Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (July 30, 2026)

Communities residing in conflict zones need inner healing even as hotels threaten to stop taking orders on Swiggy, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors

Featured news

Why this humanitarian believes inner healing is key to building peace in conflict zones

Working across Lebanon, Syria, Israel/Palestine, Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, and Congo convinced humanitarian Lena Lieberknecht that peacebuilding needs an inner dimension. Through the Art of Living, she is bringing stress-relief programmes to people living and working in conflict zones.

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Bengaluru hotels warn of Swiggy boycott from Aug 15 over payment dispute

The Bangalore Hotels Association has alleged that Swiggy was deducting advertisement and promotional charges without obtaining written or digital consent from hotel owners before launching CPC, CPA, or promoted advertisements.

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Funding news

Arboreal Bioinnovations raises Rs 230 Cr in Series A round co-led by EAAA and Omnivore

Arboreal Bioinnovations, a speciality food and nutraceutical ingredients technology company, has raised Rs 230 crore in a Series A round of funding co-led by EAAA, the alternative assets management arm of Edelweiss, and Omnivore. The round also saw participation from existing investor Rainmatter by Zerodha.

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Aham Housing Finance raises Rs 100 Cr from The Sanmar Group

Chennai-headquartered Aham Housing Finance has raised Rs 100 crore in a follow-on funding round led by industrial conglomerate The Sanmar Group. Aham Housing Finance will use the funds to strengthen its lending capacity and accelerate expansion across underserved housing markets. The company will also use the funds to deepen its presence in existing geographies, enter select new markets, and continue investing in technology, underwriting and risk-management capabilities to better serve self-employed and first-time homebuyers.

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Sid’s Farm raises over Rs 81 Cr in pre-Series B round

Direct-to-consumer brand Sid’s Farm has raised a pre-Series B funding round of over Rs 81 crore. Major investors who led this round included Omnivore, NSFO, Dodla Dairy, Next Bharat Ventures, and LIO along with a consortium of other investors, said the company in a statement. Hyderabad-based Sid's Farm is a dairy and food brand committed to making safe food a norm in Indian homes and serves over 50,000 families across multiple cities.

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SUIND raises Rs 20.5 Cr seed funding

Autonomous unmanned aerial systems startup SUIND has raised Rs 20.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Transition VC, with participation from IIMA Ventures. The company will use the capital to expand commercial deployment of its DGCA-certified Bumblebee agricultural spraying drone, accelerate development of its WASP aerial intelligence platform, and strengthen its autonomy technology and engineering capabilities.

SUIND's vision-first autonomy platform enables drones to navigate challenging environments with minimal human intervention, overcoming limitations of GPS-dependent systems. While Bumblebee has been commercially deployed in plantations, the company is now targeting infrastructure inspection, industrial monitoring, surveillance and security applications through WASP. SUIND plans to scale manufacturing and commercial deployment over the next two years.

Hair beauty and styling brand Truth and Hair secures Rs 5.4 Cr

Hair beauty and styling brand Truth and Hair has raised Rs 5.4 crore in a seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The company will use the capital to strengthen its brand positioning, develop new products, expand marketing initiatives and widen its distribution network.

Its product portfolio includes Root Touch-Up Hair Mascara, 3-in-1 Curly Styler and Flyaway Wand, designed to cater to straight, wavy and curly hair. Truth and Hair said it is creating a new category at the intersection of hair makeup, styling and scalp health instead of competing directly with conventional shampoo and conditioner brands. The startup aims to redefine hair care with specialised beauty and styling solutions.

Kroslo raises Rs 5 Cr seed funding

Cookware startup Kroslo has raised Rs 5 crore in a seed funding round from Prath Ventures, Indian Silicon Valley, Unacademy co-founder Roman Saini and other angel investors. Prath Ventures contributed Rs 3.12 crore in the round.

The company develops titanium enamel cast iron cookware under its Tironox range, which it claims is up to 50% lighter than conventional cast iron and resistant to rust. Kroslo says its products address health concerns associated with scratched non-stick cookware that can release microplastics and toxic fumes. The startup plans to expand its product portfolio and strengthen its position in the premium cookware segment as consumer demand for healthier kitchen products grows.

Virat Kohli increases stake in Vault Fitness

Cricketer Virat Kohli and his brother Vikas Kohli have become strategic investors in premium fitness chain Vault by Virat Kohli, formalising a collective 28% equity stake in the company. Founded in 2023 by Mukesh Gogia, the franchise-led fitness brand currently serves over 30,000 members and plans to expand to more than 50 operational clubs by the end of the year.

Vault Fitness has a presence across Tier I and Tier II cities including Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and now plans to target Tier III markets. The company partners with global fitness equipment brands including Matrix, Torque USA, Precor and Hyperice to offer premium training and recovery facilities.

