The question of whether the new models will soon be able to outperform humans in the majority of jobs we perform now or achieve a level of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has been a hot topic in the AI community as artificial intelligence systems continue to advance.
Although he avoids using the term ‘artificial general intelligence’ (AGI), Jeff Dean, the chief scientist at Google DeepMind, thinks that, with few exceptions, current AI models may already have outperformed humans in the majority of daily jobs.
Dean claims that the existing models are “better than the average person at most tasks” that don’t involve physical exertion on an episode of the Moonshot Podcast. “You know, some of the models we have today are actually pretty reasonable at most things,” Dean said, “but most people are not that good at a random task if you ask them to do something they’ve never done before.”
What did Jeff Dean say about AI vs humans?
“How far away are the current models from making breakthroughs faster than humans?” the host then asked Dean. In response, Dean stated that AI models are currently on the verge of becoming perfect in a few areas and that he believes we will expand that range.
‘That’s a very different concept,’ Dean warned, ‘because most people will fail at many things; they’re not human experts in some areas.’ “There will be a lot of domains where automated search and computation actually can accelerate progress — scientific progress, engineering progress,” he stated. “All these things I think are going to be important for advancing what we as people can do over the next five, 10, 15, or 20 years,” he said.
The AGI Debate
However, Dean decided to avoid the AGI controversy, partly due to the lack of a precise definition for the term in the artificial intelligence community. “The difficulty of the problem varies by factors of a trillion, and many people have very different definitions of it, which is why I tend to avoid AGI conversations.”
More upbeat about AGI is Dean’s boss, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, who stated in a recent interview with WIRED that the breakthrough would be made within the next five to ten years.
Quick
Shots
•Dean notes current AI models are
“better than the average person” at many non-physical tasks.
•He highlights AI’s ability to
accelerate scientific and engineering progress in coming years.
•Avoids using the term AGI due to lack
of clear definition in the AI community.
•Dean stresses that humans fail at
many random tasks, while AI shows consistent performance.
•DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is more
bullish, predicting AGI within 5–10 years.
Fast-moving consumer goods are products that sell quickly. It also comes at a relatively lower cost. They are being marketed in a lump-sum amount. So, we will cover the top FMCG companies in India that are working every day, all year round.
Accounting for 50% of FMCG sales in India, this sector is the country’s fourth-largest sector, selling all household and personal care items because of the top FMCG companies in India. Also known as consumer packaged goods, FMCGs produce short shelf life.
It is either because of high consumer demand or because they are perishable. These goods are purchased frequently and consumed rapidly. Since they are priced low, they get sold in huge quantities. Keep reading about the Top FMCG companies in India in 2025.
Lever Brothers, United Traders Ltd, Hindustan Vanaspati Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Founded
1933
Market Capitalization
5,32,276.40 Cr
Top FMCG Companies in India – Hindustan Unilever Limited
Hindustan Unilever Limited is the best FMCG company in India and has had its historical presence in India for over 80 years. It has numerous FMCG brands in India it and specializes in selling household products across the country, including Home Care, Beauty & Personal Care and Foods and refreshments. This is among the top FMCG companies with over 700 million consumers from India using its products, and it aims to make the company a global enterprise.
ITC Limited
Company Name
ITC Limited
Headquarter
Kolkata
Founder
Y C Deveshwar
Founded
1910
Market Capitalization
5,10,679.35 Cr
Top FMCG Companies in India – ITC Limited
A diversified conglomerate dealing with businesses, ITC Limited is known for its largest turnover among the top 10 FMCG companies in India (2021). This company basically aims to develop multiple drivers of growth while remaining the leader in the manufacturing of tobacco.
It is in the list of startup FMCG companies in India that sell everything apart from tobacco; it also produces products including Food, Personal Care, Education & Stationery Products, Branded Apparel, Incense Sticks, Safety Matches, Paperboards, Packaging, Hotels, Agri-Business and lastly, Information Technology.
Nestle serves as the largest food and beverage company in the world, which is why it is among the top 10 FMCG companies in India. The company comprises over 200 brands. They generally range from global icons to local favourites. It is currently present in around 191 countries all over the world. Nestle India is the third-largest company on the list of Top FMCG companies in India.
Nestle comprises eight manufacturing facilities along with four branch offices. Compared to all FMCG companies in India, Nestle comprises over 2,000 brands under its wing. Out of all, Maggi noodles is predominantly the most popular brand in the country, making Nestle the startup FMCG company in India.
A key player in the beverage industry, it holds the 8th rank in the list of top 20 FMCG companies in India. Varun Beverages is not only the top FMCG company in India but also the world’s second-largest franchisee apart from the US for producing carbonated soft drinks (“CSDs”) as well as non-carbonated beverages (“NCBs”). This FMCG listed companies in India under the trademarks owned by PepsiCo.
Sold by Varun Beverages, the products of PepsiCo comprise Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Lemon, Seven-Up, Seven-Up Nimbooz Masala Soda, Evervess Soda, Mountain Dew, Duke’s Soda and Sting, and this is what makes it among the top FMCG companies.
Godrej Consumer Products Limited
Company Name
Godrej Consumer Products Limited
Headquarter
Mumbai
Founder
Adi Godrej
Founded
2001
Market Capitalization
1,23,362.36 Cr
Top FMCG Companies in India – Godrej Customer Products Limited
Being a part of the 122-year-old Godrej Group, Godrej Consumer Products Limited serves as the leading emerging markets company. It is also at the top of the list of startup FMCG companies in India. Besides, it also enjoys the patronage of over 1.15 billion consumers around the globe, which is why it is one of the most trusted consumer companies in India.
The three primary sections of operation are home care, personal care, and hair care. With an eye of 25 per cent market share in the coming three years, it became the top Indian FMCG company.
