems as adoption scales globally across consumer and enterprise applications.

  Aug 29 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Indian Startups Gather $245 Million VC Inflow in August Final Week

  Venture capital investments into Indian startups saw a marginal increase during the final week of August, totaling $245 million across 27 deals compared to $187 million raised in the preceding week. Unlike earlier weeks in August that saw mega deals above $100 million, transaction activity was driven by mid-sized rounds across consumer brands, aerospace, and electric mobility. Top rounds included Third Wave Coffee securing $42.8 million from WestBridge Capital, aerospace startup Airbound raising $37 million from Greenoaks, EV maker Matter bagging $25 million, and agentic AI platform Runable pulling in $21 million.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• Startup

  Aakash Operating Revenue Remains Flat at Rs 2,041 Crore in FY26

  Test-preparation company Aakash Educational Services Limited reported largely flat operating revenue of Rs 2,041 crore for FY26 compared to Rs 2,032 crore in FY25, while its EBITDA dropped 65%. Direct classroom coaching contributed the bulk of operating revenue at Rs 1,956 crore, holding steady from Rs 1,951 crore a year earlier, while partner franchise operations brought in Rs 84 crore. Total income rose 3.3% to Rs 2,154 crore, bolstered by non-operating income. Employee benefit expenses declined 2.4% to Rs 1,300 crore, even as miscellaneous operating overheads rose 6.5% to Rs 626 crore.

  Aug 29 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Myntra Hosts Tech Threads 2026 to Drive Tech-Led Lifestyle Commerce

  Fashion e-commerce major Myntra hosted its flagship brand conclave, Myntra Tech Threads 2026, bringing together domestic and global retail executives to discuss technological advances shaping lifestyle retail. Centered around the theme 'Where Velocity Meets Voice', sessions explored AI-led shopping personalization, creator-driven social commerce, instant delivery models, and real-time consumer trend intelligence. Industry leaders from brands including MANGO, Honasa Consumer, H&M India, Arvind Fashions, and Agilitas Sports participated in discussions on building resilient supply chains. Myntra showcased interactive product offerings like Glamstream designed to integrate influencer content directly into user discovery journeys.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• AI

  Indian AI Startups Attract Larger Growth-Stage Investment Cheques

  Indian artificial intelligence startups are witnessing accelerated funding momentum as venture capital and growth funds write larger cheques for mature AI companies. Investors are increasingly focusing on vertical AI applications, enterprise-grade AI tooling, and foundation models tailored for regional use cases. The shift towards larger growth-stage rounds signals maturing product-market fit, stronger revenue visibility, and expanding enterprise adoption across Indian tech ecosystems.

  Aug 29 · Moneycontrol.com

• Funding

  Jio Platforms Receives Sebi Approval for Record $3.8 Billion IPO

  Reliance Industries subsidiary Jio Platforms has secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India to proceed with an initial public offering to raise approximately $3.8 billion (Rs 37,700 crore). The market regulator issued its observation letter on August 28 following draft papers filed in June. Jio Platforms plans to issue up to 27 crore fresh equity shares, representing 2.9% of its post-issue base, valuing the digital and telecom behemoth at roughly $137 billion. Most proceeds will repay Rs 27,500 crore in outstanding debt of Reliance Jio Infocomm.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• AI

  OpenAI Cuts Off Cursor's Model Access Over Terms of Service Violation

  OpenAI has restricted AI coding assistant Cursor's direct access to its frontier models, citing terms of service violations. The move mirrors a similar action taken by Anthropic against Windsurf last year following acquisition talks. Cursor, widely used by developers for AI-assisted programming, relies on underlying LLM APIs from leading providers. The cut-off highlights increasing friction between foundation model creators and developer-tool application layers building competitive moats or integrating rival technologies. The restriction could push coding tools to diversify API providers or adopt open-source models to maintain continuous developer service availability.

  Aug 29 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise $210.3 Million in Late August Funding Round

  Indian startup funding activity recorded $210.3 million across 23 deals between August 24 and August 28, marking a 9.8% decline from the previous week's $233.2 million. Ecommerce and advanced hardware led the tally, securing $108.4 million or 51.6% of the total raised. Key transactions included Third Wave Coffee raising $43 million led by WestBridge Capital, drone startup Airbound securing $37 million in a Series A round led by Greenoaks, EV maker MATTER bagging $25 million, and AI startup Runable securing $21 million from Susquehanna Venture Capital and Nexus Venture Partners.

  Aug 29 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise Over $210 Million in Weekly Funding Across Sectors

  Indian startups secured over $210 million in venture funding this week, led by notable capital injections into companies such as Third Wave Coffee and electric mobility firm MATTER. The diverse funding activity spanned sectors including consumer brands, clean mobility, and software. Investors continue to back growth-stage ventures and emerging tech businesses despite macroeconomic shifts. The weekly tally highlights sustained investor appetite for domestic consumer demand and green technology solutions, marking steady momentum across the Indian startup ecosystem as deals close across various stages and investment sizes.

  Aug 29 · Inc42

• AI

  Amaravati to Build ₹730 Cr Dedicated Quantum and AI University Campus

  Amaravati is establishing India's first dedicated Quantum and AI University campus, focused on quantum technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and other deeptech domains. The 8.5-acre campus involves a planned investment of ₹730.7 crore over the next five years. Separately, festive sales saw strong momentum with Meesho reporting 36% year-on-year order growth, driven largely by non-metro shoppers. Flipkart Minutes recorded a threefold rise in festive demand, led by Gen Z buyers. Additionally, Ola Electric launched its new S1Z electric scooter priced at ₹79,999, with deliveries scheduled to begin this December.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• AI

  Why Logistics AI Is Emerging as the Next Big Venture Bet

  Venture capital is shifting toward logistics AI as the next major investment frontier following initial deployments in software-heavy sectors like coding and marketing. Logistics represents a roughly $10 trillion global market that still heavily relies on manual workflows, spreadsheets, phone calls, and WhatsApp groups. Because logistics operates on thin margins of 3% to 8%, minor operational efficiency gains produce outsized profit multipliers compared to high-margin software businesses. Consequently, investors see massive enterprise value in AI systems that automate freight dispatch, route optimization, and operational coordination directly onto bottom lines.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• Startup

  Climatetech Startup Minus Degre Upcycles 300 Tonnes of Plastic Waste

  Ghaziabad-based climatetech startup Minus Degre is converting recycled plastic waste into a durable composite material branded as Eco-Panel. Founded in 2021 by brothers Rahul Vashukhi and Vikash Kumar after leaving corporate careers, the company manufactures customized products for business and consumer applications, including furniture, commercial interior panels, and everyday utility goods. Operating a 16,000-square-foot manufacturing plant with a 15-member team, Minus Degre has recycled over 300 tonnes of plastic waste to date. The startup collects, segregates, and processes discarded packaging materials to provide sustainable alternatives to traditional manufacturing materials across diverse domestic industries.

  Aug 29 · YourStory

• Startup

  Raise Financial Hires Ex-Upstox Executive Abhishek Singh as Pluto Insurance CEO

  Fintech unicorn Raise Financial Services has appointed former Upstox senior director Abhishek Singh as chief executive officer of its new insurtech platform, Pluto Insurance. Singh brings over 23 years of industry experience across insurance majors including Aviva India, PNB MetLife, and Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance. Pluto Insurance will operate under GreenLife Insurance Broking Pvt Ltd (GIBL), an entity acquired by Raise Financial three months ago in an undisclosed cash-and-stock deal. Raise Financial previously committed to investing $15 million into GIBL to scale its direct-to-consumer insurance distribution business using tech and AI integrations.

  Aug 28 · Inc42

• AI

  Sandhya Devanathan Leaves Meta To Join OpenAI In Regional Leadership Role

  Sandhya Devanathan has stepped down as Meta’s vice president for India and Southeast Asia after nearly a decade at the social media giant to join OpenAI. At the ChatGPT creator, Devanathan will oversee consumer growth, enterprise adoption, strategic partnerships, regulatory engagement, and operational expansion across Southeast Asia and Australia. She will be based in Singapore and report to Kiran Mani, OpenAI’s managing director for the Asia-Pacific region. Following her departure, Meta’s India managing director Arun Srinivas will report directly to Benjamin Joe, Meta’s vice president for the Asia-Pacific region.

  Aug 28 · Inc42

• Funding

  AI Cloud Provider Lambda Secures $1B Debt Facility To Expand Compute

  AI cloud provider Lambda has secured $1 billion in private debt financing to expand its specialized compute infrastructure. The company plans to use the capital to purchase Nvidia graphics processing units and lease them to Microsoft for demanding artificial intelligence workloads. The transaction highlights the soaring financial requirements and massive capital intensity underpinning the current artificial intelligence buildout. Lambda, which operates dedicated high-performance computing clusters, has increasingly relied on structured debt facilities alongside venture capital to finance expensive GPU hardware acquisitions as hyperscalers and enterprises race to secure critical compute capacity.

  Aug 28 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Alpha Wave Ventures Sells ₹1,857 Cr Lenskart Stake In Block Deals

  Venture capital firm Alpha Wave Ventures has offloaded 2.94 crore shares of eyewear unicorn Lenskart for ₹1,856.8 crore through multiple block deals on the National Stock Exchange at ₹630 per share. The transaction reduced Alpha Wave's stake by approximately 1.7%, leaving it with around 1.72% shareholding. Major buyers included the National Pension System Trust, which purchased shares worth ₹495 crore, followed by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund with ₹380 crore. Other institutional buyers included Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Whiteoak Capital. The move follows recent secondary stake sales in Lenskart by SoftBank, Temasek, and ADIA.

  Aug 28 · Inc42

• AI

  Anthropic Research Highlights Automated Systems For Self-Improving AI Alignment

  A researcher at artificial intelligence safety startup Anthropic has demonstrated experimental automated systems capable of self-improving model alignment across multiple benchmark evaluations. In testing across ten specific benchmarks designed to identify misaligned behaviors, the automated alignment system successfully improved AI performance on every evaluated metric without causing degradation to general model capabilities. The findings offer a glimpse into recursive self-improvement methods, where automated oversight and alignment routines assist human developers in reinforcing safety guardrails, reducing harmful responses, and maintaining model reliability as frontier artificial intelligence systems grow increasingly sophisticated and complex.

  Aug 28 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Open-Weight AI Developers Emerge as Silicon Valley's Prime Acquisition Targets

  Open-weight artificial intelligence startups are rapidly becoming the top acquisition targets across Silicon Valley as tech giants seek foundational talent and customizable model architectures. Despite operating business models centered on releasing accessible weights, substantial venture capital continues pouring into these companies. Major acquirers are prioritizing open-weight developers to accelerate internal product development, bypass closed-ecosystem restrictions, and gain proprietary fine-tuning expertise. The strategic surge reflects a broader shift in tech M&A, where distribution and open developer ecosystems are valued alongside proprietary intellectual property in the race to scale practical enterprise AI tooling.

  Aug 28 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  India Bets $20B on AI Infrastructure Amid Surge in Compute Demand

  India is advancing a $20 billion initiative to expand domestic AI compute capacity by 5 to 10 gigawatts, supported by $110 billion in private sector investment pledges. Funding for Indian AI startups surged 58% as demand for computing power accelerates rapidly across industries. However, the buildout faces headwinds, including a 15% increase in NVIDIA hardware pricing and the complexities of developing massive 2GW data center campuses. The push aims to secure sovereign computing capacity and lower infrastructure costs for domestic enterprises, researchers, and early-stage AI startups.

  Aug 28 · StartupHub.ai

• Funding

  Spacetech Startup InspeCity Secures $10.5 Million in Pre-Series A Funding

  Indian spacetech startup InspeCity has raised $10.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round to advance its satellite servicing and in-orbit infrastructure technologies. The fresh capital will be deployed to support four planned on-orbit missions scheduled over the coming months. InspeCity focuses on satellite life extension, de-orbiting, and in-orbit servicing to cater to the growing demand for sustainable space operations. The fundraise reflects escalating venture capital interest in India's private space sector following recent regulatory reforms and expanding commercial opportunities for local space startups globally.

  Aug 28 · Via Satellite

• Startup

  Delhivery Raises Customer Pricing Ahead of Festive Season Citing Rising Costs

  Logistics major Delhivery has implemented a nominal adjustment to its customer pricing, citing rising manpower, fuel, air movement, and network costs. The move follows reports that Delhivery increased shipping charges for direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands ahead of the festive season, adding Rs 4 per express shipment and Rs 2 per surface shipment starting September 1. E-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have also recently revised seller fees and penalty policies. Delhivery stated that its operational efficiencies and network density allow it to absorb a significant portion of external operating cost increases while maintaining competitive pricing for customers.

  Aug 28 · YourStory

• AI

  Meta India Head Sandhya Devanathan Joins OpenAI as Regional VP

  Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President for India and Southeast Asia at Meta, is departing the company after over a decade to join OpenAI. Starting in October, Devanathan will serve as Vice President for Southeast Asia and Australia at OpenAI, based in Singapore. She will report to Kiran Mani, OpenAI’s Managing Director for Asia-Pacific. In her newly created role, she will oversee consumer growth, enterprise adoption, commercial partnerships, regulatory engagement, and regional operations. Devanathan joined Meta in 2016 and led Meta India from late 2022 before expanding her remit to Southeast Asia.

  Aug 28 · YourStory

• AI

  Gnani.ai Launches Sovereign AI Stack Artha Featuring 30B Indic LLM

  Voice artificial intelligence startup Gnani.ai has launched Artha, an enterprise sovereign AI stack unveiled in New Delhi by India’s Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. The stack combines Evon v3.3, a 30-billion-parameter open-weight large language model trained across 11 Indian languages on 2 trillion tokens, with Plexus, an agentic AI deployment platform. Available on Hugging Face under an Apache 2.0 license, the model focuses on low-latency reasoning for speech-to-speech workflows. Gnani.ai CEO Ganesh Gopalan stated the company plans to expand the model family to 70-billion and 100-billion parameters and increase language support to 22 Indian languages.

  Aug 28 · Inc42

• AI

  Ten Indians and Indian-Origin Leaders Feature in TIME100 AI 2026 List

  TIME has unveiled its 2026 TIME100 AI list, featuring ten Indian and Indian-origin figures shaping foundational AI, enterprise technology, semiconductors, and governance. The honorees include Sarvam AI co-founder Vivek Raghavan, Adalat AI co-founder Utkarsh Saxena, IBM Chairman Arvind Krishna, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, and Caltech professor Anima Anandkumar. TIME highlighted Raghavan's push for sovereign artificial intelligence in India to avoid exporting local data while importing foreign intelligence. Sarvam AI previously released 30-billion and 105-billion parameter open-weight models, alongside Sarvam Vision, a visual language model supporting 22 Indian languages, while completing its $300 million funding round.

  Aug 28 · YourStory

• Funding

  Hero MotoCorp Hikes Stake in Ather Energy to 32.8% for ₹1,758 Cr

  Auto giant Hero MotoCorp has increased its stake in electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy to 32.8% by acquiring 1.19 crore shares from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC, for Rs 1,758.24 crore. Executed at Rs 1,480 per share on the NSE, the open-market transaction boosts Hero’s holding from 29.88%. Ather reported a revenue of Rs 3,671.76 crore in FY26 and recently concluded a Rs 1,200 crore preferential issue. Following the block deal, Ather’s stock rose 8% to Rs 1,616.3, lifting its market valuation to nearly Rs 63,762 crore ($6.7 billion).

  Aug 28 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Pernia's Parent Purple Style Labs Nets ₹306 Cr Anchor Investment

  Luxury omnichannel fashion retailer Purple Style Labs, the parent of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, has raised approximately ₹306 crore from ten anchor investors ahead of its initial public offering. The company allocated 53.2 lakh shares at ₹575 apiece, the upper price band. Key participants included BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley Asia, ICICI Prudential Smallcap Fund, Jupiter India Fund, and Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance. Domestic mutual funds secured about ₹100 crore across three schemes. The ₹680 crore fresh issue opens on August 31, with proceeds targeted for experience centre lease liabilities and marketing through FY30.

  Aug 28 · Inc42

• AI

  Gnani Unveils Sovereign AI Stack Artha Featuring Evon LLM and Agents

  Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Gnani has launched 'Artha', an end-to-end sovereign AI stack tailored for Indian enterprises and public institutions. The suite includes Evon v3.3, an open-weight foundational large language model built from scratch with a custom tokenizer optimized for Indian scripts to lower inference costs, alongside an agentic platform called Plexus. Unveiled in New Delhi in the presence of Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on August 28, the stack aims to make enterprise-grade AI open, cost-effective, and deeply aligned with Indian linguistic and data sovereignty requirements.

  Aug 28 · The Indian Express

• AI

  Gnani Launches Sovereign AI Stack Artha Featuring Open-Weight Model Evon

  Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Gnani.ai has launched Artha, a sovereign artificial intelligence technology stack designed for enterprise automation. The suite includes an open-weight foundation model named Evon, alongside custom enterprise agents built for diverse corporate workflows. Evon features a custom tokenizer optimized specifically for Indian languages and scripts, aiming to significantly reduce inference costs and processing latency. Gnani aims to provide Indian enterprises with secure, locally compliant, and cost-efficient alternatives to Western proprietary models, strengthening India’s domestic sovereign AI infrastructure across banking, financial services, telecom, and public sector deployments.

  Aug 28 · The Indian Express

• Funding

  Hero MotoCorp Acquires Additional 3% Stake in Ather for ₹1,758 Crore

  Automotive manufacturer Hero MotoCorp has acquired an additional 1.18 crore equity shares in electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy for ₹1,758 crore through an open-market block deal. The shares were offloaded by the Government of Singapore at ₹1,480 per share on the NSE. The transaction increases Hero MotoCorp's total stake in Ather to approximately 32.8%, up from 29.48% held at the end of June. The move comes as Ather accelerates fundraising efforts, having secured ₹1,300 crore via a QIP in July alongside board approval for a ₹1,200 crore preferential issue.

  Aug 28 · Inc42

• Funding

  IndiGo Ventures Backs Indian GenAI Startup Sarvam AI

  IndiGo Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo Airlines), has invested in Sarvam AI, an Indian artificial intelligence startup building generative AI models for Indian languages. The transaction marks the airline's strategic foray into backing homegrown deeptech and enterprise AI ventures. Sarvam AI specializes in developing foundational large language models tailored for Indian linguistic diversity and voice interfaces. While specific transaction terms and financial details remain undisclosed, the backing from India's largest carrier highlights increasing corporate venture capital interest from traditional aviation and transport majors in India's burgeoning generative artificial intelligence landscape.

  Aug 28 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Kevin Durant Sees Huge Returns on Early Hugging Face AI Investment

  NBA superstar Kevin Durant is poised to secure significant returns from his early investment in open-source artificial intelligence platform Hugging Face. Durant invested in the startup through his investment firm Thirty Five Ventures during its earlier funding rounds. Hugging Face has seen its valuation surge dramatically over recent years following widespread adoption of its open-source AI models and repositories, alongside strategic backing from major tech giants including Nvidia. Durant's early bet highlights how celebrity and athlete-led venture capital funds are increasingly capitalizing on the global artificial intelligence boom and securing substantial paper returns on foundational tech infrastructure.

  Aug 28 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Anthropic Scores Court Victory Over Pentagon Supply-Chain Risk Classification

  A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration acted illegally when it designated artificial intelligence safety and research company Anthropic as a national supply-chain risk. The legal victory provides significant relief to the AI startup as it continues to contest defense-related scrutiny and push forward with enterprise and public-sector deployments. The ruling comes while Anthropic pursues a second lawsuit against the Pentagon in Washington concerning national security determinations. The judgment underscores growing legal tensions between frontier artificial intelligence developers and federal defense agencies over procurement standards, algorithmic safety vetting, and supply-chain oversight protocols.

  Aug 28 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Google Internally Tests Gemini 3.8 Flash Amid Model Roadmap Adjustments

  Google is reportedly conducting internal testing for an updated artificial intelligence model dubbed Gemini 3.8 Flash, according to industry reports. The development comes amid strategic adjustments to the tech giant's generative AI release roadmap, which has seen the cancellation of Gemini 3.5 Pro while the broader rollout of Gemini 4.0 remains further out. The Gemini Flash series is designed to offer developers high-speed, cost-efficient inference for lightweight tasks, multimodal processing, and low-latency enterprise applications. Google's ongoing internal iterations reflect intense competition among leading tech companies to deliver optimized, cost-effective language models to global developers.

  Aug 28 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Meta India Head Sandhya Devanathan Joins OpenAI in Regional Role

  Sandhya Devanathan, the head of Meta India, is stepping down from the social media conglomerate to join artificial intelligence leader OpenAI. In her new position, Devanathan will oversee key operations across Southeast Asia and Australia, bolstering OpenAI's regional leadership and market expansion. Her departure comes at a critical juncture as Meta navigates mounting regulatory scrutiny and policy compliance challenges across India. Devanathan had led Meta India's commercial and strategic operations, making her transition to OpenAI a significant executive shift that reflects the intensifying global competition for seasoned technology leadership within the artificial intelligence sector.

  Aug 28 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Indian Startup Funding Drops 52% to $163 Million This Week

  Indian startups raised a total of $163.3 million across 14 funding rounds this week, marking a 52% decline compared to the previous week, according to data compiled by CNBC TV18. Despite the sharp contraction in total capital value, deal activity among early-stage and seed-stage companies witnessed a notable increase. The drop in overall funding reflects ongoing caution among venture capitalists regarding late-stage mega deals and valuation expectations. However, investors continue to demonstrate strong appetite for nascent startups and innovative early-stage businesses across diverse sectors including deeptech, fintech, and enterprise software.

  Aug 28 · CNBC TV18

• Startup

  Ola Launches S1Z Scooter; Ather Shares Jump on Hero Stake

  Ola Electric has launched its S1Z electric scooter priced at Rs 79,999, with deliveries scheduled to begin in December. Meanwhile, shares of rival electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ather Energy rose over 7% to reach Rs 1,603.10 following an increased stake by Hero MotoCorp. Separately, ecommerce platform Meesho recorded a 36% year-on-year surge in orders and a 38% rise in gross merchandise value during the Raksha Bandhan shopping festive season. Non-metro markets drove Meesho's festive performance, representing approximately 73% of total orders and underlining sustained consumer demand in smaller Indian towns.

  Aug 28 · YourStory

• Startup

  Meesho Posts 36% Surge in Rakhi Orders Driven by Non-Metro Towns

  E-commerce marketplace Meesho recorded a 36% year-on-year rise in order volumes during the Raksha Bandhan festive season, alongside a 38% growth in gross merchandise value (GMV). Non-metro markets drove nearly three-fourths (73%) of total festive orders, led by Tier III and Tier IV towns like Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, which saw a 105% jump, followed by Nabarangapur, Kasganj, Dhamtari, and Nainpur. Prepaid transactions comprised 58% of purchases. Furthermore, the active seller base for Rakhi-related products jumped 72% year-on-year, showcasing sustained digital adoption and catalogue expansion among regional micro-entrepreneurs across India.

  Aug 28 · YourStory

• Startup

  Furlenco Revenue Nears Rs 370 Crore in FY26 as Profits Jump 19X

  Bengaluru-based furniture rental platform Furlenco reported a 62% surge in operating revenue to Rs 370.43 crore in FY26, up from Rs 228.74 crore in FY25. Following Sheela Foam's acquisition of a 35% stake, the company's revenue has grown 2.6X over two years from Rs 140 crore in FY24. Furlenco's net profit surged 19.1X to Rs 59.52 crore, compared to the previous fiscal. Core rental services generated 92% of operating income at Rs 341.07 crore. Total expenses rose 45.1% to Rs 343.85 crore, driven by climbing finance costs, depreciation, and raw material expenses.

  Aug 28 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Ola Electric Launches S1Z Scooter Starting at Rs 79,999

  Ola Electric has launched its new S1Z electric scooter lineup in India with a starting introductory price of Rs 79,999. Chairman and Managing Director Bhavish Aggarwal announced that bookings are open, with deliveries scheduled to begin in December. The vehicle features Ola’s in-house developed 46-series LFP Bharat Cell technology. The 3.1 kWh battery variant is priced at Rs 79,999 offering an Indian Driving Cycle range of 179 km, while the 5.1 kWh edition costs Rs 99,999 with a 301 km range. Both models reach a top speed of 70 kmph.

  Aug 28 · YourStory

• Funding

  GVFL Invests ₹30 Million in Edge AI Startup Edgeverse

  Gujarat-based venture capital firm GVFL has invested ₹30 million in deep-tech startup Edgeverse India Pvt. Ltd. The startup specializes in developing edge AI-based perception technology tailored for mobility and other real-world applications. Edgeverse plans to deploy the fresh capital to accelerate the development of its AI-powered perception stack, with an immediate focus on Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) and safety solutions for India's two-wheeler ecosystem. Additionally, the company will expand its capabilities in camera and radar technologies, India-specific road intelligence, and target growth across industrial automation and defence sectors globally.

  Aug 28 · Indianweb2.com

• AI

  Former Thinking Machines Lab CTO Barret Zoph Joins Google

  Prominent artificial intelligence researcher Barret Zoph has joined Google following a brief tenure at OpenAI. Zoph previously co-founded Thinking Machines Lab alongside former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati and served as the startup's chief technology officer before his departure. Prior to founding Thinking Machines Lab, Zoph held senior research roles in the AI sector, contributing significantly to foundational model architectures and reinforcement learning techniques. His transition to Google highlights the intensifying competition for top-tier AI engineering talent among major tech giants racing to build and scale advanced frontier generative models.

  Aug 27 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and 100 Tech Firms Unite Against Rogue AI

  Major global technology giants and artificial intelligence startups, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, alongside over 100 other companies, have joined forces to address mounting cybersecurity threats posed by rogue AI. The coalition raised concerns over the current state of cybersecurity infrastructure and announced joint solutions designed to defend enterprise systems against next-generation autonomous cyber threats. The initiative highlights a growing industry-wide push among leading frontier AI developers and cloud providers to establish collective security standards, coordinate threat intelligence, and deploy proactive countermeasures to mitigate risks originating from advanced, adversarial artificial intelligence tools and automated attacks.

