Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (October 24, 2025)

From SaralSCF’s rapid rise in supply chain finance to Kerala’s poverty eradication milestone, YourStory brings you the latest from India’s tech and impact ecosystem.

Featured stories

How SaralSCF grew its AUM by 7x

SaralSCF, the supply chain finance arm of BlackSoil Group, has rapidly grown by targeting unrated and emerging startups—an underserved segment in India’s lending market.

Founded in 2021, its AUM rose from about Rs 60 crore in 2023 to Rs 344 crore by March 2025. Built on a proprietary tech platform handling end-to-end transactions, SaralSCF streamlines high-volume, low-ticket financing for distributors.

Indian students get a reprieve from the $100,000 H-1B hurdle

For many Indian students who plan to pursue bachelor’s or master’s programmes in the United States or are already pursuing them, the H-1B visa has long been a bridge between a campus degree and the first chapter of their professional lives.

The recent clarification from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is therefore a major relief.

It confirms that the extra $100,000 payment announced by presidential proclamation does not apply to students and recent graduates who are already in the US, as well as those who are set to obtain H-1B status by changing from F-1 to H-1B within the country.

How Kerala became free from extreme poverty

Kerala will officially become the first Indian state to eradicate extreme poverty, marking a milestone in inclusive governance.

Through its Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP), launched in 2021, the state identified 64,006 families using data-driven and community-led methods involving over 14 lakh participants.

Customised micro-plans addressed each family’s needs in food, health, income, and housing, integrated into local governance systems. Supported by Kudumbashree networks, ASHAs, and anganwadi workers, the initiative combined welfare delivery with infrastructure and livelihood support. Read more.

Women in this village in western Rajasthan have become leaders of their households

In Chandelao village near Jodhpur, the women-led collective Sundar Rang has transformed local livelihoods through craft and community.

Founded in 2007 under NGO Chandelao Vikas Sansthan by Pradhiman Singh with global patrons Christine Andresen and Sven Williamson, it empowers over 35 women artisans who create block-printed and upcycled fabric products.

Each item bears the maker’s name, and artisans earn both wages and profit shares. Beyond economic independence, Sundar Rang offers education, training, and flexible work hours, enabling women to balance home and work. Read more.

How Dipa Ghindani is exploring the frontiers of science

Dipa Ghindani, from Badnera in Maharashtra, has journeyed from a modest upbringing to Harvard University’s renowned Capasso Group, where she researches nanophotonics and tunable metasurfaces.

Her path spans IIT-Bombay, TIFR, a Helmholtz Fellowship in Germany, and a PhD from Tampere University, Finland. At Harvard, she works on metalenses—ultrathin lenses that could revolutionise imaging and AR devices. Read more.

Latest news

Trade finance startup CapitalXB bags $15M

CapitalXB, a Mumbai-based trade finance firm targeting small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), has raised $15 million in a mix of debt and equity to expand its lending capacity and technology infrastructure.

The company said the funding will help scale operations to reach more businesses across India’s manufacturing and trade sectors.

CapitalXB aims to narrow the country’s estimated $525 billion trade finance shortfall (according to government data) and support SME-led economic growth.

Deepinder Goyal launches $25M self-funded research initiative

Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has launched a $25 million fund to expand his science venture, Continue Research, which seeks to back researchers and seed early-stage science startups exploring fundamental questions in biology.

Founded two years ago, Continue Research describes itself as a research team and seed fund focused on understanding the “upstream mechanisms in biology.” The initiative operates outside the traditional startup model, positioning itself instead as a long-term scientific effort to “extend healthy human function” and push humanity toward what Goyal calls a “Post-Darwin era.”

Furlenco parent House of Kieraya posts Rs 3 Cr profit

House of Kieraya, the parent company of furniture and lifestyle brands Furlenco and UNLMTD, has reported a sharp turnaround in FY2024–25, swinging to a profit of Rs 3.1 crore, after a loss of Rs 130.2 crore in the previous year.

Revenue from operations rose 64% year-on-year to Rs 228.7 crore, led primarily by a surge in service income, which grew 61% to Rs 208 crore. Product sales more than doubled to Rs 20.8 crore, indicating that the company’s efforts to expand its product and subscription offerings are beginning to pay off.

Total income, including other income of Rs 11.3 crore, stood at Rs 240 crore, compared with Rs 151.9 crore in the previous year.

Other news

Celewish raises $750,000

Celewish Media, India’s leading celebrity engagement and production platform, has raised $750,000 from Dubai-based angel investors at a Rs 62 crore valuation.

Founded by Mohssin Khan and Anvarul Hasan, Celewish connects celebrities, brands, and fans through endorsements, events, and influencer campaigns.

The funding will fuel its expansion across the Middle East, starting with Dubai, and support AI-driven digital influencer initiatives. The company has collaborated with stars like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan and aims to bridge Bollywood’s influence with global brands through its technology-led engagement model.

Career247 to power 1M learners with AI and digital skills

Career247, the skilling arm of Adda Education, plans to empower one million learners across India with AI and digital skills. Since its 2025 launch, the platform has enrolled over 3,000 learners in Data Science and Analytics programs and now offers Full Stack Development, Cybersecurity, and Generative AI courses.

Backed by Adda Education’s mission to bridge education and employment, Career247 blends AI-driven tools, real-world projects, and placement support to create job-ready talent. The initiative targets inclusive, industry-linked learning for India’s youth in the AI-powered economy.

(This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.)