Funding

PetStrong secures maiden funding from Auxano Capital

Gurugram-based pet food company PetStrong completed its latest funding round led by Auxano Capital with participation from CXOs from various Industries.

PetStrong will use the funding to accelerate product research, expand manufacturing capabilities, and broaden its distribution network to reach pet owners in major cities and smaller towns.

The company aims to bridge the gap in Indian pet dietary practices by offering affordable, high-protein products catering to local pets’ nutritional needs.

AI B2B SaaS platform Tablesprint raises $1M

Tablesprint, an AI-based no-code app builder, raised around $1 million funding round led by a group of angel investors, including Ankit Bhati (Ola), Ajeet Khurana (Reflexical), Sunil Sharma (Coingape), BlueLotus Ventures, TDV Partners, DGC Ventures, and Abhijeet Bhandari (startup advisor).

It will use the funds to enhance its offerings, strengthen its team and drive product development.

Tablesprint offers an AI-first SaaS platform that enables companies to build intuitive apps and playbooks across business verticals. The no-code platform offers customisable building blocks like AI Write/Image, Forms, Workflows, Kanban, and Charts, which can be tailored to specific business processes like sales, orders, purchases, HR, and more.

Alchemyst AI raises $300K in pre-seed round

Gen AI SaaS startup Alchemyst AI raised $300,000 in a pre-seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures, 100Unicorns, and Early Seed Ventures.

Alchemyst AI will use the capital to enhance GPU (graphics processing unit) and technology infrastructure, support team development, scale operations, and drive growth.

Founded in 2023 by Uttaran Nayak and Anuran Roy, Alchemyst AI offers AI automation and enterprise productivity software for digital employees to create intelligent functional components for mid-sized to large enterprises.

Fashion brand ANNY secures seed funding

Fashion tech company ANNY closed its seed funding round led by FAAD Capital with additional backing from prominent HNIs and industry leaders. 

Founded in 2023 by Japjot Singh (Founder and CEO), Aveen Kaur (Co-founder and COO), and Rahul Tanwar (Co-founder and CTO), ANNY has established itself as a frontrunner in fashion tech, experiencing nearly 8X growth in the past six months, the company said in a statement.

The seed funding will accelerate ANNY’s expansion, enabling investments in AI-driven technology for real-time trend adaptation, supply chain advancements, and top-tier talent acquisition.

Red Fort Capital surpasses Rs 100 Cr assets

Red Fort Capital, an investment-grade NBFC, has raised Rs 22.6 crore in debt funding and has crossed the milestone of Rs 100 crore in assets. This achievement marks a key regulatory threshold, which reinforces its standing as a leading player in the SME lending sector.

The debt raise includes Rs 15 crore from a large PSU bank. Notably, Red Fort Capital has already secured prior financing rounds from the State Bank of India.

Additionally, Rs 4.1 crore was raised through Non-Convertible Debentures via Foreign Portfolio Investors and Rs 3.5 crore from USHA Finance. This diverse capital will be instrumental in accelerating Red Fort Capital’s mission to bridge the credit gap for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across India.

Lifechart raises $500,000 to scale AI-powered gut wellness solutions

Lifechart, a full-stack gut wellness brand, has raised about $250,000 from Prajay Advisors LLP, with Mumbai-based Cignas from NA Shah Advisors LLP acting as the transaction advisors to the deal.

In addition to Prajay Advisors LLP, other investors including Agility Ventures, Expert Dojo, and prominent angel investors such as Ahana Gautam; Nitish Mittersain – Founder of Nazara Technologies; Sarath Sura – Founder of Sunn91 Ventures; and Marwari Angels, who have invested approximately $250,000 through convertible instruments were converted into equity in this round.

Since its inception, Lifechart has positively impacted over 250,000 customers, primarily from Tier II, III, and IV cities across India, with its innovative approach to gut wellness. The brand’s full-stack solution offers an end-to-end experience from diagnosis to treatment, leveraging AI-driven technology and a network of highly trained medical professionals.

Other news

Garuda Aerospace drones deployed by Greater Chennai Corporation for disaster management 

Drone startup Garuda Aerospace has deployed delivery drones in Chennai to support the Greater Chennai Corporation for disaster management’s rescue efforts amid the ongoing floods in the city. 

Garuda’s advanced drone capabilities will help deliver critical supplies and flood packets to those affected. The company has previously engaged with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to deliver essential supplies during floods in Assam and Andhra Pradesh.

TecSox partners with magicpin to offer exclusive online deals

TecSox, a tech accessories brand, partnered with magicpin to provide exclusive, timely offers to magicpin’s extensive customer base of 10 million, driving significant value just ahead of the festive season.

This initiative aims to strengthen TecSox’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) efforts while enhancing customer satisfaction by providing unbeatable savings. In just one week, TecSox has successfully sold hundreds of exclusive coupons to magicpin users, a clear testament to the strong appeal of this offer.

AVPL International and Taiwan’s Ahamani Advanced Inc. sign MoU

AVPL International, an agritech and drone technology startup, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Taiwan-based Ahamani Advanced Inc. to facilitate the dual certification of Indian drone pilots, allowing them to earn credentials from both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) in Taiwan.

The collaboration was announced at the 2024 India-Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Summit organised by FICCI. This initiative is expected to broaden career opportunities for Indian pilots in global markets, particularly in agriculture, logistics, and urban management sectors.

With certifications recognised in countries that adhere to CAA standards, Indian drone pilots will be better positioned to compete for jobs globally.

TrioTree Technologies expands into Bahrain, Saudi Arabia

TrioTree Technologies, a healthcare IT solutions provider, has expanded to the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian markets, further solidifying its presence in the Middle East.

