Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (January 20, 2025)

From how AI is offering hope to families frantically searching for their missing loved ones to how Bengaluru-based Dacio.ai is making Indian roads safer, YourStory brings today’s headlines that highlight significant developments across industries.

Here’s a roundup of the key stories today.

Featured news

How AI is bringing hope to families looking for missing children

When a child goes missing, their parents' world stops turning. In Delhi's Anand Vihar neighbourhood, a family lived through this horror when 12-year-old Aditya* didn't return home one evening last year. The boy, who was on the autism spectrum, had been playing outside his house—a routine activity that turned into every parent's worst nightmare. For 40 days, Aditya's family lived in a state of constant uncertainty. 

Their days were filled with putting up posters, filing police complaints, and searching every possible location for any sign of their child. “For days we knew nothing. It was just a time of panic and constant fear,” Aditya’s brother tells YourStory. Later, the family received a call from Delhi Police, informing them that the child had been found. 

The team got a lucky break; a colleague had put him in an orphanage and an official clicked his picture and uploaded it to Khoji.in—a centralised portal for missing persons and unidentified individuals. The portal’s intelligent face recognition algorithm searched its database of thousands of pictures, including one uploaded by Aditya’s family, and found a match. 

Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), Aditya was reunited with his family.

Click to read more. 

Latest news

One97 Communications swings to Rs 208.5 Cr loss in Q3

One97 Communications, Paytm’s parent company, posted a Rs 208.5 crore net loss in the third quarter of FY25, marking a reversal from the profit of Rs 930 crore made in the previous quarter (Q2). 

However, the net loss decreased from the Rs 221.7 crore loss incurred in the third quarter of FY24. The fintech company reported a 35.87% year-on-year decline in revenue from operations for the third quarter of FY25, at Rs 1,827.8 crore, from Rs 2,850.5 crore in the same period last year. 

Sequentially, revenue grew 10.14% from Rs 1,659.5 crore in Q2 FY24, led by a rise in gross merchandise value (GMV) during the festive season and higher subscription revenues.

Click to read more.

Zomato profits dragged down 57% amid ‘broad-based demand slowdown’

Food aggregator Zomato saw its profits in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2025 plunge by over half compared to the same quarter of the previous fiscal, amid what it termed was a "demand slowdown".

Zomato on Monday reported a profit of Rs 59 crore for the third quarter (Q3) of the fiscal year 2025, a decline of 57.24% compared to Rs 138 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year.

Zomato's revenue from operations was up 64.35% to Rs 5,405 crore in the third quarter of the financial year 2024-25, against Rs 3,288 crore in the same quarter of the precious year, according to a BSE filing. Meanwhile, profit after tax (PAT) was down by 66.47% compared to Rs 176 crore reported in Q2 FY25 on a sequential basis.

Click to read more.

Funding news

Burma Burma raises Rs 25.46 Cr to expand footprint, eyes IPO by 2027

Burma Burma, a pan-India Burmese restaurant brand under Hunger Pangs Pvt Ltd, has raised Rs 25.46 crore ($3 million) in its latest equity funding round.

The round was led by Negen Capital, doubling down on its previous investment, with participation from NV Alpha Fund Management and a group of HNIs.

With the fresh capital, the company is set to double its restaurant footprint in 15 months, with a goal of 24 locations by FY26. Currently, it operates 12 locations across various cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.

Krvvy bags Rs 6.1 Cr in funding round co-led by Titan Capital and All In Capital

D2C lingerie brand Krvvy has raised Rs 6.1 crore in a pre-seed funding round co-led by Titan Capitaland All In Capital. The round also saw participation from angel investors including Nikita Gupta (Co-founder, Housepital), Emmanuel Suraj (CEO, DefinEquity), Anuj Jain (VP, Investwell), and Anubhav Jain (Head of Credit, Metalbook).

Founded in May 2024 by engineering graduates Yash Goyal and Anant Bhardwaj, Krvvy (pronounced 'curvy') offers new-age innerwear and shapewear for women, focused on functionality and comfort.

Krvvy product portfolio features bras, underwear, and shapewear.

The funds raised will be used to expand the brand’s online and offline presence nationwide, primarily serving Indian women. Currently, Krvvy sells its products through its website and popular ecommerce marketplaces such as Amazon and Myntra.

"This funding will primarily be allocated to research and development, allowing Krvvy to expand its product range and introduce innovative functional innerwear products to the Indian market," said Yash Goyal, Krvvy's Co-founder and CEO and a former investment banker.

Procurement platform ProcureYard raises $1.72M in seed round led by Powerhouse Ventures

ProcureYard, a Gurugram and Bengaluru-based B2B commerce platform for raw material has raised a seed round of $1.72 million led by Powerhouse Ventures. The round also saw participation from Java Capital, 2am VC, well known angels Abhishek Goyal, Co-founder, Tracxn and Rajesh Sawhney, Founder, GSF.

