Startup news and updates: daily roundup (September 22, 2026)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Indian women’s cricket team brought in the first gold medal for the country at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 as companies line up to go public, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.
Featured news
Deoria MP Shashank Mani Tripathi on the 2026 NEET crisis, India's growth story and entrepreneurship
A paper leak, a resignation and a rocket launch, how one MP connects examinations, growth and enterprise into a single argument.
Meet the solar didis turning sunlight into a source of livelihood in rural Bihar
In Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, solar didis use clean energy to bring water to farms, build incomes, and gain financial independence.
Today’s key developments
Women's cricket team gives India first gold of 2026 Asian Games
The Indian women's cricket team reasserted its continental dominance by clinching a second successive gold medal at the Asian Games, thrashing familiar foes Sri Lanka by 147 runs on Tuesday. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side's gold was India's first of the ongoing edition and was shaped by a brilliant batting performance that left Sri Lanka chasing a record target of 217.
Snapdeal parent firm AceVector's IPO to open on September 25
AceVector plans to raise Rs 420 crore through the IPO and has priced its shares in the range of Rs 30-32.
Spinny files confidential IPO papers, eyes upto Rs 3,000 Cr
In August, Spinny’s parent company Valuedrive Technologies converted from a private limited company into a public limited company.
Captain Fresh revenue crosses Rs 5,000 Cr in FY26; co targets Rs 10,000 Cr in FY27
The packaged seafood company saw adjusted EBITDA rise by 173% in FY26 as it remained net profit positive for the second consecutive year.
Funding news
Definedge raises Rs 22 crore in Pre-Series A round
Pune-based fintech and brokerage firm Definedge Securities Broking has raised Rs 22 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round, taking its total capital raised to Rs 30 crore. The round saw participation from existing investors Nitin Agarwal and D Prasad, along with new investors Anant Jain and Sachin Kasera. The company plans to deploy the funds towards infrastructure, low-latency execution, product development, marketing and distribution, and AI and automation capabilities.
Definedge is targeting Rs 5,000 crore in assets under management through its Momentify platform over the next 24 months, having already crossed ₹1,000 crore. It will also expand Algostra, its no-code retail algorithmic trading platform, and scale its investor education ecosystem, Gurukul. The company said its overall user base has grown 125% in 14 months.
Demoverse raises $600K led by Lumikai
AI-powered co-creation platform Demoverse has raised $600,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Lumikai, which invested $500,000 through its Pixels programme. The round also saw participation from UAE-based investor-operator Marlan and angel investors. Demoverse enables consumer brands to involve customers in product creation before production begins. Brands post concepts and design directions, while consumers use AI to reshape and refine them. The community then evaluates and votes on designs, generating product direction and demand signals before manufacturing commitments.
Contributors whose ideas influence winning products can earn royalties when those products are commercialised. The company is initially focusing on fashion and plans to expand into beauty, consumer packaged goods and other categories. Founded by Akshay Mehta, Demoverse has already conducted trials with Indian consumer brands and plans to convert these partnerships into paid campaigns.
YNOS receives Rs 2.12 Cr investment from Gyan Circle Ventures
YNOS, a technology platform providing information and fundraising analytics for India’s startup ecosystem, has received an investment of Rs 2.12 crore from Category-I venture capital fund Gyan Circle Ventures. The funding will support YNOS in expanding its technology capabilities and widening its reach among entrepreneurs and investors. The platform aggregates information on startups, founders, incubators, angel investors, venture capital firms, corporates, government agencies and banks. It provides tools for valuation estimation, investor identification, competition analysis and ecosystem mapping.
As of September 2026, YNOS covers more than 3.42 lakh startups, 5.92 lakh founders, 14,667 angel investors, 6,310 VCs, 1,458 incubators, 137 government schemes and 1,096 banks and financial institutions. More than 875 startups have used YNOS for fundraising, collectively raising around ₹4,000 crore.
