New Delhi [India], July 12: As the founder of Derivate X, India’s first agency dedicated to LLM SEO (Large Language Model Search Engine Optimization), Apoorv is pioneering a shift in how companies think about search, discoverability, and digital memory.
“Search is no longer about ranking links. It’s about training AI to remember your brand.”
In a landscape where SEO has remained largely unchanged for two decades, he’s not just tweaking tactics, he’s building a new playbook altogether.
From Haldwani to Headlining SEO’s Next Wave
Apoorv’s story doesn’t begin in a VC-backed incubator or a fancy university. It starts in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, where he was born, grew up and lived the first 20 years of his life.
In the education front, he dropped out three times.
First, from a BA English Honours program. Then journalism in Chandigarh University. Then finally, a BCA degree where he completed five semesters but couldn’t appear for the last exams due to COVID and a move to Mumbai.
But while the formal education path broke down, something else sparked to life.
“Back in 2018, I started a book blog with a friend. I was doing everything: web dev, writing, SEO. That’s when I first understood the power of organic discovery.”
The blog wasn’t just a side project, it became a training ground. By 2023, Apoorv had built and sold a content brand called Stagbite, and after a short break, launched his most ambitious venture yet: Derivate X.
What Is Derivate X?
At its core, Derivate X is an SEO agency, but not like the others.
Yes, they do traditional SEO. Yes, they build backlinks. But their edge lies in a discipline most agencies haven’t touched:
LLM SEO or as Apoorv puts it,“Creating digital evidence so that large language models treat you like an authoritative source.”
They help growth-stage SaaS companies in the U.S. show up not just in Google, but in AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and more.
Imagine your brand being the answer when someone asks:
●“What’s the best martech SEO agency?”
●“Suggest top video hosting tools.”
●“Who are the top AI agencies in India?”
Derivate X is building the strategy, content, citations, and signals to make sure you are the answer.
What’s It Like to Work With Them?
The Derivate X model is engineered for clarity, control, and constant improvement.
●Clients start with a deep ICP + product + competitor form
●A dedicated Notion portal is created for full transparency
●Weekly/Bi-weekly Slack updates and monthly reports keep alignment tight
●Everything from technical SEO to ChatGPT prompt testing is centralized
Today, Apoorv leads a lean remote team of 5. But they’re not just another SEO crew. They’re operators, strategists, and AI-native thinkers.
But Wait, Does LLM SEO Even Work?
That’s the most common question Apoorv gets. And he doesn’t blame anyone.
“Most people think if you rank on Google, you’ll automatically rank on ChatGPT. But that’s like saying if you trend on Twitter, you’ll trend on Reddit too. It doesn’t work like that.”
Derivate X measures LLM visibility by:
●Tracking sessions coming from tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity
●Logging citation patterns and prompt appearance frequency
●Identifying branded search spikes in response to AI placement
●Experimenting with visibility mapping dashboards via Metabase
Why This Matters Now
If you run a SaaS company, you know organic discovery is a long game. But LLM SEO compresses time, especially when executed early.
“We’ve seen brands with zero Google traction get picked up by AI tools because the content was positioned right. That’s the power of context over backlinks.”
In a space where most agencies are still optimizing H1 tags and chasing 90+ Ahrefs DR, Apoorv’s team is asking:“How does GPT-4 see your brand?”
What’s Next?
Apoorv isn’t just running campaigns. He’s building an entire ecosystem around AI-driven discoverability from frameworks and teardowns to future products.
The name Derivate X comes from a concept in calculus:
The derivative of x is always 1. In his words:“We want to be the one place that drives all your SEO growth. No noise. No gimmicks.”
And with an approach that’s backed by performance (not packaging), Derivate X is poised to lead the next evolution of SEO.
Did you know you can actually earn money just by testing websites and apps, right from your couch? In today’s digital-first world, companies are constantly launching new apps and websites, and they need real users to test them before going live. That’s where you come in.
Whether it’s reviewing a mobile app, navigating through an e-commerce site, or completing specific test scenarios, your input can influence how a product is built and refined. The best part? No technical background is required, just your opinion and a reliable internet connection.
In this article, we will break down how to get started, how much you can earn, where to find legit platforms, and tips to maximize your income.
As a website or app tester, you get paid to use digital products like a regular user, but with a critical eye. Your job is to navigate through websites or apps, complete assigned tasks, and share your honest feedback by recording your screen and voice.
You will point out bugs, confusing elements, or anything that affects the user experience. In some cases, you may also fill out surveys or submit written feedback. Your insights help developers fine-tune the product before it reaches the public, making you a key part of the improvement process.
Who Can Become a Tester?
You don’t need to be a tech expert to get paid for testing websites and apps. Basic computer skills, a sharp eye for details, and the ability to articulate your thoughts are all you need. If you can navigate a smartphone or laptop and give constructive feedback, you’re ready to start earning.
Here’s what you’ll need:
A smartphone or computer
A stable internet connection
A clear voice and the ability to speak your thoughts
Basic understanding of English (or the test language), patience, honesty, and attention to detail
Most platforms welcome users aged 16 and up, though a few may require you to be 18+ and fluent in English, especially for international projects. So, whether you are a student, stay-at-home parent, freelancer, or just looking for a side hustle, you can get started today.
6 Crucial Steps to Start Testing Websites and Apps
6 Crucial Steps to Start Testing Websites and Apps and Earn Money
Are you ready to earn money by testing websites and apps? These six essential steps will walk you through everything you need to get started.
Sign Up on Testing Platforms
Create a free account on popular platforms like UserTesting, Trymata, or Testbirds.
Complete Your Profile
Fill in your demographic info (age, device type, location, language). This helps platforms match you with relevant tests.
Take a Sample Test
Most platforms ask you to complete a short test to show how well you can follow instructions and share feedback.
Start Receiving Test Invitations
Once approved, you’ll get email notifications for available tests based on your profile.
Test, Record & Submit
Follow the test instructions, record your screen and voice while performing the tasks, and submit your feedback.
Get Paid
Payments are usually sent via PayPal or direct transfer after your test is approved, often within 7 days.
Top 10 Platforms to Get Paid for Testing Websites & Apps
Are you looking to earn extra cash by testing digital products? Here are the top 10 sites where you can start getting paid for your opinion.
Platform
Payout per Test
Tasks Involved
Device Compatibility
Payment Method
Notes
Trymata
$5 – $30
Explore site/app, speak thoughts, answer questions, record screen + voice
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal
No special skills needed; test frequency varies
UserTesting
$10+
Complete tasks, screen share, speak thoughts, some live sessions
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal
Requires sample test; more pay for live/in-depth sessions
Testbirds
Varies
Usability and functionality testing
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal
Pay depends on complexity and scope
EnrollApp
Small payments per test
Give feedback on websites/apps
Desktop, Tablet, Mobile
PayPal
Easy and quick tests; beginner-friendly
uTest
Varies (based on bugs found)
Bug-hunting, usability testing
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal, Others
Paid by complexity and issues reported
Userlytics
$5 – $90
Record screen, voice, sometimes webcam
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal
Paid every 15 days; more pay for complex tests
TestingTime
Varies
Feedback via video call (remote/in-person)
Desktop (mainly), sometimes in-person
PayPal
Higher pay for in-person tests
Tester Work
Varies
Usability and functionality testing
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal
Paid for bugs and insights
Userfeel
$3 – $30
Use mic, complete tasks while speaking aloud
Desktop, Tablet, Mobile
PayPal
Requires a qualification test
UserCrowd
$0.20 – $0.75 per minute
Bite-sized tasks: pick designs, answer questions
Desktop, Mobile
PayPal
Short tasks; cash out after $10
Trymata
Earn anywhere from $5 to $30 per test by simply exploring a site or app, speaking your thoughts out loud, and answering a few follow-up questions. Just record your screen and voice as you go, no special skills needed. Once your test is reviewed, payments are sent straight to your PayPal. While test frequency can vary, it’s a great way to earn a little extra cash on the side each week.
