Indian Startup News: Weekly Highlights, Big Deals & Policy Shifts (June 8th – 14th, 2025)

Last Week’s Indian Startup News witnessed a funding boom this week, with $567.5 million raised across 19 deals, marking a 322% increase from the previous week. From AI and EVs to quick commerce and semiconductors, Indian startups made major headlines across verticals. Here’s a bullet-wise breakdown of everything that mattered.

Funding Alert from Indian Startup News

• Business-to-business platform Udaan raised $114M to expand its logistics and credit offerings across Tier-2/Tier-3 markets.

• D2C men’s fashion brand SNITCH, known from Shark Tank India, secured $40M to enhance inventory agility and offline presence.

• Fintech platform Stable Money brought in $20M to simplify investments in fixed-income products like FDs and bonds.

• Digital lending startup LoanTap raised $8.62M to bolster its lending stack for salaried professionals and SMEs.

• GyanDhan, which helps students secure education loans for overseas studies, closed $5.82M to scale its loan evaluation tools.

• Climate-tech financing startup Stride Green raised $3.5M in seed funding to support clean energy transitions for Indian businesses.

• Construction-tech unicorn Knest raised ₹300 Cr (~$36M) to expand its modular formwork systems for large-scale infrastructure projects.

• Deeptech robotics startup Leumas secured $2.2M to scale its AI-powered automation solutions for manufacturing lines.

• AI-driven interior design startup Roomstory.ai raised ₹3 Cr (~$360K) to build virtual room styling tools for homeowners.

• Cybersecurity firm Repello AI secured $1.2M to protect enterprise AI models from adversarial threats.

• Agritech startup Pehle Jaisa, which connects farmers with equipment repair services, raised $300K to expand rural operations.

• Healthcare innovation firm Iom Bioworks raised ₹4 Cr to develop personalized biotech tools in synthetic biology.

• On-demand salary platform Refyne raised ₹35 Cr in debt to grow its employer network and enhance employee financial access.

• Used car platform Spinny added $30M from WestBridge as part of its $170M round to expand its premium segment operations.

• SME lending NBFC FlexiLoans secured ₹375 Cr to scale its loan disbursal via AI-based underwriting.

• Gamified wealthtech app PowerUp Money raised $7.1M to boost financial literacy and personalized investment tools.

• D2C jewelry brand GIVA is raising ₹450 Cr from Creaegis and others to scale its silver and lab-grown diamond offerings.

• QSR chain Wow! Momo raised ₹85 Cr in debt from Stride Ventures to strengthen backend operations and scale Wow! China.

• EV infra firm Kazam is planning a $6M raise to expand its network of smart charging stations.

• EV component startup Vecmocon closed its Series A at $18M to ramp up production of motor controllers and battery systems.

• Defense-tech company Sanlayan raised ₹186 Cr to develop advanced surveillance and tactical military products.

Must Read: Indian Startup News: Funding Alerts, Acquisitions, and Launches (June 2nd – 7th, 2025)

IPOs, Valuations & Exits

• Customer loyalty SaaS startup Capillary Technologies received SEBI approval for a ₹2,250 Cr (~$263M) IPO.

• Credit payment platform CRED raised $72M in a down round, slashing its valuation to $3.5B to strengthen its wealthtech arm.

• Investment platform Groww raised $200M pre-IPO; reported ₹1,819 Cr profit in FY25, with valuation nearing $7B.

• Eyewear unicorn Lenskart was marked up to $6.1B by Fidelity, signaling IPO readiness.

• Infra-tech firm ArisInfra Solutions priced its ₹500 Cr IPO at ₹210–222/share for infrastructure expansion.

• Drone maker ideaForge stock surged 8% amid a defense-tech rally, gaining from strategic defense reforms.

• Nazara Technologies acquired Curve Games (UK); meanwhile, Rekha Jhunjhunwala exited by selling 30 lakh shares.

• E-commerce platform Meesho and home solutions brand Wakefit converted to public entities ahead of planned IPOs.

• Fintech unicorn Pine Labs is set to file for a $700M IPO by June-end, focusing on global merchant solutions.

• Content firm BRND.ME exited its media vertical by selling MensXP to RPSG Group.

Ecosystem & Market Moves

• Amazon Now soft-launched in Bengaluru, entering India’s booming quick commerce segment.

• BigBasket announced plans to offer 10-minute grocery delivery pan-India by March 2026.

• The FDA lifted its suspension on Zepto’s Dharavi warehouse, clearing a key delivery hub.

• PhonePe sold 5% of its stake in MapmyIndia for ₹486 Cr to realign investment strategy.

• AI company Krutrim launched “Kruti,” its flagship agentic AI assistant aimed at personal and business users.

• Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal was appointed CEO to lead the Web3 company’s strategic evolution.

• Toy-tech company PlayShifu crossed ₹100 Cr in FY25 revenue by expanding its AR-based learning products.

• Logistics major Delhivery dissolved its UK subsidiary to refocus efforts on Indian operations.

• Zee Entertainment invested in Bullet, marking its entry into micro-drama content tailored for mobile viewers.

• Design studio WLDD acquired creative firm Imagined to expand its branding and content production capabilities.

• Agritech SaaS platform FarMart partnered with clean energy startup Aerem to offer solar tech in rural warehouses.

• Fintech app Jupiter, in collaboration with CSB Bank, launched a rewards-driven RuPay credit card for young users.

• BYJU’S reportedly sold several US-based firms at steep discounts amid its restructuring phase.

• The Indian government announced a roadmap to build a 2nm GPU by 2030, targeting AI and defense sectors.

• Tata Electronics deployed staff to Taiwan for advanced semiconductor training, preparing for local chip production.

• The Centre cleared Micron’s ₹13,000 Cr Semiconductor SEZ project in Gujarat, a boost for India’s chip manufacturing.

• Starlink revealed its India subscription will launch at ₹3,000/month, entering rural connectivity play.

• Foxconn now exports 97% of iPhones manufactured in India directly to the US, underlining India’s growing role in global supply chains.

• Paytm introduced personalized UPI IDs to enhance user privacy and reduce fraud.

• The Centre and Andhra Pradesh Government signed fresh MoUs to boost startup infrastructure and co-incubation programs.

Policy & Regulatory Updates

• The Karnataka High Court ordered a complete ban on bike taxis (Ola, Uber, Rapido) from June 16, impacting last-mile logistics.

• Ola responded by extending its zero-commission model to cab drivers as a retention measure.

• Rapido is raising ₹125 Cr from Nexus Ventures to expand into food delivery and compete with Swiggy-Zomato.

• The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) asked e-commerce firms to self-audit and eliminate dark patterns from their UX.

• The Centre announced renewed consultations for India’s long-pending National E-commerce Policy.

Policy & Regulatory Updates

• Early-stage VC funding remains tight for Tier-2/Bharat startups, but investor focus is shifting to quality over quantity.

• Deeptech, green-tech, and AI security are emerging as key sectors attracting capital (e.g., Leumas, Stride Green, Repello AI).

• The quick commerce race intensifies with Amazon, BigBasket, and Rapido doubling down on ultra-fast delivery.

• Semiconductors and AI are now strategic national priorities with significant government and private sector momentum.

• Bengaluru’s jump to #14 in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report underscores India’s emergence as a tech innovation hub.