D2C pickle brand FarmDidi, which empowers rural women entrepreneurs, has raised ₹7 crore+ in a seed round led by Samved Ventures, with participation from LetsVenture, Indigram Labs, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, and angel investors from IIM Calcutta and Symbiosis. Funding Snapshot Empowering Kitchens, Empowering Women Founded in 2022 by Manjari Sharma, Anukrit Johari, and Asmita Ghodeshwar, FarmDidi enables rural women (“Didis”) to produce homemade, chemical-free pickles and condiments at the farmgate. Combining traditional recipes with modern food safety protocols, the startup ensures clean-label, traceable products that retain the taste of Indian kitchens while meeting global quality standards. “FarmDidi was built…
Author: Aman Atulya
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the Indian arm of the Japanese auto major, will commission its first dedicated electric two-wheeler manufacturing facility at Narasapura in Kolar district, Karnataka, with an investment of ₹600 crore. Investment Snapshot EV Push in India The new facility will manufacture Honda’s Activa e: (with swappable battery system) and QC1 (fixed battery, 80km range). Both models are currently assembled at Narasapura but will now move into full-scale EV-focused production. Honda’s shift aligns with India’s rapid adoption of urban EV mobility and is expected to create significant employment opportunities in Karnataka’s automobile sector, according to Industries…
Electric mobility startup Snap-E Cabs has secured $2.5 million in a bridge funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with participation from ah! Ventures and angel investors including Shish Kharesiya, Praveen Chand, and Jaspreet Kaur. Funding Snapshot Redefining EV Ride-Hailing Founded in 2022 by Mayank Bindal and Mahendra Bindal, Snap-E Cabs operates as an EV-first ride-hailing platform while also leasing EV cars to fleet operators. Distinct from demand-aggregator models, Snap-E owns 100% of its fleet and has built an exclusive EV charging infrastructure. The fresh capital will fuel product development, leasing additional EVs, and expanding operations in Delhi NCR. The…
Edtech unicorn Eruditus has raised up to $150 million in a refinancing deal led by Mars Growth Capital, a joint venture between Liquidity and Japan’s MUFG Bank, with participation from HSBC. Funding Snapshot Scaling Global Learning Founded by Ashwin Damera, Eruditus partners with 80+ universities, including MIT, Harvard, Wharton, INSEAD, and Cambridge, offering 700+ professional learning programs to over 1 million learners in 80+ countries. The new capital will provide financial flexibility to support international expansion and operational scaling, reinforcing Eruditus’ long-term vision of profitable growth. Momentum in Tough Times The deal comes at a critical time for India’s edtech…
Prop-tech startup WeHouse, formerly known as Hocomoco, has secured Rs 25 crore ($2.8 million) in a Series A round comprising debt and equity. The funding saw participation from existing backers including Anthill Ventures, Suresh Babu Daggubati, Gaurav Marya, and Mohnish Yerra. Funding Snapshot Building Smarter Homes Founded in 2017 by Sripad Nandiraj and Rohan Vinayak Reddy, WeHouse provides tech-driven solutions for home construction and reconstruction. Acting as an aggregator, it connects architects, contractors, material suppliers, engineers, and skilled labour—streamlining what is often a fragmented industry. Its platform covers the entire construction lifecycle, from approvals and design to execution and interiors,…
E-commerce giant Amazon has expanded its ultra-fast delivery service, Amazon Now, to Mumbai after strong traction in Bengaluru and Delhi. Launched earlier this year, the service promises doorstep delivery of thousands of essentials — from groceries and snacks to personal care and festive supplies — in under 10 minutes, directly challenging quick commerce rivals. Rapid Growth Backed by Micro-Fulfilment To power Amazon Now, the company has already set up more than 100 micro-fulfilment centers across three cities and plans to add hundreds more by year-end. These compact, tech-enabled warehouses are strategically placed in neighborhoods to reduce delivery time. According to…
Crion Technologies, a deep-tech company specializing in digital twin, IoT, AI, AR/VR, and cloud-based solutions, has raised ₹3.5 crore in funding led by SIG Tattva, the corporate venture capital arm of Somany Impresa Group. The fresh capital will fuel the growth of Clonos™, Crion’s flagship digital twin platform, which enables enterprises to manage assets with real-time insights and predictive capabilities, reducing downtime and driving operational efficiency. Founded in 2016 by Rahul K, Karthik Pondugula, and Rathees Paneerselvam, Crion is building next-generation solutions for industrial asset management and workforce transformation. Its offerings include 3D digital twin creation and the “Augmented Workforce”…
Biokraft Foods, a foodtech startup developing structured cultivated meat, has secured Rs 2 crore in pre-seed funding led by GVFL. The capital will be used to strengthen R&D, accelerate product development, and advance regulatory approvals as the company prepares for commercialization Founded in 2023 by Kamalnayan Tibrewal, Biokraft is building cultivated meat products designed to replicate the taste and texture of conventional meat. The startup is leveraging advanced biotechnology and 3D bioprinting, while adopting a hybrid approach that blends cultivated meat with food-safe ingredients. This method aims to make products more affordable, scalable, and realistic for consumers. Biokraft has already…
Bio-tech startup BacAlt Biosciences has raised $2 million (around Rs 18 crore) in a pre-seed funding round led by Avaana Capital, with participation from Lubrizol InnoVentures. Marking a strong early validation for its vision to replace petrochemical ingredients with sustainable, bio-based alternatives. Scaling R&D and Pilot Production The proceeds will be directed towards expanding R&D, building pilot production facilities, strengthening hiring, and developing go-to-market strategies for geographic expansion. The company aims to position itself at the forefront of India’s bio-manufacturing ecosystem. Founders and Vision Founded in 2023 by Shruti Kutmutia and Pranav Nair, BacAlt develops bio-based polymers and specialty ingredients…
Cookware startup Ember has raised USD 3.2 million in seed funding to accelerate innovation and expand its presence in India’s premium kitchenware segment. The round saw participation from angel investors and industry experts, with celebrity chef Saransh Goila joining as Chief Brand Officer to guide product design and growth strategy. Funding Snapshot Market Gap & Brand Edge India’s cookware market has traditionally lacked premium, chef-driven options, leaving modern home cooks with limited choice in high-performance kitchen tools. Ember addresses this gap by combining durable materials, ergonomic design, and culinary expertise. Its range includes cookware engineered for efficiency, even heat distribution,…