India’s startup and infrastructure sectors witnessed significant funding activities today, with notable investments in quick commerce, renewable energy, private credit, and AI security.
☀️ SAEL Secures $132 Million for Solar Project
SAEL Solar MHP1 Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of SAEL Industries, has obtained $132 million in debt financing for a 300 MW solar power project in Andhra Pradesh. The funding comes from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), New Development Bank (NDB), and Societe Generale, each contributing $44 million. This project aligns with India’s renewable energy goals and SAEL’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
In a record-setting move, the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group has raised ₹298 billion ($3.5 billion) through a zero-coupon bond, marking India’s largest private credit transaction to date. The bond, offering a 19.75% yield, attracted investments from global entities including BlackRock, Pimco, Ares Management, Farallon Capital Management, Davidson Kempner, and Deutsche Bank. The deal includes multiple layers of investor protection, such as partial repayments upon asset sales, a full guarantee from SP’s real estate arm, and a pledge of 9% in Tata Sons.
🔐 Unbound Raises $4 Million for AI Security
AI security startup Unbound has secured $4 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Race Capital. Other participants include Wayfinder Ventures, Y Combinator, Massive Tech Ventures, and angel investors like Alpha Square Group and Northside Ventures. Unbound specialises in enterprise AI security, offering solutions that provide visibility into AI usage, enforce internal policies, and prevent data leaks.
🍼 Quick Commerce Ventures into Baby Care
The quick commerce sector is expanding beyond groceries and fashion into baby care. Bengaluru-based startup Cavi, which promises delivery of baby essentials within 30 minutes, is in advanced discussions to raise $3–4 million from Stellaris Venture Partners. Similarly, Ozi, another player in the baby care quick commerce space, is reportedly securing $4–5 million from Blume Ventures.
Today’s funding activities highlight the dynamic nature of India’s economic landscape, with significant investments spanning from innovative quick commerce solutions to large-scale infrastructure projects and tech startups.
In a case involving deceptive YouTube videos suggesting that investors purchase shares of Sadhna Broadcast, markets regulator SEBI has banned Bollywood star Arshad Warsi, his wife Maria Goretti, and 57 other businesses from the securities markets for a period of one to five years.
Warsi and his wife, Maria, were fined INR 5 lakh apiece by the authority. According to an order issued by SEBI on May 29, the markets watchdog banned the pair from the securities market for a year.
SEBI has also fined 57 additional companies, including the promoters of Sadhna Broadcast (now Crystal Business System Ltd.), between INR 5 lakh and NR 5 crore.
SEBI Putting a Strict Scanner
In addition to debarring these 59 organisations, SEBI ordered them to pay all unlawful gains totalling INR 58.01 crore, plus 12% annual interest, jointly and severally, from the conclusion of the inquiry period to the actual payment date.
According to SEBI, Arshad and his spouse made INR 41.70 lakh and INR 50.35 lakh, respectively. In the end, SEBI discovered that Manish Mishra, Rakesh Kumar Gupta, and Gaurav Gupta were the masterminds behind the entire scheme. According to the ruling, Subhash Aggarwal, who was also a director of Sadhna Broadcast Ltd’s (SBL) RTA, served as a liaison between Manish Mishra and the promoters.
As per SEBI, these people were the main players who devised and carried out the deceptive strategy. The regulator further noted that Lokesh Shah and Peeyush Agarwal enabled accounts under their control to be used for Manish Mishra’s and SBL’s promoters’ deceptive schemes.
The latter owned the stockbroker’s Delhi franchise, while the former was a dealer at Choice. Both of them were essential components that made it easier to manipulate the script on a broad scale.
According to the ruling, Jatin Shah was instrumental in putting the plan into action, while other organisations helped to assist the deceptive ideas or were involved for financial gain.
SEBI stated in the 109-page order that although the noticees (entities) did not trade in the scrip from their own accounts, they had either helped place the manipulative trades or served as information carriers.
SEBI’s Explanation of the Misconduct
SEBI claimed that the planned plan was carried out in two well-coordinated stages. In order to gradually raise the scrip’s price and provide the impression that there was market interest, related and promoter-linked firms carried out trades among themselves throughout the first phase.