UserTesting
Complete simple tasks, share your screen, and speak your thoughts as you go. Most tests take around 20 minutes and pay $10, while live or more in-depth sessions can earn you even more. You will need to pass a quick sample test. Once approved, you will start receiving test invites, and payments will go straight to your PayPal.
Testbirds
Testbirds connects you with usability and functionality testing gigs for companies around the world. Tests vary in complexity, and your earnings depend on the type and scope of each test. Once your feedback is reviewed and accepted, you’ll receive payment through PayPal.
EnrollApp
EnrollApp pays you to explore and give feedback on websites or apps using your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Each test is quick and easy, and you earn rewards that are paid via PayPal account. It’s a fun, flexible way to peek behind the scenes of digital products while making money in your spare time.
From bug-hunting to usability testing, uTest offers a wide range of paid opportunities to test apps and websites across different devices. You’re paid based on the complexity of the test and the issues you report. Payments are made via PayPal or other methods, making it a rewarding gig for detail-oriented testers.
Userlytics
With Userlytics, you can get paid to test websites and apps by simply recording your screen, voice, and occasionally your webcam. Each test pays between $5 to $90, depending on its complexity. Payments are sent via PayPal every 15 days after your feedback is approved. There’s no cap on how many tests you can take; just make sure your profile matches the test criteria to receive invites.
TestingTime
TestingTime connects you with companies looking for real user feedback on websites, apps, and even physical products. Tests can be conducted remotely via video call or occasionally in person, with in-person sessions paying more. Invitations are occasional, but each completed test earns you a solid payout, making it a flexible and easy side hustle for your free time.
Tester Work
Tester Work offers paid testing gigs focused on usability and functional testing for websites and apps. You’ll review digital products, report issues, and share insights. Your earnings depend on the complexity of the test and the bugs you discover, with payments made via PayPal.
Userfeel
Userfeel lets you earn $3 to $30 per test by using a microphone to record your voice while completing tasks on a website or app. After passing a short qualification test, you will receive paid tests across various devices such as a laptop, tablet, or phone. Payments are sent via PayPal, making it a flexible and beginner-friendly way to earn from home.
UserCrowd
UserCrowd offers bite-sized testing tasks where you evaluate website layouts, pick between designs, or answer short questions. You can earn $0.20–$0.75 per minute, and once you hit $10, you can cash out via PayPal. Tests are short, device-friendly, and perfect for squeezing in some extra earnings during your free time.
Conclusion
Earning money by testing websites and mobile apps is a legitimate and growing segment of the online gig economy. It allows individuals to participate in the product development lifecycle without needing technical expertise. While it may not replace a full-time income for most, it is a highly accessible method to supplement earnings with flexible hours. By simply exploring websites, reporting bugs, and sharing your honest feedback, you help improve the user experience and get paid for it!
How can I get paid for testing websites and apps from home?
You can earn money by signing up on testing platforms like UserTesting, Trymata, and Testbirds.
Do I need any experience to become a website or app tester?
No, you don’t need any technical background. All you need are basic computer skills, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to provide clear, honest feedback.
How do I qualify for paid user tests?
Most platforms require a sample or qualification test where you demonstrate your ability to follow instructions and communicate feedback clearly.
AI summarization has vivid relevance in terms of intelligent processing of lecture capturing and note review. Complex NLP processes underlie the automatic transcription of spoken content, provide clear summaries by distilling complex information, and highlight key areas for quick reference. Such systems will facilitate study life by supporting real-time transcription, providing multi-language assistance, allowing customizable summary formats, and allowing easy movement across devices. Organize and prioritize a seemingly endless supply of information in seconds, transferring the burden of hours’ worth of labor onto a truly productive AI-like assistant with AI-like summarization. Thus, you are always far better off with documentation on your schedule!
Individuals and teams needing AI-powered meeting transcription, summaries, and collaboration.
Otter.ai – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
Otter.ai is one of the most prominent AI-powered transcription and note-taking tools to transform the way in which lectures, meetings, and conversations are captured and summarized. Real-time transcription with speaker identification and smart summaries, Otter.ai allows users to focus on discussions while automatically producing accurate, searchable transcripts and highlighting key points. Its seamless integration with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, along with collaborative editing and sharing features, makes it an attractive option for students, professionals, and teams alike. Its very intuitive interface, mobile access, and advanced capability for searching also ensure that critical information is always at your fingertips, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity for both academic and business settings.
Pros
Real-time transcription for meetings, lectures, and interview settings
Speaker identification and keyword highlights,
Seamless integrations with major conferencing platforms
Cons
Limited language support
Advanced features in higher plans
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Pro
$16.99/user/month
Business
$30/user/month
Enterprise
Contact Sales
Notta
WEBSITE
www.notta.ai
Rating
4
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Individuals and teams needing AI-powered transcription, translation, and meeting summaries across devices.
Notta – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
Notta is an up-to-date AI transcription and summarization assistant for getting lectures, meetings, and notes easier ahead of capture, arrangement, and review. Notta converts all spoken content into highly accurate, searchable text. It can identify multiple languages as well as accurately transcribe in real-time. AI summaries reduce long-winded discussions into quick, actionable insights. Seamless integrations with platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams automate note-taking across devices. Users can enjoy advanced editing features, export to multiple file formats, and collaborative features for sharing and co-editing transcripts. Built-in, Notta is a very intuitive and rigorous automation tool to help students, professionals, and teams save time, reduce manual effort, and increase productivity.
Pros
Export documents to many formats
Tools for editing and sharing transcripts.
Meeting bot scheduler with automated recording and transcription.
Cons
Speaker identification can be erratic.
Manual editing may be necessary for tricky audio.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Pro
$13.49/month
Business
$27.99/month
Enterprise
Contact Sales
QuillBot
WEBSITE
www.quillbot.com
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Writers and professionals needing AI-powered paraphrasing, grammar checking, summarization, plagiarism detection, and writing enhancement.
QuillBot – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
QuillBot is an AI-backed advanced writing assistant that enhances and summarizes lectures, notes, and academic content with utmost convenience. Using state-of-the-art natural language processing, it brings together a wide range of solid paraphrasing, summarizing, grammar-checking, and citation-generation tools. The summarizer shrinks long texts to simple, digestible insights, while the paraphraser puts the content in new words so that it is clearer and more original. Primarily supporting over 50 languages, it has multiple writing modes, and QuillBot offers seamless integration with Google Docs and Microsoft Word. This empowers both students and professionals to evaluate any writing, avoid plagiarism, and save time.
Pros
User-friendly, with an intuitive interface
Good contextual accuracy in paraphrasing and summarizing content
Works fast and requires little training
Cons
Free plans have a limit of 125 words for paraphrasing
Anyone needing quick, clean AI summaries of articles, documents, and web pages.
