Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (March 5, 2026)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Thursday, March 5, 2026.
From Stellaris Venture Partners’ plans to back AI startups to Apple unveiling its most affordable MacBook, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.
Featured stories
Stellaris Venture Partners is eager to back AI startups but conviction is key: Alok Goyal
Venture capital firm Stellaris Venture Partners is doubling down on AI and deeptech startups in India. But it’s not rushing headlong into the AI frenzy.
Instead, the VC firm is taking its time to find its ‘sweet spot’ amid the flurry of AI startups and wannabes mushrooming across the country—a vantage point from which it can evaluate and back use cases it believes in.
Latest news
Women founders receive just Rs 4 for every Rs 100 raised by men: Report
A new report released by Kalaari Capital’s CXXO initiative has revealed a stark capital imbalance in India’s venture capital ecosystem.
The report titled 'The Rs 4 Problem: Women Founders and the Market Gap Hiding in Plain Sight' points out that for every Rs 100 raised by founders coming from India’s most powerful startup networks, only Rs 4 goes to women.
Image: Apple
Apple unveils most affordable MacBook, and more
Tech giant Apple has launched a range of products, from a budget-friendly newcomer to a professional display that rivals high-end cinema screens, in an attempt to make advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance computing more accessible.
These launches come after Apple introduced iPhone 17e with A19 power alongside the M4 iPad Air.
Women’s long-term investing could power a Rs 40 lakh crore GDP opportunity: Report
Financial access for women has grown rapidly, but long-term wealth creation has not. This remains riddled with structural constraints, reveals a report by Lxme, a financial platform for women, in collaboration with EY India.
India has witnessed one of the fastest expansions in financial inclusion globally, with over 89% of women now holding bank accounts, and digital payments becoming embedded in everyday transactions.
Funding news
Cheerio AI raises Rs 8 Cr in seed round
Cheerio AI, an AI-based customer engagement platform, has raised Rs 8 crore in a seed funding round led by Artha Venture Fund, with participation from Hyderabad Angels, TiE Angels, LetsVenture and Invention Engine, along with several angel investors.
The funding will be used to develop multimodal AI capabilities, including a proprietary small-model LLM for advertising content, expand the platform from messaging to voice and video, and strengthen automation and enterprise features.
The company plans to expand its engineering, AI, enterprise sales and customer success teams in the next six months.
Cheerio AI provides a platform that integrates marketing, support and sales communication across channels such as WhatsApp, email, SMS, social messaging and in-app communication.
IAN Angel Fund leads Rs 2.5 Cr funding round in Peping
IAN Angel Fund, a fund of Indian Angel Network, has led a Rs 2.5 crore funding round in Peping, an FMCG startup producing functional beverages. The round also included participation from other angel investors.
The funding will be used to expand distribution, strengthen supply chain operations, support brand development, and introduce new flavours.
Peping focuses on functional nutrition within India’s growing premium and health-oriented beverage segment. Functional beverages are among the fastest-growing categories and are projected to grow, driven largely by urban Gen Z and millennial consumers.
The brand is available on platforms including Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and BigBasket, as well as in more than 200 retail outlets in Bengaluru. It also supplies gyms, cafés and corporate offices. Peping operates its own soda canning facility to improve margins and quality control.
Other news
Myntra launches MyShakti 2.0
Myntra has launched MynShakti 2.0, the next phase of its women seller enablement programme under the ShECommerce initiative. The programme aims to onboard and support 100 women-led businesses across fashion, beauty and home categories.
The first edition supported 20 women entrepreneurs across segments including clothing, jewellery, educational toys, pet apparel and gifting.
MynShakti 2.0 will provide structured support including onboarding assistance, six months of dedicated account management, and mentorship through expert-led webinars covering marketing and order fulfilment.
The programme also introduces a vernacular video series explaining seller onboarding, account management and growth strategies, aimed at encouraging participation from women entrepreneurs in Tier II and III cities.
mPokket raises Rs 12.2 lakh for learning centres
Marking its 10th Foundation Day, mPokket has launched an employee-led initiative to support education for children of migrant kiln workers. The company raised Rs 12.2 lakh to fund Camp Site Learning Centres for 75 children over the next 24 months.
The funds were raised through employee contributions of more than Rs 6.1 lakh, matched by the company.
mPokket partnered with Towards Future, a non-profit that works with children of migrant brick kiln workers. The organisation operates learning centres directly at kiln sites to provide schooling, nutrition and basic care during migration periods.
The programme will support on-site learning hubs, along with health and nutrition support, with the aim of maintaining educational continuity for children affected by seasonal migration.
PharmEasy launches WomenCare
PharmEasy has launched the WomenCare category on its platform focused on women’s health. The category will go live with promotional offers around International Women’s Day.
WomenCare is designed as a single access point for health information, consultations, diagnostics and healthcare products tailored to different stages of women’s lives. It includes curated sections such as sexual wellness, fertility, menstrual health and intimate hygiene, PCOD, and skin and hair care.
Users can access health information, preventive health check-ups, supplements and healthcare products, as well as confidential online doctor consultations.
The initiative brings consultations, diagnostics, products and information into one category to improve access to women’s healthcare services in India.
(This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.)