Due to low liquidity, these trades, with their frequently tiny volume, had a disproportionate effect on price, enabling the offenders to drive the scrip upward with comparatively little trading expenditure.
The order stated that throughout the second phase of the scam, promotional and deceptive videos were distributed on YouTube channels run by Manish Mishra, including Moneywise, The Advisor, and Profit Yatra.
It further stated that these videos, which were timed to correspond with and accentuate false market activity, portrayed SBL as a viable investment prospect. “A traditional pump-and-dump scheme has been exposed by the noticees’ overall behaviour.
Ashwani Bhatia, a long-time member of SEBI, stated in the ruling that the price was “systematically pushed upward through collusive trading, followed by aggressive promotional activity to draw in retail investors, and finally, a coordinated sell-off by the promoters.”
As a result, these 59 organisations broke the PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) regulations. Furthermore, SEBI stated that Varun Media Pvt Ltd, a promoter firm, is not facing any financial penalties as a result of ongoing insolvency proceedings.
The disgorgement order will still be in effect, though, and the company’s actions will be decided by a different order.
According to a media report, the Centre is seeking an explanation from Patanjali Ayurved Ltd on a number of financial transactions that federal economic intelligence services have identified as suspicious.
The company has received a notification from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which is also looking into possible fund diversion and corporate governance violations.
Yoga guru Ramdev’s company’s flagged transactions were judged “abnormal and dubious”; however, exact numbers have not been made public because the probe is still in its early stages. Patanjali has around two months to reply to the notice from the ministry.
Patanjali Going Through a Challenging Time
Patanjali Ayurved and its affiliates are facing an increasing number of legal and regulatory issues as a result of this most recent investigation. A division of the business was given show-cause notifications last year for alleged tax infractions and false refund claims.
The company that sells traditional medicines also came under heavy fire for advertising false items that promised to cure serious illnesses like cancer. The Supreme Court cited violations of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, and ordered the corporation to stop marketing its products as remedies for different illnesses.
The Kerala Drugs Control Department stated in February 2025 that Ramdev and Patanjali were the subject of 26 pending cases under the same advertisement legislation in different state courts.
A number of newspapers are also being sued for publishing the contentious ads. Although Patanjali Ayurved is still privately held, Patanjali Foods Ltd., a listed business, has been impacted. So far this month, the stock has fallen by almost 10%.
Patanjali’s Financial Outlook of 2024
According to the company’s RoC filing, Patanjali Ayurved’s overall revenue increased by 23.15% to INR 9,335.32 crore in 2023–2024 thanks to other revenue from Patanjali Foods (formerly known as Ruchi Soya) and other group companies.
Financial data obtained through the business intelligence platform Tofler shows that Patanjali Ayurved’s other income in FY24 was INR 2,875.29 crore, compared to INR 46.18 crore in the same period last year.
For the fiscal year that concluded on March 31, 2024, its operating revenue—which is primarily derived from net sales—dropped 14.25% to INR 6,460.03 crore.
The July 1, 2022, transfer of Patanjali Ayurved’s food business—which includes biscuits, ghee, cereals, and nutraceuticals—to Patanjali Foods had an effect on revenue. In FY24, their total profit increased fivefold to INR 2,901.10 crore.
For the fiscal year that concluded on March 31, 2023, Patanjali Ayurved reported a total profit of INR 578.44 crore on revenue of INR 7,533.88 crore. In FY23, Patanjali’s Ayurved, a non-listed company, earned INR 7,580.06 crore in total revenue, including other revenue.
In FY24, Patanjali Ayurved’s advertising and promotional costs increased by 9.28% to INR 422.33 crore. The Haridwar-based company Group stated earlier this year in July that it will be selling its whole home and personal care division from Patanjali Ayurved to Patanjali Food for INR 1,100 crore.
WhatsApp to Introduce Log-Out Feature Without Data Loss
According to reports, WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to exit their primary account without permanently erasing their data. WhatsApp does not yet allow you to log out of your account on your primary device without losing your data, but it does allow you to log out of accounts on connected devices.
If users wish to log out, they must remove their account. In partnership with AssembleDebug, a column on emerging features in Google apps, Android Authority discovered this potentially forthcoming capability. He noticed this feature in WhatsApp’s most recent beta version (2.25.17.37).