The capital raised will be used for product development and working capital management. ProcureYard plans to leverage its custom-built conversational AI platform, which drove success in metals, and replicate it to other raw materials. The company plans to increase its market presence with its supply chain solutions.

The company says it has reached Rs 300 crore in annualised revenue run rate and achieved profitability while experiencing a sixfold growth.

Prantae Solutions raises Rs 5 crore in seed round led by IAN Group

Prantae Solutions, a deep-tech firm specialising in diagnostic solutions, has raised Rs 5 crore in a seed funding round led by the Indian Angel Network (IAN) Group. The round also saw participation from IAN Alpha Fund and angel investors Samir Kalia, Deepank Kumar, and Nitin Zamre.

The fresh capital will further support the company’s efforts to launch advanced diagnostic solutions for kidney health and diabetes care. Known for its focus on tackling chronic health conditions like chronic kidney disease (CKD) and preeclampsia, the startup aims to build innovative solutions through continued investments in research and development.

Headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the firm leverages its strong intellectual property to deliver accurate and actionable diagnostic tools.

Office space management firm Workie bags Rs 13 crore in equity funding

Office space management startup Workie has raised Rs 13 crore in equity funding from a distinguished group of investors. The funds will support the company’s expansion plans and strengthen its market leadership. 

The funding round, advised by Swastika Investmart Ltd., was led by prominent backers, including the  Sunil Singhania Family Office, NAV Capital, Mr. Raman Roy (Co-founder of Indian Angel Network and CMD of Quatrro), Dharmendra Jain (CFO of Yash Technologies), Gaurav Singhvi (Co-founder of Wefounder Circle), Sunil Singhvi (Leading Angel Investor) and other renowned Investors. 

“At Workie, we empower businesses to thrive without the burden of traditional office leasing costs and methods. Our clients enjoy greater flexibility, cost savings and opportunities to expand, and grow up to 10x faster than conventional methods.” A winner of multiple awards and recognitions, Sawan has been a driving force behind Workie’s success. His leadership and vision continue to steer Workie towards becoming a dominant player in the office space solutions market,” said Sawan Laddha, Founder and CEO of Workie.

Other news

ETO Motors and Uber partner to support Hyderabad’s electric 3-wheeler ecosystem

Hyderabad-based EV startup ETO Motors has entered into a partnership with Uber to launch the 'Drive to Own’ scheme—to increase electric 3-wheeler penetration in Hyderabad. This initiative, aimed at assisting drivers and promoting sustainability, is a driver-centric programme that allows participants to own their electric 3-wheelers over a 36-month period.

The programme strives to offer a hassle-free ownership model, which removes the need for traditional EMIs. Drivers will also benefit from support, including free vehicle maintenance and unlimited charging throughout their ownership period, according to a statement.  

Real estate tech solutions provider Relata expands into Dubai

Relata, a real estate tech solutions provider, has expanded its operations into Dubai through a joint venture with Cognilements International and Neeraj Srivastava. As part of the expansion, Srivastava has been appointed Chairman of Relata GCC and Africa. He brings with him his regional expertise to strengthen the company’s presence in the market. 

Neeraj Srivastava, Chairman, Relata GCC and Africa, said, “Our decision to partner with Relata stems from their visionary approach to revolutionising the real estate industry. Relata's innovative platform, blending advanced technology with customer-centric solutions, stood out as a game-changer.

"Their focus on digital-first strategies and seamless integration across the customer journey aligns perfectly with the growing demand for tech-enabled real estate solutions in dynamic markets like Dubai.”

Bharti Airtel partners with Bajaj Finance 

Telecom service provider Bharti Airtel and non-banking financial company Bajaj Finance have collaborated to create a digital platform for financial services and to transform last-mile delivery. 

This partnership will combine Airtel’s customer base of 370 million, its distribution network of over 1.2 million outlets, and Bajaj Finance’s portfolio of 27 product lines, supported by 5,000+ branches and 70,000 field agents.

Initially, Airtel will offer Bajaj Finance’s retail financial products through the Airtel Thanks App, ensuring secure customer experience. It has plans to expand availability through its nationwide network of stores.

By leveraging their combined digital assets, Airtel and Bajaj Finance aim to enhance the reach and penetration of financial products and services.

The ePlane Company secures DGCA nod for certification of eVTOL aircraft

The ePlane Company, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has become the first private Indian firm to secure formal acceptance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for type certification of its eVTOL aircraft, the e200X.

The aircraft maker will work closely with DGCA on further aspects of aircraft design and operations, ensuring to uphold safety standards while advancing the scalability of electric aviation in India.

