Startup news and updates: daily roundup (March 30, 2026)

From GRB Balasubramaniam becoming India’s ghee king and Indian cricket legend MS Dhoni’s new investment to other major developments across sectors, YourStory brings you today’s headlines.

Featured stories

He sold butter on a bicycle, now his GRB is India’s ghee king

Ask G.R. Balasubramaniam whether he suffered to build what he built, and he will shut you down politely but firmly.

“A labourer carries 100 kilograms on his back,” he says. “How can I say I suffered? A man who cannot feed his family—that is suffering. Everything else is just life.”

He is not being modest for the microphones or cameras. He has clearly thought about this for a long time, and he believes it completely. The trouble is that his own story keeps getting in the way of the argument.

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The key signals that Inflexor Ventures looks for while investing in deeptech startups

While the deeptech ecosystem has gathered momentum in recent times, Inflexor Ventures realised the potential of the sector more than a decade ago. 

The Mumbai-based VC firm began investing in technology-led businesses as early as 2015, well before ‘deeptech’ became a defined category in India. Its bets in the segment include engineering-led appliance brand Atomberg, Bellatrix Aerospace, and NoPo Nanotechnologies. 

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Latest news

Girish Mathrubootham weighs in on Emergent revenue debate

Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham has stepped into a public debate about the reported revenue of AI startup Emergent, urging people to be cautious about judging private company numbers from the outside. Mathrubootham’s Together fund is an early investor in Emergent.

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Funding news

MS Dhoni joins Kuku as investor and brand ambassador of microdrama app

Indian cricket legend MS Dhoni has invested in Kuku, an AI-driven storytelling platform. In addition to his financial backing, Dhoni has also taken on the role of brand ambassador for Kuku TV, an app designed for microdramas.

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BlackSoil Capital invests Rs 40 crore in Indifi

BlackSoil Capital has invested Rs 40 crore in Indifi, a digital lending platform focused on small and medium enterprises. The investment is intended to support Indifi’s expansion in providing financing to underserved businesses across India.

Founded in 2015, Indifi uses data-led credit assessment to provide customised loans to MSMEs in sectors including travel, hospitality, e-commerce, retail and restaurants, which have historically had limited access to formal credit.

Indifi has disbursed more than 150,000 loans across over 400 cities in partnership with over 80 lending institutions. The company reported a revenue of Rs 378 crore in FY25, representing 22% year-on-year growth.

The investment reflects BlackSoil Capital’s focus on alternative credit and MSME financing.

Bacancy Systems raises Rs 40 Cr in Series A funding

Bacancy Systems, a Gujarat-based embedded electronics and power systems company focused on electric vehicle and railway electronics, has raised Rs 40 crore in a Series A funding round led by Sabre Partners and Greenstone Capital, both of which acquired minority stakes through primary investments.

The company plans to use the funds to expand manufacturing capacity, accelerate product development, strengthen research and development, and enter international markets.

Founded in 2021 by Binal Patel, along with Krunal Patel and Hardik Sheth, Bacancy develops hardware, firmware, and cloud-based systems, with a focus on power electronics and control systems. Its products include DC charger controllers and related systems for EV manufacturers and charging infrastructure providers.

The company is also developing railway electronics products, including train control and management systems, control systems for traction and auxiliary converters, embedded modules, passenger information systems, and remote monitoring platforms.

Cedar Hill Capital leads $1.5M investment in Sign3

Cedar Hill Capital has led a $1.5 million investment in Sign3, an AI-based fraud intelligence and risk management platform. The round also included participation from Smile Group and several angel investors.

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Gurugram, Sign3 develops customer intelligence software for real-time fraud detection and risk assessment. Its system combines device data, behavioural biometrics, and alternative data to generate risk insights for financial institutions and online platforms.

The company claims that more than 20 banks, fintech firms, and marketplaces are using the platform to detect fraudulent accounts and identify high-risk users. The funding will be used to develop the product, improve AI models, expand go-to-market efforts, and hire engineering and analytics staff.

Epik bags $1M in pre-seed round led by InfoEdge Ventures

Epik, a quick commerce startup focused on consumer electronics and home appliances, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed round led by InfoEdge Ventures, with participation from angel investors. 

The Bengaluru-based company plans to use the funds to build fulfilment infrastructure, expand its product catalogue, and strengthen its in-home demonstration network across Indian cities.

