Kolkata, 17th July 2025 – Parkobot the world’s first “Airbnb for parking” powered by IoT smart Parking Space Barrier has raised INR 2.09 Crores in seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures, one of India’s largest angel investing platforms. The round also saw participation from HNIs. The funds will be utilized to expand infrastructure, reach additional markets, strengthen backend and increase product portfolio.
Since its founding, Parkobot has made its mark as the world’s first startup to launch an “Airbnb for private parking” which makes it an innovative platform powered by an IoT-enabled parking space barrier. With a mission to redefine urban mobility and space utilization, Parkobot has made it possible for its owners to monetize unused private parking spaces on an hourly basis, which in turn provides real-time, location-based booking through a smart, integrated mobile app.
The strength of this platform is its completely in-house tech stack, horizontally and vertically scalable IoT devices, and smart automation features generating efficiencies to enhance parking and generate revenues.
Mitesh Shah, Co-Founder, IPV says, “Urban parking is a huge challenge facing today’s cities. Poor planning and lack of proper parking spaces lead to encroachment on roads, illegal parking and congestion. However, Parkobot is driving the change by bringing in technology and smart parking systems that provide real-time availability of parking spaces and making underutilized private parking spaces available to the public.”
Parkobot operates in a rapidly growing market, with a global Total Addressable Market (TAM) of $114 billion and an Indian TAM of $9.5 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 6.5%. Currently in stealth mode, the startup has already deployed high-traffic parking spots at key locations, laying the groundwork for scale.
Founder of Parkobot, Amrit Choudhury says, “Parkobot envisions decongesting India’s streets by utilizing underutilized private parking spaces, transforming them into revenue-generating assets via our IoT-enabled Parkobot barrier & app. Our goal is to create cleaner skies, less traffic congestion, and seamless urban mobility for all.”
With over 20,000 monthly bookings, Parkobot leverages its proprietary Parking Management System (PMS), featuring smart boom barriers and exclusive pre-booking to boost parking revenue and reduce manual intervention. With no direct global competitors in IoT-enabled parking monetization, Parkobot is uniquely positioned to convert underutilized parking spaces into smart, revenue-generating assets.
About Parkobot
Parkobot was founded by Amrit Choudhury, Raj Kumar Bihani, and Animesh Mukherjee. It is an IoT-powered parking space barrier and digital platform that enables individuals to secure and monetize their private parking spots by renting them out on an hourly basis. By optimizing parking availability, Parkobot actively reduces urban congestion and environmental impact.
About Inflection Point Ventures and Physis Capital
Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) is an angel investing platform with over 24,000+ CXOs, HNIs, and Professionals to together invest in startups. The firm supports new-age entrepreneurs by providing them with monetary and 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 start-ups. The fund has already deployed capital in six startups so far, with a few deals in advanced stages of pipeline.
Today’s funding activity saw notable investments across healthtech, AI, quantum computing, and fashion commerce. In parallel, key news highlights included Zepto Café scaling back, Swiggy’s new healthy meals category, and AceVector gearing up for an IPO. Here is the roundup of key funding deals and business news in India.
Daily Indian Funding Digest – 16 July 2025
Startup
Funding Amount
Stage
Lead Investor(s)
Purpose/Use
Culture Circle
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Ritesh Agarwal
Scale AI‑powered engine, global expansion
Zuppa
US $1.5 million
Bridge round
Rahul Dewan (Srijan Tech) et al.
Advance autonomous drone tech development
Deep Algorithm Solutions
₹10.8 crore (~US $1.3 m)
Seed
Unicorn India Ventures
Expand threat‑intel, enterprise & SEA market
Zulu Club
US $250 000
Pre‑seed
TDV Partners
Scale 100‑minute fashion delivery in Delhi NCR
Zeus Hygia
US $2.5 million
Series A
NABVENTURES (VC arm of NABARD)
R&D, global rollout of nutraceuticals
Knot
US $3 million
Pre‑Series A
Kae Capital et al.
Expand quick‑fashion delivery and brand partnerships
Navana AI
₹7 crore (~US $800 k)
Pre‑Series A
Antler India et al.