TLDRThis – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
TLDRThis AI-based online summarizing tool minimizes the burden of information overload by instantly summarizing lengthy articles, documents, essays, and reports into short digestible summaries. By simply clicking a button, users can convert content heavy with Diction into lucid overview-type summaries, perfect for students, educators, researchers, and professionals in need of quick understanding. It allows the user to customize the summary length, offers several languages for translation of the summary, and extracts important metadata such as author and publication date. TLDRThis removes distraction by blocking all ads and pop-ups; also offers browser plug-ins for instant summarization, and highlights vital keywords. The interface is intuitive, ad-free, and allows for fast and flexible input methods.
Anyone needing AI-powered paraphrasing, grammar checking, plagiarism detection, and summarization.
Paraphraser.io – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
Paraphraser.io is very able to use its AI technology to summarize and rephrase all possible forms of lectures, articles, notes, and research papers. Its summarizer itself indicates advanced natural language processing, then analyzes text content, extracts key phrases, and produces short summaries within paragraphs, bullet points, or even single-line overview formats according to the user’s preferences. From having a multi-language supported system and a customizable summary length to Google Docs’ other permissions and Microsoft Word integration, this finishes it. To make it full, it adds other utilities like plagiarism detection, grammar checking, citation generation, and so on, making it a complete package for students, teachers, and professionals.
Pros
summary length and summary depth that cater to various needs.
direct integration with the Google Docs and Word formats.
Free accounts and the trial period for new sign-ups
Cons
Accuracy can deteriorate with specific texts
Limited customization of the style for summarization.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Silver
$23/month
Gold
$40/month
Diamond
$499/month
Scholarcy
WEBSITE
www.scholarcy.com
Rating
4.0–4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Academics, researchers, and students summarizing papers and organizing knowledge.
Scholarcy – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
Scholarcy – the intelligent summarization tool powered by AI, aims at students, researchers, and professionals who want to have their turn with academic materials quickly without stress. It condenses long articles, book chapters, and reports into interactive flashcards that can be reviewed rapidly by pulling out the main arguments, methodologies, and major findings. It features a Robo-Highlighter for automatic highlighting of important passages, customizable summary formats, and support for multiple formats (PDF, Word, LaTeX) that round up the research work. Users will be able to organize, annotate, and export the summaries into various formats, bundle them with reference managers, and build a searchable library of insights.
Pros
Transform lengthy scholarly articles into shorter structured flashcards
Automatically pull out key points, references, and methodology
Browser extensions that allow for instant summarization
AI-powered summarization of text, documents, audio, images, video, and links.
SummarizeBot – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
SummarizeBot is a revolutionary smart tool highly powered by AI and blockchain technologies to condense lectures, notes, articles, and other multimedia content instantly into actionable points. SummarieBot, available in over 100 languages, processes text, documents, audio, and image-based content to retrieve important points, keywords, and key segments that can provide rapid insight. Users can determine the length of the summary, choose among formats, and find the results through Slack, Facebook Messenger, or API integration. Installation is required. Its real-time processing and multi-format compatibility and integration capabilities make it ideal for students, educators, and professionals who want to facilitate information review, improve output, or even save their time on complex or dense study materials.
Pros
Supports more than 100 languages and multiple file formats.
can customize the summary length and style of output.
Real-time processing with easy sharing or downloading of results.
Cons
occasional delays in working with large documents or technical documents.
Their interface is quite basic and lacks a unified dashboard.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Standart
$179/month
Sembly AI
WEBSITE
www.sembly.ai
Rating
4.6
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Teams and professionals needing AI-powered meeting transcription, summaries, and action-item tracking.
Sembly AI – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
Sembly AI is an AI meeting assistant of the next generation, which will be a breakthrough in capturing lectures, meetings, and notes, storing, and summarizing them. It has been automated to record, transcribe, and summarize discussions generated from Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams into short yet action-oriented summaries around critical decisions, action items, and tasks. Besides supporting 48+ languages, real-time speaker identification, and advanced analytics, Sembly AI converts boring conversations into organized, searchable insights. It is perfectly compatible with all leading productivity-solution tools and provides flexibility in summary formats and cloud-storage creation, ideal for students, educators, and professionals wishing to simplify workflows, work better together, and make sure no important detail is missed.
Pros
Automatically recognize action items, decisions, and tasks.
Safe, GDPR-compliant handling of data.
Collaborative editing and annotation capabilities.
Recording, transcribing, and summarizing meetings, videos, and screens with AI.
ScreenApp – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
ScreenApp leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence to truly revolutionize the way lectures, meetings, and notes are captured, transcribed, and summarized. It does everything from screen, audio, and video recording to employing the best available AI for automatic transcription of spoken content, condensed summary with timestamps, and structured notes, saving users hours of tedious work. The easy features also facilitate live and uploaded content, combined with multilingual transcriptions, along with on-demand querying of specific information through video content. The make-up of ScreenApp is ideal for students, educators, and professionals looking to optimize workflows and better their collaboration for the purpose of leaving no important detail behind by offering integration with popular platforms, mobile readiness, and cloud storage.
Pros
Enables transcript queries to get instant answers
Integrates with Notion, Confluence, and other platforms
Mobile and cloud-ready
Cons
Recording and transcription have strict limits in the free plan.
Fewer options for summary style customization.
Pricing
ScreenApp offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Mem
WEBSITE
www.mem.ai
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Best For
Individuals and teams building a “second brain” with AI-powered note-taking, search, and knowledge linking.
Mem – Top AI Tools for Summarising Lectures and Notes
Mem is an AI-based note-taking and knowledge management platform that’s going to change the way you capture, manage, and retrieve material from lectures, meetings, and notes. With the help of some smart AI, Mem offers automatic tagging, linking, and summarizing of notes, making manual-folding and tagging a thing of the past. With Smart Search and Mem Chat, you can find and synthesize information on the fly, using your preferred natural language query, while AI summaries come conveniently into play to break down lots of content into bite-sized actionable insights. Very student-, teacher-, and worker-friendly, Mem integrates with Google Workspace and Slack, supports collaborative workspaces, and syncs across devices stylish time-saver.
Pros
Automated sorting of notes without the need for manual folders or tagging
AI-generated summaries and contextual linking for quick insights
Collaborative workspaces for simultaneous work by the teams
Cons
Learning curve for advanced features
Bugs and performance issues
Pricing
Mem offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence is making waves in the world of summarizing lectures and notes. It will stand to be the most important tool that students, educators, and professionals will ever use to interact with information. With all that content overload, it goes straight to the quick and gives people the simple and actionable insights distilled from even the densest subjects in milliseconds. Often, it automates the transcription, highlights the meaningful points, and organizes knowledge, which saves serious time and thus produces much better productivity for everyone, and allows them to delve deeper into thinking.
What are the best AI tools for summarizing lectures and notes?
The best AI tools for summarizing lectures and notes include Otter.ai, Notta, QuillBot, Scholarcy, Paraphraser.io, Sembly AI, ScreenApp, TLDRThis, SummarizeBot, and Mem.
How does AI transcription work for lectures and meetings?
AI transcription tools use natural language processing (NLP) to convert spoken words into text in real time. These tools can identify different speakers, highlight keywords, and generate searchable transcripts that make reviewing easier and more efficient.
What are the benefits of using AI for note-taking and summarization?