Other news

Flipkart launches pay later credit offering

Flipkart Group has partnered with PayU Finance to launch Flipkart Pay Later, a new embedded credit offering across Flipkart, Myntra and Flipkart Minutes. The service provides customers with three repayment options—Pay Later with up to 30 days credit, Pay in 3 instalments, and EMI plans ranging from three to 12 months for higher-value purchases. The offering is designed for both everyday shopping and larger purchases across categories such as electronics, appliances, fashion and furniture.

PayU Finance, the NBFC arm of PayU, will serve as the licensed lending partner, while Flipkart Finance will manage customer relationships and credit intelligence. Additional financial institution partnerships are planned as the platform expands.

PhonePe launches PulsePro enterprise intelligence platform

PhonePe has launched PulsePro, an enterprise intelligence platform that converts aggregated transaction data into hyperlocal, near real-time market insights. The platform is designed to help businesses make data-driven decisions on expansion, distribution strategy, site selection and category growth. PulsePro offers solutions covering category and growth intelligence, retail network intelligence and hyperlocal market analysis.

Powered by PhonePe's network of over 700 million registered users, more than 50 million merchants and coverage across 99% of India's postal codes, the platform provides insights across over 200 store categories and 100 market signals. PhonePe said PulsePro builds on the success of its open-data platform PhonePe Pulse while offering enterprise-grade intelligence for businesses and organisations.

TakeMe2Space's satellite battery cleared for commercial use

Space technology startup TakeMe2Space has announced that its PowerBank-50 satellite battery pack has been successfully space-qualified after completing its first mission aboard Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 launch vehicle. The battery powered Cosmoserve Space's experimental payload at an altitude of 450 kilometres during the Mission Aagaman flight launched from Sriharikota on July 18.

Weighing just 380 grams, the battery offers over 50 Wh of energy storage and includes onboard intelligence to manage battery health and withstand harsh space conditions. Designed for CubeSats and microsatellites, the PowerBank-50 can support missions lasting up to five years in low Earth orbit. The company plans to offer the battery for future commercial satellite missions.

InCred Financial posts 82% jump in Q1 profit

InCred Financial Services has reported an 82.3% year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 172 crore for the first quarter of FY27, driven by strong loan growth, improved operating efficiency and healthy asset quality. The company's loan book expanded to Rs 14,809 crore, supported by steady demand across its five lending businesses. Gross non-performing assets improved to 2%, while net NPAs declined to 0.7%, reflecting disciplined underwriting backed by its AI-enabled technology platform.

The cost-to-income ratio also improved to 44.6% during the quarter. InCred said its risk-first approach and proprietary technology continue to support stable asset quality while enabling the company to scale its retail-focused lending operations.

Abyro Capital launches SpaceTech platform Beacon

Venture capital firm Abyro Capital has announced the launch of Beacon, a dedicated platform to identify, invest in, and accelerate early-stage spacetech startups. Scheduled to be launched on August 3 in partnership with T-Hub, the programme will provide selected startups with an initial investment of $500,000 along with access to follow-on funding, mentorship from industry veterans and global market opportunities.

Beacon aims to bridge the gap between breakthrough space technologies and institutional capital by combining funding with technical guidance and market validation. T-Hub will support participating startups through its innovation ecosystem. The initiative comes as India's private space sector witnesses growing investment and commercial opportunities following sector reforms.

Shiv Nadar AIC launches startup-investor platform

The Shiv Nadar Atal Incubation Centre, in partnership with StartinUP, has launched The Capital Connect, a startup-investor engagement platform aimed at improving access to funding and strategic partnerships. The inaugural event, held at HCL Group's Noida office, brought together over 50 startups, venture capital firms, alternative investment funds, corporates, government officials, and ecosystem leaders.

A key highlight was the Venture Connect segment, where 20 selected startups held one-on-one meetings with interested investors to discuss funding and business expansion. The organisers said the initiative will become a sustained platform to strengthen investment readiness, deepen founder-investor engagement, and accelerate the growth of technology-driven startups.

Amgen launches Scholars Programme in India

Amgen has launched the first Amgen Scholars Programme in India at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad), supported through a two-year commitment until summer 2027. The inaugural cohort comprises 10 undergraduate students from India, Vietnam, Qatar and Dubai, who will undertake a two-month residential research programme focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning, drug discovery, genomics and healthcare.

Participants will work alongside IIIT Hyderabad faculty, attend seminars and networking sessions, and present their research through scientific posters. They will also participate in the regional Amgen Scholars Symposium in Tokyo. The programme aims to encourage scientific research and inspire future innovators while strengthening international collaboration in advanced sciences.

Hyperlocal discovery platform DashLoc marks four years, expands AI offerings

AI-powered hyperlocal discovery platform DashLoc has completed four years of operations, evolving from a bootstrapped startup into a global SaaS company serving businesses across 12 countries. The company currently works with over 250 brands and plans to expand its customer base to more than 400 brands as it strengthens its international presence.

