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    <title>Venture OS</title>
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    <description>Funding, M&amp;A, IPOs, policy, and deep tech - original reporting on the companies shaping tomorrow.</description>
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    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:30:33 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Kissht parent OnEMI board approves Rs 832 crore preferential issue]]></title>
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    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:53:43 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[SEBI Greenlights Kuku Technologies’ ₹3,500 Cr IPO]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/4c22940d-afa5-47cb-aa96-3298b1d04f26</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[SEBI last week approved Kuku’s IPO after the startup filed its confidential DRHP in June The audio OTT startup’s IPO’s size could be in the range of ₹2,500-3,500 Cr and could potentially value it at ₹15,000 Cr The IPO will consist of a fresh issue of shares as well as an offer-for-sale component Markets regulator SEBI has greenlit the proposed listing of audio OTT startup Kuku Technologies months after it filed its draft IPO documents confidentially. As per its latest update, it had issued its observation letter for Kuku’s offer documents last Friday (September 11). In SEBI parlance, the observation letter signals the regulator has given its go-ahead to a company to proceed with its public issue. Kukufiled its confidential DRHP with the SEBI in June. As per sources, the IPO’s size could be in the range of ₹2,500-3,500 Cr ($261-366 Mn) and could potentially value it at ₹15,000 Cr (about $1.8 Bn). The IPO will consist of a fresh issue of shares as well as an offer-for-sale component. Kuku plans to deploy the capital to upgrade its tech, AI infrastructure, content production and fuel geographic expansion. Founded in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vikas Goyal and Vinod Meena, Kuku offers audiobooks, podcasts, and original audio shows via itsKuku FMbrand, while also operating microdrama platform Kuku TV and microlearning platform Guru. The startup’s content library spans more than 20,000 titles across seven languages and multiple genres including drama, finance, and well-being. It claims to have more than 1 Cr listeners and creators on its platform and 400 Mn app downloads across its portfolio. Kuku has raised over $156 Mn to date from the likes of Fundamentum Partnership, Krafton, Vertex Ventures, IFC, 3one4 Capital, among others. Itsmost recent $85 Mn Series C funding round, in October 2025, was led by Granite Asia. Earlier this year, it evenroped in former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhonias an investor and as the brand ambassador for Kuku TV. Driven by increasing smart phone penetration and affordable internet access, the market for microdramas is expected to grow to $6.5 Bn by 2033 from $1.5 Bn currently. Kuku competes with the likes of Pocket FM, Flick TV, ReelSaga and Miniplix, as well as OTT majors like Amazon, JioHotstar and Zee5, in this segment.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:14:49 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[India Gets ₹1 Lakh Cr Investment Commitments Under Semicon 2.0: Vaishnaw]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/b37f4d24-30dc-445d-87cb-8f171c46df0c</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[India has secured around ₹1 Lakh Cr in investment commitments from players in capital equipment, materials, specialty gases, and advanced packaging under Semicon 2.0 since its launch, said Vaishnaw at Semicon India 2026 The second phase of India’s semiconductor policy framework could create close to 1 Lakh new jobs and entails an outlay of ₹1.28 Lakh Cr Vaishnaw said that Semicon 2.0’s roadmap rests on six core pillars: chip design, equipment and raw materials, fabs, advanced packaging, R&D, and talent Under the recently approved Semicon 2.0 mission, the Central government is seeing investment commitments worth approximately ₹1 Lakh Cr ($11-12 Bn), union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during his address at Semicon India 2026. Global players across capital equipment, materials, specialty gases, and advanced packaging have pledged to deploy this capital over the next 2-3 years as India scales up its domestic electronics value chain, the minister said. The estimates are based on the minister’s discussions with the companies, some of whom are yet to make their investment plans public. Notably, US-based semiconductor company Applied Materialsannounced a $5 Bn (about ₹48,000 Cr) investment commitmentearlier today. Vaishnaw also highlighted that the government would be targeting at least 200 startups and companies operating under the Semicon 2.0. Under the initial phase of the mission, Vaishnaw said that more than 105 startups attempted chip design, of which about 20 secured venture capital funding worth around ₹800 Cr. “Semicon 1.0 was all about setting the foundation and making sure that we learned to walk. Semiconductor 2.0 is more aboutgetting the ecosystem in place,” said Vaishnaw. The first phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (Semicon 1.0) was approved with an outlay of ₹76,000 Cr in December 2021. Under the mission, 12 semiconductor manufacturing units were approved, carrying a cumulative investment of over ₹1.64 Lakh Cr. In July 2026, India approved Semicon 2.0 with atotal outlay of ₹1.28 Lakh Cr. With the Semicon 2.0, eligible semiconductor startups and MSMEs can get up to ₹15 Cr in seed funding, along with equity co-investment support for companies backed by VC or PE investors. Deployment-linked incentives will also be available for semiconductor IPs, chips and SoCs launched after the scheme’s announcement. The scheme will provide fiscal support for semiconductor fabs and advanced packaging facilities. Silicon wafer fabs with at least ₹20,000 Cr investment will qualify for support of up to 40% of eligible capex, while compound semiconductor, photonics, sensor and discrete fabs will also be eligible. Advanced packaging projects, including 2.5D/3D packaging, wafer-level chip-scale packaging and heterogeneous integration, will also receive support, alongside R&D facilities for semiconductor equipment, raw materials and testing infrastructure. The Semicon 2.0’s roadmap rests on six core pillars: developing the chip design ecosystem, equipment]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:33:41 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (September 17, 2026)]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/13ab85f6-0847-4050-a7bf-2153949a3875</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[From India’s semiconductor push with Applied Materials and Lam Research to early-stage funding across deeptech and workforce platforms, plus a new partner payout feature from Swiggy,YourStorybrings you today’s headlines and the latest news across sectors. Vamshi & Vyshak founded Yaanendriya, Bengaluru, 2025 Bengaluru-based Yaanendriya designs and manufactures inertial sensors, navigation and control systems for autonomous machines across commercial and defence applications. Incorporated in February 2025, its stack spans motion sensors, vehicle controllers and positioning modules for drones, vehicles and robots. A 0.4% fee on UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000, capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above, could create a new revenue pool for payments players. Investors are upbeat, though the impact on profitability and customer behaviour remains uncertain. Under Semicon 2.0, India will target at least 200 chip-design startups and companies and train one lakh semiconductor technicians, clean-room and factory-floor workers. The programme spans six pillars and has an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore, according to the government. Lam Research plans approximately Rs 10,000 crore of investment to set up its first silicon component manufacturing facility in India, alongside advanced R&D and deeper supplier partnerships. The proposed site will support a vertically integrated silicon manufacturing process. Applied Materials will invest $5 billion in India over the next decade, including a 140-acre advanced semiconductor research park, a 10X scale-up of India-based supply-chain capacity by 2035, and a plan to double its R&D workforce in the country. DheyaTech has raised Rs 43 crore in funding led by Avaana Capital, with participation from Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing Limited. The company said the capital will be used to scale production, build an integrated gas turbine testing facility, and work closely with customers to accelerate deployment timelines. Founded in 2018, the Bengaluru-based company develops indigenous micro gas turbine engines for advanced aerial mobility and energy systems, spanning 20 kgf to 400 kgf of thrust. DheyaTech said its engines are entering commercial deployment, with flight trials targeted for Q4 2026, and that it is pursuing airworthiness certification under CEMILAC-DRDO. Enlight Metals Private Limited has raised $1.5 million from Exar North Group Inc. at a $10 million valuation to advance its agentic AI-enabled metal procurement platform. The company said funds will support its technology roadmap, scaling operations and expansion across the metal procurement ecosystem. The Pune-based firm said its platform has reduced transaction processing time by 75%, inventory costs by 30% and overhead by 60%. It currently operates in Pune, Mumbai and Raipur, and plans to expand into Ahmedabad and Indore. Director Vedant Goel said the partnership will combine capital with technology and operational support. Factrika has raise]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:46:07 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[NSE raises Rs 6,746 Cr from anchor investors ahead of IPO]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/52841603-cf0d-4f9f-b51e-b2138e2bab84</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[The National Stock Exchange (NSE) garnered Rs 6,746 crore from anchor investors, including state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Goldman Sachs and Fidelity, ahead of the opening of its much-awaited IPO subscription. Additionally, sovereign wealth funds GIC Singapore, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Norges Bank as well as Eastspring and HSBC Global Asset Management participated in the anchor round. According to a circular uploaded on the BSE website, NSE allotted over 3.77 crore shares to 150 anchor investors at Rs 1,785 apiece, the upper end of its IPO price band. This takes the transaction size to Rs 6,746.2 crore. Foreign institutional investors (FPIs) accounted for about 43 per cent of the anchor book, with investments of Rs 2,883 crore. More than 20 foreign long-only funds participated, with investors from the US, Europe and Asia spanning sovereign wealth funds, regional long-only funds and global mutual funds. Domestic institutional participation was also broad-based, with the participation of mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds and other institutions. More than 25 large domestic mutual funds and 11 major insurance and pension companies invested around Rs 3,588 crore, accounting for 53% of the anchor book. The participating mutual funds included ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, HDFC Mutual Fund, Nippon India Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, Kotak Mutual Fund, UTI Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, Tata Mutual Fund, Franklin Templeton, Edelweiss Mutual Fund and HSBC Mutual Fund. LIC, NSE's largest shareholder with a 10.72% stake, participated through three entities – LIC, LIC Mutual Fund and LIC Pension Fund – investing more than Rs 500 crore. NSE is among the top five holdings of LIC, whose existing stake in the exchange is larger than the portion being offered through the initial public offering (IPO). The SBI group, which is selling a 1% stake in NSE through State Bank of India and SBI Capital Markets, also participated in the anchor book through SBI Mutual Fund, SBI General Insurance, SBI Life Insurance and SBI Pension Fund, investing more than Rs 400 crore. The strong institutional response comes ahead of NSE's Rs 22,569-crore IPO, for which the exchange has fixed a price band of Rs 1,700-1,785 per equity share. ​ The exchange will command a valuation of Rs 4.2 lakh crore to Rs 4.42 lakh crore at the price band.