Author: Shashank Prakash

Innovative solutions for everyday problems by local brands’ driving consumer preference and brand love New Delhi, 23.09.2025: A renewed sense of pride in homegrown brands is shaping the way consumers in cities and towns make purchasing decisions. Over half of respondents say they prefer shopping from homegrown and small business brands, citing accessibility, relatable stories, and authentic value as key reasons for their loyalty. Rukam Capital, a venture capital firm backing early-stage consumer brands, unveils this in a comprehensive study mapping the evolving behavior, preferences, and purchase drivers of Indian shoppers. India’s consumer economy is poised to become the second…

Weekly Overview Indian startups raised a total of $348 million across 28 deals between Sep 01 – Sep 05, 2025. This includes 6 growth-stage and 18 early-stage funding rounds, while one startup kept its funding undisclosed. In comparison, the previous week saw $127.59 million raised across 24 deals. This reflects a 2.7X jump in total funding on a week-on-week basis. Growth-Stage Deals Growth and late-stage investments dominated this week with a total of $285 million, led by: Early-Stage Deals 21 early-stage startups raised a cumulative $63 million. Key rounds include: City-wise Funding Activity Sector-wise Funding Split Stage-wise Funding Split Key…

Emerging as a hotbed of AI and tech innovation, Gujarat hosts a vibrant ecosystem of startups driving transformation across sectors—from healthcare to agriculture. Here’s a look at five standout AI-led startups that are redefining industries in the state: 1. SunBots Innovation LLP (Ahmedabad) Domain: Assistive Tech | Focus: Navigation for the visually impairedWhat they do: SunBots has developed a lightweight, AI-powered wearable device that uses computer vision to convert visual data into audio cues—enabling greater mobility and independence for people with visual impairments Gujarat NowIndiaAI. 2. Kroop AI (Gujarat) Domain: Deepfake Detection & Content IntegrityWhat they do: Kroop AI builds…

Mom-wear brand House of Zelena has secured ₹7 crore ($800K) in a Seed funding round, co-led by Sprout Venture Partners and M Venture Partners, with additional participation from GSF and other angel investors. This investment comes after its earlier angel round, taking the brand’s total funding to $1.2 million. Growth and Expansion Plans According to the company, the fresh capital will be utilized to strengthen supply chain capabilities, drive product innovation across maternity apparel, and enhance its mom-first ecosystem through technology integrations and community-building initiatives. Founded in 2022 by Hina Priyadarshini and Mayank Kamal, House of Zelena (HOZ) is on…

Quick-commerce startup FirstClub has raised $23 million (approx. ₹192 crore) in its Series A round, led by Accel and RTP Global, with participation from Blume Founders Fund, 2am VC, Paramark Ventures, and Aditya Birla Ventures. The round also included a small debt component, according to media reports. This latest funding has pushed FirstClub’s valuation to $120 million, nearly tripling its value since December 2024, when it raised $8 million in its seed round from Accel and RTP Global. Expansion Plans The fresh funds will be used to scale operations, open more dark stores, and expand product categories. Founded in June…

Bengaluru-based short-form learning platform Seekho has raised $28 million (around ₹233 crore) in its Series B round, led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The round also saw participation from Goodwater Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Elevation Capital. According to sources, Seekho’s post-money valuation is expected to touch $120–130 million. This takes the company’s total funding to $39 million across three rounds, with backing from marquee investors such as Lightspeed, Elevation, PointOne Capital, Sprout Investment, AngelList, Succeed, and a group of prominent angel investors including Gaurav Munjal, Anupam Mittal, Alok Mittal, Harsh Daga, Abhinav Daga, Hemant Goteti, and Zishaan Hayath. Growth and…

Travel distribution platform TBO Tek Limited has announced that its step-down subsidiary TBO LLC will acquire Classic Vacations LLC, a US-based luxury travel operator, for up to $125 million in an all-cash transaction. As per regulatory filings, TBO Tek will extend an inter-corporate loan of up to ₹350 crore ($40 million) to its wholly owned unit Tek Travels DMCC to help fund the buyout. Additionally, the board has cleared a letter of comfort and corporate guarantee in favour of Catalyst Trusteeship, enabling TBO LLC to secure credit lines of up to $70 million from Standard Chartered Bank. Founded in 2005,…

Gurugram-based pain-care and wellness startup Zanskar has raised ₹2.8 crore in a seed funding round led by Zeropearl VC. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors including Pawan Gupta (Fashinza), Amit Baid (10X Growth Ventures), and Nidhish Mundra (Oaktree Capital). The company plans to utilize the fresh capital to broaden its product range, strengthen R&D efforts, and boost marketing across digital platforms. Additionally, Zanskar will scale its offline retail presence while continuing to expand its D2C business. Founded by IIT Delhi alumni Anshul Mittal and Manu Mittal, Zanskar currently offers a joint pain cream infused with Vitamin B6…

Singapore-based growth investment firm Venturi Partners has announced the first close of its second fund at $150 million, with participation from both returning and new investors. The firm is targeting a final close of $225 million by June 2026. The newly raised Fund II will back 10 high-growth consumer brands across India and Southeast Asia, with planned ticket sizes ranging between $15–40 million per company. The investment focus will remain on purpose-driven businesses across consumer categories poised to benefit from rising disposable incomes, favorable demographics, and digital adoption. Additionally, investors will be offered co-investment opportunities on a 1:1 basis alongside…

The digital gaming industry is evolving rapidly, and platforms like Playurd are redefining how users interact with games and apps. Built for personalization, accessibility, and global community engagement, Playurd positions itself as a future-ready hub for gamers and developers alike. Personalization at Its CorePlayurd empowers users with full customization—from colors and layouts to card order—ensuring every user has a unique interface. Upcoming AI-driven theme suggestions and automatic dark/light mode switching will make personalization effortless. Privacy and Security FirstIn today’s digital age, privacy is non-negotiable. Playurd’s Ghost Mode allows discreet browsing with adjustable opacity. Planned features include incognito profiles, hidden sessions,…