DashLoc has also expanded its product portfolio with enterprise solutions including DashVoice for AI-driven customer interactions, DashDesk for automated customer support and DashORM for online reputation management.

The company said eight additional AI-powered products are under development as it continues to help businesses improve digital discoverability, customer engagement, and operational efficiency across multiple locations.

ValuePitch expands AI research partnership with SMVIT

ValuePitch has strengthened its partnership with Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology (SMVIT) by establishing the Centre for Advanced AI Innovation & Research to bridge the gap between academia and industry. The centre will focus on technologies including generative AI, agentic AI, computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, decision intelligence, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity.

The collaboration builds on a relationship that began in 2018 and has already enabled internships for around 30-40 students while benefiting nearly 1,200 students through hackathons and innovation initiatives. The initiative aims to equip students with practical industry experience and enhance their employment opportunities in emerging AI technologies.

FinStackk targets 1,000 business customers

Accounting and tax compliance automation platform FinStackk has announced plans to support 1,000 businesses by the end of the current financial year after crossing the milestone of serving more than 500 companies. The platform helps Indian startups and businesses expanding into the United States manage incorporation, accounting, taxation, payroll, compliance and legal requirements through an integrated technology platform.

To strengthen its offerings, the company is investing in AI-powered products including Fin-Comply, Practice Management Solution, Sales Tax Platform and Fin-Stock, a cap table management solution. FinStackk said the new products will simplify compliance, automate financial workflows and improve operational visibility for growing businesses operating across international markets.

GlobalLogic recognised by Everest Group and ISG

GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group company, has been recognised as a Leader and Star Performer by Everest Group while also retaining leadership across all categories in the ISG Provider Lens Digital Engineering Services study. Everest Group recognised the company in its 2026 Software Product Engineering Services PEAK Matrix for strong growth, expanding client base and improved market capabilities.

GlobalLogic also maintained its leadership position across all evaluated categories in ISG's Digital Engineering Services study for the US market, including augmented design and R&D services, intelligent operations, connected experiences, and integrated platform and application services. The company said the recognition reflects its continued focus on AI-first digital engineering and scalable innovation.

VECROS launches AI autonomy platform for drones

Deeptech startup VECROS has commercially launched Jetcore, an India-designed AI autonomy compute platform for drones and robotic systems operating in GPS-denied environments. The platform combines AI computing, real-time flight control, multi-sensor connectivity, embedded firmware and the company's proprietary Jetpix autonomy software into a single integrated system.

Jetcore enables advanced onboard AI capabilities including obstacle avoidance, visual-inertial odometry, SLAM, 3D mapping and autonomous mission execution without continuous cloud connectivity. Following more than 5,000 autonomous flight hours and early commercial validation, VECROS is making the platform available to drone and robotics manufacturers across defence, industrial inspection, warehousing, mining, utilities, agriculture, public safety and infrastructure monitoring sectors.

NTT DATA launches ADAPTIS payment solutions brand

NTT DATA Payment Services India has launched ADAPTIS, a unified brand bringing together its payment acceptance, merchant services and commerce solutions under one platform. Designed for neighbourhood merchants, MSMEs and large enterprises, ADAPTIS enables businesses to accept digital payments, manage commerce operations and deliver seamless customer experiences across online and offline channels.

The platform offers four service categories in India—ADAPTIS In-Store, e-Commerce, Enterprise and Value-Added Services. NTT DATA said the integrated platform will simplify payment management while improving operational efficiency and customer engagement. The company currently serves millions of merchants and processes over 100 million transactions annually through its PCI-DSS compliant payment infrastructure.

Snowflake unveils Cortex AI Gateway

Snowflake has introduced Cortex AI Gateway along with new AI security capabilities aimed at enabling secure deployment of enterprise AI agents. The platform provides organisations with centralised governance, visibility and cost control across both first-party and third-party AI agents. Cortex AI Gateway allows enterprises to manage access to AI models, applications, tools and enterprise systems while monitoring agent activity and optimising AI consumption costs.

Supporting more than 100 Model Context Protocol servers, the gateway also intelligently routes requests to enterprise-approved AI models based on quality, cost and performance. Snowflake said the offering addresses growing governance and security challenges as enterprises increasingly adopt agentic AI across business operations.

IndieSemiC partners Semtech for LoRa-enabled chip platform

Fabless semiconductor startup IndieSemiC has partnered with Semtech Corporation to integrate LoRa wireless technology into its next-generation Sabarmati-1 System-in-Package platform. The collaboration aims to develop what the companies describe as the world's first 64-bit LoRa-enabled System-in-Package based on the VEGA RISC-V architecture.

The platform will combine 64-bit processing with ultra-low-power, long-range wireless connectivity to support applications including smart cities, industrial automation, smart metering, agriculture, logistics, healthcare and asset tracking. By integrating Semtech's globally adopted LoRa technology with indigenous chip design capabilities, the partnership seeks to strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem and address the growing demand for intelligent, connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices.