StartupTalky

Tag: #news

  • Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 31 July 2025: Metaforms Raises $9M, Arivihan Secures $4.17M, Swiggy Reports Losses, & More

    On 31st July, Indian startups and companies made headlines with some major moves. AI startup Metaforms raised $9 million in fresh funding, while STAN secured $8.5 million to grow its gaming community platform. Swiggy reported rising losses in its quarterly results, and Tata Motors plans for a big-ticket global deal to buy Iveco. Here’s a quick look at the top funding deals and key business news in India from the day.

    Daily Indian Funding Digest – 31 July 2025

    Startup / Fund Amount Raised Stage Lead Investor(s)
    Metaforms US $9 million (~₹78.8 Cr) Series A Peak XV Partners, Nexus Venture Partners, Together Fund
    Snooplay ₹8 crore (~US $960K) Pre‑Series A1 Pravek Family Office, angel investors
    ILine.ai Solutions US $500 K (~₹4.2 Cr) Angel Round Climate-tech and mobility-focused angels
    Arivihan US $4.17 million (~₹34.7–36.5 Cr) Pre‑Series A Prosus Ventures, Accel, GSF Investors
    Neo Asset Management ₹750 crore (~US $90 million) First Close of PE Fund Institutional and family-office investors
    STAN US $8.5 million (~₹74.5 Cr) Series A Google AI Fund, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Reazon, others

    Metaforms Raises $9 Million in Series A

    AI-powered research automation startup Metaforms has secured $9 million in Series A funding led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Nexus Venture Partners and Together Fund. The Bengaluru-based company aims to transform market research through voice interfaces and large language models.

    Snooplay Bags INR 8 Crore in Pre-Series A1

    Toy discovery platform Snooplay, headquartered in Noida, has raised INR 8 crore in a Pre-Series A1 round. The round was led by the Pravek Family Office with participation from multiple angel investors. The company connects consumers with educational and development-based toys.

    ILine.ai Raises INR 500K in Angel Round

    Mobility and AI logistics platform ILine.ai Solutions has raised INR 500,000 in an angel round from climate-tech and EV-focused investors. The Noida-based startup is building tech infrastructure for sustainable last-mile logistics using electric vehicles and real-time AI routing.

    Arivihan Secures $4.17 Million from Prosus and Accel

    Edtech firm Arivihan, known for its AI-based learning platform for competitive exams, has raised $4.17 million in a Pre-Series A round. The round was co-led by Prosus Ventures and Accel, along with support from GSF Investors. The startup focuses on Tier-II and Tier-III education markets.

    STAN Raises $8.5 Million Led by Google AI Fund

    Gaming and social community startup STAN has raised $8.5 million in Series A funding. The round saw participation from Google AI Futures Fund, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and others including Nazara, Reazon, and GFR Fund. STAN enables gamers and creators to monetise fan engagement in real time.

    Neo Asset Management Closes INR 750 Crore in First Tranche

    Neo Asset Management has made the first close of INR 750 crore for its INR 2,000 crore secondary private equity fund. The fund, led by Hemant Daga and Nitin Agarwal, focuses on buying out stakes in mature, profitable unlisted Indian companies.

    Key News Highlights for 31 July 2025

    Swiggy Re‑Evaluates Rapido Stake amid Conflict of Interest

    Swiggy, which holds roughly a 12% stake in Rapido, has announced that it is actively re‑evaluating its investment following Rapido’s planned entry into the food‑delivery segment. The ride‑hailing startup’s move is seen by Swiggy as a potential conflict of interest, prompting the review. Rapido had raised around $180 million in 2022 from Swiggy and others.

    Meanwhile, in its Q1 FY26 results, Swiggy reported a 54% year-over-year rise in overall revenue to INR 4,961 crore. However, its quick‑commerce arm Instamart lost INR 797 crore, and total net loss widened sharply to INR 1,197 crore, nearly doubling from a year earlier.

    Ambani Family to Infuse INR 15,825 crore into Jio Financial Services

    The Mukesh Ambani promoter group will infuse INR 15,825 crore into Jio Financial Services via a preferential issue of convertible warrants issued to Sikka Ports & Terminals and Jamnagar Utilities & Power. This will raise promoter stake from 47.12% to over 54%. The capital will fuel expansions in lending, insurance, payments, mutual funds and broking services. Shares rose ~3% on the announcement.

