Indian Startups

The 2026-27 Youth Ecopreneur Programme is inviting applications from entrepreneurs under 35 working on green business solutions and land restoration. Winners can also receive $10,000 in prize money,

Valued between $500 million and $1 billion each, India's 51 Gazelles have a combined valuation of ₹3.3 trillion, with fintech emerging as the leading sector

According to a new report, 79 IIT and 20 IIM alumni founded tech startups in January-August 2026, against 307 and 71, respectively, in the whole of 2025

VC firms such as Antler India and All In Capital have launched programmes to help homegrown AI startups establish a foothold in the US

Venture capital funding for Indian startups reached $10.9 billion across 1,253 rounds in 2026 so far, with investors concentrating funds in fewer companies and deeptech ventures.

Azim Premji's family office, QED Innovation Labs and Ranjan Pai's family office are backing homegrown AI firms, even as India's AI investment of over $15 bn between 2013 and 2025 trails US and China

The startup plans to expand beyond Bengaluru and invest in AI, verification and logistics after facilitating ₹25 crore in sales in its first year

Google selects four Indian startups for its first DeepMind climate accelerator, backing AI-led solutions in agriculture, carbon removal and biodiversity

The/Nudge Foundation's investment platform will provide ₹2 crore to ₹16 crore in patient capital to seed-to-Series A ventures serving India's Next Billion across livelihoods and climate resilience

More than 85 per cent of India's $11.4 billion deeptech funding since 2015 was raised in the past six years, as the sector moved from early-stage proof points to commercial validation

Overall annual funding grew fivefold over four years, rising from $43 million across 12 rounds in 2021 to $200 million across 53 rounds in 2025

Interestingly, founder-led brands follow a very different marketing formula

Profound helps users find career opportunities, make introductions and connect with employers

World Bank Group's private-sector arm leads Series A round as the startup expands its AI marketplace for hospitals and diagnostic centers across global markets

Funding for startups founded by experienced business operators rose nearly 12 times between 2023 and 2025, while seed-stage investments increased 17.5 times

Private equity investments in India surged 48% to $8.71 billion in H1 2026, led by software and internet firms, even as the number of deals declined

The founding of Cult.fit goes back to 2015, when health content creator and entrepreneur Rishabh Telang launched Cult in Bengaluru as a machine-free fitness studio

Indus Valley, a toxin-free kitchenware brand, on Tuesday said it has raised USD 17 million (about Rs 161 crore) in a funding round led by private equity firm Gaja Capital. TheSeries B funding round also included participation from existing investors DSG Consumer Partners, Rukam Capital, and The Chennai Angels, the Chennai-based firm said in a statement. "This investment will help us accelerate product innovation, strengthen our omnichannel distribution, deepen our brand presence, and expand our leadership across safer kitchen categories," Jagadeesh Kumar co-founder and CEO of The Indus Valley said. DSG Consumer Partners MD & Head of India Hariharan Premkumar said the investment will deepen product and distribution capabilities. Founded in 2016 by Jagadeesh Kumar and Madhumitha Uday Kumar, Indus Valley is a cookware company which offers toxin-free, non-coated cookware solutions across cast iron, iron, stainless steel, triply cookware, and pressure cookers.

Technology startups raised $7.2 billion in the first half of 2026, with larger funding rounds driving growth even as deal volumes, investor participation and first-time funding declined

Health-tech start-up SuperLiving has raised $7 million in a Series A round led by Lightspeed to expand its AI-driven wellness and preventive healthcare platform