As India’s private venture capital market froze under a brutal funding winter, slashing seed-stage investments by 39 percent to just $727 million in the first nine months of 2025, a new force is quietly reshaping the Indian entrepreneurial map. It is the state governments! While global investors pulled back, Indian states stepped forward, turning startup policy into a full-fledged economic competition that is not only cushioning the funding blow but also rewriting how young ventures survive their first few years. Between January and September 2025, seed-stage investments from private VCs...

The recent Zepto funding marked a defining chapter in the Indian e-commerce and quick commerce market as the Mumbai-based startup secured $450 million in fresh capital from California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and General Catalyst, propelling its valuation to $7 billion from $5 billion just a year earlier. The milestone not only strengthens Zepto’s IPO plans but also intensifies the Blinkit and Swiggy competition, reshaping the India retail transformation that is rapidly redefining how consumers shop online and offline. The timing of this funding is particularly significant. Coming shortly...

Vernacular streaming platform Kuku FM (Mebigo Labs Pvt. Ltd) has raised $85 million in funding, providing a major push to lead India’s digital storytelling wave, and fuel Indian micro drama content, expand audio storytelling, scale vernacular short video experiences, and increase creator payouts in India to capture the next billion mobile viewers. The fresh funding round was led by Granite Asia (formerly GGV Capital), involving a mix of primary capital and secondary shares, which also saw some early investors partially exit. The financing confirmed by the founder, Lal Chand Bisu,...

Wealthtech startup Dezerv bagged $39.4 million in a Series C round led by Premji Invest and Accel’s Global Growth Fund, highlighting growing investor confidence in India’s expanding investment platform and asset management ecosystem, underscoring how the investment platform is pushing boundaries in India’s wealthtech and reshaping access to assets across markets. Dezerv funding led by existing backers Premji Invest and Accel’s Global Growth Fund has drawn international eyes to India’s fintech scene. The fresh infusion marks a pivotal moment in India’s wealthtech sector, reinforcing investor belief in Dezerv’s ability to...

Bengaluru-based fintech startup, GoodScore, has raised $13 million in Series A funding to expand its AI credit advisory and marketplace in tier II and tier III cities, aiming to scale its services and improve credit health by reaching more users. Alongside this move, fintech ventures now see new momentum in India’s growing credit health segment. In many parts of India, especially in tier II & III cities, people have little understanding of their credit. They don’t always track credit scores, don’t know what affects them, or how to improve them....

Singapore-based equity management platform Qapita has raised $26.5 million in a Series B funding round led by US-based Charles Schwab Corporation, with participation from existing investors Citi and MassMutual Ventures. The investment will bolster Qapita’s expansion into the US market and enhance its fund administration capabilities across multiple regions. “To enter into the United States with both a significant Series B investment from Charles Schwab and a strategic product collaboration brings together the best private market solution and one of the leading public platforms to help create a smooth transition...

Climate Tech in India is transforming rapidly as green startups attract record funding, with environmental tech, renewable energy, and electric mobility driving sustainable innovation at a time when clean energy investments are fueling the rise of new green unicorns. Even as global venture capital tightens its purse strings, Indian green startups are attracting larger cheques, deeper partnerships, and a growing share of clean energy investment. Data show that India now hosts 4,750 environment-tech companies, with 1,190 funded firms that have collectively raised $13.1 billion so far. The funding pattern tells...

Restaurant POS solutions have received a major boost as Petpooja, a leading SaaS platform, announced it raised $15.5 million in a Series C funding round to accelerate AI automation and strengthen services for food service businesses. The investment, led by Dharana Capital with participation from Ashish Gupta and Urban Company founders, marks Petpooja's first funding in four years. According to the Registrar of Companies' filings, Dharana Capital invested INR 82 crore. In comparison, Ashish Gupta contributed INR 1 crore, with the remaining allotments pending. The fresh round valued Petpooja at...

Ayurveda wellness brand Kapiva secured $60 million in Series D funding, backed by 360 ONE Asset, Vertex Growth, Vertex Ventures, 3one4 Capital, and Fireside Ventures. Kapiva raised $60 million in Series D funding, with $28 million in primary capital and $32 million in secondary share sales. The transaction enabled Fireside Ventures, one of the brand’s early backers, to exit. The round, co-led by 360 ONE Asset and Vertex Growth, also saw strong support from Vertex Ventures and 3one4 Capital. With this close, Kapiva has raised nearly $90 million since its...

AI startups in India will receive a significant boost as the country’s digital infrastructure expands, with increased data center capacity, advanced Edge Data Centers, and a stronger Mumbai Data Center Hub, thanks to the Indian government’s tax exemption policy. The country will double third-party Data Centre capacity from roughly 1,250 MW to about 2,400–2,500 MW by FY2028. That surge will change how founders design, train and scale AI products. Investors and operators will pour nearly INR 90,000 crore into the next phase of growth, unlocking significantly more data centre capacity,...