Featured stories
How IISc’s FSID is building a vibrant deeptech ecosystem in India
The Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) at IISc, formally incorporated in 2020, nurtures deeptech startups through comprehensive support.
FSID receives 400 annual applications, selecting 20 startups (45% non-IISc background). It provides laboratory space, mentorship, and funding. Director Prof Balan Gurumoorthy said, “It is always about taking the know-how developed on the campus (IISc) to the outside world.”
FSID targets 25-30 startups annually going forward.
Read here.
Funding news
W Health Ventures raises Rs 550 Cr to back healthtech startups
W Health Ventures has completed the first close of its second fund at Rs 550 crore, targeting a final corpus of Rs 630 crore. The healthcare-focused venture firm plans to incubate eight to 10 companies over four years, investing Rs 30–50 crore per venture.
Managing Partner Dr Pankaj Jethwani said they “work with founders, clinicians, operators, and strategic partners to co-found companies from inception.”
The first fund has backed companies including Nivaan, BeatO, and Wysa. Fund II has launched Everhope Oncology with Narayana Health and is developing a US-based psychiatry venture.
Read here.
ThirdAI raises $3M to scale causal AI for semiconductor manufacturing
Deeptech startup ThirdAI Automation has raised $3 million in seed funding co-led by Endiya Partners and Capria Ventures.
Founded in 2024 by Vivek Vishwakarma and Sainyam Galhotra, the startup provides a Causal AI-powered platform to automate root cause analysis (RCA) in semiconductor fabs.
The capital will accelerate product development and global team expansion. ThirdAI’s platform reduces equipment diagnostic time by up to 80% with over 90% accuracy, directly supporting India’s Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0) by improving production yield and reducing unplanned downtime.
UKHI raises Rs 10.5 Cr to replace 24 lakh kg of single-use plastic
New Delhi-based UKHI has raised Rs 10.5 crore in seed funding led by Venture Catalysts, with participation from 100 Unicorns, 888 VC, and strategic partner DCG Pack. The biopolymer startup will scale production of EcoGran, its flagship line, and advance biodegradable polymers.
Founder Vishal Vivek said, “Single-use plastic is a massive, unresolved systems problem. Solving it isn’t easy or quick, but we believe the packaging industry can be fundamentally transformed by building materials that scale, perform at industrial standards, and compete economically with conventional plastics.”
UKHI has sold over 2 lakh kgs of biopolymer material and targets replacing 24 lakh kgs of single-use plastic over 12 months.
UrbanWipe raises Rs 2 Cr from Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal on Shark Tank
UrbanWipe, a non-toxic cleaning solutions startup, has raised Rs 2 crore in funding on Shark Tank India Season 5. Investors Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal backed the venture.
The freshly raised funds will be used to accelerate innovation and expand manufacturing capabilities.
Co-founder Rajat Mathur said that securing funding “was not just about the capital infusion, but about receiving strong validation for UrbanWipe’s commitment to safer, non-toxic cleaning alternatives.”
Currently a lead engineer at Naukri.com, Mathur aims to build “a Rs 100 crore D2C brand that specialises in non-toxic, effective, and environmentally responsible cleaning solutions.”
Digitory raises $500,000 in angel funding
Restaurant tech platform Digitory has raised $500,000 in pre-Series A funding from angel investor Tejas Paresh Lodaya. The startup will use the funding to scale up its market reach and increase operational support to its existing clientele.
The bootstrapped startup powers over 1.8 million diners and serves leading restaurant chains, including Toit, Bier Library, Biergarten, and Pumphouse.
Digitory was designed as the core operational infrastructure to help restaurant operations run seamlessly at scale. A platform leveraging local prowess and central cloud-based intelligence, Digitory is aiding seamless business continuity for diverse restaurant brands in diverse locations.
Indigrid Technology raises Rs 40 Cr to scale integrated electronics manufacturing in India
Electronics manufacturer Indigrid Technology has raised an additional Rs 40 crore, successfully closing its extended Series A funding round at Rs 75 crore.
The round was led by Cactus Partners and Valour Capital, with participation from ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, Vimson Group, and Global South Capital.
Indigrid will use the freshly raised funds to scale manufacturing capacity at Indigrid’s facilities in Manesar and Goa to meet rising demand for localised automotive, consumer, and industrial electronics. The company also plans to deepen its technology capabilities and evaluate strategic acquisitions to strengthen its position as an integrated EMS, ESDM, and ODM partner.
SteamPRO raises Rs 3.8 Cr to pioneer India’s ‘bath-tech’ sector
SteamPRO, India’s first bath-tech company, has secured Rs 3.8 crore in seed funding co-led by Anicut Capital, Zeropearl VC, D2C Insider Super Angels, and Atrium Ventures. The freshly raised funds will be used to expand in-house manufacturing and scale national service operations for its spa-grade steam showers.
