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

From a $17 million infusion into Kitchenware brand The Indus Valley to $10 million for Bengaluru-based agentic AI startup Kapture CX, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.

Funding news

The Indus Valley bags $17M from Gaja Capital, others

Kitchenware brand The Indus Valley has raised $17 million in a Series B funding round led by private equity firm Gaja Capital. Existing investors DSG Consumer Partners, an early-stage consumer-focused investment firm, Rukam Capital, and The Chennai Angels also participated in the round.

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Kapture CX raises $10M led by Bajaj Finserv Ventures

Kapture CX, the Bengaluru headquartered agentic AI startup, has raised $10 million in a pre-Series B funding round led by Bajaj Finserv Ventures (BFSV), part of leading financial services group Bajaj Finserv.

This funding round also saw the participation of existing investors Cactus Venture Partners and India Alternatives.

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Mykare.ai secures $1M to expand AI healthcare platform

Mykare.ai has secured $1 million in its latest funding round from investors including the founders of Papa.com and a Middle East family office, taking its total funding to $3.2 million. The new funding will support AI development, product expansion and international growth.

The company is developing an AI-native healthcare platform that automates patient acquisition, appointment booking, follow-ups, feedback and administrative workflows for clinics and hospitals. Founded by Senu Sam, Mykare.ai operates in the US, UK, Middle East and India, with more than 20 healthcare providers on its waiting list.

YoLearn.ai raises $500,000 in pre-seed funding

YoLearn.ai has raised $500,000, about Rs 4.5 crore, in a pre-seed funding round led by DataAlpha.ai and White Swan Global at a $5 million valuation. The Noida-based AI tutoring startup will use the funding to expand its voice-first learning platform and strengthen distribution across India's K-12 and competitive exam market.

Founded in 2025, the company offers AI-powered tutoring through web, Android and iOS platforms and has more than 200,000 users. It supports 22 Indian languages and provides personalised tutoring for school curricula and competitive exams.

Other news

Parkobot launches smart parking platform across Indian cities

Parkobot has launched an integrated smart parking platform combining IoT hardware, cloud software and a mobile app to help property owners list underused parking spaces for booking. The platform enables digital reservations, payments, access control and parking management, with bookings in Kolkata starting at Rs 10 per hour through subscription packs. 

Parkobot currently manages about 1,600 parking spaces in Kolkata, is adding another 4,000 in the city and plans to onboard 30,000 spaces nationwide. The startup has raised Rs 2.09 crore and aims to expand across Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai over the next year.

Noon acquires AI engineering startup FinalRun

Noon has acquired Bengaluru-based AI engineering startup FinalRun, with co-founders Arnold Laishram and Ashish Yadav joining the company as Members of Technical Staff. Founded in 2025, FinalRun develops AI agents for mobile test automation that execute software tests on Android and iOS devices using natural language instructions. 

In April 2026, the company topped Google DeepMind's Android World benchmark with a 97.4% success rate. Noon, a product design platform founded in 2024, has raised $44 million and plans to use the acquisition to strengthen its mobile and AI engineering capabilities across India and the US.

Netradyne partners with Geosecure to expand AI fleet safety in Australia

Netradyne has partnered with Australian fleet technology company Geosecure to expand its AI-powered fleet safety platform in Australia. The partnership combines Netradyne's Driver-i platform with Geosecure's local deployment and customer network. 

The platform uses AI to monitor driving behaviour in real time, alert drivers to risks such as speeding, distraction and fatigue, and recognise safe driving practices. It also provides insights into fuel efficiency and driver performance. Geosecure will support deployment across sectors including transport, construction, mining, utilities, government and healthcare.

TeamLease expands AI-integrated apprenticeship programmes

TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship has expanded its AI-integrated apprenticeship programmes after completing a pilot involving 300 apprentices across leading organisations in April 2026. The programmes combine practical AI training with apprenticeships for white-collar and blue-collar roles, covering topics such as AI fundamentals, generative AI, prompt engineering, Python and large language models. 

Employers can customise modules based on job requirements. Early results showed a 20% to 25% improvement in apprentice productivity. Around 40% of apprentices secured jobs with their training organisation, while more than 90% found employment within the same industry.

Imarticus Learning relaunches fintech programme with AI focus

Imarticus Learning has relaunched its fintech programme as the Certified FinTech Operations Professional (CFOP), a no-code, placement-focused certification integrating FinTech operations, AI and business analytics. Designed for BCom, BBA and finance graduates, the programme covers AI-enabled financial operations, digital payments, compliance, risk management and analytics. 

It is available as a three-month course for fresh graduates and a six-month weekend course for working professionals. The revamp follows more than 2,500 finance placements in FY26 and aims to meet rising demand for AI-skilled operations professionals across banks, financial institutions and FinTech companies.

Tech Mahindra, Microsoft unveil AI-powered network digital twin solution

Tech Mahindra has partnered with Microsoft to launch a Network Digital Twin solution for telecommunications operators. Built on Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Fabric and Azure Digital Twins, the platform uses real-time network data and AI to support predictive modelling, automation and network management. 