  Aug 27 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Raise Financial's Pluto Insurance Names Abhishek Singh as Chief Executive

  Pluto Insurance, the insurance arm of Raise Financial Services, has appointed Abhishek Singh as its Chief Executive Officer. Singh brings roughly 23 years of industry experience across distribution, bancassurance, and broking, having previously worked at Upstox, OneInsure, Edelweiss Life Insurance, and PNB MetLife. Pluto Insurance was created after Dhan parent Raise Financial acquired GreenLife Insurance Broking in May and rebranded it recently. Under Singh and CPTO Ranjeet Walunj, Pluto will develop an AI-led platform to simplify insurance distribution, trim unsolicited sales pitches, and improve claim settlements, backed by a planned Rs 100 crore investment from Raise.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Startup

  OPSWAT Launches First Office and Security Lab in India

  Global cybersecurity firm OPSWAT has announced the opening of its first official office and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) lab in India. The new facility is designed to strengthen cybersecurity defenses for organizations managing critical infrastructure across the country. The lab will provide advanced threat detection, device security, and compliance solutions tailored to the growing cybersecurity challenges faced by Indian enterprises, financial institutions, and public utilities. OPSWAT's expansion into the Indian market highlights the increasing demand for specialized critical infrastructure security solutions amid rising digital adoption and escalating cyber threat landscapes.

  Aug 27 · Business Wire India

• AI

  Enterprise AI Complexity Compounds Across Multi-Agent Systems and Interconnected APIs

  Enterprises deploying autonomous AI agents increasingly face severe governance and security risks stemming from inter-agent complexity rather than standalone model behavior. As organizations scale from individual agents to interconnected fleets, systems dynamically call APIs and secondary agents across legacy applications. This creates cascading decision paths that bypass conventional human oversight. Security and engineering teams frequently struggle to trace downstream actions and manage cross-system permissions across multi-hop agent interactions. Experts emphasize that point-in-time checklist approvals are insufficient, requiring real-time observability and dynamic architectural mapping to maintain enterprise control.

  Aug 27 · VentureBeat AI

• Funding

  OORJAA Raises ₹9.7 Crore in Series A Round

  Tech-driven logistics startup OORJAA has raised ₹9.7 crore in the first close of its Series A funding round, led by Equentis Angel Fund. The startup plans to deploy the newly raised capital to enhance its core technological infrastructure, scale operational capabilities, and expand its footprint across key logistics hubs in India. OORJAA focuses on delivering transformative, sustainable, and technology-driven supply chain solutions for enterprise clients. The funding round underscores growing investor appetite for tech-enabled logistics players that combine operational efficiency with sustainable and scalable fleet management models across the Indian subcontinent.

  Aug 27 · Indian Startup Times

• AI

  Autonomous AI Agent Governance Requires Enforcement Directly at Data Layer

  As enterprises grant AI agents autonomy to execute cross-system tasks without real-time human intervention, traditional perimeter guardrails and static policies are proving insufficient. Prompt instructions and model-level oversight fail to prevent unauthorized actions across changing contexts because agent outputs remain fundamentally unpredictable. Industry experts argue that reliable governance must be embedded directly into the underlying database and data infrastructure layers where actions execute. Implementing context-aware controls at the data tier ensures strict rule enforcement, prevents data corruption, and halts unauthorized system operations when autonomous agents operate across critical enterprise infrastructure.

  Aug 27 · VentureBeat AI

• Startup

  OYO Parent PRISM Posts FY26 Profit of Rs 994 Crore

  PRISM, the parent company of hospitality major OYO, reported a four-fold increase in profit after tax to Rs 994 crore for FY26, up from Rs 245 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations rose 50% year-on-year to Rs 9,358 crore, while EBITDA doubled to Rs 2,594 crore. Gross booking value jumped 88.5% to Rs 30,683 crore, driven by full-year contributions from US-based G6 Hospitality, acquired in December 2024, which contributed Rs 14,107 crore to GBV. PRISM also integrated AI pricing tools across operations and launched its premium CheckIn app.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Logistics Startup OORJAA Secures Rs 9.7 Crore in Series A

  Mumbai-based logistics startup OORJAA has raised Rs 9.7 crore ($1 million) in the first close of its Series A funding round, led by Equentis Angel Fund with participation from Inflection Point Ventures. Founded in 2019 by Sandeep Patil, Prashant Mohite, Yogesh Parab, and Umesh Singh, the startup runs mid-mile and last-mile logistics operations across 200 Indian cities. The fresh capital will fund product engineering, scale its proprietary AI/SaaS logistics stack Datashastra, and enhance control-tower capabilities. The company operates on an outcome-linked, cost-per-unit commercial pricing model for enterprise clients.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Logistics Startup OORJAA Raises Series A Led By Equentis Angel Fund

  Bengaluru-based logistics technology startup OORJAA has secured capital in its Series A funding round led by Equentis Angel Fund. The platform provides tech-driven intra-city and inter-city logistics solutions, optimizing fleet management and delivery operations for enterprise clients across diverse industries. The startup plans to deploy the fresh funds to strengthen its technology stack, expand its geographical presence across key Indian markets, and scale operational capacity. The funding will also assist in hiring across key verticals and accelerating client onboarding as demand for integrated supply chain solutions continues to grow. Further financial details remain undisclosed.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Deepinder Goyal's Wearable Startup Temple Acquires London-Based Longevous

  Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal's wearable healthtech startup Temple has acquired London-based longevity medicine practice Longevous for an undisclosed sum. As part of the acquisition, Longevous co-founders Dr Robert Mohr and Dr Avi Roy, along with their team, have joined Temple full-time. Mohr will serve as Chief Medical Officer, leading clinical validation and experiments, while Roy joins as Head of Science to direct research. Founded in 2024, Temple develops health-tracking wearable technology focused on longevity. Longevous will continue servicing its existing clients under Temple while helping build its core scientific and clinical capabilities.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• AI

  Nvidia Hits $1 Billion Daily Revenue Milestone Amid AI Boom

  Nvidia is now generating approximately $1 billion in revenue every single day, driven by the relentless global demand for artificial intelligence hardware. The semiconductor giant's high-performance graphics processing units remain the primary backbone of the generative AI boom, powering infrastructure for hyperscalers including Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon. The milestone underscores how hardware providers are capturing the lion's share of value in the AI ecosystem. As global data centres continue expanding compute capacity to train and deploy advanced foundation models, Nvidia's record revenue run rate highlights the massive capital expenditure driving enterprise AI infrastructure worldwide.

  Aug 27 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Industrial47 Secures Rs 85 Crore First Close For Debut Fund

  Pre-seed venture capital firm Industrial47 has announced the first close of its debut fund at Rs 85 crore, aiming for a total corpus of Rs 200 crore, including a Rs 50 crore greenshoe option. Founded by Rahul Seth, the fund received backing from family offices, industrial groups, and notable operators, including Swiggy co-founder Nandan Reddy. Industrial47 plans to invest cheque sizes ranging from Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore in 15 to 20 frontier technology startups across defence, space systems, energy, and advanced manufacturing to boost domestic technological sovereignty and strategic infrastructure capabilities.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• AI

  Z.AI Launches Ox Alpha Model Powered By Chinese Chips

  Chinese artificial intelligence startup Z.ai has unveiled Ox Alpha (GLM 5.3 Flash), a new AI model powered entirely by domestically manufactured Chinese chips. According to Z.ai founder and CEO Jie Tang, the breakthrough demonstrates that competitive frontier-grade models can be trained and run without relying on Western semiconductor supply chains. Furthermore, Tang revealed that Ox Alpha is priced at just one-hundredth the cost of leading frontier models, aiming to drastically lower inference costs for enterprise developers. The launch marks a notable milestone in China’s accelerating push toward hardware self-reliance amidst strict export restrictions on advanced semiconductors.

  Aug 27 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Even Healthcare Lays Off 350 Employees Amid Hospital Shift

  Bengaluru-based healthtech startup Even Healthcare has laid off nearly 30% to 35% of its workforce, impacting around 350 employees across multiple teams. The retrenchment comes as the company phases down its insurance subscription operations to transition into a hospital-led healthcare delivery model. The restructuring aims to curb cash burn and boost operational efficiency. Even is currently in the process of raising $50 million in a funding round led by Khosla Ventures, having already secured $21 million. For FY25, Even's revenue increased to Rs 27.2 crore, while net losses expanded to Rs 90.2 crore.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Logistics Tech Startup TrucksUp Secures $8.2M in Growth Funding

  Gurugram-based logistics technology platform TrucksUp has raised $8.2 million in growth funding from institutional investors, family offices, and co-founders Sarthak Shah Elwadhi and Aviraj Singh Chadha. The fundraise values the enterprise at $42.3 million. TrucksUp will deploy the fresh capital to enhance its core technology stack, hire talent, and scale general corporate operations. The platform integrates small and medium enterprises onto a digital freight network featuring predictive telematics tracking and automated asset discovery. It also provides smart FASTag tolling solutions, GPS telematics, and an integrated used-vehicle program called Truckshub.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• AI

  OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Advertisements for Free Users in India

  OpenAI has officially begun rolling out advertisements on ChatGPT in India for logged-in adult users on Free and Go subscription tiers. Paid tiers, including Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education, remain ad-free. Ad agency networks WPP and Omnicom serve as launch partners, with over 50 brands slated to roll out initial campaigns. Starting September 4, businesses can access ChatGPT's self-serve ads manager with daily budgets beginning at ₹725. Ads will appear clearly labeled below AI responses when relevant products match queries, presenting conversational alternatives to standard search ad formats ahead of the festive shopping season.

  Aug 27 · Inc42

• Startup

  D2C Brand VAHDAM India Posts Rs 350 Crore Revenue in FY26

  Direct-to-consumer tea and wellness brand VAHDAM India reported a sixfold surge in net profit to Rs 32 crore for FY26. The company’s operating revenue grew 31% year-on-year to Rs 349.6 crore from Rs 267.5 crore in FY25, according to regulatory filings. International markets, led by the United States, Europe, and Canada, accounted for nearly 96% of total operating revenue at Rs 335.3 crore. Advertising and promotional expenses stood as the primary cost component at Rs 95.9 crore, followed by transportation costs at Rs 70 crore and material procurement costs at Rs 63.4 crore.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• AI

  Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Downplays OpenAI's New Jalapeno AI Chip

  Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang has responded to OpenAI's recent announcement regarding its proprietary in-house artificial intelligence processor, dubbed the Jalapeno chip. OpenAI claimed that the new silicon outperformed Nvidia's previous-generation Blackwell hardware in early testing benchmarks. Speaking on the development, Huang noted that numerous custom chip projects get initiated across the technology sector, but many ultimately face cancellation before reaching commercial viability at scale. The remarks come as leading generative AI firms actively explore building dedicated internal silicon to reduce heavy dependence on Nvidia's dominant graphics processing units and compute infrastructure.

  Aug 27 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  BPCL Pilots Grocery Delivery Alongside LPG Cylinders Across Key States

  State-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited is piloting an ecommerce service to deliver groceries, household essentials, and consumer durables directly to customers alongside regular LPG cylinder refills. The pilot is currently underway across select districts in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Under this initiative, BPCL is converting selected LPG distributorships and its In&Out convenience stores at petrol pumps into local dark stores and order fulfillment centres. In addition to grocery logistics, the public sector undertaking is developing a proprietary payment gateway integrated with its HelloBPCL mobile application to expand its high-margin non-fuel retail operations across India.

  Aug 27 · Inc42

• Funding

  Omega Seiki Mobility Secures Rs 50 Crore to Expand EV Manufacturing

  Commercial electric vehicle manufacturer Omega Seiki Mobility has raised an additional Rs 50 crore in fresh funding. The investment round was co-led by Abhishek Misra of SKG Asset Management alongside Unistone Capital, Sanjeev Agarwal Family Office, and Brijesh Parekh Family Office. The capital infusion comes shortly after an earlier Rs 50 crore fundraise this month. Founded in 2018 by Dr Uday Narang under the Anglian Omega Group, the company supplies commercial EVs to Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, and BigBasket. The new funds will support expanded manufacturing capacity, research and development, and dealer network additions across India.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• Funding

  Pushp Brand Receives SEBI Approval for Proposed Initial Public Offering

  Packaged spices manufacturer Pushp Brand has received approval from capital markets regulator SEBI to launch its initial public offering. According to its draft red herring prospectus, the issue consists entirely of an offer for sale of up to 74.45 lakh equity shares by existing promoters and institutional investors. A91 Emerging Fund I, holding a 20.14% stake, and Sixth Sense India Opportunities III, holding 7.81%, will partially offload their holdings. Founded in 1974 in Indore, Pushp reported a 19% rise in FY26 revenue from operations to Rs 482 crore.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• AI

  Nvidia Reportedly Agrees to Acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 Billion

  Chipmaking giant Nvidia has reportedly agreed to acquire open-source AI platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. The strategic buyout is positioned to help Nvidia fortify its dominance across the artificial intelligence computing ecosystem while expanding its footprint in cloud-based developer infrastructure. Hugging Face functions as a premier central hub for hosting open-source machine learning models, datasets, and AI applications globally. The transaction represents one of the largest acquisitions in the artificial intelligence sector, consolidating critical developer tooling, model repositories, and developer workflows directly into Nvidia’s expanding software and hardware empire.

  Aug 27 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Nvidia Reportedly Inks $12.9 Billion Deal to Acquire Hugging Face

  Semiconductor giant Nvidia has reportedly agreed to acquire leading open-source artificial intelligence community and repository platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. The reported mega-transaction marks one of the most substantial acquisitions within the artificial intelligence sector to date. Hugging Face serves as the primary collaborative platform for machine learning practitioners, hosting hundreds of thousands of open-source models, datasets, and AI applications globally. The acquisition would significantly bolster Nvidia's enterprise software ecosystem, tightening the integration between its hardware acceleration platforms and the open-source developer toolchain powering contemporary generative artificial intelligence workflows and foundational model deployments.

  Aug 27 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  TILT Launches ₹250 Crore Early-Stage Fund for Impact Startups

  The/Nudge Foundation's impact investment platform TILT has launched a ₹250 crore venture fund to support early-stage startups catering to India’s next billion consumers. Founded by Atul Satija and Richa Singh, the fund will deploy cheques between ₹2 crore and ₹16 crore across seed to Series A stages. Backers include the US-based Livelihood Impact Fund, Flipkart cofounder Binny Bansal, MakeMyTrip founder Deep Kalra, BigBasket cofounder Hari Menon, and Meesho CEO Vidit Aatrey. TILT will invest patient capital into businesses across agriculture, climate resilience, MSME productivity, financial inclusion, and livelihood-focused AI solutions.

  Aug 27 · Inc42

• AI

  KollegeApply Launches AI Conversational Assistant Orbit for College Admissions

  Edtech platform KollegeApply has launched Orbit, an AI-powered conversational assistant designed to simplify the college admissions research process. Unveiled at the Elevate conference in Bengaluru, Orbit acts as a unified search interface where students can query information regarding admissions, eligibility, entrance examinations, course fees, scholarships, rankings, and placements in multiple languages. The platform aggregates verified data across more than 10,000 higher education institutions, 200 entrance examinations, and 1,200 courses. Orbit uses conversational intelligence to handle contextual follow-up questions, aiming to eliminate fragmented search experiences across disparate education portals.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• AI

  AI Researcher Barrett Zoph Leaves OpenAI to Join Google

  Prominent artificial intelligence researcher and Thinking Machines co-founder Barrett Zoph has departed OpenAI to join Google. Zoph, who previously worked extensively on advanced machine learning systems and generative architectures, joins a growing wave of top-tier AI talent shifting between leading artificial intelligence laboratories. His departure comes amid intensifying competition among global technology titans to recruit and retain foundational AI researchers. At Google, Zoph is expected to contribute to next-generation frontier model research, as the tech giant accelerates efforts to compete with OpenAI in developing cutting-edge reasoning and foundation model capabilities.

  Aug 27 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  InstaAstro Raises $12 Million Series A Led by Singularity, Artha

  Noida-headquartered spiritual technology platform InstaAstro has secured $12 million in a Series A funding round led by Singularity AMC and Artha Venture Fund, with participation from founder Nitin Verma. Founded in 2021, the startup operates an online marketplace offering astrology, tarot, and vastu consultations alongside spiritual ecommerce and pooja services. InstaAstro reported reaching an annualized revenue run rate of Rs 200 crore, up from Rs 111.26 crore in FY26. The startup plans to deploy the fresh capital to build AI-driven multilingual consultation features, contextual sentiment analysis tools, and expand its spiritual commerce footprint globally.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• Funding

  Biryani Bees Secures $1 Million From Vivek Oberoi Family Office

  Food and Indian meals brand Biryani Bees has raised $1 million in funding from the Vivek Oberoi Family Office. Incubated by Wolfpack Labs and founded by Nitin Tiwari, the startup operates on a central-kitchen-led model to maintain uniform food quality and pricing. Biryani Bees currently runs three outlets in Uttar Pradesh and reports an annual revenue run rate of around Rs 25 crore with operational profitability. The fresh capital will be used to expand its footprint to 10 outlets across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, strengthen kitchen infrastructure, and prepare for institutional fundraising.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  InstaAstro Raises $12 Million Series A Led by Singularity and Artha

  Astrology startup InstaAstro has secured $12 million in Series A funding co-led by Singularity AMC and Artha Venture Fund, with personal participation from founder Nitin Verma and Artha's Anirudh Damani. Founded in 2021, InstaAstro offers consultations across astrology, tarot, and numerology alongside pooja services and spiritual products. The platform reports 12 million registered users and 5,000 verified experts, with international markets contributing 25% of revenue. The startup will deploy the fresh funds to expand into regional Indian and overseas diaspora markets, scale religious offerings, and develop AI-driven sentiment analysis and multilingual consultation tools.

  Aug 27 · Inc42

• Funding

  Space-Tech Startup InspeCity Raises ₹100 Crore in Pre-Series A Round

  IIT Bombay-incubated space-tech startup InspeCity has secured Rs 100 crore ($10.5 million) in a pre-Series A funding round co-led by Speciale Invest and marquee investor Ashish Kacholia. Antler Elevate, Antler India, Manish Gandhi, and Shastra VC also participated. Founded in 2022 by Arindrajit Chowdhury, InspeCity builds in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing technologies to tackle orbital debris and extend satellite lifespans. Its flagship architecture, Vehicle for Life-Extension and Deorbiting Activities, includes autonomous propulsion, AI tracking sensors, and robotic arms. The new capital will be used to achieve flight qualification and scale commercial in-orbit servicing operations globally.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  InstaAstro Raises $12M Series A Led by Singularity AMC, Artha

  Gurugram-based spiritual wellness platform InstaAstro has secured $12 million in a Series A funding round led by Singularity AMC and Artha Venture Fund, with participation from its founders. Founded in 2021 by Nitin Verma, the startup offers astrology, tarot, numerology, vastu, and spiritual commerce services. It claims 12 million registered users and over 5,000 verified experts. The fresh capital will be deployed to expand into regional and international markets and develop AI features for sentiment analysis and multilingual support. InstaAstro reported revenue of Rs 111.26 crore in FY26.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  TrucksUp Secures $8.2M Growth Round at $42.3M Valuation

  Gurugram-based logistics marketplace TrucksUp has raised $8.2 million in a growth round at a post-money valuation of $42.3 million from institutional investors and family offices. Co-founders Sarthak Shah Elwadhi and Aviraj Singh Chadha also increased their stakes. Founded in 2022, TrucksUp operates an AI-driven digital freight platform connecting truck owners and fleet operators with businesses. The startup uses AI algorithms to match available trucks with verified loads, reducing wait times. The fresh capital will be used to scale technology infrastructure and fleet solutions across its road network.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Ribbit Capital Offloads Rs 2,217 Cr Stake in Groww

  US-based venture capital firm Ribbit Capital has sold shares worth Rs 2,217 crore in Groww parent company Billionbrains Garage Ventures via bulk deals. Ribbit Capital V LP and Ribbit Cayman GW Holdings V sold a combined 11.31 crore shares at roughly Rs 196 each. Groww's stock fell over 3% following the transaction. This marks Ribbit's second major sell-down this year alongside previous exits by Y Combinator and Peak XV. Despite institutional stake reductions, Groww posted Rs 1,501 crore revenue and Rs 735 crore profit in Q1 FY27.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Funding

  The/Nudge Platform TILT Launches Rs 250 Cr Venture Fund

  TILT, the impact-focused investment arm of The/Nudge Foundation, has launched a Rs 250 crore venture fund to back early-stage startups serving India's next billion. The fund will provide Seed to Series A cheques ranging between Rs 2 crore and Rs 16 crore across agriculture, climate resilience, informal work, financial inclusion, and AI-led livelihood solutions. Backed by the Livelihood Impact Fund and prominent angel investors like Binny Bansal and Deep Kalra, TILT aims to invest in 150 startups over 15 years to provide patient capital for social enterprises.

  Aug 27 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Indian Spacetech Startups Venture Into Orbital Pharma Manufacturing

  Indian spacetech startups are venturing into orbital manufacturing, exploring microgravity in low-Earth orbit to produce pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. Microgravity removes convection, sedimentation, and buoyancy, allowing researchers to grow superior protein crystals and study biological processes. Startups such as Serendipity recently flight-tested a satellite prototype housing an autonomous pharma factory, while Ethereal is building a reusable upper stage for experiments. Other players include AnduraX, developing reusable spaceplanes, and Akashalabdhi, creating modular inflatable habitats. Support from IN-SPACe and ISRO’s planned space station aims to help scale these orbital drug-making trials into repeatable commercial missions.

  Aug 27 · Inc42

• Startup

  SugarStrings Launches Cheek Swab Test To Screen 7,442 Genetic Disorders

  Bengaluru-based genomics startup SugarStrings has launched Healthstring, a single cheek swab DNA sequencing test designed to screen for over 7,442 genetic disorders. Founded in 2023 by former Clevergene Biocorp executives Tony Jose and Rajasekhara Reddy Ravuri alongside Dhaneesh Jameson, the company aims to mainstream preventive genetic screening. The test assesses individual genetic predispositions to conditions ranging from rare inherited diseases to genetic factors driving common lifestyle illnesses such as hypertension. By offering accessible non-invasive testing, SugarStrings seeks to help individuals identify hidden health risks early and adopt preventive lifestyle and medical interventions.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• Funding

  InspeCity Raises ₹100 Crore in Pre-Series A Funding Round

  Thane-based spacetech startup InspeCity has secured ₹100 crore ($10.4 million) in a pre-Series A funding round co-led by veteran investor Ashish Kacholia and Speciale Invest. The round also witnessed participation from Antler India, Shastra VC, alongside existing backers and angel investors. Founded in 2022 by Arindrajit Chowdhury and Tausif Shaikh, InspeCity develops in-orbit satellite servicing and deorbiting technologies. The fresh capital will fund four in-orbit space missions across the next 12 to 18 months, validate rendezvous and proximity operations, advance propulsion systems cleared by ISRO labs, and expand its engineering team.

  Aug 27 · Inc42

• Funding

  The/Nudge Launches ₹250 Crore TILT Fund For Early-Stage Impact Startups

  The/Nudge Foundation has launched TILT, an impact investment platform with a ₹250 crore corpus targeting early-stage science and technology-led ventures in India. The fund is supported by the Livelihood Impact Fund alongside prominent angel backers, including Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, Meesho founder Vidit Aatrey, MakeMyTrip founder Deep Kalra, and the Raj & Indra Nooyi Family Office. TILT plans to write cheques ranging between ₹2 crore and ₹16 crore across seed to Series A stages. Target sectors include agricultural supply chains, climate resilience, MSME productivity, financial inclusion, and AI applied to livelihood challenges.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• Funding

  InspeCity Raises ₹100 Crore in Pre-Series A Led by Speciale Invest

  Thane-based spacetech startup InspeCity has secured ₹100 crore in a pre-Series A funding round co-led by deep-tech venture capital firm Speciale Invest and investor Ashish Kacholia. The round also saw participation from Antler Elevate, Antler India, Shastra VC, and Manish Gandhi. Founded in 2022 by IIT Bombay professor Arindrajit Chowdhury, InspeCity provides in-orbit satellite servicing, refuelling, and debris removal. The fresh capital will be used to match government grants under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework, develop its maiden in-orbit missions, and build a dedicated research-and-work facility to scale operations.

  Aug 27 · YourStory

• Funding

  Viral AI Startup Instinct Raises $350 Million at $2.5B Valuation

  One-year-old artificial intelligence startup Instinct has raised $350 million in a fresh funding round, securing a post-money valuation of $2.5 billion. The massive capital injection highlights the relentless global investor appetite for viral consumer and enterprise AI applications despite mounting public scrutiny. While Instinct has generated significant mainstream hype and rapid adoption since its launch, the company is concurrently navigating rising concerns regarding user privacy and data handling practices. The newly acquired capital is expected to support aggressive infrastructure expansion, model development, and international scaling amidst stiffening competition across the rapidly maturing generative AI landscape.