How to Access New Feature?
The report claims that this capability would be accessible through the account menu and settings of WhatsApp. A pop-up window asking the user to decide between deleting all data and retaining all data and settings will appear when they tap the logout option in Account Settings.
Without erasing data, the latter method will function precisely like uninstalling WhatsApp. For customers who want to take a vacation from WhatsApp or who want to fix a problem, this option will be very helpful.
Users will be able to choose the device on which they wish to access their accounts. Additionally, on the same device, the user will be able to log out of one account and switch to another.
According to the article, even though this choice will log you out, your user preferences will not be affected, and your chats and group chats, including media and data, would be preserved.
Given that the word “Internal” appears on the screenshot of the most recent beta release included in the complaint, this option is probably being evaluated internally. Prior to a broad release to larger audiences, the feature is anticipated to reach a select number of users.
Meta Unveils WhatsApp for iPad with Advanced Multitasking and Privacy Features
The long-awaited iPad app from WhatsApp has finally been released after over ten years of requests.
One of the most frequent grievances from its user base has finally been resolved by the Meta-owned messaging app, which is renowned for its unwavering enthusiasm to introduce feature enhancements, from AI integrations to increased group call limits: the lack of a specialised tablet experience.
Up until now, iPad users like myself were forced to use WhatsApp Web, which is not as good as an app and has fewer features. Today, however, that is different. Now accessible through the App Store, WhatsApp for iPad offers a customised experience that extends many of the features of its iPhone equivalent to a larger screen.
New Features of WhatsApp for iPad
Screen sharing during calls, front and rear camera use, and video and audio chats with up to 32 participants are all supported by the new iPad app.
Crucially, it fully utilises the iPadOS multitasking features, such as Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over, enabling users to run WhatsApp and other apps without any issues.
This eliminates the need to constantly switch between apps, allowing users to reply to chats while using Safari or remain on call while planning a trip or checking their emails.
The software provides additional support for users who use devices like the Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard, which makes navigating and chatting on Apple’s iPad even more convenient.
According to Meta, users may link WhatsApp to their primary account on the iPad without their iPhone being close by thanks to the app’s multi-device sync functionality.
No matter where users are logged in, all calls, texts, and media are end-to-end encrypted across all devices, including iPhones, Macs, and now iPads, guaranteeing security and privacy.
Generative AI tools have become ubiquitous in the enterprise. Employees are using AI copilots to code, draft documents, brainstorm campaigns, and analyse data, often without IT’s knowledge or approval. As adoption spreads from the bottom up, companies are losing control over how sensitive information is being handled, what models are being used, and who has access to what.
Unbound has raised $4 million to fix this. The oversubscribed seed round was led by Race Capital, with participation from Wayfinder Ventures, Y Combinator, Massive Tech Ventures, and other notable angel investors.
Unbound gives IT teams the visibility and controls they need to safely introduce and manage AI tools in the enterprise. Its AI Gateway plugs into commonly used tools – like Cursor, Roo, Cline or internal document copilots – and provides real-time protection, model routing, and usage analytics. From blocking sensitive information leakage to managing model costs and performance, Unbound helps organizations roll out AI on their terms.
The founding team brings deep experience in both enterprise security and infrastructure. CEO and co-founder Rajaram Srinivasan previously led data security products at Palo Alto Networks and Imperva, and earlier worked on SaaS security at the onset of the AI wave. He teamed up with Vignesh Subbiah, a seasoned engineer and former founding team member at Tophatter and Shogun, who scaled engineering teams and platforms from seed to growth stage. After working together at Adobe, the two reconnected to build a system that could meet the urgent security gaps emerging in the new AI stack.
The need became clear quickly. In the early days of GPT-3.5, teams were already sending sensitive prompts into AI tools without oversight – leaking secrets, exposing PII, and consuming costly licenses with no guardrails. Existing DLP tools either blocked the tool altogether or failed to adapt to newer AI workflows.
Unbound takes a different approach. It has already prevented the leakage of 100s of secret credentials – including passwords, API keys, and connection strings – as well as more than 500 instances of personally identifiable information such as customer names, phone numbers, and patient records. Rather than simply blocking prompts, Unbound redacts sensitive content in real time and reroutes high-risk requests to internal, open-source models hosted in the organisation’s cloud. This ensures employees get their answers without ever seeing a security speed bump.
