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Startup News
Economic Times
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GenAI startup Darwix AI raises $1.5 million in seed funding
- GenAI platform Darwix has secured $1.5 million in seed funding with Rebalance, IPV, JITO Incubation, and Innovation Foundation as lead investors.
- Other investors in the funding round include Growth Sense, Growth91, and angels like Ankit Nagori and Amit Lakhotia.
- Darwix provides conversational intelligence for sales conversations to enterprises using its proprietary large language model (LLM) stack.
- The platform primarily serves clients in the BFSI and retail sectors in the US, India, and the Middle East.
- Darwix AI's Transform+ platform offers real-time conversational intelligence, agent assistance, and automation across various communication channels.
- Founded by IIM alumni Ajay Sethi and Hanit Awal, the startup plans to utilize the funding for product development and market expansion.
- The funding will also be used to grow the team and expand the omnichannel platform's applications in enterprise use cases.
- Darwix aims to address the challenge faced by enterprises with fragmented solutions by providing a unified, generative AI stack for enhancing customer interactions.
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ISN
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Xportel, a startup enabling Indian businesses to go global, raises funding from Rukam Sitara, Flipkart Ventures
- Xportel, a tech-first platform enabling Indian businesses to go global, has raised undisclosed funding in its seed round.
- The funding was co-led by Rukam Sitara and Flipkart Ventures, with participation from Venture Catalysts and angel investors.
- Founded by Anshul Mahindru, Darpan Lamba, and Sanchit Narang, Xportel helps Indian SMEs and digital-first brands expand internationally.
- The capital will be used to enhance tech capabilities, operations, sales teams, and product innovation.
- Xportel aims to automate compliance workflows, customs documentation, and post-shipment tracking to streamline the export journey for Indian businesses.
- The startup envisions creating a cross-border ecosystem for pre-order processes to post-order logistics.
- Its goal is to make exports as easy as domestic selling for Indian businesses.
- Xportel aligns with India's aim to boost exports, focusing on MSMEs and digitally native brands.
- The government's target of $2 trillion in total exports by 2030 has led to a focus on empowering small and medium businesses.
- Indian MSMEs face challenges in exports due to fragmented documentation and limited access to international buyers.
- Xportel digitizes the export workflow to simplify compliance, paperwork, booking, and shipment tracking.
- The platform aims to be a comprehensive solution for India's next generation of global sellers.
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Futurefundraisingnow
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Nonprofit Navel-Gazing Syndrome [Nonprofit Diseases]
- Nonprofit organizations suffering from Nonprofit Navel-Gazing Syndrome (NPNGS) focus on their internal understanding, leading to uninteresting fundraising efforts.
- NPNGS causes nonprofits to believe donors share their detailed understanding of their work, leading to ineffective fundraising strategies.
- Donors have a less nuanced view of nonprofit work and are drawn to simple and clear descriptions of impact.
- Some organizations affected by NPNGS may only want support from donors who fully understand their internal processes.
- Nonprofits should focus on showcasing the outcomes of their work to donors, rather than the intricate details of their operations.
- Donors are interested in supporting organizations to create positive change, not in the internal workings of the nonprofit.
- Nonprofits should prioritize meeting donors where they are and emphasizing the impact their contributions can make.
- Focusing on staff achievements, methodology, or internal processes may not resonate with donors looking to support tangible outcomes.
- Nonprofits should adjust their fundraising approach to align with donors' interests and motivations to drive successful fundraising efforts.
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TechSpark
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Silicon Gorge Profiles: Opti Compliance
- Silicon Gorge pitching competition featured 24 early-stage startups with 12 finalists pitching at the investor showcase.
- Opti Compliance, a B2B SaaS company focuses on transforming building compliance management, specifically fire safety.
- Their Fire Compliance Software digitizes workflows, centralizes documentation, and automates admin tasks to boost consultant productivity.
- Opti aims to improve safety, increase efficiency, and expand into construction and health & safety industries.
- The company addresses manual paperwork and disconnected systems in the compliance sector to enhance safety outcomes.
- Opti's platform is designed in collaboration with fire safety consultants, offering tailored functionality and regular updates based on industry feedback.