  Aug 27 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Amazon Triples Nvidia GPU Orders With 2 Million Additional AI Chips

  Amazon is significantly expanding its artificial intelligence compute infrastructure by ordering an additional 2 million Nvidia GPU chips for its data centers over the next two years. The massive procurement triples Amazon's previous hardware commitments to meet surging enterprise demand for generative AI training and model deployment. Beyond purchasing hardware, the extended collaboration between Amazon and Nvidia involves deeper software integration across Amazon Web Services infrastructure. This substantial rollout ensures Amazon maintains robust cloud capacity to support complex AI workloads as hyperscaler competition intensifies globally among leading technology giants worldwide.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Anthropic Inks Massive $45B Compute Infrastructure Deal With Nscale

  AI lab Anthropic has signed an infrastructure agreement valued at $45 billion with GPU cloud provider Nscale to secure advanced computing capacity. The massive multi-year commitment ensures dedicated high-performance hardware to train and operate Anthropic's Claude artificial intelligence models. As competition intensifies across the generative AI sector, top frontier model developers are locking in unprecedented computational resources to meet enterprise demand and build next-generation architectures. The partnership highlights Nscale's expanding presence in the specialized AI infrastructure market, which is seeing rapid capital deployment worldwide to support intensive data center scaling requirements.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Micromax Earmarks ₹250 Crore Family Office Fund For Deeptech Startups

  Consumer electronics manufacturer Micromax Informatics has established a family office with a ₹250 crore corpus to back deeptech startups across India and international markets. The vehicle will invest in Pre-Series A to Series B startups building intellectual property in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defence technology, spacetech, and robotics. Investment head Aakil Garg stated initial cheque sizes will range between ₹10 crore and ₹20 crore. Co-founder Rahul Sharma noted that beyond financial backing, Micromax aims to assist early-stage founders by offering its domestic manufacturing capabilities, supply chain ecosystem, and industry partnerships to accelerate commercialisation.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• AI

  OpenAI Releases Comprehensive Cybersecurity Report on Hugging Face Breach

  OpenAI has officially published a detailed cybersecurity incident report investigating compromises connected to the open-source platform Hugging Face. The release offers the most comprehensive technical accounting to date, detailing several discrete cybersecurity vulnerabilities and intrusion attempts identified across model hosting environments. The report highlights critical attack vectors targeting AI infrastructure, emphasizing the growing security challenges associated with hosting, sharing, and deploying pre-trained weights and API keys across collaborative platforms. Cybersecurity teams and frontier AI developers are urging stricter access controls and continuous token auditing across shared developer ecosystems.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Delhi Launches Lakshmi Yojana Seed Capital Scheme for Women

  The Delhi government launched the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana on 26 August 2026, allocating Rs 5,100 crore for fiscal 2026-27. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta distributed initial sanction letters at Talkatora Stadium to beneficiary women. The scheme provides eligible women aged 21 to 60 from lower-income households with Rs 2,500 monthly starting 1 September 2026. Uniquely structured as seed capital, Rs 1,500 is locked into a savings instrument while Rs 1,000 serves as spendable cash. The initiative logged over 9.13 lakh registrations and plans to support more than 17 lakh women across the capital.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Funding

  Runable Raises $21M Series A Led by Susquehanna and Nexus

  Bengaluru-based agentic AI startup Runable has raised $21 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Susquehanna Venture Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. Existing investors Together Fund and Array VC also participated in the round. Founded in 2025 by Umesh Kumar and Saksham Sarda, Runable develops AI agents to help small businesses build, manage, and scale operations, including generating websites, apps, and marketing assets. The company plans to use the capital to add marketing channels, scale its Runable Academy educational platform, and hire across engineering, machine learning, product, and growth teams.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Runable Secures $21M in Series A Led by Susquehanna and Nexus

  Agentic AI startup Runable has raised $21 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Susquehanna Asia VC and Nexus Venture Partners. The startup develops full-stack infrastructure enabling enterprises to deploy and orchestrate autonomous AI agents across complex operational workflows. Runable plans to deploy the freshly raised capital to expand its core engineering team, accelerate platform development, and scale go-to-market efforts across global enterprise customers. The investment underscores growing venture capital confidence in specialized developer tooling and agentic orchestration platforms driving enterprise-grade automation and productivity improvements.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Lightspeed Exits PhysicsWallah Completely With ₹550 Cr Stake Sale

  Venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners has completely exited edtech company PhysicsWallah after offloading its remaining 1.61% stake for ₹549.7 crore through open market block deals. Lightspeed sold 4.67 crore shares at a weighted average price of ₹117.72 apiece. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund emerged as the biggest buyer, purchasing 2.2 crore shares valued at ₹259 crore, while Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley Asia, and Societe Generale picked up additional shares. Lightspeed initially backed PhysicsWallah during its $210 million Series B round in September 2024 and maintained a 1.79% holding during its public market listing.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• AI

  Particle Launches Radar to Make Podcasts Searchable for AI Agents

  Particle has launched Radar, a podcast intelligence platform designed to transcribe and analyze over 130,000 podcasts. The tool makes audio conversations easily searchable across the web while allowing autonomous AI agents to query and utilize the data directly. Delivered through an API and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration, Radar enables developers and systems to extract insights, track themes, and integrate contextual audio knowledge into multimodal workflows. By unlocking unstructured podcast audio for artificial intelligence applications, Particle aims to bridge the gap between traditional long-form audio media and automated information discovery tools.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Ribbit Capital Offloads Groww Shares Worth ₹2,217 Crore via Bulk Deals

  Early-stage investor Ribbit Capital has offloaded 11.31 crore shares in fintech major Groww through two bulk deals on the National Stock Exchange, generating approximately ₹2,217.3 crore. The shares, representing roughly 2% of Groww’s total equity, were sold by Ribbit Capital V and Ribbit Cayman GW Holdings V at approximately ₹196 apiece. The transaction follows previous stake sales by early backers, including Y Combinator selling ₹1,435.2 crore worth of shares and Ribbit selling ₹2,567.1 crore in May. Ribbit Capital previously led Groww’s $21.3 million Series B funding round back in 2019.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Lightspeed Exits PhysicsWallah in ₹550 Crore NSE Block Deal

  Lightspeed Venture Partners has completely exited its 1.61% stake in edtech major PhysicsWallah through a ₹550 crore block deal on the National Stock Exchange. The transaction saw Lightspeed Opportunity Fund II offload 4.66 crore shares at ₹117.72 each. Domestic and global institutional investors absorbed the stake, with ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund leading purchases by acquiring shares worth ₹258.98 crore. Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Tata AIA Life Insurance also participated. PhysicsWallah recently posted a 24% year-on-year revenue rise to ₹1,054 crore in Q1 FY27, turning EBITDA positive at ₹52 crore.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• AI

  Perceptron Unveils Visual AI Models for Industrial Machines and Navigation

  Founded by former Meta research scientists, artificial intelligence startup Perceptron has introduced a visual AI foundation model tailored for industrial robotics and manufacturing environments. The system is designed to help autonomous machines navigate complex real-world factory floors while providing comprehensive, real-time visual intelligence and spatial awareness. By combining physical navigation capabilities with high-precision computer vision, Perceptron aims to enhance automation efficiency, detect operational anomalies, and reduce manual oversight in heavy manufacturing and logistics. The platform represents an emerging shift toward specialized, embodied intelligence models built specifically for enterprise robotics.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Z.ai Reveals Mystery Model Ox Alpha as GLM 5.3 Flash

  Artificial intelligence research lab Z.ai has officially confirmed that its mysterious, benchmark-topping AI model, previously codenamed Ox Alpha, is GLM 5.3 Flash. The announcement resolves a week of widespread speculation across the global developer and AI research community regarding the origins of the high-performing model. According to benchmark data shared by the lab, GLM 5.3 Flash competes directly against leading frontier models, including Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.8 and OpenAI's GPT 5.6 Terra. Z.ai plans to make model weights accessible soon, marking a significant entry into competitive open-weight foundation models.

  Aug 26 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Bill Gates Proposes Robot Tax and Human-Reserved Jobs Against AI Disruption

  Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has proposed introducing a robot tax alongside legally designated 'Human Reserved' job categories to mitigate widespread labor disruption caused by artificial intelligence. Gates, a prominent advocate for responsible AI deployment, outlined measures aimed at protecting human employment and slowing down rapid automated displacement across key enterprise sectors. Under the concept, automated systems displacing human labor would incur fiscal levies to fund retraining programs and social safety nets, while specific roles in caregiving, creative disciplines, and human services would remain ring-fenced for human workers amid advancing autonomous AI capabilities.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Tata Communications Highlights Enterprise Orchestration Challenges in AI-Driven Customer Experience

  Enterprises are rapidly deploying AI agents, voice AI, and automation across customer interaction channels faster than supporting enterprise architectures can manage. Gaurav Anand, global head of the Customer Interaction Suite at Tata Communications, noted that organizations often bolt conversational AI onto legacy infrastructure never built for autonomous real-time systems. This approach increases cognitive load on human workers who must bridge disjointed context gaps across fragmented tools. To solve these friction points, enterprises require a unified context layer that coordinates customer identities, transactions, journeys, and operational data across AI agents, applications, and customer support representatives.

  Aug 26 · VentureBeat AI

• AI

  Z.ai Revealed as Creator of Benchmark-Topping Ox Alpha Model

  Artificial intelligence research lab Z.ai has confirmed that it is the creator behind Ox Alpha, a mysterious open AI model that recently topped multiple industry benchmarks and public leaderboards. The announcement resolves weeks of industry speculation regarding the origin of the high-performing model. Z.ai announced that it plans to release the model weights publicly in the coming days, granting researchers and developers open access to evaluate and fine-tune its architecture. The open release is expected to intensify competition among frontier foundation model developers and support decentralized artificial intelligence research.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Hala Mobility FY26 Revenue Surges 4.4X to ₹97 Crore, Net Profit Hits ₹3.6 Crore

  Hyderabad-based electric mobility platform Hala Mobility reported a 4.4-fold increase in operating revenue to ₹97 crore for FY26, up from ₹22 crore in FY25. The EV-as-a-service startup's profit after tax surged ninefold to ₹3.6 crore from ₹40 lakh. Founded in 2020 by Srikanth Reddy, Snehith Reddy Meda, and Anand Pareek, Hala operates 17,000 electric two-wheelers across nine Indian cities. The company serves delivery platforms including Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart. Founder Srikanth Reddy projected FY27 revenue to reach ₹250 to ₹260 crore, alongside improved profit margins of 5% to 6%.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Kitchenware Startup Curaa Raises ₹40 Cr in Series A Funding

  Bengaluru-based D2C kitchenware startup Curaa has secured ₹40 crore ($4.2 million) in a Series A funding round led by 3one4 Capital. Existing investors Kae Capital, Lumikai Fund, and Better Capital also participated. Founded in 2024 by Neeraj Kumawat and Your Food Lab founder Sanjyot Keer, Curaa designs kitchen appliances tailored for Indian homes. The company will use the capital to expand its product portfolio across cooking categories, strengthen warehousing and supply chain infrastructure, scale across D2C and quick commerce channels, and recruit senior leaders. Curaa has served over 3 lakh households.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Startup

  Zerodha Posts Rs 4,283 Crore Net Profit in FY26 as Revenue Stagnates

  Bootstrapped broking giant Zerodha reported a net profit of Rs 4,283 crore for FY26, marginally up by 1.2% from Rs 4,231 crore in FY25, while top-line revenue remained flat. Co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath noted that falling transaction fees amid a cooling bull market were offset by its newly launched margin trading facility (MTF) business. Introduced in December 2024, MTF now contributes 10% of revenue with a Rs 9,000 crore book. Zerodha became India’s largest broker by assets under management, though active customer additions slowed down.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• AI

  Robot Brain Builders Move Beyond Basic AI Foundations

  The robotics sector is transitioning beyond early-stage foundational intelligence models to build advanced AI systems for robotic hardware. As robotic mechanical bodies mature, developers and AI researchers are increasingly focusing on developing sophisticated, context-aware foundation models. These next-generation robotic brains aim to improve real-world perception, task planning, and autonomous physical execution, pushing the field past its initial developmental phases toward commercial and industrial deployment.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Edtech Unicorn LEAD Narrows FY26 Loss to Rs 34.5 Crore

  School edtech unicorn LEAD narrowed its net loss by over 20% year-on-year to Rs 34.5 crore for FY26, down from Rs 43.3 crore in the previous fiscal year. The Mumbai-based startup's operating revenue rose 10% to Rs 386.7 crore, supported by total income of Rs 392 crore. Operating EBITDA surged 7.5X to Rs 30.2 crore, driven by improved school retention and cost optimisation. Founded in 2012 by Sumeet Mehta and Smita Deorah, LEAD operates across 9,000 partner schools, generating substantial revenue from physical books, smart devices, and new AI-powered learning tools.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• AI

  Alibaba Unveils Open-Weight Qwen 3.8 Flash-Next Multimodal Model

  Chinese tech giant Alibaba has launched Qwen 3.8 Flash-Next, a new open-weight multimodal artificial intelligence model. Built on a redesigned model architecture, the system is designed to deliver high-speed inference alongside broad multimodal reasoning capabilities. According to benchmark metrics released by the company, the model outperforms competing frontier foundation systems, including Opus 4.6, across multiple industry evaluation datasets. The release expands Alibaba’s open-source Qwen model family, providing global developers and enterprise teams with enhanced generative AI capabilities for building agentic workflows, vision-language processing tasks, and complex computational reasoning applications.

  Aug 26 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  QueryStory Emerges from Stealth with $6 Million Seed Round

  Artificial intelligence startup QueryStory has emerged from stealth mode after securing $6 million in seed funding. The company leverages large language models combined with advanced cybersecurity protocols to verify and improve the coherence, accuracy, and reliability of AI-generated query results. By addressing enterprise trust issues and hallucinations in automated workflows, QueryStory aims to provide verifiable data querying for corporate teams. The newly raised capital will be allocated toward product engineering, expanding technical architecture, and onboarding early design partners seeking secure, hallucination-resistant enterprise language model applications across mission-critical business environments.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Arga Secures $10M Seed Round Led by General Catalyst

  Enterprise AI startup Arga has raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by General Catalyst. The financing round also saw participation from BoxGroup, Emergence Capital, Gradient Ventures, and SV Angel. Arga is building a dedicated platform designed to provide a better method for training enterprise-grade AI agents, addressing key challenges in deployment and reliability across corporate environments. The company plans to use the freshly acquired capital to accelerate product development, expand its core engineering team, and scale its infrastructure to support enterprise customers looking to build and deploy autonomous AI systems.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Indian Spacetech Startups Shift Focus Toward Microgravity Biomanufacturing

  Indian spacetech startups and researchers are expanding beyond satellites and launch vehicles to explore microgravity in low Earth orbit for pharmaceutical drug discovery and advanced materials manufacturing. Microgravity allows scientists to grow ultra-pure protein crystals and develop novel compounds that cannot be replicated on Earth. The shift gained momentum after Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla conducted seven microgravity experiments aboard the International Space Station during Axiom Mission 4, supported by ISRO. Indian space companies are now positioning low Earth orbit as a viable commercial manufacturing hub, attracting interest from pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms seeking competitive advantages in high-value therapeutics.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  AI Agent Platform Runable Secures $21M in Series A Round

  Bengaluru-based AI agent platform Runable has raised $21 million (approximately ₹200 crore) in a Series A funding round co-led by Susquehanna Venture Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. Existing backers Together Fund and Array VC also participated in the round. Founded in 2025 by Umesh Kumar and Saksham Sarda, Runable provides autonomous AI agents that build applications, manage marketing campaigns, and handle customer operations for small businesses. The startup plans to use the funds to expand marketing channels, enhance autonomous campaign management, hire across engineering and product teams, and scale its free education initiative, Runable Academy.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  AI Hearing Tech Startup Legato Unveils Frames With $12M Round

  Hearing technology startup Legato has emerged from stealth mode after securing $12 million in funding while unveiling its flagship AI-powered hearing assistance glasses, called Legato Frames. The smart eyewear integrates the company’s patented hearing assistance technology directly into the arms of the frames, blending discreet design with advanced audio enhancement capabilities. Legato’s platform uses artificial intelligence to process ambient sound and improve speech clarity for users experiencing hearing loss. The startup plans to use the newly raised funds to accelerate commercial production, secure regulatory clearances, and bring its hearing-enabled smart frames to the consumer market.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Bengaluru's Runable Secures $21M Series A for AI Agent Platform

  Bengaluru-based AI agent startup Runable has raised $21 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Susquehanna Venture Capital and Nexus Venture Partners, with participation from Together Fund and Array VC. Founded in 2025 by Umesh Kumar and Saksham Sarda, Runable provides autonomous AI agents that assist small businesses with tasks including website building, app development, marketing videos, SEO, and customer support. The startup reported reaching $2 million in annual recurring revenue within three weeks of launch, serving 1.5 million registered users globally. Funds will support product development, market expansion, and team hiring.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Startup

  Wipro Consumer Care Enters Pet Food Market with Snuggles Launch

  Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting has entered India's expanding ₹5,500 crore pet food market with the launch of its pet nutrition brand, Snuggles. The brand's debut lineup features dry dog food combining kibble with freeze-dried chicken chunks across three variants designed for puppies, small adult dogs, and medium to large breeds. Developed with veterinary experts, the formulations use human-grade ingredients tailored for the domestic market. Snuggles will retail across veterinary clinics, speciality pet stores, modern trade outlets, e-commerce, and quick-commerce channels, expanding Wipro's consumer goods portfolio into high-growth specialized categories.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Funding

  Kitchen Lifestyle Brand Cüraa Secures ₹40 Crore in Series A

  New Delhi-based kitchen and lifestyle brand Cüraa has raised ₹40 crore in a Series A funding round led by 3one4 Capital. Existing investors Kae Capital, Lumikai, and Better Capital also participated, with ValueBridge Capital serving as the transaction advisor. Founded in 2024 by chef Sanjyot Keer and entrepreneur Neeraj Kumawat, Cüraa manufactures kitchen appliances and tools tailored for Indian culinary use cases. The company plans to deploy the capital to expand its product portfolio, enhance warehousing and supply chain infrastructure, hire senior executives, and scale across direct-to-consumer channels, e-commerce marketplaces, and quick commerce platforms.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Zerodha Posts Flat FY26 Revenue as Net Profit Rises 1%

  Stock broking platform Zerodha reported a flat top line for the fiscal year FY26, with net profit rising marginally by 1.2% year-on-year to ₹4,283 crore. The company's operating revenue held steady around FY25 levels of ₹8,847 crore. Zerodha attributed the stagnation to regulatory changes eliminating rebates on transaction charges and broader market cooling. Brokerage revenue declined 10.7% to ₹2,738 crore, while net transaction fees dropped to zero from ₹400 crore in FY25. However, the company noted that growing Margin Trading Facility earnings helped offset the loss of transaction charge revenues.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Runable Raises $21M to Expand AI Agents for Business Growth

  Artificial intelligence startup Runable has raised $21 million in fresh funding to expand its autonomous AI agent platform aimed at helping businesses scale operations. The company revealed that between 60% and 70% of its more than one trillion token usage over the past 90 days was generated by paying enterprise customers. Runable is positioning its AI agents to move beyond foundational software building toward actively managing and driving business growth workflows. The new capital will support continued product development and scaling infrastructure to meet enterprise demand for autonomous operational agents.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Meta and Jane Street Capture Most Value in AI: Dylan Patel

  Dylan Patel, founder of research and analysis firm SemiAnalysis, stated that trading firms like Jane Street and tech giants like Meta have captured the bulk of economic value generated by artificial intelligence, rather than application-layer startups. While venture capital and public attention heavily focus on consumer-facing AI apps and wrapper tools, significant financial returns are currently concentrated among infrastructure players, proprietary trading operations leveraging models, and hyperscalers with massive computing infrastructure. Patel highlighted that monetization challenges and high inference costs continue to squeeze margins across independent software applications building directly atop foundation models.

  Aug 26 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Mystery AI Model Ox Alpha Traced to Chinese Lab Z.AI

  The mystery artificial intelligence model known as Ox Alpha, which sparked widespread speculation across AI research benchmarks and developer communities, has been officially attributed to Chinese AI lab Z.AI. The model had previously gained significant attention on evaluation leaderboards after outperforming several prominent open-weight and proprietary systems without public attribution. Developers and researchers tracked its computational signature and architectural traits before the confirmation from Z.AI. The development underscores the rapid emergence of advanced frontier AI models originating from Chinese research organizations competing directly with leading global artificial intelligence labs across standard technical benchmarks.

  Aug 26 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Micromax Launches ₹250 Crore Family Office For Deeptech Startups

  Indian technology company Micromax Informatics has launched a new family office with a corpus of Rs 250 crore to back deeptech startups in India and globally. The investment vehicle will focus on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defence technology, space technology, and robotics. It plans to invest primarily across pre-Series A to Series B funding rounds, with an average ticket size ranging between Rs 10 crore and Rs 20 crore. Co-founder Rahul Sharma said the fund aims to help deeptech founders scale globally by offering manufacturing support, commercialisation assistance, and ecosystem partnerships.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• AI

  Former OpenAI VP Says Humans Have Two Years Left in AI Research

  AI researchers may have only about two years left to directly contribute to AI research and discovery, according to former OpenAI VP Jerry Tworek. Speaking on the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence capabilities, Tworek suggested that autonomous AI systems will increasingly take over the discovery process from human scientists and engineers. As frontier AI models rapidly gain advanced reasoning and problem-solving capabilities, the timeline for automated AI research and development is shrinking dramatically, signaling a massive transformation in how computer science and technological research will be conducted globally in the near future.

  Aug 26 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  boAt FY26 Profit Jumps 38% to ₹85 Crore as Wearables Turn Profitable

  Consumer electronics brand boAt reported a 38% increase in profit after tax to ₹84.5 crore for FY26, up from ₹61.1 crore in FY25. The profit growth occurred despite operating revenue dipping 5% year-on-year to ₹2,931 crore. Bottom-line performance was driven by cost optimizations, reduced warranty expenses, and lower finance costs of ₹7.9 crore. The company repaid ₹60 crore in borrowings to become debt-free with cash reserves of ₹397 crore. Notably, boAt’s smart wearables division turned profitable, recording a ₹7 crore segment profit compared to a ₹54 crore loss in FY25.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Startup

  Daily Roundup Highlights Gurugram Edtech AssessPrep and Girl Rising Initiative

  Gurugram-headquartered assessment platform AssessPrep is deploying an AI-first testing tool across more than 800 schools globally. With operations in Jaipur, AssessPrep assists educational institutions in creating, grading, delivering, and analyzing examinations tailored to international curricula, including International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge IGCSE, and Advanced Placement programs. The platform tags questions to specific curriculum standards to pinpoint individual and classroom-level learning gaps. Meanwhile, non-profit organization Girl Rising launched the RISE Premier League in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, organizing mixed-gender cricket matches to challenge traditional gender stereotypes through its flagship community education programs running through October.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Startup

  US Apple App Store Spending Drops for First Time in Decade

  Consumer spending on Apple's App Store in the United States has declined for the first time in ten years, according to new market data. The drop comes despite a massive surge in the total number of mobile applications available to users. Industry observers note that while building and releasing mobile apps has become significantly easier due to modern software tools, monetising them effectively remains an uphill battle. The trend highlights shifting consumer spending patterns and growing saturation across multiple digital application categories in the US market.

  Aug 26 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Ringg Secures $10M Series A Extension Led by Peak XV

  AI agent platform Ringg raised $10 million in a Series A extension round led by venture capital firm Peak XV Partners. The fresh capital will be deployed to advance the company's autonomous AI agent platform, expand engineering talent, and accelerate enterprise adoption across target markets. Ringg focuses on deploying task-oriented AI agents capable of automating complex workflows for business customers. The funding follows continued investor interest in enterprise-grade applied AI and autonomous agent frameworks across global and Indian tech ecosystems.