Scale multilingual voice‑AI solutions
Phi Commerce
₹51.34 crore (~US $6 m)
Series B top‑up
BEENEXT
Enhance omnichannel payment platform
Truemeds
US $20 million
Series C (C2)
Peak XV Partners
Boost telehealth growth; part of ongoing $44M Series C
QpiAI
US $32 million
Series A
Avataar Ventures, National Quantum Mission
Develop quantum‑AI computing for enterprise
Culture Circle raised funding from Ritesh Agarwal
Luxury fashion platform Culture Circle has received strategic funding from OYO’s Ritesh Agarwal, valuing the company at over INR 100 crore. The Mumbai-based startup leverages AI to offer curated luxury drops and authentic streetwear through its proprietary engine “SourceX”. (as first reported by Entrackr)
Zuppa raised $1.5 million in a bridge round
Chennai-based drone tech company Zuppa raised $1.5 million in a bridge round led by Rahul Dewan (Founder, Srijan Technologies), alongside Ajay Gupta and the Mangwani Family Office. Zuppa builds proprietary autonomous drone systems, which the fresh funding will help advance ahead of a larger Series A raise.
Deep Algorithm Solutions raised INR 10.8 crore in seed funding
Cybersecurity startup Deep Algorithm Solutions secured INR 10.8 crore ($1.3M) in a seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures. The company focuses on threat intelligence, leveraging AI to detect cyber risks in real-time.
The funding will be used to expand its security team, build enterprise integrations, and enter Southeast Asian markets.
👗 Zulu Club raised $250K in pre-seed
Fashion logistics startup Zulu Club raised $250,000 in a pre-seed round from TDV Partners. Operating in Delhi NCR, the platform offers “100-minute” delivery and try-at-home options for apparel and fashion accessories.
The funds will be used to enhance app personalisation and expand logistics capacity.
Zeus Hygia raised $2.5 million in Series A
Hyderabad-based Zeus Hygia Lifesciences, a nutraceutical innovation firm, raised $2.5 million in its Series A round led by NABVENTURES, the VC arm of NABARD. The company plans to use the funds to launch first-in-market herbal formulations for pain relief, weight management, and women’s health.
Knot raised $3 million in pre-Series A
Mumbai-based Knot, which promises ultra-fast fashion delivery, raised $3 million in a pre-Series A round led by Kae Capital. Other investors include Sparrow Capital, Boundless Ventures LLP, and founders from brands like SNITCH, The Souled Store, and Bonkers Corner.
The capital will be used to develop its tech stack, expand to new cities, and build deeper brand collaborations.
Navana AI raised INR 7 crore in pre-Series A
Voice technology startup Navana AI secured INR 7 crore (~$800,000) in a pre-Series A round led by Antler India. Angel investors like Ajay Agarwal, Ronnie Screwvala, and Sandeep Singhal also participated.
The startup, founded by Raoul and Jai Nanavati, builds AI-powered multilingual speech assistants and services over 12 Indian languages, already serving 40+ enterprise clients.
Phi Commerce raised INR 51.34 crore in Series B top-up
Phi Commerce, which enables omnichannel digital payments, raised an additional INR 51.34 crore ($6 million) in a Series B top-up from BEENEXT.
Phi Commerce’s unified platform supports card and UPI-based payments across offline and online retail, logistics, and government segments. The funds will help strengthen platform security and scale operations.
Truemeds raised $20 million in Series C2
Healthtech startup Truemeds received $20 million from Peak XV Partners in the C2 tranche of its Series C round, bringing the round’s total to over $44 million.
Truemeds enables affordable medicine delivery through e-prescription uploads and generic brand recommendations. Founded by Akshat Nayyar and Kunal Wani, the company saw FY24 revenues grow to INR 315 crore, while losses reduced to INR 61 crore. (first reported by Entrackr)
QpiAI raised $32 million in Series A
Quantum-AI startup QpiAI, based in Bengaluru, raised $32 million in a Series A round co-led by Avataar Ventures and India’s National Quantum Mission.
The capital will go towards commercialising its quantum stack globally and deepening enterprise adoption.