The oldest company on the list, Britannia Industries Limited, holds a legacy of more than 100 years of operation and is one of the best FMCG companies in India. This conglomerate has other FMCG companies or brands in India: Good Day, Milk Bikis, Tiger, NutriChoice and Marie Gold.
Apart from producing biscuits, it also has a hand in producing Bread, Rusk and Cakes. This B2B FMCG company in India also specializes in manufacturing Dairy products, including Milk, Cheese, Beverages and Yoghurt.
Joint Venture with UK-based James Finlay and Company
Founded
1962
Market Capitalization
1,09,123.41 Cr
Top FMCG Companies in India – Tata Consumer Product Limited
Tata Consumer Product is a renowned brand that boasts of its association with the Tata Group, known for its ethical practices, customer-centric values, and exceptional quality. This association has helped Tata Consumer Product to earn the trust and loyalty of its customers. The brand offers a vast range of products, including well-known brands like Tata Tea, Tetley, Tata Salt, and Tata Sampann that cater to a diverse market. These products have become a staple in Indian households, and the brand continues to thrive with its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. It is one of the leading FMCG companies in India.
Dabur India Limited is the leading Ayurvedic and Natural Health Care company and is among the FMCG startups in India. It is among the top FMCG companies because it has been operating for 135 years of experience and rich heritage. These consumer goods companies in India have been divided into three groups of Strategic Business Units.
The main divisions of this FMCG company are Foods Business, Consumer Care Business, and International Business. Consumer Care Business is further divided into Health Care and Home & Personal Care. This is a unique FMCG brand in India that has a wide network distribution. It also covers around 6 million retail outlets with high penetration in both urban and rural markets, making it one of the top 20 FMCG companies in India.
This Simple Idea Changed FMCG Market Forever
United Spirits
Company Name
United Spirits
Headquarter
Bangalore
Founder
Angus McDowell
Founded
1826
Market Capitalization
79,113.95 Cr
Top FMCG Companies in India – United Spirits
United Spirits, a subsidiary of Diageo, is a renowned name in the world of alcoholic beverages. The company boasts an extensive range of products under its FMCG list, including some of the most popular spirits and alcoholic beverages. These include iconic brands like McDowell’s No. 1, Royal Challenge, and Signature, among others. United Spirits is a dominant player in the Indian market, thanks to its diverse portfolio covering various spirits categories.
Apart from being a leading player in the industry, United Spirits is also committed to empowering women leaders. The company has taken several measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its female employees. These include arranging special night shifts and establishing partnerships with cab services to ensure that women employees can commute safely. United Spirits’ commitment to gender equality and its efforts towards empowering women leaders make it a truly admirable organization.
William Colgate (Colgate), Burdett J. Johnson (Palmolive)
Founded
1806
Market Capitalization
71,122.88 Cr
Top FMCG Companies in India – Colgate Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive India holds a prominent position in the Indian market for oral and personal care products. The company boasts an impressive portfolio of toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash brands, including some of the most recognized names such as Colgate Strong Teeth, Colgate Total, and Colgate Max Fresh. Colgate Palmolive India’s products have gained immense popularity and have become synonymous with dental hygiene in India, serving millions of consumers and contributing to their overall health and well-being.
Marico Limited, founded in 1988, is a leading Indian consumer goods company. It sells popular brands like Parachute, Saffola, and Set Wet, and its products reach over 25 countries.
In 2025, Marico is focusing on innovation and digital transformation. The company uses data to understand customers better, improve marketing, and create new products, especially in the health and wellness space with items that support immunity and well-being.
Marico also takes sustainability seriously—using eco-friendly packaging, cutting carbon emissions, and supporting education and healthcare projects. Its goal is to grow while also making a positive impact on people and the planet.
Conclusion
The growing awareness, changing lifestyles and easier access have been the key development drivers for this sector. The urban segment contributes the largest share of the entire revenue that the top FMCG companies in India are generating. The FMCG market has witnessed faster growth in rural India compared to urban India due to the increasing number of FMCG startups in India. Also, these FMCG-listed companies in India’s semi-urban and rural segments are growing rapidly. The FMCG products account for up to 50% of the overall rural expenditure.
FAQs
What is a FMCG company?
In the FMCG industry, manufacturers often sell the goods to wholesalers, who sell them to retailers, who sell them to consumers.
How to start a FCMG company?
First of all, determine the form of your business.
Apply for the Trade License from the Municipal Authority.
Additionally, apply for MSME Udyog Aadhaar online registration.
Apply for the ‘Consent to Establish’ from the Pollution Control Board.
Obtain the GST registration.
What are the top FMCG companies in India in 2024?
The best FMCG companies in India are Varun Beverages Ltd, Tata Consumer Products, Dabur India Limited, Godrej Consumer Products Limited, Godrej Consumer Products Limited, Britannia Industries Limited, Nestle India, and Hindustan Unilever Limited.
What is the rank of FMCG in India?
The FMCG industry is the fourth largest sector in the Indian economy. Household and personal care products account for 50% of the sales in the industry, healthcare accounts for 31-32% and food and beverage accounts for the remaining 18-19%.
What is the biggest FMCG company?
The top FMCG Companies in 2024 by Revenue & Profit are Nestle AG, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi Co, and Unilever.
Which are the FMCG products?
Fast-moving consumer goods are non-durable products that sell quickly at relatively low cost.
Is Nestle an FMCG company?
Yes, Nestle is among the top FMCG companies in India.
Is Britannia a FMCG company?
Yes, Britannia is amongst the top 10 FMCG companies in India (2024).
In present-day homes, the living room is more than just about a gathering space. It is said to be the heart of entertainment, a place where you enjoy your relaxation time as well as family bonding. And when we talk about the center of it all, there stands the TV unit. By not simply being a place to keep your television, modern TV units are expected to bring to you style, storage, and functionality in one. Wooden Street understands this changing need and preference, which is why its collection of TV units is designed in such a way to uplift your living space with elegance, organization, and smart design.