  Aug 26 · Indian Startup News

• AI

  Tamil Nadu Launches Rs 50 Crore Deep-Tech and AI Innovation Fund

  The Tamil Nadu government has announced a comprehensive suite of initiatives to position the state as a national leader in deep-tech and artificial intelligence. State Minister Kumar R presented the Vetri Tamil Nadu Deep-Tech Innovation Fund, launched via the iTNT Hub with an initial corpus of Rs 50 crore. The fund supports startups, PhD scholars, and researchers working on AI/ML, small and large language models, advanced materials, semiconductors, and robotics, with 25% earmarked for SC/ST founders. Tamil Nadu also outlined plans for an AI Technology City, including specialized testing labs and an AI university.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Startup

  Piyush Goyal Proposes India-Japan 'Shark Tank' Style Pitching Platform

  Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series, styled after the "Shark Tank" format, to connect Indian and Japanese startups with cross-border investors and business partners. Speaking at a startup roundtable, Goyal suggested hosting virtual pitching sessions using digital platforms to deepen commercial ties. Under the initiative, Indian startups can pitch for Japanese venture investments, while Japanese startups can explore partnerships and pilots in India. Goyal noted that the initiative aims to move startup engagements from initial pitches to pilots, investments, and long-term business scaling across both countries.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Startup

  Nirmala Sitharaman Pitches India Growth Story to Canadian Investors

  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pitched India's investment potential to Canadian investors and the Indian diaspora during an address to the business community in Toronto. Highlighting India as the world's fastest-growing major economy, Sitharaman emphasized structural growth drivers including rapid urbanization, expanding consumption, a young workforce, and deepening capital markets. She spotlighted India's digital public infrastructure, particularly the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the global leader in real-time payments volume. Sitharaman invited Canadian banks, fintech firms, and regulators to collaborate on next-generation digital financial infrastructure and cross-border payment innovations.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• AI

  Nitro Commerce Launches AI App Builder for Shopify Merchants

  E-commerce enablement startup Nitro Commerce unveiled Nitro Apps, an artificial intelligence platform that allows Shopify merchants to build custom store applications using natural language prompts. Unveiled by co-founder and CEO Umair Mohammad at Inc42's D2C and Retail Summit 2026, the tool brings prompt-based "vibe coding" to e-commerce. Merchants can describe required workflows, such as custom loyalty programs, GST reconciliation, or gamified discount mechanisms, and the platform automatically generates and installs the application into their Shopify backend. Merchants retain complete ownership of the underlying code without needing dedicated internal software development resources.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Startup

  boAt Net Profit Jumps 38% to Rs 84.5 Crore in FY26

  D2C consumer electronics brand boAt reported a 38% year-on-year increase in profit after tax to Rs 84.5 crore for FY26, up from Rs 61.1 crore in FY25. However, revenue from operations dropped 4.6% to Rs 2,931 crore, marking its third consecutive year of top-line contraction. boAt improved its return on capital employed to 15.2% as wearables turned profitable with Rs 7 crore profit. Warranty expenses fell 30% to Rs 57.5 crore, while inventory dropped 10% to Rs 294 crore. The company closed FY26 with Rs 397 crore in cash reserves and zero debt.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• AI

  Indian Tech Firms Pivot Toward Vertical Domain-Specific AI Models

  India's enterprise AI ecosystem is shifting toward domain-specific vertical models, mirroring the trajectory of SaaS adoption a decade ago. Companies are developing targeted solutions, including Razorpay's Vulcan, Fractal's healthcare reasoning models, and BharatGen's agriculture and legal models. Additionally, Tech Mahindra recently unveiled an 8-billion-parameter Hindi-first LLM tailored for adaptive tutoring to overcome English bias in global models. BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal noted that while frontier models like ChatGPT and Claude are versatile, vertical models offer targeted enterprise value, allowing software companies to leverage proprietary data advantages.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Peak XV Leads $10M Series A Extension in Ringg AI

  Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Ringg AI has secured $10 million in an extension to its Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Arkam Ventures and Capital 2b. Founded in October 2023 by Siddharth Shankar Tripathi, Utkarsh Shukla, and Kali CV, the startup develops context-aware conversational AI agents for enterprises. Ringg AI previously raised $5.5 million in its Series A round. The fresh capital will be used to enhance its proprietary AI models, expand multimodal agent capabilities, and accelerate enterprise go-to-market efforts across India and global markets.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Startup

  Flipkart Minutes Surpasses Swiggy Instamart in Top 10 Indian Cities

  Flipkart Minutes has surpassed Swiggy Instamart in dark store footprint across India's top 10 cities, according to a report by brokerage firm CLSA. As of August 2026, Flipkart Minutes operated 627 dark stores compared to Instamart’s 615, alongside leading in pincode coverage. Blinkit remains the market leader with 969 dark stores across the top 10 cities and over 34% share nationally, while Zepto follows with 828 stores. The top five quick-commerce players collectively run 3,536 dark stores in these key urban markets, with Bengaluru leading with 735 stores, followed by Delhi and Hyderabad.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Ringg AI Closes Series A at $15.5 Million Led by Peak XV

  Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Ringg AI has raised an additional $10 million (₹95 crore), taking its extended Series A funding round to $15.5 million (₹147 crore). The top-up round was led by Peak XV Partners, with continued participation from existing investors Arkam Ventures and Capital 2b. Ringg AI previously raised $5.5 million in January 2026. Founded in 2023 by Kali CV and Siddharth Shankar Tripathy, the startup will use the fresh capital to expand its enterprise AI platform across voice, WhatsApp, and browser agents, alongside building proprietary foundational models and scaling international go-to-market operations.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Even Healthcare to Secure ₹208 Crore in Khosla-Led Series B

  Bengaluru-based healthtech startup Even Healthcare is set to raise ₹208.24 crore (around $22 million) in a Series B round led by Khosla Ventures. Regulatory filings indicate Khosla Ventures is investing ₹145 crore, with DLB Ventures contributing ₹38.88 crore and Simon Fiduciaria adding ₹22.67 crore. ADBEEV LLP and Better Capital are also participating. The round values Even at an estimated $300 million, following a $20 million fundraise in January 2026. Founded in 2020, Even operates a managed healthcare subscription model offering primary care, outpatient consultations, diagnostic services, and hospitalisation coverage across major Indian cities.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Mamaearth Parent Honasa Scraps ₹135 Crore Fluence Pharma Acquisition

  Honasa Consumer, the parent company of D2C brand Mamaearth, has called off its proposed ₹135 crore acquisition of a 58% majority stake in nutraceutical startup Fluence Pharma. The transaction was cancelled due to the non-fulfilment of closing conditions outlined in the share purchase agreement signed in June 2026. Honasa had originally planned to acquire the remaining 42% over five to seven years to bolster its skin and hair supplement portfolio across 3,000 dermatologists. Honasa stated it remains committed to the nutraceutical category and will continue evaluating other organic and inorganic opportunities.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Purple Style Labs Sets ₹546-₹575 Price Band for ₹680 Crore IPO

  Luxury fashion platform Purple Style Labs, the parent company of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, has set a price band of ₹546 to ₹575 per share for its ₹680 crore initial public offering. At the upper band, the company is valued at ₹4,604 crore ($483 million). The IPO opens for subscription on August 31, 2026, and closes on September 2, consisting entirely of a fresh issue of shares. Founded in 2015 by Abhishek Agarwal, the company plans to deploy ₹371.1 crore toward experience centre lease liabilities and ₹138.9 crore toward sales and marketing initiatives.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Funding

  Voice AI startup Ringg bags $10M extended Series A led by Peak XV

  Bengaluru-based enterprise voice AI startup Ringg has raised $10 million in an extended Series A round led by Peak XV Partners, alongside Arkam Ventures and Capital 2b. This takes the startup's total Series A funding to $15.5 million. Founded by Siddharth Tripathi, Utkarsh Shukla, and Kali Charan Vemuru, Ringg builds AI voice agents for enterprise workflows like lead qualification, loan collections, and appointment booking. The startup handles nearly 20 million call attempts monthly for clients such as Flipkart, Practo, and Groww. Funds will support model development, agent expansion, and global market expansion.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Dog care startup Scooby’s Club secures $250K pre-seed round

  Bengaluru-based dog care startup Scooby’s Club has raised $250,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by TDV Partners. Founded in 2025 by Animeha Singh and Ankit Gupta, the startup operates neighbourhood-based indoor canine daycare and overnight boarding hubs designed with behavioural and climate-controlled enrichment spaces. The fresh capital will be deployed to launch two new properties across Bengaluru over the next 6 to 12 months, as well as hire and train dedicated canine coaches. Scooby’s Club aims to eventually scale its neighbourhood model across 100 locations in major Indian cities.

  Aug 26 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Voice AI Startup Ringg Secures $10 Million From Peak XV Partners

  Indian voice artificial intelligence startup Ringg has secured $10 million in fresh funding from venture capital firm Peak XV Partners as part of its Series A extension round. The company specializes in building voice AI systems that extend communication capabilities beyond conventional telephone calls into automated enterprise workflows. The newly acquired capital will be used to enhance Ringg's proprietary voice technology, expand research and development teams, and scale deployment across enterprise clients. This investment underscores growing investor confidence in specialized conversational AI infrastructure tailored for complex business environments and multilingual customer interactions.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Ringg Raises $10M in Series A Extension From Peak XV Partners

  Voice AI startup Ringg has secured $10 million from Peak XV Partners as an extension of its Series A funding round, bringing the total round to $15.5 million following an earlier $5.5 million raise. Founded initially as text-to-speech platform DesiVocal, the company pivoted to developing enterprise voice AI agents to automate customer outreach and support calls. Ringg currently processes around 20 million call attempts monthly, serving major enterprise clients including fintech unicorn Cred. The fresh capital will help the company expand its voice agent technology as enterprise demand for automated conversational AI continues to grow across India.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch

• Startup

  Amazon and Flipkart Tighten Marketplace Seller Rules Ahead of Festive Season

  Ahead of India’s festive season, ecommerce giants Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are tightening operational rules for third-party merchants to improve delivery reliability. Amazon has introduced a graded cancellation fee ranging between 2% and 10% based on order value for Easy Ship and Self Ship services, while increasing closing fees by ₹1 to ₹3. Meanwhile, Flipkart has rolled out a three-tier penalty system charging ₹30 for missed dispatch deadlines and ₹90 for delayed cancellations. These policy shifts come as traditional marketplaces face intensifying competition from rapid delivery platforms expanding aggressively across non-grocery merchandise categories.

  Aug 26 · Inc42

• Startup

  UPI Crosses ₹314 Lakh Crore in Cumulative Transaction Value

  Marking a decade since conceptualisation, India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has recorded exponential growth. Annual transaction volume expanded nearly 13,000-fold from 1.78 crore in FY17 to over 24,162 crore in FY26, according to the Ministry of Finance. Concurrently, annual transaction value rose from ₹7,000 crore to approximately ₹314 lakh crore. In July 2026, UPI recorded an all-time high monthly volume of 2,366 crore transactions, serving as the digital public backbone supporting households and small businesses nationwide.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Startup

  Gurugram Startup AssessPrep Scales AI Assessment Platform Across 800 International Schools

  Gurugram and Jaipur-based assessment platform AssessPrep is expanding its AI-driven testing solution across more than 800 schools worldwide. Founded in 2016 by Karan Gupta, Shikhar Sethi, and Abhimanyu Jhajharia, the platform helps schools create, deliver, grade, and analyze tests tailored to international curricula like IB, Cambridge IGCSE, and Advanced Placement. AssessPrep tags individual test questions to specific curriculum standards, enabling educators to track learning gaps for students and classes accurately. The company aims to address educational measurement inefficiencies by automating grading and delivering granular diagnostic data to improve academic outcomes.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• AI

  AI Integration Transforms Job Search and Recruitment Dynamics in India

  The adoption of AI across hiring workflows is reshaping candidate recruitment in India, exposing systemic matching friction beyond basic skill gaps. Mentoria data and Azim Premji University research indicate youth graduate unemployment ranges between 20% and 40% for those under 30, with only 7% of unemployed graduates finding permanent salaried roles within a year. Between 2004 and 2023, India produced 5 million graduates annually, but only 2.8 million secured jobs. Experts note traditional high-volume application strategies fail as automated recruiter screening systems redefine qualification filtering.

  Aug 26 · YourStory

• Funding

  Physical AI Startup Generalist Hits $3B Valuation With $200M Extension

  Physical AI and robotics startup Generalist has achieved a $3 billion valuation following a new $200 million funding extension, according to sources. The capital injection comes just months after the company reached a $2 billion valuation. Generalist is developing advanced robotics systems powered by foundation models designed to operate in real-world environments. The rapid valuation surge highlights intense investor appetite for physical AI and embodied intelligence ventures that bridge frontier artificial intelligence research with practical robotic automation and industrial applications across various sectors worldwide.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  OpenAI Data Center Exec Departs Following Leadership Reorganization

  OpenAI has lost another key executive as Malone, a top data center executive, departed the company amid ongoing senior leadership turnover. The departure follows an internal reshuffle within OpenAI's infrastructure organization. Prior to Malone's exit, OpenAI had adjusted his reporting structure away from President Greg Brockman and placed Vice President Sachin Katti in charge of the infrastructure team. The movement comes as OpenAI continues to manage high computing demands, expand global data center capacity, and navigate executive departures across its technical, research, and infrastructure divisions.

  Aug 26 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Zerodha Fund House FY26 Revenue Rises 79% to ₹17 Crore

  Zerodha Asset Management Pvt Ltd, operating as Zerodha Fund House, reported a 78.7% year-on-year surge in operating revenue to ₹16.8 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26), up from ₹9.4 crore in FY25. The asset management firm narrowed its net loss by 37.8% to ₹5.1 crore compared to ₹8.2 crore in the previous fiscal year. Total income stood at ₹17.1 crore, supported by other income of ₹36.6 lakh. Established in 2021 as a partnership between Zerodha and CASE Platforms (formerly smallcase), the passive fund manager launched nine new index and ETF schemes during the year.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Stability AI Raises $76 Million in Fresh Funding

  Stability AI, the creator of the popular open-source text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion, has raised $76 million in a fresh round of funding. This latest capital injection brings the generative AI company’s total funding to $232 million to date. The new capital will support the company's ongoing research and development of next-generation multimodal AI models, compute infrastructure, and enterprise deployment capabilities. The funding marks a crucial step in stabilizing the startup's financial position amid high operational costs and intensifying competition across the global generative artificial intelligence landscape.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Anthropic Introduces Shared Memory Across Claude Chat and Cowork

  Anthropic has introduced a shared memory capability connecting Claude chat with its Cowork workspace. This upgrade allows the artificial intelligence assistant to retain user instructions, ongoing project contexts, workflows, and personal preferences across various interactions. Consequently, users no longer need to repeatedly re-prompt or brief the AI on essential background details when switching tasks. By synchronizing information between conversational chat and collaborative workspace workflows, Anthropic aims to significantly improve user efficiency and productivity. The update addresses a major friction point for enterprise teams and developers using Claude for daily operations.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Accelerated Understanding Exits Stealth to Simulate Complex Physics

  Accelerated Understanding, a newly launched artificial intelligence startup, has officially emerged from stealth mode to focus on scientific discovery and physics simulation. While traditional large language models continue to dominate industry attention, the startup is developing novel computational AI architectures designed to simulate, model, and discover complex physical phenomena. By bridging fundamental physics with machine learning, the company aims to help researchers accelerate breakthroughs in theoretical and applied sciences. This stealth exit highlights growing investor and industry interest in specialized, domain-specific AI models that extend beyond text generation into advanced scientific computation and engineering research.

  Aug 25 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  IPO-Bound Purple Style Labs' FY26 Net Loss Widens 52%

  Purple Style Labs, the parent company of luxury fashion omnichannel platform Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, reported a 51.5% widening in consolidated net loss to ₹285.4 crore for FY26, compared to ₹188.4 crore in FY25. Operating revenue rose 14% year-on-year to ₹557.8 crore, while gross merchandise value grew 23% to ₹721.6 crore. However, international GMV contribution fell from 28.38% to 20.3%, with US sales dropping despite opening a New York store in February 2026. Founded in 2015 by Abhishek Agarwal, the IPO-bound company has raised $78 million in total private equity funding to date.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• AI

  OpenAI Unveils Custom Jalapeno AI Chip to Challenge Nvidia Hardware

  OpenAI has unveiled its proprietary AI chip named Jalapeno as it expands control over its full technology stack ahead of a planned public listing. The company claims the custom silicon outperforms Nvidia's flagship Blackwell processors across select operational parameters. The strategic shift toward in-house hardware design allows OpenAI to lower computing expenses, reduce reliance on external chip suppliers, and enhance infrastructure efficiency for training and deploying advanced artificial intelligence models globally. The move intensifies competition among major tech firms developing bespoke semiconductors for demanding artificial intelligence workloads.

  Aug 25 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Mamaearth Parent Honasa Consumer Calls Off Fluence Pharma Acquisition

  Mamaearth parent firm Honasa Consumer has terminated its proposed acquisition of a 58% majority stake in nutraceuticals company Fluence Pharma. The transaction, initially announced in June at an enterprise valuation of approximately Rs 135 crore, was called off due to unmet closing conditions outlined in the share purchase agreement. Fluence Pharma, founded in 2012 by Amit Bhusari and Dr Rajendra Singh Rajput, reported around Rs 40 crore revenue in FY26. Honasa confirmed it remains committed to expanding into the nutraceuticals market through alternative organic and inorganic routes.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Supertails Navigates Expanding Indian Pet Care Market Seeking Profitable Growth

  India's pet care market is projected to reach $7 billion to $8 billion by 2030, transitioning from discretionary spending to recurring household expenditure. Startup Supertails is building an integrated ecosystem spanning healthcare, diagnostics, nutrition, and at-home services to capture this expansion. Founded in 2021, the company competes alongside peers such as Drools, Heads Up For Tails, Vetic, and major ecommerce platforms. As pet adoption accelerates post-pandemic across urban households, startups in the segment face the critical challenge of unit economics while scaling full-stack platforms and clinical service networks.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Atomberg Files DRHP with SEBI for ₹450 Crore IPO

  Smart home appliances maker Atomberg has filed its draft red herring prospectus with SEBI for an initial public offering. The public issue features a fresh issue worth up to ₹450 crore alongside an offer for sale of up to 7.65 crore equity shares. Key institutional backers including A91 Partners, Temasek Holdings, Steadview Capital, and Inflexor Ventures plan to partially offload their holdings. Founded in 2012 by Manoj Kumar Meena and Sibabrata Das, the pioneer in BLDC ceiling fans has expanded into smart kitchen appliances. The co-founders are not offloading any shares during this proposed market listing.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Gamma Acquires Accel-Backed AI Design Startup Lica

  AI presentation platform Gamma has acquired Lica, an early-stage design startup backed by venture capital firm Accel. Following the acquisition, Lica's co-founders will join Gamma to help build and lead its new research team. While specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the move is aimed at bolstering Gamma's underlying generative design capabilities and expanding its product intelligence. The deal highlights growing consolidation across the AI productivity tooling market as established players absorb early-stage engineering and design talent to accelerate development of next-generation multimodal presentation software.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Bengaluru Drone Startup Airbound Raises $37M Series A Funding

  Bengaluru-based autonomous drone startup Airbound has raised $37 million in a Series A funding round. The startup plans to use the newly acquired capital to expand its autonomous drone delivery infrastructure and scale operations. Airbound is focused on building proprietary drone technology designed to significantly lower the cost of aerial deliveries, aiming to make drone logistics commercially competitive with traditional road transport methods. The fresh capital will help accelerate product development, regulatory compliance, and broader commercial deployment across key logistics and enterprise delivery networks.

  Aug 25 · The Daily Star

• AI

  OpenAI's Jalapeño Inference Chip Outperforms Rivals in SemiAnalysis Benchmarks

  Benchmark testing conducted by research firm SemiAnalysis on its InferenceX platform reveals that OpenAI’s proprietary Jalapeño chip delivers superior performance metrics compared to currently available state-of-the-art silicon. The dedicated inference processor achieved significantly higher tokens per second per user alongside increased throughput per kilowatt, underscoring substantial energy efficiency gains for large-scale generative AI deployment. As cloud inference costs continue to strain enterprise balance sheets, custom chip designs like Jalapeño represent OpenAI's strategic push to reduce hardware dependencies, optimize server rack power consumption, and scale model serving cost-effectively.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Germany's Infineon Technologies to Acquire Bengaluru Chip Startup C2i Semiconductors

  German semiconductor giant Infineon Technologies has agreed to acquire Bengaluru-based fabless startup C2i Semiconductors for an undisclosed amount, with the transaction expected to close in Q3 2026. C2i specializes in software-defined power management, multiphase controllers, and advanced system architectures tailored for energy-intensive artificial intelligence data centres. As global data center power consumption surges toward an estimated 945 TWh by 2030, Infineon aims to integrate C2i's intellectual property to establish a dedicated center of excellence for digital power and optimize accelerated AI server performance globally.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  Devotional Platform Utsav Raises Rs 36 Crore Series A Led by Atomic Capital

  Kolkata-based devotional and spiritual tech startup Utsav has secured Rs 36 crore ($3.8 million) in a Series A funding round led by Atomic Capital. Existing investors India Quotient and Equanimity Investments also participated. This round brings Utsav's total funding to Rs 42 crore, following a Rs 6.35 crore fundraise in early 2025. The platform enables devotees to access rituals and temple services remotely. Utsav plans to utilize the fresh capital to expand its temple partner network, enhance logistics and fulfilment, and strengthen its core technology stack.

  Aug 25 · Indian Startup Times

• Startup

  Edtech Unicorn LEAD Reports FY26 Revenue of Rs 387 Crore

  School edtech platform LEAD Group recorded a 9.89% year-on-year rise in operational revenue to Rs 386.66 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Product sales, including teaching aids and books, rose 11.54% to Rs 307.16 crore, while service solutions grew to Rs 79.50 crore. Operating profit before depreciation and stock options jumped to Rs 30.19 crore from Rs 4.03 crore, driven by cost optimizations. LEAD narrowed its net loss by 22.74% to Rs 33.03 crore, generating positive cash flow from operations.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Startup

  Cult.fit Cofounder Rishabh Telang Moves High Court To Quash FIR

  Cult Fitness cofounder Rishabh Telang has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash a First Information Report filed against him by cofounder Deepak Poduval. While the court declined an immediate stay on the police investigation, it noted Telang will not face immediate arrest under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Poduval filed the complaint alleging forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy over a 2016 transfer of assets and intellectual property from Cult Fitness to Cultfit Healthcare without compensation. The High Court has sought responses from the state and Poduval ahead of a September 2 hearing.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Startup

  Earthomadic Foundation Founder Nagmani Roy Empowers 1,700 Artisans in Bihar

  After his 42-store retail fashion brand shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, NIFT Hyderabad alumnus Nagmani Roy launched the Earthomadic Foundation and Project Anuswaar in Vaishali, Bihar. The initiative connects traditional rural women artisans to mainstream commercial markets through updated design interventions and structured production channels. The social enterprise has provided sustainable livelihood opportunities and steady incomes to over 1,700 women across rural Bihar. Roy's grassroots enterprise bridges traditional indigenous crafts with modern consumer demand, fostering scalable rural entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for regional artisan communities.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Startup

  Zoomcar Q1 Net Loss Widens 28% To $5.4 Million, Revenue Stagnates

  Rental car platform Zoomcar reported a 28% year-on-year increase in its net loss to $5.4 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, up from $4.2 million last year. Net revenue remained flat at $2.4 million as gross booking value fell 10% to $5.8 million. Zoomcar attributed the lower booking volume to a strategic shift targeting longer, higher-value trips rather than volume. Despite widening bottom-line losses driven by higher finance and non-operating costs, adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed by 65% to $611,000, supported by improved gross profit margins following insurance policy updates and loss-prevention measures.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Accel-Backed Keenable Exits Stealth With $26 Million Seed Funding

  Keenable has officially exited stealth mode after securing a $26 million seed funding round backed by Accel. The company is developing a dedicated, large-scale web search index specifically designed for autonomous artificial intelligence agents. As AI systems evolve beyond traditional language models into action-oriented agents, they require specialized web indexing to navigate, retrieve, and synthesize real-time data effectively. Keenable aims to supply this critical infrastructure layer, positioning its proprietary indexing platform to power next-generation agentic workflows, complex automated reasoning tasks, and accurate web exploration capabilities across diverse enterprise use cases.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  DealShare in Acquisition Talks With TrueMeds and Captain Fresh Amid Shutdown Threat

  Social commerce unicorn DealShare is actively weighing potential acquisition bids from online pharmacy platform TrueMeds and B2B seafood marketplace Captain Fresh as it faces a possible shutdown. Multiple sources confirm that the grocery e-retailer's operations have drastically shrunk following continuous revenue declines, leaving it with limited operating assets. Discussions with TrueMeds are currently at a more advanced stage, partly aided by common investor WestBridge Capital. If neither transaction goes through, DealShare is expected to wind down entirely. Any eventual transaction is expected to be structured largely as a financial transfer rather than an operational buyout.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Amazon and Flipkart Revise Seller Fees and Penalties Ahead of Festive Season

  E-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have revised their seller fee structures and penalty frameworks ahead of the upcoming Indian festive shopping season. Amazon has introduced a graded cancellation fee ranging from 2% to 10% on seller-initiated order cancellations across its Easy Ship and Self Ship programs, effective August 17, along with an 18% GST charge. Amazon will also raise closing fees by ₹1 to ₹3 across various fulfillment channels starting September 7. Meanwhile, Flipkart has transitioned from account-level restrictions to order-specific penalties as marketplaces gear up to compete against rapidly growing quick commerce platforms.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• AI

  OpenAI Product Head Discusses Autonomous Agents, UX, and Emerging Ecosystem

  OpenAI's head of product, Thibault Sottiaux, shared insights regarding the organization's evolving product strategy, user experience design, and internal technical roadmaps during a recent TechCrunch interview. Sottiaux discussed the transition toward agentic artificial intelligence workflows, explaining how user interaction models must adapt as models shift from passive text generators to proactive digital assistants. The discussion explored the challenges of building dependable autonomous tools, the role of developer ecosystems in deploying agents, and the necessity of aligning model capabilities with practical enterprise reporting structures, emphasizing that global markets are increasingly ready for practical agent deployments.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  India Expands Logistics Infrastructure to Capture Global Supply Chains

  Logistics networks across India are transitioning from simple transport functions to critical strategic assets as global manufacturers adopt multi-country supply chain diversification beyond China. With enterprises seeking supply chain resilience against geopolitical disruption and tariff fluctuations, India is scaling modern infrastructure and digital coordination. The shift aims to connect emerging domestic manufacturing corridors with export markets. Industry analysts emphasize that building integrated supply networks and resilient multi-modal transport ecosystems remains central to establishing the country as an indispensable global manufacturing and distribution hub.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  Verlinvest And Mirchandani Family Buy $20M Stake In Epigamia

  Consumer brand Epigamia's existing backer Verlinvest and the family of late cofounder Rohan Mirchandani have increased their stakes via a $20 million secondary transaction. Early-stage venture fund Sauce.vc also joined Epigamia’s cap table through the deal. The secondary transaction involved purchasing shares from existing investors, including DSG Consumer Partners and Deepika Padukone’s investment firm KA Enterprises, resulting in no fresh capital infusion. Epigamia, which has raised approximately $60 million to date, recently appointed Ritesh Gauba as chief executive officer and elevated operating chief Ankur Goel to cofounder to support its next growth phase.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Spiritual Tech Startup Utsav Raises ₹36 Crore Series A

  Kolkata-based spiritual tech platform Utsav has raised ₹36 crore ($3.8 million) in a Series A funding round led by Atomic Capital. Existing investors India Quotient and Equanimity Investments also participated in the round. Founded in 2021 by Sourajit Basu, Ankita De, and Prajata Samanta, Utsav connects devotees with temple priests to offer authenticated rituals and devotional services online. The startup claims to fulfill 250,000 orders monthly and plans to deploy the fresh capital toward product development, expanding its temple network, and serving the Indian diaspora over the next 12 to 24 months.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian Wealthtech Firm Nexedge Capital Raises $20 Million in Maiden Round

  Indian wealth management platform Nexedge Capital has raised $20 million in its maiden funding round. The fresh capital will enable the startup to expand its wealthtech infrastructure, scale product offerings, and strengthen its advisory ecosystem for high-net-worth individuals and retail investors across India. Nexedge Capital operates in India's rapidly growing wealth management and financial services sector, aiming to modernize investment portfolios through technology-led tools. The funding comes amid surging interest from domestic and global investors backing early-stage Indian fintech and wealthtech platforms catering to the burgeoning retail and institutional investment landscape across the country.

