Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (March 13, 2026)

YourStory brings you today’s headlines along with the latest developments across sectors.

Featured stories

Shantanu Narayen to transition from CEO role at Adobe

After 18 years at the helm, Shantanu Narayen has decided to transition from his role as the chief executive officer of Adobe, once a suitable successor is appointed.

The board of directors of Adobe has set up a special committee to manage the leadership change and identify a replacement, considering both internal and external candidates. Frank Calderoni, Adobe’s Lead Independent Director, will chair the committee and oversee the search for the next CEO.

Narayen He will continue to serve the company as chair of the board.

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Funding news

Veeba founder Viraj Bahl backs kids care startup Awenest

Kids home and personal care startup Awenest has received an investment offer from entrepreneur and Veeba founder Viraj Bahl following an appearance on the television show Shark Tank India.

The company, which focuses on developing toxin-conscious products for children, reported net sales of Rs 3.52 crore for the 2024-2025 financial year, up from Rs 1.6 crore the previous year. Awenest has recorded Rs 2.8 crore in revenue year-to-date for the 2025-2026 financial year and projects Rs 10 crore in total net sales for the period. The business reached a monthly run rate of Rs 70 lakh in October 2025, with gross margins expanding to 65%, the company noted.

Founded by Kinshuk, Atul, and Jahangir, Awenest operates primarily through digital channels. Amazon and quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit each account for 45% of the brand's sales. Modern trade currently contributes 3% of revenue.

The startup plans to leverage the investment to accelerate its expansion into modern trade, strengthen its quick-commerce distribution, and launch new products.

Other news

Aurionpro Solutions secures Rs 350 Cr contract to develop AI-ready green data centre

Enterprise technology firm Aurionpro Solutions Limited has secured an order valued at nearly Rs 350 crore from a hyperscale data center operator to develop an AI-ready green data centre in India.

The multi-year contract represents the company's largest order in the data centre segment to date. The mandate covers comprehensive design, detailed engineering, and end-to-end execution of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works designed to support high-density computing workloads.

The project aligns with the rapid expansion of India's digital infrastructure. According to the company, the country's data centre capacity reached 1.5 gigawatts in 2025 and is projected to reach 2 gigawatts by the end of 2026.

Sardar Patel Institute team wins EY Techathon 6.0

EY India has announced the winners of EY Techathon 6.0, its nationwide innovation challenge that encourages students to build scalable AI-driven solutions for real-world business problems.

Team Dwaynefernandes470 from Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, Mumbai won the competition for developing an agentic AI-powered RFP automation system designed for the FMCG sector. The solution automates tender discovery, document summarisation, SKU recommendations, and pricing consolidation to streamline procurement operations.

The runner-up was team Sayanadhikary003 from Techno Engineering College, Banipur, which built an agentic omnichannel retail assistant integrating web, mobile, WhatsApp, and in-store customer interactions.

This year’s edition attracted more than 15,000 team submissions representing nearly 50,000 students from colleges across India. After a six-month evaluation process, 12 teams were shortlisted for the final round.

The winning team received Rs 3 lakh in prize money, while the runner-up team was awarded ₹2 lakh.

Procol launches AI Agent Platform ‘Clara’ for Enterprise Procurement

Enterprise procurement platform Procol has launched Clara, a system of AI agents designed to autonomously manage procurement and finance operations for enterprises.

The platform manages the full procurement lifecycle, including sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier management, invoicing, and payment processing. By embedding autonomous AI agents into procurement workflows, Clara aims to reduce reliance on manual processes across emails, spreadsheets, and fragmented enterprise tools.

According to the company, enterprises using the system have reported 8–10% cost savings through competitive sourcing, a 40% reduction in sourcing cycle time, and more than 70% acceleration in procurement cycles. Accounts payable processing has also become 80% faster.

Clara integrates with existing ERP systems and includes governance frameworks and role-based controls to ensure transparency and compliance across procurement workflows.

Zippee processes 9 lakh orders in February as quick commerce expands

Quick commerce logistics startup Zippee said it processed more than 9 lakh orders in February 2026, reflecting growing demand for faster delivery across India’s ecommerce ecosystem.

Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Madhav Kasturia, Zippee enables direct-to-consumer brands to offer same-day and sub-two-hour delivery through their own online stores while retaining customer data and brand ownership. The platform currently serves more than 150 brands across sectors such as fashion, beauty, wellness, pet care, and food and beverage. 

Zippee operates a network of 125 dark stores across 21 cities, allowing brands to position inventory closer to consumers and enable rapid hyperlocal delivery. The company launched its 60-minute delivery service, Blaze, in April 2025 to support online marketplaces across categories including supplements, skincare, gifting, and pet supplies.

Hoopstr rebrands to expand alumni network ecosystem

Hyderabad-based alumni engagement platform Vaave has rebranded as Hoopstr, reflecting its evolution from an alumni management tool into a broader ecosystem focused on lifelong learning and career advancement through alumni networks.

Founded in 2011, Hoopstr enables educational institutions to engage alumni through mentorship, networking, and collaborative learning, helping bridge the gap between classroom education and real-world experience. The platform currently serves more than 1,200 institutions globally, connecting over 4.9 million alumni across 28 countries.

With a team of 80 employees, the company aims to onboard 2,500 top institutions in India within 18 months and facilitate 10,000 internships and ₹100 crore in scholarships through activated alumni networks over the next three years.

315Work Avenue appoints Archana Chaudhari as Head – Workspace People & Culture

Flexible workspace operator 315Work Avenue has appointed Archana Chaudhari as Head – Workspace People & Culture, strengthening its leadership team as the company continues to expand its footprint across key Indian cities.

In her new role, Chaudhari will lead the organisation’s people strategy, talent development, and culture-building initiatives while overseeing talent management and organisational development programs.

She brings nearly two decades of experience in talent strategy, change management, and organisational transformation. Prior to joining 315Work Avenue, she was associated with Cushman & Wakefield for more than a decade.

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