AI tools help users save time, improve accuracy, and stay organized by automatically capturing and summarizing lectures or meetings.
Can AI summarize long lectures into short notes?
Yes, AI summarizers are designed to condense lengthy lectures or discussions into concise summaries.
Indian defence-tech startups are gaining serious investor momentum, fueled by rising geopolitical tensions and strong government backing. Recent clashes with Pakistan have highlighted the need for local innovations in drones, cybersecurity, and military AI. Data from Tracxn shows Indian drone startups have raised over $414 million, proving investors see huge potential.
India is now home to 487 defence-tech startups, including prominent names like ideaForge, Garuda Aerospace, etc. 132 of these startups have been funded, with 28 of them successfully raising Series A or higher. While India still lags behind some countries, these startups are building a stronger, self-sufficient defence industry for the future. Here we will discuss the top 10 Indian defence-tech startups leading the charge.
How Tech Startups Are Reinventing India’s Military Power?
India’s military landscape is undergoing a silent revolution, which is driven by agile tech startups solving high-stakes defence challenges. The Ministry of Defence announced its ambitious goal of achieving INR 50,000 crore in defense exports to over 80 countries by 2029. Here is a roundup of India’s most promising defence-tech startups.
ideaForge is one of India’s earliest pioneers in UAV (drone) technology, which is well-known for building high-performance drones for surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance. Trusted by armed forces and paramilitary units, its drones are deployed for border security and counterinsurgency missions.
Specializes in tactical drones with advanced payloads for defence and homeland security
Supplies UAVs for border surveillance, mapping, and disaster response
Works closely with the Indian Army, Navy, and paramilitary forces
Went public in 2023 and has since reported mixed financial performance
In Q2 FY25, reported a net loss of INR 13.7 Cr, compared to a profit of INR 89.2 Lakh YoY
Revenue rose 56.52% YoY to INR 37.1 Cr in Q2 FY25 but dropped 57% QoQ from INR 86.2 Cr in Q4 FY24
Despite quarterly setbacks, it continues to lead India’s defence drone ecosystem
AjnaLens is rewriting defence training with immersive AR/VR-based simulations that boost mission readiness and real-time battlefield awareness. Its tech is now integrated into soldier training and India’s advanced MANPAD systems.
Specializes in augmented and virtual reality solutions for combat and training
Enhancing MANPAD visual systems for better target acquisition
Holds 15+ patents in immersive and defence-related technologies
Raised over $4 million in funding
Backed by investors like LetsVenture
Works with the Indian Armed Forces for AR-based soldier training modules
Garuda Aerospace
Founded
2015
Headquarters
Chennai
Founder
Agnishwar Jayaprakash
Garuda Aerospace is one of India’s most prominent drone startups, offering multi-purpose UAVs for defence, disaster response, and border surveillance. Its drones provide real-time reconnaissance and logistics support to boost military operations. The company is rapidly expanding its global footprint, with plans to enter 50+ countries.
Specializes in aerial surveillance, border patrol, and defence logistics drones
First international entry: Sri Lanka
Allocated $10 Mn for global expansion over the next few years
Raised $22 Mn Series A in Feb 2023 led by SphitiCap
Secured an additional $3 Mn bridge round in Oct 2023 from Venture Catalysts and WeFounderCircle
Works with government agencies and disaster response teams across India
NewSpace
Founded
2015
Headquarters
Bengaluru
Founder
Sameer Josh
NewSpace is pioneering next-gen aerial systems for defence with advanced UAV swarms and autonomous drones built for tactical missions and real-time battlefield intelligence. Its cutting-edge tech blends AI, AR/VR, and collective robotics to boost situational awareness and mission adaptability.
Specializes in swarm drones, GPS-denied navigation, and aerial ISR systems
Raised $52 Mn (INR 430.9 Cr) in a 2024 bridge funding roundShowcased a swarm drone deployment in Japan for disaster response
Expanding globally across Japan, the Middle East, and the US
Core capabilities include ML, AR/VR, and collective robotics for aerospace ops
EyeROV is India’s first commercial maker of underwater drones (ROVs) built for naval surveillance, mine detection, and maritime inspections. Its drones are already being deployed by DRDO and the Indian Coast Guard, offering real-time underwater intel for critical defence operations.
Specializes in remote-operated underwater vehicles for defence and industrial use
Used by DRDO, Indian Coast Guard, and private marine clients
Offers real-time underwater monitoring and mine detection
Raised INR 10 Cr (~$1.2 Mn) Pre-Series A in Aug 2024, led by Unicorn India Ventures
Plans to expand internationally and enhance its marine robotics product line
AGNIT Semiconductors
Founded
2017
Headquarters
Bengaluru
Founders
Digbijoy Neelim Nath, Hareesh Chandrasekar, Madhusudan Atre, Mayank Shrivastava, Srinivasan Raghavan, and (late) Dr. Muralidharan
AGNIT Semiconductors develops high-efficiency GaN-based devices and power amplifiers, which are integral components of wireless transmitters powering India’s defence electronics from radars to communication systems. With expansion plans into EV and consumer markets, AGNIT is scaling fast with investor confidence behind it.
Focused on GaN-based devices and amplifiers for radar, communication, and electronic warfare systems
Aims to ship 1 lakh chips in 2025
Expanding into consumer electronics and EV fast-charging
Raised $4.87 million in funding
Recent $3.5 Mn seed round led by 3one4 Capital and Zephyr Peacock
Constelli
Founded
2017
Headquarters
Hyderabad
Founders
Satya Gopal Panigrahi & Avinash Chenreddy
Constelli is pushing the boundaries of digital signal processing for modern warfare. The startup already works with the Indian Ministry of Defence, DRDO, and global defence contractors.
Builds drone-based telemetry receivers for remote data acquisition
Develops electronic warfare testing tools and radar echo simulators
Enhances the software development lifecycle of EW systems
Raised $3 Mn in Pre-Series A (Jan 2025) from Pravega Ventures
Clients include defence agencies in India, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore
Optimized Electrotech
Founded
2017
Headquarters
Ahmedabad
Founder
Sandeep Shah
Optimized Electrotech builds AI-powered electro-optic surveillance systems for defence and strategic security. Its imaging platforms support night vision, thermal sensing, and long-range monitoring for border control and threat detection.
Offers solutions for surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition
Serves armed forces, paramilitary units, and critical infrastructure sectorsFocus on AI integration to counter threats like unauthorised drone incursions
Received INR 25 Cr government grant in 2024 under ADITI 1.0 iDEX-DIO Challenge
Products are indigenously designed and developed for high-threat environments
Big Bang Boom Solutions focuses on asymmetric combat, situational awareness, and Made-in-India military innovation.
Specializes in anti-drone tech, bulletproof jackets, and combat support systems
Strengthens soldier safety and tactical efficiency in high-risk zones
Raised $30 Mn (INR 250 Cr) in 2024 from Mumbai Angels Network, Vyom Family Office, SBI Startup Branch, and others
Bagged INR 200+ Cr order from the Indian Air Force and Indian Army in 2024
Jeh Aerospace
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Hyderabad
Founders
Venkatesh Mudragalla & Vishal Sanghavi
Jeh Aerospace is a rising player in aerospace and defence manufacturing, specialising in aerostructures, aero-engine parts, and precision build-to-print assemblies.