Designed for premium homes, SteamPRO’s systems generate steam in under 30 seconds using less than one liter of water. With 3,000-plus daily sessions recorded in Delhi NCR, the startup aims to transform bathrooms into wellness hubs, targeting India’s Rs 30,000 crore sanitaryware market.
Heliware raises Rs 4.5 Cr in bridge round
Heliware, a deep-tech startup delivering advanced geospatial intelligence and 3D analytics, has raised Rs 4.5 crore in a bridge round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). The funding will support international expansion through strategic partnerships, talent acquisition, and operational setup in key global markets, while strengthening working capital.
Founded in 2018, Heliware builds high-resolution 3D terrain models of the entire country integrated with flood simulation, line-of-sight analysis, and predictive spatial modelling. Its platform enables analysis and application development five times faster and at half the cost, offering plug-and-play geospatial intelligence solutions for industries dependent on location data.
Other news
Edify onboards Ravi Bishnoi as investor, targets $10M ARR
Bengaluru-based Edify has onboarded Indian cricketer Ravi Bishnoi as brand ambassador and angel investor as it targets $10 million ARR.
Founded in 2023 and backed by Prime Venture Partners and Beenext, the refurbished laptop platform has served 50,000 customers and grown 5x year-on-year.
Co-founder Ashwini Purohit said, “Our goal has been to rebuild the refurbished category from the ground up with technology, transparency, and strong consumer experience.” Bishnoi added, “Access to the right tools can change a person’s journey. Edify is making premium laptops accessible to people who need them most.”
India’s secondary electronics market represents an $11 billion opportunity, with 220 million households awaiting their first laptop.
Startup Stairs, AVPL, Victory International partner for pan-India EV infrastructure
Gurugram-based Startup Stairs, AITMC Ventures (AVPL), and Victory Electric Vehicles International have partnered to build a pan-India EV charging infrastructure and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The initiative will evaluate EV-focused training across 70 ITIs nationwide, with manufacturing at AVPL’s Future Tech Park in Hisar.
Preet Sandhu of AVPL said, “At AVPL, we believe skilling must translate directly into employment and entrepreneurship aligned with real industry demand.”
Sanjay Poply of Victory added, “Skill development must lead to tangible economic outcomes.” Trained candidates will be evaluated for franchise opportunities at Rs 5-10 lakh investment levels to establish EV charging centres, service centres, and dealerships, creating skill-to-income pathways.
NEMBHARAT debuts commission-free national mobility platform for gig workers
NEMBHARAT, a national on-demand mobility initiative, is set to roll out an ‘Intelligent Public Mobility System’ focused on gig worker welfare and consumer protection. Operated by World Economic Mobility (WEML) and governed by the NARAYANIHITI Trust, the platform utilises a prepaid, cashless architecture with zero commissions and zero subscriptions to ensure driver income certainty.
Influenced by Ratan Tata’s 2019 mentorship, the model integrates urban transport with tourism and aviation. It aims to provide social security for workers while addressing pricing volatility and service transparency for commuters.
mPokket increases loan size to Rs 2L for small business owners
Bengaluru-based mPokket has increased its loan size to Rs 2 lakh to strengthen working capital access for small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs.
Co-founder and CEO Gaurav Jalan said, “India’s nano and micro-entrepreneurs are becoming central to the country’s credit flows. We are at an inflection point where access to formal credit is no longer just about meeting short-term needs, but about investing in growth, like opting for an upskilling course, expanding a shop, or taking the next step in a business journey.”
The enhanced credit limit is designed to support everyday business needs, such as purchasing inventory, managing cash flow, upgrading tools or equipment, and responding to seasonal demand, helping small business owners move from survival to scale.
The announcement marks the digital lending platform’s 10th anniversary.
Superhealth unveils agentic AI SuperOS
Healthcare provider Superhealth has launched SuperOS, a ‘full-stack’ agentic AI operating system designed to manage hospital operations end-to-end. Built in India, the platform automates clinical and administrative tasks, including differential diagnoses, surgical care coordination, and inventory management.
SuperOS supports 15 Indian languages and functions as an ambient clinical co-pilot, surfacing patient history and drafting prescriptions. By optimising radiology workflows and automating discharge summaries through ‘magic discharge,’ the system reduces reporting times by 30%, enabling a ‘zero-wait’ experience while maximising doctor-patient face time.
IIT Guwahati partners with Skyroot Aerospace to promote space research and innovation
IIT Guwahati has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Skyroot Aerospace to drive space innovation. The partnership focuses on developing space-grade components via additive manufacturing and launching joint academic programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels.
Students will gain hands-on mission experience through internships and subsidised research payloads on Skyroot’s Vikram-series rockets. The collaboration also includes shared research facilities, funded R&D projects, and opportunities for Skyroot employees to pursue higher education at the institute, reinforcing India’s position in the global space economy.