“We are honoured by the DGCA’s acceptance of our type certification application. This marks a significant step forward for Indian aviation and highlights India’s commitment to fostering innovative, sustainable air mobility solutions. Together, we are paving the way for a cleaner, safer, and more connected future,” said Prof Satya Chakravarthy, Founder of The ePlane Company.

IIT Madras admits five national athletes under its ‘Sports Excellence Admission’

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has admitted five athletes with national-level achievements under its Sports Excellence Admission (SEA) category for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The initiative offers two supernumerary seats in each undergraduate program for Indian nationals, with one seat exclusively reserved for female students.

“The sports excellence admission is an initiative of IIT Madras primarily to send the important message that young children must be encouraged to play during their childhood. I sincerely hope this reaches to all concerned,” said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras. 

The five athletes admitted under the ‘Sports Excellence Admission’ for the 2024-25 academic year are: Arohi Bhave, a volleyball player from Maharashtra, enrolled in BS (Medical Sciences and Engineering); Aryaman Mandal, a water polo and swimming athlete from West Bengal, and Nandini Jain, a squash player from Delhi, both admitted to B.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering); and Prabhav Gupta, a table tennis player from Delhi, along with Vangala Vedavachan Reddy, a lawn tennis player from Andhra Pradesh, both joining the B.Tech (Artificial Intelligence and Data Science) program.

Walmart introduces new pilots with Indian startups to enhance supply chain resilience

Omnichannel retail giant Walmart has announced strategic pilot programs with three India-based startups to enhance its U.S. supply chain and sourcing operations. The selected startups—Pune-based KBCols Sciences, Chennai-based GreenPod Labs, and Bengaluru-based Cropin—previously participated in the Walmart Growth Summit.

These pilot initiatives aim to drive large-scale innovation across Walmart’s supply chains, focusing on improving product freshness and availability, minimising product waste, and promoting sustainability.

Solutions include reducing environmental impact by developing sustainable alternatives for intermediate manufacturing products like synthetic textile dyes.

Garuda Aerospace secures major contracts in the mining sector

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospacehas secured contracts with major corporations in the mining sector, who will leverage the firm’s advanced drone technology to enhance data analysis and improve operational efficiency. Some of the corporations include Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) in Jharkhand, Odisha Mining Corporation, and various private mining firms. 

The company’s drones are assisting mining operations with capabilities such as volumetric analysis of stockpiles, precise 2D and 3D terrain mapping, and detailed project monitoring. These enable accurate measurement of extracted materials, better resource management, and enhanced safety through comprehensive aerial site views. 

“We are IPO-ready and this momentum in the mining sector further strengthens our position. We are committed to revolutionising mining operations with our advanced drone technology, providing our partners with the data and insights they need to operate more efficiently and sustainably. This is a crucial step towards our vision of making drones accessible and affordable for various industries,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace.

Yuma launches battery and intelligent DIY swapping units

Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) firm Yuma Energy has launched battery and intelligent DIY swapping units at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo’s Bharat Battery Show 2025.

“Our Next Gen Battery and Intelligent DIY Swapping Units are a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said Muthu Subramanian, MD and GM, Yuma Energy. “These advancements not only enhance the user experience but also provide OEMs with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving market,” he added.

The EV startup provides a fully integrated ecosystem that combines hardware, advanced software, and strategic network planning. It will enable OEMs to fast-track their go-to-market strategies while enhancing the ownership experience for end-users.

CtrlS Datacenters to build 600 MW Datacenter Park in Hyderabad

CtrlS Datacenters will establish a 40-acre Datacenter Park at the Chandanvelly Industrial Park near Hyderabad. The project, with a potential IT load capacity of over 600 MW, marks a significant expansion in the region, which currently has just 52 MW operational capacity.

The facility will feature multiple high-density, AI-ready interconnected datacenter buildings, offering ultra-high density racks supporting up to 135 KW per rack and immersion cooling up to 300 KW per rack, along with advanced cooling technologies.

Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Chairman, CtrlS Datacenters Ltd, said, “Telangana is rapidly emerging as an economic powerhouse in India, making it strategic for CtrlS Datacenters' expansion. Our new datacenter park will catalyse the growth of data-driven and technology businesses in the region.”

Adecco India expands Global Capability Center, targets 2500+ workforce

Adecco India, a subsidiary of Adecco Group, has announced plans to expand its Global Capability Center (GCC), increasing its workforce from 400 to over 2500 employees by the end of the year.

As part of this growth, Adecco has inaugurated its second office in Bangalore. 

“The expansion of our Global Capability Center is an exciting milestone for Adecco India,” said Sunil Chemmankotil, Country Manager, Adecco India.