Startups | Page 8

Arise Ventures invests primarily in early-stage startups, from seed to Series A.

The brand will also aim to capture a minimum 25 per cent share of India's vodka market and also a valuation of INR 700 crore within three years. The product will be launched in Goa and Maharashtra this month.

DOCO was founded by Jitendra Yadav and Nishant Agarwal in 2023 as a rural Distribution-as-a-Service (Rural DaaS) platform with an aim to enable fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands to efficiently reach rural and semi-urban markets through a tech-driven network of dark stores and local partners.

The capital will be used to deepen its presence in South and Western India, strengthen production, and expand its growing portfolio across categories such as whisky, gin, and agave spirits.

Bombay Shaving Company also announced its financials with a net revenue run-rate of INR 550 Cr+ and achieved PAT profitability, having doubled its performance over FY25. The company said that the fundraising serves as a strategic step to consolidate as the brand gears up for a potential IPO.

As per industry data, between 2015 and early 2025, India saw 113,360 tech startups being founded. Of these, 7,141 startups, close to 6.3 percent, came from IIT alumni

Cactus invests primarily at the early growth stage, when companies have begun to prove their business models but require capital and strategic input to scale.

The policy places strong emphasis on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing and semiconductor design.

Veloce Fintech aims to invest in 20–25 firms across diverse sectors by 2026, offering funding between INR 3 crore and INR 15 crore.

A new wave of Indian sneaker start-ups is redefining a USD 3.9 billion market through sustainability, cultural storytelling, and local collaborations

Growing parental demand meets investor caution as early-age edtech ventures navigate funding gaps, screen-time concerns, and scalability hurdles

Lightbox typically invests at the Series A stage, when a company is still shaping its identity.

The report highlighted that governance, often perceived as a compliance burden, is instead emerging as a catalyst for stability and scale.

The company said it plans to use the investments towards improving the customer travel experience, upgrading the fleet management technology platform, and providing deeper and wider coverage to Tier-2 and 3 cities.

According to Jupiter, it has acquired over 3 million customers, with close to 60 per cent actively engaging on the platform across its various products. More than 25 per cent of its active customers use two or more products, underscoring the growing depth of engagement within the Jupiter ecosystem.

PointAI said that the funding will help accelerate product innovation, expand its market presence, and strengthen its technological capabilities. The company has raised nearly USD 10 million in overall funding.

The company said that the fresh capital infusion will help its aim to transform financial accessibility for India's salaried workforce, making payments, credit, and money management affordable, personalised, convenient, and seamless.

The funding round led by Havells is joined by investors including Ambit Wealth Private Limited, Nikhil Kamath, Shahi Exports Private Limited, SRF Transnational Holdings Limited, Karmav Real Estate Holdings LLP, NSFO Ventures LLP, and Godwitt Construction Private Limited.

Snabbit said in a release that with newly raised capital, it aims to launch more micro-markets and disrupt other high-frequency categories such as cooks, child care, and elderly care.

According to the report, the third quarter recorded USD 11.7 billion in PE/VC investments, which was 20 per cent higher than its corresponding quarter in 2024, but 5 per cent lower than Q2 of 2025. The number of deals, however, was 11 per cent higher year-over-year (Y-o-Y), totaling 369 deals versus 331 in the third quarter of 2024.

Industry insiders expect the next 12-24 months to see a handful of listings from established players in higher education, skilling, and professional upskilling segments