    IPV Launches $110M Cross‑Border Angel Fund from GIFT City

    Early‑stage platform Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) has launched IPV International, a $110 million Category I Angel Fund, registered under GIFT City’s IFSCA framework. The fund is intended to back startups across Indian and global markets at early to pre‑Series A stages, marking IPV’s strategic international expansion.

    Bengaluru Engineer Arrested in INR 379 Crore CoinDCX Crypto Heist

    Police in Bengaluru arrested Rahul Agarwal (30), a software engineer at CoinDCX, in connection with a $44 million (INR 379 crore) cryptocurrency theft. Investigators allege hackers used his Compromised login credentials to siphon funds to six wallets. The breach is under full forensic and cybercrime probe, with insider involvement suspected.

    Tata Motors to Acquire Iveco’s Commercial Vehicle Business for €3.8–3.9 Billion

    Tata Motors has reached an agreement to acquire Iveco’s trucking, buses and powertrain operations in an all-cash deal valued at €3.8–3.9 billion ($4.4 billion), marking Tata’s largest-ever acquisition, surpassing its 2008 Jaguar Land Rover purchase. The defence business of Iveco will be separately sold to Leonardo for €1.7 billion, clearing the way for Tata’s offer. The combined entity is expected to generate about €22 billion in annual revenues, positioning Tata as a global heavyweight. The deal is subject to regulatory clearances and is expected to close by early to mid-2026.

    Daily Indian Funding Roundup and Key News: 30 July 2025
    LittleBox raised $2.1 million in its maiden funding round, while Heizen and FlexPrice secured early-stage funding to fuel growth. Here’s a quick look at the top funding deals and key business news in India from 30 July 2025.
    StartupTalkyStartupTalky News

  • Inflection Point Ventures launches $110 million fund ‘IPV International’

    • IPV International is a Category I Angel Fund with a total corpus of $110 million.
    • Investment ticket size ranges from USD 100K to USD 1M
    • The fund has officially been launched and is currently operational.
    • While Sector-agnostic, the fund will maintain a strategic focus on select high-growth sectors
    • The IPV International structure allows the fund to tap into cross-border opportunities, expanding its global reach 
    • NRIs, OCIs, foreign nationals are exempt from Indian tax filing if their only Indian-sourced income comes from the GIFT City. The fund enables NRIs & foreign nationals to become part of the Indian growth story.
    • Indian resident investors can now invest in foreign startups more easily, overcoming the regulatory challenges associated with investments via ODI & SEBI approvals.

    Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), one of India’s largest angel investment platforms, has launched IndianIPV International, a $110 million Category I Angel Fund registered under GIFT City’s IFSCA (International Financial Services Centres Authority) framework.

    The first close of the fund happened in April 2025. The fund opens broader investor participation and has successfully made the first investment in Singapore-based, promising deeptech company Cellivate Technologies which is working on replacing fetal bovine serum with a patented, ethical, and scalable cell-based alternative using magnetic stimulation, targeting biotech, pharma, and beyond. 

    IPV International will lead or participate in early-stage to pre-Series A rounds, building a diversified portfolio, with average ticket sizes ranging from USD 100K to USD 1 million. The fund has secured both the Fund Registration Certificate and the Fund Management Entity (FME) license from IFSCA, enabling it to operate fully within GIFT City’s regulatory framework.  

    Vinay Bansal, Founder CEO, IPV, says, “After establishing a strong presence in the Indian startup ecosystem, IPV is now extending its offerings through IPV International. Given the evolving global startup landscape and the rising appetite for international exposure, launching an international fund allows us to seamlessly participate in cross-border investment opportunities. By leveraging GIFT City’s global access framework, we can now invest in high-potential international businesses. A presence in GIFT City enables us to scale beyond national borders, engage with global startup ecosystems, and remain aligned with the rapidly shifting dynamics of the venture capital and private equity markets. At the same time, we are seeing strong interest not just from Indians & NRIs, but also from non-Indian investors eager to invest in the booming Indian startup ecosystem and the GIFT City structure makes it significantly easier for them to invest.”