Founded by Gotama Gowda, Varun Chopra and Harsha Reddy, Epik offers products to customers’ homes within 60 minutes along with a trained demonstrator, allowing customers to compare multiple products in person before purchase. 

The company;s operations rely on trained personnel, demo units, and hub-based logistics to enable scheduled demonstrations and fulfilment. 

Cropcoin secures Rs 12 Cr in pre-Series A round

Agritech startup Cropcoin (Pehle Jaisa) has secured Rs 12 crore in a pre-Series A round led by Unicorn India Ventures, with participation from Climate Angels.

The company plans to use the funds to expand operations from 10 districts to all 66 districts across Bihar and Jharkhand, develop product and research in bio-based soil products, and build infrastructure.

Founded in 2022 by Pankaj Pandey and Ehtesham Farooqui, Cropcoin focuses on agricultural waste management and soil health. The company converts animal waste into organic fertiliser and bio-stimulants through on-site processing systems for farms.

Cropcoin says it has expanded its farmer network from 20,000 to 70,000 across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Manipur over the past year, with revenue growth during the same period. The company plans to expand its decentralised processing model and increase farmer reach over the next 12–18 months.

Skillsvest raises Rs 5.5 Cr in pre-seed funding

Skillsvest, a fintech platform, has raised Rs 5.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round comprising a mix of equity and debt. The round included Plug and Play Ventures and angel investors, as well as a small debt syndicate. 

The company, which is also backed by UC Berkeley SkyDeck and Launch Accelerator, focuses on financing international master’s students from middle-income backgrounds using an income-linked repayment model. 

Skillsvest currently supports Indian students pursuing master’s degrees abroad, covering tuition and living expenses. Funding typically ranges from $5,000 to $20,000. Primary study destinations include the UK, the US, and Europe, particularly in STEM and finance.

The company is led by Sreemaan Thiruppathiraja and Deborah Schermann, both UC Berkeley graduates with experience in credit, finance and edtech. It plans to use the funds for student financing, regulatory and compliance requirements, and expansion of partnerships and distribution.

Other news

Flipkart strengthens technology leadership

Flipkart has appointed Smita Ojha as Vice President, Engineering, and Amit Sharma as Vice President, Programme Management, as part of efforts to strengthen its technology leadership.

Ojha will lead the Central Platforms Group within Flipkart’s One Tech organisation, with responsibility for scalable platforms and core engineering capabilities. She has over 20 years of experience in global technology companies and was most recently SVP of Engineering at Mindtickle, where she worked on GenAI products, platform scaling and data architecture.

Sharma will lead Technical Programme Management for the One Tech organisation. A former Indian Army officer with over 25 years of corporate experience, he has managed large global programmes across e-retail, financial services and technology. He previously served as Director at Amazon and has held leadership roles at Accenture and WNS.

STEMROBO launches Open AI Robotics Challenge

STEMROBO has launched an Open AI Robotics Challenge across India. The programme offers Rs 10 lakh in seed funding, intellectual property support, and ongoing technical mentorship to students, engineers, and early-stage startups developing indigenous AI hardware.

The initiative focuses on original, complex hardware projects, including AI-based humanoid robots, intelligent animal robots, and autonomous systems. Its stated aim is to support early-stage robotics ideas and help convert them into commercially viable products.

The programme is intended to address common barriers in hardware innovation, including limited seed funding, patenting challenges, and lack of sustained technical guidance. Selected participants will receive support from STEMROBO’s engineering and investment teams through prototyping and product development stages.

Swiss Re–BIMTECH partner to build insurance talent

Global reinsurance major Swiss Re has signed an MoU with BIMTECH for its PGDM in Insurance and Risk Management, aiming to strengthen industry-aligned education and talent development. The partnership will focus on co-developing specialised reinsurance courses, executive mentoring, and research initiatives.

Students will benefit from internships, live projects, and placements, alongside workshops and webinars on emerging industry trends. The collaboration will also introduce modules in areas such as risk analytics, InsurTech, sustainability, and climate risk.

A key objective is to nurture “T-shaped” professionals with both domain expertise and cross-functional skills. The initiative underscores growing industry-academia collaboration to bridge skill gaps and prepare future-ready professionals for India’s evolving insurance and reinsurance landscape.