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:48:11 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Lam Research to invest Rs 10,000 Cr in India, set up first silicon component manufacturing facility]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/73f7f3dc-b480-4871-a045-fcd4a9812a5f</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[US semiconductor equipment maker Lam Research plans to invest approximately Rs 10,000 crore in India to establish its first silicon component manufacturing facility in the country. Speaking at SEMICON India 2026 on Thursday, Sesha Varadarajan, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lam Research, said the proposed facility will support a vertically integrated manufacturing process spanning silicon ingot production and processing for advanced semiconductor technologies. The facility will also serve as a manufacturing and export base for Lam’s global operations. “This investment reflects our approach to invest across key aspects of the ecosystem here and will serve as a base for manufacturing and export globally,” Varadarajan added. The new facility is expected to deepen Lam’s local manufacturing footprint and strengthen its integration with suppliers in India. Lam did not disclose the proposed facility’s location, manufacturing capacity or timeline for beginning operations. Varadarajan said India has assumed a critical role for Lam across both innovation and operations. What began as Lam’s small engineering centre in Bengaluru has expanded into a full-scale advanced R&D operation supporting multiple aspects of Lam’s global business. It supports customers globally through design solutions, testing, validation, and next-generation technology development, he said. Lam is also increasing partnerships with Indian companies across specialised materials, precision components, gases, chemicals, metrology, and manufacturing services. Varadarajan said establishing a manufacturing base could help local suppliers build capabilities that allow them to participate more deeply in global semiconductor value chains. “These partnerships will help local companies develop capabilities needed to not only help Lam in our goals, but also participate globally in value creation,” he said. Lam is one of the world’s major suppliers of wafer fabrication equipment, with technologies used in critical semiconductor manufacturing processes including deposition and etch. The company also provided an update on its Semiverse initiative, under which it is working with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the India Semiconductor Mission to expand access to semiconductor manufacturing education. Lam had set a goal of training up to 60,000 students in India over 10 years. Varadarajan said more than 99 universities were participating in the initiative in 2026 and that the company expects to achieve its target earlier than originally planned. “Lam will deliver on our goal earlier and with stronger numbers than what we committed,” Varadarajan said. “Our journey in India mimics exactly what the semiconductor mission for India is, which is an end-to-end commitment from silicon to systems,” he added.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:08:26 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[NSE raises Rs 6,746 Cr from LIC, Goldman Sachs and others in anchor round ahead of mega IPO]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/e4b39e62-3c1b-4780-a3f5-f33f0206e87b</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday garnered Rs 6,746 crore from anchor investors, including state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Goldman Sachs and Fidelity, ahead of the opening of its much-awaited IPO subscription. Additionally, sovereign wealth funds GIC Singapore, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Norges Bank as well as Eastspring and HSBC Global Asset Management participated in the anchor round. According to a circular uploaded on the BSE website, NSE allotted over 3.77 crore shares to 150 anchor investors at Rs 1,785 apiece, the upper end of its IPO price band. This takes the transaction size to Rs 6,746.2 crore. Foreign institutional investors (FPIs) accounted for about 43 per cent of the anchor book, with investments of Rs 2,883 crore. More than 20 foreign long-only funds participated, with investors from the US, Europe and Asia spanning sovereign wealth funds, regional long-only funds and global mutual funds. Domestic institutional participation was also broad-based, with the participation of mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds and other institutions. More than 25 large domestic mutual funds and 11 major insurance and pension companies invested around Rs 3,588 crore, accounting for 53 per cent of the anchor book. The participating mutual funds included ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, HDFC Mutual Fund, Nippon India Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, Kotak Mutual Fund, UTI Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, Tata Mutual Fund, Franklin Templeton, Edelweiss Mutual Fund and HSBC Mutual Fund. LIC, NSE's largest shareholder with a 10.72 per cent stake, participated through three entities – LIC, LIC Mutual Fund and LIC Pension Fund – investing more than Rs 500 crore. NSE is among the top five holdings of LIC, whose existing stake in the exchange is larger than the portion being offered through the initial public offering (IPO). The SBI group, which is selling a 1 per cent stake in NSE through State Bank of India and SBI Capital Markets, also participated in the anchor book through SBI Mutual Fund, SBI General Insurance, SBI Life Insurance and SBI Pension Fund, investing more than Rs 400 crore. The strong institutional response comes ahead of NSE's Rs 22,569-crore IPO, for which the exchange has fixed a price band of Rs 1,700-1,785 per equity share. ​ The exchange will command a valuation of Rs 4.2 lakh crore to Rs 4.42 lakh crore at the price band. The issue will open for public subscription on September 17 and close on September 21. The offering, which comprises an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to 12.64 crore equity shares by existing shareholders, is set to become India's second-largest public issue after Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870-crore IPO in 2024. The reduction in the OFS size from the earlier planned 14.9 crore shares has brought down the overall issue size from the initial estimate of around Rs 30,000 crore. At the lower end of the price band, the issue is ]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:32:02 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Clean Label Brands Vs FSSAI, PhonePe Eyes 2027 IPO & More]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/e9d7978c-9781-4d6f-b44f-6f5fa6b34392</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[India’s clean-label boom is facing its toughest test yet. FSSAI’s recent crackdown on health and purity claims is threatening the marketing language that helped many D2C brands grow. Can “healthy” food startups survive when every claim must stand up to evidence? The Label Under Fire:FSSAI’s recent notices to 20 legacy and D2C brands has brought claims such as “100% natural” and “healthy” under scrutiny. Brands built on “ingredient transparency” were caught using date powders and fructose while advertising zero added sugar. Rather than challenging the FSSAI’s notices, several brands quietly opted to scrub these absolute claims and overhauled their packaging. But the situation took a sharp turn after the SC began questioning what a front-of-pack warning label should look like. SC Weighs In:The apex court accepted FSSAI’s proposed red hexagon warning for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. At the same time, it also sought more clarity on scientific thresholds, label size and possible confusion with existing food markers. The next hearing in the matter could establish a clearer path for how health warnings must appear, potentially reshaping packaging and product listings across India’s food market. Trust Needs Proof:Experts believe that the crackdown can potentially create a better opportunity for brands to demonstrate better ingredients, transparent formulations and verifiable nutritional claims. However, it will raise the cost of entering the category and will require the brands to rethink product formulations. So, will new-age food brands adapt or will this regulatory reckoning shatter consumer trust in “clean-label” promises?Let’s find out… As AI chips grow more powerful, heat and material limitations are threatening to slow the semiconductor progress. Discovered Materials is tackling this bottleneck with AI agents that can search, simulate and validate new materials for advanced chips. Materials Science Meets AI:Founded in 2026, Discovered Materials uses AI agents to accelerate the discovery of new materials for semiconductors. Its AI agents generate candidate structures and estimate properties and distinguish theoretically-attractive candidates from materials that can ultimately be manufactured and deployed. Beyond Discovery:The startup claims to have so far generated more than 500 previously unknown materials, which it claims are computationally stable. However, only a small number may have plausible synthesis routes. To address this, Discovered Materials is building experimental and verification capabilities that connect candidate generation to synthesis and lab validation. The IP Ambition:The US-based startup’s long-term ambition is to become a materials and intellectual-property company, potentially licensing discoveries to semiconductor and chemical companies. It also plans to focus on expanding its laboratory infrastructure and computational capabilities. With India’s semiconductor market projected to become a $155 Bn op]]></description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 02:30:10 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[With UPI MDR Clarity, PhonePe Eyes IPO By March 2027]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/b6fc21f3-8144-4f68-a792-00c58a682013</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[PhonePe is set to revive its initial public offering (IPO) plans and is targeting a public listing between February and March 2027, sources told Inc42 The new UPI MDR framework gives PhonePe greater clarity on monetising its core payments business after years of zero MDR PhonePe will look to refile its IPO papers by the end of this year, seeking a valuation of $10 Bn, sources told Inc42 With greater clarity around the monetisation of UPI payments following’ the introduction of a new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework, Walmart-backed fintechPhonePeis set to revive its initial public offering (IPO) plans, which wereput on hold earlier this year. Sources told Inc42 that the fintech startup is now targeting a public listing between February-March 2027. “They have an almost 45% share of merchant payments. With greater clarity on the MDR regime, PhonePe is now looking to revise its IPO plans and could target a listing between February and March 2027,” the sources said. PhonePe will look to file its updated IPO papers by the end of this year, seeking a valuation of $10 Bn, sources in the know told Inc42 on the condition of anonymity. PhonePe declined to comment on this development. Notably, theMDR framework was introduced by the Central government yesterday, bringing charges back on select UPI merchant transactions beginning October 15. The move marks a shift from the broad zero-MDR regime in place from 2020. The charges will apply only to select transactions, with merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000 attracting a 0.4% MDR. However, person-to-person (P2P) transactions up to ₹2,000 will continue to remain free. Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 Lakh a month through UPI QR payments will also be exempt. A lower MDR of 0.02%, capped at ₹300, will apply to capital market payments, including transactions involving stockbrokers, securities dealers, mutual funds and investment platforms. The revised framework gives PhonePe, which has long been the UPI market leader, a greater clarity on monetising the service following years of no revenue. After filing for an confidential IPO in September 2025,PhonePe had filed its updated DRHPin March post receiving the SEBI’s approval for its OFS-only IPO. Existing investors including Walmart, Tiger Global and Microsoft were expected to sell shares. The IPO was earlier expected to value PhonePe at $9 Bn-$10.5 Bn, with the offering size estimated to be in the range of $900 Mn-$1.5 Bn. In its updated DRHP, PhonePe noted that UPI payments carried an MDR until 2020, allowing payment apps, aggregators and banks to earn revenue from transactions. The government later scrapped the MDR on UPI and RuPay payments to boost digital payment adoption. PhonePe’s DRHP also cited calls from the Payments Council of India to review the zero-MDR regime for large merchants and RuPay debit card transactions. The startup said a “carefully structured MDR regime” could support investments in infrastructure, innovation and merchant acquisition, whi]]></description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:44:46 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Aakrit Vaish’s Activate Closes Maiden VC Fund At $105 Mn To Back AI Startups]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/926b3e4d-03be-48a8-9223-254b3995b162</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Activate has closed its debut fund at $105 Mn (₹1,000 Cr), comprising an $85 Mn early-stage fund and $20 Mn deployed through growth investment vehicles. The fund positions Activate as India’s largest VC platform focused exclusively on AI, as AI-focused funding and dedicated investment vehicles gain traction in the Indian startup ecosystem. Founded by Aakrit Vaish and Pratyush Choudhury, Activate has made 10 AI investments in nine months, including seven early-stage bets and three growth investments in Sarvam AI, ElevenLabs and Wispr Flow. Former Haptik CEO Aakrit Vaish-led VC firm Activate has announced the final close of its maiden fund at $105 Mn (around ₹1,000 Cr). The fund, which was closed within a year of its launch, comprises an $85 Mn flagship early-stage fund and $20 Mn deployed through dedicated growth investment vehicles. Activate said the flagship fund closed at 125% above its original target. Activate’s LP base includes more than 50 founders and AI researchers, around a dozen global VC general partners and more than 50 family offices, enterprises and corporates. Notable backers include Vinod Khosla, General Catalyst, Raghu Raghuram, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Bhavin Turakhia, Ronnie Screwvala and Ranjan Pai, among others. Founded in December 2025 by Vaish and former Together Fund partner Pratyush Choudhury, Activate aims to back AI-native startups at the pre-seed or idea stage. It is targeting to back 25-30 startups operating across AI applications, foundational models, physical infrastructure and related areas, with initial equity investments in the rangeof $500K-$3 Mn. The fund reported its first close at $75 Mn in December, and has since made 10 investments. Through its early-stage strategy, called Inception, Activate has backed seven startups across consumer AI, AI-led services and frontier technology. All seven remain in stealth. The firm said it works with founders from as early as the ideation stage, including in some cases before incorporation, and supports them across product development, technical architecture, hiring, go-to-market and subsequent fundraising. Beyond early-stage investments, Activate has also backed Sarvam AI, ElevenLabs andWispr Flow. Activate’s