    Ankur Mittal Co- Founder, IPV, says, “IPV International is designed to replicate our proven, sector-agnostic investment strategy. Our investment thesis remains rooted in rigorous due diligence and structured evaluation, aligned with the approach that has shaped IPV’s strong track record. The launch of this fund significantly expands our horizon. This strategic move enables us to consider high-potential foreign startups alongside domestic opportunities. By leveraging the global access provided by the GIFT City platform, we’re now well-positioned to invest in innovative ventures across international markets, enhancing both portfolio diversification and investor value.”

    The fund operates under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), which serves as a SEBI-equivalent unified regulator. IFSCA offers a clear, flexible, and innovation-friendly framework, drawing interest from funds, startups, and global asset managers alike.

    IPV International offers a highly investor-friendly environment, driven by a liberalized tax regime and simplified compliance. Residents, non-residents, foreign nationals – all can invest with minimal regulatory friction—no requirement for PAN or Indian tax filings, provided their only source of income in India stems from GIFT City-based investments

    Mitesh Shah, Co-founder, IPV, says, “IPV has been on an impressive journey over the past six years. We’ve backed Unicorns, Soonicorns, and high-growth startups that are driving meaningful change across the country. With a proven track record including 50 successful exits from a portfolio of over 220 startups, IPV is now set to leverage this experience and scale its platform to reach both national and international investors through IPV International. Combined with the tax efficiency and regulatory clarity offered by the GIFT City framework, the fund is well-positioned to attract a global investor base, including both domestic and international participants.”

    About Inflection Point Ventures and Physis Capital

    Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) is an angel investing platform with over 24,000+ CXOs, HNIs, and Professionals investing together in startups. The firm supports new-age entrepreneurs by providing them with monetary & experiential capital and connecting them with a diverse group of investors. IPV has launched a $50 Mn CAT 2 VC fund, Physis Capital, to invest in Pre-Series A to Series B growth-stage startups. The fund has already deployed capital in six startups so far, with a few deals in advanced stages of the pipeline.

    Inflection Point Ventures Secures 14 Exits in 2024, Delivers ~36%
    Inflection Point Ventures, the most active angel network in India, announces 14 exits from 2024, delivering an IRR of ~36% and reinforcing its ability to generate liquidity for its investors.
    StartupTalkyMuskaan Kapoor

  • Govt Extends Electronics Manufacturing Scheme Deadline to Sept 30 to Boost Participation

    The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) application window deadline has been extended by the Centre until September 30. Applications under ECMS were previously due on July 31, 2025. According to a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notification, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister of IT, approved the adjustment.

    INR 8,000 Cr in Bids Received, INR 59,350 Cr Investment Targeted

    Notably, under the ECMS plan, the Centre has already received bids totalling between INR 7,500 Cr and INR 8,000 Cr. The ministry is expected to sanction projects under the INR 22,919 Cr program by August or September, according to a number of earlier reports.

    Scheme Aims to Create 91,600 Jobs & Scale Output

    This plan to concentrate on non-semiconductor electronics components was accepted by the union cabinet on March 28. It seeks to draw in INR 59,350 Cr in investment, which will lead to INR 4,56,500 Cr in output and the creation of 91,600 new direct jobs in addition to numerous indirect jobs. With a one-year gestation period, the system has a six-year duration. A portion of the incentive’s payout is also correlated with meeting employment goals.

    Rare Earth Shortages & Global Trade Tensions Hit Industry

    Cross-border trade disputes are making it challenging for Indian manufacturers to advance smoothly, even as the government promotes the “Made in India” slogan to boost domestic production. A number of ECMS companies raised concerns earlier this month about missing first-year incentive targets because they lacked the necessary resources.

    This follows previous Chinese export restrictions on several rare earth elements. To put things in perspective, the incentive payout for the first year under ECMS is contingent upon a number of goals, including employment creation, capital spending, and output value.

    However, Indian manufacturing would also be hit hard, as China has banned the supply of seven essential rare earth elements in retaliation for Donald Trump’s announcement of a 34% tariff on Chinese imports into the US. India uses rare earth metals to make consumer gadgets, conventional cars, and electric vehicles, among other things.

    India’s Electronics Manufacturing Surge: FY24 Highlights

    In terms of the industry’s progress thus far, India manufactured electronics products valued at INR 9.52 Lakh Cr in FY24 compared to INR 1.90 Lakh Cr in FY15. With 99% of smartphones being produced domestically, the nation has also seen a significant decrease in its reliance on imports, according to the Economic Survey 2024–25.

