Singapore | August 11, 2025 — E-commerce technology startup Graas AI has raised $9 million in a pre-Series B funding round led by Tin Men Capital, with participation from Incred Wealth, Orzon, and returning backers Integra Partners and Yuj Ventures. From Insights to Action Founded in 2022 by Prem Bhatia and Ashwin Puri, Graas AI has built Agent Foundry, a multi agent platform designed to execute not just analyze commerce tasks. Instead of relying on dashboards, the system uses autonomous AI agents to act directly on business data. Specialized agents in the platform include: The goal is simple: automate complex…
Author: Aman Atulya
New Delhi | August, 2025 — Indian fintech major BharatPe is in advanced discussions to secure $80–100 million in a pre-IPO equity round, with US-based Coatue Management expected to lead the investment. This would be BharatPe’s first major equity raise in four years. Funding Snapshot Profitability Milestone The fundraising comes on the back of BharatPe turning profitable in FY25, posting a ₹6 crore profit before tax (excluding ESOP costs) — a sharp turnaround from past losses. CEO Nalin Negi has underlined the company’s intent to maintain consistent profitability before listing on the public markets. Fintech Ecosystem Play Over the years,…
The Union Government has officially withdrawn the proposed Income-Tax Bill, 2025, which aimed to overhaul the nearly six-decade-old Income-Tax Act, 1961. The draft, introduced in the Lok Sabha in February, will now be reintroduced in a refined form on August 11, following extensive review. Why the Withdrawal? A Parliamentary Select Committee, chaired by MP Baijayant Panda, reviewed the bill and submitted over 285 recommendations addressing technical inconsistencies and language clarity. The government decided a new consolidated version would prevent confusion arising from multiple amendments. Key Suggestions Incorporated What’s Next The re-drafted bill is expected to be more accessible, taxpayer-friendly, and…
Bengaluru | August 9, 2025 — BlueStone Jewellery & Lifestyle, the Bengaluru-based fine jewellery retailer, has raised ₹693 crore from anchor investors ahead of its initial public offering (IPO) scheduled for August 11–13. The IPO is priced in the ₹492–₹517 range per share. Anchor Investment Details The company allotted 1.34 crore shares at ₹517 each to institutional investors including SBI Life Insurance, Goldman Sachs, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, and Axis MF. This strategic allocation signals strong institutional confidence in BlueStone’s growth story. IPO Structure The jewellery retailer aims to raise ₹1,540 crore through the offering: Business Footprint Founded in…
Bellevue / Bengaluru · August, 2025 — Enterprise contract management leader Icertis has announced a major leadership transition. Anand Subbaraman, currently the company’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding co-founder Samir Bodas, who will move into the role of Executive Chairman. Bodas, who co-founded Icertis in 2009 alongside Monish Darda, has led the company through a period of rapid growth to become a global leader in AI-powered contract lifecycle management (CLM). Under his leadership, Icertis has built a customer base that includes more than one-third of the Fortune 100 and achieved an annual recurring revenue of…
Delhi | August 8, 2025 — Raising capital may feel like validation. But buried inside every funding high is a term sheet and that’s where founders often lose control without realizing it. In 2020, two first-time founders of a promising SaaS company in Bengaluru celebrated a $2 million seed round. What they missed was a full ratchet anti-dilution clause buried deep in the term sheet. When their next round came at a down valuation, the clause kicked insignificantly diluting their own stake. They still ran the company, but no longer truly owned it. They’re not alone. What Is a Term…
Mumbai | August , 2025 — In one of the most significant downturns in India’s startup landscape, Reliance Industries has officially written off its entire ₹1,645 crore (~$200 million) investment in quick-commerce pioneer Dunzo. The investment, made through Reliance Retail Ventures in early 2022, had secured a 25.8% stake in the company. Dunzo’s collapse began with leadership upheaval when co-founder and CEO Kabeer Biswas exited in January 2025 shortly before the app and website went offline. Despite raising over $450 million, Dunzo’s fortunes declined amid relentless competition from Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart, accompanied by mass layoffs, unpaid salaries, and stalled…
Mumbai | August , 2025 — Equirus Group, a leading boutique financial services firm, has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to launch its non-deposit-taking NBFC, Equirus Finance. This strategic move significantly broadens Equirus’ offering, enabling seamless integration between its wealth management, investment banking, and institutional equities operations. Equirus Finance will offer credit products such as: These will be tailored for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), family offices, and corporate promoters, reinforcing the “One Equirus” experience melding advisory intelligence with capital execution. With an AUM exceeding $2.2 billion, Equirus now aims to build a diversified loan book of ₹3,000…
Hubballi | August, 2025 — Infosys has inaugurated its new Centre for Advanced AI, Cybersecurity, and Space Technology at the Hubballi Development Centre in Karnataka, joining its global “Infosys Living Labs” innovation network. The launch marks a pivotal step in establishing Hubballi as a regional tech powerhouse. With a local workforce now exceeding 1,000 employees, the facility underscores Infosys’s intent to deepen its footprint in North Karnataka. The centre specializes in cutting-edge domains AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, engineering services, SAP, and space technology and caters to an array of industries globally, including manufacturing, financial services, retail, and healthcare. Local dignitaries,…
Mumbai | August, 2025 — After a decade of building one of India’s largest digital health platforms, Siddharth Shah, co-founder and CEO of Pharmeasy, is stepping away from the corner office. Parent company API Holdings announced that Shah will transition to the role of Vice Chairman and Director, effective August 27. The move marks a leadership shift just as the company prepares for a long-anticipated IPO. Stepping in as the new Managing Director & CEO is Rahul Guha, who currently leads Thyrocare, the diagnostics chain acquired by API in 2021. Guha will now hold a dual role heading both Thyrocare…