Startups

AI-driven infant health technology startup Cradlewise has raised $12 million in Series A funding led by Bengaluru-based 3one4 Capital and Prudent Investment Management.

Semiconductor startup Celero Communications secured $275 million in Series C funding following the successful validation of its 2nm optical DSP chip for AI data centers.

Indian voice AI platform Navana.ai has raised ₹40 crore in a Series A round led by entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala. The startup will use the capital to scale its Indic speech models across India's banking, financial services, and insurance sectors.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched 'BIO-NIVESH', a strategic government platform designed to connect biotechnology startups with private investors and catalyze capital flow into high-impact healthcare and bio-innovations.

Bengaluru-headquartered healthtech startup Ultrahuman has secured $70 million in a new funding round led by Qualcomm Ventures, Labcorp, and existing investors. The fresh capital will be used to advance research in miniaturised electronics, scale edge-AI computing, and expand its global health tracking platform.

Bengaluru-based space infrastructure startup Kepler Aerospace has secured $8 million in a seed round led by Blue Ashva Capital to launch autonomous defense surveillance satellites.

Software giant Adobe has acquired Indian AI automation startup Rilo, founded by IIT Bombay alumni, to enhance its agentic marketing and AI-driven automation capabilities.

Insurtech startups InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have officially merged to build India's largest AI-enabled insurance distribution platform, with a combined annual premium book exceeding ₹6,600 crore. The unified entity will operate under the InsuranceDekho brand and reach over 98.57% of pin codes across India.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal proposed a four-pillar framework, including a Deep-Tech Capital Corridor, at the India-Japan Startup Roundtable in Tokyo to deepen bilateral innovation and investment ties.

Space technology startup InspeCity has secured ₹100 crore ($10.5 million) in pre-Series A funding led by Speciale Invest and Ashish Kacholia. The capital will be utilized to qualify its integrated architecture in space and execute four in-orbit satellite servicing and life-extension missions over the next 18 months.

EV battery-swapping provider Yuma Energy has secured $35 million in a Series A funding round from global automotive supplier Magna International. The capital will fund network expansion across major Indian cities and infrastructure upgrades.

Higher education company upGrad has finalized its acquisition of edtech startup Unacademy for just over $200 million. The deal marks a steep valuation markdown from Unacademy's peak valuation of $3.44 billion in 2021.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed Memoranda of Understanding with PhonePe and Shell India, offering DPIIT-recognized startups enhanced access to technology, mentorship, market linkages, and sector-specific support.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met with 20 Indian space startup leaders, applauding their innovative contributions to the sector and urging them to expand their technological applications across various fields. He emphasized the government's commitment to supporting these ventures to establish India as a global hub for space talent and investment.

The European Union's AI Act began phased enforcement on August 2, 2026, creating a new market for compliance technology where a growing number of European startups are offering solutions to help businesses meet the complex new regulations. These regulatory changes mandate increased transparency, security, and human oversight for AI systems, particularly high-risk applications.

Phoebe Gates' AI-powered shopping startup, Phia, is under scrutiny following allegations of using a controversial affiliate marketing tactic known as "cookie stuffing" to claim commissions from online purchases. The company has denied parts of the reports, removed the feature, and is reviewing transactions.

Qualcomm Technologies has selected 15 startups from Japan, Singapore, and South Korea for its 2026 AI Program for Innovators (QAIPI), providing mentorship and resources to develop cutting-edge on-device AI solutions.

Qualcomm Technologies has announced the selection of 15 promising startups from Japan, Singapore, and South Korea for its 2026 Asia-Pacific (APAC) AI Program for Innovators, designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of on-device AI solutions.