    Policy Support: SEZ Norms Relaxed to Boost Local Manufacturing

    Even in her 2025–2026 budget statement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the government wants to provide the local electronics equipment industry with a much-needed boost. Since then, the industry has seen a number of advancements. The Centre changed the regulations governing special economic zones (SEZs) last month to give manufacturers of semiconductors and electronic components more latitude.

    The minimum amount of land needed to establish SEZ units has been lowered from 50 hectares to 10 hectares under this new notification. Smartwatches, earbuds, display module sub-assemblies, Li-ion battery cells, camera module sub-assemblies, battery sub-assemblies, and various other module sub-assemblies, as well as printed circuit boards (PCBs) and hardware components for mobile and information technology, will all be covered by the relaxation.

    Tata Electronics and German engineering behemoth Robert Bosch GmbH teamed together earlier this month to concentrate on semiconductor chip manufacturing and packaging at Tata Electronics’ planned sites in Gujarat and Assam.

  • Warner Bros Discovery to Lay Off 10% of Film Staff Amid Global Restructuring

    According to various media reports, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to fire roughly 10% of its Motion Picture Group employees, causing a significant upheaval as the business gets ready to divide into two distinct companies.

    Marketing and Production Teams Hit by Layoffs

    Marketing, distribution, production, and other operational divisions are among the areas that would be affected by the job reduction. The layoffs are a major step in a larger restructuring exercise, even though the exact number of impacted employees is still unknown.

    Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca reportedly wrote to employees in a memo indicating business leadership had started examining the group’s activities earlier this year.

    Company Split into Two Publicly Traded Entities

    The decision to switch from the current U.S. Home Office/International model to a truly global structure was the result of the internal evaluation. According to the document, as the firm moves towards a more global framework, these adjustments are required to revolutionise its business. Warner Bros.

    Discovery recently declared that it will divide into two publicly traded companies: Discovery Global, which will compete with cable networks like CNN, TNT, and the streaming service Discovery+, and Warner Bros., which will keep the Warner Bros. name and house the film group and the HBO Max streaming platform.

    Box Office Performance & 2025 Film Recovery

    Joker: Folie à Deux and Furiosa were among the box office failures that plagued Warner Bros.’ film division in 2024. But 2025 has witnessed a comeback, thanks to recent blockbusters like Superman, Sinners, and A Minecraft Movie.

    Tech and Media Layoffs Continue in 2025

    With big companies like Google, Microsoft, and others continuing to reduce their workforces, layoffs in the tech sector are not expected to halt in 2025.

    Companies are still cutting employees in an effort to simplify operations, save money, and emphasise automation and artificial intelligence, even though these figures are much lower than the major layoffs that occurred between 2022 and 2023.

    Layoffs.fyi, a website that tracks layoffs in the industry, reports that 93 organisations have laid off nearly 23,500 tech workers so far this year, and the number is still growing.

    Industry-Wide Trend: AI Reshaping the Workforce

    Google and Microsoft are apparently contemplating a new round of layoffs, according to the most recent job reduction reports. According to reports, AI-led restructuring and performance-based terminations are part of the corporations’ goals to increase the effectiveness of their personnel.

    Similarly, Disney laid off about 200 workers, or nearly 6% of the workforce, from its ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks divisions in March 2025.

    According to a media report, the Walt Disney Company restructured in October 2024, closing ABC Signature and combining its operations into 20th Television. It also merged the scripted drama and comedy teams from ABC and Hulu Originals.

  • Karnataka Labour Dept Summons TCS Over Alleged Forced Resignations

    According to sources, the Labour Department sent a notice to the company after the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) filed an industrial dispute case, following a controversy surrounding a layoff announcement and alleged forced resignations at IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

    Conciliatory Meeting Scheduled for August 6

    A conciliatory conference between KITU representatives and TCS management, with Labour Department officials present, is scheduled for August 6, according to several media outlets. TCS declared on July 27 that 2% of its employees worldwide would be let go.

    This would represent over 12,000 workers. The company’s new “Bench Policy,” which caps an employee’s time on the bench at 35 hours per year, has also sparked allegations of coerced resignations. Employees complain that they have too little time to locate appropriate tasks and that this places the burden of project finding on them.