Design that Complements Every Living Room
The TV unit often becomes the centerpiece when it comes to living rooms that rightly set the mood for the entire space. At Wooden Street, we offer you an exclusive selection that easily matches with diverse decor preferences, be it that you love simple and detailed interiors or want to go for warm and classic designs.
From smooth modern styles to classic wooden feels, every TV unit is built to add charm to your living room. Smooth finishes, well-arranged layouts, and fine detailing make sure that these pieces serve as functional furniture while being stylish statements, whether it’s about wall-mounted or floor-standing.
Why this matters to you
A smart TV unit enhances the overall look and feel of your entertainment area.
The right design helps you create harmony as well as balance with your other living room furniture.
Brings in a modern and well-organized touch to your interiors.
Comfort of Organized Living
Clutter is one of the biggest distractions in any living room, and TV unit at Wooden Street address this with smart organization solutions. These units hold your television and help you to neatly store all your accessories, gadgets, books, or decorative items.
Spacious cabinets and drawers make it easy for you to tuck away items that you don’t want to display, while open shelves are perfect when it comes to showcasing decor pieces, family photos, or collectibles. Cable management features ensure that any type of unsightly wires stay hidden, therefore giving your space a clean and sophisticated look.
Organization benefits you can enjoy
Trouble-free storage where you can keep remotes, consoles, and other media accessories.
Proper dedicated space to place books, décor, or essentials so that you reach them easily as and when required.
Well-defined look with wires and clutter neatly managed.
Smart Storage for Smarter Homes
When we talk about modern homes, every inch counts. So, here multi-purpose TV units at Wooden Street shine with their great storage features. Many designs come with extra space for keeping all your entertainment gadgets, such as set-top boxes, speakers, gaming consoles , and more, while some units have vertical cabinets or glass-door shelves for a premium-grade look.
For compact spaces, wall-mounted TV units are a smart add-on when it comes to maximizing your floor space, thus providing you with a sufficient amount of room for storage. On the other side, larger units are perfect for families who are looking for both storage and display solutions in one place.
Smart storage highlights
Cabinets and drawers to help you organize all your daily-use items.
Open and closed shelving that gives you flexibility.
Wall-mounted options for space-saving solutions.
Durability That Lasts Through Everyday Use
A TV unit is not something you’re going to buy often. So, that’s what makes durability a major factor here. Wooden Street TV units are well-built from strong materials to hold out against everyday use and at the same time, maintain their look for years. The fine workmanship make sure that each unit delivers you both quality and functionality, while the finishes are designed to protect from wear and tear, requiring very little maintenance.
This makes them the best fit for busy households, where furniture needs to balance durability with design. With Wooden Street, you get more than just a piece of furniture. You invest in reliability that grows with your home.
Benefits of durability
Strong build for long-lasting use.
Easy-to-maintain finishes that fit in well with Indian homes.
Classic designs that stay relevant through changing trends.
Conclusion
In today’s way of living, furniture is expected to go beyond its basic purpose. At Wooden Street, TV units are not just about your television. They are complete entertainment solutions that bring to you the perfect combination of design, comfort, as well as storage so as to make your living room both beautiful and useful.
Why just talk about TV units here? Wooden Street continues to create furniture that easily adapts to all kinds of needs and tastes. From TV units and shoe rack to wardrobes, sofa sets, dining tables, and many more, each piece is made with giving full attention to detail, durability, as well as style. Therefore, choosing Wooden Street means choosing furniture that simplifies your life by beautifying your dream home in the years to come.
Edgehax, an Edge AI hardware platform, has raised ₹1.39 crore in a seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). The funds will be used to boost manufacturing, accelerate product development, and scale into international markets across Singapore, US and Europe. The milestone not only boosts India’s indigenous hardware ecosystem but also reflects the impact of the Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
Edgehax is among the beneficiaries of NGIS, STPI’s flagship initiative designed to nurture promising startups from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. By providing structured mentoring, market linkages, and funding support of up to ₹25 lakh, NGIS ensures that innovative ventures like Edgehax can scale globally while contributing to the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ missions. Edgehax has recently won NXP Silicon Seeds Startup Program 2025 to build an exclusive low-cost Edge AI compute module based on NXP chips for global automotive and consumer IoT applications and also secured the MeitY Bhashini Startup Velocity 1.0 program award to build hardware that enables mass-market adoption of the Digital India Bhashini Voice AI platform.
Speaking about the achievement, ShriArvind Kumar, Director General, STPI, said: “Edgehax’s success reinforces the mission of NGIS to empower startups from across India with the resources, mentorship, and funding needed to scale globally. By building a domestic Edge AI hardware platform, Edgehax is addressing a critical gap in India’s technology ecosystem, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening our ‘Make in India’ journey. At STPI, we are committed to ensuring that talent from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities gets equal opportunities to innovate and compete on the world stage.”
Over the past three years, NGIS has supported more than 680 startups, of which about 138 have received direct financial assistance. These ventures span sectors such as healthcare, agritech, edtech, and Industry 4.0, generating high-skilled employment, attracting investors, and strengthening India’s innovation landscape. The scheme is operational across 12 STPI centres, including Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Dehradun, and Guwahati, creating a truly inclusive startup ecosystem beyond the traditional metro hubs.
Founded in 2025 by Prabhu Stavarmath and Savitri Patil, Edgehax positions itself as a full-stack Edge AI hardware platform, integrating compute, connectivity, and storage on a single board. This enables startups, OEMs, and enterprises to bring hardware products to market faster, without depending on overseas supply chains. The company already serves over 150 startups, OEMs, and large enterprises who use its boards for rapid prototyping and scaling. Edgehax has also distributed developer kits to 100,000 students and faculty across 30 universities and IITs, contributing to India’s skilling ecosystem. With locally manufactured hardware, assured long-term supply, and on-ground technical support, the startup is helping reduce import dependency and strengthening India’s hardware innovation base.
