Startups | Page 6

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.

Biela.dev is an AI-driven coding platform that helps entrepreneurs create websites and applications from scratch. Developed by TitanLabs and supported by TeachMeCode Institute, this innovative tool enables founders to launch their ideas with nothing but a prompt.

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.

Focusing on the sectoral trends, Fintech (50 startups), E-commerce (16), and Logistics (13) are leading India's profit-first growth. Regionally, Delhi NCR emerged at the top with 51 Indicorns, followed by Bengaluru (42) and Mumbai (35).

Industry experts emphasized why startups need to think seriously about building a brand and how it will play a crucial role in shaping their long-term success.

According to Chaturvedi, AWE Funds invests in climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, which means investing in climate tech, health tech, the future of work, skilling, and fintech, which ultimately translates to financial inclusion.

According to the report, PE/VC investments in Q1 2025 were also recorded 14 per cent lower than in Q1 2024 (US$13.7 billion in 1Q2025 versus US$15.9 billion in 1Q2024 and US$14 billion in 4Q2024).

India is in the midst of an interesting situation in the global trade spectrum, highlighted by the country's response to the newly imposed tariffs and high-profile visits to the country.

MaXcel will support early-stage industrial tech startups with MVPs or early traction, offering INR 3–4 crore fast-track funding and term sheets within 30 days of selection.

The Small Industries Development Bank of India is expected to manage the second scheme as well, according to the official.

Mac Mahon said this at the firm's launch of the initial USD 15 million fund for India, part of the USD 100 million third global fund.

The report, released on the sidelines of the Startup Mahakumbh, said that the tech startup sector witnessed a 23 per cent surge in funding, amounting to USD 7.4 billion in CY24.

Industry leaders have said that it's inappropriate to belittle startups based on the nature of their business as the Indian economy is still on its maturity curve

According to the company, the fundraise showcases an increasing demand for its credit card, driven by rising consumer appetite for travel and a product-fit designed to cater GenZ and millennial needs.

The investment is said to be a mix of equity and debt, and according to a press release, the funds will be used toward scaling operations, enhancing AI-capabilities, and international expansion.

Venture debt deals with credit-based financing products that apply specifically to PE-VC backed early-stage startups, growth stage, or even late-stage in their trajectory.

A major highlight of the roadshow was the unveiling of over 100 intellectual properties (IPs) and 50 groundbreaking technologies, alongside 35 promising startups.

The fund will back up to 30 Indian startups, primarily at the pre-seed to seed stage, across consumer tech, fintech, food & beverage, AI, and global SaaS.

The report further states that the strong domestic fundamentals, progressive regulatory reforms, and rising public market activity have helped India's position as Asia Pacific's second-largest VC destination while global funding remained flat.