    Inside TCS’s Controversial New Bench Policy

    In response to these events, union representatives met with officials from the Labour Department on July 29 and filed a case against TCS for illegal mass retrenchment. They demanded that the management be prosecuted for violating the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and the Karnataka government’s requirements regarding the reporting of service particulars.

    The Industrial Disputes Act mandates that businesses with more than 100 employees must first get government approval before implementing any layoffs or retrenchments. Such layoffs are only allowed for certain purposes and under circumstances that are spelt out in detail in the Act.

    According to the union, TCS workers who were allegedly being pressured to quit by management filed many complaints. A media outlet interviewed a mid-level TCS employee who said that hundreds of workers from the company’s Bengaluru branch had been pushed to quit over the previous two weeks.

    TCS Responds: ‘Building a Future-Ready Workforce’

    TCS said it is working to become a future-ready company in response to questions from the media. This covers a number of strategic goals, such as investing in new technology, breaking into new markets, implementing AI on a large scale for both TCS and its clients, strengthening its alliances, developing next-generation infrastructure, and reorienting our workforce model.

    Numerous reskilling and redeployment programs have been in progress in order to achieve this. TCS will also be letting go of associates from the company whose deployment might not be possible as part of this journey.

    Over the course of the year, this will affect roughly 2% of the company’s staff worldwide, mostly in the middle and senior grades. To make sure that its clients’ service delivery is unaffected, this transition is being carefully handled.

    TCS is aware that its coworkers who may be impacted are going through a difficult moment. It expressed gratitude for their service and promised to do everything in its power to offer suitable benefits, outplacement, counselling, and assistance as they move on to new opportunities.

  • Mira Murati’s Team Rejects $1B Meta Offer in Stunning AI Power Move

    Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI, is in the news after it was reported that, despite promising an employee $1 billion, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta company was unable to recruit staff from her organisation. According to a Wired story, Murati’s employees at Thinking Machines Lab have rejected enormous offers from Meta.

    Meta’s $1B Offer to Murati’s Team Falls Flat

    The US IT titan was trying to fill positions at Meta Superintelligence Labs, its new AI business. According to the article, Meta reached out to more than a dozen workers at Murati’s firm, which was only one year old. While others were given $200 to $500 million in compensation over time, one employee received a $1 billion offer. But no one took advantage of Meta’s alluring offer.

    Zuckerberg’s Direct Outreach Signals Urgency

    The story claims that Zuckerberg personally contacted a few of the Thinking Machines Lab staff members. Even though Thinking Machines Lab is a new firm and hasn’t released any products yet, this development showed how much Murati’s team believes in her.

    At the moment, it is worth $12 billion. The former CTO of OpenAI has been in the tech sector for more than ten years. The 36-year-old engineer from Albania is well-known for heading up product development teams for programs like ChatGPT and DALL-E.

    She is renowned for spearheading the design, development, and introduction of automotive goods like the Model X at Tesla Motors. She was formerly also connected to Ultraleap (formerly known as Leap Motion).

    Mira Murati: From OpenAI CTO to AI Visionary

    In November 2023, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was overthrown in a spectacular coup, and Murati was appointed as the company’s acting CEO. She was one of the executives that expressed disapproval of Altman’s management style.

    Remarkably, Altman was given back his position as CEO a few days later. She quit OpenAI in September 2024 to start her own business in the digital industry. In 2024, Time named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI. For “being a leading figure shaping the business world’s increasingly AI-centric future,” she was also named one of the Fortune 100 Most Powerful Women in Commerce for 2023.

    Meta’s AI Ambitions: Shengjia Zhao Joins the Race

    Shengjia Zhao, a co-creator of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, will be the chief scientist of Meta Superintelligence Labs, according to a statement released by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on 25 July. The $14 billion investment in Scale AI is the centrepiece of Zuckerberg’s multibillion-dollar hiring spree in artificial intelligence in recent weeks.

    Zuckerberg revealed a brand-new company in June dubbed Meta Superintelligence Labs, which is composed of leading AI developers and researchers. Although the June message included Zhao’s name among other new staffers, Zuckerberg said that Zhao co-founded the lab and “has been our lead scientist from day one.”

  • Tata Motors to Acquire Iveco for $4.3B in Major European Expansion Push

    Tata Motors is currently negotiating the purchase of Iveco, an Italian truck manufacturer. The Agnelli family, the primary shareholder of the brand, will be the recipient of 3.8 billion euros (approximately $4.3 billion) in the transaction, which will establish a global participant in the commercial vehicle industry with a broad scope.

    The agreement exceeds Tata Motors’ most recent big acquisition, which was a $2.3 billion purchase of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in 2008. According to reports, this acquisition will make the Tata Group the largest in its automotive sector and the second-largest overall, after Corus.

    Tender Offer & Regulatory Requirements

    TML CV Holdings PTE LTD, a recently established Dutch-incorporated company that is entirely controlled by Tata Motors, will make a voluntary tender offer to carry out the agreement, which was jointly announced by the Iveco Group and Tata Motors on July 30. The deal with Tata Motors will not apply to Iveco’s defence sector.

    The offer targets all common shares of the Iveco Group that have been issued after the defence section was split off, which is a prerequisite for the acquisition to proceed. Iveco separated from CNH Industrial and became a separate company on January 1, 2022.

    Despite being a Dutch corporation with its legal seat in Amsterdam, its headquarters are located in Turin, Italy, where it conducts its main business.

    Strategic Expansion Through Iveco

    The purchase is strategically in line with Tata Motors’ objective of becoming the world leader in commercial vehicles. Through the agreement, Tata Motors will be able to diversify across markets, exploit complementing geographies, access cutting-edge technologies, and grow its portfolio. Iveco’s extensive global presence makes it significant for Tata Motors. The business has a major presence in more than 30 countries and operates on five continents.

    Global Footprint and Market Impact

    Iveco gives Tata Motors instant access to markets that would otherwise take years to enter on its own, including the developed Western European markets of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain; the developing African economies of South Africa, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast; and strong positions in South America. Furthermore, Iveco is already present in India, which ought to facilitate a more seamless integration with Tata Motors’ ongoing business operations.

    Financial Projections & Synergies

    Following the purchase, the merged company is anticipated to generate about €22 billion in revenue and 540,000 units of sales annually, with Europe accounting for 50% of revenue, India for 35%, and the Americas for 15%.

    The largest stakeholder in the Iveco Group, Exor N.V., which owns 27.06% of the company’s shares and 43.11% of its voting rights, has made an irreversible commitment to tender its shares in favour of the offer. The offer has been unanimously recommended by Iveco’s Board of Directors.

    After obtaining the necessary merger control, foreign direct investment, EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation, and other jurisdictional permissions, the transaction is anticipated to close by April 2026.

  • Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 30 July 2025: LittleBox Raises $2.1M, Heizen & FlexPrice Secure Pre-Seed Capital, Indiqube Lists at Discount, & More

    On 30th July, Indian startups and businesses witnessed notable developments. LittleBox raised $2.1 million in a seed round, while Heizen and FlexPrice secured early-stage funding to fuel growth. Indiqube Spaces made a modest stock market debut, and the Supreme Court dismissed Zostel’s appeal against OYO, concluding the long-standing dispute. Here’s a quick look at the top funding deals and key business news in India from the day.

    Daily Indian Funding Digest – 30 July 2025

    Startup Name Funding Amount Round Type Lead Investors Sector
    LittleBox $2.1 Mn Maiden Huddle, Prath Ventures Fashion & Lifestyle
    DesignX $2 Mn Pre-Series A Rockstud Capital Design-Tech
    Heizen $500K Pre-Seed Titan Capital, Varun Alagh, Abhishek Goyal AI/Software Delivery
    FlexPrice $500K Pre-Seed TDV Partners Pricing Automation (B2B)
    Wah Puchka Wah Litti $230K Seed Sagar Daryani (WOW! Momo), other angels QSR (Food & Beverage)
    Vahan.AI Undisclosed Strategic Temasek’s Lemmatree AI/EdTech
    Acko Undisclosed Secondary (likely) Dhoni Family Office InsurTech

    LittleBox Raises $2.1 Million

    Fashion tech startup LittleBox has secured $2.1 million in its maiden funding round. The investment was led by Huddle and Prath Ventures, with participation from strategic angels. LittleBox aims to revolutionise how fashion is discovered and accessed by Gen Z consumers through curated and tech-enabled shopping experiences.

