Featured stories
SmartTerra is using AI to plug India’s massive water loss problem
SmartTerra uses AI to analyse pipeline data, predict leaks, and reduce water loss for cities and industries across India and Southeast Asia.
The company is led by CEO Gokul Krishna Govindu, a former Apple executive; COO Giridharan Sengaiah, an urban water management specialist from PwC; and Chief Scientist Navaneethan Santhanam, an AI expert who previously worked at Freshworks. Read more here
In focus: How Ramya Sriram’s Theyyam photograph won global recognition from Nat Geo
Chennai-based photographer Ramya Sriram travelled to Kannur in northern Kerala for the fourth straight year to document Theyyam, the centuries-old ritual in which performers embody deities through elaborate costume, drumming, and acts like running through fire.
After waiting nearly 10 hours for the climactic moment, she was knocked to the ground in a crowd surge just as the performer charged through burning coals, scorching her hand, clothes, and camera—yet she kept shooting while lying there. Back home, despite burn injuries, she discovered that one sharply focused image had survived the chaos: a frame capturing the performer mid-stride against the flames.
That photograph has since been selected for the National Geographic 2026 calendar under its “Captured in Motion” theme, marking an unexpected reward for a photographer whose long engagement with cultural rituals grew out of years of travel and social work. Read more here
AI dominates SoftBank’s portfolio as OpenAI gains drive profits
SoftBank has hitched itself to OpenAI’s trajectory, transforming the ChatGPT maker’s soaring valuation into substantial paper wealth while preparing to deepen its commitment by another $30 billion.
SoftBank Group Corp. is intensifying its push into artificial intelligence, committing tens of billions of dollars across chips, infrastructure, robotics and foundational AI models, as the Japanese investment conglomerate positions itself for what it describes as the next phase of technological evolution. Read more here
Funding news
Claude AI maker Anthropic bags $30B funding at $380B valuation
Anthropic, the AI research firm behind the Claude models, has raised $30 billion in a Series G funding round, taking its post-money valuation to $380 billion.
The investment was led by GIC and Coatue, with participation from a diverse group of prominent backers including D. E. Shaw Ventures, Founders Fund, and MGX, alongside technology giants Microsoft and NVIDIA.
The scale of this capital injection shows the momentum in the AI space, with enterprises and developers driving Anthropic’s business. Read more here
Six Sense Mobility raises Rs 44 Cr to expand manufacturing and automotive electronics capabilities
IIT Delhi-incubated automotive technology startup Six Sense Mobility on Friday raised Rs 44 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by investor Ashish Kacholia, with participation from existing backer Piper Serica Angel Fund, as it looks to scale manufacturing and deepen its product portfolio for vehicle electronics.
The startup will use the capital to expand manufacturing capacity through a new electronics facility in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and accelerate research and development focused on automotive-grade systems. The plant is expected to support production of over one million units annually once operational. Read more here
Uptiq raises $25M in Series B funding, plans expansion of India research hub
AI platform Uptiq has raised $25 million in a Series B funding round led by Curql, with participation from multiple institutional investors, as the company looks to expand its artificial intelligence research and engineering operations in India.
The Pune-based hub, branded as Uptiq Labs, functions as the company’s global centre for AI development focused on financial services. The firm said a significant portion of the new capital will be directed toward scaling research, engineering capacity, and production-grade AI systems designed for use in regulated financial environments. Read more here
Digital trust platform IDfy raises Rs 476 Cr in funding round led by Neo Asset Management
IDfy has raised Rs 476 crore in a funding round led by Neo Asset Management, as the digital trust and identity verification platform looks to expand globally and deepen its product offerings.
The round, which had both primary and secondary capital, also saw continued participation from existing investors including Blume Ventures, Analog Capital, Elev8, IndiaMART, and Kae Capital.
The proceeds will be used to pursue strategic acquisitions, enter new international markets, and enhance product suite, the Mumbai-based company said in a statement.
e-TRNL Energy Closes Rs 27.4 Cr seed round to accelerate next-gen battery cell development in India
Battery technology startup e-TRNL Energy has raised Rs 27.4 crore in a seed funding round led by IAN Alpha Fund, with participation from Navam Capital and Anicut, along with existing investors Speciale Invest, Micelio Mobility, and IIMA Ventures. Angel investors including Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain also participated.
The company said the funds will be used to complete product development and demonstrate scalable manufacturing of lithium-ion battery cells in India, including validation of performance, safety and production consistency — steps required before commercial manufacturing.
Founded in 2021 by Apoorv Shaligram, an IIT Roorkee graduate with a master’s degree from Michigan State University, and Dr. Uttam Kumar Sen, who holds a doctorate in energy science and engineering from IIT Bombay, e-TRNL Energy is developing next-generation battery cells. The startup says it follows a chemistry-agnostic, physics-based development approach aimed at improving charging speed, safety, cycle life and energy density, while focusing on manufacturability at scale.
Other news
Dayananda Sagar University Partners with NVIDIA to Build India’s first AI factory with Rs 175 Cr investment
Dayananda Sagar University (DSU) has signed a memorandum of understanding with NVIDIA to develop what it describes as India’s first AI-first factory, using the chipmaker’s Blackwell AI supercomputing platform for large-scale model training and inference.
The Bengaluru-based private university said the initiative, backed by an investment of over Rs 175 crore, is aimed at strengthening domestic AI infrastructure, reducing reliance on foreign models, and aligning academic research with production-grade computing environments. DSU plans to use the facility to support multidisciplinary research and train students on real-world AI systems, as it seeks to address gaps between higher education and industry deployment.
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Dayananda Sagar University
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The university also plans to set up six industry-linked Centres of Excellence focused on sectors such as healthcare, cybersecurity, semiconductors and smart mobility, alongside a sustainability collaboration with Siemens to develop climate-resilient campus infrastructure. DSU said it aims to skill about 20,000 students in AI-related roles, including generative AI and machine learning operations. The institution is expected to present the project at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi later this month.
Magma Group adds new engineering vertical amid push for localised industrial supply chains
Industrial manufacturing firm Magma Group has launched Magma Engineering, a new precision engineering vertical focused on manufacturing high-tolerance industrial components for sectors such as heavy industry and process plants. The company said the unit will combine machining, fabrication and quality systems to produce both custom and repeat components, as manufacturers increasingly seek more localised and consolidated supply chains.
According to the company, the move is part of a broader effort to integrate materials, manufacturing and engineered components within a single platform. Founder and CEO Neal Thakker said the vertical is intended to support faster turnaround and local production of critical parts as industrial customers look to reduce supply chain complexity.
RBI approves reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank
AU Small Finance Bank said the Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as managing director and CEO for a further three-year term starting April 19, 2026. The approval follows earlier clearances from the bank’s board and shareholders, extending Agarwal’s leadership after multiple RBI-sanctioned terms since the institution became a small finance bank in 2017.
The approval comes at a landmark moment as AU prepares for its potential transition into a Universal Bank, subject to final RBI approval. Continuity in leadership at this stage strengthens AU’s readiness and reinforces its credibility for the next phase of growth.
(The copy will be updated)
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