TimBuckDo raises bridge round ahead of Series A
Bengaluru-based on-demand convenience platform TimBuckDo has raised a bridge round backed by Srinath Setty, Co-founder and CEO of Hosachiguru, through family office Trasa Ventures, and Adarsh Narahari, Founder and Managing Director of Primus Senior Living. The company has not disclosed the size or valuation of the round. The funding will support technology development, expansion of its verified student workforce, deeper presence in existing markets and expansion of service categories ahead of a planned Series A round.
TimBuckDo operates a network of educated college students, known as “Doers”, who provide flexible, on-demand services including elder companionship, pet care, child support, errands and assistance to home businesses. The company aims to build an organised marketplace connecting verified student talent with households and businesses while enabling students to earn flexibly alongside their education.
Other news
Delvitech to invest up to $30M in Bengaluru facility
Swiss AI-native Automated Optical Inspection company Delvitech has announced plans to establish a manufacturing and technology facility in Bengaluru with an initial investment of $10 million and an overall investment of $25-30 million. The 65,000-square-foot facility is expected to become operational in the first quarter of calendar 2027 and could create 500-800 jobs over the next five years.
The plant will integrate precision machining, metrology and equipment integration, alongside mechanical, electrical, optical, software and control systems. It will also support engineering and R&D activities, product demonstrations and customer trials. Delvitech said the investment reflects its long-term commitment to India’s electronics manufacturing sector. The company showcased its Horus, Aton and Horus Dual Lane inspection solutions at productronica India 2026 in Bengaluru, highlighting AI-driven approaches to electronics quality inspection and manufacturing efficiency.
Simplilearn partners with Karmayogi Bharat for AI skilling
Digital skills training company Simplilearn has partnered with Karmayogi Bharat under the Government of India’s Mission Karmayogi to provide AI and digital upskilling programmes for public sector professionals. The programmes will be hosted on the iGOT Karmayogi platform and cover foundational and advanced topics including artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Generative AI and project management.
The partnership is designed to provide government officials with flexible, self-paced learning that can be integrated into their daily workflows. Karmayogi Bharat said the initiative will help strengthen capabilities across roles and support digitally enabled public administration. Simplilearn said its AI-first learning architecture and SkillUp platform will support continuous learning at scale. The company operates globally across 150-plus countries and offers more than 1,500 live classes each month, reaching over 15 million learners.
Integra Robotics secures Indian patent for remote robotic manipulation
Integra Robotics, a unit of Social Hardware International, has secured Indian Patent No. 597459 for a system enabling remote manipulation of robotic platforms through a virtual reality interface. The patented technology allows human operators to control robots remotely using VR, camera-based depth information and gesture gloves that provide electronic feedback. The architecture integrates VR headsets, motion sensors, infrared gesture gloves, processing modules, network routers and robotic manipulators. Human movements are translated into robotic commands using Bio-Inverse Kinematics.
The technology is designed for applications where direct human intervention may be difficult or hazardous, including industrial operations, inspection, defence and disaster response. Integra Robotics has also filed two additional patent applications covering platform-independent robotic manipulation and operator-intent transformation. The company said the technology strengthens its intellectual property portfolio in advanced robotics and immersive teleoperation.
Masters’ Union Demo Day sees Rs 60 Cr in funding commitments
Masters’ Union Ventures held its first Demo Day in Bengaluru, with 25 student-led startups securing soft-funding commitments of nearly Rs 60 crore within an hour of their pitches. The event brought together more than 65 venture capital firms and angel investors, with participating startups spanning AI, climate and space technology, biotechnology, consumer businesses and advanced manufacturing.
Sanyark, Saubha Aerial Systems and CarbonM were among the startups receiving significant investor interest. The event also featured an AI hackathon conducted with Qualcomm Developer and the launch of a guidebook titled ‘Don’t Start a Stupid Startup’. About 60% of participating startups were built through Masters’ Union’s Venture Initiation Programme. The programme and related initiatives have supported more than 80 student startups, while 50 VIP-incubated ventures have collectively raised over ₹320 crore.