- Opti stands out for its industry-specific approach, user-friendly platform, and white-label solutions for other compliance-heavy sectors.
- The company is raising £500,000 to grow, enhance their platform, expand teams, and explore partnerships in the insurance sector for data-driven insights.
- Partnerships with Prevention 1st, Alacrity Foundation UK, and Cyber Innovation Hub have been crucial for Opti Compliance's success.
- The company's proudest achievement is building software loved by professionals, improving safety standards and operational efficiency.
- Opti Compliance's focus is on defensibility, scalability, and continuous innovation to create a compliance platform across industries.
- For more information about Opti Compliance, visit their website www.opticompliance.co.uk or find them on LinkedIn.
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Economic Times
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Image Credit: Economic Times
Saurav Goyal appointed Swiggy SVP, will steer driver and delivery division
- Saurav Goyal has been appointed as Swiggy's SVP and head of the driver and delivery division.
- He will lead initiatives supporting Swiggy's delivery partners; having been with the company since June 2020.
- Goyal currently heads the business finance division at Swiggy, which he will oversee until a successor is appointed.
- In a LinkedIn post, Goyal expressed his focus on enhancing the quality of life for urban consumers and delivery partners.
- Prior to Swiggy, Goyal served as vice president of business finance at Ola and also had roles at Flipkart and Tata Communications.
- His appointment follows the naming of Ankit Jain from Flipkart as SVP at Instamart, reported by ET last month.
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Economic Times
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MakeMyTrip looks to raise $3 billion to recoup stake from China's Trip. com
- MakeMyTrip plans to raise $3 billion through equity and debt sale to buy back shares from Trip.com Group.
- The funds will be used to limit Trip.com Group's stake and presence on MakeMyTrip's board.
- MakeMyTrip proposed a primary offering of 14 million ordinary shares with an option for underwriters to purchase additional shares.
- The company also plans to offer $1.25 billion worth of convertible senior notes to qualified institutional buyers.
- The notes are scheduled to mature in 2030, with initial purchasers having an option to buy additional notes.
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Startup Pedia
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Top 8 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Mushrooms You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Mushrooms offer a wide range of health benefits beyond taste, packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds.
- Benefits include cancer prevention through compounds like beta-glucans and antioxidants found in mushrooms.
- Mushrooms help maintain heart health by being low in sodium, rich in potassium, and aiding in reducing LDL cholesterol.
- Certain mushrooms like lion's mane can protect brain health by improving cognitive function and memory.
- Mushrooms improve immunity through beta-glucans, activating immune cells, and offering immune-enhancing properties.
- They are a source of Vitamin D and B vitamins critical for energy production, healthy skin, and nerve support.
- The combination of low sodium and high potassium in mushrooms helps lower blood pressure naturally.
- Mushrooms are micronutrient-rich, providing selenium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron critical for antioxidant function and cellular health.
- Rich in dietary fiber and prebiotics, mushrooms promote gut health by feeding beneficial gut bacteria and having anti-inflammatory properties.
- Incorporating mushrooms into a regular diet can lead to lasting health improvements due to their nutrient profile and therapeutic properties.
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Inc42
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Image Credit: Inc42
MakeMyTrip To Raise Over $2 Bn To Reduce Chinese Ownership
- MakeMyTrip plans to raise over $2 billion to buy back stake from Chinese investor Trip.com Group Limited.
- The company will raise funds through convertible senior notes and a primary offering.
- $1.25 billion will be raised via convertible senior notes due 2030 for qualified institutional buyers.
- The remaining amount will be raised through the issuance of 14 million primary shares.
- MakeMyTrip entered a share repurchase agreement with Trip.com to repurchase a portion of its shares.
- Trip.com will still be the largest minority shareholder of MakeMyTrip after the repurchase.
- As of now, Trip.com holds a 45.95% stake in MakeMyTrip and acquired a 42.5% stake in 2019.
- The post MakeMyTrip To Raise Over $2 Bn To Reduce Chinese Ownership appeared first on Inc42 Media.
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Alleywatch
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Compyl Raises $12M to Simplify Governance and Compliance
- Compyl raised $12M in Series A funding led by Venture Guides, addressing challenges in the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) market.