Key News Highlights for 16 July 2025
Zepto Café scales down operations
Four-year-old fast-delivery subsidiary Zepto Cafe has paused operations across several outlets in North India. The move comes amid supply chain issues and a shortage of trained staff, compounded by heightened competition from Blinkit’s Bistro and Swiggy’s Snacc. As a result, Zepto is delaying expansion of its “dark stores” and retrenching to manage operational efficiency.
Swiggy launches ‘High‑Protein’ meals in 30 cities
Swiggy has introduced a new “High‑Protein” meal category, available across 30 cities, featuring 500,000+ dishes from more than 35,000 restaurants. Each dish must contain at least 15 g of protein, under 700 kcal, and a protein‑to‑calorie ratio of ≥10%. This healthy-eating initiative aims to cater to fitness-focused consumers and diversify Swiggy’s menu offerings.
ixigo grants 211,912 ESOPs worth INR 3.78 crore
Le Travenues Technology Ltd—the parent company of travel‑tech platform ixigo—has granted 211,912 stock options under its ESOP schemes (2013, 2020, 2021, 2024) at an exercise price of INR 93/share, vesting over four years. The package is valued at INR 3.78 crore, reinforcing the company’s long-term employee retention strategy.
AceVector files DRHP for INR 500 crore IPO
AceVector Ltd, Snapdeal’s holding and ecosystem company, including Unicommerce and Stellaro Brands, is preparing to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) to raise INR 500 crore through an initial public offering. CLSA and IIFL have been appointed as its bookrunning managers.
Three PE firms seek CCI nod for Theobroma deal
Three private equity firms, including Infinity Partners, Atreides Investments BV (linked to ChrysCapital), and Aqua Investments Ltd, ,have applied to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire a 90% stake in bakery chain Theobroma Foods.
Google offers free Gemini Pro plan to Indian students
Google is offering its AI‑powered Gemini 2.5 Pro plan (worth INR 19,500/year) free to Indian college students aged 18+ (the offer is valid until 15 September 2025). The offer includes tools such as Gemini 2.5 Pro, NotebookLM, Veo 3, Deep Research, and access to 2 TB of Google Cloud storage, enabling advanced AI-assisted learning.
According to reports, the Karnataka government intends to join the Center-led IndiaAI Mission by launching a specialised AI mission. As GenAI becomes more widely used, it is necessary to control its use and establish a framework, according to a media article that quoted Karnataka’s minister of electronics, information technology, and biotechnology, Priyank Kharge.
In order to create a distinct framework for AI, Kharge continued, the state is currently considering including the new policy into the next Karnataka IT policy 2025–2030. At the Bengaluru Tech Summit in November, the state intends to introduce its new IT policy. Over a million techies and one lakh AI specialists call Karnataka home.
The state’s AI Workforce Impact Study, which aims to explore how AI automation is affecting the workforce and what skills people should prioritise for the future, was launched shortly after the AI framework policy talks.
Karnataka Fostering Matured Startup Ecosystem
Conversely, Karnataka boasts one of the most developed startup ecosystems in the nation, as Bengaluru-based AI startups secured $872 million in funding over the past five years, according to India’s AI Uprising: GenAI, AI Agents & The Future Of Startups, Report 2025.
A Centre for Applied AI for Tech Solutions (CATS) would be established with an investment of INR 50 Cr over the next five years, in addition to the INR 100 Cr corpus for deep tech businesses that the state of Karnataka announced in this year’s budget. With more than $2 billion in financing, Bengaluru was the most well-funded startup cluster overall.
The Centre is already on track to promote the creation of domestic AI models in the nation under its IndiaAI mission, which has an expenditure of more than INR 10K Cr, even though Karnataka plans to create its own AI mission.
The Centre-led initiative to develop indigenous LLMs in India has already shortlisted GenAI firms SarvamAI, Gnani.ai, and Soket AI. This will also boost India’s GenAI sector, which is predicted to grow to a $17 billion opportunity by 2030.
India’s AI Roadmap
The government is providing investment funds and other forms of support to firms like Sarvam, Gnani, Gan, and Soket AI Labs in order to encourage the development of LLMs as part of India’s AI goal. More LLM-developing applications that will receive GPU access or grants will shortly be announced by the IndiaAI Mission, according to various media reports.