The platform also gives companies fine-grained control over model access and cost. Rather than buying a one-size-fits-all license, teams can allocate premium model access to high-stakes workflows, like engineers building core infrastructure, while routing lighter tasks, like content editing, to smaller open-source models. Mid-market customers using Unbound have already saved more than $10,000 annually on unnecessary AI seat licenses. And when new models outperform old ones, as with Gemini 2.5 recently overtaking Claude Sonnet for certain coding tasks, Unbound allows IT to roll them out incrementally, test their effectiveness, and swap them in without breaking employee workflows.
The product is already being used by a growing base of mid-market and enterprise customers across sectors, including tech and healthcare. One customer, a leading tech company, recently used Unbound to safely introduce Gemini 2.5 into production AI tools for more than 100 engineers within the same week.
“As AI tools become mainstream, enterprises are turning to flexibility and control,” said Rajaram Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Unbound. “They want visibility into what’s being used, assurance that their data is protected, and the ability to swap in better models as the space evolves. Unbound is the bridge that makes that possible.”
Reflecting on Unbound’s early days, CTO and co-founder Vignesh Subbiah said, “Defaulting to blanket bans on AI tools is like being in the times of GPT 3.5. Unbound enables surgical security controls into every AI request so teams can innovate freely without putting corporate secrets at risk.” He added, “In just a few months, our customers have prevented over 7,000 potential data leaks and cut AI tooling costs by nearly 70 percent.”
The market is shifting fast. What started as shadow IT is quickly becoming mission-critical infrastructure. Generative AI is embedded in everything from customer support to software engineering, but the tooling around it is still stuck in early-stage chaos. CIOs and CISOs are looking for ways to support AI adoption without compromising security or governance. Unbound is building that foundation. “At THG, we see the security team as an enabler, not a blocker. Unbound empowers us to roll out AI tools to employees with confidence. Unbound AI Gateway’s data protection controls and intelligent routing have been instrumental in safeguarding sensitive data while helping us optimize costs.” says Abraham Ingersoll, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of The Hut Group. The Hut Group (THG) is a customer of Unbound.
“AI is projected to reach $4.8 trillion in market value for the enterprise by 2033 globally — but without proper guardrails, that value is at risk. From shadow models to data leaks, the dangers of unmanaged AI are very real. We are excited to back Rajaram Vignesh and the Unbound Security team as they create a new category of AI infrastructure: one built for safety, observability and cost discipline from day one.” said Edith Yeung, General Partner at Race Capital. “We’re proud to back Rajaram, Vignesh, and the team building a new category of AI infrastructure – one that makes enterprise adoption safe, observable, and cost-efficient from day one.”
Unbound plans to deploy over $1M in capital in India to support hiring and growth plans. It has a team of 8 in Bengaluru and they’re just getting started. “We have seen a lot of interest from Indian companies. India is known for its cost efficiency in achieving great outcomes. For example, our Mars mission Mangalyan was cheaper than the movie gravity. We’re seeing similar trends with LLMs. You can’t have a system that costs $7 to troubleshoot one issue. Our customers have achieved over 70% cost savings through smart routing without compromising on performance.”, said Rajaram Srinivasan
Unbound is just getting started. The team plans to expand integrations across the AI ecosystem, deepen model routing capabilities, and support internal model orchestration for enterprises adopting open-source LLMs. Their mission is simple: to ensure every organization can embrace AI without losing control in the process.
📌Other investors in the round included: Alpha Square Group, Northside Ventures, Liquid2, Pioneer Fund, Scale Asia Ventures, SBXI and notable angels including Ram Shriram (founding board member at Google), Dr. Trishan Panch (LuminHealth), Dr. John Brownstein (Chief Innovation Officer, Boston Children’s hospital), Taro Fukuyama (CEO, Fond), Eli Brown (CEO, Guilded, acquired by Roblox), Chris Siakos (CEO Sinefa, acquired by Palo Alto Networks), Joe Vadakkan (CISO, Ex- CRO Lightstream), Zain Rizavi (Cloudflare) alongside other silicon valley and cybersecurity veterans.