Expertise in coldworking, wire harness assembly, and NDT testing
Offers value-added services like painting and anodising
Raised $2.75 Mn seed funding in Jan 2024 led by General Catalyst
Building a 1.6 lakh sq ft manufacturing hub in Telangana’s Kothur
Targeting full-spectrum support for OEMs and tooling companies in aerospace & defence
Conclusion
India’s defence-tech ecosystem is stepping up geopolitical tensions, and the drive for self-reliance is escalating. Defence tech startups in India specializing in counter-drone systems are seeing a sharp rise in demand as security concerns grow. According to Tracxn, India has around 136 military tech startups, with well-known names like NewSpace Research and Technologies is one of them.
FAQs
What are the top defence-tech startups in India in 2025?
India’s top defence-tech startups in 2025 include ideaForge, Garuda Aerospace, AjnaLens, NewSpace, EyeROV, AGNIT Semiconductors, Constelli, Optimized Electrotech, Big Bang Boom Solutions, and Jeh Aerospace.
Why are investors interested in defence-tech startups?
Geopolitical tensions and government support are driving investor confidence and funding.
How are drones used in Indian defence?
Drones are used for border surveillance, logistics, mapping, and disaster response.
From Cookd’s pre-Series A funding to Flipkart’s ESOP buyback and regulatory updates in transport, here’s your quick roundup of the most important funding deals and business highlights for 11 July 2025.
Daily Indian Funding Digest – 11 July 2025
Company
Amount Raised
Lead Investor(s)
Purpose
Cookd
₹16 crore
Spring Marketing Capital
Expand in South India and enhance product line
Gramik
₹17 crore
Samman Global Ventures, others
Strengthen rural distribution and scale to new areas
Cookd raises INR 16 crore in pre-Series A round
Cookd, a Chennai-based food brand, raised INR 16 crore in a pre-Series A round. Spring Marketing Capital led the round, joined by Eternal Capital, PeerCheque, and Sunicon Ventures.
The company plans to use the funds to expand across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It will also invest in new products like spice blends, cooking pastes, and biryani kits.
Cookd has built a strong D2C presence with retail and quick-commerce partnerships. Its content marketing strategy has garnered over 6 million social media followers.
Gramik secures INR 17 crore to boost rural agritech
Gramik, a rural agritech startup, raised INR 17 crore in a bridge round. The round saw participation from Samman Global Ventures, Money Creeper Investment, and industry veterans like Balram Yadav and Irfan Alam.
Gramik helps village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) supply agri-inputs and advisory services to small farmers. It currently operates in 12 districts with 1,200+ VLEs.
The fresh capital will support its expansion across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu. Gramik aims to reach over 3,000 VLEs and 1 million farmers before its planned INR 56 crore Series A.
Key News Highlights for 11 July 2025
Flipkart launches $50 million ESOP buyback initiative
Flipkart has initiated a $50 million employee stock-option buyback, enabling around 7,000–7,500 current and former staff to sell up to 5% of their vested shares. This marks the company’s largest such liquidity effort and forms part of its strategy to reward and retain talent ahead of a potential IPO.
Shiprocket introduces Shunya.ai to optimise supply chains
Logistics firm Shiprocket has unveiled Shunya.ai, a sovereign multimodal AI assistant designed to streamline MSME supply chains. The tool utilises conversational AI (text/voice) to help sellers with courier selection, tracking, ETA estimates and customer alerts, all within its dashboard or API ecosystem. Built and hosted entirely in India, it aligns with data-localisation norms and positions AI as a strategic asset ahead of Shiprocket’s IPO aspirations.
Awfis enters furniture manufacturing to reduce costs
Co-working operator Awfis has expanded its business into furniture manufacturing and B2B sales. Following shareholder approval, the new arm will supply ergonomic work furniture for both its own centres and external businesses. This vertical integration is expected to reduce capital expenditure and open fresh revenue channels.
PhonePe & Google Pay dominate UPI in June
In June 2025, UPI transactions reached 18.4 billion worth INR 24.04 lakh crore. PhonePe led with 8.55 billion transactions (46.5% volume share, INR 11.99 lakh crore value), followed by Google Pay with 6.54 billion transactions (35.6% volume, INR 8.41 lakh crore value). Paytm held the third slot with 6.9% share (1.27 billion transactions). Together, PhonePe and Google Pay made up over 82% of UPI volume.
Maharashtra reviews private bus aggregator operations
Maharashtra’s transport ministry is initiating a regulatory review of private bus aggregators, such as Uber Shuttle and other app-based intercity services to ensure compliance with Motor Vehicles norms. This follows earlier scrutiny of bike taxi services and signals potential new licensing and safety regulations.
Priya Nair appointed HUL’s first woman CEO & MD
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has named Priya Nair as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 August 2025—the first woman to hold the position. Currently president of Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing division, Nair succeeds Rohit Jawa, who is stepping down after two years. Her appointment has received positive market reaction.
As India moves towards digital sovereignty and AI leadership, homegrown cloud providers are building purpose-driven infrastructure. In this interaction with StartupTalky, Srishti Baweja, Co-Founder and Whole-Time Director ofE2E Networks Ltd, talks about creating India-first cloud infrastructure, launching the country’s largest H200 GPU cluster, and helping startups, researchers, and public sector teams access powerful, local, and affordable compute. She also shares her journey as a woman in deeptech and explains how E2E is making AI and cloud more inclusive for ‘Bharat’.
StartupTalky: India’s public cloud market remains dominated by global hyperscalers. What specific gaps in their offerings led to the birth and evolution of E2E Cloud?
Ms. Baweja: Most global hyperscalers weren’t built with India in mind, especially when it came to AI workloads, regulatory compliance, and cost transparency. Our research revealed that Indian startups and researchers require high-performance infrastructure without hidden charges, billing complexity, or foreign data laws.
E2E was born for India’s digital independence as India’s homegrown cloud infrastructure. From day one, we have focused on India-first infrastructure, featuring on-demand GPUs, zero data egress fees, predictable pricing, and full data residency. Our evolution has been guided by the needs of Indian innovators rather than a one-size-fits-all cloud model.
StartupTalky: You recently launched India’s largest NVIDIA H200 GPU cluster. What does this milestone mean for Indian AI startups and researchers seeking high-performance yet affordable compute?
Ms. Baweja: Launching India’s largest H200 GPU cluster is a crucial step in assisting Indian innovators to gain a global edge. Until now, most startups and research teams were compelled to look overseas for cutting-edge compute. That meant higher costs, long wait times, and compliance hurdles.
With our H200 cluster, anyone in India, from a solo researcher to a GenAI startup, can get world-class GPU power instantly, affordably, and locally. It’s our way of levelling the playing field and helping India’s AI builders stay competitive without compromising speed, performance, or budget.
StartupTalky: Could you elaborate on how the new sovereign cloud platform helps Indian enterprises and public institutions enhance data privacy and regulatory compliance?
Ms. Baweja: Our sovereign cloud platform is built to meet India’s data protection laws and compliance mandates. Thus, limiting exposure to foreign regulations. We’ve embedded security by design, and we’re offering DPDP toolkits, audit trails, and architectural guidance to help enterprises and government teams simplify compliance without compromising performance or scalability.
