Early childhood education-focused startup CuePilot AI has raised $1.8 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Unilazer Ventures, backed by Ronnie Screwvala. The round also saw participation from Eximius Ventures and Titan Capital. The company said the fresh capital will be used to strengthen its voice and AI technology stack, build integrations for new markets, and expand go-to-market efforts across India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and eventually the United States. Automating Operations for Preschools and Daycares CuePilot is building a voice-first, AI-native management platform designed specifically for preschools and daycare centres, a segment where operational processes remain largely…
Author: Aman Atulya
Industrial B2B solutions provider Magma has closed its Series A funding round at $8 million, following a $3 million extension to its previously announced $5 million raise in April 2025. The latest infusion includes $1.2 million from existing investors Capria Ventures and Avinya Ventures, $1.3 million from Gujarat Venture Finance Limited (GVFL), the venture capital arm of the Gujarat government, and $0.5 million from AVNM Ventures. With this round, Magma’s total funding now stands at $11.3 million, including $3.3 million raised at the seed stage. Capital to Drive Expansion and Product Growth Magma said the fresh capital will be used…
ACME Solar Holdings on Thursday said it has secured ₹4,725 crore in long-term financing from leading Indian financial institutions to fund renewable energy projects and optimise its capital structure by lowering borrowing costs. The financing includes a mix of greenfield project funding and refinancing, with tenors ranging between 18 and 20 years, providing long-term visibility on cash flows and reducing exposure to interest-rate volatility. Greenfield Projects Backed by Long-Tenure Debt Under new greenfield financings, ACME Solar raised ₹2,716 crore from Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for its 300 MW ACME Sigma FDRE project, which includes four hours of battery energy storage.…
Deep-tech venture capital firm Speciale Invest has launched its ₹1,400 crore Growth Fund II, aimed at backing early-stage startups that have moved beyond technology validation but are yet to achieve predictable commercial revenues. The fund seeks to address a critical gap in India’s deeptech capital ecosystem, particularly for companies transitioning from R&D-led innovation to scalable businesses. The Growth Fund II will invest in 12–15 startups, with an average cheque size of $5–8 million, supporting founders as they scale manufacturing, build capacity, and compete globally. Unlike its early-stage funds, Speciale expects this vehicle to attract a more institutional LP base, while…
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future promise. It is the present-day power shaping economies, geopolitics, jobs, and innovation worldwide. And in 2025, the global AI leaderboard just delivered one of its most exciting updates yet. According to Stanford University’s Global AI Vibrancy Tool 2025, the United States continues to dominate the AI race, China holds strong in second place, and India has made a dramatic four-spot jump to rank third globally, overtaking several advanced economies. This annual report evaluates 36 countries across seven critical pillars including AI research, talent, infrastructure, government policy, business impact, ethics, and public perception. The…
AIESEC in Delhi IIT, in association with the Office of Academic Outreach and New Initiatives, IIT Delhi, successfully hosted Stand By Her 2025, its flagship leadership and gender equity initiative, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The event brought together young leaders, professionals, and changemakers to celebrate women’s leadership and drive conversations on inclusion, empowerment, and resilience. Aligned with Global Development Goals Stand By Her 2025 was supported by Havells as the Official Partner and the Kabaddi Champions League as the Official Sports Partner. The initiative aligned closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus…
A Nationwide Movement Led by Children Troovy, India’s fastest-growing healthy snacks brand for families, has announced the launch of the Snackmakers Challenge, a nationwide initiative designed to put children at the heart of food creation. Positioned as India’s biggest kid-led snack revolution, the challenge invites children to imagine, design, and co-create the next generation of healthy snacks. The Question That Sparked a Brand Troovy’s journey did not begin in a boardroom. It began on a family road trip, when four-year-old Vihaan, now one of the brand’s co-founders, asked a simple but powerful question: “Why can’t chips make me stronger?” That…
A Strategic Move into Senior Digestive Wellness AGEasy, the consumer products brand under Antara Senior Care, has partnered with Wellbeing Nutrition to launch a dedicated Gut Care Range formulated specifically for seniors. The collaboration addresses a critical yet often overlooked aspect of ageing digestive health through products designed exclusively for the physiological needs of older adults. Gut Health: A Growing Concern Among India’s Seniors Digestive discomfort is increasingly common among India’s ageing population. Recent studies reveal that 4 in 10 urban seniors suffer from persistent gut issues, including constipation, IBS and IBD, while nearly 50% actively seek medical treatment. Despite…
Rainmatter, Unicorn India Ventures Lead Funding Round Climate intelligence startup Aurassure has raised ₹25 crore (approximately $3 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by Rainmatter, the investment arm of Zerodha, and Unicorn India Ventures. Maithan Alloys Limited also participated in the round. Building Real-Time Climate Intelligence Infrastructure Founded in 2022 by Akanksha Priyadarshini, Aurassure operates a real-time, hyperlocal climate intelligence platform designed for enterprises and public-sector users. The platform integrates street-level sensors, satellite data, and AI-driven models to monitor environmental parameters such as air quality, heat stress, rainfall, flooding, and wind patterns. The startup focuses on delivering actionable…
Capital-A Leads Pre-Seed Round Deep tech engineering startup Quintrans has raised $750,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Capital-A, with participation from Sumeet Kabra of RR Global, SanchiConnect, AIC-Pinnacle, existing partner IIMA Ventures, and other investors. Funding to Power Manufacturing and R&D Expansion According to the company, the proceeds will be used to set up an in-house manufacturing and advanced testing facility in Pune, accelerate research and development in electromagnetic actuation, and build the core engineering and operations team needed for commercial rollout. Building India-Built Linear Motion Systems Founded in 2021 by Pranay Luniya, Kartik Kulkarni, Aniruddha Atigre, and…