Fixing nutraceutical industry with AI; JJG Aero raises $30M in Series B

Hello,

It’s Budget Day 2026.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget at 11 AM today–her ninth consecutive Budget presentation since taking office in 2019.

This year, artificial intelligence (AI) will likely be the focus when it comes to investment in technology. The Economic Survey identified AI as an economic strategy rather than a race. The survey advocated for a sector-specific approach based on open and interoperable systems to encourage shared innovation.

Meanwhile, India’s crypto industry hopes for regulatory clarity and relief from taxation. At the heart of the industry’s frustration is India's 2022 VDA tax framework: a 30% tax on gains with no provision for loss offset, coupled with 1% tax deducted at source (TDS) on every transaction.

Moving on to the world of technology, Moltbook, a Reddit-style platform, has 32,000 AI agent users. The network is perhaps a one-of-its-kind social experiment to understand how machines interact with each other. The platform allows AI agents to comment, upvote and post content as well as create subcommunities. 

The results, according to Ars Technica, have been interesting and range from bots talking about science-fiction to an agent even talking about a “sister” it has never met. 

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Streamlining nutraceuticals’ industry with AI
• JJG Aero raises $30M in Series B

Here’s your trivia for today: Which American city was home to the world's first skyscraper?

Startup

Streamlining nutraceuticals’ industry with AI

To fix the fragmented nutraceutical industry, Amit Srivastava founded Nutrify Today in 2020. It is an AI-driven, curated and audited data platform that helps branded formulation companies design differentiated portfolios, explore intellectual property (IP) potential, and back products with strong scientific evidence. Srivastava says the platform helps companies commercialise products in about nine months across 13 countries, instead of the usual two to three years.

Key takeaways:

• The Nutrify team built an AI platform atop a comprehensive, audited data stack tailored for the nutraceutical industry. This platform combines ingredients, clinical science, IP opportunities, manufacturing capabilities, and regulatory knowledge into one trusted ecosystem.
• Its flagship feature, NutrifyGenie, acts as a science-based co-pilot that takes a nutrition idea and turns it into a market-ready product with a clear value proposition and multi-country compliance.
• Its first batch of clients included Legacy Healthcare in Switzerland, followed soon after by Himalaya, Haleon, Dr Reddy's and Nestle.

Funding

JJG Aero raises $30M in Series B

Bengaluru-based aerospace components manufacturer JJG Aero has raised $30 million in Series B funding from Norwest. This funding round brings JJG Aero's total capital raised to $42 million, following its $12 million Series A round led by CX Partners in April 2024.

Take flight:

• The company said the freshly raised funds will support the construction and capacity addition at its upcoming facility in North Bengaluru, drive vertical integration, and fund other strategic initiatives.
• Founded in 2008, JJG Aero specialises in manufacturing high-precision machined components with in-house special process finishing capabilities for the aircraft systems and engines segment.
• JJG Aero's client base includes the likes of American and European OEMs, and Tier-I vendors such as Collins Aerospace, Safran, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Woodward, and Liebherr.

News & updates

• Change: Walt Disney's Bob Iger has told associates he plans to step down as CEO and pull back from daily management before his contract expires on December 31, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The entertainment giant's board of directors is reportedly planning to meet next week at its headquarters in Burbank, California. They will likely decide who will succeed Iger.
• An icon: Meryl Streep, Pedro Pascal, and Ben Stiller are among celebrities to have paid tribute to Emmy-winning comedic actress Catherine O'Hara, who died on Friday aged 71. The Canadian-born star was best known for her roles in the films Beetlejuice and Home Alone, as well as comedy TV series including Schitt's Creek and The Studio. 

Which American city was home to the world's first skyscraper?

Answer: Chicago

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