Matters.AI and Cockroach Labs integrate for data security
Bengaluru-based Matters.AI and New York-based Cockroach Labs have announced an integration that identifies personal and regulated data within CockroachDB deployments at the column level and maps it to users, roles and privileges with access. The solution scans databases, tables and columns using 38 personally identifiable information detectors covering eight regulatory jurisdictions, along with payment card data, protected health information and secrets stored in free-text fields.
The system produces a live access map showing which accounts can access regulated data and where data may be stored in inappropriate jurisdictions. Classification and privilege analysis take place inside customers’ infrastructure, while raw records and sampled values are not transmitted. The companies said the integration can support compliance with frameworks including India’s DPDP Act, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
Stratbeans expands AI-led workforce learning solutions
AI-led enterprise learning company Stratbeans is helping manufacturing organisations improve workforce skills, training coverage and employee performance through digital learning and AI-powered knowledge solutions. Its Ask AI platform enables employees to obtain answers to work-related questions using approved standard operating procedures, policies, manuals and training documents. The company combines digital learning, AI-powered assessments, multilingual learning and intelligent knowledge support. Stratbeans said training coverage at one organisation increased from 20% to 85%, while platform usage reached 80% and the average assessment pass rate stood at 88%.
Its solutions also include Proctored Evaluation for assessments and SIM Studio, which allows employees to practise workplace scenarios through roleplay and receive AI-generated feedback. The company said Ask AI can also help managers identify frequently searched topics and areas where additional training or documentation may be required.
Fynd brings virtual eyewear try-on to Vision Express India
AI-native retail technology company Fynd has partnered with Vision Express India to introduce immersive eyewear shopping through its GlamAR 3D virtual try-on and augmented reality solution. Integrated into the Vision Express website, the technology allows customers to virtually try different eyewear styles. Fynd converted more than 1,000 existing two-dimensional eyewear product assets into production-ready 3D models and brought them live for virtual try-on.
Since launch, the experience has recorded more than 3,900 virtual try-on interactions. Black Square Frames for Men emerged as the most tried-on frame, with more than 400 interactions, while the top 11 frames accounted for nearly 34% of total try-on activity. The next phase will focus on measuring conversions and optimising the online shopping experience using customer try-on behaviour to inform eyewear merchandising.
TalentGum receives STEM.org accreditation and recognition
Online extracurricular learning platform TalentGum has received the STEM.org Accredited Educational Experience Trustmark from STEM.org Educational Research. The company has also been named among the Top 5% of “Best in STEM” brands in a separate recognition. TalentGum said the accreditation provides independent validation of its learning proposition as it expands its extracurricular and skill-based programmes for children. The STEM.org accreditation evaluates educational experiences against a framework focused on interdisciplinary learning and real-world application.
TalentGum offers live courses covering areas including coding, artificial intelligence and machine learning, chess, arts, dance and public speaking. The platform is used by parents across more than 70 countries. The company said the recognition reinforces its focus on helping children develop transferable skills, critical thinking, communication and practical problem-solving through interactive learning experiences.
Atom Risk Advisory secures global insurance broking licence
Atom Risk Advisory, an Indian insurance intermediary operating since 2019, has announced that its group entity has secured a global insurance broking licence. The licence will enable the company to enter international insurance markets and offer cross-border insurance solutions to clients. Atom said its global offering will cover areas including Universal Life Insurance, Private Placement Life Insurance, Keyman Insurance and bespoke legacy solutions. The company plans to strengthen partnerships with international insurers and reinsurers, expand specialist teams and invest in technology-driven risk advisory capabilities.
The move comes as Indian enterprises and family offices expand their international footprint and face increasingly complex risk, wealth and succession planning requirements. Atom Risk Advisory specialises in life and health insurance, family protection, corporate insurance, succession planning and legacy solutions. It is part of Atom Financial Services Group, which also has capabilities in wealth management, investment banking and estate planning.