About Unbound
Unbound helps enterprises adopt Generative AI tools securely and responsibly across their organisations. As companies increasingly explore the benefits of AI, Unbound ensures that IT and security teams maintain the oversight they need. Unbound provides detailed visibility into usage patterns, helps control the flow of sensitive data, and enables policy enforcement to align with organisational standards. Unbound makes enterprise AI adoption safer, more transparent, and easier to manage.
According to reports, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister of information technology, stated that the government is prepared to acquire 14,000 more graphics processing units (GPUs) as part of the IndiaAI Mission.
Vaishnaw stated that the ministry’s goal in the initial round was to make 10,000 GPUs accessible to everyone. Therefore, the ministry obtained 18,000 GPUs in the first round alone, exceeding the 10,000 GPU target, and is now on the verge of receiving an additional 14,000 GPUs. That’s a significant amount, then.
This will be on top of the 18,000 GPUs that the Centre has already purchased in recent months. The government invited bidders to submit GPUs for the shared computing facility in January of this year, including CMS Computers, Jio Platforms, Tata Communications, E2E Networks, and Yotta Data Services.
Vaishnaw had previously stated that this computer centre will be the “most affordable” in the world, with an hourly rate of less than $1. It is important to remember that the government will pay 40% of the cost of the AI compute pricing.
India Building an Ingenious AI Infrastructure
According to reports, Vaishnaw stated, “This is a big change, and AI is here for good,” when speaking at the CII Business Summit 2025.
The minister emphasised the significance of an indigenous large language model (LLM) and stated that the nation will soon have AI models that are created and trained using Indian data, which includes societal norms, nuances, languages, and culture.
The Centre is currently in the advanced phases of accepting three to four applications for the AI model being developed by SarvamAI, Vaishnaw added in reference to the initiative to establish an indigenous LLM.
According to Vaishnaw, the IT Ministry has started working on developing models. Sarvam is working on one of the first ones, and there are currently three to four applications in the advanced stage of approval.
As part of this process, the ministry is also utilising shared datasets to enable individuals to create their own applications that are beneficial to them, whether they are in the industrial, healthcare, or agricultural sectors.
It is important to remember that SarvamAI was chosen from the initial group of candidates to develop the domestic AI model as part of the INR 10,371.92 Cr IndiaAI initiative. According to reports, he also mentioned that the government wants to “democratise” access to AI and have the nation ready for a swift technological revolution.
Vaishnaw also reaffirmed that later this year, a local factory will produce India’s first semiconductor chip, which will have a size range of 28 to 90 nanometres (nm). Six fabrication units are currently being built, Vaishnaw continued. It is anticipated that the first Made in India chip would be released this year. “We initiated this journey in 2022, and the progress has been steady,” he stated.
The minister explained that the government took a “focused approach” by focusing on a certain market sector that accounts for 60% of the world’s semiconductor demand, which is why it chose to target the 28 to 90 nm region. Chips in this category are utilised in power equipment, telecommunications, and automotive systems.
Walmart International is approaching Flipkart‘s expansion cautiously, giving market share and long-term potential precedence above immediate financial gain.
Kathryn McLay, president and CEO of Walmart International, stated during the 41st annual strategic decisions conference hosted by Bernstein that the company is dedicated to growing Flipkart in a sustainable manner instead of aiming for quick profits.
Walmart International is thrilled with their (Flipkart) expansion, McLay said. The business does not prioritise profitability to the point that it would compromise future expansion and market share. Therefore, the brand will reach profitability at the appropriate moment when you balance all of that.
McLay added further that 20% of the country’s e-commerce business is currently made up of rapid commerce. Quick commerce is on a “50% growth trajectory” nationwide, she claimed, and Walmart intends to “play” in the market with vigour.
Focusing on 15 Minute Delivery
McLay discussed Flipkart’s entry into the fast commerce space, stating that whereas the e-commerce site “used to deliver at best within a day” a year ago, it now makes a “15-minute promise”. Flipkart now has 250 fulfilment hubs that deliver goods “within minutes”, she continued. “It was a 1-2 day promise,” McLay said.