  Aug 25 · Indian Startup News

• AI

  Pine Labs Invests ₹24 Cr in AI, Slashes Testing Time

  Fintech major Pine Labs invested approximately ₹24 crore in artificial intelligence and enterprise R&D initiatives during FY26 to modernize its digital payments stack. The company deployed autonomous email and chat AI agents for customer support, scheme configuration tools, and a virtual employee platform. Pine Labs reported cutting software testing cycle times by over 95%, boosting developer productivity by 25%, and reducing incident analysis time by 80%. Autonomous AI agents modified over 1.5 million lines of code, successfully handling nearly 89% of all new code changes at the fintech firm over the past two quarters.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  MATTER Raises $25M as Nexedge Capital Secures $20M

  Ahmedabad-based EV startup MATTER Motor Works has raised $25 million from existing investors to scale manufacturing, expand distribution, and launch four electric motorcycles over the next 12 to 24 months. Meanwhile, New Delhi wealth management firm Nexedge Capital secured $20 million in its maiden funding round led by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Elev8 Venture Partners. Founded in February 2025 by Anirudha Taparia, Nexedge manages $3 billion in assets across 1,300 clients and plans to expand tech, launch an NBFC, and target tier-II and tier-III cities across India.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  CarbonStrong Secures ₹12.5 Crore Seed Funding Led By IAN Angel Fund

  Bengaluru-based climate-tech startup CarbonStrong has raised Rs 12.5 crore in a seed funding round led by IAN Angel Fund. The round also saw participation from Rainmatter, Social Alpha, Spectrum Impact, and Full Circle Ventures. Founded in 2022 by Harsh Jain and Vikramaditya Singh, CarbonStrong manufactures low-carbon binders using upcycled industrial waste to replace up to 50% of cement in concrete mixes. The company plans to deploy the capital to build its first production facility, expand headcount, advance product development, and scale toward an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes over two years.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Pernia’s Pop Up Shop Parent Files RHP For ₹680 Cr IPO

  Purple Style Labs, the parent company of luxury fashion platform Pernia’s Pop Up Shop, has filed its Red Herring Prospectus for a ₹680 crore initial public offering. The issue is entirely a fresh issue of shares with no offer-for-sale component, reflecting a ₹20 crore increase from its original plan. The IPO opens for subscription on August 31 and closes on September 2, following anchor bidding on August 28. The company will use ₹371.1 crore for experience centre lease liabilities, ₹138.9 crore for marketing through FY30, and remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Nexedge Capital Raises $20 Mn Maiden Round To Scale Wealth Platform

  Mumbai-based wealth management startup Nexedge Capital has raised $20 million in its maiden funding round co-led by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Elev8 Venture Partners. Founded in 2025 by former 360 ONE Wealth executives Anirudha Taparia, Sidhartha Shaw, Vijeeta Sharma, and Pankaj Walia, the platform serves high-net-worth individuals and multi-family offices. Nexedge reports over $3 billion in assets under management across 1,300 families. The company will use the funds to strengthen its technology stack, expand its network of private bankers across 12 domestic locations, build an NRI proposition, and set up an NBFC business.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Airbound Secures $37 Mn Series A Led By Greenoaks

  Bengaluru-based autonomous aerospace startup Airbound has raised $37 million in a Series A funding round led by Greenoaks. Participating investors included DoorDash, Lachy Groom, Lightspeed, and Humba Ventures, bringing total funding to nearly $50 million since its 2023 launch. Founded by Naman Pushp, Airbound develops lightweight autonomous aircraft designed to carry 100 kg cargo or single passengers at lower transportation costs. Having completed over 1,000 autonomous test flights with Narayana Health for medical sample deliveries, Airbound will use the capital to accelerate engineering, commercial-scale manufacturing, and an intercity delivery project in Andhra Pradesh.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Devotional Platform Utsav Secures ₹36 Cr Series A Led By Atomic Capital

  Kolkata-based devotional platform Utsav has secured ₹36 crore in a Series A funding round led by Atomic Capital, with participation from existing backers India Quotient and Equanimity Investments. This round brings Utsav's total capital raised to ₹42 crore. Founded by Sourajit Basu, Ankita De, and Prajata Samanta, the platform collaborates with temple priests to offer online puja bookings, pujari consultations, and consecrated prasad delivery. Currently fulfilling 2.5 lakh orders monthly with an 8X revenue rise since February 2025, Utsav plans to expand its temple network, improve technology and fulfilment, and engage Indian diaspora devotees.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  MATTER Bags $25 Mn Growth Capital To Expand EV Production

  Ahmedabad-based electric motorcycle startup MATTER Motor Works has raised $25 million in growth capital from existing investors, including Helena, Capital 2B, Japan Airlines & Translink Innovation Fund, and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Founded in 2019 by Mohal Lalbhai, MATTER develops in-house powertrains, battery systems, and software, and launched the AERA geared electric motorcycle. The company has raised ₹1,000 crore to date, deploying ₹750 crore into manufacturing and R&D. The fresh capital will be deployed over 12 months to expand manufacturing capacity, scale retail distribution, and roll out four new motorcycle models on its AERA platform.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Startup

  LEAD Group Posts ₹387 Cr Revenue In FY26, Losses Down 20%

  Edtech unicorn LEAD Group reported a 10% increase in operating revenue to ₹386.6 crore for the fiscal year ended March 2026, up from ₹351.5 crore in FY25. The company improved operating EBITDA sevenfold and reduced net losses by 20% year-on-year. Founded in 2012 by Sumeet Mehta and Smita Deorah, LEAD provides integrated school curricula and tech systems across 9,000 schools in 400 cities. Product sales generated ₹275.4 crore, while platform services contributed ₹76.5 crore. Employee expenses declined 6% to ₹131.2 crore, while advertising expenses rose 10% to ₹18.9 crore during the year.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Dronetech Startup Airbound Raises $37 Million in Series A Round

  Bengaluru-based drone technology startup Airbound has raised $37 million in a Series A funding round led by US-based venture firm Greenoaks. The round also saw participation from food delivery major DoorDash, Lightspeed, Humba Ventures, and Physical Intelligence co-founder Lachy Groom. Founded in 2023 by Naman Pushp, Airbound manufactures autonomous cargo drones using a blended-wing-body tail-sitter design that enables vertical takeoff and horizontal flight. The company will deploy the fresh capital to accelerate engineering, expand commercial-scale manufacturing, and support go-to-market initiatives, bringing its total institutional funding to approximately $50 million since launch.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  Kedaara Capital Invests $200 Million in Mohali-Based Tynor Orthotics

  Homegrown private equity firm Kedaara Capital has invested $200 million in Mohali-based orthopaedic supports and mobility aids manufacturer Tynor Orthotics. Founded in 1993 by PJ Singh and AJ Singh, Tynor operates three manufacturing facilities and distributes products across 300,000 retail outlets and 8,000 hospitals in 60 countries. Kedaara plans to partner with Tynor’s founders, management team, and strategic partner Thuasne to expand domestic and international distribution while bolstering manufacturing capabilities. Kedaara Capital, which manages over $6 billion in assets, aims to scale Tynor into a leading healthcare and ortho-focused wellness platform globally.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  EV Startup MATTER Secures $25M Growth Capital from Existing Investors

  Ahmedabad-based electric motorcycle startup MATTER Motor Works has raised $25 million in growth capital from existing investors, bringing its total capital raised to approximately ₹1,000 crore. Investors in the round include Helena, Capital 2B, Japan Airlines and TransLink’s corporate venture fund, and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Founded in 2019 by Mohal Lalbhai, the company manufactures the AERA geared electric motorcycle featuring proprietary liquid-cooled powertrains. MATTER will utilize the capital to expand manufacturing facilities, strengthen supplier networks, ramp up distribution, and introduce four new electric motorcycles over the next 12 to 24 months.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Startup

  BharatPe Appoints Paytm Veterans Yugal Tiwari and Kamal Sharma

  Fintech firm BharatPe has appointed two former Paytm executives to strengthen its product and engineering leadership. Kamal Sharma, former assistant vice president of engineering at Paytm, has joined BharatPe as assistant vice president of engineering for its consumer vertical. Additionally, Yugal Tiwari, former senior vice president of product at Paytm, is set to join the fintech firm as chief product officer. Tiwari fills the executive vacancy created by Rohan Khara’s departure in June. The high-profile hires reflect BharatPe’s continued strategy of poaching experienced talent from rival Paytm to strengthen its digital financial services ecosystem.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Karnataka Suspends Food Licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket

  The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences and registrations of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket. The regulatory action follows discoveries that poisonous Datura fruits and seeds were being sold as food products on their digital platforms. Authorities directed the ecommerce companies to immediately remove all listings, advertisements, and promotions offering the toxic plant for human consumption. During official hearings, Amazon failed to submit an explanation, while Swiggy Instamart requested more time to demonstrate compliance. State regulators warned that selling toxic botanical items poses critical public health hazards.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Startup

  InCred Capital Launches InCred Black for Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals

  InCred Capital has launched InCred Black, a specialized wealth management platform targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and business families. To lead the initiative, former Avendus wealth executives Alok Agrawal, Harmeet Sahney, and Zarksis Gotla have joined as co-founders of the new division. InCred Black will provide asset allocation, alternative investments, private market access, credit solutions, and global investing strategies. The launch follows InCred’s wealth management franchise crossing Rs 1 lakh crore in assets under management. The offering will leverage the broader investment and advisory capabilities of InCred Group to deliver differentiated solutions for affluent clients.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Infineon to Acquire Peak XV-Backed Indian Startup C2i Semiconductors

  German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies AG has agreed to acquire Bengaluru-based startup C2i Semiconductors to enhance its power management capabilities for AI data centres. Backed by Peak XV Partners, C2i was founded in 2024 by Vikram Gakhar, Preetam Charan Anand Tadeparthy, and Ramprasad Ananthaswamy. The startup develops software-defined multiphase controllers and smart power stages that regulate energy distribution for demanding AI processors. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. The acquisition highlights the increasing global strategic value of Indian semiconductor engineering talent.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Startup

  Indian D2C Brands Drive Growth In Men's Ethnic Wear Market

  India's men's ethnic wear market is experiencing a significant shift as direct-to-consumer brands expand beyond traditional occasional festive purchases. Younger consumers are increasingly adopting contemporary silhouettes, short kurtas, and versatile separates for casual and social events. Brands like Kolkata-based Kisah note that social media creators, short-form video content, and marketplace listings are driving consumer awareness around styling, fits, and fabrics. The diversification is prompting apparel startups across regional hubs to broaden product portfolios, target diverse price points, and cater to growing demand for complete, occasion-specific wardrobes throughout the calendar year.

  Aug 25 · Inc42

• Funding

  SoftBank Sells 2.6% Stake In Lenskart For ₹2,888 Crore

  Japanese investor SoftBank Group has sold an additional 2.58% stake in omnichannel eyewear unicorn Lenskart for Rs 2,887.87 crore via open market block deals. SoftBank offloaded 4.5 crore shares through its affiliate SVF II Lightbulb at Rs 641.75 per share, reducing its holding from 9.86% to 7.28%. Institutional buyers included domestic mutual funds such as SBI, HDFC, ICICI Prudential, and Nippon India, alongside the National Pension System Trust. Foreign institutional investor Societe Generale acquired a 0.62% stake for Rs 688.91 crore. ADIA arm Platinum Jasmine remains Lenskart's largest public shareholder with 9.77%.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Startup

  Amazon And Flipkart Revise Seller Fees Ahead Of Festive Season

  E-commerce giants Amazon India and Flipkart have restructured their seller fee and penalty policies ahead of the annual festive shopping season. Under Amazon's revised policy, order cancellation charges for Easy Ship and Self Ship sellers will shift from fixed category referral charges to a tiered percentage of order value, ranging from 2% to 10% plus 18% GST. The penalty applies if sellers cancel orders or fail to confirm shipment within 24 hours. Amazon is also increasing closing fees across fulfilment models, raising financial pressure on small and medium enterprises operating on thin margins.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  Drone Startup Airbound Raises $37M Series A Led by Greenoaks

  Bengaluru-based aerospace startup Airbound has raised $37 million in a Series A funding round led by Greenoaks, with participation from DoorDash, Lachy Groom, Lightspeed, and Humba Ventures. The investment brings Airbound's total capital raised to nearly $50 million since its 2023 launch, following an $8.65 million seed round. The startup builds lightweight autonomous aircraft utilizing a blended wing body tailsitter design for efficient payload transport. Having completed over 1,000 successful medical sample delivery flights with Narayana Health, Airbound plans to deploy the capital toward scaling commercial manufacturing and accelerating go-to-market deployments in India.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Startup

  Sanlayan Technologies Turns Profitable as FY26 Revenue Surges 5.6X to ₹125 Crore

  Aerospace and defence startup Sanlayan Technologies turned profitable in FY26 as its operating revenue surged 5.6X year-on-year to Rs 125 crore, up from Rs 22 crore in FY25. Founded in 2023 by former Zetwerk executives Abhijit Kothawale, Rohan Gala, and Rahul Vamsidhar, the company supplies avionics, radar, and electronic warfare systems to clients like DRDO, HAL, and BEL. Sanlayan closed FY26 with a Rs 286 crore order backlog and a pipeline exceeding Rs 2,000 crore, bolstered by a Rs 70+ crore production contract for the Uttam AESA Radar programme and drone detection systems.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Wealthtech Startup Nexedge Capital Secures $20 Million in Maiden Funding Round

  New Delhi-based wealth management firm Nexedge Capital has raised $20 million in its maiden funding round co-led by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Elev8 Venture Partners. Founded in February 2025 by former 360 ONE Wealth joint CEO Anirudha Taparia alongside Sidhartha Shaw, Vijeeta Sharma, and Pankaj Walia, Nexedge manages comprehensive net worth for high-net-worth families and corporates. The startup claims over $3 billion in assets under management across 1,300 clients. It plans to use the capital to scale its digital platform, onboard additional senior private bankers, launch an NBFC, and build NRI-focused wealth propositions.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Wealthtech Startup Nexedge Capital Secures $20 Million in Maiden Funding Round

  Indian wealthtech startup Nexedge Capital has raised $20 million in its maiden funding round. The fresh capital infusion will support the company's expansion plans, product development, and technological infrastructure as it looks to build modern wealth management solutions. Nexedge Capital aims to deliver innovative digital financial products, target high-net-worth individuals as well as retail investors, and streamline asset allocation. The investment comes amid surging growth across India's wealth management and fintech sectors, driven by rising financial literacy, increased retail participation in capital markets, and rapid adoption of automated investment tools across tier-one and tier-two cities.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Electric Motorcycle Maker Matter Raises $25 Million in Growth Equity Round

  Ahmedabad-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Matter has raised $25 million in a growth round from existing backers including Helena, Capital 2B, Japan Airlines, TransLink Innovation Fund, and SMSC. The round brings Matter’s total raised capital to over Rs 1,000 crore ($105 million). Matter, which produces the AERA electric motorcycle, plans to use the funds to expand manufacturing capacity from 1,000 to 5,000 units monthly by year-end and scale its dealership network to 50 locations. The startup is also developing four new platform-based electric motorcycles priced between Rs 1.6 lakh and Rs 2.2 lakh.

  Aug 25 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Chennai's Xera Robotics Develops Modular Underwater Drones for Infrastructure Inspection

  Chennai-based marine robotics startup Xera Robotics, founded in 2018 by Mohana Krishnan Ethirajulu and Muni Venkata Krishna Gopinath, has developed modular underwater robots for inspecting dams, ports, and pipelines. Its flagship offering, the DeepDive ROMAR remotely operated marine robot, handles submerged structural inspections alongside electric boat propulsion solutions. The deeptech startup previously secured non-equity grant funding from StartupTN in November 2022 followed by an undisclosed seed round in July 2025. Backers include StartupTN, IIMK LIVE, and Cochin Shipyard. The company aims to make underwater maintenance safer and cost-effective across Indian waterways and critical infrastructure.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  Spacetech Startup TakeMe2Space Secures $5.64M to Advance Orbital Computing Tech

  Hyderabad-based spacetech startup TakeMe2Space, founded in 2024 by Ronak Kumar Samantray, has raised approximately $5.64 million across three funding rounds to scale orbital computing infrastructure. The capital includes a $5 million seed round closed in January 2026 led by Chiratae Ventures, with participation from Unicorn India Ventures, Artha Venture Fund, and SeaFund. Supported by the IN-SPACe Technology Adoption Fund, TakeMe2Space builds products including OrbitLab, RadShield coating, and the StarSense star tracker. The company's technology enables satellites to process massive volumes of operational data directly in outer space before sending insights back to Earth.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  VyomIC Raises $1.6M Pre-Seed Round to Build LEO Satellite Constellation

  Bengaluru-based spacetech startup VyomIC (AeroDome Technologies), founded in 2023 by IIT Madras alumni Lokesh Kabdal, Vibhor Jain, and Anurag Patil, has raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding. The investment round was led by Speciale Invest, with participation from BYT Capital and DeVC. The startup is developing a low Earth orbit (LEO) positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite constellation designed to provide reliable, high-precision alternatives to GPS in critical connectivity scenarios. The founding team previously led the Avishkar Hyperloop project at IIT Madras before launching the deeptech space venture.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• Funding

  Serendipity Space Raises $591K for In-Orbit Autonomous Drug Manufacturing

  Bhubaneswar-based deeptech startup Serendipity Space, founded in 2024 by Antariksh Parichha, Jivitesh Debata, and Dr. Monica Ekal, has raised approximately $591,000 across two funding rounds backed by Campus Fund. The company is developing Alchemy, an autonomous in-space manufacturing module designed to produce pharmaceuticals in microgravity and return them safely to Earth. Microgravity offers unique conditions for protein crystallization and formulation development. Serendipity Space is preparing for a near-space scientific balloon mission in partnership with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), scheduled for launch in March 2026.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• AI

  Nvidia in Talks to Back Perplexity at Over $30B Valuation

  Nvidia is reportedly in discussions to invest in artificial intelligence search startup Perplexity in a new funding round valuing the company at more than $30 billion. The prospective valuation represents a 50% jump compared to Perplexity's previous financing round. The startup's annualized revenue has crossed $750 million, up significantly from under $250 million at the beginning of 2026, accelerated by demand for its AI agent tool, Perplexity Computer. The prospective investment underscores growing strategic collaboration between chipmakers and frontier AI application developers as competition in the generative search sector intensifies globally.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• AI

  MIT Manipal Alum Launches DetectifAI for Real-Time Deepfake Voice Detection

  Bengaluru and San Francisco-based cybersecurity startup DetectifAI, founded in 2025 by 21-year-old MIT Manipal graduate Tarini Padmanabhuni, is building edge AI technology to detect synthetic voices and deepfake audio in real time. Padmanabhuni, who holds five pending patents in deepfake detection, developed the platform after a scam targeted her family. DetectifAI runs its fraud detection models on-device and at network edges, flagging manipulated speech and synthetic audio during live voice calls without needing cloud round trips. The solution aims to protect financial institutions, customer support systems, and individuals against AI-driven phishing.

  Aug 25 · YourStory

• AI

  SEC Probes AI Hedge Fund Situational Awareness Following Near Collapse

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission is probing AI-driven hedge fund Situational Awareness following severe performance turmoil that pushed the firm close to collapse. Once celebrated across Wall Street as a pioneering automated investment vehicle, the fund quickly faced regulatory scrutiny and federal subpoenas over its trading operations and risk management practices. The investigation highlights growing regulatory oversight into autonomous artificial intelligence trading algorithms, particularly regarding algorithmic risk controls, transparency, and fiduciary responsibilities when automated systems execute high-stakes capital market strategies without sufficient human intervention or structural safeguards.

  Aug 25 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Donald Trump Purchased SpaceX Shares Following Recent Public Listing

  Former US President Donald Trump acquired shares of aerospace company SpaceX approximately two weeks after its initial public offering. Regulatory disclosures reveal that Trump purchased the stock while it was trading in the mid-$150 range. However, SpaceX shares subsequently retreated, closing trading on Monday back at their original IPO price of $135. The transaction highlights continued high-profile interest in SpaceX following its blockbuster public debut, alongside broader market volatility surrounding newly listed mega-cap aerospace and defense technology companies navigating post-listing valuation adjustments.

  Aug 24 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Instinct AI Assistant Sparks Serious User Privacy and Security Concerns

  Emerging artificial intelligence tool Instinct is facing scrutiny from testers and cybersecurity analysts over privacy and security vulnerabilities in its AI assistant. While users praise its advanced capabilities, critics warn that Instinct requires sweeping system permissions, operates under overly broad terms of service, and executes autonomous actions on behalf of users without sufficient safeguards. These expansive privileges raise significant risks regarding data exposure, unauthorized access, and credential security. The backlash underscores rising industry tensions between building autonomous, frictionless agentic AI assistants and safeguarding sensitive enterprise and personal data from exploitation.

  Aug 24 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  IndiGo Co-Founder Rakesh Gangwal Donates ₹300 Crore to IIT Kanpur

  IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has committed an additional donation of ₹300 crore to his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. Gangwal, a prominent billionaire entrepreneur who co-founded India's largest airline IndiGo alongside Rahul Bhatia, has been a significant philanthropic contributor to higher education and healthcare infrastructure in the country. This latest contribution builds upon his previous substantial endowments to the premier engineering institution, aimed at funding specialized academic infrastructure, research initiatives, and medical science centers on campus. The move highlights the growing trend of successful Indian founders supporting domestic academic institutions.

  Aug 24 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  General Intuition in Talks to Raise at $6B Valuation for Robotics

  Artificial intelligence startup General Intuition is in advanced discussions to secure fresh capital at a $6 billion pre-money valuation. The upcoming funding round is backed by new institutional investors including Valor Ventures, Point72 Ventures, and Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six. General Intuition focuses on developing foundation models engineered to train generalized AI agents on navigating and understanding physical movement through space and time. The substantial valuation underscores investor appetite for physical AI and robotics foundation models, as frontier research labs race to bridge digital intelligence with real-world spatial reasoning and robotic automation systems across industries worldwide.

  Aug 24 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  SoftBank Sells Lenskart Shares Worth ₹2,888 Crore in Block Deal

  SoftBank Vision Fund II has offloaded 4.50 crore shares in eyewear retailer Lenskart, generating ₹2,887.9 crore through block deals on the BSE. The Japanese investment firm sold the equity at an average price of ₹641.75 per share, representing a 3% discount to its previous closing price. European institutional major Societe Generale emerged as the single largest buyer by acquiring 1.1 crore shares, alongside Goldman Sachs, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund, HSBC Mutual Fund, and Vanguard entities. Lenskart’s stock has surged over 69% since its November public market debut, enabling SoftBank to execute its second major partial exit.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• AI

  OpenAI Accelerates Push to Expand AI Agents to Mainstream Users

  Frontier artificial intelligence research laboratory OpenAI is significantly expanding its development roadmap to deploy autonomous AI agents for mainstream enterprise and consumer audiences. While early agentic workflows primarily targeted software engineering, coding assistance, and specialized developer tasks, OpenAI is now building general-purpose agents capable of executing complex multi-step workflows across diverse digital environments. The initiative aims to transition generative AI from reactive chatbots into proactive software assistants that can automate administrative duties, research, and daily computing tasks. The strategic pivot reflects rising industry-wide competition to commercialize autonomous agentic systems for everyday enterprise productivity and widespread end-user adoption.

  Aug 24 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Hugging Face Reportedly Explores Acquisition Offers at $13B Valuation

  Open-source artificial intelligence hub Hugging Face is reportedly exploring acquisition offers that could value the company at approximately $13 billion. The platform, which serves as a central repository for open-source AI models, datasets, and machine learning tools, has become a core piece of infrastructure for global AI developers. However, sources note that an acquisition remains uncertain due to the founders' strong commitment to open-source community governance and neutrality. The discussions highlight soaring commercial interest in open-source AI developer ecosystems as major tech conglomerates seek proprietary control over foundational distribution channels and developer networks.

  Aug 24 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Sterling Accuris FY26 Revenue Rises 16% to Rs 231 Crore, Losses Widen

  Ahmedabad-based diagnostics chain Sterling Accuris reported a 16% year-on-year increase in revenue from operations to Rs 230.7 crore for FY26, up from Rs 198.3 crore in FY25. The Morgan Stanley-backed firm saw total income reach Rs 233.6 crore. However, total expenses surged 17.5% to Rs 259.5 crore, driven by employee benefit costs of Rs 59 crore, diagnostic materials at Rs 52.2 crore, and doctor fees of Rs 42.8 crore. Consequently, net losses widened by 38% during the fiscal year. The company operates over 250 laboratories and collection centres across more than 50 Indian cities.

  Aug 24 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Slice Appoints Samir Sawhney as Executive Director and Ramesh Kumar to Board

  Digital banking platform slice has appointed former State Bank of India veteran Samir Sawhney as Executive Director and ex-ICICI Bank executive Ramesh Kumar as Independent Director. The Reserve Bank of India has approved Sawhney's appointment. Sawhney brings over 34 years of banking experience, having previously headed SBI's global markets and treasury operations. Kumar brings 30 years of technology and banking experience and previously advised slice during its merger with North East Small Finance Bank. Following the merger, slice operates as a full-stack digital bank offering UPI, savings accounts, fixed deposits, credit cards, and credit services.

  Aug 24 · Entrackr

• AI

  Dr Dre Embraces AI Tools to Assist in Music Production

  Legendary music producer and hip-hop icon Dr. Dre has announced that he is actively integrating artificial intelligence into his music production process. While debates persist over copyright protections and the displacement of human artists in creative sectors, several prominent industry figures are experimenting with AI-driven composition and audio engineering software. Dr. Dre highlighted that embracing emerging technologies has always been central to musical innovation, framing AI as a powerful collaborative instrument rather than an outright replacement for human creativity. His remarks underscore a broader shift among traditional music veterans toward adopting generative audio tools.

  Aug 24 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Rohit Sharma Backs Gaming Studio LightFury Ahead of eCricket Launch

  Former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has invested an undisclosed amount in Bengaluru-based gaming studio LightFury Games. Sharma also joins the title as an officially licensed in-game player. He becomes the eighth marquee cricketer backing the startup, alongside MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Tilak Varma, and Sai Sudharsan. The investment precedes the September 2026 closed beta trial of its upcoming mobile title, eCricket, which has garnered over 300,000 pre-registrations and features commentary by Navjot Singh Sidhu alongside 700 licensed international cricketers.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• AI

  Anthropic Researcher Uses Claude to Target Unsolved Hopf Problem

  A research mathematician at Anthropic has published a proposed mathematical construction on the 6-sphere (S⁶), utilizing the Claude AI model to tackle the long-standing, unsolved Hopf problem in differential geometry. The Hopf conjecture, which asks whether the 6-dimensional sphere admits a complex structure, has remained one of geometry's most enduring open questions for decades. The Anthropic researcher leveraged Claude to formulate and verify intricate geometric steps, marking a potentially consequential milestone in AI-assisted pure mathematics. The breakthrough highlights the expanding utility of advanced frontier models in accelerating theoretical research and formal mathematical reasoning.

