Startups, Mergers, Acquisitions and Funding Round-up this week

This week’s startup funding landscape showcased strong investor confidence across diverse sectors—from retail and entertainment to deeptech and energy. Emerging brands like 1-India Family Mart and Flam are scaling rapidly, while AI and mixed reality startups are drawing global attention. Here's a snapshot of the top funding stories shaping the next wave of innovation.

1-India Family Mart Raises $12M to Scale Retail Chain in Bharat Markets

Value retail brand 1-India Family Mart has secured $12 million in Series D funding to expand its footprint across India’s Tier II to Tier IV cities. The company plans to increase its store count from 65 to over 100 by 2029, with the fresh capital directed toward inventory, store expansion, and operational upgrades in underserved retail markets.

ReelSaga Secures $2.1M to Ride the Global Microdrama Wave

Mobile-first entertainment platform ReelSaga has raised $2.1 million in seed funding to scale its localised content offerings. With a focus on microdramas and short-form narrative formats, the platform aims to capture Gen Z and mobile audiences across global and vernacular content markets.

Hedra Lands $32M to Advance AI-Generated Video Tech

AI startup Hedra, known for its real-time video generation platform, has raised $32 million in a Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The funding will boost the development of its flagship Character-3 model, which powers ultra-realistic avatars, and help the company scale its enterprise video solutions.

WakeCap Raises $28M to Digitise Construction Workforce in MENA

Construction technology startup WakeCap, based in Saudi Arabia, has closed a $28 million round to expand its workforce tracking and safety solutions across the Middle East and North Africa. The company provides smart wearables and analytics tools to monitor productivity and enhance safety in large-scale construction projects.

Rohal Technologies Gets $1M to Strengthen Green Energy R&D

Rohal Technologies has secured $1 million from Finvolve and India Accelerator to develop hybrid green energy systems for high-impact sectors like defence and disaster management. The funding will support R&D and early-stage deployment of resilient, renewable tech in remote or mission-critical environments.

Flam Raises $14M to Fuel Mixed Reality Content Innovation

Mixed reality startup Flam has bagged $14 million in a Series A round led by RTP Global to grow its immersive advertising tools and expand globally. The company is also investing in AI-driven MR content creation aimed at helping brands engage users through spatial storytelling and augmented visuals.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Amazon India received board approval to merge its logistics arm, Amazon Transportation Services, with its marketplace entity to streamline operations.

• Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation plans to maintain at least a 20% stake in Yes Bank, following a significant acquisition deal, marking a major cross-border M&A in India’s financial sector.

• Greenko founders are pursuing a new deal to acquire Orix’s stake, despite a previous pullout, to consolidate their position in the renewable energy sector.

Other News

• Bat VC, a New York-based venture capital firm, launched a $100 million fund to invest in early-stage AI and deeptech startups across the US and India.

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) approved 187 startups for income tax exemption under the revamped Section 80-IAC, offering a 100% tax holiday for three consecutive years within ten years.

• Renesas Electronics Corporation partnered with the Indian government to drive innovation through collaborations between startups and academia.

• Zepto launched Zepto Atom, a paid analytics platform for brands, aiming to provide deeper consumer insights and enhance marketing strategies.

• Meta expanded the role of Sandhya Devanathan, its India head, to include oversight of operations in Southeast Asia, reflecting the region’s growing strategic importance.

• The proposed merger between advertising giants Omnicom and IPG is under global regulatory scrutiny, with authorities in the US, UK, and India yet to approve.