Page 5 - Fundings

US aid cuts pause HIV vaccine research in S Africa, to have global impact

Just a week had remained before scientists in South Africa were to begin clinical trials of an HIV vaccine, and hopes were high for another step toward limiting one of history's deadliest pandemics. Then the email arrived. Stop all work, it said. The United States under the Trump administration was withdrawing all its funding. The news devastated the researchers, who live and work in a region where more people live with HIV than anywhere else in the world. Their research project, called BRILLIANT, was meant to be the latest to draw on the region's genetic diversity and deep expertise in the hope of benefiting people everywhere. But the $46 million from the US for the project was disappearing, part of the dismantling of foreign aid by the world's biggest donor earlier this year as President Donald Trump announced a focus on priorities at home. South Africa hit hard by aid cuts South Africa has been hit especially hard because of Trump's baseless claims about the targeting of the ..

₹1 trillion RDI Fund: Paving the way for a future-ready Indian economy

On July 1, Union Cabinet approved historic and bold initiative to set up a ₹1 trn Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund aimed at spurring a private sector-driven R&D ecosystem

Burman family leads ₹1.5K cr fund infusion into Religare Enterprises

The Burman family, owners of Dabur and promoters of Religare, will contribute ₹750 crore-half of the total infusion-demonstrating their continued commitment to the financial services firm

Zepto set to raise $500 mn in new funding round, valuation to touch $7 bn

Zepto's $450-500 million funding round is likely to be led by General Catalyst and Avenir, with efforts to boost Indian ownership ahead of its IPO by attracting domestic investors

TVS ILP raises Rs 1,300 crore through private InvIT to fuel growth

TVS Industrial & Logistics Parks raises Rs 1,300 crore through its private infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), with a target to achieve 32% annual growth, mostly organically

Clean-label food startup Khetika raises ₹154 crore for expansion

Clean-label food startup Khetika on Monday said it has raised USD 18 million, or about Rs 154 crore, from a clutch of investors for expansion. Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office and Anicut Capital, along with existing investors Incofin India Progress Fund, Rajasthan Gum, and Shree Ram India Gums participated in the funding round, a statement said. The company, which aims to make preservative-free food accessible to every Indian household, plans to use the funds to fuel growth, brand building and operational expansion, the statement said, adding that it will also provide secondary exit to early investors. The Mumbai-based company sells products through e-commerce platforms and large retail stores only, and is aiming to expand into new cities and build teams across innovation, marketing, and operations. The company's co-founder and chief executive, Prithwi Singh said at a time when the Indian food sector is grappling with "adulteration and high use of harmful chemicals" Khetika procures

AppsForBharat raises ₹175 crore Series C to scale Sri Mandir platform

AppsForBharat secures ₹175 crore in Series C funding to deepen digital temple services, expand into 20 towns, and enhance AI-driven devotional experiences

Jumbotail raises $120 million in funding round led by SC Ventures

B2B e-commerce firm Jumbotail has raised USD 120 million (about Rs 1,027 crore) in a funding round led by the investment arm of Standard Chartered, SC Ventures, the company said on Monday. With this fresh funding, the company has raised USD 263 million so far. "Jumbotail, India'sB2B marketplace and New Retail platform for food and grocery, has raised USD 120 million in a funding round led by SC Ventures, the innovation and investment arm of Standard Chartered Plc," the company said in a statement. The company will invest the capital to build AI-native solutions and capabilities to cement its leadership, the statement said. Jumbotail also announced the completion of its acquisition of Solv India, which is a B2B commerce and financial services platform incubated by SC Ventures. The deal was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). "Together with Solv, we now help thousands of brands and MSME sellers reach over 5,00,000 small retailers across more than 400 cities and to

Aseem Infra to raise ₹2,500 crore in FY26, reduce bank funding share

NIIF-backed Aseem Infrastructure Finance plans to raise ₹2,500 crore via market and external borrowings in FY26, focusing on green finance and loan book expansion

Major companies to tap debt market to raise over ₹10K cr this week

Amid geopolitical tension and RBI's hawkish outlook, major Indian companies including ICICI Bank and APMDC are issuing bonds to raise over ₹10,000 crore

Support for refugees erodes as funding gaps surge globally and in India

The latest figures from the UNHCR's global report reveal that the number of people displaced across the world had risen to 122.1 million as of April 2025, up from 120 million a year earlier

Blended finance in India: Scaling up needs regulatory clarity and capital

The UN Financing for Development conference offers a pivotal platform to reimagine blended finance for the decade ahead

MakeMyTrip raises $3.1 bn in APAC's biggest equity-bond deal since 2022

MakeMyTrip raises $3.1 billion via equity and convertible notes to reduce Trip.com stake below 20 per cent, marking APAC's largest concurrent offering since 2022

Techfino raises ₹65 crore to expand MSME lending in smaller cities

Techfino to use fresh funding from Stellaris and Saison Capital to scale secured loans, expand branches, and boost tech-led lending in underserved MSME markets

Flexiloans raises ₹375 crore in Series C funding led by BII, others

With total funds raised at ₹665 crore over six months, Flexiloans will scale operations, boost technology and expand reach across India's underserved MSME sector

Governing Council urges NIIF to boost global presence, adopt new strategy

The Finance Ministry has called on NIIF to leverage its sovereign-backed model, diversify funding sources and attract international investors by strengthening its global profile

EaseMyTrip launches investment arm to back growth-ready, profitable firms

Online travel tech platform EaseMyTrip.com on Monday announced the launch of a strategic investment arm, EMT Invest, to accelerate growth-ready profitable businesses across diverse high-growth sectors. EMT Invest will focus on companies that have a proven track record of profitability with a minimum Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs 5 crore or more, EaseMyTrip.com said in a statement. With this initiative, EaseMyTrip seeks to partner with ventures that are ready to scale and are looking for capital, digital ecosystem leverage, and strategic brand support. "With EMT Invest, we are expanding our ecosystem to support ambitious, growth-oriented businesses in reaching their full potential. "Our aim is to empower founders to scale efficiently while maintaining their entrepreneurial independence. EMT Invest is about building lasting value and enabling the next generation of business leaders to achieve transformative success," EaseMyTrip Founder and Chairman Nishant Pitti said.

Elon Musk freezes Trump's last $100 million as alliance hits a rough patch

Elon Musk has withheld the final $100 million of his $300 million commitment to Donald Trump's reelection, deepening tensions over policy, Nasa nominee withdrawal, and spending disputes

Bengaluru-based Stable Money secures $20 million in series B funding

The Bengaluru-based company secured the latest round of funding from Nandan Nilekani's Fundamentum Partnership, Aditya Birla Ventures and participation from all the existing investors

Udaan raises $114 mn from M&G Investments, Lightspeed ahead of planned IPO

The funding is expected to bolster Udaan's balance sheet and provide added financial flexibility ahead of its planned IPO