- The platform turns GRC complexity into data-driven insights, unifies enterprise data in real-time, and enables risk management and compliance without heavy IT development.
- Compyl differentiates itself by offering automated security benchmark checks, real-time contextual insights, and customized GRC processes without third-party dependencies.
- The company targets mid-market and lower enterprise companies in regulated industries like software, financial services, and healthcare, aiming to streamline information security programs.
- Compyl's business model includes direct sales and channel partners, preparing for economic slowdown by prioritizing sustainable growth initiatives and customer relationships.
- Key challenges in raising capital included educating investors on the dynamic GRC space and positioning Compyl as a comprehensive GRC platform with strong differentiation.
- Investors were attracted by Compyl's experienced team, growing demand for consolidated GRC tools, strong revenue metrics, and technical depth in automating workflows for security teams.
- Future milestones include expanding go-to-market operations, accelerating AI-driven product development, and securing strategic customer wins in regulated sectors.
- Compyl advises companies to stay close to customers, build efficiently, and consider profitability or break-even operation during lean times for long-term resilience.
- The company aims to deepen its presence in core verticals, enhance product intelligence, and foster partnerships to lead the next generation of GRC innovation.
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Inc42
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Quadria Group Launches $300 Mn HealthQuad Fund After Split With KOIS
- Quadria Group has launched HealthQuad Fund III with a target corpus of $300 Mn, including a $100 Mn green shoe option.
- HealthQuad was created in 2016 under Quadria to focus on early-growth healthcare innovations.
- Quadria will take full ownership of HealthQuad following its separation from impact investor KOIS.
- HealthQuad Fund III will invest in 13-15 healthtech startups, including AI-based healthcare models and digital therapeutics.
- The fund will predominantly invest in India with a small allocation to Southeast Asia.
- HealthQuad's previous funds backed companies like Qure.ai, Medikabazaar, Wysa, and Strand Life Sciences.
- Fund III aims to support early-stage tech-enabled healthcare ventures in India and other regions.
- HealthKois launched a $300 Mn fund to support early and growth-stage healthtech startups.
- Healthtech investments in India peaked at $1.4 Bn in 2022, with a surge to $716 Mn in 2024.
- Despite the growth, Indian healthtech startups face challenges due to a lack of domestic capital.
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TechCrunch
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Observability startup Coralogix becomes a unicorn, eyes India expansion
- Coralogix, an Israeli startup offering observability and security platform, raised $115 million at a pre-money valuation of over $1 billion, doubling in three years.
- The Series E round was led by NewView Capital and aims to expand its engineering base in India and enhance its AI agent, Olly.
- Coralogix's AI observability agent utilizes a semantic layer to assist companies in understanding complex issues and automate data observability.
- Olly features anomaly detection, access monitoring, and real-time alerts and was developed by Coralogix’s AI research center.
- Coralogix also provides observability to AI companies, insights into model performance, and quality through Aporia’s acquisition.
- The startup plans to invest about $100 million in India over the next five years, leveraging the country's engineering base and expanding its teams.
- Coralogix aims to double its Indian employee base over the next three years, viewing Indian engineering culture as a good fit for expansion.
- The South Asian market is the startup's second-largest market in revenue and user base, having over 100 customers after the U.S.
- Coralogix serves Indian companies like Postman, Jupiter Money, Meesho, and plans to tap into the Indian government as a client.
- The startup aims to file for a U.S. IPO on Nasdaq in three years, building new architectures and experiences around AI monitoring.
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Hitconsultant
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Image Credit: Hitconsultant
Quilt Health Raises $6M to Modernize Clinical Trial Access for Complex Diseases
- Quilt Health, a digital health company, raises $6M in seed funding to improve treatment access for complex diseases.
- The funding round was led by MaC Venture Capital and Underscore Ventures, with participation from other investors.
- The company, initially focused on sickle cell disease, plans to expand into other hematologic, neurological, and cardiovascular disorders.
- Quilt Health aims to modernize clinical trial access by integrating multiple data sources and applying AI to support clinical workflows.