This expansion follows the company’s success in Bahrain and is driven by the growing opportunities in the region, especially in Saudi Arabia, which is experiencing significant healthcare digitalisation efforts.

FarmERP empowers Middle East agribusinesses with advanced AI and ML solutions

Agritech startup FarmERP aims to transform the Middle Eastern agricultural landscape with its advanced digital platform powered by its AI and ML-based offerings, FarmGyan. The solutions are specifically designed to tackle the region’s unique agricultural challenges, representing a significant advancement in boosting crop health, increasing yields for local agribusinesses, and mitigating climate challenges. 

FarmERP will also showcase its cutting-edge technologies at the 41st Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, endorsed by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Ecom Express champions women delivery partners

Ecom Express is actively empowering women in the logistics sector during the peak festive delivery season. With a surge in demand for timely deliveries, Ecom Express is spotlighting the contributions of its female delivery partners, reinforcing its commitment to gender inclusivity across the logistics industry.

Speaking on the ongoing peak season, Swati Mor, CHRO, Ecom Express, said, “This season symbolises resilience and strength. Our female delivery partners, along with in-office employees, are proving their excellence in this dynamic field. We are committed to supporting them by ensuring safe and empowering work environments where they can thrive.”

InCred Insight partners with Solytics Partners for financial innovation

InCred Insight Partners, a provider of consulting services for financial institutions, partnered with Solytics Partners, an advanced analytics and compliance solutions provider.

The collaboration will focus on delivering comprehensive solutions in risk management, financial crime compliance, and advanced analytics, helping clients optimise costs and strengthen compliance.

Rapido deploys its largest EV auto fleet in Bengaluru

Ride-sharing platform Rapido has deployed its largest electric auto fleet in Bengaluru. With over 4,000 captains operating in two shifts, Rapido’s EV autos have already completed more than 2.25 million rides, covering over 15.6 million kms.

This transition to electric autos has resulted in saving 1,036 tonnes of CO2 emissions, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of urban transportation in the city.

YES BANK appoints Nirav Dalal as Country Head–Financial Markets

YES BANK appointed Nirav Dalal as the bank’s Country Head – Financial Markets. In his new role, Dalal will be responsible for leading the bank’s financial markets business, encompassing both proprietary and client-facing operations within the treasury domain.

Based at the bank’s headquarters in Mumbai, he will report to Manish Jain, Country Head – Wholesale Banking.

Burkert inaugurates a new manufacturing facility in Pune to strengthen its portfolio in India

Burkert Fluid Control Systems India Private Limited, a manufacturer of measurement and control systems for liquids and gases, inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Pune, Maharashtra.

Located in Talegaon MIDC, Phase 2, the new facility spans 50,000 square feet and is equipped with advanced machining centers, assembly lines, and testing centers. It has the capacity to produce over 30,000 valves and 500 systems annually.

Initially, the Talegaon facility will focus on manufacturing Mass Flow Controllers, Angle Seat Valves, Diaphragm Valves, and System Solutions, with plans to expand production in phases to meet the diverse needs of Indian industries.

(This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.)

The standards and regulations around 6G should ensure inclusivity and affordability for all, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday.

At the inauguration of the international 6G symposium at India Mobile Congress (IMC) currently underway, Scindia noted that as standards are set for 6G, India has a tremendous opportunity given its proven capabilities in technology, and engineering.

“Our 6G standards characterised by unprecedented speed, low latency and transformative applications must be for all… inclusive and accessible and affordable, and only then will it represent true value for all of humanity,” the minister said.

Scindia also emphasised the importance of ensuring cybersecurity for every citizen that avails 6G opportunity.

“As we set the regulatory environment, India has a tremendous capability to contribute to formulation of regulations,” he said.

India accounts for a substantial chunk of STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) graduates. Its tech prowess presents a major opportunity as the world moves towards 6G.

“About 31.7 % of the world’s STEM graduates hail from India. This presents a huge opportunity to be a vibrant supporter of 6G technology which will open doors for AI, Internet of Things, and machine learning…,” the minister said.

The BharatPe Group reduced its EBITDA loss before share-based payment expense by 75% to Rs 209 crore in FY24 from Rs 826 crore in the previous financial year.

Revenue from operations grew 39% to Rs. 1,426 crore from Rs 1,029 crore in the previous year. The consolidated loss before tax decreased by 50% from Rs 941 crore to Rs 474 crore, while cash burn dropped by 85% year-on-year.

In its core business areas, BharatPe expanded its average merchant lending portfolio by 40% compared to FY23. It enhanced its payment solutions by introducing Android POS systems for merchants and continued to see strong adoption of its soundbox devices, the company said in the statement.

“We have further strengthened our position as the preferred fintech partner for millions of offline merchants and have seen significant and sustained growth across business verticals during the course of FY24. We continued to stay focused on our mission and enabled credit access for offline merchants and SMEs across the length and breadth of Bharat in FY24,” said Negi.

Calling FY24 a “milestone year” for BharatPe as it turned EBITDA positive in October 2023, Negi said, “We considerably slashed our cash burn in FY24 and are on track to build a sustainable and profitable business. Over the last year, we have been able to partner with renowned financial institutions to extend credit access to merchants, which is a great validation for our business,” he added.

Looking ahead, BharatPe plans to focus on growing its lending vertical, launching new products in POS and soundbox, and scaling its consumer business.

The company had appointed Negi, previously the CFO of SBI Card, as its CFO in August 2022. Negi took charge as BharatPe’s CEO in April this year.