India’s new data protection laws go beyond local storage. They demand jurisdictional control and infrastructure that aligns with national priorities. Our Sovereign Cloud Platform is built exactly for that. Hosted entirely in India, it ensures sensitive data, whether from the public sector, BFSI, or healthcare, is shielded from foreign oversight and supports full compliance with data protection requirements, including provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Furthermore, we are also focusing on building a DPDP Compliance Toolkit, offering architectural guidance. This will enable the enterprises to navigate compliance proactively. The Sovereign Cloud Platform makes data security and sovereignty foundational to digital growth.
StartupTalky: Why does ‘Bharat’ India’s next billion users need a fundamentally different kind of cloud infrastructure? And how is E2E Cloud building for this demographic?
Ms. Baweja: Our next billion users operate with limited connectivity, lower budgets, and highly localised needs. Traditional cloud wasn’t designed with them in mind. At E2E, we’re building infrastructure that works for them. Platforms like TIR give small-town developers and startups access to pre-configured AI environments and regional language models, eliminating the need for large tech teams or capital.
Our pay-as-you-go pricing model and local support help Bharat’s innovators move from idea to impact faster. Along with enabling cloud adoption, we’re helping Bharat leapfrog into AI-first innovation.
StartupTalky: From IPO to GPU-powered AI readiness, E2E has consistently focused on strategic moves. What were the biggest financial or governance decisions that shaped its credibility in a capital-intensive industry?
Ms. Baweja: Our IPO on NSE Emerge in 2018 established a strong foundation for corporate governance and helped us develop public market discipline early on. This dedication to transparency and long-term thinking set the stage for one of our most important moments: a strategic investment and partnership with Larsen & Toubro. This alliance not only supports our vision of building sovereign, AI-optimised cloud infrastructure in India but also helps us speed up innovation for Indian businesses, particularly in regulated sectors where performance, compliance, and control are critical.
With L&T, we’re growing responsibly, staying focused on our India-first mission while we continue to improve our tested cloud platform. Our software stack is consistently optimised for high availability, easy scaling, and a developer-first experience. We’re not just adding features; we’re strengthening reliability at every level.
StartupTalky: E2E Cloud listed on NSE Emerge in 2018, a not so common move for a deeptech company. Could you share some operational or financial metrics that reflect your growth since the listing?
Ms. Baweja: Since our listing, we have expanded into cutting-edge GPUs like H100 and H200. We launched India’s largest clusters and served thousands of AI builders, including early-stage startups and public sector labs. Our infrastructure now includes new data centres, such as the one in Chennai, which is designed for low latency and regional resilience. We supported national initiatives under MeitY’s AI Mission and built tools like the TIR platform to promote AI adoption in India. Our growth also focuses on the entire ecosystem. We measure our impact by the number of Indian innovators we empower, not just the revenue we generate.
StartupTalky: As one of the few women founders in India’s deeptech space, what barriers did you face in the infra-tech ecosystem, and how have those experiences shaped your leadership?
Ms. Baweja: Deeptech is still a space with few women, and infra-tech even more so. I’ve walked into rooms where I wasn’t expected to speak on hardware, compliance, or AI infrastructure, but I did, and I do. Those early experiences taught me resilience and clarity of purpose.
It shaped my stance on leadership, too; I believe in empathy, focus, and a commitment to building inclusive teams. At E2E, we create places where diverse talent can grow and take charge. The journey has been challenging, but it has shown me that breaking down barriers often begins with showing up and staying dedicated.
StartupTalky: India is positioning itself as an AI-first economy through initiatives like Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. How does E2E’s mission align with this national vision?
Ms. Baweja: We’ve always believed that India should own its digital future. E2E’s mission of providing sovereign, AI-ready infrastructure directly supports India’s push for digital independence under initiatives like Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. As a Level 1 GPU cloud provider under the MeitY AI mission, we power everything from regional language models to health tech AI.
Our infrastructure is made for India, with full data residency, lower latency, and no foreign dependencies. We’re proud to be building the foundation that helps Indian institutions, researchers, and startups build world-class AI right here at home.
StartupTalky: With rapid growth in AI and GenAI workloads across sectors, demand for GPU infrastructure is rising sharply in India. How is E2E scaling its AI-ready cloud capabilities to meet this demand?
Ms. Baweja: We have scaled our GPU capacity with multiple H100 and H200 clusters, supported by NVIDIA InfiniBand, to allow for fast training and inference. These clusters handle everything from LLM fine-tuning to GenAI applications. Our plan includes over 20 new services, and we are opening more data centres to meet regional needs. Most importantly, our self-serve cloud makes it easy to get started.
India’s demand for GPUs is growing, and we are expanding to meet it. We have already launched H100 and H200 clusters connected by InfiniBand, designed specifically for high-throughput training, inference, and real-time AI tasks. Our infrastructure is self-serve, scalable, and built to reduce obstacles without any capacity limits. We are also expanding regionally with new data centres and deploying AI-optimised tools on TIR to cut down the time-to-production for GenAI startups and research labs. We ensure that you can move quickly and stay within budget while maintaining performance.
StartupTalky: Cloud infrastructure is not just about scale but purpose. How do you ensure E2E stays inclusive, reaching Tier 2/3 developers, early-stage startups, and public sector innovators alike?
Ms. Baweja: Inclusivity is at the core of how we design our platform. Our TIR platform offers one-click access to AI stacks and pretrained models, making it easy for Tier 2/3 developers, MSMEs, and public sector teams to get started. We’ve partnered with academic institutions, incubators, and government bodies to run AI Labs-as-a-Service and provide mentorship. With pay-as-you-go pricing and localised support, we’ve made sure that great ideas aren’t limited by location or resources. Everyone deserves access to world-class cloud, and we’re making that happen.
StartupTalky: What is your long-term vision for E2E Cloud, both as a technology company and as a symbol of India’s digital sovereignty?
Ms. Baweja: We have envisioned E2E to be India’s trusted digital backbone, the quiet enabler behind every AI breakthrough, startup launch, and sovereign tech milestone. As a technology company, we’re focused on building cloud infrastructure that scales with India’s ambitions. But as a symbol of digital sovereignty, we aim to empower every Indian innovator to build on infrastructure that’s affordable, compliant, and deeply local. Our long-term vision is to make “built in India, for the world” the global benchmark for sovereign cloud innovation. That’s the legacy we’re working towards.
This article has been contributed by bySomdutta Singh, Founder and CEO, Assiduus Global
When brands talk about going global, it often sounds like a badge of honor. A sign of scale. A signal to investors. A growth playbook coming to life. But behind the press releases and polished dashboards, the reality is much harder. International expansion is not a straight line. It is full of tangled wires: compliance issues, customs delays, payment failures, cart abandonment, and pricing decisions that feel like guesswork. The real challenges of cross-border eCommerce rarely make it to the headlines. But they shape everything that follows.
The Hidden Frictions at the Border
Start with the border itself. Most teams underestimate how much friction happens there. Not on paper, but at the port. When a shipment sits at customs longer than expected or when new rules mean your product needs relabeling – what’s on your roadmap and what’s actually moving in transit often become two very different stories. In a recent survey, 43 percent of businesses said customs delays were one of their biggest hurdles. Another 41 percent cited compliance issues, and an equal number pointed to rising delivery costs as a direct result of these frictions.
These are not fringe issues. They sit at the center of your promise to customers. And when things go wrong, they rarely stay invisible. A shipping delay becomes a customer complaint. A misclassified product becomes a compliance fine. The cost of expansion often shows up in ways teams didn’t budget for, because they assumed geography was just a matter of shipping zones.
