India’s startup and business ecosystem witnessed several notable developments on 19 August 2025, spanning fintech, AI, consumer brands, real estate, and technology services. The day’s highlights included early-stage seed funding, major growth capital rounds, strategic investments, and significant corporate announcements. Here’s your quick roundup of the top funding deals and key business news in India today.
Daily Indian Funding Roundup – 19 August 2025
| Date | Company | Amount | Round / Type | Lead Investor(s) | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 2025 | Weaver Services | $170M | Growth | Lightspeed, Premji Invest; Gaja Capital (participated) | Housing finance / Fintech |
| 19 Aug 2025 | Polestar Analytics | $12.5M | Growth capital | US family offices & institutional investors | AI / Data analytics |
| 19 Aug 2025 | R for Rabbit | $27M | Series B (primary & secondary) | Filter Capital, 3one4 Capital | D2C baby products |
| 19 Aug 2025 | House of Biryan | ₹32 Cr | Growth | MS Dhoni, Bestvantage Investments, other angels | Food‑tech / Cloud kitchen |
| 19 Aug 2025 | Beyond Appliances | $4M | Series A | Fireside Ventures; Dharana Capital | Smart kitchen appliances |
| 19 Aug 2025 | Famyo | ₹4 Cr | Seed | IAN Angel Fund; The Chennai Angels & individuals | Kids’ lifestyle / D2C |
| 19 Aug 2025 | CoRover (BharatGPT) | Undisclosed | Strategic investment | HDFC Bank | Conversational AI / LLM |
Weaver Services Raises $170 Million in Growth Round
Weaver Services, a housing finance platform, has secured $170 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed and Premji Invest, with participation from Gaja Capital. The funds will support the company’s expansion into Tier-II and Tier-III markets, aiming to increase its reach in the affordable housing sector.
Polestar Analytics Secures $12.5 Million for AI Development
Polestar Analytics, specialising in AI-driven data analytics and planning, has raised $12.5 million from U.S.-based family offices and institutional investors. The investment will enhance the company’s AI capabilities and further develop its proprietary 1Platform, a leading solution for enterprise-scale data convergence.
R for Rabbit Closes $27 Million in Series B Round
R for Rabbit, a direct-to-consumer baby products brand, has raised $27 million in a funding round led by Filter Capital and 3one4 Capital. The deal includes both primary and secondary transactions, indicating an infusion of new capital into the company as well as share purchases from existing stakeholders.
House of Biryan Secures INR 32 Crore in Growth Funding
House of Biryan (HoB), a cloud kitchen brand, has raised INR 32 crore in a funding round led by MS Dhoni and Bestvantage Investments. The funds will be used to expand operations from 22 kitchens to between 120 and 150 outlets over the next three years, targeting revenues of INR 450–550 crore.
Beyond Appliances Raises $4 Million in Series A
Beyond Appliances, a kitchen appliances startup, has secured $4 million in a Series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from Dharana Capital. The investment will support the company’s expansion into smart kitchen products and enhance its manufacturing capabilities.
Famyo Secures INR 4 Crore in Seed Funding
Famyo, a Bengaluru-based children’s lifestyle brand, has raised INR 4 crore in a seed round led by IAN Angel Fund, with contributions from The Chennai Angels and other strategic investors. The funds will be used to develop proprietary IP, expand character design, and strengthen talent across product, growth, and supply chains.
CoRover Receives Strategic Investment from HDFC Bank
CoRover, the maker of BharatGPT, has received an undisclosed strategic investment from HDFC Bank. The bank’s Group Head of Treasury, Arup Rakshit, highlighted the importance of BharatGPT’s ability to facilitate information exchange in multiple Indian languages, catering to the country’s diverse linguistic landscape.
Key Business News for 19 August 2025
Captain Fresh Files Confidential Papers for $400 Million IPO
Bengaluru-based B2B seafood supply chain platform, Captain Fresh has confidentially filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an initial public offering (IPO) aiming to raise between $350 million and $400 million. The company reported a net profit of INR 40 crore on revenues of INR 3,200 crore in FY25, marking a significant turnaround from a loss of INR 229 crore in FY24. The IPO proceeds are intended for acquisitions in the U.S. and Europe, where Captain Fresh already operates.
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Go Premium Plan in India
OpenAI has introduced a new subscription tier, ChatGPT Go, in India at a monthly fee of INR 399. This plan is designed to offer greater accessibility to users seeking enhanced features without the higher costs associated with the Plus or Pro plans. ChatGPT Go supports UPI payments and is available through the ChatGPT mobile apps and WhatsApp via 1-800-ChatGPT. It provides core functionalities suitable for everyday users, while the Plus plan at INR 1,999 per month offers advanced capabilities like GPT-4o and deep research tools.
Apple Leases INR 1,010 Crore Office Space in Bengaluru
Apple has leased approximately 2.7 lakh square feet of office space at Embassy Zenith in Bengaluru for a period of 10 years, amounting to a total cost of INR 1,010 crore. A (INR 235 per square foot), with a 4.5% annual escalation. This move underscores Bengaluru’s role as a global R&D hub for Apple, with teams focusing on hardware design, testing, machine learning, software, and operations. Additionally, Apple plans to open its third retail store in India at Phoenix Mall of Asia in North Bengaluru, following its stores in Delhi and Mumbai.
PixelSky Capital Achieves INR 150 Crore First Close
PixelSky Capital, a secondaries-focused investment fund, has secured INR 150 crore in its first funding close. The fund is targeting a total corpus of INR 400 crore and is backed by boutique investment bank IndigoEdge and Hitesh Ahuja, the founder of Yumlane. The capital raised will be channelled into acquiring stakes in growth-stage companies by purchasing shares from existing investors and early employees.
Cedar–IBSi Capital Launches Maiden INR 100 Crore Fintech Fund
Cedar–IBSi Capital has announced the launch of its maiden fund, targeting INR 100 crore in commitments, with an additional INR 10-15 crore expected in soft commitments. The fund will focus on fintech investments, aiming to support the growth of innovative financial technology startups.
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