BlaBliBlu hits Rs 100 crore ARR within six months

Fragrance startup BlaBliBlu has achieved a Rs 8 crore monthly run rate within six months of launch, translating to an annual run rate of nearly Rs 100 crore.

Founded by Palash, Rajat, Kushal, and Durgesh, the brand is capitalising on a gap between expensive global perfumes and low-quality affordable options. Its products, priced under Rs 1,000, feature high fragrance oil concentration to ensure long-lasting performance.

A key driver of growth has been its product-led strategy, including trial packs priced at ₹399, allowing consumers to test multiple variants with a redemption option. This approach has reduced purchase hesitation and enabled customer acquisition without heavy marketing spend. The brand’s rapid rise reflects increasing demand for affordable luxury among young Indian consumers seeking quality and global fragrance trends.

Perfios launches DPDP Compliance Suite

Perfios.ai has launched the Perfios DPDP Suite, a unified platform to help enterprises comply with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The solution integrates data discovery, consent governance, rights management, and compliance reporting into a single system.

Designed for India’s regulatory requirements, it enables organisations to maintain a verifiable record of customer consent across the data lifecycle. The platform addresses limitations of fragmented privacy tools through a modular, enterprise-grade architecture. It includes capabilities such as automated records of processing activities, cookie consent management, and database activity monitoring. With sectors like BFSI, healthcare, and retail expected to align with DPDP norms by May 2027, the suite positions Perfios to support large-scale compliance transformation across industries.

Salesforce partners MAHE for AI-driven university transformation

Salesforce has partnered with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) to modernise its Student Life Cycle Management platform and transition to an AI-driven university model. The collaboration will deploy solutions including Agentforce, Data 360, MuleSoft, and Tableau under MAHE’s MAGIC initiative.

The goal is to unify the student lifecycle—from admissions to alumni engagement—while enabling real-time data integration and analytics. AI-powered agents will enhance student services, admissions processes, and operational efficiency.

MAHE, which serves over 40,000 students globally, aims to build a scalable, intelligent academic ecosystem. Deloitte will act as the implementation partner, ensuring seamless integration and execution. The initiative reflects a broader shift toward AI-led digital transformation in higher education.

Pay10 launches ‘Pay10 World’ for cross-border payments

Pay10 has launched “Pay10 World,” a cross-border payments platform aimed at simplifying global transactions for Indian businesses. The launch follows the company’s authorisation under the RBI’s Payment Aggregator–Cross Border framework.

The platform enables businesses to accept international payments in local currencies while receiving settlements in INR, with built-in compliance automation including FIRA generation. It connects global payment methods with India’s real-time payment ecosystem, streamlining the cash flow cycle. Alongside, Pay10 has rolled out its campaign “No Borders. Just Business.” to highlight common exporter challenges and demonstrate simplified solutions. The offering is designed to support Indian SMEs expanding globally by reducing friction in payments, compliance, and settlement processes.

TeamLease Digital launches AI returnship initiative

TeamLease Digital has launched POWER (Professional Opportunity for Workforce Empowerment & Reboot), an initiative to bring experienced professionals back into India’s AI workforce. Its first program, the AI Career Accelerator: Returnship Edition, has completed its inaugural cohort, with women re-entering the workforce in AI and digital roles.

The initiative addresses rising demand for AI talent, where salaries have reportedly increased 2–4 times due to supply gaps. The program reflects a broader evolution of returnship initiatives from diversity-focused efforts to strategic talent pipelines. By equipping experienced professionals with AI skills, TeamLease aims to expand the talent pool and support India’s growing digital economy.

ASMS wins financial inclusion contract from Indian Overseas Bank

Avio Smart Market Stack Limited (ASMS) has secured a purchase order from Indian Overseas Bank to implement Corporate Business Correspondent services under its financial inclusion initiative. The three-year contract involves deployment and management of Business Correspondent Agents, along with cash handling and field operations.

ASMS will oversee onboarding, training, and monitoring of agents, ensuring secure and compliant banking services in rural and semi-urban areas. The deployment will leverage micro-ATMs, biometric authentication, and integration with the bank’s systems. The mandate strengthens ASMS’s position in technology-driven financial inclusion and supports broader efforts to expand banking access across underserved regions in India.

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