Prabhu Stavarmath, CEO and Co-founder of Edgehax added, “At Edgehax, our goal is to become a global pioneer in Edge AI Gateways and Single Board Computers by delivering fully integrated hardware platforms with open-source firmware and scalable cloud software – enabling rapid product development for startups, enterprises, and OEMs worldwide. By 2029, Edgehax aims to empower over 100 million developers using its boards and tools across APAC, the US, and Europe.”
The infusion of seed capital will allow Edgehax to further scale manufacturing, accelerate product development, and expand into international markets across Singapore, the US, and Europe. Its trajectory highlights the role of STPI and NGIS in turning ideas into global products and demonstrates how a robust incubation ecosystem is crucial for India’s emergence as a trusted player in next-gen hardware solutions.
September starts with another round of layoffs, this time at Krutrim. 50 people from its linguistics team had to say goodbye to the company. This is their third since 2024. Krutrim is an AI company founded by Ola. There seem to be gaps in their technology, and that’s the reason why their AI advancements haven’t taken off. Is this the reason why Krutrim is laying off people now? Or are they cost-cutting for some reason? Learn more.
What Happened at Krutrim?
Approximately 50 linguists (transcribers and team leaders were included) from the team, who were working on regional languages such as Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, etc., were laid off. Notably, this is their third layoff since June 2024.
Bigger Picture of Layoffs at Krutrim
From 2024 to date, more than 200 employees have been laid off, and a few of them left the company themselves at Krutrim.
In their second round of layoffs in July 2024, over 100 people were let go.
At least six senior executives of Krutrim left the company (these executives are heads of AI data, software engineering, cloud, and finance teams).
Just from these layoffs and resignations, 20+ other employees had already resigned.
Why Is Krutrim Cutting the Jobs?
According to Krutrim, these layoffs were crucial for their “strategic realignment,” meaning they are restructuring the company to focus only on specific work.
Furthermore, its linguistics work (data annotation) related projects are done, and the jobs no longer serve any purpose to the company. So, they were let go.
The company mentioned that it is currently looking for a smaller, leaner team as it works towards its major AI projects in 2025.
What Is Krutrim Building? The Big AI Project…
Apparently, Krutrim and the team are focused on Krutrim 3. Notably, it’s their biggest AI language model so far. The model will have billions of parameters (meaning the brain size of an AI). Other than this huge project in hand, they also have two other AI products that they want to work on:
Krutrim Cloud and Kruti. Kruti, it’s their AI assistant app (similar to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and others).
Although the app was launched in June 2024, it has 207,000 downloads, but it is still not that popular.
To make the project a big success, the company has recently acquired BharatSahAIyak. It’s a public-sector AI solution.
It has plans to advance its data center capacity to 1 GW by 2028 and set $1.2 billion in funding to make it a success.
Krutrim’s Money and Investments
Interestingly, Krutrim became a unicorn in January 2024 after raising about $75 million in funds.
Big investors, such as Z47 and the Sarin family, and others. Yet, the company didn’t experience huge popularity for its products in the market.
In December 2023, Bhavish Aggarwal, the company’s founder, decided to give his Ola Electric shares to raise debt funding for Krutrim. And the amount was rumored to be $300 million and more, but Krutrim dismissed the claims.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the biggest IT business in India, announced its most recent round of pay increases on September 2.
According to news agency PTI, the increases would range from 4.5% to 7% for the majority of its employees. Employees of the Tata Group company began receiving letters of increment on the evening of September 1st, and those with knowledge of the development told the news agency that the pay increases will take effect in September 2025.
This comes after discussions on a possible pay increase were put on hold for the past two months due to uncertain market conditions. Additionally, the investigation noted that the corporation did not respond to the email enquiries.
Pay Increases for Middle & Junior Employees
The article claims that TCS has raised the pay of its middle- and lower-level workers. The news agency was informed that the company’s best achievers received pay increases exceeding 10%.
Milind Lakkad, the executive vice president and chief human resources officer of TCS, stated in July that the business has not decided to raise staff salaries. “We have not yet made any decisions regarding wage hikes,” Lakkad stated during the company’s quarterly news conference.
Attrition and Retention Strategy
The company was working to reduce its attrition rate, which hit a two-year high at the conclusion of the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025–2026, the top human resources officer also told the media. According to Milind Lakkad, TCS attrition exceeded its comfort limit of 13% as it reached a two-year high. At the news conference, he stated, “We are working to bring it down.”
TCS Layoffs 2025
TCS plans to lay off 2% of its workforce this year, or around 12,000 mid- and senior-level personnel. This is at a time when many of its competitors have put compensation increases on hold or postponed them.
Lakkad and CHRO-designate K Sudeep sent out an internal message on 6 August stating that the pay increase will take effect on September 1. In response to a question from the media, the corporation stated that it can affirm that, as of September 1, 2025, it will be raising wages for almost 80% of its employees.
Future Outlook for TCS & IT Sector
TCS is nevertheless hopeful about a recovery and expects demand to pick up in the second part of the year. When discussing compensation increases, Indian IT CEOs have taken a cautious stance. Salil Parekh, the CEO of Infosys, stated that the company has completed its pay increases for the fourth and first quarters of the previous fiscal year when discussing the schedule for wage increases.
As it always does at the end of a cycle, Infosys is now starting to assess the timing for the next one. Two rises over 18 months resulted from the disruption of the normal cycle during COVID-19. Nothing is going to change. The company will continue using its current procedure and promptly disclose the upcoming cycle.
Quick
Shots
•4.5%–7% for most employees; top
performers get over 10%.
•Around 80% of staff to benefit from
wage increases.
•Middle- and junior-level employees
prioritized in this increment cycle.
•Move aims to address rising
attrition, which crossed TCS’s comfort limit of 13%.