  Aug 24 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Third Wave Coffee Raises ₹408 Cr Led by WestBridge Capital

  Bengaluru-based coffee and QSR brand Third Wave Coffee has raised ₹408 crore in a funding round led by existing investor WestBridge Capital. The round, comprising primary and secondary capital, also saw participation from Creagis and select angel investors. Third Wave Coffee plans to use the capital to deepen its presence in existing markets, expand to eight new geographies, and scale its dedicated dessert vertical, Third Rush Desserts. Currently operating over 240 cafés across India, the company aims to reach 320 locations by fiscal year-end and add 100 cafés annually under CEO Rajat Luthra.

  Aug 24 · YourStory

• Funding

  D2C Skincare Startup Asaya Secures ₹88 Cr in Series A

  Melanin-focused D2C skincare brand Asaya has raised ₹88 crore ($9.1 million) in a Series A round led by RPSG Capital, with participation from OTP Ventures, Huddle Ventures, Hyperscale Ventures, and 72 Ventures. The funding round valued the company at ₹400 crore ($41.8 million), a threefold increase from its previous valuation. Founded in 2021 by Neeraj Biyani, Eeti Sharma, and Mandeep Bhatia, Asaya will deploy 20% of the proceeds toward R&D for its proprietary formulations. It will also use the funds to expand offline distribution, double its headcount, and scale its ₹100 crore ARR.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• Funding

  Physical AI Startup WATER Raises $2.5M Seed Round Led by Endiya Partners

  Hyderabad-based physical AI startup WATER has raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round led by Endiya Partners. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors including Pullela Gopichand, Rohit Chennamaneni, and Nandan Reddy. Founded in 2024 by Teja Vinukollu and Haneesh Mourya Desu, WATER develops adaptive smart surfaces powered by VORTEX, its proprietary foundation model analyzing human body interactions. The fresh capital will fund technical validation of its products like the FLOW chair and CAMA bed, with future plans to expand into automotive and aviation applications across global markets.

  Aug 24 · Entrackr

• AI

  Context and Guardrails Will Define Era of Agentic AI: UBS India CTO

  Speaking at DevSparks Hyderabad 2026, Elango Somasundaram, Managing Director and CTO at UBS India, highlighted that artificial intelligence development is shifting rapidly from copilots and prompt-based vibe coding to agentic AI systems. Somasundaram noted that agentic AI operates with intent by identifying tasks, coordinating across specialized agents, and delivering outcomes autonomously. He emphasized that future competitive advantage will not rely solely on advanced foundation models, but on richer enterprise context, stronger security guardrails, and agentic engineering practices that manage complex workflows across banking, cybersecurity, and software architecture.

  Aug 24 · YourStory

• Funding

  Third Wave Coffee Secures ₹408 Cr Led by WestBridge Capital

  Bengaluru-based coffee QSR chain Third Wave Coffee has raised ₹408 crore ($43 million) in a fresh round of funding led by existing backer WestBridge Capital. The round included primary and secondary capital, with participation from Creagis and angel investors. Third Wave Coffee plans to deploy the primary proceeds to expand its cafe footprint from over 240 outlets to 320 across India by the end of the current financial year. The company will also scale its dessert vertical, Third Rush Desserts, and expand into eight new cities.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• Startup

  Urban Company Sues Kent RO Over Disparaging Water Purifier Advertisements

  Urban Company has filed a defamation and commercial disparagement lawsuit in the Delhi High Court against Kent RO Systems over advertisements targeting its Native water purifiers. The home services unicorn alleged that Kent ran an influencer campaign describing Native's two-year filter and service life claims as a marketing gimmick and deemed the purifiers unsafe for consumers. During an August 12 hearing, Kent agreed to withdraw the contentious promotional material and consented not to publish similar disparaging claims. The Delhi High Court directed Kent to pull down the advertisements across social channels within 15 days.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• Funding

  Third Wave Coffee Secures Rs 408 Crore Led by WestBridge Capital

  Bengaluru-based specialty coffee chain Third Wave Coffee has raised Rs 408 crore ($43 million) in a funding round led by existing investor WestBridge Capital. The round, which primarily involved a primary issuance, also saw participation from existing investor Creaegis and angel investors. The fundraise reportedly values the company at around Rs 2,000 crore ($210 million). Founded in 2017 by Sushant Goel, Ayush Bathwal, and Anirudh Sharma, the chain plans to use the fresh capital to expand into nine new cities, deepen presence in tier-II and tier-III markets, and scale its Third Rush Desserts vertical.

  Aug 24 · Entrackr

• Funding

  D2C Skincare Brand Asaya Bags Rs 88 Crore at Rs 400 Crore Valuation

  Bengaluru-based direct-to-consumer skincare brand Asaya has raised Rs 88 crore ($9.2 million) in a funding round comprising primary and secondary capital. The round saw participation from RPSG Capital, OTP Ventures, Huddle Ventures, Hyperscale Ventures, and 72 Ventures at a post-money valuation of Rs 400 crore. Founded in 2021 by Neeraj Biyani, Eeti Sharma, and Mandeep Singh Bhatia, Asaya specializes in science-backed skincare targeting hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone in Indian skin types. The company plans to deploy the capital towards research and development, product portfolio expansion, offline and online distribution channels, and hiring new talent.

  Aug 24 · Entrackr

• AI

  Indian AI Startups Raised $676M in H1 2026 Amid Scale Reset

  According to Inc42's Indian Tech Startup Funding Report H1 2026, Indian artificial intelligence startups raised $676 million in the first half of 2026, marking a fourfold jump from $162 million raised in H1 2025. This surge occurred despite overall Indian startup funding declining 9% year-on-year. As the Bharat AI opportunity is projected to hit $126 billion by 2030, tech leaders and CTOs are navigating the transition from pilot AI projects to scalable production architectures, balancing rising compute expenses, software verification demands, and engineering workforce restructuring.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• Startup

  Flipkart to Launch Food Delivery in Bengaluru to Challenge Zomato-Swiggy Duopoly

  Flipkart is set to launch its food delivery service in Bengaluru later this month, directly challenging the entrenched duopoly of Zomato and Swiggy. Initially managed via Flipkart Minutes and fulfilled through Ekart logistics, the service will tap into Flipkart’s 500 million registered user base and 40 million SuperCoins members. To attract restaurant partners, Flipkart plans to charge lower merchant commissions of 12% to 13%, compared to the standard 30% charged by incumbents. The company also plans to leverage ONDC integration for restaurant onboarding before expanding to other Indian cities later this year.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• Funding

  Shiprocket Makes Strong Market Debut With ₹10,230 Crore Market Cap

  Logistics tech giant Shiprocket made a strong debut on the public bourses, listing at ₹131 on the NSE, up 35.1% from its issue price of ₹97 per share. On the BSE, the stock opened at a 33.51% premium, closing its first trading week at ₹140 per share. The company's market capitalization reached ₹10,230 crore, surpassing its initial valuation target of ₹7,000 crore. Shiprocket becomes India’s third new-age logistics startup to go public, following Delhivery and Shadowfax, amid rising investor demand for tech-driven logistics players showing clear paths to sustainable profitability.

  Aug 24 · Inc42

• AI

  Mysterious Stealth AI Model Ox Alpha Sparks Speculation Across Tech Community

  A mysterious new artificial intelligence model named Ox Alpha has emerged online, triggering widespread speculation across the global machine learning and tech research communities. The stealth model has surfaced in private evaluation tests and benchmark leaderboards without an identified creator or public developer backing. Industry observers, engineers, and researchers are analyzing its outputs to determine whether it originates from an established tech giant, a well-funded stealth startup, or an open-source collaborative effort. The sudden appearance reflects a growing industry trend where leading artificial intelligence labs quietly test proprietary frontier architectures before making official announcements.

  Aug 23 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Sam Altman Takes Dig at Rival Anthropic Amid Escalating AI Race

  OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently made pointed remarks seemingly aimed at rival Anthropic during a new interview. As both leading artificial intelligence companies accelerate preparations for potential initial public offerings, competition and public friction between their leadership teams continue to escalate. Altman took aim at philosophical stances commonly associated with Anthropic's safety-first rhetoric, calling them misanthropic. The ongoing rivalry highlights growing divergence in AI governance, commercial strategy, and development philosophy between the two frontrunners. Industry observers expect intensified public positioning as OpenAI and Anthropic seek market dominance and substantial investor backing.

  Aug 23 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Flock Safety CEO Urges Compromise Amid Surveillance Tech Backlash

  Flock Safety CEO has called for compromise as the automated license plate reader and surveillance technology provider faces mounting public backlash and privacy concerns. The company, known for deploying AI-powered cameras across neighbourhoods and law enforcement networks, is under scrutiny regarding potential misuse of location tracking data and civil liberties infringements. The leadership is seeking balanced regulatory frameworks and operational safeguards to address community anxieties while maintaining public safety utility. The debate highlights escalating friction between widespread algorithmic monitoring tools and consumer privacy protections across modern municipal security deployments worldwide.

  Aug 23 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Legal Scrutiny Mounts Over AI Training on Copyrighted Books

  The legal battle surrounding the use of copyrighted books and creative works to train large language models remains deeply contentious across the artificial intelligence sector. Generative AI developers routinely scrape published literature without explicit author consent or compensation, arguing that ingestion falls under fair use doctrines. However, authors and creative industry stakeholders contend that unauthorized training undermines their intellectual property and economic livelihoods. As global courts and regulators weigh copyright infringement claims, the resulting legal precedents will fundamentally reshape how generative AI companies source training datasets and manage intellectual property compliance.

  Aug 23 · TechCrunch AI

• Funding

  Twenty Indian Startups Raise Over $469 Million Across Key Sectors

  Indian startups recorded significant funding activity between August 17 and August 22, 2026, securing more than $469 million across 20 deals. The capital inflows were distributed across multiple high-growth segments, including artificial intelligence, fintech, quick commerce, skincare, healthtech, healthcare, cleantech, robotics, and foodtech. Investors continue to back ventures spanning both early-stage innovation and growth-stage market leaders. The diverse allocation highlights robust investor appetite across deep tech, consumer commerce, and industrial tech ecosystems, sustaining investment momentum across India's broader startup landscape.

  Aug 23 · instagram.com

• Startup

  Saurabh Mukherjea and Salil Desai Launch Book on Enduring Indian Companies

  Authors and investors Saurabh Mukherjea and Salil Desai have co-written a new book titled The Art of Enduring: How Great Companies Turn Crisis into Opportunity, scheduled for release on September 14 under Penguin Random House India. The book analyzes how five major Indian firms—Bajaj Finance, Titan, Dr Lal PathLabs, Divi's Laboratories, and Tata Elxsi—navigated major disruptions between 2015 and 2025, including demonetisation, GST, and COVID-19. The authors studied India's 500 largest companies to highlight businesses that outpaced national GDP while generating annual returns on capital above 15% over 15 years.

  Aug 23 · YourStory

• Startup

  Industry Leaders Call for Faster Battery Storage Adoption in India

  India urgently needs to scale up its battery energy storage systems (BESS) to support rapid renewable power growth, according to clean energy industry stakeholders. The country’s domestic battery cell manufacturing currently supplies under 1% (2 GWh) of its estimated 260 GWh demand pipeline from tenders in 2026. Representatives from Sunkind India, Premier Energies, and Volks Energie cautioned that grid stability requires immediate storage deployment rather than waiting for fully indigenous cell manufacturing. Experts emphasized that storage infrastructure is vital to address solar power intermittency and balance peak electricity demand across India.

  Aug 23 · YourStory

• Startup

  TeamIndus: The Story of Bengaluru Startup's Historic Moon Mission Ambition

  Bengaluru-based space-tech startup TeamIndus made headlines as a prominent contender in the Google Lunar XPRIZE, aiming to privately land a rover on the Moon before ISRO's Chandrayaan missions succeeded. Founded by Rahul Narayan and a team of engineers, the startup designed lunar landing craft and secured backing from prominent Indian investors. While the XPRIZE competition ended without a winner, TeamIndus laid critical groundwork for India's private space-tech ecosystem, demonstrating that homegrown startups could design deep-space technologies and inspire a new wave of spacetech ventures across the country.

  Aug 23 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Astrome Develops Deeptech Millimeter-Wave Wireless Infrastructure Solutions from Bengaluru

  Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Astrome, incubated at the Indian Institute of Science, is developing high-capacity millimeter-wave wireless communication infrastructure to deliver broadband connectivity. Founded by Neha Satak and Prasad HL Bhat, the venture originated from student satellite projects at IISc and has expanded into patented telecom solutions like GigaMesh, a multi-beam E-band radio system. Astrome's technology enables telecom operators and defense organizations to cost-effectively deploy high-speed internet in rural, suburban, and dense urban regions without laying extensive fiber-optic cables, strengthening India's domestic deeptech and telecommunications hardware ecosystem.

  Aug 23 · OfficeChai

• AI

  AI Agents Now Consume More AI Resources Than Humans: a16z Report

  Data published by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) based on metrics from OpenRouter indicates that autonomous AI agents are now consuming significantly more artificial intelligence resources than human users. As developers increasingly build automated workflows, autonomous agents interact with large language models recursively, issuing programmatic requests that far outpace manual human prompting. This shift underscores a rapid transition from human-directed conversational queries to machine-to-machine AI utilization. The growing volume of agent-driven requests signals a major paradigm shift in enterprise automation, model infrastructure scaling, API pricing architectures, and future computing workload demands.

  Aug 23 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Gifts World Expo Launches 6th Edition in Bengaluru with 250 Exhibitors

  The sixth Bengaluru edition of Gifts World Expo commenced at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, organized by MEX Exhibitions and Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings. The three-day business-to-business exhibition features more than 250 exhibitors, 1,000 brands, and 8,000 corporate gifting, home decor, lifestyle, and sustainable products. According to MEX Director Himani Gulati, the event serves as a strategic sourcing platform connecting direct-to-consumer brands, manufacturers, and startup innovators with regional distributors, wholesalers, and corporate buyers across South India's rapidly evolving corporate gifting, festive retail, and consumer merchandise market.

  Aug 23 · YourStory

• Funding

  ABH Healthcare Launches Rs 34.98 Crore SME IPO on NSE Emerge

  Multispeciality healthcare provider ABH Healthcare has launched its Rs 34.98 crore initial public offering on the SME platform. The IPO opens on Monday, running through August 27, with a price band set between Rs 96 and Rs 102 per share. The issue comprises an entirely fresh offering of up to 34.29 lakh equity shares and is scheduled to list on the NSE Emerge platform on September 1. According to the company, proceeds of Rs 17 crore will go toward debt repayment, Rs 5 crore toward working capital, and the remainder toward future strategic acquisitions.

  Aug 23 · YourStory

• Funding

  Sachin Bansal's Navi Raises $100 Million From Prosus At $1.3 Billion Valuation

  Sachin Bansal-led financial services startup Navi has secured $100 million in external funding from Dutch investment major Prosus, marking its first institutional capital raise. The transaction reportedly values Navi at $1.3 billion, reflecting a markdown from an earlier targeted valuation of roughly $2 billion. Bansal had previously invested between $400 million and $450 million of his personal wealth into the venture. Navi reported that its lending assets under management have crossed ₹13,000 crore, while its UPI service ranks fourth nationally. However, Navi’s consolidated net loss widened to ₹466 crore in FY26.

  Aug 23 · Inc42

• AI

  Harvard Business School Introduces AI Avatars For Startup Pitch Coaching

  Harvard Business School has incorporated artificial intelligence avatars into its $699 HBS Foundry startup bootcamp to assist emerging entrepreneurs. The interactive AI avatars provide personalized, automated feedback during practice pitch sessions and simulated board meetings. This system enables founders to test their business plans, pitch decks, and strategic responses against virtual personas trained on executive coaching methodologies. By leveraging generative AI avatars, the program aims to offer scalable, continuous mentorship at a lower cost compared to traditional executive education formats, broadening access to practical feedback for early-stage startup founders worldwide.

  Aug 22 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  DeepMind Alumni Startup Inherent Unveils AI Research Agent Faraday

  British artificial intelligence research startup Inherent, founded by former DeepMind researchers, has released Faraday, an autonomous AI agent capable of replicating published scientific research. According to Inherent, Faraday outperformed frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI in empirical scientific replication benchmarks. The AI teammate is engineered to review academic literature, execute complex experimental methodologies, and validate scientific findings autonomously. Inherent aims to deploy Faraday to streamline scientific innovation, reducing the time and manual effort traditionally required to verify experimental reproducibility across academic research institutions and commercial research and development laboratories worldwide.

  Aug 22 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  PM Modi Chairs AI and Deeptech Startup Roundtable in New Delhi

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level roundtable discussion with leading artificial intelligence and deeptech startup founders at Seva Teerth in New Delhi. The closed-door session brought together key innovators and stakeholders from India’s burgeoning frontier technology ecosystem to explore policy frameworks, sovereign AI infrastructure, computational capacity, and research commercialization. With strategic initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission driving public support, the discussion centered on establishing India as a self-reliant global innovation leader in deeptech, addressing domestic challenges through localized foundation models, and accelerating collaboration between private tech ventures, academic institutions, and national policymakers.

  Aug 22 · News On AIR

• AI

  Humanoid Robots Break Human Sprint Records at Beijing Robot Games

  Humanoid robots have reportedly surpassed human sprinting benchmarks at the second World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing, China. Machines competing at the international athletic exhibition broke historic human timing records across the 100-meter and 400-meter track categories. The development underscores the rapid progress occurring in bipedal robotics, motor coordination algorithms, dynamic balance systems, and high-torque electric actuators. Organized to benchmark current progress in physical artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering, the games highlighted how advanced robotic hardware and real-time control software are increasingly matching or outpacing human physical capabilities across athletic and locomotive tasks.

  Aug 22 · OfficeChai

• AI

  OpenAI Urges California Lawmakers to Strengthen AI Safety Bill SB 53

  OpenAI has called on California lawmakers to strengthen Senate Bill 53, an artificial intelligence safety measure that the company had previously opposed. The policy shift comes as state regulators and lawmakers across the United States increasingly seek to establish binding compliance frameworks and safety standards for frontier AI models. While OpenAI had raised concerns regarding earlier iterations of legislative proposals, the company is now advocating for robust safety measures. The development underscores escalating debates around AI governance, statutory accountability, and the regulatory oversight required to manage risks associated with advancing generative AI technologies.

  Aug 22 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Leading AI Labs Lack Documented Plans To Contain Rogue Models: Study

  A new study reveals that major frontier artificial intelligence laboratories have very few publicly documented containment strategies to handle rogue AI models. The findings raise serious concerns regarding industry readiness as AI systems increasingly exhibit unpredictable, unintended, and potentially hazardous behaviors. Despite rapid advances in model capabilities, safety researchers warn that structured containment protocols, emergency shutdown mechanisms, and alignment fail-safes remain largely undocumented or absent from public oversight. The research underscores an urgent need for standardized safety benchmarks and proactive risk mitigation policies across AI model developers worldwide.

  Aug 22 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  D2C Insider Hosts AI Frontier Summit in Gurugram for Consumer Brands

  Community platform D2C Insider concluded Frontier, an artificial intelligence summit in Gurugram, convening over 150 direct-to-consumer founders, CXOs, and 25 AI industry leaders representing more than 100 retail brands. The summit examined practical applications of artificial intelligence across customer discovery, conversational commerce, conversion optimization, retention, and unit economics. Featured speakers included Meta India AI partnerships lead Ojasvi Bhatia, WhatsApp product executive Apurva Mudgal, Base.com India CEO Pradeep Sekhar, and Fastrr CEO Gaurav Mangla. Sessions addressed how consumer enterprises can transition from isolated AI experiments to deploying integrated autonomous agents to optimize real-time omnichannel profitability and business operations.

  Aug 22 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Indian Startups Clocked ₹3 Lakh Cr Revenue In FY26: Report

  The Indian startup ecosystem expanded significantly in FY26, with 80 tracked new-age tech companies generating ₹3 Lakh Cr in operating revenue, up 44.5% from ₹2.07 Lakh Cr in FY25, according to Inc42's Financial Tracker. During the year, 22 startups went public compared to 13 in FY25. Profitability remained uneven: 57 startups reported a collective net profit of ₹12,841 Cr, while 23 posted a cumulative loss of ₹20,007.1 Cr. Despite fourth-quarter headwinds from geopolitical uncertainty, cost rationalisation helped over 71% of tracked startups maintain profitable operations.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Startup

  PM Narendra Modi Meets Founders of 20 Indian Space-Tech Startups

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the founders and chief executive officers of 20 Indian space-tech startups during an official meeting held at Seva Teerth in New Delhi on Friday. The interaction comes as India accelerates private sector participation in the commercial space ecosystem, supported by regulatory reforms from IN-SPACe and the Indian Space Research Organisation. The meeting covered domestic satellite manufacturing, private rocket launch capabilities, geospatial analytics, and downstream space applications. The discussion emphasized fostering public-private partnerships, expanding indigenous deep-tech research, and scaling domestic space enterprises to capture a larger share of the global commercial space economy.

  Aug 22 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  ABH Healthcare Launches ₹34.98 Cr SME IPO On NSE Emerge

  Multi-speciality healthcare provider ABH Healthcare will open its ₹34.98 crore initial public offering on Monday, closing on August 27, with a tentative listing on NSE Emerge on September 1. The entirely fresh issue comprises up to 34.29 lakh equity shares in the price band of ₹96-102 per share. Managed by Managing Director Saurabh Baghi, the hospital operates a 150-bed facility under the Anil Baghi Hospital brand. The company plans to deploy ₹17 crore for debt repayment, ₹5 crore for working capital, and the remainder for inorganic growth and general corporate purposes.

  Aug 22 · YourStory

• AI

  Google Reports Gemini 3.7 Flash Is Its Fastest-Growing AI Model

  Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai announced that Gemini 3.7 Flash has become the company's fastest-growing artificial intelligence model to date. Designed as a hybrid reasoning model, Gemini 3.7 Flash combines standard low-latency responses with integrated chain-of-thought processing capabilities, allowing developers to dynamically adjust computational reasoning depth based on task complexity. Google is positioning the lightweight model to compete against rival offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic in cost efficiency, speed, and coding workflows. The rapid user adoption highlights strong developer demand for scalable, high-speed multimodal models optimized for high-throughput enterprise deployments and software engineering tasks.

  Aug 22 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Wakefit Surges 17% As Tech Stocks Rally; Shiprocket Debuts Strongly

  Indian new-age tech stocks posted strong weekly gains, with Wakefit leading the rally by rising 16.69% to close at ₹141.55. Stocks including Lenskart, Turtlemint, Klassroom, and Zelio E-Mobility hit fresh 52-week highs. LEAP India rose 11.75% to ₹162.15, while E2E Networks fell 9.68% to ₹622. Ecommerce enablement firm Shiprocket made a strong debut following its ₹1,617.5 Cr IPO, gaining 8.58% over three sessions and yielding up to a 77.6X gross return for early investor 500 Global. Overall, 62 tracked tech stocks reached a combined market capitalisation of $166.84 billion.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Funding

  Raana Semiconductors In Talks To Raise ₹100 Cr Series A

  Hosur-based semiconductor startup Raana Semiconductors is in advanced talks to secure ₹100 Cr ($10.4 Mn) in a Series A funding round expected to close by October, founder and CEO Rajasekar Elavarasan said. An unnamed Indian VC firm is likely to lead the round with ₹50-₹60 Cr alongside participation from seven to eight other investors. Raana plans to use the funds to scale its Czochralski crystal-growth equipment from 6 inches to 12 inches, refine silicon-growth processes, and develop domestic vendor ecosystems. The company previously raised $3 Mn in seed funding.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise $469.8 Million in Weekly Venture Capital Inflow

  Indian startups raised $469.8 million across 20 funding rounds during the week of August 17 to August 22, registering a sharp 94% surge compared to $242.55 million secured in the preceding week. Voice-first AI productivity startup Wispr Flow led the funding chart, highlighting strong investor conviction in artificial intelligence and automation technologies. The substantial uptick in venture capital deployment across early and growth-stage companies underscores resilient market sentiment in the Indian tech ecosystem, as domestic and global venture capital funds continue allocating dry powder toward scalable software, consumer, and deeptech businesses.

  Aug 22 · Indian Startup News

• Funding

  Over 60 Indian New-Age Tech Startups Are Now Publicly Listed

  Over 60 Indian new-age tech companies are now listed on domestic and international stock bourses, signaling maturing pathways for investor exits and wealth creation. The startup IPO wave peaked with 18 debuts in 2025, featuring Meesho, Ather Energy, Urban Company, Lenskart, Groww, Pine Labs, and PhysicsWallah, up from 13 in 2024. In 2026, six tech startups, including Kissht, Aye Finance, Fractal Analytics, Amagi, Shadowfax, and SEDEMAC, have already gone public, while Turtlemint prepares for its market debut. Currently, nearly 15 other startups, including quick-commerce platform Zepto, logistics player Shiprocket, and hospitality firm OYO, are pursuing their IPO journeys.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• AI

  India Healthcare AI Market Projected to Reach $4.5 Billion by 2030

  India's artificial intelligence market in healthcare is projected to surge from $791.2 million in 2025 to $4.529 billion by 2030, according to a report by MarketsandMarkets. This expansion represents a compound annual growth rate of over 40%, driven by expanding digital infrastructure, smartphone adoption, and government digitalization initiatives. Healthcare institutions across the country are increasingly implementing AI-driven diagnostic tools, clinical decision support systems, and administrative automation. Rising patient volumes, mounting healthcare costs, and the rapid expansion of telemedicine platforms continue to accelerate the integration of specialized AI tools across major hospitals and diagnostics centers nationwide.

  Aug 22 · MarketsandMarkets

• Funding

  D2C Skincare Brand Be Clinical Raises Rs 21 Crore From Sauce

  Direct-to-consumer skincare brand Be Clinical has secured Rs 21 crore (approximately $2.2 million) in a seed extension funding round led by early-stage consumer venture capital firm Sauce.vc. The fresh capital will be deployed to support product development, expand distribution across online and offline retail channels, and accelerate customer acquisition initiatives. The investment comes amid ongoing venture capital interest in specialized dermatological and clinical skincare startups in India. Sauce.vc, which focuses on backing emerging digital-first consumer brands, continues to expand its personal care portfolio with targeted investments in science-backed direct-to-consumer beauty businesses.