It is designed for medium and large telecom operators managing multi-vendor networks, helping improve service performance, optimise network operations and support 5G services such as network slicing and edge orchestration. The solution also aims to improve infrastructure planning, asset utilisation and operational efficiency through AI-driven insights.

SanchiConnect partners with KCCI to support MSME technology adoption

SanchiConnect has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Knowledge Chamber of Commerce and Industry to help MSMEs adopt deep technology solutions. The partnership will connect KCCI members with curated startups through solution showcases, demo days, matchmaking sessions and digital adoption workshops.

It will also provide access to mentors, investors and corporate networks to support technology deployment. The first showcase is planned for the coming quarter in Gujarat. The non-commercial partnership aims to accelerate MSME modernisation by linking established businesses with validated deep technology startups.

MongoDB targets training 2M AI developers in India by 2030

MongoDB has announced plans to expand its MongoDB for Academia programme in India, aiming to upskill two million developers by 2030. Since its launch in September 2023, the initiative has trained more than 650,000 students through partnerships with AICTE, SmartBridge, ICT Academy and universities across the country. 

The company plans to collaborate with over 1,500 educational institutions and train 5,000 educators while expanding its curriculum in Kannada, Hindi and Tamil through HCL GUVI. MongoDB is also partnering with ICT Academy of Kerala to reach over 100 institutions. The programme will provide curriculum resources, certifications and hands-on database and AI training to strengthen India's future technology workforce.

CheQ elevates Bipin Toro, Vished Banger as co-founders

Credit card management platform CheQ has elevated Bipin Toro and Vished Banger as co-founders, recognising their contributions to building and scaling the company since its launch in 2022. The announcement comes as the fintech closes FY26 with full-year profitability and annual recurring revenue exceeding $40 million. CheQ said the move reflects its belief in recognising leaders who demonstrate long-term commitment and entrepreneurial ownership.

Toro and Banger have played key roles in shaping the company's technology, operations, business strategy and organisational culture while helping transform CheQ into one of India's fastest-growing consumer credit platforms. The appointments reinforce the company's leadership team as it enters its next phase of growth.

Uber launches in-app ride recording, ambulance assistance features

Uber has introduced two new safety-focused features in India — Record My Ride and Ambulance Assistance — to strengthen rider and driver security. Record My Ride enables drivers to securely record encrypted in-cab videos using their smartphones directly through the Uber app. The company has also partnered with medical logistics provider Dial 4242 to integrate ambulance assistance into the platform, improving emergency response during critical situations.

The launches add to Uber's existing suite of safety features, including Audio Recording, Women Rider Preference, Helmet Selfie Verification and Seatbelt Reminders. Uber said it continues to work with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on road safety initiatives while expanding products such as Uber for Teens and Uber for Seniors.

D-Propulse appoints former DRDO chief V K Saraswat as chairman

Deeppropulse Aerospace (D-Propulse) has appointed former DRDO Secretary and ex-NITI Aayog member Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat as Chairman of its Board. The company said Dr. Saraswat's decades of experience in strategic defence technologies and combustion engineering will help accelerate development of its rotating detonation engine (RDE) technology for next-generation high-speed flight vehicles.

Widely regarded as a key architect of India's missile and ballistic missile defence programmes, Saraswat is expected to guide the company's technology roadmap and policy engagement as it advances indigenous aerospace innovation. D-Propulse believes his leadership will help shorten development timelines and strengthen India's capabilities in advanced propulsion systems.

StockGro featured in World Economic Forum AI report

Investment platform StockGro has become the only Indian company featured as a case study in the World Economic Forum's report, The AI Playbook for Financial Services, developed in collaboration with Accenture. The report examines how financial institutions worldwide are deploying artificial intelligence responsibly at scale. StockGro's case study highlights its AI-powered investment research platform, Stoxo, which uses a proprietary small language model and over 80 specialised AI agents to provide accessible equity research for retail investors.

The platform aims to address India's low equity participation by offering reliable research and reducing dependence on unverified social media advice. The report draws insights from more than 150 financial industry leaders across global markets.

UPES, IIT Guwahati launch AI innovation programme for student startups

UPES has partnered with IIT Guwahati's Technology Innovation & Development Foundation and BioNEST to launch SPARC-AI, an 18-month programme to nurture student-led startups in clean energy, agritech and cleantech. The initiative will identify and support innovators from Uttarakhand and Assam through AI-enabled, commercially viable solutions.

The programme will be implemented jointly by UPES' Artificial Intelligence Transformation Office and IIT Guwahati BioNEST, covering research, prototype development, venture creation and commercialisation. It aims to scout 50 fellows, provide funding to 20 participants and incubate 10 startups. Selected teams will receive seed grants of Rs 2 lakh each to validate proof-of-concept ideas and prepare them for market entry.

Star Health partners Amplify Health to deploy AI in claims processing

Star Health and Allied Insurance has entered into a three-year partnership with Amplify Health to deploy AI-powered claims intelligence and healthcare analytics across its health insurance operations. The collaboration aims to improve cashless claims processing through faster pre-authorisation, better fraud detection, real-time decision-making and enhanced network management.