Although the brand can occasionally deliver in as little as three minutes, the company is now required to deliver within fifteen minutes.
For her, those powers are, you know, crazy. However, the business is currently investing in a new, developing sector (rapid commerce) as it continues on its path to profitability.
Lessons Learned From China
In order for the Indian team to be able to fulfil goods in less than 15 minutes, McLay stated that the US-based retailer has been sharing lessons learnt from operations in China.
“The CEO of Flipkart asked me where I might find information on speed in Walmart Enterprise when we noticed an increase in swift commerce. I also directed him to China. He sent a crew over then, and they comprehended and gained knowledge from that,” McLay continued.
Flipkart then refined its rapid commerce business model by iterating on how to create an “equation” around square footage, closeness of dark stores, number of orders, number of delivery partners, and speed, according to the CEO of Walmart International.
She stated, “And they (Flipkart) will continue to refine that model, and then they will pass those learnings back to China and other markets.”
Regarding the distinction between Walmart’s e-commerce activities in China and India, the top Walmart official stated that, in contrast to its platform in China, Flipkart only functions as a 3PL online company and has digital advertising.
She added that the fashion marketplace’s unique selling proposition is customisation and hyper-personalisation, calling Myntra “one of the hidden gems” in the Flipkart business.
All of Gensol Engineering Limited’s and its affiliated companies’ bank accounts and lockers have been frozen and attached by the Ahmedabad-based National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) filed a complaint accusing the corporation of financial mismanagement and substantial corporate fraud, which prompted the action.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association were able to move quickly to secure Gensol’s financial assets since the tribunal granted the government urgent interim relief. The goal is to stop additional financial abuse and evidence manipulation.
The NCLT added that preliminary evidence points to serious wrongdoing on the part of the company’s promoters. It has mandated that all parties involved receive notices.
SEBI Barring Jaggi Brothers From Accessing Securities Market
Only a few weeks have passed since Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, Gensol’s top promoters, were subject to severe action from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Both were prohibited from holding important managerial positions and from entering the securities market by SEBI on April 15.
According to the regulator’s inquiry, Gensol misappropriated money obtained through an electric vehicle (EV) purchasing programme that was loan-financed.
SEBI claims that Gensol borrowed INR 975 crore to buy 6,400 EVs but only bought 4,704 of them, costing INR 567.73 crore. Red flags regarding potential fund misappropriation were raised when more than INR 200 crore could not be accounted for.
ICRA and Care Ratings Downgraded Gensol
Credit rating agencies ICRA and Care Ratings downgraded Gensol’s INR 2,050 crore debt to default status in February, further compounding the company’s problems. This comprised about INR 400 crore in short-term borrowings and over INR 1,640 crore in long-term loans.
Gensol allegedly produced fictitious letters asserting they had been consistent with their debt payments in response to enquiries into the abrupt downgrading. State-run lenders IREDA and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) were purportedly the senders of these letters; however, both subsequently denied supplying any such records.
Additionally, investigations showed that despite the company’s repeated assurances to rating agencies that repayments were being made on schedule, it started to fall behind on payments as early as December 2024.
Given these events, Gensol has been requested to delay a recently scheduled stock split. In order to properly examine the company’s and connected parties’ financial records, SEBI has additionally mandated the hiring of a forensic auditor.
Gensol Engineering’s stock has dropped up to 94% from its peak due to persistent governance and financial problems.
Gensol shares are now subject to the Enhanced Surveillance Measure (ESM) Stage 2 by SEBI, which limits trading to designated hours of the day.
Due to serious liquidity problems, it is now impossible for the public and other investors to trade or sell their positions on a regular basis, which raises the possibility that they will be stranded with the shares.
KiranaPro, India’s fully ONDC-integrated, AI-powered quick commerce platform, has announced the acquisition of Likeo.me, an innovative startup specialising in augmented reality–powered virtual try-on technology. With this strategic move, KiranaPro is bringing Likeo’s immersive trial room experience directly into BLACK, a fashion-forward commerce platform built for Gen Z and tech-savvy shoppers.
With this integration, BLACK has become the first app in India to offer its users a seamless, AI-powered virtual try-on feature across apparel, jewellery, and eyewear, redefining how young shoppers explore fashion. Leveraging the power of immersive technology, the brand is creating a shopping experience that blends interactivity, self-expression, and hyper-personalisation.