With a plethora of ideas under the IndiaAI Mission centred on creating large language models (LLMs), India’s push to become a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) is gathering steam.
According to a media report that quoted Sunil Gupta, CEO of Yotta Data Services, the country’s strategic commitment to autonomous and culturally relevant AI is demonstrated by the 43 proposals out of 506 that the India AI Mission received for the development of foundation AI models that are explicitly devoted to creating LLMs.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 15: ClassTym, a next-generation interactive teaching platform, built around transparency and personalization launches with a radical mission: to put the power back in the hands of educators thus making quality mentorship accessible to students everywhere while reshaping the future of learning through human connection.
In a digital age where education is increasingly commodified and reduced to influencer content, ClassTym offers a refreshing alternative. Founded by Divya Tej, a visionary entrepreneur and passionate education reformer, the platform rejects rigid, curriculum-heavy systems in favor of flexible, mentor-led learning. At its core, it is a student-centric and educator-first platform that equips independent tutors, coaches, and subject matter experts with the tools to build digital classrooms — without the burden of upfront costs or rigid structures. It offers integrated tools for scheduling, whiteboarding, content delivery, and student management — all designed to make learning interactive, accessible, and impactful.
“At ClassTym, our vision is to create a world where quality education isn’t a privilege, but a right — accessible to anyone, anywhere. We’ve built a platform that connects passionate educators with eager learners in a way that’s seamless, personal, and empowering.” said Divya Tej, Founder of ClassTym.
He further added “Real learning happens when students connect with verified, passionate educators — not algorithms. At ClassTym, we’re not replacing human connection with technology but using technology to enhance it. With intuitive tools and a seamless interface, ClassTym is focused on bridging the gap between students and educators, making knowledge-sharing meaningful and impactful for all.”
Reshaping the EdTech Industry
The launch of ClassTym marks a paradigm shift in the EdTech industry. While most platforms emphasize content delivery and scalability, ClassTym champions student-mentor relationships, academic integrity, and educator empowerment. It enables students to choose their mentors based on demo classes, real reviews, and subject compatibility. By shifting away from a one-size-fits-all model, ClassTym enables personalized learning journeys while supporting educators with smart tools that scale their reach and income.
Unlike other EdTech platforms that thrive on influencers and content creators, ClassTym stands firm on academic integrity. Every educator on the platform is verified, ensuring students learn from qualified, real-world experts — not social media personas.
A Vision Born from Experience
As an alumnus of Good Shepherd International School, Pathways World School, and Bournemouth University (UK), Tej combines global academic exposure with hands-on experience. His leadership comes from working at schools, where he engaged with thousands of students and teachers, giving him firsthand insight into the barriers limiting educator autonomy and student access — especially outside Tier-1 cities. It was this realization that led him to launch ClassTym, a platform that removes geographic, financial, and institutional barriers.
What Sets ClassTym Apart
ClassTym is built from the ground up with a laser focus on transparency, accessibility, and empowerment. Key features include:
Zero Upfront Fees for Educators – Anyone can start teaching on ClassTym without paying a rupee. This reduces entry barriers for passionate educators across the world.
Global Reach – Now live in India, UK, USA, UAE, and Ireland, ClassTym connects educators and students across borders, unlocking global teaching and learning opportunities.
Real-Time Dashboards – Educators can track income, student engagement, and performance metrics all in one place — bringing clarity and control to their teaching careers.
Verified Expert Network – No influencers. Only qualified, vetted educators are allowed on the platform, ensuring credibility and trust for students.
Student Empowerment – Students select educators based on demo sessions, reviews, and subject fit, ensuring a better learning match and stronger academic outcomes.
ClassTym is more than a platform — it is deeply grounded in a powerful philosophy: authentic learning must be rooted in trust, interaction, and mentorship. Built to empower real educators and offer students a truly personalized experience, ClassTym aims to make education interactive, transparent, and deeply human again.
