Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (September 18, 2026)

From MoroMaa’s early stage fundraise to Neeman’s nationwide retail push, and from Raptee.HV’s Bengaluru deliveries to a Rs 1,000 crore fund by Asiana and JC Capital, YourStory brings you today's headlines and the latest news across sectors.

Funding news

MoroMaa raises Rs 1.5 Cr from AJ VC

MoroMaa, a beauty, lifestyle and body care brand founded by Soundous Moufakir, has raised Rs 1.5 crore from Aviral Bhatnagar of AJ VC for a 9 percent equity stake. The early stage funding comes within months of the company’s June 27, 2026 launch. The company said it will use the capital to develop products, strengthen distribution and expand reach.

MoroMaa said it is building an M Beauty, or Moroccan beauty, category in India using ingredients sourced from Morocco. The company added that two products sold out in its first two months. Moufakir, who holds an MBA in Finance, is the solo founder and CEO and is building the brand’s presence in India.

Other news

Neeman's targets Rs 1,000 Cr and 500 stores

Neeman’s said it is targeting a Rs 1,000 crore business over the next three years and plans to expand its offline footprint to 500 stores across India. The company said it crossed Rs 185 crore in revenue last year and is on course to reach Rs 350 crore by March 2027.

According to the company, offline retail will be a key pillar as it scales from a digital first brand. Neeman’s said it will focus on product, supply chain, technology and retail execution to support growth. The footwear company is aiming to deepen market presence and take its products closer to customers.

Actor Nikita Dutta invests in lab grown diamond brand Zinara

Actor Nikita Dutta has made a strategic investment in Zinara, a lab grown diamond jewellery brand. The move follows six months of engagement with founders and entrepreneurs, the actor said, adding that she is exploring businesses that combine strong products with an understanding of today’s consumer.

“This is my first investment in the consumer space,” said Nikita Dutta, actor. Zinara Co founder and CEO Harshit Abrol said Dutta will bring fashion and cultural insight as a strategic investor. The brand focuses on contemporary designs using lab grown diamonds.

Raptee.HV begins Bengaluru deliveries, sets up HSR service centre

Raptee.HV has begun customer deliveries of its electric motorcycles in Bengaluru following the opening of its first showroom in the city. The company said it is targeting deliveries of more than 100 motorcycles by November across Chennai and Bengaluru and is working to reduce waiting periods.

To support owners, Raptee.HV has set up a service centre in HSR Layout that operates Monday to Saturday. The Chennai based company describes itself as a full stack electric motorcycle maker and said its motorcycles are compatible with the CCS2 public charging standard and built on its HV TEC platform.

Physioplus Healthcare raises seed investment from HBF India

Digital-first physiotherapy platform Physioplus Healthcare has raised a seed investment from HBF India Limited as it seeks to transform physiotherapy from a largely session-driven service into a data-backed and measurable healthcare intervention. Its platform combines digital practice management, patient assessment, clinical documentation, technology-enabled monitoring and physiotherapy discovery. The company said the strategic association with HBF India will help strengthen its technology platform, expand its network and accelerate its reach across India. The investment comes as the company works to build its presence in India’s digital healthcare ecosystem and develop technology-enabled solutions for physiotherapy providers and patients.

Other news

OTPless elevates co-founders to CEO and COO roles

Identity and access management startup OTPless has elevated its co-founders Satyam Nathani and Tanmay Sagar as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, respectively, as the Bengaluru-based company enters its next phase of growth. Nathani and Sagar co-founded OTPless in 2023 and have since scaled the platform to more than 300 million users and Rs 36 crore in annualised revenue. The company has recorded 2.5x growth over the previous year and has remained profitable for the past two quarters.

EVERQ launches AI-powered skin-health platform

Puresta Lifestyle Private Limited has launched EVERQ, an AI-powered skin-health platform combining skin assessment, dermatologist consultations, personalised treatment and ongoing skincare. Built around the philosophy “Diagnose First. Then Treat.”, EVERQ begins with an AI-led skin assessment designed to identify visible skin concerns and create an initial skin profile. Consumers can then consult a dermatologist, where required, for evaluation and personalised treatment recommendations. The platform connects diagnosis, treatment, product delivery, follow-ups and maintenance skincare in a continuous journey. At the centre is AI Care Expert, a digital care companion designed to help users understand and follow their skincare regimen, monitor progress and maintain continuity across interactions. EVERQ aims to provide consumers with an integrated alternative to product-led or trial-and-error approaches to skincare.

SAP Labs India, GSV expand education alliance

SAP Labs India and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) are strengthening their education alliance through a joint initiative to integrate SAP Learning into GSV’s curriculum for the 2026-27 academic year. The programme will provide students across BTech and MBA programmes with SAP Learning content and hands-on experiences through core and elective courses. The initiative maps 17 SAP Learning journeys covering enterprise and supply-chain technology domains, including SAP Business AI, SAP Build, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business Data Cloud and Digital Manufacturing. Enrolled students will receive access to the SAP Learning Hub Student Edition and can earn Digital Badges linked to their SAP Universal ID. Students will also receive two attempts at official SAP Certification exams. GSV faculty members have been onboarded to the SAP Learning Lecturer Zone to support classroom learning and mentorship.

Wipro launches STO360 with Aramco and SAP

Wipro Limited has launched Wipro STO360, a solution developed in collaboration with Aramco and SAP to help asset-intensive organisations modernise and manage Shutdown, Turnaround and Outage (STO) activities. Built on SAP’s Business Technology Platform, the solution combines Wipro’s domain expertise with Aramco’s operational and business innovation capabilities. STO360 is designed for industries including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, manufacturing and utilities. The end-to-end solution provides real-time visibility into critical activities, supports collaboration across teams and enables informed decision-making throughout the STO lifecycle. Its cloud-native architecture is designed to improve asset reliability, operational efficiency and compliance while reducing risk across maintenance programmes. Wipro has partnered with Aramco for more than two decades across IT, engineering and digital transformation, including initiatives aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Samsung to train 2,000 youth in AI skills in Karnataka

Samsung India has launched Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) 2026 in Karnataka to train 2,000 youth in industry-relevant Artificial Intelligence skills. The programme has been launched in partnership with Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, and supports Karnataka’s focus on developing an AI-native ecosystem by expanding access to practical AI education. Samsung said the initiative will help strengthen the state’s technology talent pool and prepare young people for emerging technology careers. SIC, now in its fourth year in India, provides youth aged 18-25 with hands-on training and opportunities to apply their learning to practical challenges. Samsung said the programme has already trained more than 3,000 people in Karnataka. SIC 2026 forms part of the company’s broader commitment to train 20,000 youth across 10 states in India.

Cognizant, Axis Bank go live with AMS 2.0

Cognizant and Axis Bank have announced the successful implementation and go-live of Cognizant’s Application Management Services under Axis Bank’s AMS 2.0 initiative. The jointly driven programme is designed to strengthen delivery governance, improve operational consistency and accelerate automation across application support services. Built around automation-led practices, the model aims to improve service reliability and cost efficiency while supporting productivity, scalability and standardised processes. Governance, compliance and operational discipline are key elements of the programme. Under a five-year agreement, Cognizant is working with Axis Bank across several business verticals. These include Branch and Operations, Cards, Corporate Banking and Treasury, Core Platforms and Payments, Finance and Accounting, Retail and Wholesale Banking, and Data Platforms and Integration. The initiative is intended to support application management across the bank’s technology and business operations.

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