The e-commerce company Flipkart announced that it had purchased the majority of Pinkvilla India Private Limited, a well-known online infotainment platform. The purchase is a component of Flipkart’s plan to use Pinkvilla’s reputation, skills, and devoted following to increase its content presence and improve interaction with Gen Z and millennial consumers.
Pinkvilla’s Role in Flipkart’s Content Strategy
The deal’s value was not disclosed by the companies. Flipkart’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Pinkvilla is a crucial step in the company’s objective to strengthen its relationship with Generation Z, according to senior vice-president, corporate, Ravi Iyer.
Flipkart’s ambitions to use content as a major growth engine will be accelerated by Pinkvilla’s strong content intellectual property and close relationship with its devoted user base.
Exploring the Gen Z Angle
Trends and consumption patterns are greatly influenced by films and celebrities. Since most Gen Z users consume content with these themes, Flipkart’s acquisition of a top infotainment platform makes sense as it looks to increase its appeal to this demographic.
Additionally, the agreement strengthens Flipkart’s presence in the Indian market by providing it with the chance to develop content for commerce prospects and acquire trend insights.
The founder and CEO of Pinkvilla, Nandini Shenoy, stated, “We are sure that with Flipkart’s help, we will be able to scale our operations and continue to deliver high-quality content that resonates with our millions of users, further strengthening our position as a leader in infotainment.” The deal has been completed and is pending the usual closing requirements. The businesses anticipate closing the agreement soon.
Flipkart Spreading its Wings in India
Flipkart has made a number of purchases in recent years as it grows its online business nationwide. These include online fashion retailer Myntra, digital payments company PhonePe, and eBay’s Indian division.
With the purchase of Walmart India, which ran the Best Price cash-and-carry division, it further enhanced its wholesale presence. Flipkart also purchased Sastasundar Marketplace, which owned and ran an online pharmacy and digital healthcare platform, and Scapic, an augmented reality firm, to improve its shopping experience.
Quick
Shots
•E-commerce giant acquires majority
stake in infotainment platform Pinkvilla.
•Not disclosed; agreement pending
standard closing requirements.
•Aimed at boosting Flipkart’s content
strategy and consumer engagement.
•Acquisition targets younger audiences
who consume celebrity and film-driven content.
•Strong IP and loyal user base to fuel
Flipkart’s content-commerce synergy.
•Ravi Iyer, Flipkart SVP, calls it a
step to deepen bonds with Gen Z.
•Strengthens Flipkart’s presence in
lifestyle, entertainment, and digital content commerce.
September 2, 2025, was an active day for India’s startup ecosystem with key fundraises across consumer care, EV mobility, and e-commerce. Highlights include Tuco Kids raising $4M, Offgrid Energy Labs securing $15M, LeafyBus expanding with $4.1M, and CityMall bagging $47M. On the business front, Urban Company and boAt got SEBI IPO approval, Goldman Sachs trimmed its stake in BlackBuck, Flipkart acquired Pinkvilla, and PhonePe launched loans against mutual funds.
Daily Indian Funding Roundup – 2nd September 2025
Company
Amount
Round
Lead investor(s)
Sector
Tuco Kids
$4 Mn
Fresh funding
RTP Global
Children’s personal care
Offgrid Energy Labs
$15 Mn
Funding
Archean Chemical Industries
Battery / Energy storage
Venturi Partners
$150 Mn
First close (Fund II)
Existing & new investors
Venture Capital Fund
LeafyBus
$4.1 Mn
Pre-Series A
Enetra EV (backed by ICAM)
Intercity EV bus transportation
Zanskar
₹2.8 Cr
Seed
Zeropearl VC
Pain-care & wellness
CityMall
$47 Mn
Series D
Accel
E-commerce (value, Tier-II/III towns)
Tuco Kids raised $4 million in fresh funding
Bengaluru-based personal care brand Tuco Kids secured $4 million in fresh funding led by RTP Global, with additional participation from Fireside Ventures, Whiteboard Capital, and MG Investments. The startup plans to channel the funds into boosting brand awareness, expanding its offline retail footprint, and introducing a new category in children’s personal care.
Offgrid Energy Labs raised $15 million in funding
Noida-based battery startup Offgrid Energy Labs raised $15 million in a funding round led by Archean Chemical Industries, with participation from Ankur Capital. The startup will use the capital to set up a pilot manufacturing unit in the UK, expand R&D efforts, and commercialize its zinc-bromine gel (zincgel) batteries— with plans for a future facility in India as well.
Venturi Partners closed $150 million in the first close of Fund II
Singapore-based consumer growth investment firm Venturi Partners completed the first close of its second fund at $150 million, backed by both existing and new investors. The fund targets a final close of $225 million by June 2026. Fund II aims to invest $15–40 million each in 10 high-growth consumer brands across India and Southeast Asia, with an option for co-investment on a 1:1 basis for investors.
LeafyBus raised $4.1 million in pre-Series A
Delhi-based intercity EV bus startup LeafyBus raised $4.1 million in pre-Series A funding from Enetra EV, which is backed by Singapore’s Impact Capital Asia Management (ICAM). The fresh funds will help expand its electric bus fleet and services. LeafyBus currently operates routes including Delhi–Dehradun and Delhi–Agra and plans to add 100 more buses over the next two years while expanding to Chandigarh and Jaipur.
Zanskar raised ₹2.8 crore in seed round
Gurugram-based pain-care and wellness brand Zanskar raised ₹2.8 crore in a seed round led by Zeropearl VC, with participation from angel investors including Pawan Gupta (Fashinza), Amit Baid (10X Growth Ventures), and Nidhish Mundra (Oaktree Capital). The funds will be used to broaden the product line, ramp up R&D, scale digital marketing, and strengthen offline retail presence, alongside its D2C business.
CityMall raised $47 million in Series D
Gurugram-based value e-commerce startup CityMall raised $47 million in its Series D round, led by Accel, with participation from existing backers like Waterbridge Ventures, Citius, General Catalyst, Elevation Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, and Jungle Ventures. The startup plans to use the capital to deepen its footprint in existing geographies, enter adjacent markets, fortify its supply chain, and invest in private labels and brand partnerships, while also ramping up hiring across technology, product, and operations.
Key Business News for 2nd September 2025
Urban Company & boAt get SEBI nod for IPOs
At-home services platform Urban Company and consumer electronics brand boAt have both received approval from SEBI to proceed with their initial public offerings (IPOs). This signals a renewed momentum in India’s IPO market and allows both companies to begin raising capital through public share offerings.
Goldman Sachs trims stake in BlackBuck; Nomura steps in with ₹247 cr buy
Goldman Sachs reduced its stake in logistics firm BlackBuck (Zinka Logistics Solutions) via a bulk deal, triggering a share price drop of up to 3.5%. Meanwhile, Nomura has entered the fray with a fresh investment of ₹247 crore, indicating renewed investor interest in the company.
Flipkart acquires majority stake in Pinkvilla
E-commerce giant Flipkart has acquired a majority stake in digital infotainment platform Pinkvilla. While the financial terms were not disclosed, the deal positions Flipkart to tap into Gen Z and millennial audiences for enhanced engagement and future content-driven commerce strategies.
PhonePe launches loan service against mutual funds
Fintech platform PhonePe has introduced a new loan facility allowing users to borrow against their mutual fund holdings—up to ₹2 crore—without redeeming investments. Launched in partnership with NBFC DSP Finance, the entire onboarding process is digital and can be completed in under 10 minutes via the PhonePe app.
Capital to fuel product innovation, digital expansion, and R&D in India’s ₹16,000 crore pain-relief market
Zanskar, a pain-care focused premium and high-efficacy wellness brand, has raised ₹2.8 crore in a seed round of funding led by Zeropearl VC, with participation from angel investors Pawan Gupta (Founder, Fashinza), Amit Baid (Managing Partner, 10X Growth Ventures), and Nidhish Mundra (SVP, Oaktree Capital).
The funds will be deployed to expand Zanskar’s product portfolio, scale up marketing across digital platforms, and enhance distribution through both D2C and offline retail channels. A portion of the capital will also be invested in building a dedicated R&D vertical focused on chronic pain and recovery.
Born out of a personal journey of the founders, Zanskar was created to address the unmet needs of people struggling with chronic pain. The co-founders, who first met as classmates at IIT Delhi, shared a vision to build a brand that blends science with accessibility. Together, they developed proprietary, science-backed formulations for joint pain, migraines, back pain, and arthritis. Today, its flagship products, including the joint pain cream with Vitamin B6 and migraine relief roll-on with magnesium, have reached over 50,000 customers across India and emerged as category leaders online.
The timing could not be more opportune. According to industry sources, India’s pain-relief market, covering sprays, creams, and pills, has more than doubled in the last five years to around ₹16,000 crore (USD 2 billion). Analgesics and topical rubefacients alone surged from ₹6,820 crore in 2020 to nearly ₹15,905 crore in 2025, growing at an annual rate of 18 percent, almost three times faster than the overall OTC market. Unlike generic OTC products that often rely on chemical-heavy formulations, Zanskar differentiates itself by blending clinical validation with clean, effective ingredients, offering efficacy without side effects.
Anshul Mittal & Manu Mittal, Co-founders of Zanskar, jointly said, “This round is a huge validation of our belief that pain relief doesn’t need to come with a trade-off. We’re excited to partner with Zeropearl to take Zanskar to more homes across India and continue building products that actually work and that people love using.”
Speaking on the investment, Bipin Shah, Managing Partner, Zeropearl VC, said: “At Zeropearl, we look for brands that are solving real & deep problems with authenticity & innovation. Zanskar’s approach to pain care by combining science with empathy really stood out of the box for us. We believe the team is well-positioned to build a trusted and scalable brand in a category that impacts millions of people in India and overseas.”
Looking ahead, Zanskar is preparing to launch new product formats targeting arthritis and muscle recovery, alongside expanding its AI-driven physiotherapy app to deliver personalized, at-home pain management protocols. The brand is also exploring early pilots in physiotherapy-led wellness centers in select metro cities, further strengthening its full-stack approach to pain relief.
Zanskar products are currently available through the brand’s website as well as leading platforms such as Blinkit, Tata 1mg, Amazon, and Flipkart.
About Zanskar
Zanskar is a next-generation wellness brand helping Indians live pain-free, naturally and holistically. From clean, effective and science-backed products to an AI-driven physiotherapy app, Zanskar is building a full-stack pain relief ecosystem that goes beyond temporary fixes. With a growing base of loyal customers, Zanskar is on a mission to replace dependency on harsh painkillers, and redefining how India manages pain, one product and one protocol at a time.
About Zeropearl VC
Zeropearl VC is a newly launched pre-seed investment firm with a bold mission: to empower founders with conviction, speed, and unconditional portfolio support. Inspired by the belief that founders are at the heart of innovation, Zeropearl VC adopts a “Founder Only” investment thesis, emphasizing the unique drive and vision of entrepreneurs.
Fraud detection in banking has gained immense acceptance as an AI tool, bringing advanced security to bear with the machine learning algorithms that examine huge amounts of transaction data in real time by rapidly spotting patterns and anomalies that are characteristic of fraudulent activity. The main features of fraud detection AI tools include predictive analytics, behavioral profiling, automated alerting mechanisms, and adaptive learning, enabling banks to prevent threats much quicker than could be achieved by older systems. These tools’ high rates of false-positive detection integrate seamlessly into existing core banking platforms, thus applying correct technology to provide a scalable approach to continuous monitoring that minimizes human interaction.