    DesignX Secures $2 Million from Rockstud Capital

    DesignX, a platform that simplifies interior design execution, has raised $2 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Rockstud Capital. The funds will be used to enhance product capabilities, scale partnerships, and strengthen its customer base across India.

    Heizen Raises $500K to Disrupt Legacy IT Services

    AI-native software delivery startup Heizen has raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding led by Titan Capital. Angel investors Varun Alagh (Mamaearth) and Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn) also participated. The Bengaluru-based company aims to revolutionise legacy IT service delivery using its proprietary AI-native DevOps and delivery platform.

    FlexPrice Bags $500K to Simplify B2B Pricing

    FlexPrice, a pricing automation platform for B2B businesses, has raised $500,000 in a pre-seed round led by TDV Partners. The funds will be deployed towards enhancing the company’s AI pricing engine and expanding its GTM (go-to-market) operations.

    Wah Puchka Wah Litti Raises $230K for QSR Expansion

    Quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Wah Puchka Wah Litti has raised $230,000 in a seed round led by WOW! Momo’s Co-founder, Sagar Daryani and other angel investors. The brand plans to expand its physical outlets across India and further develop its traditional Bihari fast-food menu.

    Vahan.AI Secures Strategic Investment from Temasek’s Lemmatree

    AI-driven skilling and job-matching startup Vahan.AI has received a strategic investment from Lemmatree, a data innovation arm of Temasek. As part of the partnership, Lemmatree has also acquired Learn, an edtech initiative previously incubated by Vahan.AI.

    Dhoni Family Office Invests in Acko

    The family office of cricketer MS Dhoni has invested in insurtech unicorn Acko, participating in a secondary transaction. While the amount remains undisclosed, the move marks Dhoni’s growing interest in digital-first financial services platforms.

    Key News Highlights for 30 July 2025

    SC Dismisses Zostel’s Appeal, Upholds Delhi HC Ruling in Oyo Dispute

    The Supreme Court of India on 29 July 2025 rejected Zostel Hospitality’s special leave petition (SLP) challenging the Delhi High Court’s May ruling that had set aside a 2021 arbitral award in favour of Zostel. The apex court clarified that Zostel should have appealed under Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, rather than filing a special leave petition—this procedural misstep led to the dismissal and Zostel’s eventual withdrawal. The decision firmly establishes that Zostel holds no enforceable rights or claims against Oravel Stays (Oyo’s parent), stemming from a 2015 non‑binding term sheet.

    Indiqube Spaces Lists at Discount

    Workspace solutions provider Indiqube Spaces made its IPO debut on 30 July 2025 with a weak market performance, listing at a discount of approximately 8.86 % on NSE (INR 216) and 7.7 % on BSE (INR 218.70) relative to the issue price of INR 237. Despite an INR 700 crore IPO that received strong subscription (13× overall, with QIBs at 15.12×), investor sentiment was muted. At around INR 210–INR 218, the stock’s market capitalisation stabilised at roughly INR 4,400 crore (c. USD 521 million). Financials for FY25 show revenues up 27% year-on‑year to about INR 1,059 crore, while losses narrowed substantially to INR 139.5 crore from INR 341.5 crore a year earlier.

    Daily Indian Funding Roundup and Key News: 29 July 2025
    Zepto bags fresh funds, Lenskart CEO buys back shares, BluSmart faces insolvency, and India caps Starlink users. Here are the key updates from 29 July 2025.
    StartupTalkyStartupTalky News

  • Highlander and Tokyo Talkies Enter Middle East Market with UAE Launch, Opening Three Flagship Stores to Drive Global Expansion

    Brand Studio Lifestyle enters the GCC market through strategic collaboration with Raphael Lifestyle.

    After making a strong mark on India’s fashion landscape, Highlander and Tokyo Talkies, two of India’s fastest-growing fashion brands, have officially entered the Middle East through a strategic partnership with Raphael Lifestyle. As part of this expansion, the brands launched three flagship stores on a single day—July 30, 2025—across the UAE.

    The stores are located at BurJuman Mall (Dubai), Sahara Centre (Sharjah), and Mega Mall (Sharjah). Indian cricketer Sanju Samson inaugurated the launch, marking a high-impact entry into the GCC market. The store at Sahara Centre spans 9,000 sq. ft, while the other two locations cover 5,000 sq. ft each. These stores aim to offer fashion-forward consumers a bold, trend-driven retail experience featuring affordable, youth-centric fashion with an Indian edge.

