PRISM, the parent company of OYO, has announced the launch of CheckIn, a new premium value hotel collection aimed at reshaping India’s mid-market hospitality segment. India’s Largest Premium Value Collection Bringing together established brands like Townhouse Hotels, Clubhouse, Sunday Hotels, Belvilla, and Palette Hotels, CheckIn enters the market with over 1,300 hotels across India. This makes it the largest premium value chain in the country, targeting India’s rising middle class and aspirational travelers. CheckIn promises a consistent, professional, and reliable guest experience across all properties. Each hotel will be managed by trained staff and partner management companies to maintain uniform…
Author: Aman Atulya
Odisha-based deep-tech startup Coratia Technologies has signed a ₹66 crore (approx. $7.5 million) contract with the Indian Navy to supply and maintain its indigenously developed Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROVs). The deal marks the Navy’s first large-scale induction of India-built UWROVs into active operations. Defence Tech Breakthrough Coratia’s flagship UWROV Jalasimha has already cleared Technology Readiness Level-9 – a NASA-based mission framework – following rigorous testing and certification, paving the way for its naval deployment. Alongside Jalasimha, the startup has also developed Jaladuta and Navya (an autonomous surface vehicle), equipped with AI-driven sonar mapping and real-time analytics. Designed with frugal…
Influencer marketing in India has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry, but its foundations have long been questioned. Fake metrics, barter collaborations, and endless unfulfilled promises left both brands and creators dissatisfied. Stepping into this fragmented ecosystem, PairPinnacle positions itself as a smart connector built on trust, clarity, and measurable value. The Idea Behind PairPinnacle PairPinnacle was founded with the belief that genuine engagement is more important than vanity numbers. Traditional influencer marketing often sidelines nano and micro creators, despite their stronger audience connections. PairPinnacle flips this approach, ensuring that even creators with 1,000+ followers can access meaningful paid opportunities if…
Climate-tech startup Equilibrium has raised $3 million in its first funding round, with backing from Kalaari Capital, Avaana Capital, and Peak XV Partners. The funding comes as demand grows for carbon removal solutions that help businesses meet net-zero goals. What Equilibrium Does Founded in 2024 and based in Bengaluru, Equilibrium provides full-stack carbon removal solutions. Its projects include agroforestry, regenerative farming, mangrove planting, and biochar. These initiatives serve more than 60,000 farmers and coastal communities.The startup has a pipeline targeting over 20 million tonnes of CO₂ removal over the long term. Use of Funds & Growth Plan With the new…
Diagnostics major Metropolis Healthcare has announced the acquisition of Ambika Pathology Laboratory, a Kolhapur-based pathology chain, for ₹17 crore. The deal includes a deferred payment of ₹1.7 crore, structured under a business transfer agreement. Strengthening Regional Presence Ambika Pathology runs a central laboratory in Kolhapur along with 12 patient touchpoints, offering a broad portfolio of diagnostic tests. Nearly 75% of its revenue comes from walk-in B2C customers, reflecting its strong retail presence in the region. With this acquisition, Metropolis aims to transform Ambika into a mini reference lab, catering to Kolhapur and surrounding districts in western Maharashtra. The move is…
PayU, the payments and fintech arm of Prosus, has increased its stake in Mindgate Solutions to 70%, making it the company’s majority shareholder. Founders George Sam and Guhan Muthuswamy will retain a 30% minority stake and continue leading operations. Funding Snapshot Powering UPI’s Growth Mindgate processes 10 billion+ monthly transactions, representing over $1 trillion in annual payments. It has played a critical role in the rise of UPI, which recently crossed 20 billion monthly transactions, and provides infrastructure to banks and institutions across India, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the UK. Combined Strength Mindgate’s real-time issuing and payment platforms…
Gameskraft, one of India’s largest real-money gaming startups, has laid off 120 employees across departments as part of a restructuring drive following the government’s blanket ban on online money games. Layoffs and Support Package Impacted employees will receive severance pay, leave encashment, and extended health insurance until March 2026, with an option to convert policies into individual plans. Founder Prithvi Singh said the decision was driven by “external realities” rather than employee performance, promising support for affected staff during the transition. Scandal and Setback The restructuring comes as Gameskraft faces a fraud scandal involving former CFO Ramesh Prabhu, accused of…
Building materials platform Infra.Market is raising Rs 731.5 crore (approximately $83 million) in a fresh Series G funding round, led by Silverline Homes, with participation from Tiger Global, NK Squared, Accel India, Nexus Ventures, and Evolvence India. Funding Breakdown and Valuation Silverline Homes, controlled by Infra.Market founders Aaditya Sharda and Souvik Sengupta, is leading the round with Rs 250 crore. NK Squared and Tiger Global are contributing Rs 200 crore and Rs 176 crore, respectively, while Accel India and Evolvence India invest Rs 44 crore each and Nexus Ventures adds Rs 17.6 crore. The round values the company at $2.8…
EvoluteIQ, an enterprise automation company, has raised $53 million in a minority growth funding round led by Baird Capital, underscoring rising investor confidence in AI-powered business process automation. Funding Use and Expansion Plans The fresh capital will be deployed to accelerate international expansion, strengthen research and development (R&D), and scale operations in India, where the company houses its largest R&D hub. EvoluteIQ aims to cement its position in the emerging agentic AI market, which represents a shift from reactive automation to proactive, intelligent orchestration. Co-founder and CEO Sameet Gupte said, “India has been instrumental in our journey, providing the technological…
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is set to invest up to $25 million in Trifecta Capital’s fourth venture debt fund. The fund aims to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore, including a greenshoe option of Rs 500 crore. Backing Innovation Across Sectors Trifecta’s latest fund will provide debt financing to startups from Series A stage onwards, focusing on high-growth sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), financial services, climate tech, AI infrastructure, manufacturing tech, and agritech. The fund also plans to expand into consumer, education, and healthcare segments. According to IFC, the…