About ClassTym
ClassTym is a next generation teaching and learning platform built to empower educators and personalize education for students worldwide. Founded by education reformer Divya Tej, ClassTym combines intuitive technology with a human-first approach, enabling verified tutors, coaches, and subject experts to build digital classrooms without upfront costs or constraints. With powerful tools for scheduling, content delivery, and student management, the platform fosters meaningful connections between educators and learners across India, the UK, USA, UAE, and Ireland. At its core, ClassTym is reimagining the future of education — making it more accessible, transparent, and deeply human.
According to reports, AceVector, the parent company of e-commerce site Snapdeal, is getting ready to submit its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for an INR 500 Cr IPO. According to a media report, which cited sources, AceVector’s public offering will mostly consist of a new share offering.
A media report that cited a source in the firm states that CLSA and IIFL are expected to serve as the proposed IPO’s bankers and that the proposed issue will be mostly primary capital. In addition to Snapdeal, AceVector is the parent company of Stellaro Brands, a house of brands platform, and Unicommerce, a listed e-commerce enabling platform.
In 2022, the three companies were combined under a single group brand. The largest shareholders in the combined business are SoftBank, Nexus Venture Partners, and cofounders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal.
AceVector’s Ventures and Current Position
Snapdeal was founded in 2010 and caters to consumers in smaller cities and towns with an emphasis on value e-commerce. Non-metropolitan regions account for more than 80% of Snapdeal’s orders.
Clothing, home goods, and personal care items make up the great bulk of the products offered on the platform, a value-based shopping site, and most of them cost less than INR 600. On one occasion, though, the platform lost steam and was about to shut down.
In 2017, Snapdeal seriously considered merging with Flipkart, but the deal fell through. It gradually got back on track with its transition to a value-based e-commerce proposition. According to experts, about 65% of Indian internet buyers would come from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities by 2030, which is in accordance with Snapdeal’s business strategy.
A technology platform called Unicommerce offers online retailers a complete solution for handling orders, inventory, shipping, and marketing. The company’s offerings will be expanded after Unicommerce purchased Shipway, a shipping solutions provider, in 2024 after a highly successful initial public offering (IPO) that was oversubscribed 168 times.
A platform called Stellaro Brands creates reasonably priced consumer brands. The primary brand is Rangita, which specialises in South Indian ethnic clothing sales for women both online and in-store. Through a variety of local and online means, Rangita is currently seeking to increase its presence in additional cities.
Indian Startups’ IPO Carnival Continues
AceVector is now the newest IT company to join the IPO trend as a result of this. This year, Ather Energy and ArisInfra have both gone public on stock exchanges. On 17 July, coworking giant Smartworks is anticipated to go public on the stock exchanges.
Moreover, 19 cutting-edge tech firms, including Groww, Meesho, Urban Company, and others, have submitted their DRHPs for listing with SEBI. The market regulator has given regulatory clearances to a number of them.
The massive coworking company WeWork India also received SEBI approval yesterday to begin its first public offering (IPO). A few days ago, Smartworks’ public offering ended with a 13.45X oversubscription, with buyers purchasing 13.9 Cr shares instead of the 1.04 Cr available.
As it prepares for a public offering, meat and seafood firm Captain Fresh became a public corporation last week.
In the face of supply chain problems and a lack of qualified kitchen personnel, Zepto Cafe, the 10-minute meal delivery subsidiary of fast commerce company Zepto, is reducing operations. The delay coincides with rivals Swiggy’s Snacc and Blinkit’s Bistro expanding their presence in important urban markets.
The four-year-old startup’s attempts to manage its financial burn are causing Zepto Cafe’s growth and expansion to slow down, according to various media reports. As reported, Zepto has also delayed the opening of its “dark stores,” which are essentially miniature warehouses.
Zepto Café Witnessing Decline in Daily Orders
According to media reports, Zepto Cafe’s daily orders decreased dramatically in June when compared to the early months of the year. Of the almost 1,000 locations where Zepto offered 10-minute food delivery, 44 stopped their cafe services in May.
According to a media report that cited a source, typical daily orders used to peak at about 120,000–130,000 but decreased to 65,000–67,000. Operations have been impacted by a number of factors related to staffing and sourcing. In a LinkedIn post on February 22, creator and CEO Aadit Palicha stated that Zepto Cafe’s daily order volume had reached 100,000.