By integrating Amplify Health's AI platform into its digital health infrastructure, Star Health expects to reduce customer waiting times during hospital admissions and discharge while improving consistency in claims decisions. The insurer said the partnership forms part of its broader digital transformation strategy, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics to deliver a smoother and more transparent healthcare experience for policyholders.

Vertiv partners IIT BHU to boost semiconductor research

Critical digital infrastructure company Vertiv has partnered with IIT (BHU) Varanasi to support the launch of the Undergraduate Research Avenue (UGRA), an initiative aimed at strengthening hands-on semiconductor research among engineering students. As part of the collaboration, Vertiv India will help establish an Advanced Hardware Innovation Lab within the Department of Electronics Engineering, equipping students with advanced evaluation boards and practical tools for chip design and validation.

The facility will enable students to work on the complete semiconductor development cycle, including design, prototyping, validation and silicon testing. The initiative aligns with India's efforts to build a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem by providing industry-relevant research infrastructure and experiential learning opportunities.

IBM, Gujarat government to establish Industrial AI Centre of Excellence

IBM, the Gujarat Department of Science and Technology and the Indian AI Research Organization (IAIRO) have announced plans to establish an Industrial Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence in Gujarat. The proposed centre will function as a living laboratory to develop, demonstrate and deploy AI solutions for manufacturing, energy, utilities and supply chains using sovereign AI technologies.

It will also promote research, innovation, skill development and industry collaboration through workshops, academic partnerships, hackathons and training programmes. The initiative aims to develop AI frameworks, standards and best practices while accelerating responsible AI adoption across industrial sectors. The Centre of Excellence supports Gujarat's ambition of becoming a leading destination for industrial AI innovation in India.

SMBC Asia Rising Fund invests up to $15 million in three fintech firms

SMBC Asia Rising Fund has announced follow-on investments of approximately $12-15 million across three of its Indian fintech portfolio companies—Easy Home Finance, Vayana and DPDzero. The fund said the investments reaffirm its long-term commitment to India's financial services ecosystem and businesses building scalable lending and credit infrastructure.

Easy Home Finance recently raised a $30 million Series C round to expand affordable housing finance, while Vayana is strengthening its trade finance business following the receipt of its NBFC licence. DPDzero has secured Series A funding led by SMBC Asia Rising Fund to expand its AI-powered collections and recovery platform. The investments reflect the fund's confidence in India's evolving digital financial infrastructure.

TEXMiN, AGI join hands for AI-driven mineral exploration

TEXMiN, the Technology Innovation and Translation Research Park at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airborne Geoscience International (AGI) to develop India's first AI and machine learning-based mineral prospectivity analysis and target ranking system. The collaboration will integrate geological, geophysical, geochemical and GIS datasets to identify high-potential exploration targets using AI models tailored to Indian conditions.

The partners said the initiative will reduce uncertainty in early-stage mineral exploration, accelerate target generation and create a comprehensive mineral prospectivity database for India. The project is also expected to attract global exploration companies and strengthen scientific decision-making in the country's critical minerals sector.

HMH expands Pune GCC with larger innovation centre

K-12 learning technology company HMH has expanded its Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Pune by moving into a new 24,000-square-foot office at Shivaji Nagar. The facility can accommodate over 230 employees and includes collaborative and hybrid workspaces designed to support future growth. Since its establishment in May 2023 as a technology and engineering centre of excellence, HMH's Pune operations have grown to around 300 employees.

The company said the expansion reflects its continued investment in India's technology talent and innovation ecosystem. The larger office will enable the GCC to take on additional engineering priorities while supporting HMH's mission of developing technology solutions that improve learning outcomes for educators and students worldwide.

Merlinhawk opens advanced aerospace composites facility in Tamil Nadu

Merlinhawk Aerospace, in partnership with Italy-based Vega Composites, has inaugurated an advanced composites manufacturing facility at Shoolagiri in the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor. The new plant will manufacture composite aerostructures and high-performance materials for aerospace and defence applications, including aircraft, unmanned systems, radar and electronic warfare platforms.

Equipped with cleanroom layup, autoclave curing, precision cutting and five-axis CNC machining capabilities, the facility offers end-to-end composite manufacturing within India. Merlinhawk said the investment marks a shift from build-to-print manufacturing towards design-led engineering, strengthening indigenous capabilities in advanced defence manufacturing and supporting India's drive towards self-reliance in aerospace technologies.

Samtel Avionics to expand into jamming technology and satellites

Samtel Avionics plans to add indigenous jamming and interception technology to its defence portfolio and is developing satellite technologies as part of its diversification strategy. The company has completed the satellite concept and identified key components, with plans to supply both the Indian Armed Forces and international customers.

CEO and Managing Director Puneet Kaura said growing global defence spending and increased demand for Indian defence products are creating export opportunities. He added that higher defence expenditure, greater indigenous content and stronger private sector innovation will support India's ambition to become a global defence manufacturing hub.

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