    This global foray marks a major milestone for Brand Studio Lifestyle, the parent company of Highlander and Tokyo Talkies. The collaboration with Raphael Lifestyle extends beyond physical retail—it paves the way for deeper market penetration across the Middle East via multi-format distribution. The company has already announced plans to open seven more stores by March 2026 as part of its broader omnichannel expansion strategy.

    “This is a defining chapter in our journey,” said Shyam S Prasad, Co-Founder & CEO of Brand Studio Lifestyle. “With our entry into the Middle East, we are exporting a bold, confident Indian fashion identity to the world. We’re among the pioneers of Indian fast fashion going global with this mega launch and hope to pave the way for other homegrown brands looking to scale internationally.”

    He added, “The Middle East fast fashion market is poised for tremendous growth—from a projected $68.07 billion in 2024 to $84.56 billion by 2025—driven by a young, style-conscious population, rising disposable incomes, and an accelerating shift toward e-commerce.”

    This international debut comes on the back of a robust offline retail expansion in India, where the company has opened 37 stores in the last nine months. It aims to grow this network to 75 stores across India by March 2026. Parallelly, the brands plan to expand via 600 Shop-in-Shop (SIS) formats across Large Format Stores (LFS) and Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs).

    In line with changing consumer behaviour, Highlander and Tokyo Talkies are also preparing to roll out a phygital retail experience—blending offline retail with online personalisation. The brands are already accessible on leading marketplaces and quick commerce platforms, reinforcing their commitment to making trend-first fashion both accessible and experiential

    About Highlander & Tokyo Talkies

    Highlander and Tokyo Talkies are two of India’s leading fashion brands, known for their trend-first, street-smart styles and over 30 million units sold across 20,000+ pin codes. Launching 800+ new styles monthly, they blend affordability with runway-inspired fashion. With a robust supply chain and growing presence in the Middle East, the brands are rapidly evolving into global, omnichannel fashion powerhouses.

    About Brand Studio Lifestyle

    Brand Studio Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., founded in 2015 and based in Bengaluru, is home to fashion brands like Highlander, Tokyo Talkies, and Vishudh.  In 2021, the company introduced Getketch.com and launched the D2C website and app. It operates 37 offline stores across India for the brands Highlander & Tokyo Talkies. Its consumer-first model is backed by deep expertise in design, sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain, and retail.

  • Axis Solutions Completes Merger and Begins Trading on BSE, Marking Strategic Shift in Industrial Automation and Digital Infrastructure

    Axis Solutions Limited (formerly known as Asya Infosoft Limited), a leading provider of industrial automation and digital infrastructure solutions, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its merger and the subsequent listing and commencement of trading of its equity shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The Company is now trading under Scrip Code 511144 and ISIN INE520G01024.

    This milestone marks a significant chapter in the company’s journey, representing the culmination of a successfully implemented resolution plan and the subsequent listing of equity shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange. It underscores Axis Solutions Limited’s strategic transformation and reaffirms its commitment to long-term value creation for stakeholders.

    Dr. Bijal Sanghvi, Managing Director, Axis Solutions Limited, commented in honour of the occasion saying, “The Commencement of Listing & Trading on the BSE makes a significant milestone in our strategic transformation and marks the start of a focused journey toward expansion and innovation. With our established expertise in industrial automation, we are strategically positioned to create meaningful impact across three high-growth sectors — oil & gas, water infrastructure, and digitalisation. These verticals are vital to India’s industrial and sustainability goals, and we are committed to enabling smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations through technology-driven solutions. This listing not only enhances our visibility in the capital markets but also strengthens investor engagement as we pursue our vision for accelerated growth in both domestic and international markets.”

    Axis Solutions remains committed to providing value by integrating advanced automation technologies, domain expertise, and a people-centric approach to business.

    About Axis Solutions Limited

    Axis Solutions Limited is a market leader as a diversified solution provider for a comprehensive range of Systems and Products, from complex measurement and analytical technology to automation, control, communication, and IoT products and systems. The company has an in-house R&D department that strives to develop world-class innovative solutions to cope with the demands and challenges of designing systems and products for hazardous locations.