As part of the acquisition, Likeo’s Founder & CEO, Saurav Kumar, will step into a key leadership role at KiranaPro, where he will lead the charge on AI and visual computing, the two core engines powering BLACK’s next phase.
“This acquisition is a bold step in our vision to reinvent online shopping in India,” said Deepak Ravindran, Founder & CEO of KiranaPro. He added, “BLACK is not just an app — it’s a cultural movement, and Likeo’s tech allows us to give users a mirrorless shopping experience that’s deeply personal, fun, and frictionless. With Saurav joining us, we’re doubling down on AI and visual intelligence to redefine how Gen Z discovers and shops online.”
“Joining KiranaPro to build for BLACK is the perfect match of vision and velocity,” said Saurav Kumar, Founder & CEO of Likeo. “We’ve always believed virtual try-on can remove hesitation and bring confidence to the online purchase journey. With BLACK, we finally have a canvas to scale this to millions — making shopping more playful, expressive, and real. I’m thrilled to join the leadership team and bring deep AI innovation to the heart of the BLACK experience.”
The Likeo-powered trial room will begin rolling out to BLACK users over the coming weeks, starting with exclusive early access for fashion and accessories. This innovative feature aims to make shopping more intuitive and enjoyable by turning product discovery into a visual, interactive experience, thereby reducing return rates and boosting customer satisfaction.
With this acquisition, KiranaPro is reinforcing its leadership as a technology-first retail pioneer in India, not only empowering the neighbourhood kirana store on ONDC but also reshaping the future of premium and expressive commerce through BLACK.
About KiranaPro
Founded by Deepak Ravindran, KiranaPro is India’s fully ONDC integrated, AI-powered quick commerce platform focused on empowering local kirana stores with cutting- edge technology. By enabling 10-minute deliveries and pioneering the no-commission, ad-led revenue model, KiranaPro ensures kirana stores stay competitive in today’s fast-paced retail landscape.
About Likeo
Likeo is a personalized lifestyle shopping app for genZ with ultra fast deliveries. Likeo AI is a personal AI stylist to discover, try-on & shop the best fashion ideas. Likeo is also building virtual fitting rooms for fashion labels and brands.
India’s startup ecosystem continues to attract investor interest, with multiple early and growth-stage companies raising capital across sectors. Here’s a quick look at the major funding deals announced today:
🟢 Snabbit Raises $19 Million Led by Lightspeed
Logistics-tech platform Snabbit has secured $19 million in a fresh funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from existing investors. The capital will fuel the company’s expansion plans and enhance its tech capabilities to streamline intra-city deliveries.
👗 Ziniosa Secures Undisclosed Funding from Inflection Point Ventures
Pre-loved fashion marketplace Ziniosa has received fresh funding from Inflection Point Ventures. The startup aims to lead the sustainable fashion movement in India, focusing on tech-driven resale experiences for fashion-conscious consumers.
🏏 KhiladiPro Raises $1 Million Pre-Seed for Sportstech Platform
KhiladiPro, a sports tech startup enhancing grassroots talent discovery, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed round. The funding will be used to refine its platform, grow user engagement, and build training partnerships.
🏠 Cleevo Raises $1 Million Seed Round Led by Eternal Capital
Home hygiene brand Cleevo has bagged $1 million in a seed round led by Eternal Capital, with participation from other investors. The startup aims to bring innovation and sustainability to India’s household cleaning segment.
✈️ GydExp Secures Funding at INR 15 Crore Valuation
AI-powered travel-tech startup GydExp has raised an undisclosed amount at a valuation of INR 15 crore. The platform offers personalised experiential travel planning using AI and aims to disrupt the premium travel space.
🦄 Dhan Nears Unicorn Status with $200 Million Fundraise
Investment platform Dhan is poised to join the unicorn club after raising $200 million in a new round led by ChrysCapital, Alpha Wave, and MUFG Bank. The funds will be used to broaden its wealth-tech offerings and scale operations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Stay tuned for more funding updates on StartupTalky as India’s startup scene continues to thrive across sectors and cities.
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