Shifting Regulations Can Break Your Model
But cross-border is not just a matter of distance. It is about navigating difference. Difference in regulations, infrastructure, expectations. And the rules that govern those differences are constantly moving.
In May 2025, the U.S. changed how it treats packages from China and Hong Kong. Until then, shipments under 800 dollars could bypass duties. Not anymore. Now every parcel needs full customs entry, including duties, documentation, and delays.
What was once a simple direct-to-consumer model built on low-ticket volume from Asian suppliers is now a maze of paperwork, fees, and slowdowns. For companies already operating on thin margins or short lead times, this kind of change can completely disrupt operations. And it questions the sustainability of the model itself. It is a reminder that in global eCommerce, the risks are not just operational. They are systemic. Every country has the power to change the rules on your business overnight. And even when the product gets through, the transaction might not.
Cross-border payments sound simple until you realize what consumers expect. It is not just about offering a few international cards. In a 2025 study, 99 percent of global shoppers said they expect to see their preferred local method at checkout. Think about that. Nearly every shopper expects checkout to feel local. No guesswork. No new systems. Just the method they trust.
And those preferences are not interchangeable. They are local, cultural, habitual. In the Netherlands, it is iDEAL. In Germany, Klarna. In Southeast Asia, it is often a mix of e-wallets. A single payment option is inconvenient. It is enough to lose the sale entirely. That loss doesn’t show up as a complaint. It shows up as a cart left behind. A customer who never returns. A spike in drop-off rates that your team can’t quite explain. And fixing that is not just a matter of toggling payment options. It means negotiating with multiple providers, updating checkout logic, staying compliant with regional financial laws, and dealing with a whole new set of settlement timelines.
Why Platform Strategy and Logistics Make or Break Scale
So brands adapt. They add layers. More gateways. Localized flows. More “ifs” in the codebase. But complexity scales quickly. Maintaining multiple checkout stacks, syncing prices with currency changes, managing tax calculation. These are not just engineering problems. They are business risks. Delays in localization cost time. Mistakes cost trust. This is why platform strategy becomes make or break. It is tempting to replicate your domestic storefront in every market. Copy, paste, translate. But replication is brittle. It cracks under nuance. What works for one region, like design, flow, tone, or CTA placement, can fail entirely in another. The structure needs to flex without falling apart.
That is why a growing number of retailers are shifting to composable commerce, where infrastructure is built like blocks and each region can plug into what it needs. In the U.S., 72 percent of retailers had already adopted this model by early 2023, with another 21 percent planning to do so within a year.
This is not just to adopt the latest tech but to introduce flexibility for themselves. Because scaling globally does not mean doing more of the same. It means adapting quickly without tearing everything down every time a new market opens up. And beneath all this, beneath the platforms and payments and policy, is the backbone most teams ignore at first: logistics.
The market for cross-border eCommerce logistics is already massive, estimated at 103.8 billion dollars in 2024. It is expected to nearly double to 192.7 billion dollars by 2030. That growth does not just reflect opportunity. It reflects complexity. Complexity in inventory positioning, in returns, in last-mile handoffs across countries with different infrastructures.
And logistics is where it all lands. If the front-end experience is what customers remember, the backend is what they feel. A return request that goes unanswered. A customs hold no one explains. A charge that catches them off guard. These small cracks erode trust faster than flashy discounts can rebuild.
In cross-border commerce, the margin of error is smaller. Expectations are higher. And the room for forgiveness is often nonexistent. And yet, for those who embrace the friction, cross-border becomes a powerful advantage. Not because it is easy. But because it forces better systems. It forces teams to think modularly, invest intentionally, and serve more empathetically. It priortizes the question, “how well can we scale”, over “how fast can we grow.”
Because global reach means nothing without local relevance. And local relevance does not come from translation. It comes from understanding. From rethinking checkout flows, service models, fulfillment routes, and price sensitivity based on region. That work is not glamorous. It rarely fits into a launch campaign. But it is the work that separates flash-in-the-pan growth from long-term cross-border resilience. The truth is, going global is not about a milestone. It is about a mindset. A way of building that centers on flexibility, precision, and respect for the markets you enter. And for brands ready to do that work, the opportunity is still enormous. You just have to know where the friction hides.
This article has been contributed byGaurav Lekhrajani, CEO and Co-founder of Dava Ninja
Quick commerce, or “q-commerce,” has changed the way we think about delivery beginning as an appealing option for consumers in urban areas to what is now a common business paradigm. However, its use presents special difficulties that extend past speed in highly regulated sectors like healthcare.
Drawing on his own personal expertise in pioneering healthcare q-commerce platform, explains, “We are not just establishing a more rapid supply chain. In a field where sensitivity and immediacy coexist, seamless, reliable service that recognizes the patient’s needs and the product is the true winner.”
The Rise of Health-Focused Q-Commerce
A rising need for domestic health services is driving q-commerce’s entry into the medical sector. Patients want quicker, more reliable delivery for anything from wellness supplies and daily vitamins to urgent prescription drugs for chronic illnesses. Such amenities are particularly needed in urban India, where q-commerce platforms are well-suited to address delivery constraints caused by traffic, mobility, and health facilities.
Q-commerce in the healthcare industry is hyper-local, autonomous, and technology-driven, in contrast to typical e-commerce models that depend on centralised warehouses. It makes it possible for local pharmacies to function like online stores, providing customers with immediate access to products in their vicinity.
Live inventory tracking is the first step towards efficient q-commerce supply. Medication availability, expiration dates, and specific handling guidelines are frequently overlooked by current systems. Platforms like Dava Ninja guarantee that clients see correct, real-time product listings by implementing user-friendly technology that integrate with pharmacies’ Point-of-Sale (POS) and stock management systems.
APIs now include the following new features:
Batch & Expiry Syncing: Prevents order cancellations.
Geo-filtered Results: Only items that fall within a specified delivery radius are displayed to customers.
AI-driven Stock Forecasting: Assists in restocking medicines according to trends in demand.
Smart Dispatching Algorithms: Beyond Maps
The average delivery operator concentrates on optimizing routes. However, healthcare q-commerce needs more intelligent routing. Algorithms must now account for:
Delivery timing preferences (particularly for senior citizens).
Several delivery times for ongoing requirements.
Furthermore, depending on unexpected demand, such as during a seasonal flu spike or in areas with a large volume of medication refills, such systems must actively redirect riders to high-priority regions.
Vocal for Local: Partnering with Local Pharmacies
Treating each registered drugstore as a micro-warehouse is a significant breakthrough in the healthcare q-commerce principle. Hundreds of small to medium-sized pharmacies are empowered to join a wider online ecosystem thanks to the “vocal for local” strategy. Platforms incorporate these regional suppliers into a tech-first distribution system instead of creating facilities from the ground up. Some advantages are:
Reduced delay due to close proximity.
Increased level of trust in local brands.
Enhanced product storage as a result of controlled pharmacy conditions.
Higher order volumes, immediate feedback into consumer patterns, and online payment links are all favourable to pharmacies.
The foundation of patient wellbeing is consistency. Platforms with advanced delivery schedules, prescription reminders, and refill-based subscriptions have a substantial upper hand. For example, Dava Ninja allows users to set up ongoing monthly shipments, combine several household medicines into a single delivery, and get notifications when important prescriptions are about to expire. This increases customer loyalty in addition to improving convenience.