MyBranch expands South India workspace network
Flexible workspace and managed office provider MyBranch has expanded its South India presence to a 50,000-square-foot footprint across 16 centres in 14 cities spanning Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
Its network covers Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Guntur, Hanamkonda, Hubballi, Hyderabad, Madurai, Mangaluru, Rajahmundry, Salem, Tirupati, Vellore, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, with another large office planned in Chennai. According to JLL data cited by the company, Bengaluru and Hyderabad together accounted for 49.7% of India’s net office absorption in H1 2026, while flexible workspace represented 27% of gross office leasing. MyBranch said its network is designed to support enterprises, MNCs, GCCs, startups and growing businesses establishing regional offices or satellite teams. Founded in 2016, the company now has more than 80 locations across 75-plus cities.
Lxme partners with Shiprocket to expand UPI reach
Financial platform Lxme has partnered with Shiprocket to expand the reach of Lxme UPI across India’s direct-to-consumer commerce ecosystem. The integration is already live across Shiprocket’s Fastrr merchant ecosystem, allowing merchants to offer Lxme UPI without additional integrations. Eligible transactions can also earn customers Digital Gold, linking everyday payments with wealth-building. The partnership is expected to expand Lxme UPI’s availability across hundreds of merchant websites spanning categories such as beauty, grocery and D2C commerce.
Lxme said the initiative supports its strategy of encouraging women to participate in wealth creation through everyday financial transactions. The partnership is non-exclusive, allowing Lxme to continue expanding its merchant network. Shiprocket said the collaboration aims to add greater value to the checkout experience for consumers and D2C brands.
Olyv appoints Ravi Sharma as Chief Financial Officer
Digital lending platform Olyv has appointed Ravi Sharma as its Chief Financial Officer as the company enters its next phase of growth. Sharma brings more than 17 years of experience across financial services and has previously served as CFO at Finova Capital. During his tenure at Finova, he helped lead financial initiatives, close five equity funding rounds and onboard more than 50 lending partners. At Olyv, Sharma will oversee financial strategy, capital planning, risk governance and long-term value creation as the company expands its portfolio of financial products and services.
HCLTech selected by M Group for IT transformation
HCLTech has been selected by UK and Ireland-based essential infrastructure services provider M Group to modernise and transform its IT operations across more than 200 locations. Under the engagement, HCLTech will deploy AI-led managed services covering infrastructure and end-user operations, using its AI Force service transformation platform. The programme will seek to streamline M Group’s IT environment, improve resilience and establish a scalable digital foundation.
The transformation will support M Group’s businesses across water, energy, technology and communications, transport, defence, industrial and public sectors. M Group said the partnership will help strengthen IT reliability and scalability while supporting innovation and sustainable growth. HCLTech said its experience in complex, multi-site environments would support M Group’s technology transformation. HCLTech has more than 223,000 employees across 60 countries, with revenues of $14.8 billion for the 12 months ended June 2026.
Zurich Kotak launches digital insurance proposition for SMEs
Zurich Kotak General Insurance has launched a digital-first insurance proposition aimed at simplifying business protection for small and medium enterprises. Powered by Zurich’s technology platform, Zurich Edge, the solution brings quotation, purchasing, servicing, referrals and underwriting together through a single interface.
Its Business Secure Plus proposition offers bundled protection across areas including fire and special perils, burglary, electronic equipment, fidelity guarantee, directors and officers liability, employee compensation, money and machinery breakdown. Zurich Kotak said the platform enables businesses to obtain customised coverage and premiums based on their risk profiles, with policy issuance possible within minutes. The insurer said SMEs’ contribution to India’s GDP and their employment role underline the need for easier access to insurance. Zurich Kotak is a 70:30 joint venture between Zurich Insurance Group and Kotak Mahindra Bank.
Ubalance Naturals unveils ‘The Forest Within’ brand identity
Ayurvedic wellness company Ubalance Naturals has introduced a new brand identity, ‘The Forest Within’, across its portfolio of nine products and 18 SKUs. The company also announced an ambition to reach ₹100 crore in revenue by FY30. The new identity reflects the company’s philosophy that wellbeing is shaped by interconnected bodily systems rather than isolated functions. Ubalance Naturals said it sees opportunities in India’s growing Ayurvedic wellness market, with industry estimates cited by the company placing the market at around $11.9 billion in 2025 and projecting it to reach $43.2 billion by 2034. The company combines Ayurvedic principles with contemporary scientific understanding and offers formulations addressing areas including energy, stress response, digestive and liver wellness, metabolic health, respiratory wellness and mobility. The new identity will extend across packaging, digital platforms, e-commerce and retail touchpoints.