PeakAmp expands leadership to drive battery circularity vision
Battery circularity firm PeakAmp has elevated Aditya Prakash to Co-Founder, and appointed Akhil Yerawar as Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer.
Founded in 2024, the startup is building India’s first tech-enabled full-stack solution for lithium-ion battery collection, second-life repurposing, and high-purity material recovery.
Prakash will lead strategy and operations, while Yerawar focuses on growth, investor engagement, and regulatory partnerships. The leadership expansion aims to bridge the gap in India’s recycling capacity, accelerating partnerships with OEMs and battery manufacturers to ensure responsible end-of-life battery management.
IG Defence to set up Rs 300 Cr facility in Odisha
IG Defence has received approval from the government of Odisha to set up a Rs 300 crore multi-drone manufacturing facility in Ganjam district. The advanced facility will manufacture tactical and mission-specific unmanned aerial systems and electronic warfare-enabled platforms. Leveraging Odisha’s defence ecosystem — including DRDO labs, HAL facilities, ordnance factories and the AD Gopalpur test range — the hub is expected to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing aligned with India’s self-reliance goals.
IG Defence’s drone and counter-drone systems have been validated in field deployments, including Operation Sindoor, with several platforms inducted by the Indian Army and Indian Navy.
Hexaware launches new agentic AI platform
Hexaware Technologies has launched Zero License, an enterprise offering designed to replace SaaS workflows with agentic AI. The platform overlays AI agents across existing systems, transforming core platforms into systems of record while AI becomes the system of action handling intake, routing, execution and follow-ups. The company says enterprises can reduce license costs and integration overhead within months. The solution targets workflow-heavy sectors including healthcare, insurance, banking, manufacturing and utilities.
Superhealth unveils agentic AI for hospitals
Superhealth has unveiled SuperOS, an agentic AI operating system designed to run hospitals end-to-end from OPD workflows and diagnostics to surgery scheduling and discharge.
Currently deployed at its Bengaluru flagship hospital, SuperOS assists doctors during consultations, optimises operating theatre utilisation, automates prescriptions and discharge summaries, and integrates cloud-based diagnostic AI. The system supports 15 Indian languages and aims to deliver a zero-wait patient experience.
TCS conducts AI hackathon for non-engineers
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has conducted what it claims is the world’s first large-scale AI hackathon for students without coding backgrounds. Over 10,000 students from arts, commerce, nursing, agriculture and law disciplines participated across 22 colleges in 10 states.
Using voice-first AI tools in nine Indian languages, participants developed working prototypes within two hours. The initiative culminates in the Tata Bharat YUVAi Hackathon at the India AI Impact Summit.
CynLr unveils new robotic platform
Bengaluru-based robotics startup CynLr has unveiled its Object Intelligence (OI) platform, enabling robots to learn and manipulate unknown objects within seconds. Developed after five years of R&D, the platform powers robots such as CyRo and CyNoid and aims to enable adaptive, cognition-driven automation. Founder Gokul NA said the technology marks a shift from programmed robotics to adaptive cognition, enabling “Universal Factories” capable of switching between products without retooling. CynLr has raised $15.2 million from investors, including Pavestone Capital and Athera Venture Partners.
ErlySign secures US FDA breakthrough device designation
Nagpur-based biotech startup ErlySign has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its saliva-based oral cancer detection kit. The non-invasive test requires just 2–5 ml of saliva and delivers results in 10–15 minutes. Clinical trials across 1,000 patients demonstrated 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
CEO Shubhendra Singh Thakur said the designation accelerates regulatory review and global market access. India records over 143,000 oral cancer cases annually, highlighting the need for early screening.
Global HealthX crosses $15M in healthcare investments
Hyderabad-based Global HealthX has invested over $15 million across healthcare and life sciences startups in the past two years and plans to deploy an additional $8–10 million in 2026. Founded by Dr Ravindranath Kancherla, the platform operates through a venture studio, strategic investment and market-access acceleration model. Portfolio companies include Affordplan, CognitiveBotics and SevaMob.
AssisTech Foundation partners with Bajaj Finserv for new initiative
AssisTech Foundation (ATF), an ecosystem enabler for assistive technology, in partnership with Bajaj Finserv under its corporate social responsibility initiative, has formally announced the start of the first cohort of imaginATe, a fellowship designed to support and enable entrepreneurs with disabilities.
This is a structured fellowship designed to enable entrepreneurs with disabilities through mentorship, capacity-building, ecosystem access, and sustained, long-term support. The programme aims to help founders strengthen early-stage ideas and build viable, sustainable and scalable ventures.
(The article will be updated throughout the day with latest news)
Edited by Suman Singh
Discover more from News Link360
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