In response to a media question, a Zepto representative refuted the allegations and stated that the company’s yearly net sales of INR 1,000 crore had increased by 700% year over year and by more than 15% month over month. The business is still putting a lot of effort into it and anticipates significant growth this year.
However, industry executives also noted that the Zepto Cafe app’s downloads have decreased over the last three to four months, falling from 1.5 million downloads in December 2024 to only 17,000 in June. However, according to various media reports, the main Zepto app accounts for over 90% of Zepto Cafe’s revenue, with the standalone app driving only a small portion of it.
Blinkit and Swiggy Slowing Down their Acquisitions
Zepto has been working to grow their market share, but Blinkit and Swiggy have also slowed the opening of new dark shopfronts. Brokerages and industry analysts estimate that Swiggy’s Instamart and Eternal’s Blinkit increased their market share in the rapid commerce space overall during the April–June quarter.
According to a media report, Blinkit and Instamart are expected to have scaled back their dark store expansion to roughly 250 and 80 new locations in the first quarter of FY26, from 294 and 316 stores, respectively, added in the preceding three months.
Zepto released a stand-alone app for 10-minute food delivery in December 2024. At that time, it was processing 30,000 orders every day and opening over 100 cafe locations each month.
In an effort to raise $500 million, Zepto has held conversations with its current shareholders, General Catalyst and Avenir Growth, amid the slowdown in its food delivery sector and the general cooling of its rapid commerce operations. The company hopes to have an IPO by the end of the year, and the funding is a step towards that goal.
In a surprise move following an effort by rival OpenAI to purchase the start-up, Google recently revealed that it has hired a number of senior employees from AI code generation start-up Windsurf.
According to a person familiar with the agreement, Google is paying $2.4 billion in license fees as part of the agreement to use parts of Windsurf’s technology on non-exclusive terms. According to a media report, Google will not acquire a stock or any kind of controlling position in Windsurf.
Co-founder Douglas Chen, Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, and a few members of the coding tool’s R&D team will join Google’s DeepMind AI group.
According to media reports from June, the deal came after months of talks between Windsurf and OpenAI to sell the company for a price that may reach $3 billion. This deal demonstrated the interest in the code-generation field, which has become one of the fastest-growing AI applications.
The New Team to Work Primarily on Gemini Project
The former Windsurf team will work mostly on the Gemini project at Google DeepMind, where they will concentrate on agentic coding efforts. In a statement, Google expressed its excitement about bringing some of Windsurf’s best AI coding expertise to Google DeepMind to further the company’s agentic coding efforts.
The unique purchase structure is a victory for Windsurf’s backers. According to PitchBook, the company was last valued at $1.25 billion a year ago and has raised $243 million from investors such as Kleiner Perkins, Greenoaks, and General Catalyst.
According to reports Windsurf investors would keep their ownership holdings in the business and get liquidity through the licence fee. Google’s unexpected move is similar to its agreement to acquire staff from chatbot startup Character.AI in August 2024.
Similar responses have been given to these so-called acquihire agreements by their Big Tech contemporaries, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, which some have criticised as an effort to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
Other Players Also Strengthening their AI Infrastructure
Amazon hired the co-founders and some of the employees of the AI business Adept last June, while Microsoft signed a $650 million deal with Inflection AI in March 2024 to use the AI start-up’s models and hire its employees.
In June, Meta made the largest test to date of this growing type of corporate alliances by acquiring a 49% interest in Scale AI. These transactions do not need to be reviewed by US antitrust authorities, in contrast to acquisitions that would grant the buyer a controlling interest.
If they think the deal was set up to circumvent those standards or hurt competition, they could still investigate it. Since then, other transactions have been the focus of regulatory investigations.
In an effort to attract elite people in the competition to lead the next wave of AI, tech titans like Alphabet and Meta are aggressively pursuing high-profile acquisitions and offering multi-million dollar compensation packages.
For a whole year, Indian college students will have free access to some of Google’s most cutting-edge AI capabilities.
With the launch of Gemini for Students, the tech company is offering qualified users a complimentary membership to its AI-powered Gemini Advanced plan, which is typically included in the Google One AI Premium bundle.
