Funding | Page 6

Even amid cautious global capital flows, Indian startups attracted diversified funding in CY24, with investors showing increasing conviction in DeepTech, ClimateTech, and AI-enabled solutions.

India's fintech sector attracted USD 889 million in funding during the first half of 2025, reflecting a 26 per cent drop from the USD 1.2 billion raised in the second half of 2024, according to market intelligence platform Tracxn.

India's defence-tech landscape is undergoing a revolution, driven by a mix of policy liberalisation, heightened geopolitical urgency, and an emerging breed of deeptech startups.

Private equity and venture capital (PE/VC) investments in India declined by 53 per cent in May 2025 compared to April 2025 in value terms, according to an EY-IVCA report.

Founded in 2015, Okinawa Autotech is an electric two-wheeler manufacturer with eight models, including PraisePro, iPraise+, Okhi-90, Ridge+, Lite, and R30, promoting sustainable mobility in India.

India's clean-tech and EV investment landscape is rapidly evolving, from strong early stage funding to a deep focus on commercial scale and infrastructure, backed by robust frameworks, investors are not financing end-to-end solutions.

The financial services company reported that fund flows remained strong for the period, with domestic flows into mutual funds (MFs) accelerating through May after the market bounced back in April and when global risks receded.

The funding round also saw participation from notable investors like Mukesh Bansal, Founder of Myntra, Cult.fit, and Nurix, Ayyappan R, Founder-CEO, FirstClub; ex-CEO, Cleartrip, Chanakya Gupta, Co-Founder, Tuco Kids; ex-SVP, Flipkart, and Arun Sharma, Co-Founder-CPO, Qlub UAE.

Drawing on lessons from Ola, where funds in the early days dismissed the notion of a 'cab company' as a billion-dollar opportunity, Harsha emphasized that insights as an operator sharpen one's ability to identify potential and empathize deeply.

Restrictive regulations of the government have resulted in inadequate domestic capital for the Indian startup ecosystem, said Mohandas Pai, Chairman at Aarin Capital, who called for reforms in policy and better investments to drive the ecosystem in an interview with PTI.

In an ecosystem where product cycles are seemingly short and founder burnout is real, having a partner that has walked the same path can make all the difference, not just in raising another funding round, but in building sustainable businesses.

Foxconn to invest $1.5 billion in India as part part of its expansion plans

Private equity and venture capital (PE/VC) investments in India declined by 20 per cent in April 2025 compared to March 2025 in value terms, according to an EY-IVCA monthly PE/VC roundup.

In an era where cookie-cutter capital raising dominates proceedings, Akshay Gupta, Director of Prime Securities, believes in steering a different course, one following bespoke financial advisory and deep client agreement.

The fresh funds will be used to propel the brand's global expansion, product innovation, and omnichannel growth.

The capital infusion will be used to scale the platform's technology and expand access to invoice financing for underserved businesses.

Feline Spirits is currently operational across 8 states and union territories, with a diverse portfolio and having served more than 20 lakh customer base. The brand said it continues to expand strategically across both private and government-owned markets.

With the fresh capital, the company is set to expand operations across multiple cities, with the goal of serving millions of MSMEs and enabling livelihood opportunities for over 1 million gig workers.

With the rising demand for new and pre-owned commercial vehicles across Tier 2 and 3 cities, 91Trucks is building an India-focused platform for small fleet operators and first-time buyers, providing access to vehicle discovery and buying, financing, and comprehensive post-purchase support.

Sectors such as consumer/retail, fintech, and healthcare saw significant exit growth during the period. Meanwhile, strong public market exits helped balance the sharp decline in strategic sales, according to a Bain & Company-IVCA report.

KAY CEE ENERGY & INFRA LIMITED has recently allotted 12.64 Lakh Shares at INR 198 per equity share and has raised INR 2502.72 Lakhs in qualified institutional placement (QIP).