As India heads into Union Budget 2026, expectations across markets and industry remain restrained. After several years of elevated pandemic-era spending, the government is firmly back on a fiscal consolidation path, narrowing the deficit from over 9 per cent of GDP in FY21 to 5.6 per cent in FY24, 5.1 per cent in FY25 (RE), and a budgeted 4.9 per cent in FY26.
Their retreat is not episodic or tactical; it reflects a deeper reset in global capital allocation, fund economics, and India’s late-stage opportunity structure.
The investment will fund Iscon Balaji Foods' next growth phase, including capacity expansion, stronger farmer linked supply chains, improved processing and cold chain infrastructure, new value added product launches, and expansion into additional international markets.
The funds will be deployed to expand global infrastructure, enhance AI-driven predictive maintenance and SCADA analytics platforms, and scale business development across India and key international wind markets.
The growth capital will support large-scale deployment of electric trucks, fleet infrastructure and technology as the company moves from pilot projects to commercial operations
The company will use the seed capital to strengthen its technology platform and expand go-to-market efforts across key international trade corridors, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia
The company will use the seed capital to set up manufacturing facilities, accelerate certification programmes and scale engineering capabilities as it builds indigenous aerospace components for defence and global aviation markets
The Series B funding will be used to expand Sukino's out-of-hospital rehabilitation centres across new geographies as the company scales its post-acute care model amid rising demand for structured recovery services in India
The Series B2 funding will help the brand expand its offline retail footprint, strengthen its omni-channel presence and scale towards profitability amid strong growth prospects in India's footwear market
The Hyderabad-based company will use the Series A funding to scale its proprietary AI-powered platform, deepen co-investment-led partnerships and expand its footprint across high-growth global gaming markets
The seed round will be used to expand the brand's clean fragrance portfolio, deepen R&D capabilities and scale distribution as Secret Alchemist eyes long-term growth in India and global markets
India's VC market in 2025 was defined by selective capital, larger cheque sizes, and a clear shift toward profitability, execution depth, and exit visibility.
Globally, the capital reallocation toward technology-led fundamentals is already visible in hard numbers. To boost investments and stimulate growth in sectors such as the manufacturing sector, the government must consider reintroducing accelerated depreciation as a targeted fiscal incentive.
The company said that the funds will be utilized towards enhancing AI capabilities, boosting its India presence, and supporting expansion internationally.
With the deal announcement pending, Apax has beaten firms like Carlyle, Kedaara, Permira, ChrysCap, Multiples, and Verlinvest for the deal, according to a report by the Economic Times, citing people aware of the matter.
As venture capital turned selective in 2025, only a handful of D2C brands with clear category leadership and repeat consumption managed to raise large institutional rounds. These eight names stood out in a cautious funding year
Yet the broader slowdown has not affected every sub-segment equally. Dairy-tech, for example, has held investor interest due to its scale and everyday consumption patterns.
After an "enthusiastic" post-pandemic capital cycle, venture investors and founders alike have recalibrated expectations, shifting focus from rapid scale to resilient business models.
GST collections have remained robust, and the decline in the October Consumer Price Index is supposed to provide the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with a bit of wiggle room for potential rate cuts - a move that could accelerate capex spending and consumption-led growth.
NeoSapien said that it plans to direct the fresh capital towards accelerating product development, enhancing visibility in the market, and strengthening the team across functions.