QNu Labs launches QShield 2.0 for quantum security assessment
Quantum security company QNu Labs has launched QShield 2.0, the platform powering its National Cryptographic Assessment & Assurance Framework, at its 10th anniversary event in Bengaluru. The framework is designed to help organisations identify and assess their cryptographic assets as they prepare for the transition to post-quantum security. QNu Labs said the platform operates through three processes: Discover, Assess and Assure. QShield 2.0 includes modules covering quantum entropy, quantum-readiness risk assessment, quantum PKI, quantum vault and AI security.
The launch comes after a Department of Science and Technology task force report in February 2026 recommended that critical infrastructure sectors begin formal post-quantum cryptography implementation by 2027. The company said early deployment accounts include banks and security depositories. QNu Labs has been incubated at IIT Madras Research Park and has received support from India’s National Quantum Mission.
Apurva.ai expands LENS into cross-organisational knowledge platform
Apurva.ai has announced a new platform model for Apurva LENS, expanding it from an organisation-level knowledge tool into a platform designed to support learning and collaboration across the wider development ecosystem. The AI-enabled platform helps funders, governments, NGOs and change leaders connect research, evaluations, programme experience and community voices. Apurva.ai said LENS has helped surface more than half a million voices and perspectives from the Global South. Under the new model, organisations can share selected knowledge while retaining control over private information.
The platform has been used by organisations including SELCO Foundation and Resilience Action Network Africa to organise and analyse institutional knowledge, community dialogues and research. In Brazil, Museu da Pessoa has used LENS to explore patterns across an archive of life stories. The platform aims to connect fragmented knowledge while retaining local context and human judgement.
Privacy by Design 2026 brings startups and investors together in Bengaluru
DPDP Zone’s Privacy by Design 2026 summit brought together 350 attendees, including 250 founders and 35 investors and fund representatives, in Bengaluru. The event focused on privacy, cybersecurity, responsible AI and digital trust as businesses prepare for India’s Digital Personal Data Protection framework. A separate invite-only Demo Session enabled 15 startups to pitch directly to investors. Participating funds included Bessemer Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital, Blume Ventures, Chiratae Ventures, Inflection Point Ventures, Campus Fund and Venture Catalysts. The programme featured technical sessions and panel discussions covering privacy by design, responsible AI, cybersecurity, founder trust and governance in fundraising. Organisers said the event was held eight weeks before provisions governing Consent Managers under the DPDP Rules were scheduled to take effect on November 13, 2026. Substantive provisions of the Act are scheduled for enforcement from May 13, 2027.
KEDGE launches 18-month MBA programme in India
European business school KEDGE has announced the launch of its MBA programme in India in association with keeplearning. The 18-month programme will combine face-to-face teaching, asynchronous learning and a 14-day in-person immersion, allowing working professionals to pursue the qualification without leaving their careers. Participants will receive an MBA credential directly from KEDGE and access to its alumni network of more than 90,000 graduates. The curriculum covers strategy, finance, marketing, operations, leadership, innovation, international management and sustainable enterprise. It also includes India-focused modules on Generative AI for business operations and responsible AI governance.
The programme features simulations, masterclasses, leadership workshops, coaching and a capstone project based on a live business challenge. The inaugural cohort will be limited, with selection involving an academic assessment, mini-case presentation and interview.
Globe Moving appoints Smartya Majumder as Country Head – Sales
Workforce and workplace mobility company Globe Moving has appointed Smartya Majumder as Country Head – Sales. He brings more than 19 years of experience across logistics and telecom, with previous leadership roles at TNT India, Samsung Electronics, Vivo Mobile India, DHL–Blue Dart Express and DTDC. Before joining Globe Moving, Majumder served as Vice President and National Sales and Marketing Head at Trackon. In his new role, he will oversee sales strategy, revenue growth, business development and customer-focused mobility solutions.
(The copy will be updated with the latest news)