Students who are 18 years of age or older are eligible for the offer. To gain access, they must register on the official Google offer website by September 15, 2025.
What Google is Offering?
After enrolling, students will have access to Google’s most potent AI model to date, Gemini 2.5 Pro. Tools for research, writing, studying, and job preparation are also included in the strategy. It provides limitless academic assistance, including help with homework, essays, coding, interviews, and exams.
Study notes can be organised and summarised with the use of NotebookLM. Gemini Live will support individualised learning and real-time interaction. Google’s AI-powered presentation or project video maker, Veo 3.
Tools for deep research that will assist in gathering information for school assignments from reliable sources. Additionally, 2 TB of online storage on Google Drive, Gmail, and Photos will be provided to students—enough room to manage creative works, assignments, research, and presentations.
Initiatives Aims for Responsible Exploration of AI Tools
Google claims that the idea is intended to encourage ethical exploration of AI technologies as more students use AI to learn and become ready for professions.
With the right support and tools, the company thinks that this will help students learn more effectively, more quickly, and more intelligently.
As AI grows increasingly prevalent in both school and the workplace, the initiative also shows how tech companies are attempting to integrate into the learning process.
No Cap on Number of Users
One of the first nations where Google is implementing Gemini Advanced for students on a large scale is India. There is currently no cap on the number of users indicated by the company.
Gemini for Students is being marketed as a digital tool for the contemporary classroom, whether it is for completing projects, creating a CV, or brainstorming. 75% of Indians believe they need a daily tool to help them study and develop, according to a Google and Kantar report.
According to Google, Gemini, its AI chatbot, is beginning to take over that function for many. Additionally, 95% of Indian students who use Gemini report feeling more confidence in their daily lives, according to the survey.
Former proponents of democratising artificial intelligence through open-source releases of Llama at Meta, engineers and executives are now contemplating a radical philosophical shift: giving up their top open-source AI model, Behemoth, in favour of creating a closed, proprietary system.
This possible withdrawal occurs at a critical juncture. Although Meta is considering shutting down, Chinese AI labs have risen to the top, becoming not just competitors in the open-source large language model competition but its clear leaders.
Meta’s Trouble with AI Continues
The SuperIntelligence Lab at Meta, established to further the company’s AI goals, is at a turning point. The business is now reevaluating the same tenet that brought it recognition for transparency and innovation acceleration.
Previously, it set itself apart from clandestine rivals like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google by openly disclosing its most potent AI models. Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI, was recently named Chief AI Officer by the business, which also announced plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in large AI supercomputing clusters called Prometheus and Hyperion.
Sources familiar with the company’s discussions claim that these actions have successfully eliminated internal opposition to limiting model access. Chinese AI labs have jumped at the chance to assert leadership in the open-source AI space as Meta re-examines its open strategy, potentially creating a long-lasting edge in the global AI infrastructure.
Chinese AI Labs Changing the Dynamics of the Business
Released under an MIT-style open-weight license, DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3 are currently on par with Gemini 2.5 Pro in terms of performance and were apparently trained for a fraction of the price, at about $6 million as opposed to OpenAI’s anticipated $100 million.
This accomplishment is not unique. China has developed what one venture capitalist called “an arsenal of open-source models,” such as Alibaba’s Qwen 3, a family of models with 128K token context released under the Apache-2.0 license that beats Deepseek V3 on important benchmarks, and Moonshot AI’s Kimi K2, which is excellent at high-code and complex tasks.
Despite Being Popular, Chinese AI Labs a Real Threat to Nation’s Data Security
Chinese labs’ advancement and Meta’s simultaneous retreat have had a domino effect on the global tech scene. Countries like Czechia, Australia, Canada, India, and the United States have started to prohibit Chinese LLMs due to data security concerns, even as certain Chinese models gain popularity on GitHub and Hugging Face.
Prominent venture capitalists, including Marc Andreessen, have warned that China will dominate the global technology stack if Western companies don’t lead in open-source AI. This fear now seems to be coming true more quickly than expected.
There are several reasons for Meta’s reevaluation. Llama 4, the company’s most recent open-source model, has failed. Meta is under increasing pressure to monetise its AI assets after making significant investments in infrastructure, talent, and computing.
