Indian Startup News: Weekly Highlights, Big Deals & Policy Shifts (July 21st to 26th)

Indian Startup News: Weekly News Roundup: July 21-26

As July comes to a close, the period from the 21st to the 26th has been filled with major happenings in India’s business scene, ranging from new tech startups making pivotal funding to giant changes in mature industries and announcements of new policies. The following is an account of the main highlights in a brief capsule, painting the picture of the dynamic economic and policy landscape that dominated the last five days.

Business and Finance Highlights

• Reliance Retail made a significant entry into the quick commerce space with ‘Ajio Rush’, offering 4-hour fashion delivery services across 6 major cities. The retail giant also expanded its portfolio by acquiring the home appliances brand Kelvinator.
• Eternal announced the incorporation of ‘Blinkit Foods’ as a new subsidiary, indicating a strategic move in the food delivery sector.
• Juspay-backed Namma Yatri launched ‘Namma Transit’ in Bengaluru, integrating metro bookings and other features to enhance commuter convenience.
• Reports indicate changes at the top for Swiggy, with SoftBank’s Sumer Juneja and Accel’s Anand Daniel resigning from its board.
• Growth Sense Venture Fund announced its first closure, poised to invest in promising early-stage startups.
• The Rare Earth Elements Crisis continues to be a concern, with electronic component companies warning of potential missing incentives due to the scarcity.
• Amagi reportedly filed IPO Papers to raise INR 1,020 Cr.

Funding and Investment News

• Omspace Rocket & Exploration secured $3 million to advance its indigenous small satellite launch vehicle.
• EduFund successfully raised $6M in its latest funding round.
• Hey Concrete closed Rs 7.5 crore in funding to globalize its sustainable concrete design.
• Sportstech Startup Hudle bagged $2.5 Mn.
• MedGenome raised USD 47.5 million (over Rs 409 crore) in Series E funding.
• Enlite secured Rs 46 crore (approximately $5 million) in its inaugural institutional funding round.
• Yali Capital closed its debut deep tech-focused fund at Rs 893 crore (about $104 million).
• IIT Madras-incubated Plenome raised Rs 6.5 crore.
• Fashion-tech startup ANNY raised Rs 10 crore in Pre-Series A funding.
• ApClub secured Rs 2 crore in pre-seed funding.
• IndiQube raised over Rs 314 crore.
• Perpule Founder’s Startup Venture Escape Plan raised $5 Mn (INR 43.14 crore) in seed funding.
• Renee Cosmetics was reported to be in discussions to raise over ₹200 crore.
• GenAI-powered cloud startup Kluisz.ai raised $9.6 million in seed funding.
• Avalanche and Team1 launched a $100K fund aimed at supporting the Web3 ecosystem in India.
• IIT Madras-incubated Inbound Aerospace raised $1 million.
• Fine jewellery brand Coluxe successfully closed its friends and family funding round.
• GVFL invested in Ahmedabad-based Magma as part of an extended Series A funding round.
• Gupshup bagged $60 Mn.
• SUGAR Cosmetics mopped up $5 Mn.
• iTuring.AI raised $5 Mn.
• Menhood sought shareholders’ approval to raise INR 42 Cr via a Preferential Issue.
• Insurtech startup Bharatsure raised Rs 6 crore in funding.
• Healthy snacking startup Roast Foods secured strategic funding.
• Zoho, among others, invested Rs 107 crore in semicon startup Netrasemi.
• Chennai-based Veranda Learning raised Rs 357 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP).
• SuperK bagged INR 100 Cr in Series B funding.
• Indian startup EVeez raised $5.4 million in funding.
• Indian Defence Tech startup Ammunic Systems raised $1.1 million in a seed funding round.

Acquisitions and Mergers

• Titan Company acquired a majority stake in Dubai’s well-known Jewellery chain, Damas, for $283 million.
• JSW Paints approached the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for approval to acquire a majority stake (up to 75%) in Akzo Nobel India.
• Tilaknagar Industries acquired the Imperial Blue business from the Indian unit of Pernod Ricard for Rs 4,150 crore.
• SocialPilot, an Ahmedabad-based bootstrapped social media management platform, was acquired by Sweden-based tech firm, Group One, for over $50 million.

Product Launches and Partnerships

• Fraganta by Leena Jain launched its debut fragrance duo, ‘Ganga’ and ‘Jogi’.
• Cityflo partnered with Aaveg to deploy its first electric bus fleet in the Delhi NCR region.
• Starbucks was set to relaunch its popular Pumpkin Spice Latte.
• Eternal’s District made its entry onto major e-commerce platforms like Myntra, Ajio, and Nykaa with its fashion line.
• PayPal partnered with UPI and other platforms to facilitate cross-border payments.
• Angel One partnered with Singapore’s Livwell to establish a digital-first insurance joint venture.
• Akasa Air partnered with Uppercase to introduce eco-friendly gear for its cabin crew.
• A new feature from Juspay-backed Namma Yatri was launched to promote public transport usage.

Government Policies and Regulatory Updates

• The Indian government initiated a process to seek inputs from states and central ministries regarding the 8th Pay Commission.
• The Delhi government extended its current Electric Vehicle Policy until March 31, 2026.
• The Department of Telecom (DoT) released a draft telecom policy for public review.
• The government took action by banning 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for hosting ‘indecent content’.
• Goa announced a new startup accelerator program aimed at boosting local entrepreneurship.
• Apple and Google faced beefed-up UK rules designed to rein in their mobile market power.
• The Government was likely to extend the Electronics Manufacturing Scheme beyond July.
• The Government blocked ALT, ULLU, and other OTT Platforms For ‘Explicit’ Content.

Last week, July 21st to 26th, highlighted the unstoppable pace of innovation and strategic transformation in different industries. From substantial funding injections boosting emerging companies to strategic mergers and acquisitions redefining market environments, and pivotal policy moves affecting digital and physical infrastructure, the week highlighted a dynamic and fast-evolving environment. Looking forward, these advances will provide the foundation for ongoing expansion and evolution in the weeks to come.