investment in Sarvam came amid the Bengaluru-based AIstartup’s ongoing $300 Mn Series B round. Vaish had said the investment was the firm’s largest capital commitment to a company at the time, although the exact amount was not disclosed. In February,Activate partnered with NVIDIAto provide its portfolio founders with access to the chipmaker’s Nemotron family of open-source models, along with technical training, compute resources and support. Beyond capital, the firm said its ecosystem includes a GenAI community of more than 15,000 technical practitioners across over 40 groups. It has also forged partnerships with NVIDIA, OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and Notion, with portfolio companies eligible for up to $1 M]]></description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:16:40 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[ET Business Growth Summit, Jaipur:  Entrepreneurs highlight new growth opportunities]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/76e77f4a-d478-47cd-805a-e4841b0cf34f</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[The session was followed by a fireside chat with Ramakrishna Eda, Chief General Manager, IDBI Bank Then followed a special address by K. L. Jain, President, Rajasthan Chamber of Commerce and Industry The panel discussion brought together representatives from tourism, exports, handicrafts, food and beverages, jewellery, and venture capital (VC) spaces The panel discussion was followed by a fireside chat with Manoj Bohara, Chief Regional Manager, Jaipur Regional Office, The New India Assurance Co. Ltd]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:09:01 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Nothing to spin off CMF as standalone Indian business; Optiemus to acquire 51.1% controlling stake; details here]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/b69f5da3-3a01-4f95-95f6-46636902c253</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/b69f5da3-3a01-4f95-95f6-46636902c253</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Nothing has expanded its strategic partnership with the Optiemus Group, a move that could transform CMF from a Nothing sub-brand into an independent smartphone company with majority Indian ownership. Optiemus Infracom will acquire a 51.1% stake in the proposed joint venture with Nothing Electronics, giving the Indian company majority ownership of the CMF business in the new structure. Nothing unveiled the news on Tuesday, just one day after founder and CEO Carl Pei announced plans to split off CMF into a separate company. The expanded cooperation will bring together manufacturing, ownership, and research and development (R&D) of CMF smartphones in just one location in India. The announcement follows India's move towards becoming a leading global manufacturer of smartphones and a push for more innovative consumer technologies within the country. The proposed joint venture will focus on the sale and commercialisation of CMF smartphones and related components, while combining Optiemus’ manufacturing capabilities with Nothing’s technology and product expertise. Optiemus will initially hold a 51.1% stake in the new entity, making it the majority shareholder, while the partnership will also support CMF’s plans to build an end-to-end smartphone R&D ecosystem in India. The companies aim to develop capabilities across industrial design, mechanical engineering, camera engineering, software, connectivity and component engineering, taking the partnership beyond manufacturing to product development and commercialisation. The Optiemus Group will be involved in a Series A round of funding byCMF, which will further expand its involvement in the brand's future. The amount is part of the company's larger plan to make CMF an independent smartphone maker that is majority-owned by Indian investors. Nothing added that the new arrangement builds on the manufacturing joint venture announced with Optiemus in September 2025. That partner helped to promote local manufacturing of Nothing devices and CMF devices in India. Nothing will still be a shareholder in the company after the restructuring, but will not be involved in the company's management, CMF confirmed. On Monday,Carl Peisaid that India can become a country of global brands in consumer technology. He emphasised creating an integrated research and development ecosystem in the country instead of only manufacturing. India has already become a leading centre for manufacturing smartphones, said Pei. He said that approximately 99% of smartphones sold in India are produced domestically, and India has emerged as the second-largest smartphone maker in the world. The relocation is part of the government's overall strategy to boost local electronics manufacturing. The Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPSE) was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this year with an outlay of₹62,500 crore to support the production of smartphones and boost smartphone brands from India. Nothing said bringing manufacturing, ownership and R&D u]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:39:56 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Lavni Ventures floats early stage deep-tech impact Funds II]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/cebc535d-6514-40e2-aa45-165fbce69e73</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[The early-stage VC firm Lavni Ventures has announced Fund II, the second of its early stage deep-tech impact funds, has closed its Rs 200 crore (approx. $21 million) target in committed capital, a year after first  close in August 2025. The fund structure retains a green-shoe option of Rs 100 crore. Fund II follows in the footsteps of the fully invested Fund I with both funds resting on a single proposition that  Indian deep-tech founders can build globally scalable health and climate solutions in a capital efficient manner  while delivering meaningful returns. With the target corpus committed, the firm’s focus turns to deployment:  finding and backing exceptional founders in India to innovate and help to scale their venture for global impact. Fund II has already made its first three investments: Padcare Labs, which recycles sanitary waste; Monitra  Healthcare, which builds remote cardiac monitoring devices; and Vidcare, which develops portable at-home  diagnostic tests. These deployments extend a track record of hands-on, long-term partnerships built through  Fund I. Fund II backs foundational technologies in health and climate, deploying Rs 2–6 crore ($210k – 630k) per  opportunity at Seed, and Rs 8–15 crore ($850k – 1.5 million) follow-ons, fresh Series A and beyond. Lavni Ventures was founded in 2020 and its  Fund II is a scheme of Lavni Ventures Trust, a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative  Investment Fund, investing in foundational technologies in the health and  climate sectors. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:38:09 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[PhonePe's Ritesh Pai explains what the platform will offer consumers, merchants in UAE]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/30058b0c-6c75-451d-9d2a-9285c69c91a2</link>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Wins INR 985 Crore Orders]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/077bdfdc-6c15-442d-8c38-6f01a6a7315b</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/077bdfdc-6c15-442d-8c38-6f01a6a7315b</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy has acquired new orders worth over INR 985 crore in India and South Africa. The orders comprise a Balance of System package of 534.3 MWp in Rajasthan and two BESS projects with a combined capacity of 616 MWh in South Africa. Significant fresh orders totalling over INR 985 crore were announced by Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited (SWREL) on 22 September. Among these, a new client in Rajasthan has placed an order for 534.3 MWp, while a company in South Africa has placed an order for two BESS projects totalling 616 MWh. The renewable energy powerhouse announced in a news release that a new client in Rajasthan has placed an order for a Balance of System (BOS) package. It is anticipated that the Rajasthan project will contribute to a more sustainable future by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 0.80 million when it is operational. The brand is overjoyed to have acquired two significant orders in Rajasthan and South Africa, respectively, according to Chandra Kishore Thakur, Global CEO of Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy. Taken as a whole, these purchases demonstrate that the firm's clients have faith in its abilities and the business's ongoing company momentum. According to Thakur, these also show how strong SWREL's customer connections are, which are based on the company's domain knowledge, consistent project execution, and trained staff. Conversely, the South African client that placed the order had already benefited from SWREL's knowledge and hard work. This gave the corporation the assurance it needed to entrust the company with the execution of this landmark project. The order from South Africa is for a BESS EPC wrap project, which includes engineering, procurement, and construction. July saw the release of Sterling and Wilson's first-quarter profits. Profit for the current fiscal year was INR 54 crore, up 69% from INR 32 crore a year ago. Its margin remained unchanged, although sales and EBITDA fell. Its income dropped 9.7% to 1,590 crore Indian rupees, from 1,761.6 crore the previous year. Additionally, the margin remained unchanged at 5% from the previous period, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation fell 8% to INR 79.6 crore from INR 86.4 crore. On September 22nd, Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy shares soared 7.7% to an intraday high of 186.66 Indian rupees each. On 21 September, shares of Sterling & Wilson were trading 4.1% higher at INR 180.35, its highest single-day increase since June 12, 2026, when the stock had surged 7.8%. The stock price has dropped 16% so far this year and 6% in the past month. With these new contracts, SWREL is more entrenched in utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. Further, its solar EPC and battery storage portfolio is growing in both local and foreign markets. The most recent orders bring the total value of the company's solar and battery storage project pipeline in India and South Africa to over ]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:07:47 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Spinny confidentially pre-files IPO; appoints Ex Bharti executive Akhil Gupta as board chairman]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/f83e3df5-3a2a-4456-a385-e5b5deac02f2</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/f83e3df5-3a2a-4456-a385-e5b5deac02f2</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Used-car retailing platform Spinny has confidentially pre-filed its draft IPO papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), three people aware of the matter toldEntrackr “Spinny is looking to raise around Rs 2,500-3,000 crore through the IPO. The issue is likely to include both a fresh issue of shares and an offer for sale (OFS),” said one of the sources requesting anonymity. Spinny is targeting a 2027 public market debut and is working with Kotak Mahindra Capital, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup on the proposed IPO, according to sources. The confidential pre-filing comes soon after Spinny took several corporate governance steps ahead of the proposed listing.Entrackrexclusively reportedin August that Spinny had converted its parent entity, Valuedrive Technologies Private Limited, into Valuedrive Technologies Limited. As per sources, Spinny was selling close to 15,000 cars every month, with buyers across 25 cities and sellers across more than 100 cities. Entrackrhas learnt that former Bharti Group Ex CFO Akhil Gupta and Info Edge board member Geeta Mathur have also joined Spinny’s board as independent directors. The Gurugram-based company declined to offer comment on the story. Spinny’s latest IPO move also comes on the back of strong topline growth. Its revenue from operations rose 25% to Rs 4,657 crore in FY25, from Rs 3,730 crore in FY24. In terms of both volume and revenue, the firm has emerged as a leader in India’s used-car retail market. According to sources, Spinny’s FY26 revenue from operations is expected to have touched around Rs 6,000 crore. The company is also looking to expand its buyer footprint to around 35 cities, adding nearly 10 more locations in the near term, Entrackr had reported. Founded in 2015, Spinny operates a full-stack used-car business spanning buying, selling, financing, insurance and after-sales services. The company also owns Truebil and acquired GoMechanic in 2024 and Autocar India in 2025, expanding its presence across the broader automotive ecosystem. Spinny has raised approximately $780 million to date, with Tiger Global and Accel among its largest shareholders. The company last raised around$165 millionfrom Accel Leaders Fund, Fidelity Investments, and other investors at a valuation of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:37:09 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[NSE IPO subscribed 5.71X; retail investors show muted response]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/df9fb7da-1681-4716-a0ad-5a479a17f505</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[The National Stock Exchange of India’s (NSE) much-awaited IPO closed with a 5.71X subscription on September 21, with investors bidding for 50.58 crore shares against 8.86 crore shares on offer. The IPO was open from September 17 to September 21 with a price band of Rs 1,700-1,785 per share. At the upper price band, the issue is valued at around Rs 22,561 crore. The IPO is entirely an offer for sale (OFS), meaning existing shareholders are selling their shares and NSE itself will not receive the IPO proceeds. The minimum lot size was eight shares, requiring retail investors to invest at least Rs 14,280 at the upper price band. Institutional investors drove most of the demand. The QIB portion was subscribed 12.68X, while the non-institutional investor category was subscribed around 6.6X. The retail portion, however, was subscribed only around 1.4X. NSE operates India’s largest stock exchange and has a major position in the equity and derivatives markets. It had more than 129 million registered investors by March 2026, up around 40% from the previous year. NSE accounted for around 93% of India's cash-market turnover and about 75% of options trading, according to Reuters. However, its financial performance was softer in FY26. NSE’s revenue from operations declined 3% to Rs 16,601 crore, while total income fell 2% to Rs 18,713 crore. Its consolidated profit after tax declined 15% to Rs 10,302 crore from Rs 12,188 crore in FY25. The decline came amid regulatory changes and lower activity in the derivatives market, which remains an important part of NSE’s business. Despite this, the exchange attracted strong institutional demand and is set to make its stock-market debut on September 24. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:37:08 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Exclusive: CarDekho parent to convert into public company ahead of IPO]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/32dd3d1f-91e8-4d3a-a5a4-339a8593345d</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[CarDekho Group, which operates platforms such as CarDekho, InsuranceDekho, BikeDekho, PriceDekho and Rupyy.com, is moving towards an IPO by converting its parent entity into a public company. The board has passed a special resolution to change the name of its parent entity from Girnar Software Private Limited to Girnar Software Limited, a move that typically precedes a public listing, according to regulatory filings accessed byEntrackr. Founded in 2008 by Amit Jain and Anurag Jain, CarDekho Group operates an automotive ecosystem spanning auto classifieds, used-car retail, financing, insurance and mobility. Its brands include CarDekho, BikeDekho, InsuranceDekho, Rupyy, ZigWheels, Revv and Carrum. Jaipur-based CarDekhoreportedlyplans to raise Rs 3,000 crore through an IPO comprising a fresh issue and an offer-for-sale (OFS), at a valuation of Rs 13,000-15,000 crore. The company has appointed Axis Bank, IIFL, Goldman Sachs and Nomura as bankers for the proposed issue. The group has raised around $750 million to date from investors including Peak XV Partners, Hillhouse Capital, CapitalG and LeapFrog Investments. In FY25, CarDekho Group’s consolidated operating revenue grew 24% YoY to Rs 2,795 crore, while its consolidated net loss narrowed marginally to Rs 266 crore from Rs 276 crore in FY24. The group has also expanded its mobility portfolio. Its fleet management business, Carrum, launched in 2024, haspartneredwith Uber and deployed more than 3,000 vehicles on its platform. The company claims that Carrum has been profitable since inception and is operating at an annualised revenue run rate of Rs 300 crore. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:37:07 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Snapdeal parent AceVector to launch IPO on September 25, seeks Rs 1,741-crore valuation]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/9980f9a7-21cb-432d-848a-a80a8ef428f7</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:36:18 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Snapdeal parent firm AceVector's IPO to open on September 25]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/a6d665ee-8b09-42a6-bbeb-1f8c6201aa06</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[AceVector, the parent company of ecommerce firm Snapdeal, will launch its initial public offering (IPO) on September 25. The IPO will be a combination of fresh issue of shares and offer for sale as the company looks to raise Rs 420 crore in total. In its red herring prospectus (RHP), AceVector said it has set a price band of Rs 30-32 for the IPO and the valuation of the company will be about Rs 1,750 crore. It aims to raise Rs 287 crore through fresh issue of shares and Rs 133 crore in offer for sale by issuing 4.16 crore shares. The IPO will open on September 25 and close on September 29 with a likely listing on October 5. The selling shareholders will include Softbank and Nexus Venture Partners. AceVector's IPO is looking to raise a lower amount than its earlier target. Previously, it had targeted to raise Rs 300 crore from fresh issue of shares and the offer for sale of 6.38 crore shares. According to the prospectus, AceVector will use the IPO proceeds for marketing and business promotion, technology infrastructure cost and inorganic growth opportunities. AceVector reported a revenue of Rs 510.38 crore for FY26 as compared to Rs 395.02 crore in FY25 recording a growth of 29%. The company’s net loss for FY26 touched Rs 46 crore which was a 64% decline when compared to FY25. Snapdeal operates in the value ecommerce segment with a larger focus on tier 2 and beyond locations. Besides Snapdeal, the other businesses of AceVector include SaaS company Unicommerce and consumer brands Stellaro Brands. AceVector joins the list of Indian companies which are now tapping into the public markets. The IPO market saw a subdued period during the first half of this year but has picked pace in the second half. Numerous Indian startups have raised or in the process of tapping the public markets.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:36:11 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Demoverse Raises $600K to Let Shoppers Design Products]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/dbadf2b8-b933-40c6-8e3e-7a76d09cce40</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/dbadf2b8-b933-40c6-8e3e-7a76d09cce40</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Demoverse has raised $600,000 led by Lumikai for a platform where shoppers redesign brand concepts using AI and earn royalties if their version gets made. The pitch is a demand signal before production, in an industry that made up to 5 billion unsold garments in 2023. The fashion industry made somewhere between 2.5 billion and 5 billion garments in 2023 that nobody bought. McKinsey and the Business of Fashion put the value of that unsold pile at $70 billion to $140 billion. The company has raised$600,000, roughly ₹5 crore, in a pre-seed round led byLumikai, the Indian fund focused on interactive media, digital platforms and games. Lumikai put in $500,000 of it through Pixels, its pre-seed programme. Marlan, a UAE investor-operator, and a group of angels supplied the rest. Founder Akshay Mehta started the company this year. A brand posts a product concept along with rules about what can and cannot change. Consumers use AI tools inside those guardrails to rework the design. The wider community then votes on which versions are strongest, and the brand gets a direction before committing to a production run. Contributors whose ideas shape a winning design earn royalties if the product is commercialised. Demoverse calls the shift from user generated content to user generated products, UGC to UGP. It is starting in fashion, where people hold firm opinions about how things look, and says it intends to move into beauty and packaged consumer goods later. It has run early trials with Indian brands and is using this round to turn those into paid campaigns and to open a US go-to-market. Plenty of companies have run design contests. What is different here is paying contributors a continuing share when something sells, which turns a marketing exercise into a commercial relationship with strangers. It also raises questions the announcement does not answer. When a consumer uses a brand's AI tool, inside the brand's guidelines, on the brand's concept, who owns the resulting design is not obvious, and it is the kind of thing that gets decided in terms and conditions rather than in a press release. Nor is it clear how contributions get attributed when a hundred people converge on a similar direction, which is exactly what tends to happen when a crowd works from the same brief. Royalty accounting for a small number of named designers is ordinary. Doing it for a large, anonymous and partly automated crowd is not something the consumer industry has infrastructure for yet. The pitch rests on the idea that community voting produces a demand signal ahead of production. It produces a preference signal, which is a weaker thing. Asking people which of two jackets they like better costs them nothing and tells you what they prefer among the options in front of them. It does not tell you whether they would hand over ₹4,000 for one. The gap between stated preference and actual spending is the oldest problem in consumer research, and it is precisely the gap that produced those bi]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:31:43 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Google fined $463 million for breaching EU rule on location data]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/c82a0f75-8f24-4b81-b3d1-4137fa13819f</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/c82a0f75-8f24-4b81-b3d1-4137fa13819f</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Google has been fined 403 million euros ($463 million) for breaching the European Union's strict privacy rules because it mishandled users' location data, the bloc's data privacy watchdog said Monday. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said its investigation found Google did not lawfully or fairly process location data in users’ Web & App Activity, a Google setting that tracks browsing and search history, and in their Location History, a service that maps places they've been with their mobile phones. Regulators also found the company failed to be lawful, fair and transparent when it processed personal data in its Location Accuracy feature in the Android mobile operating system. Ireland is the lead regulator for Google in the 27-nation EU because the U.S. tech giant's European headquarters is based in Dublin. The investigation, whichopened six years ago, examined how Google applied the EU privacy rule book, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, from the time it took effect in 2018 until February 2020. “This case centers around historical policies that have since been updated," Google said in a statement. "From 2019 onwards, we’ve significantly evolved our practices and launched robust tools that make managing location data simple.” Regulators said that location data is a type of personal data that's collected by Google and can be used to infer someone's location. “Location data can bring both benefits and harms to individuals,” Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said. "It can greatly enhance the utility of online services, but it can also reveal a significant amount of information about an individual, including information that is inherently private." It's the fourth biggest EU privacy fine issued by the Irish watchdog, which has previously handed out bigger fines to TikTok and Meta, including a 1.2 billion eurofine for Meta. The regulator said it still has three other ongoing privacy investigations involving Google.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:07:07 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Lumikai leads $600K pre-seed round in Demoverse]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/3c83f949-62a4-4e98-9132-f6184c136a0c</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/3c83f949-62a4-4e98-9132-f6184c136a0c</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Bengaluru-based AI-powered product co-creation startup Demoverse has raised $600K in a pre-seed funding round. Gaming and interactive media-focused venture capital firm Lumikai led the round with a $500K investment as part of its Pixels programme, with participation from Marlan, a UAE-based investor-operator focused on deep tech, and a group of angel investors. Demoverse plans to deploy the newly raised capital towards building its design community, strengthening its consumer application and expanding into the US market, founder Akshay Mehta told Entrackr during an interaction. Founded earlier this year by Mehta, Demoverse is building a platform that allows brands to involve consumers directly in the product design and creation process. Instead of using consumers only as a feedback mechanism after a product has been developed, the startup enables communities to co-create products using AI-powered design tools. “Brands will float a concept to their community, and the community will then co-create on top of it,” Mehta said during the interaction. According to Demoverse, its platform combines AI-generated designs with human preferences and community participation, allowing brands to identify designs that have stronger consumer validation. The startup aims to address uncertainty around product development and inventory decisions. The startup plans to generate revenue through three primary streams. The first will be campaign fees paid by brands to run product-design and co-creation campaigns. The second will come from commerce, while the third will come from its most active users. It plans to introduce paid participation in larger design challenges and contests across categories. While fashion is the startup’s initial focus, Mehta said Demoverse plans to expand into beauty, cosmetics, interiors and eventually other physical products, including automobiles and buildings. Demoverse currently operates on a B2B2C model and has conducted around seven closed trials with brands in India, including beauty ecommerce platform Purplle. Alongside its enterprise offering, it is also building a consumer-facing application. Separately, Lumikai’s Sehgal confirmed during the interaction that the firm plans to launch its third fund next year. The consumer co-creation segment in India is emerging at the intersection of D2C, community-led commerce, the creator economy and product innovation. Mumbai-based teen self-care brand Sammmm raised Rs 10 crore ($1.2 million) in seed funding led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from Sauce VC and angels. Meanwhile, BCT Ventures, which launched in July 2026 as an AI-native consumer brands platform, raised Rs 42 crore in seed funding led by 3one4 Capital. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or cov]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 05:35:57 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Protein Pantry raises Rs 9 Cr in seed round led by Sharrp Ventures]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/ba2df26b-6ead-4a33-879d-c3858b7bf639</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/ba2df26b-6ead-4a33-879d-c3858b7bf639</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[High-protein frozen food brand Protein Pantry has raised Rs 9 crore in a seed funding round led by Sharrp Ventures, with participation from Peercheque, Consumer Collective by Atrium and Indian Silicon Valley Capital, alongside angels including Varun Alagh, Rishubh Satiya, Avnish Anand, Arush Chopra, Saurabh Munjal, Signal Ventures and others. The fresh capital will primarily be deployed towards setting up and scaling the manufacturing unit, along with continued investment in R&D and supply chain, Protein Pantry said in a press release. Co-founded in November last year by Disha Bhattacharya and Prashanth Bhushan, Protein Pantry is a clean-label frozen food brand building high-protein, ready-to-cook products for Indian households. Its range is made using kitchen-shelf ingredients, with no refined flour, preservatives or palm oil. The products are formulated to a 1:10 protein-to-calorie ratio and manufactured entirely in-house. According to Protein Pantry, it has gone live direct-to-consumer across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Jaipur, and on quick commerce platforms such as Blinkit, FirstClub and Flipkart Minutes across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The brand said it has served over 30,000 households and has a strong repeat rate. It plans to enter Pune, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Chennai on quick commerce by the end of the year. The brand is targeting a gap in the protein market, which is largely built around supplements and snacks. Its portfolio includes soya chaap, kebabs, cutlets and falafels, which are baked rather than fried and made without refined flour, preservatives or palm oil. The company also produces its marinades, sauces and chaap base in-house at its own facility. The Delhi-based brand also plans to expand its range with new formats. Over the next 12 to 24 months, it is targeting availability across major Indian cities through D2C and quick commerce, along with an expansion of its protein range across categories. Recent funding activity in the segment includes Athena Protein, which raised a pre-seed round from Campus Fund in September this year to expand its high-protein food portfolio and cold-chain distribution. Meanwhile, The Whole Truth raised about $51 million in a Series D round in February this year to expand its clean-label protein and packaged-food business. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:35:28 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Inside Furlenco’s IPO; Moneyview investors make bank]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/b02f691b-2beb-4039-95d8-3cd331caf3ca</link>
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    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 02:34:15 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Inside WOI India’s Kashmir Retreat: Founders, MoU and ₹2 Crore Commitment]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/e07db5b9-8d4a-4d05-b50d-a3ac7c9bdab0</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/e07db5b9-8d4a-4d05-b50d-a3ac7c9bdab0</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[WOI India hosted the inaugural India Leaders' Retreat, Kashmir Edition, from September 18 to 20, 2026, at The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa in Gulmarg. The retreat was supported by the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, and brought together some of India's leading founders, investors, business leaders and ecosystem builders for conversations on entrepreneurship, institution-building and India's next phase of growth. The invitation-only gathering brought together 40+ founders and investors, including 30 confirmed unicorn and soonicorn builders. The participating companies represented a combined valuation of over $50 billion, based on a verified floor estimate. Designed as a closed-door, off-the-record gathering with no press, the retreat moved beyond conventional conferences and panel discussions to create space for candid conversations, peer learning, new relationships and deeper engagement with India's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Two significant outcomes marked the retreat: a Memorandum of Understanding between WOI India and JKEDI to strengthen Jammu & Kashmir's startup ecosystem, and WOI India's ₹2 crore commitment towards Shurukar, an initiative launched by Shradha Sharma in collaboration with DPIIT. A key outcome of the retreat was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between WOI India and JKEDI, establishing a foundation for continued collaboration to support entrepreneurship and strengthen the startup ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating more opportunities for local founders through access to entrepreneurial networks, mentorship, market connections and ecosystem-building initiatives. The retreat also featured a dedicated interaction between national startup leaders and approximately 40 founders from Jammu & Kashmir. The founders presented their ventures, shared their ambitions and engaged directly with experienced entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem leaders. The interaction created an opportunity for J&K founders to showcase their work, receive feedback, explore potential collaborations and build relationships that can extend well beyond the retreat. Vikramjeet Singh, Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, joined the retreat and engaged with participating leaders on the region's entrepreneurial landscape. Shri Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K, also joined the retreat and engaged with participating leaders on the region's entrepreneurial and industrial landscape. He said,"Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing a growing industrial and startup ecosystem, with new opportunities emerging across sectors. As the investment and entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, I encourage the founders and investors participating in this retreat to be part of this journey, explore the opportunities that Jammu & Kashmir offers, and c]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:29:26 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[AceVector files RHP for Rs 287 Cr fresh issue, turns free cash flow positive in FY26]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/fab74239-3c60-44e2-a9b6-b741817a5ab0</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/fab74239-3c60-44e2-a9b6-b741817a5ab0</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[SoftBank-backed AceVector, the parent company of Snapdeal and Unicommerce, has filed its red herring prospectus (RHP) with SEBI for an IPO comprising a Rs 287 crore fresh issue, along with an offer for sale (OFS) by existing shareholders. Under the IPO, AceVector will raise Rs 287 crore through a fresh issue, while existing shareholders will sell up to 4.12 crore shares through an offer for sale (OFS). Starfish I Pte. Ltd., the promoter selling shareholder, will account for the largest portion of the OFS, offering up to 2.76 crore shares, or 66.9% of the total shares on offer. Meanwhile, three Nexus entities — Nexus India Direct Investments II, Nexus Opportunity Fund and Nexus Ventures III  will collectively offer 86.96 lakh shares, accounting for around 21% of the OFS. Its co-founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal, who together hold a 33.99% stake directly and through related entities, will not participate in the OFS. Existing investors, including SoftBank and Foxconn, will also sell a small portion of their holdings. The IPO comes as AceVector has made progress on its financial performance and turned free cash flow positive in FY26. The company generated adjusted free cash flow from operations of Rs 10.82 crore in FY26, compared with a negative position in the previous year. Its operating revenue also grew 29% to Rs 510.38 crore in FY26 from Rs 395.02 crore in FY25. AceVector also significantly reduced its operating losses during the year. Its adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed 59% to Rs 15.94 crore in FY26 from Rs 39.16 crore in FY25. The adjusted EBITDA margin consequently improved to -3.12% from -9.91% during the same period. AceVector operates two key businesses, Snapdeal, its value-focused ecommerce marketplace, and Unicommerce, an ecommerce enablement SaaS platform. Snapdeal derives more than 62% of its business from fashion, with most products priced below Rs 599. Nearly 82% of its orders come from non-metro cities. Meanwhile, Unicommerce serves more than 8,100 clients across India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East through its ecommerce technology platforms. AceVector plans to use the fresh issue proceeds to strengthen Snapdeal’s technology infrastructure, invest in marketing and business development, pursue inorganic growth opportunities and meet general corporate requirements. The IPO will open for subscription on September 25 and close on September 29, with the anchor book opening on September 24. IIFL, CLSA and Systematix Group are the book-running lead managers. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:28:08 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[NSE IPO receives nearly four times subscription so far on final day]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/5c3bb8b0-ac2a-4705-a85a-ea175b0c2e05</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/5c3bb8b0-ac2a-4705-a85a-ea175b0c2e05</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[The Rs 22,569-crore initial public offering (IPO) of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), the country's second-largest public issue, received 3.92 times subscription so far on the final day of bidding on Monday. The offering is India's second-largest public issue after Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870-crore IPO in 2024. The IPO surpassed LIC's Rs 21,000 crore offering in 2022 but remains below Hyundai Motor India's record public offer. The NSE IPO received bids for 34.78 crore (34,78,26,096) shares against 8.86 crore (8,86,42,911) shares on offer, as per details available with the BSE till 02:35 PM. The category for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) garnered 7.99 times subscription, while the portion for non-institutional investors was subscribed 5.07 times. The quota for retail investors received 1.13 times subscription. The NSE on Wednesday last week raised Rs 6,746 crore from anchor investors, including state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Goldman Sachs and Fidelity. Additionally, sovereign wealth funds such as GIC Singapore, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Norges Bank, as well as Eastspring and HSBC Global Asset Management, also participated in the anchor round. The IPO comprises an Offer for Sale (OFS) of up to 12.64 crore equity shares by existing shareholders. The exchange has fixed a price band of Rs 1,700-1,785 per equity share for the IPO. At the upper end, it will command a valuation of up to Rs 4.42 lakh crore. Since the offering is entirely an OFS, proceeds from the share sale will accrue to existing shareholders, not the NSE. NSE shares are expected to make their market debut on September 24. The public issue marks a significant milestone for the NSE, whose listing plans had remained stalled for nearly a decade amid regulatory hurdles, including those linked to the co-location controversy. The reduction in the OFS size from the earlier planned 14.9 crore shares has brought down the overall issue size from the initial estimate of around Rs 30,000 crore.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:26:06 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Moneyview fixes IPO price band at Rs 32-34; eyes Rs 1,092 Cr]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/c916af1d-c84b-42f0-b7b2-dcb825a6c41d</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/c916af1d-c84b-42f0-b7b2-dcb825a6c41d</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Accel and Tiger Global-backed digital lending platform Moneyview has fixed the price band for its IPO at Rs 32-34 per share, putting the company’s valuation at nearly Rs 6,000 crore at the upper end of the band. The IPO will open for subscription on September 24 and close on September 28. The anchor book will open a day earlier on September 23. Moneyview is looking to raise Rs 1,091.6 crore through the public issue. The IPO comprises a fresh issue ofRs 750 croreand an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to 10.04 crore shares. At the upper price band, the company will have an implied market capitalisation of around Rs 5,985 crore. The price band comes shortly after Moneyview halved the size of its fresh issue from the Rs 1,500 crore proposed in its draft papers. The company and its existing investors also reduced the OFS from around 13.6 crore shares to 10.04 crore shares. Founders Puneet Agarwal and Sanjay Aggarwal will participate in the OFS along with investors including Accel, Tiger Global Management, Ribbit Capital, DI Investment and Crimson Winter. Accel is currently Moneyview’s largest shareholder with a 21.89% stake, followed by Tiger Global at 13.79%. Moneyview plans to use Rs 325 crore from the fresh issue to support loan disbursals under default loss guarantee arrangements, while another Rs 250 crore will be invested in its lending subsidiary Whizdm Finance to strengthen its capital base. The remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. Financially, Moneyview reported Rs 3,351.2 crore revenue in FY26, up 43.3% year-on-year, while profit rose marginally to Rs 242.7 crore. In Q1 FY27, revenue grew 50.2% to Rs 1,041.1 crore, while profit jumped 158.8% to Rs 173.8 crore. Investors can bid for a minimum of 441 shares, requiring Rs 14,994 at the upper price band. Moneyview is expected to list on the stock exchanges on October 1. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:25:52 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Exclusive: Drivn’s Indian entity raises Rs 45 Cr from Avaana Capital]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/e512213d-2c5b-40c1-83f1-4aaec5149524</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/e512213d-2c5b-40c1-83f1-4aaec5149524</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Electric commercial mobility startup Drivn’s Indian entity has raised Rs 45 crore or $4.7 million in a seed funding round led by Avaana Capital. The fundraise comes a few months after Drivn received an$80 millioncommitment from Japanese financial services group Nomura in February 2026. The latest capital has been raised by Drivn’s Indian operating entity, while its parent holding company is based in Singapore. According to regulatory filings accessed byEntrackr, the Indian entity’s board approved the allotment of 33,98,792 compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) at an issue price of Rs 132.40 per share. Avaana Capital invested the entire Rs 45 crore in the round. According to the filings, the company will use the fresh capital to meet its business requirements and for general corporate purposes. Founded in 2025 by Manav Bansal and Alpna Jain, Gurugram-based Drivn is building a full-stack electric mobility platform focused on large commercial vehicles. The startup owns and leases electric intercity buses and heavy-duty trucks, while also offering fleet operations and other services for commercial fleet owners. Drivn also provides charging infrastructure and battery lifecycle management solutions as it looks to build an integrated platform for businesses transitioning their commercial fleets to electric vehicles. Following the latest fundraising, Singapore-based Drivn Transition PTE. LTD remains the majority shareholder in the Indian entity with an 88.75% stake. Avaana Capital holds a 7.22% stake, while co-founder and CEO Manav Bansal owns 4.03%. Despite raising capital and securing the Nomura commitment, Drivn’s Indian entity was still at a pre-revenue stage in FY26. The company reported a loss of Rs 1.96 crore during the financial year, according to its regulatory filings. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:25:51 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Zurich Kotak General Insurance launches digital-first insurance platform to simplify SME business protection]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/2aaf1df7-902e-4bb6-b979-f2515849035a</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Indian SMEs contribute nearly 30% of the country's GDP and support millions of livelihoods. Forget the UPI fee fight. Do we know how India pays today? Nobody's money? The fortune Indian families forgot they had Has the US Fed and AI created a costlier world? And has the queue got longer for India? A different kind of buyback. Is this the beginning of these kinds of buybacks? Come January 2027, will India’s online platforms get their own Tukaram? Gold rush on Dalal St as regional jewellers bid to be the next Tanishq]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:25:33 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Startup news and updates: daily roundup (September 21, 2026)]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/bb5b3c6a-4ee1-474a-ba60-4c21134d21af</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/bb5b3c6a-4ee1-474a-ba60-4c21134d21af</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[From Ottonomy’s autonomous logistics robots to Rajesh Subramaniam’s 22-year journey building embedUR into an essential router-software powerhouse,YourStorybrings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors. The first thing Rajesh Subramaniam wanted was to sort the lighting. “I just want to make sure my lighting is not that bad and you can still see me,” he said, before we had got anywhere near his company or his plans for it. When I told him the story would be written and not filmed, he settled back into his chair and talked for the better part of an hour about Wi-Fi. Growing up in Lank, a small village near Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, Smita Choudhary witnessed how differently boys and girls were raised. Girls were expected to leave school early and take on household responsibilities, while boys were encouraged to attend college and build careers. Ritukar Vijay believes there is one part of logistics that is always messier than the rest: the middle. While robotics has slowly been incorporated into the industry over the past decade, the “messy middle” of moving samples, meals, parts and parcels between buildings, through elevators, and across campuses remained largely non-automated. Prime Industries has raised Rs 11.86 crore from Dr Uday Narang, founder of Omega Seiki Mobility, to support its focus on defence, nuclear and precision manufacturing. The company plans to use the capital partly to establish an R&D and incubation centre for its Special Product Division. Prime Industries has interests in businesses including Kay Bouvet Engineering and Linga Agri, spanning defence, nuclear and advanced manufacturing. Narang is also associated with OBSC Perfection, a precision manufacturing company with capabilities in CNC machining, investment casting, forging and stamping for industrial applications including defence and aerospace. LTM has appointed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur as Strategic Advisor to its BlueVerse Craft business unit. BlueVerse Craft helps enterprises develop AI-powered creative capabilities by combining strategy, creativity, technology and production. Kapur will advise the unit’s leadership on its vision for AI-enabled creativity, including how emerging technologies can expand creative possibilities and content production. A BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee, Kapur has worked across global cinema and storytelling. The appointment comes as enterprises face growing demand for content across formats, channels and markets, with AI increasingly being used to accelerate, adapt and personalise content production. Edelweiss Financial Services has launched a public issue of secured, redeemable non-convertible debentures worth up to Rs 300 crore, including a Rs 150 crore green shoe option. The issue comprises 10 series with tenures of 24, 36, 60 and 120 months, offering annual, monthly and cumulative interest options. Effective annual yields range from 8.64% to 10%. The issue opens on September 21 and closes on October 5, 2026]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:25:31 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[YuVerse takes its last-mile AI proposition to Global Fintech Fest]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/8b983a50-af55-466b-9794-9325bdda09e5</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:25:06 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Skillmatics posts Rs 659 Cr revenue in FY26, profit rises marginally]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/a30148af-9b47-4ae2-a6ed-eec65de07145</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/a30148af-9b47-4ae2-a6ed-eec65de07145</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Educational toys and games startup Skillmatics is reportedly in talks to raise fresh capital as it looks to expand its business. The potential fundraise comes as the company has scaled its revenue while remaining profitable. Skillmatics’ revenue from operations increased 34.5% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 659 crore in FY26 from Rs 490 crore in FY25, according to its consolidated financial statements filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). The Mumbai-based company operates a direct-to-consumer (D2C) and omnichannel edutainment business, offering educational toys and learning games for children aged between one and 12 years. Skillmatics sells its products through its own website, e-commerce marketplaces, and retail stores across global markets. The company has a presence in more than 25 countries and works with over 3,000 retail stores internationally, with North America being its key market. A large part of its business comes from overseas markets. Around 87% of Skillmatics’ operating revenue was generated outside India, primarily through its US-based subsidiary Grasper Global Inc. The company also reported Rs 7.52 crore in other income during FY26, taking its total revenue to around Rs 667 crore from Rs 496 crore in FY25. While Skillmatics saw healthy growth in revenue, its expenses increased at a faster pace during the year. The company’s total expenditure rose 36.1% to Rs 652 crore in FY26 from Rs 479 crore in FY25. Marketing remained one of the biggest expenses for Skillmatics. The company spent around Rs 169 crore on marketing during the year, accounting for about 26% of its total expenditure. The cost of making toys and games was another major expense and stood at around Rs 130 crore in FY26. Other expenses, including packaging, commissions, transportation, employee benefits and other operating costs, also contributed to the increase in the overall cost base. As expenses grew faster than revenue, the company’s profit growth remained limited. Skillmatics’ net profit increased 4.2% to Rs 17.57 crore in FY26 from Rs 16.86 crore in FY25. Its EBITDA margin stood at 1.75%, while return on capital employed (ROCE) was recorded at 5.14% during the fiscal year. On a unit level, Skillmatics spent around 99 paise to earn every rupee of operating revenue in FY26, indicating the pressure from its growing cost base. The company ended FY26 with current assets of around Rs 222 crore, including cash and bank balances of Rs 75.5 crore. Skillmatics has built its business around the global market, particularly North America, where it has developed a sizeable presence across both online and offline channels. The company has raised around $28 million to date across its funding rounds and counts investors such as Peak XV Partners and Sofina among its backers. The rise in revenue shows that Skillmatics has continued to scale its global business, although the relatively modest growth in profit shows the higher costs involved in marketing, manufacturing, and expandin]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:24:46 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Soach Global eyes 25X returns from NSE IPO, to pocket Rs 295 Cr via partial exit]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/e5bb6141-3406-46c9-a60c-343ae44fefa3</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Mauritius-based Soach Global Opportunities Fund is set to make nearly 25X returns on its decade-old investment in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) through a partial exit in the exchange's initial public offering (IPO). The fund is selling 20% of its holding through the offer for sale (OFS), while retaining the remaining 80% as a long-term investment. According to the company's press release, Soach Global Strategic Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the fund, is selling 16.5 lakh equity shares at NSE's IPO price band of Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,785 per share. The transaction is expected to fetch approximately Rs 280 crore to Rs 295 crore. Soach Global acquired 1.5 lakh NSE shares from the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) in January 2016 for Rs 59.25 crore at Rs 3,950 per share. Over the following decade, its holding increased to 82.5 lakh shares through corporate actions without any additional investment. Its adjusted acquisition cost stands at Rs 71.8 per share. At the upper end of the IPO price band, the fund's partial exit will generate nearly five times its entire original investment. Following the sale, Soach Global will continue to hold 66 lakh NSE shares, valued at approximately Rs 1,120 crore to Rs 1,180 crore. Hong Kong-based Soach Global Corporation Limited operates in fund management and advisory, with a focus on trade, commerce and long-term investments in India and global markets. Its Mauritius-based investment subsidiary holds the group's investment in NSE. Anubhav Dayal, founder and director of Soach Global Opportunities Fund, said the partial exit is intended to enable wider retail participation in NSE's growth. He added that the fund views its remaining holding as a long-term investment and has no plans to re-enter after the sale. NSE's IPO, which opened on September 17, will close for subscription today. The issue was subscribed 1.76 times as of 11:50 AM on the final day. Ahead of the IPO, the exchange raisedRs 6,746 crorefrom 189 anchor investors, including LIC, Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, ADIA, GIC, Fidelity, Societe Generale. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:24:16 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Moneyview IPO to open on September 24]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/2f68bbd3-d1c3-4737-baa7-0d1cf6026d7d</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/2f68bbd3-d1c3-4737-baa7-0d1cf6026d7d</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Digital lending platform Moneyview Ltd is gearing up to launch its Rs 1,092-crore initial public offering (IPO) on September 24. The price band has been fixed at Rs 32-34 per equity share, valuing the company at nearly Rs 6,000 crore at the upper limit. The IPO will close on September 28, and the company's shares are proposed to be listed on the NSE and BSE on October 1, according to a public announcement on Monday. Moneyview's IPO comprises a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 750 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) of 10.05 crore equity shares, valued at Rs 342 crore at the higher end of the issue price, by existing shareholders. This takes the total issue size to Rs 1,092 crore. Of the Rs 750 crore fresh issue proceeds, Rs 325 crore will be used to support the company's lending operations, while Rs 250 crore will be invested in augmenting the capital base of its NBFC subsidiary. The remaining funds will be utilised for general corporate purposes. On the financial front, Moneyview reported a profit after tax of Rs 242 crore in FY26 and revenue of Rs 3,351 crore during the year. For the quarter ended June 2026, the company's profit after tax stood at Rs 174 crore and revenue at Rs 1,065 crore. The company's lending business has continued to grow, with loan disbursals rising 31 per cent to Rs 23,099 crore in FY26. Disbursals stood at Rs 7,152 crore in the first quarter of FY27, up 40 per cent year-on-year. Its assets under management (AUM) stood at Rs 22,520 crore as of June 30, 2026. Founded in 2014 by IIT Delhi graduates Puneet Agarwal and Sanjay Aggarwal, Moneyview operates as a digital-only, credit-led fintech platform offering financial products across borrowing, transactions, investments and protection. Its flagship digital personal loan business, launched in 2017, remains a key contributor to its operations. The company said its technology and artificial intelligence-led model enables a largely unassisted digital customer journey and allows it to offer personalised financial products at scale. Moneyview has a user base of more than 140 million and claims coverage across 99 per cent of pincodes in India. Beyond personal loans, the company has expanded into products and services including earned wage access, home loans, loans against property, digital gold and UPI transactions. Axis Capital, BofA Securities India, IIFL Capital Services and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company are the book-running lead managers to the issue.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:23:58 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Samara Capital acquires stakes in ARC and Calyx]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/e5296364-f7ee-46ba-ac5a-eaaf00158aeb</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/e5296364-f7ee-46ba-ac5a-eaaf00158aeb</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Private equity firm Samara Capital has acquired stakes in Associated Road Carriers (ARC) and Calyx Container Terminals to create an integrated logistics platform. As per mint report, Samara has invested around Rs 1,200 crore, with the promoters and the PE firm holding nearly equal stakes in the new entity. The combined platform brings together ARC’s business-to-business road transportation network and Calyx’s container freight station operations at Chennai Port. Together, the two companies reported revenue of around Rs 2,140 crore in FY26. The fresh capital will be used to expand the branch and hub network, strengthen first-mile and last-mile logistics capabilities and upgrade technology. The platform may also pursue acquisitions as it expands its presence across India. Samara plans to build a nationwide logistics business covering both domestic and EXIM cargo movements. The firm will also focus on improving operations through investments in technology, data analytics, engineering and process improvements. The combined platform will seek to use ARC’s road network and Calyx’s port-linked infrastructure to offer logistics services across different stages of the supply chain. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:23:13 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[China slows humanoid robot IPO rush as hype outruns reality]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/3cf1c96f-b342-4713-87f4-1b0a73d23234</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/3cf1c96f-b342-4713-87f4-1b0a73d23234</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:23:01 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Weekly VC funding falls below $100M again; How Ottonomy is building robots for real-world logistics]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/c584185b-69c8-4b66-91b0-e01049d98253</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[It’s a wrap for SEMICON India 2026, which drew investment commitments of aroundRs 1 lakh croreunder Semicon 2.0. The event concluded with aspotlighton startups and student teams building on homegrown chip platforms. A report by EY and India Semiconductor and Electronics Association was also released. The report estimates India’s semiconductor market to grow from $64 billion in 2026 to $200 billion by 2035, and also lays out a roadmap for converting domestic demand and design talent into leadership across manufacturing, advanced packaging and innovation. Highlighting thechip-making prowessthe country aims to build going forward, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India should design and manufacture chips for everyday products such as cars, power systems, televisions, refrigerators, and other appliances within the next five years. In global news, Australia’s curbs onsocial mediaseem to have won Tim Cook’s approval. After meeting with Cook at the company’s US headquarters, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Apple’s Executive Chair had called the Australian government’s efforts “world-leading”. The government’s moves include a proposal to give users the option to select the content they see on their feeds. In December last year, ​Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16. Meanwhile, calls for anAI kill switchare growing louder, but experts say implementing it could be a logistical nightmare. In today’s newsletter, we will talk about Here’s your trivia for today: What was Sony’s first product which was a massive failure?(Scroll down for the answer) Venture capital funding into Indian startups saw a steep decline in the third week of September as the majority of the fundraise came from the very early-stage category, which generally accounts for lower value. This is the seventh time in the year that VC funding on a weekly basis has fallen below $100 million, revealing the challenges the Indian startup ecosystem faces in raising large amounts of capital. Sunnyvale-based deeptech startup Ottonomy is building robots for real-world logistics. Ottonomy, which has a production facility in Noida, has deployed its products across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and India. The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly’shigh-level weekunfolds this week. The packed agenda includes conflicts and international security, climate change, pandemic preparedness, sea-level rise, and fight against racism and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. What was Sony’s first product which was a massive failure? We would love to hear from you! To let us know what you liked and disliked about our newsletter, please mail[email protected]. If you don’t already get this newsletter in your inbox,sign up here. For past editions of the YourStory Buzz, you can check ourDaily Capsule page here.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:21:21 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 FE prices teased ahead of Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026: How much can buyers save?]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/3a8f5c93-aef6-48e9-88a2-fd33e11b407b</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 FE buyers could save thousands of rupees during Flipkart's upcoming Big Billion Days Sale 2026, with the e-commerce platform teasing prices below₹60,000 and₹50,000, respectively. Flipkart has confirmed that this year's Big Billion Days Sale will begin on October 9 in India. The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 FE are among the Samsung smartphones expected to receive significant discounts during the festive-season event. According to Flipkart's sale page, theGalaxy S25will be priced below₹60,000, while theGalaxy S25 FEwill be available for less than₹50,000. The exact deal prices have not yet been disclosed. The offers are likely to apply to the 128GB variants. Currently, the Galaxy S25 128GB is listed at₹69,999, while the Galaxy S25 FE 128GB costs₹54,999. At the teased prices, buyers could potentially save more than₹9,999 on the Galaxy S25 if it is sold at₹60,000, while the Galaxy S25 FE could see savings of more than₹4,999 if its price falls to₹50,000. The actual savings will depend on the final sale prices and any additional bank or exchange offers. Samsung has also increased the price of its latest Galaxy S26 flagship range, with the standard Galaxy S26 now starting at₹99,999 on the company's official store. The Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra could also see price increases. MoreSamsungdeals could be announced as the festive shopping season approaches. Amazon and Samsung's own online store are also expected to reveal their promotional offers in the coming days. Meanwhile, Flipkart has teased a Big Billion Days sale price for the iPhone 17 in the₹7X,XXX range, potentially making Apple's latest standard iPhone significantly cheaper during the festive-season sale. The price appeared in an image shared by Flipkart's official mobile account on Instagram as part of a carousel post discussing smartphone myths. While the exact figure remains undisclosed, the teaser points to the iPhone 17 being available for well below its current retail price. Apple recently raised prices across its existing iPhone lineup in India amid higher global component costs and a shortage of memory chips. The iPhone 17 currently starts at₹99,900 in the country, meaning buyers were expecting to spend around₹1 lakh for the device during the festive season. A sale price in the₹7X,XXX range could therefore translate into savings of nearly₹20,000 compared with the current starting price, depending on the final offer. Additional bank discounts or exchange benefits could potentially bring the effective price down further.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 17:23:26 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[For SMEs, the GEO question is simple: Will it bring you business?]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/5bc01671-a6b9-4317-a1b5-0afe4533dcde</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/5bc01671-a6b9-4317-a1b5-0afe4533dcde</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format The first phase of GEO was awareness, the second was visibility, and the third is accountability. You will stop accepting that you show up in a third of tracked prompts. Nobody's money? The fortune Indian families forgot they had Has the US Fed and AI created a costlier world? And has the queue got longer for India? A different kind of buyback. Is this the beginning of these kinds of buybacks? Come January 2027, will India’s online platforms get their own Tukaram? Four rules made HDFC Bank a compounder. All four have stopped. Can the new CEO rewrite them? Gold rush on Dalal St as regional jewellers bid to be the next Tanishq]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 05:10:50 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Charting the global economy: Fed officials raise interest rates]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/aa797334-4642-4bd6-b367-68ca8ae15031</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/aa797334-4642-4bd6-b367-68ca8ae15031</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[The Federal Open Market Committee voted to increase the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%. Nobody's money? The fortune Indian families forgot they had Has the US Fed and AI created a costlier world? And has the queue got longer for India? A different kind of buyback. Is this the beginning of these kinds of buybacks? Come January 2027, will India’s online platforms get their own Tukaram? Four rules made HDFC Bank a compounder. All four have stopped. Can the new CEO rewrite them? Gold rush on Dalal St as regional jewellers bid to be the next Tanishq]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 05:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[From an IIT Bombay lab to a Rs 1,000 Cr IPO]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/05cb26ac-43f8-4ff6-820f-fa4f1d9e421f</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/05cb26ac-43f8-4ff6-820f-fa4f1d9e421f</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[India’s startup ecosystem has become very good at building companies at speed. Professor Shashikanth believes building genuinely new technology is a different game altogether. Nearly two decades ago, a group emerging from an IIT Bombay lab started Sedemac with an ambition that sounds deceptively simple: build new control technologies and see them achieve widespread adoption. Today, the numbers tell a remarkable story. Sedemac has crossed Rs 1,000 crore in annual revenue, with around Rs 200 crore in EBITDA, Rs 150 crore in profit before tax and Rs 100 crore in profit after tax. The company operates at roughly 40% return on capital employed, ships one million motor controllers every quarter, and its technology sits inside millions of two-wheelers on Indian roads. But Shashikanth’s story is less about one company’s growth and more about what happens when engineers attempt something that the market itself may not yet know it needs. “Creators of technology are market creators,” he says. “You don’t start with, ‘Oh, this market is going to grow big.’ Therefore, it will grow big or not because of you.” At the heart of Sedemac’s growth is its work on motor controllers and sensorless commutation. A motor controller manages the flow of power between a power source such as a battery and an electric machine. For that motor to operate, the controller needs to determine which coils should be energised based on the position of the rotor. Conventionally, a physical sensor can provide that information. Sensorless commutation attempts to do this without such a physical position sensor, instead estimating the rotor’s position using other information. At higher speeds, this has been understood for decades. At zero and low speeds, the physics becomes significantly harder because one of the phenomena used for estimation, back EMF, reduces with speed and disappears at zero speed. “We are the first company globally, globally, it is a very big statement, that has made as much progress in sensorless commutation as we have,” says Shashikanth. But Sedemac did not start in 2007 with a grand plan to solve this particular problem. The opportunity emerged years later through its work with the two-wheeler industry. Around 2014-15, while developing an Integrated Starter Generator or ISG, the team realised the system could be improved if it made progress on sensorless commutation. In 2018, a TVS moped became the first vehicle to use the system. According to Shashikanth, it was also the world’s first sensorless ISG application. What followed was not an overnight deep-tech success story. Sedemac estimates that 12 to 13 million vehicles carrying its ISG are now on Indian roads. Five of the top 10 two-wheeler models selling in India use its ISG in at least one variant, including models from TVS, Bajaj and Hero. Another Sedemac technology, Shashikanth says, has already gone into around 50 million vehicles. This scale matters because Sedemac had to break into an industry dominated by eno]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 03:09:47 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Exclusive: Disha (formerly Curelink) raises Series A led by General Catalyst]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/0d42967f-92f2-4672-887d-b15ada7724f0</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/0d42967f-92f2-4672-887d-b15ada7724f0</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Disha (formerly Curelink), an AI-powered health coaching platform offering personalised diet, fitness and chronic-care support, has raised Rs 43.88 crore in a Series A round led by General Catalyst, with participation from existing investor Elevation Capital.The company had raised$3.5 million(about Rs 26 crore) in a seed round led by Elevation Capital and Venture Highway.According to its regulatory filings accessed byEntrackr, Disha’s board has approved the issuance of 12,309 Series A CCPS at an issue price of Rs 35,643.64 per share to raise the aforementioned amount. General Catalyst led the round with an investment of Rs 38.20 crore, followed by Elevation Capital with Rs 5.20 crore and Flamel Performing Creatives Private Limited with Rs 48 lakh. As perEntrackr’sestimates, Disha’s post-money valuation increased 52% to around Rs 288 crore from Rs 190 crore in the previous round.The fresh capital will be used to meet working capital requirements, develop and enhance its AI models and technology platform, expand its business and operations, strengthen its capital base, and fund general corporate purposes, the filings indicate. Disha is an AI-powered health coaching platform by Curelink, offering personalised diet, fitness and chronic-care support across 15 conditions in Hindi, English and Hinglish, with 24×7 coaching. It claims 70 lakh sign-ups, 3 lakh active users and 1.4 crore messages. Following the latest allotment, Aman Singla and Divyansh Jain hold the largest stakes in Disha at 31.10% each. General Catalyst holds 13.33%, followed by Elevation Capital at 9.96% and the ESOP pool at 9.02%. Venture Highway owns 4.07%, while Flamel Performing Creatives holds 0.17%. Its angel investors Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Founder & CEO of Paytm), Ankush Sachdeva (Cofounder & CEO of ShareChat), and Digital Sparrow Capital each hold around 0.16% in the company. The company is yet to report its FY26 numbers. Disha’s revenue doubled to Rs 4.91 crore in FY25 from Rs 2.47 crore in FY24, while its loss narrowed 22.5% to Rs 4.45 crore from Rs 5.74 crore during the same period. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:01:24 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[DPIIT to unveil QCO framework for semiconductor, deeptech firms in 2-3 months]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/36dd1894-15fa-4130-bbfa-7959a965a711</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/36dd1894-15fa-4130-bbfa-7959a965a711</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) plans to come out with clearer guidelines and a policy framework within the next two to three months to address Quality Control Order-related hurdles faced by semiconductor and other deeptech companies. Quality Control Orders, or QCOs, mandate that specified products comply with Indian standards, with the Bureau of Indian Standards overseeing certification. Speaking at SEMICON India 2026, DPIIT Joint Secretary Dr Sumeet Jarangal said the department was working on a mechanism to deal with cases where replacement components used in sophisticated manufacturing equipment come under BIS and QCO requirements administered by different ministries. “Within two, three months, we will come up with clear guidelines and policy, so that no company has to suffer because of the QCO framework,” Jarangal said. Jarangal said the issue was less pronounced for new production machinery, but could become complicated when companies needed to import replacement components. He cited the example of one company that had identified around 1,400 replacement components covered by BIS-related requirements. The challenge, he said, is that the applicable standards and regulatory requirements can fall under different administrative ministries, making compliance more complex for companies operating sophisticated manufacturing facilities. DPIIT is working on a framework under which the relevant line ministry could identify, based on a company’s request, the departments responsible for individual components and coordinate the required regulatory treatment. The department is also examining whether DPIIT should act as the nodal agency for such cases or whether the authority should remain with the respective administrative ministries. Jarangal said similar challenges were being faced by companies in other high-tech and deeptech sectors as well. He said there needed to be flexibility while these sectors were still developing and domestic production of specialised components remained limited. The comments came during a panel on regulatory enablement for semiconductor manufacturing, where officials from Customs, the Department of Commerce and the Gujarat government, along with industry representatives, discussed bottlenecks around imports, standards, SEZ rules and clearances. During the discussion, MeitY Joint Secretary Sushil Pal, who moderated the panel, also sought a mechanism to provide streamlined regulatory treatment to companies supported under the India Semiconductor Mission and their supply-chain partners.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Anthropic considers releasing new AI model ahead of IPO, sources say]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/dfd139b6-4f7b-4035-8762-58d928217d7d</link>
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    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 02:58:26 +0000</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[From Trading Apps to AI Tools: The New Technology Stack for Indian Investors]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/134de238-4cfd-43fb-af67-26aa48d8cef7</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/134de238-4cfd-43fb-af67-26aa48d8cef7</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[For Indian investors, technology has changed much more than the way a trade is placed. A decade ago, market participation depended heavily on brokers, research reports, television channels and financial newspapers. Information has become easy to access. The challenge is deciding what deserves attention. Today, an investor can access live prices, screen thousands of stocks and study financial statements from a smartphone. Artificial intelligence has added another layer to this process. The bigger change is happening inside the decision-making process. Information has become easy to access. The challenge is deciding what deserves attention. Investors also need to understand how different pieces of information fit together. Most importantly, they need to know whether a conclusion is supported by evidence. This is where the new technology stack becomes important. Trading apps solved one major problem for retail investors: access. An individual can now open a demat account, track a portfolio and place an order within minutes. Market participation has become considerably easier. Investors can also monitor their positions throughout the trading session. However, execution is only one part of investing. A trading platform can show what a stock is doing. It cannot automatically explain why the stock is moving. It also cannot establish whether the underlying business is improving. Valuation, business quality and risk still require analysis. That requires a research process. This is why the investor’s technology stack is expanding beyond brokerage applications. Screeners, financial databases, charting platforms, earnings transcripts and corporate filings have become important research tools. The next step is connecting these sources intelligently. One of the biggest problems facing retail investors today is information overload. There can be hundreds of companies worth studying. Each company can also generate thousands of data points. Investors can find revenue growth, margins, debt levels, promoter holdings and quarterly results within minutes. More information does not automatically create better understanding. A structured approach can make the information more useful. The process can begin with the business. Investors can understand the industry, competitive position and business model. They can then examine financial performance and valuation. Technical analysis and market behaviour can be considered after that. Risk should remain part of the process throughout. Technology can make each stage faster. A stock screener can narrow thousands of companies using specific conditions. Data platforms can bring historical numbers together. Charting tools can help identify trends and price structures. AI can then help organise and question the information. The important word here isstructure. Technology becomes more useful when it supports a defined framework. The objective should be to make the research process more consistent and repeatable. Artificial intellig]]></description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:03:57 +0000</pubDate>
    <media:content url="http://thetechpanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/image_9da43b82.jpg" medium="image" />
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    <title><![CDATA[(Weekly funding roundup Sept 12-18) Sharp fall in VC inflow]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/3d2d645a-0123-453e-8c45-97f0d3c1e194</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/3d2d645a-0123-453e-8c45-97f0d3c1e194</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Venture capital funding into Indian startups saw a steep decline in the third week of September as the majority of the fund raise came from the very early stage category which generally accounts for a lower value. This is the seventh time in the year till now that VC funding on a weekly basis has come under the $100 million level and this reveals the challenges that the Indian startup continues to face in raising large amounts of capital. During this week, the two transactions of Flam and UGRO Capital were the saving grace. The total funding for the week came in $99 million across 22 deals. In comparison, theprevious weeksaw a total amount of $392 million. This week there were totally 22 deals but 14 of them came under the pre-Series A category. This category generally sees larger volume of activity and given the stage of funding but the value of money raised is low. There has also been an uneven nature of VC funding into Indian startups this year and in the weeks where the amount raised was at a higher level, it has been generally due to one or two large deals in the $100 million range which provided the overall boost. Though, this week there was no such transaction. The overall funding momentum into Indian startups is likely to remain modest for the remaining months of the year and the hope is that next year will be a better period for the Indian startup ecosystem. UGRO Capital, a lending platform raised Rs 380 crore ($39.6 million approx.) from Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO). AI content startupFlamraised $40 million from QED Investors, Shah Rukh Khan, Claypond Capital, Martin Chavez, Olivier Pomel, Venky Harinarayan, RTP Global and Dovetail. Deeptech startupDheyaTechraised Rs 43 crore ($4.4 million approx.) from Avaana Capital and Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing Limited.]]></description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:51:23 +0000</pubDate>
    <media:content url="https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Weekly-funding-1741961216560.jpg" medium="image" />
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    <title><![CDATA[China's RoboTechnik to launch $800 million Hong Kong listing on September 21]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/00f645bc-8e90-4501-b137-12addc6dbf9d</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/00f645bc-8e90-4501-b137-12addc6dbf9d</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:50:40 +0000</pubDate>
    <media:content url="https://img.etimg.com/thumb/width-1200,height-900,imgsize-1188023,resizemode-75,msid-134335076/tech/technology/chinas-robotechnik-to-launch-800-million-hong-kong-listing-on-september-21.jpg" medium="image" />
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    <title><![CDATA[No online game registered under new gaming law; 201 complaints received: MeitY to CIC]]></title>
    <link>https://ventureos.website/news/a7a365cf-f39f-4f84-afab-898fc57f1e5a</link>
    <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ventureos.website/news/a7a365cf-f39f-4f84-afab-898fc57f1e5a</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Listen to this article in summarized format (Catch all theTechnology News News, andLatest NewsUpdates onThe Economic Times.)]]></description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:50:39 +0000</pubDate>
    <media:content url="https://img.etimg.com/thumb/width-1200,height-900,imgsize-1806282,resizemode-75,msid-134335529/tech/technology/no-online-game-registered-under-new-gaming-law-201-complaints-received-meity-to-cic.jpg" medium="image" />
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