Banks, fintechs, and enterprises needing AI-driven fraud detection, AML, and risk management solutions.
Feedzai – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
Feedzai is the world leader in AI for fraud detection for banking and is known to secure billions of consumers and trillions of dollars in payment transactions on a yearly basis by doing real-time transaction scoring using behavioral analytics and adaptive risk profiling. From account opening to transaction monitoring to AML compliance and even generative AI capabilities for proactive scam alerting, the end-to-end platform amplifies detection rates on a scale while minimizing false positives. Feedzai’s architecture is highly customizable for integration with core banking systems for retail banks, commercial banks, and payment service providers, as well as government organizations. Pricing is customized based on the size of deployment and choice of risk modules.
Pros
safeguards over 1 billion consumers.
Real-time, multi-channel fraud prevention that provides a 62% improvement in detection
Generative AI agent (ScamAlert) for instant scam notifications
Cons
Advanced features would need technical integration
More enterprise-centric
Pricing
Feedzai offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Sift
WEBSITE
sift.com
Rating
4.4
Free Trial
No
Best For
E-commerce platforms and marketplaces needing AI-powered fraud prevention and trust & safety management.
Sift – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
Sift, an AI-based fraud detection solution, is very popular in banking due to its extensive global data network, real-time anomaly detection, and behavioral analytics, enabling proactive identification of payment scams, account takeovers, and policy abuse. The platform also delivers Clearbox Decisioning to promote transparency in AI logic, easy integration with other systems, and a no-code interface for creating custom workflows for quick deployment. Designed for scale, Sift can handle high transaction volumes while providing industry-specific workflow templates that make it easy to operate. The transaction fees begin at $0.06, but custom quotes for enterprises are available based on the volume and features selected.
Pros
No-code dashboard for rapid rule customization.
International identity search and pre-built fraud workflow templates for banks.
Very scalable in high transaction volumes.
Cons
Steep learning curve.
Support team is slow to address customer problems.
Pricing
Sift offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Financial institutions and fintechs needing AI-driven AML screening, transaction monitoring, and risk management.
ComplyAdvantage – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
ComplyAdvantage, an AI-based fraud detection tool developed for banks and payment providers, leverages machine learning, clustering of identities, and graph network analysis to track over fifty types of fraud that include account takeover, push payments, and, more recently, synthetic identities. The system generates lucid and explainable alerts and operates in real time, along with money and non-money events. The platform is unified and easy to deploy, going live in less than two weeks. ComplyAdvantage also adapts quickly to new payment methods and criminal tricks. With comprehensive customization and transparent decisions, it helps institutions stay ahead of fraud without breaking their stride for uninterrupted processes.
Pros
The fraud alerts are explainable and actionable
Detection occurs in real-time across login, profile changes, and transactions.
Rapid implementation and flexible data integration.
Cons
Bugs in usability and user experience.
Custom and enterprise plans will require negotiation.
Pricing
Plan
Pricing
Starter Plan
$119.99 / month
Enterprise
Custom
Hawk AI
WEBSITE
hawk.ai
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
No
Best For
Banks, payment providers, and fintechs seeking real-time, AI-powered AML and fraud detection with transparent monitoring.
Hawk AI – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
Hawk AI is an extremely useful and intelligible AI-empowered platform for banking fraud detection and AML compliance, which gives very real-time transaction monitoring, automated fraud anomaly detection, and possible up to 70% false-positive reductions. Customized AI models and super-fast deployment methods—mostly in under three days—enable banks to tailor and apply self-service rule management and create transparent reports for compliance audits unique defenses to scout for a wide range of threats. Hawk AI provides for scalable, modular integration as SaaS or private cloud, and easily onto older systems. Its platform spans payment screening, transaction fraud, and entity risk detection, hence making it particularly ideal for modernizing and future-proofing anti-fraud strategies in any financial institution.
Pros
Comprehensible AI that supports regulatory compliance.
More than 70 percent reduction in false positives
Quick deployment of models and self-service customizations of rules.
Cons
Additional resources and some configuration effort may be needed
Not as many third-party integrations as some of the other solutions.
Pricing
Hawk AI offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Abrigo gives banks and credit unions a powerful fraud detection system based on AI and made to scale. It is an online orchestration engine that works in conjunction with clear machine learning models, adding trust and transparency to the process. In essence, the system combines AI image analysis with one of the largest check fraud data networks and the flexibility of rule setups to catch fraud-related activities across checks, wire transfers, ACH, debit cards, and even new accounts. Complete automation, adjustable modules, and intelligent case management reduce manual effort while providing a structure to make faster and data-driven decisions. The early pilots proved their worth with over 90 percent detection of fraudulent checks.
Pros
Explainable AI and advanced check image analysis
Timely onboarding and collaborative case management
One suite covers wire, ACH, new account, and debit card fraud.
Cons
Initial setup could take some technical know-how
Tailored solutions may take longer for implementation
Pricing
Abrigo offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
FICO Falcon Fraud Manager
WEBSITE
fico.com/en/products/falcon-fraud-manager
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
No
Best For
Banks, credit unions, and financial institutions needing advanced fraud detection and prevention
FICO Falcon Fraud Manager – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
FICO Falcon Fraud Manager uses its advanced AI and machine learning system to monitor billions of transactions in real-time across card, digital, wire, and payment channels for banks worldwide. This neural network and adaptive analytics unearth approximately 50% more fraud than rules-based systems, while portfolio-specific models leverage predictive insights from a consortium of over 10,000 financial institutions. Highly customizable rule engines, exhaustive case management, and around-the-clock global support boost detection accuracy and operational efficacy for institutions of all sizes in either an on-premise or cloud deployment model. Reporting meets global compliance requirements such as PCI and provides rapid alerts to ensure minimum customer impact.
Pros
50% more fraud detection compared to standard rules-based systems.
Adaptive neural network with access to global consortium data for predictive insights.