- Their platform benefits pharmaceutical sponsors by accelerating trial execution, reducing costs, and supporting patient diversity.
- Research sites and clinicians gain access to enhanced tools and recruitment support, allowing them to focus on delivering quality care and research.
- For patients, Quilt Health's platform improves care by keeping them connected with clinicians, making cutting-edge treatments more accessible.
- Quilt Health partnered with the National Alliance of Sickle Cell Centers to create a more efficient patient-centered ecosystem combining research and patient care.
- The funding will be used to accelerate product development, fuel R&D, expand the team, and target regions lacking life sciences investment.
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ISN
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Image Credit: ISN
Steptrade Capital announces first close of Revolution Fund-II
- Steptrade Capital has announced the first close of its third Alternative Investment Fund, Steptrade Revolution Fund-II (SRF-II), targeting a total deployment of Rs 1,000 crore in India’s small and microcap space.
- SRF-II is the second offering under the Revolution Fund banner, focusing on scalable opportunities in listed and unlisted small and microcap businesses.
- The fund aims to support innovation-driven companies in sectors like renewables, defence, waste management, and infrastructure.
- Steptrade's investment platform covers AIF categories, PMS, and FPI, attracting domestic and global investors interested in India's growing small enterprises.
- CA Kresha Gupta, Director and Fund Manager at Steptrade Capital, sees the early close as a sign of investor confidence in the company's philosophy of bottom-up research and value creation.
- Ankush Jain, CFA, Director and Fund Manager, emphasizes the importance of timing, structure, and research in microcap investing, highlighting a disciplined approach at Steptrade.
- The fund's performance underlines its commitment to building portfolios that can grow consistently over time.
- SRF-II is positioned to capitalize on emerging themes and sectors that are crucial for India's economic development.
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SteveBlank
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Image Credit: SteveBlank
Hacking for Defense @ Stanford 2025 – Lessons Learned Presentations
- The 10th annual Hacking for Defense class at Stanford concluded with teams working on national security issues.
- Teams interviewed various stakeholders and built viable products to address problems from U.S. Army, Navy, and other agencies.
- The 'Lessons Learned' presentations highlighted the teams' 10-week journey and unique approaches.
- Students used Mission Model Canvas, Customer Development, and Agile Engineering for product development.
- The class emphasizes Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship, solving societal problems and engaging with government issues.
- Hacking for Defense originated from the Lean LaunchPad class and evolved into a methodology for science commercialization.
- Students tackled 'wicked' problems in defense, facing complex and ambiguous challenges.
- The course aims to teach Lean Innovation methods and connect students with national public service.
- Hacking for Defense has expanded to 70 universities and is supported by government agencies and corporate partners.
- The teams from the class have opportunities for further development and job placements post-graduation.
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Siliconangle
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Image Credit: Siliconangle
Extend gets $17M in funding to boost the speed and accuracy of document processing with AI models
- Document processing startup Extend has secured $17 million in funding through a seed investment and Series A round, with Innovation Endeavors leading the investment.
- Other investors in the funding rounds include Y Combinator, Character VC, and notable angels such as Scott Belsky, Guillermo Rauch, and Jeff Weinstein.
- Extend, also known as CrowdView Inc., aims to enhance document processing speed and accuracy using artificial intelligence, specifically large language models.
- The startup leverages advanced LLMs to transform complex PDFs and various files into validated, production-ready data with over 95% accuracy, even with degraded scans or handwritten documents.
- Extend seeks to outperform traditional optical character recognition tools by utilizing LLMs to extract, classify, and organize information from documents comprehensively.
- The company involves its customers in fine-tuning the LLMs to better understand document nuances, offering a higher level of accuracy in data extraction.
- Extend's software enables seamless integration into existing business processes, aiding departments in analyzing and gaining insights from fresh data efficiently.
- Co-founder and CEO Kushal Byatnal highlighted the importance of making document processing accessible and accurate, especially for businesses with data residing within documents.
- Extend plans to expand its product offerings with a user-friendly document processing platform that can be deployed swiftly by non-technical users.
- The recent funding will support Extend in expanding its teams, investing in research and development, and enhancing its product to cater to growing demand for accurate and flexible document automation.
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