  Aug 22 · Indian Startup News

• Funding

  First Coffee Raises $1.3 Million in Pre-Series A Funding Round

  Indian specialty coffee brand First Coffee has raised $1.3 million in a pre-Series A funding round. The fresh capital will be deployed by the startup to expand its retail store network across key metropolitan regions and drive penetration into Tier-2 cities in India. The company aims to scale its physical presence to capitalize on the growing demand for specialty and gourmet coffee among urban consumers. This funding injection will support store buildouts, supply chain enhancement, and brand marketing initiatives as First Coffee seeks to establish a broader presence in India's evolving beverage market.

  Aug 22 · Indian Startup News

• Startup

  CBI Files FIR Against BluSmart Founders Over IREDA Loan Fraud

  The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR against Gensol Engineering, Gensol EV Lease, and BluSmart founders Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi. The case involves the alleged diversion and misappropriation of loans sanctioned by state-run IREDA. The complaint, filed on July 23 by IREDA nodal officer Jagdeep Singh, followed forensic audits submitted in January 2026. The audits revealed estimated loan diversions of ₹225.89 crore at Gensol Engineering and ₹64.87 crore at Gensol EV Lease. The agency has invoked criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery charges.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Startup

  Dhruva Space Pioneers Full-Stack Private Space Infrastructure in India

  Hyderabad-based spacetech startup Dhruva Space, founded in 2012 by Sanjay Nekkanti, is building comprehensive full-stack space infrastructure spanning satellite manufacturing, launch integration, and ground station operations. Established well before formal private space sector regulations were implemented in India, the venture has capitalized on recent liberalization policies led by IN-SPACe and the Indian Space Research Organisation. Dhruva Space offers modular, scalable satellite platforms and end-to-end mission support for global commercial and institutional customers, solidifying India’s emerging role as a competitive international launchpad and manufacturing hub for advanced satellite systems and orbital payload delivery.

  Aug 22 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  D2C Skincare Brand Be Clinical Secures ₹21 Crore Seed Funding

  D2C skincare brand Be Clinical has raised ₹21 crore (around $2.2 million) in a seed extension round led by Sauce, with participation from existing backer V3 Ventures. Angel investors including Mokobara founders Sangeet Agrawal and Navin Parwal, Reckitt executive Arjun Purkayastha, and Shaunak Chirayu Amin also joined the round. Founded by Hemangi Dhir in 2025, the startup creates clinically validated anti-ageing skincare products. The fresh capital will be used to enhance R&D capabilities, scale in-house manufacturing, broaden its product portfolio across skin and haircare, and enter new geographical markets.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Funding

  Omega Seiki Mobility Secures ₹50 Crore in Additional Funding

  Electric vehicle manufacturer Omega Seiki Mobility has raised an additional ₹50 crore ($5.2 million) in a funding round led by Abhishek Misra, Director at Unistone Capital. The round saw participation from the Sanjeev Agarwal and Brijesh Parekh family offices. This marks the company's second fundraise within a month, following a ₹50 crore round in July. Founded in 2018 by Uday Narang, the Faridabad and Pune-based company will use the fresh capital to expand manufacturing capacity, boost R&D, grow its dealer network from 150 to 250 touchpoints by FY28, and accelerate international expansion.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Startup

  ISRO to Exit Rocket Manufacturing, Shifts Production to Private Sector

  The Indian Space Research Organisation is planning to phase out manufacturing launch vehicles and routine satellites to focus entirely on advanced R&D, scientific missions, and specialised infrastructure. Speaking at the Business Today summit, IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka confirmed that private players and public-sector undertakings will take over commercial manufacturing and operations. The technology transition has begun with the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle being transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. IN-SPACe is also inviting private companies to manage the end-to-end production, operation, and commercialisation of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 and PSLV rockets.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Funding

  A91 Partners Sells Atomberg Shares Worth Rs 445 Crore Before IPO

  Venture capital firm A91 Partners has invested approximately Rs 143 crore in consumer appliances startup Atomberg and offloaded shares worth Rs 445 crore, according to the company's draft red herring prospectus. A91 deployed Rs 118 crore in primary capital alongside Rs 25 crore in secondary purchases since leading Atomberg's Series A round in 2019. Despite the partial exit, A91 remains the largest shareholder with a 21.02% stake. Atomberg's founders Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das, along with early backer Parampara Early Stage Opportunities Fund, also sold portions of their equity in secondary deals totaling Rs 683 crore.

  Aug 22 · Entrackr

• AI

  Mysterious Stealth AI Model Ox Alpha Launches On OpenRouter

  A stealth artificial intelligence model titled Ox Alpha has appeared on model routing platforms OpenRouter and OpenCode, sparking widespread discussions across the AI industry. The model was offered for free testing over a one-week period, allowing developers, engineers, and researchers to benchmark its capabilities across diverse generative tasks. Although the originating laboratory has not been publicly identified, several industry analysts have formulated theories linking the model to prominent frontier AI research organizations. Ox Alpha's competitive performance on standard reasoning and coding benchmarks has prompted speculation about imminent enterprise AI model rollouts.

  Aug 22 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Weekly Venture Roundup: Indian Startups Complete Deals and Strategic Acquisitions

  Indian startups recorded multiple venture capital fundraises and strategic merger and acquisition transactions during the weekly period from August 17 to August 22. Capital deployment spanned various sectors including software, consumer internet, fintech, and deep tech, featuring participation from domestic venture funds, angels, and international institutional investors. The weekly tracker documents both early-stage seed transactions and growth capital rounds, alongside consolidations where established players acquired smaller technology startups to expand market share and technical capabilities amid a selective investment environment.

  Aug 22 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Centre Notifies ₹62,500 Crore Scheme to Boost Domestic Mobile Phone Manufacturing

  The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has notified the ₹62,500 crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme, succeeding the previous production-linked incentive scheme. Spanning five years from FY27 through FY31, the initiative provides incentives between 2.25% and 5% for eligible manufacturers and electronics manufacturing services providers. Domestic brands will receive a 5% incentive, plus an additional 3% for local design and R&D. Companies can also secure an extra 1.5% incentive for sourcing specified components locally, provided at least 25% of manufactured units incorporate domestic components, alongside minimum turnover eligibility thresholds.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian startups raise $198.33 million across 21 deals this week

  Indian startups secured $198.33 million across 21 deals between August 17 and August 22, up from $151.5 million raised by 14 startups in the previous week. Growth-stage funding reached $118.3 million across three deals, led by fintech unicorn Navi raising $100 million from Prosus. Electric two-wheeler maker BGauss secured Rs 110 crore in a Series D round, while Butterfly Learnings raised Rs 65 crore led by Inflexor Ventures. Early-stage startups garnered $80.03 million across 14 deals, led by CtrlS with Rs 250 crore, including Rs 200 crore from Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Rs 50 crore from Sreeram Reddy Vanga.

  Aug 22 · Entrackr

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise $233.2 Million Led By Navi’s $100 Million Round

  Between August 17 and 21, nineteen Indian startups raised a combined $233.2 million, marking a 67% increase compared to the $139.5 million raised the previous week. The weekly surge was led by global investment firm Prosus investing $100 million in IPO-bound fintech startup Navi. Other major fundraises included BookMyShow securing $40 million from KKR, CtrlS DataCenters raising $26.1 million from Nikhil Kamath, and NeoGeo bagging $20 million in Series A funding from SBI Ventures and Aavishkaar Capital. Fintech startup Rezolv also secured $12.5 million from Norwest Capital, Vertex Ventures, and 3one4 Capital.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise $233.2 Million Across 19 Deals in a Week

  Indian startup funding gathered momentum this week, with homegrown companies raising a total of $233.2 million across 19 deals. The capital influx represents a significant 67% surge compared to the preceding week. Notable funding rounds during the period included major transactions by fintech major Navi Technologies and entertainment ticketing platform BookMyShow. The uptick in weekly capital inflows reflects resilient investor appetite across mature and growth-stage tech ventures in the Indian startup ecosystem, marking a sharp rebound in aggregate deal value across sectors.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• Startup

  Subrata Mitra Shares Insights On Resilience In Indian Startup Ecosystem

  Subrata Mitra, co-founder of Accel India and early investor in Flipkart, Myntra, Mu Sigma, and Cult Fit, discussed long-term entrepreneurship on the Prime Venture Partners Podcast and his co-authored book Down But Not Out with Pankaj Mishra. Mitra emphasized that startup journeys rarely follow a linear upward path, noting that enduring companies are built by founders who navigate setbacks, pivots, and prolonged crises. Drawing on over two decades of backing Indian startups from the era of Erasmic Venture Fund, Mitra stressed that resilience and staying power remain crucial for long-term venture success.

  Aug 22 · YourStory

• Funding

  Nobel Hygiene Files DRHP; Goyal Unveils Brain Wearable Device

  Nobel Hygiene has filed its draft red herring prospectus with market regulator SEBI to raise Rs 150 crore through a fresh issue of shares, along with an offer for sale of up to 1.55 crore equity shares. The funds will be utilized to expand production capacity at its Halol facility and repay existing bank debt. Meanwhile, Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal is preparing to launch a brain-monitoring wearable device called Temple under Eternal. Additionally, ecommerce platform Meesho announced plans to create over 10 lakh seasonal jobs across seller networks and logistics for the festive season.

  Aug 22 · YourStory

• Startup

  KADAM and Tata Trusts Showcase Mithila Craft Initiative in Bengaluru

  Non-profit organization KADAM India, supported by Tata Trusts, organized the two-day 'Colours of MAATI' showcase at heritage venue Sabha in Bengaluru. The exhibition highlighted the Mithila Art Artisan Transformative Initiative, an artisan incubation program run by The Crafts School. The initiative works with women artisans across Bihar's Madhubani and Darbhanga districts, helping them integrate traditional Mithila painting techniques with contemporary design aesthetics and sustainable materials. The project aims to build viable, long-term commercial livelihoods for rural craftswomen by connecting their handmade cultural products directly with urban consumer and design markets.

  Aug 22 · YourStory

• Startup

  SC Directs Matrimony.com and Jodi365 to Settle Trademark Dispute

  The Supreme Court has directed Matrimony.com and Jodi365 operator Free Elective Network to explore an out-of-court settlement in their five-year-old trademark infringement dispute. A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard Matrimony.com's plea challenging a Madras High Court ruling that restrained it from using the ‘Jodii’ trademark for its matchmaking platform. Matrimony.com offered to rebrand its application as ‘Jodi Matrimony’ to avoid shutting down operations. The company argued that Free Elective lacks a Class 45 registration for matrimonial services and asserted that the term ‘Jodi’ cannot be monopolised.

  Aug 22 · Inc42

• AI

  TechCrunch Tests Reveal Anthropic Claude Opus 4.6 Safety Guardrail Bypasses

  Tests conducted by TechCrunch revealed that safety guardrails on Anthropic’s AI model, Claude Opus 4.6, can be easily bypassed to generate sexually explicit content. Although Anthropic explicitly prohibits its Claude models from producing pornographic or sexually explicit material, tests demonstrated that basic prompt manipulation required minimal effort to circumvent these restrictions. The findings highlight persistent challenges in AI alignment and safety enforcement as frontier model developers deploy increasingly capable systems. Anthropic has consistently positioned its models as safety-focused alternatives in the AI market, making these bypass vulnerabilities particularly significant for enterprise clients and safety researchers.

  Aug 21 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Nvidia Partners With Cloverleaf to Expand AI Data Center Infrastructure

  Nvidia has entered into a strategic partnership with data center developer Cloverleaf to expand its AI infrastructure footprint. The collaboration comes as Nvidia continues to direct significant capital into global data center development, mirroring the surging enterprise demand that drives substantial revenue back to the chipmaker. As AI training and inference workloads expand rapidly worldwide, securing dedicated data center capacity and power infrastructure has become a critical priority for major AI hardware providers. Through this deal with Cloverleaf, Nvidia aims to ensure robust operational capacity to support its high-performance compute clusters and enterprise cloud customers globally.

  Aug 21 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Nvidia Research Highlights Importance of Harnessing AI Agents

  Nvidia researchers have demonstrated that effective scaffolding and fine-tuning harnesses can significantly enhance the performance of artificial intelligence agents. The findings suggest that relying on sophisticated execution frameworks, rather than merely using more capable base models, enables AI systems to execute complex tasks reliably without deviating into errors. This architectural approach allows smaller or less capable models to achieve high accuracy and operational stability. The research highlights a shifting focus in artificial intelligence development from raw model scale toward tailored fine-tuning frameworks, guardrails, and runtime environments designed to maximize agentic utility and output consistency across enterprise deployments.

  Aug 21 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Google Gemini 3.7 Flash Matches Top Models on ARC-AGI Benchmark

  Google has demonstrated strong reasoning capabilities with its latest Gemini 3.7 Flash artificial intelligence model, which nearly matches the performance of frontier systems like Fable 5 on the challenging ARC-AGI 2 benchmark. The benchmark evaluates an AI system's ability to solve novel visual and logic reasoning tasks without extensive prior training. While frontier frontier models often require massive computing resources, Gemini 3.7 Flash achieves competitive accuracy at significantly lower inference costs and latency. This development highlights Google's ongoing efforts to deliver cost-effective, high-efficiency AI reasoning models for developers seeking affordable yet highly capable enterprise and consumer applications.

  Aug 21 · OfficeChai

• Funding

  Accel and AVP Sell Amagi Shares Worth ₹587 Crore in Block Deals

  Venture capital firms Accel and AVP sold over 1 crore shares of cloud SaaS startup Amagi in block deals worth ₹587.3 crore at ₹560 per share, a 3% discount to its previous closing price. Accel entities offloaded 54.6 lakh shares, while AVP affiliates sold 50.3 lakh shares. Several domestic and global institutional investors acquired the shares, including SBI Mutual Fund, which purchased 50.9 lakh shares, HDFC Standard Life Insurance, and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Founded in 2008 by Baskar Subramanian, Srinivasan KA, and Srividhya Srinivasan, Amagi provides cloud-based broadcast and streaming solutions.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• AI

  NVIDIA Coding Agent AVO Scores 100 Percent on ARC-AGI Benchmark

  NVIDIA announced that its specialized coding agent, named AVO, achieved a 100 percent score on the ARC-AGI benchmark, marking a major milestone in artificial intelligence reasoning. The ARC-AGI benchmark is widely recognized as a rigorous test for evaluating general intelligence and novel problem-solving capabilities beyond traditional pattern recognition. While mainstream large language models have consistently struggled with complex reasoning puzzles on the ARC benchmark, NVIDIA's agent-based coding approach successfully solved all test cases. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential of combining programmatic problem decomposition, autonomous tool use, and specialized code generation architectures to conquer complex abstract reasoning challenges.

  Aug 21 · OfficeChai

• AI

  Karnataka Government Launches KEO Open-Source Edge AI Computing Device

  The Karnataka government has launched KEO (Knowledge-driven, Economical and Open-source), a low-cost, AI-ready desktop computing platform designed to democratise access to advanced technology. Developed jointly by the state’s Department of Electronics, IT and Biotechnology, KEONICS, semiconductor partners, and system integrators, the device combines open-source RISC-V processor architecture with an on-device AI accelerator. The hardware enables artificial intelligence applications to run locally without relying on high-speed internet connectivity. Officials stated that the Made-in-Karnataka platform is aimed at serving students, entrepreneurs, farmers, small businesses, and institutions operating in remote and low-connectivity regions.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Zomato Pilots 'Zomato Now' Food Vending Machines in Gurugram Offices

  Eternal-owned food delivery platform Zomato is piloting smart food vending machines under the brand name 'Zomato Now' across corporate offices in Gurugram. The initiative, run in partnership with local restaurants, aims to deliver rapid meals by placing food pods closer to consumers rather than relying solely on doorstep riders. The move also seeks to improve ties with restaurant partners amid ongoing disputes over high platform commissions and promotional charges. Zomato's core food delivery arm generated ₹3,100 crore in revenue, up 37% year-on-year, and ₹606 crore in adjusted EBITDA in Q1 FY27.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  PhysicsWallah Generates Over ₹1,000 Crore in Quarterly Revenue

  Edtech startup PhysicsWallah, founded by Alakh Pandey, is generating quarterly revenue exceeding ₹1,000 crore as it scales its full-stack education model combining digital courses with offline coaching centres. After entering the unicorn club with a $100 million maiden funding round in 2022, the company expanded beyond its core JEE and NEET offerings into upskilling and test preparation acquisitions. While broader edtech competitors such as BYJU'S collapsed and Unacademy merged into upGrad, PhysicsWallah has leveraged its hybrid strategy to build steady profitability and scale ahead of public market milestones.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Funding

  Indian Startups Raise $187 Million Led by Navi’s $100 Million Round

  Venture capital funding into Indian startups reached $187 million across 16 deals between August 15 and August 21, up from $146 million in the prior week. The momentum was largely driven by Sachin Bansal’s Navi Limited, which secured $100 million from Prosus in its first institutional round. Other key transactions included data centre operator CtrlS raising Rs 250 crore from Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Sreeram Reddy Vanga, geospatial startup NeoGeoInfo Technologies raising $20 million from Neev II Fund and Aavishkaar Capital, and fintech startup Rezolv securing $12.5 million from Norwest, Vertex Ventures, and 3one4 Capital.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Zetwerk Posts ₹15,913 Crore FY26 Revenue Ahead of Planned IPO

  Bengaluru-based B2B contract manufacturing unicorn Zetwerk reported a 40.4% year-on-year revenue increase to ₹15,913 crore in FY26 from continuing operations, up from FY25. Adjusted EBITDA rose to ₹421.3 crore, while its order book reached approximately ₹12,370 crore entering FY27 across 26 facilities. However, consolidated net loss expanded to ₹1,606 crore, impacted by an exceptional non-cash loss of ₹835.8 crore and a ₹453 crore impairment from discontinued civil infrastructure operations. Operating cash flows remained negative as the company transitions from a marketplace into hybrid contract manufacturing ahead of its IPO.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  PM Modi Meets 20 Spacetech Startups to Discuss Commercial Space Expansion

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with founders and chief executives of 20 Indian spacetech startups at Seva Teerth to discuss expanding the commercial viability of India's space ecosystem. Participating companies included Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, Bellatrix Aerospace, and Digantara, showcasing capabilities in satellite manufacturing, semi-cryogenic rocket engines, space situational awareness, and AI-driven earth observation. Modi reaffirmed government backing for the private space sector and urged space startups to collaborate with broader industries, such as partnering with agricultural universities for crop analytics and environmental bodies for managing orbital space debris.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  PM Surya Ghar Crosses 50 Lakh Rooftop Solar Installations Across India

  India's flagship rooftop solar initiative, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, has reached over 50.06 lakh households in a little over two years, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on August 4, 2026. The Rs 75,021 crore scheme has rapidly accelerated installation speeds, adding nearly 16,328 households daily in July 2026. Around Rs 28,024 crore has been disbursed to beneficiaries via Direct Benefit Transfer, commissioning 14.8 GW of solar capacity. Additionally, concessional loans at 5.75% interest have supported 17.5 lakh completed installations, advancing the government's target of powering 1 crore homes nationwide.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Starcloud Raises $250 Million to Build Orbital Space Data Centers

  US-based space technology startup Starcloud has secured $250 million in fresh funding to build and deploy orbital data centers in space. The capital infusion comes at a crucial time as commercial launch options face bottlenecks while computational demand for artificial intelligence and massive data processing continues to escalate globally. By operating computing infrastructure in orbit, Starcloud aims to bypass terrestrial power and cooling limitations that challenge conventional terrestrial facilities. The company plans to utilize the newly raised funds to speed up its spacecraft engineering, expand manufacturing capabilities, and secure vital orbital slots amid tightening launch schedules.

  Aug 21 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  US DOJ Probes a16z Over Competing Board Seats in AI Companies

  The US Department of Justice has launched an investigation into venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz over potential antitrust violations regarding interlocking directorates. The probe focuses on two a16z partners holding simultaneous board seats at competing software and AI data infrastructure companies: Ben Horowitz at Databricks and Martin Casado at Fivetran. Regulators are examining whether these dual board representations violate a century-old antitrust statute designed to prevent anti-competitive coordination between rivals. While Andreessen Horowitz initially invested before the two firms became direct competitors, the inquiry reflects increased regulatory scrutiny on venture capital governance across the technology sector.

  Aug 21 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Gudlyf Mobility Develops High-Pressure Hydrogen Storage Cylinders in Madurai

  Madurai-based clean technology startup Gudlyf Mobility Private Limited is developing specialized composite pressure vessels to support India’s growing hydrogen vehicle ecosystem. Founded in October 2022 by Ajeet Babu Parasumanna, Ashwini Ajeet Parasumanna, Parasumanna Seshier Kumar, and KC Vora, the Tamil Nadu company designs Type IV hydrogen cylinders capable of withstanding 700 bar working pressure. Gudlyf Mobility has completed three undisclosed funding rounds, with participation from Startup India in April 2025. The deeptech venture reported a revenue of ₹9.75 lakh for the financial year ending March 2024 as it advances lightweight fuel storage technology for commercial applications.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Sagar Defence Engineering Builds Autonomous Vessels for Marine Patrol and Surveillance

  Pune and Mumbai-based autonomous maritime technology startup Sagar Defence Engineering has developed unmanned surface vessels and aerial platforms designed for security patrols and ocean surveillance. Founded in 2015 by Captain Nikunj Parashar and Mridul Babbar, the deeptech venture has raised over $30.1 million in funding from prominent institutional investors, including Skegen, ONGC, and IDBI Capital. Sagar Defence generates approximately $4.68 million in revenue for the financial year ended March 2024. Its core technological offerings include unmanned marine craft, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and the proprietary Genesis autonomous navigation system built to handle critical defense and commercial maritime operations.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Hyperhorizon Technologies Builds Indigenous Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in Bengaluru

  Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Hyperhorizon Technologies Private Limited, founded in 2022 by Vishaal M Kabilan and Sibi M, is developing endurance-class autonomous underwater vehicles weighing under 20 kilograms. Operating in the autonomous maritime and subsea technology sector, the legal entity reported a revenue of Rs 1.19 crore for the financial year ended March 2025. The company has not disclosed any institutional funding to date. Hyperhorizon focuses on building indigenous subsea robotic systems to address surveillance, oceanography, and commercial marine exploration, expanding India’s capabilities in deeptech defense and oceanic robotics hardware manufacturing.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Hyper Horizon Develops Autonomous Submarines for Subsea Mapping and Research

  Bengaluru-based marine robotics startup Hyperhorizon Technologies Private Limited, operating as Hyper Horizon, has engineered lightweight autonomous underwater vehicles to map marine environments without human pilots. Founded in 2022 by Vishaal M Kabilan and Sibi M, the deeptech company manufactures endurance-class submersibles that weigh under 20 kilograms, enabling cost-effective underwater exploration, surveying, and oceanographic research. Hyper Horizon generated ₹1.19 crore in revenue for the financial year ended March 2025, operating without any publicly disclosed outside institutional funding. The startup focuses on developing scalable, high-precision robotic platforms tailored for defense, maritime research, and commercial underwater surveying applications across India.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Greenjoules Secures ₹62 Crore From Amazon And Singularity AMC

  Pune-based green energy startup Greenjoules has secured approximately ₹62 crore ($6.5 million) in an ongoing Series B funding round. According to MCA filings, Amazon's investment arm, Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings, led the round with a ₹45 crore investment, while Singularity AMC’s Singularity Strategic Autonomy Fund contributed ₹17 crore. Founded in 2018 by S Viraraghavan, V Radhika, VS Shridhar, and R Sethunath, Greenjoules converts agricultural waste into renewable fuels for diesel engines and industrial equipment. The company previously raised $4.5 million from Blue Ashva Capital in 2021 to set up waste-to-energy plants.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  PM Modi Pledges Government Support to Indian Space Tech Startups

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with founders and chief executive officers of 20 Indian space startups, assuring them of sustained government support and structural reforms. Modi lauded the entrepreneurs for taking risks in the deeptech sector and urged them to build commercial applications addressing everyday challenges in agriculture, livestock management, and environmental conservation. He suggested space debris companies partner with environmental groups and earth observation ventures collaborate with agricultural universities to help farmers optimize yields. The Prime Minister emphasized that India has the potential to offer a commercially viable and innovative global model in the space tech ecosystem.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  India's Gig and Freelance Workforce to Reach 23.5 Million by 2030

  India's freelance and gig workforce surpassed 15 million professionals in 2024 and is projected to expand to 23.5 million by 2030, according to recent workforce data. The surge is driven by working professionals actively pursuing expertise-led side hustles, including online consulting, advisory services, digital education, and content creation. The trend indicates a structural shift where salaried individuals build parallel revenue streams to combat rising living expenses, create secondary wealth vehicles, achieve financial independence, and mitigate risks associated with corporate job market volatility.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Meesho and Seller Face FIR in Gurugram Over Minor’s Death

  Gurugram Police have registered a First Information Report against ecommerce platform Meesho and Surat-based merchant Evergreen Agro and Gardening Mall following the death of a 17-year-old boy. The FIR was lodged at Badshahpur police station on August 19 under Sections 106 and 286 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following a court directive and a complaint by the victim's mother, Anuradha Mehra. Police investigations revealed the deceased ordered toxic Sulfas via Meesho on April 11 before consuming it on April 28. Authorities are examining compliance lapses regarding the online sale and delivery of restricted poisonous substances.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Funding

  Battery Smart Raises $19.5 Million Series C at $430 Million Valuation

  Gurugram-based electric vehicle battery-swapping startup Battery Smart raised 19.50 million dollars, or 185.5 crore rupees, in a Series C funding round at a post-money valuation of 430 million dollars. Existing investor Rising Tide Ventures led the round with 11.8 million dollars, alongside participation from Ecosystem Integrity Fund, which invested 49 crore rupees, and Blume Ventures with 25 crore rupees. Founded in 2020, Battery Smart operates a battery-as-a-service network for electric two- and three-wheelers. The company plans to deploy the fresh capital toward nationwide business expansion, capital expenditure, operational infrastructure development, and ongoing working capital requirements.

