Author: Shashank Prakash

In today’s fast-paced business world, networking is everything. But what happens to those piles of business cards collected at expos, summits, and vendor meets? Most of them get lost or forgotten. Enter Grid AI, a startup transforming how professionals save and manage contacts—using just WhatsApp. With over 1.6 million users, Grid AI’s WhatsApp bot is a game-changer. All you need to do is send a “Hi” on +91 99856 57678, click a photo of any business card, and the bot instantly replies with a structured, ready-to-save digital contact. No logins, no apps—just instant access. It even includes “Add to Contacts”…

In the small town of Bhandara, Maharashtra — far from the hustle of big startup hubs — threefriends saw a gap no one was fxing.Why should local cafes pay high commissions? Why should customers pay ₹30–₹50 extra forfood delivery?That’s how Foodo was born — a food delivery startup with a bold idea:No commission. No delivery charge. Just good food, delivered freely. A Startup Without Hidden Costs Founded by Atharva Wankhede, Ayush Tayade, and Mrunal Naik, Foodo promised to never take asingle rupee in commission from restaurants, or delivery fees from customers.In a world where platforms charge 20–30% per order, Foodo…

In a country where access to quality education is often limited by infrastructure and funding, one young innovator is working to change the narrative. At just 16, Keshav Kushwaha launched Enthrox – Orbeato, an EdTech startup aiming to make AI-powered education accessible and affordable for all schools—especially those in underserved regions. The Mission Behind Orbeato Enthrox – Orbeato was built with a clear purpose: to bridge the technology gap in traditional schools. Unlike platforms targeting elite institutions, Orbeato was designed for schools with limited resources—those operating on tight budgets, using basic hardware, and lacking digital infrastructure. The startup delivers a…

In a major boost to India’s venture capital landscape, Physis Capital has raised ₹200 crore in the first close of its debut fund—setting the stage to invest in more than 15 high-growth startups by mid-2025. With a sharp focus on bridging the gap between seed and Series A funding, Physis Capital is positioning itself as the go-to growth partner for emerging founders in India. This fresh capital is part of a ₹500 crore target fund, backed by prominent family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional investors from India and abroad. The VC firm plans to deploy between ₹8 crore and ₹24…

Bengaluru-based NBFC Techfino has raised ₹65 crore in a fresh equity round led by Stellaris Venture Partners and Saison Capital, the venture arm of Tokyo-listed Credit Saison. This capital infusion marks a major step in Techfino’s mission to strengthen financial access for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in India’s underserved regions. The startup, founded in 2019 by former banking veterans Rajesh Panda, Jayaprakash Patra, and Ratikant Satapathy, operates across two core lending verticals: education financing and secured loans against property (LAP) for small business owners. With a sharp focus on tier 2 and 3 cities, Techfino is now doubling down…

Gurugram-based startup Darwix AI has raised $1.5 million in a seed funding round to further its mission of transforming enterprise sales and customer service through a powerful generative AI platform. Founded in 2022 by Ajay Sethi and Hanit Awal, both IIM alumni, Darwix is building a next-gen, AI-first stack that reimagines how businesses interact with customers across channels. The investment round was led by Rebalance, Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), and JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation, alongside Growth Sense, Growth91, and respected angel investors including Ankit Nagori, Sanjay Suri, Amit Lakhotia, and Mekin Maheshwari. Darwix AI’s platform, Transform+, offers enterprises an…

Richa Srivastava is a name that shines brightly across multiple fields—Intellectual Property (IP), writing, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and even spiritual guidance. With a strong background in IP and content, Richa has already founded two startups in these domains. Her deep expertise in law and content has helped her build a solid professional identity. But her journey doesn’t stop there. In 2019, she was a finalist in an international beauty pageant, and even traveled to Greece for the grand finale, proving that beauty and brains go hand in hand. She is also a published author with an eBook on Kindle and…

Made in India. Made for the Planet.Meet Chewie, the world’s first AI-native home appliance—engineered not in Silicon Valley, but right here in India. At a time when global giants talk about sustainability, a homegrown company, Mankomb, is building it from the ground up, one home at a time. If you’ve ever rooted for Indian innovation to take on the likes of LG and Bosch, this is your moment. A New Chapter in Indian InnovationMankomb isn’t just launching a product—it’s starting a movement. In a world facing climate urgency, Mankomb brings a breakthrough solution that makes sustainable living effortless.Chewie is more…

Climate-tech startup Stride Green has raised $3.5 million in a seed funding round, aiming to revolutionize financing in India’s growing clean energy and electric mobility sectors. The round was led by Micelio Technology Fund, Incubate Fund Asia, and a few other strategic investors. Stride Green is building a tech-enabled asset financing and lifecycle management platform, specifically designed for climate-positive businesses. It offers leasing and financing solutions to startups and enterprises working in electric mobility, battery storage, and renewable energy. With this funding, the company plans to expand its team and strengthen its in-house technological capabilities. Founded by Ishpreet Gandhi and…

Crypto exchange platform Gemini, founded by the Winklevoss twins, has officially filed to go public, marking a major milestone in the recovery of the global cryptocurrency market. The company submitted its confidential S-1 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling its intent to list on a public stock exchange in the coming months. Founded in 2014 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini has been a key player in the digital asset ecosystem, offering cryptocurrency trading, custody, and wallet services. The move to go public comes at a time when crypto sentiment is improving globally, and regulatory clarity…