News and Trends | Page 3

The new fund will target growth-stage, technology-enabled companies based in India or primarily focused on the Indian market.

The round also saw participation from 360 One Asset Management and existing backer Pravega Ventures.

The fresh capital will be used to build its lending platform, strengthen its team, and expand operations across key MSME markets in India.

This represents a near threefold increase in funding share in just five years, even as overall VC deployment remained broadly stable at around USD 10 billion annually in 2024 and 2025.

The funding round also saw participation from existing investors Sorin Investments, Piper Serica, and Sattva Ventures.

Internshala will continue operating as an independent brand under Founder and CEO Sarvesh Agrawal.

The Bengaluru-based firm will use the funds to build an R&D hub, accelerate product development, obtain regulatory approvals, and strengthen its distribution network across India.

Existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, B Capital, Seaborne Capital, Beenext, Sparrow Capital and 2.2 Capital also participated in the round.

The round also saw participation from Enrission India Capital, SucSEED Ventures, Alumni Ventures and Chakra Growth Fund.

Under the agreement, Worldline will also enter into a long-term technology and software partnership with BillDesk.

The fund plans to invest between INR 2 crore and INR 5 crore in each portfolio company and has set aside additional capital for follow-on investments in high-performing startups.

The new capital brings the company's total funding to USD 14 million.

The round also saw continued participation from Nexus Venture Partners and AdvantEdge Founders, with Stride Ventures joining as a new investor.

These transactions, arriving as India hosts industry convenings and promotes the IndiaAI Mission, reflect both investor conviction and strategic positioning in a capital-intensive segment historically dominated by global hyperscalers.

Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited, through Kotak Life Sciences Fund I, invested INR 40 crore, while Alkemi Growth Capital contributed INR 25 crore.

Existing investor India Quotient also participated in the round.

The below brands have announced their latest funding rounds.

The round also saw participation from existing investors Square Peg, Stripe, Lightspeed, and Moore Capital, with PayPal Ventures joining as a new investor.

India's AI ecosystem has evolved beyond its early application-led phase, when companies relied heavily on globally available models and foreign infrastructure.

The initiative aims to bring together researchers, startups, enterprises, investors, and academic institutions to build sustainable, humanity-first AI solutions for global markets.

The three startups selected for the MaXcel cohort are Enerzi, Misochain and Quintrans.