Startup Roundup: Ecosystem, Mergers, Acquisitions and Funding News this week

This week, India’s startup ecosystem remained in motion as policy push, leadership reshuffles, strategic mergers and sustained funding activity shaped the headlines. From government-backed credit support and defence-led innovation to IPO developments, high-profile brand deals and a steady stream of capital flowing into AI, climate tech and consumer startups, the updates reflected a market that is cautiously optimistic yet firmly focused on long-term growth.

Startup World: What’s New

India’s startup ecosystem witnessed another eventful week marked by policy support, leadership changes, big-ticket brand partnerships and steady IPO momentum. Defence and deep-tech startups remained firmly in focus as government backing and venture capital interest continued to grow, signalling long-term confidence in strategic sectors such as aerospace, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

On the policy front, the Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI to boost credit access for MSMEs, a move expected to strengthen lending to small businesses and startups alike. Adding to the innovation push, government initiatives in defence technology continued to attract both domestic and global investors, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a hub for indigenous defence solutions.

Several high-profile leadership and strategic shifts also made headlines. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal stepped down as CEO of the company’s parent entity, Eternal, indicating a sharper focus on risk-taking and long-term bets. Ola Electric saw a change in its finance leadership, with CFO Harish Abichandani resigning and Deepak Rastogi taking over at a crucial phase for the EV major.

In the technology and consumer internet space, Google’s AI platform Gemini signed a Rs. 270 crore sponsorship deal with the IPL for the next three years, underlining Big Tech’s growing interest in India’s sports and digital advertising ecosystem. Payments major PhonePe refiled its IPO papers, with Walmart set to dilute around 9% stake, while early backers such as Microsoft and Tiger Global are reportedly eyeing exits.

Capital market activity remained measured but active. Amagi’s shares ended their first trading session around 4% below the issue price, reflecting cautious investor sentiment despite strong fundamentals. Meanwhile, the IPO pipeline continued to build as fintech, SaaS and consumer startups prepared for listings amid improving market conditions.

On the product and expansion front, Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch a UPI-compliant version of Apple Pay in India by the end of the year, a move that could intensify competition in the digital payments space. AstroTalk’s e-commerce arm posted Rs. 140 crore in revenue in FY25 and scaled to an annual recurring revenue of Rs. 200 crore, highlighting the growing monetisation potential of spiritual and content-led platforms.

Health and wellness startup Kapiva announced the launch of a Rs. 50 crore fund to support evidence-based Ayurveda, signalling rising investor interest in scientifically backed traditional healthcare solutions. In the investor ecosystem, IPV rolled out free angel investor accreditation in line with SEBI regulations, aimed at improving transparency and participation in early-stage funding.

Despite near-term caution, the broader outlook for India’s startup ecosystem remains optimistic, driven by policy support, improving capital market depth and sustained interest from global investors across sectors ranging from defence and fintech to consumer internet and health tech.

Funding News

Optimist Raises $12 Mn in Funding

Air-conditioning startup Optimist, founded by Urban Ladder’s Ashish Goel, raised $12 million from Accel, Arkam Ventures and others to build energy-efficient cooling solutions for Indian homes.

Arkahub Secures $2 Mn Seed Funding

Residential solar startup Arkahub raised $2 million in seed funding to expand its rooftop solar offerings across urban and semi-urban India.

Aerem Solutions Raises $15 Mn Pre-Series B

Solar platform Aerem Solutions raised $15 million in a pre-Series B round to scale clean energy adoption among MSMEs and households.

Ringg AI Raises $5.5 Mn Led by Arkam Ventures

Voice AI startup Ringg AI secured $5.5 million in funding led by Arkam Ventures to enhance its conversational AI products for enterprises.

Cumin Co. Raises $5 Mn Funding Round

Kitchenware brand Cumin Co. raised $5 million in a round led by Fireside Ventures to expand its product portfolio and strengthen distribution.

Bolna Raises $6.3 Mn in Seed Funding

Voice automation startup Bolna raised $6.3 million in seed funding to accelerate product development and global customer acquisition.

Sensesemi Raises Rs. 25 Cr for Edge-AI Chip Development

Semiconductor startup Sensesemi raised Rs. 25 crore to develop a single-chip edge-AI platform targeting industrial and consumer applications.

PolyCycl Secures Rs. 26 Cr Funding

Plastic recycling startup PolyCycl raised Rs. 26 crore to scale its advanced recycling technology and support circular economy initiatives.

Emergent Raises $70 Mn, Valuation Hits $300 Mn

AI startup Emergent raised $70 million from Khosla Ventures and SoftBank, tripling its valuation to $300 million.

Raana Semiconductors Raises $3 Mn Seed Round

Raana Semiconductors secured $3 million in seed funding to support indigenous silicon ingot production in India.

Unbox Robotics Raises $28 Mn Series B

Logistics automation startup Unbox Robotics raised $28 million in Series B funding to expand its robotics-led warehouse solutions.

Whizzo Raises $15 Mn Funding

Technical textiles platform Whizzo raised $15 million to expand manufacturing capacity and strengthen its supply chain.

AssetPlus Raises Rs. 175 Cr Led by Nexus Venture Partners

Wealth management platform AssetPlus raised Rs. 175 crore in a round led by Nexus Venture Partners to scale its assisted investing model.

Salty Raises Rs. 30.1 Cr Funding

D2C accessories brand Salty raised Rs. 30.1 crore to expand its product offerings and grow its omnichannel presence.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Wingify’s conversion optimisation platform VWO is set to merge with France-based AB Tasty, with Everstone committing fresh capital to support the combined entity’s global growth and product expansion.