  Aug 21 · Entrackr

• AI

  Enterprise AI Adoption Moves From Hype to Business Value: SUSE Panel

  At SUSE’s Women in Technology leadership event, senior technology executives emphasized that enterprise AI adoption is shifting from hype toward delivering measurable business value. Tracy Quah, Marketing Director Asia Pacific at SUSE, highlighted AI as a leadership opportunity focused on product velocity, secure operations, and empowered teams. Margaret Dawson, Chief Marketing Officer at SUSE, noted that enterprise AI has moved rapidly through the hype cycle into a phase where companies prioritize tangible returns over mere automation. Krithiga Thakkar, Managing Director at Accenture, joined the panel to discuss strategic employee productivity and the ongoing challenges facing women in tech leadership.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  D2C Brand Three Sixty Scales Luxury Handcrafted Indian Leather

  Founded by Vikash Gupta in 2009, Indian luxury brand Three Sixty is expanding handcrafted leather goods across domestic and international markets. After spending 15 years running a B2B export business supplying global fashion brands, Gupta established Three Sixty to give Indian artisans direct credit and build a design-focused consumer brand. Operating on a scalable craftsmanship model, the company employs artisans with decades of experience to produce high-end furniture and lifestyle accessories. The startup aims to capitalize on India's booming leather goods market, which reached $14 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $20.6 billion by 2034.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Funding

  Atomberg’s FY26 Loss Widens to ₹149 Crore Despite 35% Revenue Growth

  IPO-bound consumer appliances startup Atomberg Technologies reported a 26.8% increase in consolidated net loss to ₹148.9 crore for the financial year ended March 2026, up from ₹117.4 crore in FY25. According to its draft red herring prospectus, operating revenue grew 34.8% to ₹1,293.8 crore from ₹959.5 crore. The company's home appliances business remained its primary revenue driver, rising 23% to ₹1,153 crore, while kitchen appliances surged 542% to ₹124 crore. Meanwhile, Atomberg's adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed by 27.7% to ₹37.1 crore, with total expenses rising 30.6% year-on-year to ₹1,460 crore.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Funding

  CtrlS, Navi, and Rezolv Lead Latest Funding Rounds Across Startups

  Several Indian startups secured fresh capital across diverse sectors, including digital infrastructure, fintech, and quick commerce. Data center company CtrlS Datacenters, Sachin Bansal-led financial services company Navi, and enterprise platform Rezolv secured major funding rounds. Other startups raising new capital include travel tech firm Atravelq, aquaculture company Neuromod Aqua, child development platform Butterfly Learnings, semiconductor venture AlgoFET, retail platform Digidukan, and consumer brand Peeko. The investments highlight ongoing investor engagement spanning seed to late-stage enterprise infrastructure, consumer tech, and deep tech startups.

  Aug 21 · ET Entrepreneur

• Funding

  Atomberg Shareholders Offload Rs 683 Crore Stake via Secondary Sales

  Consumer appliances startup Atomberg disclosed in its draft red herring prospectus that early investors, founders, and shareholders offloaded shares worth approximately Rs 683 crore via secondary transactions since 2019. A91 Emerging Fund I LLP was the largest seller, offloading shares worth around Rs 445 crore, while Parampara Early Stage Opportunities Fund sold about Rs 116 crore. Co-founders Manoj Kumar Meena and Sibabrata Das sold stakes worth Rs 40.2 crore and Rs 31.4 crore, respectively. Temasek-backed entities Jongsong Investments and V-Sciences Investments acquired shares worth Rs 187 crore and Rs 132 crore, alongside Inflexor-linked funds.

  Aug 21 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Meesho To Create Over 10 Lakh Seasonal Jobs Ahead Of Festive Season

  Ecommerce marketplace Meesho expects to create over 10 lakh seasonal jobs across its seller and logistics network ahead of the festive season. Around 6.5 lakh opportunities will be generated across approximately 1.3 lakh sellers for roles in packaging, manufacturing, warehousing, and inventory management. An additional 3.75 lakh roles will be created across its logistics arm, Valmo, and third-party delivery partners, spanning delivery, sortation, and supervisory operations. The initiative comes as Indian ecommerce companies prepare to scale operational capacity to handle the surge in consumer demand during their annual festive sales period.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Drone Tech Startup AlgoFET Secures ₹15 Cr Pre-Series A

  Bengaluru-based drone ground infrastructure startup AlgoFET has raised ₹15 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by Piper Serica in August 2026. Founded on December 30, 2023, by Chief Executive Officer Ankit Mishra, the company manufactures automated docking stations that enable unmanned aerial vehicles to land and recharge autonomously without human intervention. AlgoFET is supported by ARTPARK at the Indian Institute of Science. The startup has already deployed over 2,000 docking units and claims an order pipeline exceeding 4,000 units, representing an order book valued at approximately ₹100 crore across commercial and industrial drone operations.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Kochi Robotics Startup EyeROV Expands Underwater Inspection Capabilities

  Kochi-headquartered marine robotics company EyeROV has developed underwater robots to inspect submerged critical infrastructure where human divers face physical limitations. Founded by Johns T Mathai and Kannappa Palaniappan P, the deeptech startup has completed over 150 inspection projects across more than 80 client engagements. EyeROV previously raised a ₹13 crore pre-Series A round in February 2026, co-led by AWE Funds and Unicorn India Ventures, bringing total capital raised to over $2 million alongside backing from GAIL. The startup also secured a major ₹47 crore contract from the Indian Navy in September 2025.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Bengaluru Startup e-TRNL Energy Raises ₹27.4 Crore Seed Funding

  Bengaluru-based battery cell technology startup e-TRNL Energy has raised ₹27.4 crore in a seed funding round in February 2026. The funding round was led by IAN Alpha Fund, with participation from Navam Capital, Anicut Capital, Speciale Invest, Micelio Mobility, and IIMA Ventures. Angel investors including Ather Energy co-founders Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain also participated. Founded in 2021 by Apoorv Shaligram and Uttam Kumar Sen, e-TRNL Energy redesigns battery cell architecture rather than standard chemical compositions. The startup previously raised ₹7.5 crore in pre-seed funding and operates a 20,000-square-foot facility.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Bengaluru Deeptech Startup Pranos Fusion Secures $7.22 Million In Funding

  Bengaluru-based nuclear energy startup Pranos Fusion has raised approximately $7.22 million across two funding rounds to develop commercial fusion energy infrastructure in India. The rounds were co-led by pi Ventures and Ankur Capital, with backing from Industrial47 and angel investors including Groww’s Lalit Keshre and Razorpay's founders. Established in 2024 by CEO Shaurya Kaushal and COO Roshan George, the deeptech company is co-incubated at the Institute for Plasma Research and JNCASR. Pranos Fusion is developing proprietary technology including its JENGA design software, MAGGA superconducting magnets, and the PRAGYA tokamak system.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• AI

  DeepSeek Unveils V4-Flash-Vision-Exp Model for Multimodal Tasks

  Chinese artificial intelligence lab DeepSeek has released an experimental vision model named V4-Flash-Vision-Exp. According to initial benchmark evaluations, the lightweight multimodal model matches the performance of Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.8 on select visual processing and multimodal reasoning tests. The experimental release represents DeepSeek's push into specialized, task-focused architectures alongside its primary flagship models. The launch reflects broader efforts among global AI research organizations to develop highly efficient, domain-specific vision-language models capable of running complex visual understanding tasks with lower compute overhead while remaining competitive against significantly larger frontier AI systems.

  Aug 21 · OfficeChai

• Startup

  Deepinder Goyal Unveils Compact Design For Temple Wearable Ahead Of Launch

  Deepinder Goyal has unveiled the latest design of his wearable startup Temple, claiming the device is now less than half its previous size and the smallest on the market. Temple will open pre-orders for a limited launch edition soon, with shipments scheduled before the end of 2026. Tied to Goyal's longevity research venture, Continue Research, the device aims to measure cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. Temple, which raised $54 million in seed funding from Peak XV Partners, Steadview Capital, Vy Capital, and Info Edge Ventures, has partnered with Zetwerk and Ethereal Machines for contract manufacturing.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Funding

  Nobel Hygiene Files DRHP for Rs 150 Crore Fresh IPO Issue

  Hygiene products manufacturer Nobel Hygiene Limited has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus with SEBI to launch an initial public offering. The issue includes a fresh equity issuance worth Rs 150 crore and an offer for sale of up to 1.55 crore shares by existing shareholders. Quadria Capital, via Orbit Investment Holdings, leads the OFS offloading 95.7 lakh shares, alongside Sixth Sense Ventures offloading 50 lakh shares. Nobel Hygiene plans to deploy fresh capital to repay existing borrowings, invest in its subsidiary Nobel Hygiene Baroda, and expand its Halol manufacturing facility with a new adult diaper production line.

  Aug 21 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Supreme Court Urges Matrimony.com and Jodi365 to Settle Trademark Dispute

  The Supreme Court of India has directed Matrimony.com and matchmaking platform Jodi365, operated by FreeElective Network, to explore an out-of-court settlement regarding their trademark dispute over the brand name 'Jodii'. A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe kept Matrimony.com’s plea pending after it challenged an August 11 Madras High Court order restraining it from using the name. Matrimony.com has proposed renaming its vernacular matchmaking app to 'Jodi Matrimony' to prevent service disruption. FreeElective had filed an infringement suit claiming prior trademark rights over the Jodi365 brand established in 2009.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Startup

  Deepinder Goyal Announces Downsized Temple Brain-Monitoring Wearable

  Zomato and Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal announced that his brain-monitoring wearable startup, Temple, will soon open pre-orders for its limited launch edition. Goyal stated on social media that the redesigned device is now less than half the size of earlier versions, calling it the smallest and most powerful wearable available. Designed to track cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, the wearable is scheduled to ship to customers before the end of 2026. Pricing details remain undisclosed, though the company previously shipped an initial cohort of 100 prototype units to select users earlier this year.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Agritech Startup Fragaria In Talks To Raise ₹40 Crore From Blume

  Chennai-based agritech startup Fragaria Fruits is in advanced discussions to raise ₹40 crore ($4.2 million) in a funding round led by Blume Ventures. Existing backers WEH Ventures and Rainmatter are also expected to participate. The proposed capital infusion could value the indoor farming venture at ₹160 crore. Founded in 2024 by Harish Varadharajan, Timothy Chad Van Niekerk, and Damian López-Salazar, Fragaria uses indoor vertical farming systems to produce European strawberries under the brand Oh! Fruits. The startup previously raised $2 million in seed funding and has been expanding its operations into Bengaluru.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• AI

  IndiaAI Mission Hosts AIKosh Workshop to Boost National Data Ecosystem

  The IndiaAI Mission organized a specialized workshop on AIKosh at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi to strengthen the country's AI-ready data infrastructure. AIKosh operates as the central national platform for sharing datasets and AI models to empower developers, researchers, and startups across India. The workshop brought together key industry representatives, government officials, and AI ecosystem stakeholders to discuss frameworks for data curation, accessibility, and high-quality data governance. The initiative forms a critical pillar in India's broader sovereign artificial intelligence strategy.

  Aug 21 · orissadiary.com

• Startup

  Turtlemint Shares Surge 6% As Jefferies Initiates Buy Coverage

  Shares of recently listed insurtech startup Turtlemint gained up to 5.7% to touch ₹152.80 on the BSE after brokerage Jefferies initiated coverage with a ‘Buy’ rating and a target price of ₹190, implying a 37% upside. Jefferies highlighted Turtlemint’s expanding Point-of-Sales-Person channel, which drives roughly 6% of Indian insurance premiums sold. The brokerage projects a 38% revenue CAGR over three years and expects adjusted EBITDA margins to reach 10% by FY29. Turtlemint narrowed its Q1 net loss by 19% year-on-year to ₹37.8 crore, while operating revenue increased 40% to ₹294.1 crore.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  Urban Company Shares Jump 8% As UBS Initiates Buy Rating

  Shares of Urban Company surged up to 8.1% to ₹157.35 on the BSE after global brokerage UBS initiated coverage with a ‘Buy’ rating and a target price of ₹180. The company’s market capitalisation reached ₹24,110 crore. UBS noted that India’s online home services sector is approaching a rapid-growth phase comparable to Blinkit's trajectory. The brokerage projects Urban Company’s net transaction value to expand at a 32% CAGR from ₹4,300 crore in FY26 to ₹10,000 crore by FY29. Additionally, Morgan Stanley recently upgraded the firm to ‘Overweight’ with a target price of ₹165.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  Atomberg Revenue Reaches Rs 1,294 Crore in FY26 as Losses Widen

  Consumer appliances brand Atomberg reported a 34.8% year-on-year increase in operating revenue to Rs 1,294 crore for FY26, according to disclosures in its draft red herring prospectus. Total income reached Rs 1,324 crore, driven primarily by home appliances, which generated Rs 1,153 crore, or nearly 89% of operating revenue. Kitchen appliances experienced rapid expansion, surging over sixfold to Rs 124 crore. However, total expenditure increased 30.6% to Rs 1,460 crore, led by raw material expenses of Rs 738 crore, employee costs of Rs 210 crore, and advertising spends of Rs 135 crore, leading to widened overall losses.

  Aug 21 · Entrackr

• AI

  Google Rolls Out AI Features For JEE And NEET Exam Preparation

  Google has introduced AI-powered learning and examination preparation tools across Google Search and Gemini to assist students taking competitive tests, including India’s JEE and NEET. Launched under its global Back to School 2026 initiative, the features allow users to practice subject quizzes, generate interactive visualisations for complex topics, and receive step-by-step problem guidance via Google Lens. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the tools also cover international examinations like the SAT, GRE, MCAT, and LSAT. Furthermore, Google added a dedicated Student Hub to Gemini as competition intensifies with OpenAI in the education technology sector.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  Elon Musk Pitches Starlink Satellite Internet For Rural Indian Connectivity

  SpaceX founder Elon Musk has highlighted Starlink’s satellite internet service as a potential solution to bridge the digital divide in rural and underserved areas of India. Responding to data showing that over 11,200 Indian villages lacked 4G connectivity as of May 2026, Musk stated that Starlink would significantly benefit the least served populations. His remarks come as Starlink submitted a fresh application to secure regulatory approvals for offering satellite communication services in India. Indian authorities had previously rejected an earlier application regarding its Gen 2 satellite network due to frequency and technical compliance requirements.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• Funding

  Atomberg Files DRHP For IPO Comprising ₹450 Crore Fresh Issue

  D2C consumer appliances startup Atomberg has filed its draft red herring prospectus with market regulator SEBI for an initial public offering. The issue includes a fresh issue of shares worth up to ₹450 crore alongside an offer for sale of up to 7.65 crore equity shares by existing investors, including A91 Partners, Temasek-backed V-Sciences, Jungle Ventures, Inflexor Ventures, and Steadview Capital. Cofounders Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das will not sell shares. Atomberg plans to use ₹90 crore to repay debt, ₹150 crore for marketing, and ₹100 crore for research and development.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Funding

  Atomberg files DRHP for Rs 450 crore IPO fresh issue

  Consumer appliance maker Atomberg Technologies has filed its draft red herring prospectus with SEBI for an initial public offering. The issue includes a fresh issue of up to Rs 450 crore alongside an offer for sale of up to 7.65 crore shares by investors including A91 Partners, Temasek-backed V-Sciences, Jungle Ventures, and Inflexor Ventures. Atomberg plans to allocate Rs 90 crore toward debt repayment, Rs 150 crore for brand awareness and marketing, and Rs 100 crore for research and development. Founded by Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das, the startup manufactures smart fans, mixer grinders, and related appliances.

  Aug 21 · Entrackr

• Startup

  Indian Microdrama Startups Face Rising Costs Amid Big OTT Competition

  India’s microdrama market is witnessing intense competition as short vertical video formats gain traction across tier-II and smaller cities. While producing a series remains relatively inexpensive at around ₹10 Lakh to ₹15 Lakh, platforms face steep customer acquisition costs and distribution hurdles. Specialist startups such as Kuku TV and Story TV are navigating monetisation challenges while competing against major streaming players, including JioHotstar, Zee Entertainment, Tata Play, and Amazon MX Player. Although advertising is emerging as an alternative revenue channel, major brands continue to view microdrama platforms primarily as an experimental marketing format.

  Aug 21 · Inc42

• Startup

  Red Balloon Aerospace builds near-space infrastructure for Indian deeptech testing

  Vijayawada-based spacetech startup Red Balloon Aerospace is developing near-space infrastructure to support high-altitude payload testing and operations in India. Founded in 2025 by Chief Executive Officer CVS Kiran, a former Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre scientist and Skyroot Aerospace vice president, the company focuses on stratospheric airships, aerostats, and super-pressure balloons. Kiran launched the venture to address India's severe shortage and long waitlists for near-space testing facilities located between aviation altitudes and satellite orbits. The startup aims to build indigenous deeptech platforms to establish sovereign near-space operational capabilities and accelerate domestic space technology development timelines.

  Aug 21 · YourStory

• AI

  AI data startup Micro1 hits $500M run rate amid training surge

  Artificial intelligence data startup Micro1 has achieved a $500 million annualized gross run rate, propelled by surging enterprise demand for high-quality AI training data. The milestone underscores rapid revenue acceleration across the specialized data labeling and sourcing sector as foundational model developers race to train next-generation generative AI systems. Micro1 provides vetted technical talent and curated datasets to train complex machine learning models efficiently. Industry analysts note that skyrocketing compute investments and severe shortages of specialized domain data continue to drive enterprise budgets toward third-party training data providers and marketplace platforms globally.

  Aug 21 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  OpenAI gains enterprise ground on Anthropic amid shifting business loyalty

  New industry data indicates that OpenAI is gaining market share against rival Anthropic among enterprise customers, highlighting intense competition in the commercial artificial intelligence market. However, user tracking reveals enterprise loyalty remains volatile, with corporate clients frequently switching between model providers as each laboratory releases upgraded frontier systems. This constant churn between OpenAI’s GPT models and Anthropic’s Claude lineup raises questions for venture investors regarding how sticky enterprise AI software spending truly is long term. Both AI developers continue releasing specialized workplace tools and discounted API tiers to lock in institutional clients.

  Aug 20 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  ChatGPT adds Apple Messages integration to automate personal text messaging

  OpenAI’s ChatGPT can now draft and send text messages on behalf of users through a newly introduced Apple Messages integration. The automated tool acts as a personal text scribe, allowing individuals to generate contextual responses, schedule communications, and dispatch conversational replies directly through the native iOS messaging ecosystem. The feature leverages ChatGPT’s language processing capabilities to streamline everyday digital communication for consumers and professionals. This rollout marks another step in expanding generative artificial intelligence assistants directly into standard smartphone operating systems, shifting AI from standalone web portals into core mobile communication workflows.

  Aug 20 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Google Introduces Preferred Source Button to Help Publishers Retain Web Traffic

  Google has launched a new feature allowing users to designate specific publishers as preferred sources across Google Search, Google Discover, and Google News. The move aims to assist digital publishers in recovering lost web traffic as artificial intelligence-powered search summaries and automated overviews increasingly reduce click-through rates to original content websites. By letting readers prioritize selected publications, the tool intends to give media companies better visibility across Google's content distribution ecosystem. The update comes amid rising concerns from digital media companies worldwide regarding the impact of AI search features on direct referral traffic and digital advertising revenue models.

  Aug 20 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Rippling And Runlayer Drop Lawsuits As Rippling Launches Competing Product

  Software startup Runlayer and workforce management platform Rippling have agreed to dismiss their mutual legal claims against each other, concluding their dispute without any monetary settlement. Following the dismissal of the litigation, Rippling released a competing product targeting the same functional domain. The dispute serves as a notable case study for early-stage enterprise founders regarding competitive dynamics and intellectual property protection when engaging with established players. The resolution underscores the operational and strategic hurdles that emerging software firms encounter when competing against well-funded incumbents capable of quickly deploying internal resources to build rival tools.

  Aug 20 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  Linkdaze Launches Smart Family Calendar Featuring Free AI Meal Planning Tool

  Digital organization platform Linkdaze has introduced a smart calendar application designed specifically for household management, offering its core feature set without paywalls or subscription requirements. The application includes an integrated artificial intelligence meal planner tool that assists families in organizing weekly recipes, grocery lists, and scheduling daily tasks. Unlike many digital organizational tools that restrict advanced functionality to premium subscription tiers, Linkdaze provides access to its automation and scheduling capabilities for free. The platform aims to differentiate itself in the competitive productivity software market by focusing on comprehensive household coordination alongside AI-assisted home management features for everyday family routines.

  Aug 20 · TechCrunch AI

• AI

  xAI’s Grok Lite Model Produces Incoherent Responses for Several Users

  Users of xAI’s conversational artificial intelligence model, Grok, reported receiving repetitive and nonsensical text outputs during standard interactions. The issue specifically affected users accessing Grok Lite, with anomalies beginning on Wednesday morning. Several subscribers documented instances where the chatbot generated random strings of characters, repeated phrases uncontrollably, and failed to follow basic conversational prompts. Technical glitches and output degradations of this nature occasionally occur in large language models due to backend inference updates, quantization issues, or serving infrastructure errors. The incident underscores ongoing reliability challenges facing artificial intelligence developers maintaining large-scale public chatbot infrastructure.

  Aug 20 · TechCrunch AI

• Startup

  Flipkart Advertising Business Drives Walmart’s International Revenue Growth in Q2

  Walmart reported that Indian ecommerce marketplace Flipkart’s advertising vertical drove a 20% growth in its global advertising business during the second quarter of FY27. Walmart International’s net sales increased 12.8% year-on-year to $35.2 billion, supported by strong performance in India and China, while international ecommerce sales grew 19%. However, Walmart CFO John David Rainey noted that Q3 sales growth faces a 100-basis-point headwind due to the timing shift of Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. Concurrently, Flipkart is diversifying its core operations beyond retail, with plans to introduce a food delivery service in the coming weeks.

  Aug 20 · Inc42

• AI

  Talent Shortage and Fragmented Data Constrain India's AI Growth: The Dialogue

  A study by policy think tank The Dialogue reveals that talent shortages and a lack of data standardisation are the primary bottlenecks hindering India's artificial intelligence ecosystem. The report, titled 'Competition, Innovation, and Market Structure in India's AI Ecosystem', indicates that these structural hurdles outweigh concerns regarding market concentration or anti-competitive behavior by major tech conglomerates. Researchers emphasized that while India's AI sector is witnessing rapid developmental innovation, sustained progress depends heavily on cultivating specialized technical expertise, establishing open and standardized datasets, and creating accessible computational infrastructure to foster a more competitive startup landscape.

  Aug 20 · cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com

• Funding

  Sachin Bansal’s Navi Secures $100 Million from Prosus Ahead of IPO

  Bengaluru-based fintech startup Navi Technologies, led by Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, has raised $100 million from Dutch global consumer internet investor Prosus in its maiden institutional funding round. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory clearances, including statutory approval from the Competition Commission of India. Navi plans to deploy the newly acquired capital to strengthen its technology stack and accelerate expansion across its core UPI payments, lending, and insurance verticals. The strategic fundraise arrives as the financial services platform actively prepares for its upcoming domestic initial public offering.

  Aug 19 · Business Standard

• AI

  VentureBeat Appoints Rob Strechay as Lead Analyst for Enterprise AI Research

  Media platform VentureBeat has appointed Rob Strechay as its first Lead Analyst and founding analyst of VentureBeat Research to expand its enterprise artificial intelligence advisory initiatives. Strechay previously served as managing director and principal analyst at theCUBE Research. Bringing nearly three decades of industry experience across startups like Zerto and cloud provider Amazon Web Services, Strechay will focus on providing technical decision-makers, including CIOs and CTOs, with data-driven analysis. His research will address enterprise AI deployment challenges, multi-vendor environment orchestration, security vulnerabilities within agentic pipelines, and infrastructure budget utilization issues.

  Aug 19 · VentureBeat AI

• AI

  Talent and Data Gaps Hinder India's AI Ecosystem, Report Finds

  A report by policy think tank The Dialogue reveals that a shortage of skilled talent and inadequate data standardisation are the primary barriers facing India's artificial intelligence ecosystem. Titled 'Competition, Innovation, and Market Structure in India's AI Ecosystem', the study surveyed 308 stakeholders, including startups, enterprise users, and consumers. Around 47.2% of respondents cited talent availability as a major hurdle to competitiveness, tied with customer adoption. The findings indicate that structural issues in data usability and talent pipelines hinder ecosystem development more significantly than market concentration or exclusionary conduct by large technology companies across the country.

  Aug 19 · ET CIO

• AI

  Tamil Nadu to Receive Two AI Centres of Excellence Under IndiaAI

  Tamil Nadu is set to host two Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence as part of the central government's ambitious IndiaAI Mission. These specialised research facilities aim to foster cutting-edge AI research, support regional startup ecosystems, and develop industry-specific AI solutions across key sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic institutions, technology enterprises, and government stakeholders. By establishing these centres, the state aims to strengthen its technical infrastructure, cultivate specialised talent pools, and accelerate the commercial adoption of artificial intelligence tools across varied industries throughout southern India.

  Aug 18 · Tech Observer Magazine

• AI

  Chhattisgarh Cabinet Approves Rs 500-Crore Mission to Expand AI Infrastructure

  The Chhattisgarh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, approved a Rs 500-crore Artificial Intelligence Mission on Wednesday to position the state as an emerging technology hub. Aligned with the central government’s IndiaAI Mission, the state initiative focuses on integrating artificial intelligence across education, governance, industry, startups, and skill development. Over the next five years, Chhattisgarh plans to establish 100 AI Data Labs and five dedicated Centres of Excellence. The mission aims to build foundational digital infrastructure, foster homegrown technological innovation, and improve public service delivery through automated, data-driven administrative systems.

  Aug 5 · The New Indian Express

• AI

  Google Selects 20 Indian AI Startups for Play Accelerator 2026 Cohort

  Google announced the selection of 20 Indian artificial intelligence startups for its Google for Startups Play Accelerator 2026 program. The three-month equity-free initiative, scheduled to conclude in November 2026, offers selected founders tailored mentorship, Google Cloud tools, and technical support to build scalable generative AI applications. Participating startups represent key industries including healthcare, gaming, and education. Google designed the accelerator curriculum to assist high-potential Indian builders in refining product architecture, enhancing user acquisition, and integrating advanced machine learning models into consumer and enterprise applications across global and domestic markets.

  Aug 3 · Deccan Herald