Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (October 21, 2025)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Tuesday, October 21 2025.
From Ola confirming an FIR against promoter Bhavish Aggarwal and top executives to IIT Madras Global partnering with GATES to host the India ICT Channel Summit 2025, YourStory brings today’s headlines that highlight significant developments across industries.
Featured stories
Meet 5 artisans shaping Gujarat’s craft legacy
Gujarat is home to diverse art and crafts that date back centuries. Intricate embroidery, striking applique work and painting, vibrant weaves and prints, the state has been a forerunner in showcasing the country’s vibrant heritage.
In recent years, artisans from traditional art and craft communities have been at the forefront of Gujarat’s craft renaissance. They have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles—poverty, lack of education, natural disasters and changing market dynamics.
Yes, they have learned to stay rooted in tradition while learning to embrace innovation and technology to take their art to the world beyond, and build a sustainable future for their communities.
Read more here
Latest news
Ola Electric challenges FIR registered against Bhavish Aggarwal, executives
Electric vehicle manufacturer Ola Electric on Tuesday confirmed that an FIR has been registered in the Karnataka HC against its promoter Bhavish Aggarwal and other executives.
In a statement, the company said it has challenged the registration of the FIR before the Karnataka High Court and that protective orders have been passed in favour of Ola Electric and its officials. The firm said that it is fully cooperating in the investigation under the registered FIR and that no charge sheets have been filed.
The FIR was filed on October 6, following the suicide of K Aravind, a 28-year-old homologation engineer at Ola Electric, in September this year.
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Reliance Retail's dark store network reaches 600
is doubling down on India’s fast-growing quick commerce market, as it accelerates investments in dark stores, logistics, and customer acquisition to challenge established rivals such as Zomato-owned Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart.
The company’s quick-commerce arm, JioMart, now delivers to over 5,000 pin codes across 1,000 cities, and is registering 42% quarter-on-quarter growth in average daily orders, 200% higher than a year earlier, according to Chief Financial Officer Dinesh Taluja.
Reliance Retail reported 18% year-on-year growth for the quarter ended September 2025. The company opened 600 new dark stores during the period, expanding its total network to more than 3,500 grocery outlets nationwide.
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Funding
Stylox Fashion secures Rs 3 Cr to drive D2C expansion
Stylox Fashion, a rapidly growing denim and casual wear brand, has secured Rs 3 crore in funding from the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF) following its appearance on Pitch To Get Rich, a fashion business reality show produced by FEF and Dharmatic Entertainment and streaming on Jio Hotstar.
The investment will support Stylox’s retail and D2C expansion across India and strengthen its inventory capabilities.
Originally focused on supplying retailers, the company is now building direct consumer engagement through platforms like Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart, Ajio, Styli (UAE), and its own website.
Other news
IIT Madras Global partners with GATES to host India ICT Channel Summit 2025
IIT Madras Global, in partnership with GATES, will host the ‘GATES India ICT Channel Summit 2025’ from November 5–7, 2025, at the IIT Madras Research Park.
Supported by IITM Research Park and IITM Incubation Cell, the summit will bring together over 250 ICT channel leaders, technology innovators, policymakers, and startups for discussions, product showcases, workshops, and networking sessions aimed at strengthening India’s role in global technology development.
The flagship session, “India Inc at Full Throttle: From Innovation to Global Impact,” scheduled for November 6, will feature IIT Madras, Redington Group, and Zoho Corporation, focusing on how academia, enterprise, and homegrown innovators are driving India’s transition from a service-based to a solution-driven technology ecosystem.
(This article was updated with the latest news throughout the day.)
Edited by Kanishk Singh