Flexible and Modularity deployment options including cloud and hybrid.
Cons
6 to 12 months for deployment and integration.
May be too complicated and expensive for smaller banks compared with targeted tools.
Pricing
FICO Falcon Fraud Manager offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Forter
WEBSITE
forter.com
Rating
4.6
Free Trial
No
Best For
E-commerce businesses and online merchants seeking real-time fraud prevention and chargeback protection
Forter – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
As a service used by banks and payment providers, Forter is completely automatic for AI detecting fraud, providing instant real-time decisions on identity, account takeovers, and chargebacks, as well as abuses of policy. Billions of global transaction data points feed into Forter’s continuous training in machine learning and behavioral analytics to combat developing fraud patterns, while improving approval rates and decreasing false declines. The performance-based and transparent pricing model guarantees chargeback and approval rates. Its networked effect gives predictive models across clients. Forter’s policy builder and instant dashboard reduce friction, build trust with customers, and streamline end to end management of fraud.
Pros
Real-time, fully automated fraud prevention without manual review.
Chargebacks can be reduced up to 72 percent and false declines by 46 percent.
A scalable identity-based protection and abuse policy builder for quick adaptability.
Cons
Occassional bugs
Less flexible to those that want hybrid automation / manual review models.
Pricing
Forter offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
ThreatMetrix
WEBSITE
lexisnexisrisk.com/products/threatmetrix
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
No
Best For
Banks, fintechs, and enterprises needing digital identity intelligence to detect fraud and reduce risk
ThreatMetrix – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
ThreatMetrix is a cloud AI platform for fraud detection that enables banks to provide real-time risk authentication, device intelligence, behavioral biometrics, and access to a global digital identity network. It assesses billions of transactions so that account takeovers, synthetic identities, and payment fraud can be detected rapidly and accurately. Using advanced machine learning and shared consortium data, ThreatMetrix lowers false positives while leaving customer friction at an absolute minimum. Adapts well to smooth and easy integration into compliance with global standards like PCI DSS, GDPR, and PSD2. The platform further permits dynamic policy management, excellent case management, and fast investigation tools ones that would be ideal for large, multi-channel banks looking for protection without impeding the customer experience.
Pros
One of the critical pros is that it has its
global intelligence network covering real-time sharing of fraud insights.
powerful device, behavioral, and identity analytics.
Cons
Sometimes initial setups with all the data integrations tend to be tricky.
Depends on the quality and diversity of the input data.
Pricing
ThreatMetrix offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Finscore
WEBSITE
finscore.ph
Rating
4
Free Trial
No
Best For
Financial institutions in the Philippines using AI/machine learning and telco data for alternative credit scoring and fraud detection services.
Finscore – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
Finscore is an AI-powered fraud detection solution for banks that employs combination telco, alternative and behavioral data to accurately identify risky behaviors and respond to cyber threats in realtime. It features machine learning models that can continuously learn new fraud patterns-in summation, reducing false positives with fewer manual workloads for instant background checks and full integration with the KYC system. Finscore adopts modular dynamics where flexible configuration fits with automated alerts and seamless onboarding for the regulation side and operations side. It’s targeting both fintechs and banks that require deploying quick, customizable dashboards, and minimal operational disturbance; however, effectiveness relies on data quality and regional market knowledge.
Pros
capitalizes on the telco and social data for very high efficiency in fraud detection.
Live validation of identity and real-time automated background checks.
Fully integrated KYC Base Check module for easy onboarding.
Cons
Effectiveness highly depends on local data availability and partnerships with telcos.
Very few advanced analytics in comparison with global tier-1 platforms.
Pricing
Finscore offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Kount – Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking
Kount is an advanced artificial intelligence fraud-detection platform that has been designed for banks to protect account opening, payments, chargebacks, and digital identity checks. It uses decades of global interaction data with adaptive machine learning combining supervised and unsupervised models for detecting fraud with high precision. The platform performs risk assessments in real time and makes automated decisions of less than 250 milliseconds, allowing banks to act quickly and keep their customers moving. Its modular setup allows easy integration with core-banking systems, while the clear dashboards present transparent analytics and flexible strategic action tools. With fewer manual reviews, fewer false positives, and layered protection stretched over the entire customer journey.
Pros
Adaptive AI with supervised and unsupervised ML has more detections and less false positives.
Easily customizable strategies and modular solutions for unique banking needs.
Decades worth of historical data for solid accuracy.
Cons
Inaccuracy might be caused at the start of AI learning curve.
To reduce accuracy, one needs transaction data of good quality.
Pricing
Kount offers custom pricing; contact them for a quote.
Conclusion
Altering fraudulent detection paradigms with the help of AI tools has made real-time, adaptive protection the industry’s standard future of banking security. While arresting even the very sophisticated cyber threats, these platforms also protect customer trust and regulatory compliance through advanced machine learning progpredactived analytics and behavioral profiling. Their architectures are highly scalable and rapidly deployable, allowing conversion of transaction environments across institutions of any size to respond immediately to changing fraud patterns with minimized losses and low operational burdens. As threats become more sophisticated, banks will gain strategic advantage with solutions that include artificial intelligence by converting risk management from a reactive task to a proactive shield.
FAQs
What are Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking?
Best AI Tools for Fraud Detection in Banking are:
Feedzai
Sift
ComplyAdvantage
Hawk AI
Abrigo
FICO Falcon Fraud Manager
Forter
ThreatMetrix
Finscore
Kount
How does AI detect fraud in real-time transactions?
AI fraud detection tools analyze large volumes of transaction data using behavioral profiling, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection to instantly spot suspicious patterns and trigger alerts before fraud occurs.
What are the key benefits of AI fraud detection tools for banks?
Key benefits include reduced false positives, faster fraud prevention, real-time monitoring, compliance with AML regulations, automated alerting, and improved customer trust with minimal friction.