Startups | Page 7

As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, expectations are building across India’s financial services and startup ecosystem for policy signals that go beyond headline allocations.

Early-to-mid stage founders on navigating high CACs, shifting consumers and the move from acquisition-led growth to sustainable scale

All major quick commerce platforms are likely to drop 10-minute moniker from their platforms.

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 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

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.

The investor conversation around it has matured, with the focus no longer on whether a startup uses AI, but on whether it shapes how the business operates.

Insights from early-stage venture firm Antler India and alternative credit platform BlackSoil illustrate how the year 2025 laid the groundwork, with 2026 shaping up to be a year of design rather than exuberance.

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.

Here, we take a look at the highest funds raised by firms for strategic investments in the Indian region.

The fresh capital will also be deployed to accelerate retail expansion and strengthen design possibilities.

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.

Speaking to Entrepreneur India, the company heads discussed the investment approach as it looks ahead to 2026.

The fund will invest in growing women-led ventures across technology, digital brands, healthcare, sustainability, consumer products, and creative enterprises globally.

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.

According to a joint October investments report by EY & IVCA, October 2025 recorded a USD 5.3 billion in PE/VC investments, with a 9 per cent y-o-y increase from USD 4.9 billion in October. The number of deals, however, decreased to 102, a 9 per cent drop y-o-y and a 14 per cent decline month-on-month, with 145 deals in September 2025.

In this fireside chat at Entrepreneur Summit 2025, Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman & MD of TVS Capital Funds, predicts a 3–5X boom in venture capital and private equity investments in India. He shares insights on India's domestic capital potential, the rise of small business entrepreneurship, and why true success depends on fund managers built for entrepreneurs—not just money.