Startup news and updates: daily roundup (July 28, 2026)

From Instamart naming ex-Myntra chief Nandita Sinha as CEO to Inflexor Ventures securing Rs 400 Cr for Fund III, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.

Latest news

Instamart names former Myntra chief Nandita Sinha as CEO

Instamart has appointed former Myntra chief executive officer Nandita Sinha as its new CEO, handing leadership of one of India’s largest quick-commerce businesses to a seasoned consumer internet executive at a time when the sector is entering a more competitive and profitability-focused phase.

Sinha will take charge on August 3, 2026, succeeding Amitesh Jha, who led the business through a period of rapid expansion.

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Inflexor Ventures raises Rs 400 Cr as first close of Fund III

Early-stage, sector-agnostic venture capital firm Inflexor Ventures has announced the first close of its third fund, securing commitments of Rs 400 crore towards its target corpus of Rs 1,250 crore.

The fund, named the Inflexor Technology Discovery Fund, is backed by anchor investors including the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund, HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC), and HDFC AMC Select AIF FoF (HDFC FoF). It has also attracted commitments from several leading international institutional investors, the firm said in a statement.

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Funding news

House of Student raises $2M in seed funding

House of Student, a student accommodation marketplace, has raised $2 million in a seed funding round comprising equity and debt. The round was led by Saltwater Sutra and Nirmitsu Inspirational Ventures, with participation from strategic investors and existing backers of Unilodgers. 

The funding will be used to expand the company's global presence, enhance its AI capabilities, grow its accommodation supply and develop new products. Founded by Vaibhav Verma, House of Student operates a marketplace with more than 2.5 million verified student rooms across over 25 countries.

Hegdinvst raises $1.3M in Series A funding

Hegdinvst, a Chennai-based alternative investment manager, has raised $1.3 million (Rs 11.5 crore) in an oversubscribed Series A funding round backed by domestic and international high-net-worth investors. The capital will primarily fund the sponsor and manager commitment for the firm's proposed SEBI Category III Alternative Investment Fund, a multi-asset hedge fund.

Founded by Aditya Bhandari, Hegdinvst manages investment strategies across private and public markets through its alternative investment funds, serving family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals and other investors.

Yaanendriya raises Rs 15 Cr from Piper Serica

Yaanendriya, a Bengaluru-based deeptech company developing sensor, navigation and control technologies for autonomous systems, has raised Rs 15 crore in funding from venture capital firm Piper Serica. The investment will be used to strengthen research and development, accelerate product development and expand the company's portfolio of high-precision navigation systems. 

Yaanendriya develops technologies for drones, ground robots, spacecraft and underwater vehicles, with products designed to operate in GNSS-denied environments. The company also plans to advance indigenous MEMS accelerometer and gyroscope technologies for aerospace and autonomous applications.

Other news

Invest Qatar opens India office to boost investment ties

Invest Qatar has opened a dedicated office in India as part of efforts to strengthen investment ties between the two countries and support Indian companies expanding into Qatar. During a visit to New Delhi and Mumbai, representatives met businesses, investors and startups to discuss opportunities across the Gulf and Middle East.

The new office, led by Tanaz Buhariwalla, will assist companies with market entry, regulatory processes and business expansion. Invest Qatar said the move builds on growing economic cooperation and aims to encourage more Indian businesses to establish operations in Qatar.

Nielsen launches AI-powered advertising intelligence platform

Nielsen has launched Ad Intel AI, an AI-powered platform that provides real-time advertising intelligence across media channels. The platform combines Nielsen's advertising data with AI to help users analyse competitor spending, creative strategies and market trends, while supporting decision-making across planning and campaign analysis.

Ad Intel AI covers 5.5 million brands and 4.6 million advertisers across 23 media types in more than 90 markets. The launch marks the first in a series of AI-powered products Nielsen plans to introduce as it expands its media intelligence and advertising measurement offerings.

SNITCH acquires womenswear brand Berrylush

SNITCH has acquired womenswear brand Berrylush, marking its entry into the women's fashion market and expanding beyond menswear. Berrylush will continue to operate under its existing brand while using SNITCH's capabilities in product development, technology, supply chain, marketing and omnichannel retail.

The companies will work together to accelerate product innovation, expand retail presence and strengthen the customer experience. The acquisition supports SNITCH's strategy of building a portfolio of fashion brands and increasing its presence in India's growing apparel market.

PureSil launches mineral paint with silicification technology

PureSil Paints has launched PureSil Interior-Exterior Mineral Paint, introducing its silicification technology to the Indian decorative paints market. The zero-VOC mineral coating is made using silicate binders derived from rice husk ash and fly ash, and is designed to bond chemically with masonry rather than form a surface film.

The company said the paint offers improved moisture regulation, UV resistance, fire protection and mould resistance, while reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials. PureSil is initially available through authorised dealers in Nagpur, Vadodara, Raipur and Kolkata at an introductory price of Rs 320 per litre.

BlackLine launches AI tool for financial reconciliations

BlackLine has launched Verity Prepare, an AI-powered platform designed to automate account reconciliation and other financial close processes. The system uses multiple AI agents to analyse supporting documents, match transactions, identify discrepancies and prepare audit-ready reconciliations, while allowing finance teams to review and approve the results.

BlackLine said early adopters reduced manual reconciliation preparation time by up to 92%. The launch expands the company's AI offerings for finance teams, with a focus on improving efficiency while maintaining governance, transparency and human oversight.

GoKwik and PayU launch AI shopping experience on ChatGPT

GoKwik and PayU have launched an AI-powered shopping experience on ChatGPT that enables consumers to discover, compare and buy products from multiple Indian direct-to-consumer brands within a single conversation. The platform is live with brands including Hyphen, Beardo and Kilrr, with more merchants expected to join through the GoKwik ecosystem.

Consumers can complete purchases using PayU's payment infrastructure, supporting UPI, cards, net banking and wallets. The companies said the platform allows D2C brands to offer AI-enabled shopping without requiring additional integration or engineering work.

Studio Blo launches AI advertising division

Studio Blo has launched a premium AI-native advertising division, bringing together a team of filmmakers and creative professionals to produce AI-powered branded content and advertising campaigns. The new division includes filmmakers and specialists from India and overseas, spanning automotive, food, advertising and cinematography.

Studio Blo said the unit will combine AI technologies, including celebrity cloning and performance capture, with traditional filmmaking to create commercial content. The launch expands the company's AI-driven production business, which has worked on advertising, entertainment and sports projects for brands and agencies in India and internationally.

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