Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (January 27, 2026)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here’s the roundup for Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
From IT industry's push to AI this budget to Spotdraft funding, Yourstory brings you today’s headlines across sectors.
Featured stories
IT industry seeks big push to AI in Budget 2026
The $280 billion-plus Indian technology sector is now facing a definite shift towards artificial intelligence (AI), and the industry expects a special focus on this technology in the forthcoming Union Budget.
Today, AI is not just about coming out with algorithms; it involves data centres, data collection and a governance structure on the applicability of this technology. This is an area where there is a genuine requirement for foreign capital, especially in the area of data centres, but this has created certain unfavourable implications of taxation.
Innovation, job creation, and IIT Madras for all: Padma Shri V Kamakoti’s vision for the premier institution
Professor V Kamakoti, Director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras, is a man in a hurry, though his calm disposition seems to suggest otherwise.
Behind his unflappable demeanour and simplicity lies a man who knows exactly what he wants for the institution and what has to be done to achieve it.
A rapid-action plan has been set in motion, and, unsurprisingly, innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) is a core focus area.
Funding news
Nivaan Care raises $7M in Series A round led by Sorin Investments
Nivaan Care, a speciality pain management chain, has raised $7 million in a Series A funding round led by Sorin Investments. The round also saw participation from existing investors W Health Ventures, Endiya Partners and Rebright Partners.
Nivaan Care said in a statement that it will use the capital to expand its clinic network across Indian cities, strengthen its clinical and operating infrastructure, and on other activities.
SpotDraft raises $8M from Qualcomm Ventures in extended Series B round
SpotDraft, an AI-powered contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform, on Tuesday raised $8 million from Qualcomm Ventures in an extended Series B round. The investment follows its February 2025 fundraise, where the startup raised $56 million, signalling growing enterprise interest in privacy-first, on-device AI for legal workflows.
SpotDraft will use the fresh capital to strengthen its product and AI capabilities and expand its enterprise footprint across the Americas, EMEA, and India. Beyond funding, the partnership reflects a broader technology collaboration between the two companies focused on edge AI.
Precision oncology firm 4baseCare raises Rs 90 Cr in Series B first close
Precision oncology company 4baseCare on Tuesday said it has raised Rs 90 crore in the first close of its Series B funding round. The round was co-led by investors Ashish Kacholia and Lashit Sanghvi, with participation from existing backer Yali Capital.
The company, which focuses on building population-relevant clinico-genomic intelligence for cancer care, had earlier raised Rs 50 crore in a Series A round led by Yali Capital, with Infosys also participating.
4baseCare said the fresh capital will be deployed to expand its hospital-linked genomics laboratory network across India as well as international markets, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Central Asia. The expansion is aimed at improving access to precision oncology solutions and making advanced cancer diagnostics more inclusive across diverse patient populations.
Fintech startup Mysa raises $3.4M in Pre-Series A round
Indian fintech startup Mysa has raised $3.4 million in a Pre-Series A funding round co-led by Blume Ventures and Piper Serica. The round also saw participation from new investors Ikemori Ventures, Raise Financial Services, QED Innovation Labs, along with existing backers Antler, IIMA Ventures and Neon Fund.
With this round, Mysa’s total funding raised to date stands at $6.2 million.
Founded to streamline financial operations for mid-sized enterprises, Mysa offers an integrated platform that helps companies reduce manual inefficiencies, curb fraud, and minimise tax leakages. The company said its platform delivers tighter financial controls, built-in auditability, and annual cost savings running into lakhs of rupees.
Other news
Cropin launches ‘Cropin Ecosystem’ to tackle agricultural risk and volatility
Cropin, an AI platform for food and agriculture, has launched the ‘Cropin Ecosystem’, an initiative aimed at reducing the risks and uncertainties inherent in the global agriculture and food supply chain.
Developed as a flagship project over more than a decade, the Cropin Ecosystem is inspired by Silicon Valley’s convergence model and brings together technology providers, strategic consulting firms, and partners specialising in satellite and weather intelligence. The company said the ecosystem is designed to help enterprises navigate the volatility of one of the world’s most critical yet unpredictable
industries.
According to Cropin, the ecosystem will enable consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, retailers, commodity traders and food processors to better manage upstream agricultural and procurement risks, while supporting the creation of more predictable and resilient food systems.
LightFury Games’ upcoming E-Cricket to feature 600+ licensed international players
LightFury Games said its upcoming title E-Cricket will feature more than 600 officially licensed international players from leading cricketing nations, marking one of the largest player licensing rosters assembled for a cricket game and a first of its scale for an Indian gaming studio.
The licensing has been secured in partnership with Winners Alliance, an athlete-centric commercial solutions company that focuses on group licensing and collective commercial opportunities for professional athletes globally.
LightFury Games said the partnership is a key step in its long-term strategy to deliver authentic, real-world cricket experiences through gaming. By incorporating licensed players at scale, the studio aims to bring fans closer to the sport while expanding the scope and global reach of E-Cricket as it prepares for launch.
Akums Drugs secures EU GMP certification for two Haridwar plants
Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a leading contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has renewed European Union Good Manufacturing Practice (EU GMP) certification for its Plant 1 facility and received fresh EU GMP approval for Plant 2 at SIDCUL, Haridwar, following inspections by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Plant 1 is approved for oral solid dosage forms, including tablets, capsules and sachets, while Plant 2 is certified for oral liquid formulations such as syrups and suspensions. The dual certification strengthens Akums’ ability to serve European and other regulated markets.
KhetiBuddy launches AI-native SaaS platform Verdnt for agribusinesses
Pune-based agritech startup KhetiBuddy has launched Verdnt, an enterprise SaaS platform designed to integrate farm-level data with enterprise operations for mid-to-large agri-food businesses. The platform unifies agronomy, operations and sustainability workflows, enabling improved traceability, risk assessment and compliance across fragmented supply chains.
Verdnt incorporates explainable AI models trained on agronomic, climate and compliance data, supporting proactive decision-making for enterprises operating across multiple geographies.
OneBanc partners with Care Health Insurance
AI-powered neobank OneBanc has entered into a corporate agency agreement with Care Health Insurance to deliver group medical insurance through a fully integrated digital platform.
The partnership embeds health insurance into employers’ HRMS, payroll and banking systems, aiming to reduce onboarding friction, improve claims processing and enhance employee experience.
The collaboration targets strong growth in covered lives, particularly across education institutions and mid-sized enterprises.
UST bags Rs 500+ Cr deal from Muthoot FinCorp
UST has secured a Rs 500+ crore, six-year digital transformation contract from Muthoot FinCorp Ltd. and other entities within the Muthoot Pappachan Group. The engagement, extending until 2031, covers cloud modernisation, cybersecurity, AI-driven threat detection and infrastructure resilience across eight group companies and over 4,200 branches nationwide.
The deal deepens UST’s long-standing technology partnership with the Muthoot Group.
Circle of Crust plans 100 outlets across India
Quick-service pizza brand Circle of Crust has entered the Delhi NCR market with the launch of a new outlet in New Delhi.
The brand plans to scale to 100 outlets across India by March 2027, targeting annual revenues of Rs 108 crore.
Circle of Crust currently operates across North India and has an international presence in Dubai, focusing on innovative crusts and India-inspired flavours as part of its expansion strategy.
Edited by Jyoti Narayan