From a $170M secondary exit in analytics to Tesla driving into India on 15 July 2025, it packed a punch. Plum is betting INR 200 Cr on digital health, WeWork India is IPO-ready, and Infibeam’s rights issue flew off the charts. On the funding front, early-stage bets on Trupeer.ai and The Wedding Company hint at investor appetite for AI and luxury tech. Here’s a quick and crisp roundup of today’s key funding and business news in India.
Fractal Analytics Secures $170 Million via Secondary Sale
Mumbai‑based analytics firm Fractal Analytics has raised $170 million through a secondary share sale. The deal allowed Apax Partners a partial exit, while TA Associates took up additional stakes.
Trupeer.ai Raises $3 Million to Drive AI Video Creation
Bengaluru‑based Trupeer.ai, which turns screen recordings into AI-generated videos, has secured $3 million in a seed round led by RTP Global, with support from several angel investors. The platform already serves over 10,000 teams in more than 50 languages.
The Wedding Company Closes $1 Million Pre‑Seed Round
Luxury wedding‑planning platform The Wedding Company has raised $1 million in a pre‑seed round co‑led by LVX (formerly LetsVenture) and Tremis Capital. The round also saw investment from notable angels: Chaitanya Ramalingegowda (Wakefit co‑founder), Ajith Pai (COO of Delhivery), and Arash Ferdowsi (Dropbox co‑founder). The funds will support expansion into new cities, further development of its tech platform, and growing its vendor network.
Ambulance Startup Dial4242 Raises INR 9 Crore in Pre‑Series A
Mumbai‑based Dial4242, a health‑tech platform connecting users to ambulance services, has raised INR 9 crore in its pre‑Series A round. The funding came from a group of angel investors and will be used to broaden its reach beyond Tier‑I cities and improve operational infrastructure.
PayU India Receives INR 303 Crore from Parent Prosus NV
Fintech giant PayU India has received an internal capital infusion of INR 303 crore from its parent, Prosus NV. The funds are expected to support local operations, product development initiatives, and future growth strategies.
Allcargo Terminals to Raise INR 38.28 Crore via Convertible Warrants
Allcargo Terminals Ltd plans to raise INR 38.28 crore through the issuance of preferential convertible warrants to its promoters. Priced at INR 72.73 per warrant, each can be converted into equity within 18 months. The move aims to enhance working capital and fund business expansion.
Key News Highlights for 15 July 2025
WeWork India Gets SEBI Nod for IPO
WeWork India has received final approval from SEBI to go public. The flex-space giant is planning an INR 1,000 crore IPO, with proceeds likely directed toward expansion and debt repayment. The listing is expected to hit the markets later this year, marking a major milestone in India’s co-working sector.
Plum Commits INR 200 Cr to Digital Health Innovation
Employee health insurance platform Plum has announced an investment of INR 200 crore towards building a comprehensive digital health ecosystem. This move signals its pivot from being a pure-play insurance provider to a preventive healthcare enabler, offering virtual care services, health assessments, and chronic disease management. The investment will be spread over the next 18-24 months.
Infibeam Avenues’ ₹700 Cr Rights Issue Oversubscribed 14x
Fintech and e-commerce infrastructure firm Infibeam Avenues has seen overwhelming investor interest in its INR 700 crore rights issue, which was oversubscribed by 14 times. The funds will be utilised for strengthening AI-driven platforms, scaling global operations, and launching new fintech offerings.
PhonePe Appoints Ex-Meta Policy Head as VP – Government Affairs
PhonePe has appointed Rahul Shivshankar, former Director of Public Policy at Meta, as its new Vice President, Government Affairs. His role will be crucial in managing regulatory relations and shaping policy frameworks as the fintech major expands its influence in UPI, digital payments, and financial services.
Tesla Launches Mumbai Showroom; Partners with Acko for Insurance
Tesla has officially opened its first Indian showroom in Mumbai, taking a concrete step toward entering the Indian electric vehicle market. The EV giant has also partnered with insurtech startup Acko to offer customised insurance packages for Indian buyers. The launch reflects Tesla’s broader strategy to localise its offerings and build a regional footprint.