Enhancing the Customer Experience
Q-commerce in healthcare requires a user experience that is pleasant and not transactional. Convenience and dependability must be reinforced at all stages, from browsing to delivery confirmation. Important enhancements include:
Order monitoring and chatbot assistance on WhatsApp.
Telephone consults for simple questions that instantly link within the app.
These resources foster trust, reduce uncertainty, and personalize the encounter.
Flexible Fulfilment = Leaner Margins
This strategy, in contrast to conventional warehouse arrangements, is based on regional execution and market aggregation. It permits:
No warehousing expenses: The supply remains in pharmacies.
Just-in-time shipping: Minimal chance of expiration.
Optimising bundled orders: Combining orders to maximize delivery effectiveness.
“We’re not competing for profits with enormous capital spends,” Lekhrajani states. ” By building a network of local suppliers with digital intelligence, we are expanding.”
Hyperlocal Delivery = Smart Unit Economics
Cost effectiveness is frequently q-commerce’s weak point. However, platforms may reduce per-order expenses by grouping orders, reducing delivery radii, and optimizing routing. Some strategies are:
Optional supplements to boost the value of the basket (e.g., vitamins or wellness items).
Partnerships with numerous brands of pharmacies to prevent delays and shortages.
Additionally, this strategy ensures that users will receive what they require at the appropriate time without putting a strain on their finances.
Tech-Driven Growth Without Heavy Infra
This model’s ability to leverage code rather than building for expansion is among its most viable characteristics. Simply enrolling current pharmacies onto the network is the first step in growing into other cities or villages. Short webinars or app-based lessons are frequently used for training. Technology handles the labour-intensive tasks by:
Making plug-and-play onboarding possible.
Supplying pharmacies with information dashboards to control inventory and sales.
Identifying best-selling SKUs and improving performance via data.
This enables healthcare q-commerce companies to grow rapidly without making significant capital expenditures.
Healthcare q-commerce is a revolution in the way medical attention is delivered to individuals, not just a continuation of convenience capitalism. Speed is still crucial, but success in this market will be determined by the smooth union of savvy logistics, regional alliances, and sensitive customer experiences.
As summed up by Gaurav Lekhrajani, “Your local pharmacy will become your medical tech ally in the future, not simply a store. Q-commerce will serve as the bridge.”
In order to provide smooth first- and last-mile connectivity for commuters, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) have now opened up their transport data, enabling two apps, Namma Yatri and Tummoc. For more than ten years, this requirement has been in place.
Users of both apps may now purchase a single ticket that covers the full trip and organise their entire travel thanks to new capabilities. For example, a commuter can use either application to plan their route and purchase a single ticket for the full trip if they are required to use all three forms of transportation (autorickshaw, bus, and metro).
The apps create a synchronised travel schedule by using real-time data from buses and metro trains that run along the commuter’s route. Although real timing may be impacted by variables like traffic, this ideally enables commuters to access each public transport option right after disembarking from the previous one.
Why it got Delayed?
The fact that BMTC and BMRCL had not made their data publicly available was a barrier to the development of this function. However, this has since been resolved via the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), a widely accepted open data standard for public transportation that contains stop, route, and schedule information.
BMTC has been supplying the platform with static data thus far, but it intends to start sharing real-time data shortly. At the moment, Namma Yatri provides trip planning that combines metro lines with auto-rickshaw services.
Tummoc has begun the services, but Namma Yatri has not yet gone live. Along with comparable capabilities, Tummoc lets users monitor how much carbon emissions they reduce by opting for public transit rather than driving a private vehicle.
After winning the Enroute: A Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Challenge, which was organised by WRI, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), and Villgro, Tummoc and Namma Yatri collaborated to develop these functionalities and were awarded a INR 30 lakh grant in August 2024.
In Bengaluru, Every Minute is Important-Kharge
Minister of Electronics, IT, BT, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj Priyank M. Kharge underlined the significance of these measures in tackling last-mile connection problems. In Bengaluru, travel is measured in hours rather than kilometres. “We recognise the issue and are dedicated to finding a solution,” he stated.
With a 12% growth rate last year, Bengaluru is among the cities with the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world. “The city loses an estimated INR 20,000 crore annually as a result of lost time in traffic, which has a direct impact on production. Projections show we will grow by 8.5% annually over the next decade,” he added.
He asserted that, in contrast, Delhi and Mumbai reportedly lose INR 60,000 crore and INR 40,000 crore yearly, respectively. Kharge added that the government wants to see 70% of the city’s population use public transit by 2030, compared to the current percentage of less than 50%.
In light of this, he stated that the introduction of these integrated elements is a big step in promoting the broader use of public transit.
The Maharashtra government is once again targeting ride-hailing services like Uber, and this time for its bus service.
Pratap Sarnaik, the transport minister of Maharashtra, reportedly vowed a crackdown on Uber Shuttle and other aggregator bus operators for failing to obtain a government permit for the service, a week after he pretended to be a rider and discovered violations in Mumbai’s bike taxi prohibition.
According to a media outlet, the minister stated that severe measures would also be implemented against senior RTO officials who are in charge of “not taking action” against aggregator buses and bike taxis that are operating unlawfully in the city. In addition to Uber Shuttle, Cityflo, an aggregator bus operator, was also under governmental scrutiny for failing to get a permit.
“When I questioned RTO representatives, they informed me that they had sent notices to the bus aggregators and were awaiting a response. However, they ought to carry out raids, punish them, or terminate the services,” Sarnaik stated.
In the interest of commuters, he also emphasised the necessity of a policy for bus aggregators. He went on to say that in order to benefit a greater number of commuters, the government must create a policy for bus aggregators. However, permitting unlawful app-based bus operations has to be stopped.
Uber Shuttle May Disappear from the App
Following the news, Uber Shuttle services might be suspended and removed from the app, according to a media story that quoted sources. Many aggregator-controlled buses may stop operating out of concern for RTO action, according to a different article published by the daily on 10 July.
According to the report, more than 450 buses are run by bus aggregators like Cityflo, Uber Shuttle, and others in Mumbai. Rapido was found breaking Maharashtra’s bike taxi prohibition last week by the transport minister.
To confirm a senior official’s assertion that the app and illicit bike taxi services are non-operational, Sarnaik made a reservation for a bike taxi on Rapido in Mumbai on July 3 using a different identity.
In contrast to the assertion, a bike taxi driver arrived quickly to collect the minister from the designated pickup location. The driver was counselled by the minister upon his arrival over the unlawful service, but he was not prosecuted.
Tug of War Between Maharashtra Government and Rapido
The controversy around bike taxis began in January 2023 when Maharashtra outlawed them and ordered the platforms to apply for a licence to operate there. Rapido then applied for a licence to provide bike taxi services in the state from the local transport department but was turned down.
Following the department’s denial of the authorisation to function as a bike taxi aggregator, the ride-hailing app filed a challenge against the notification in the Bombay High Court. After learning that Rapido was operating without a permit, the HC also dismissed the aggregator’s request and ordered the business to halt its bike taxi services.
A proposal to let bike taxis operate in the state was accepted by the Maharashtra Cabinet in April. According to Sarnaik, the new policy, which intends to encourage EVs, will only permit electric bike taxis to operate on public highways.
The Maharashtra government published a gazette notice formalising the state’s bike taxi operating regulations following the July 3 incident. Aggregator platforms are required by the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025 notice to obtain a valid licence prior to providing bike-taxi services.
