Startup news and updates: daily roundup (July 8, 2026)
Nutrition plays a key role in one’s health and a venture by two sisters aim to play a key role through a natural sweetener product, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.Featured newsMeet the sisters building The Sweet Change, a natural sweetener brandSisters Manvi Agnihotri and Sheen Hitaishi are founders of The Sweet Change, a brand that offers a natural monk fruit sweetener in powder and drop variants.Read moreFunding newsElevate Education bags Rs 170 Cr from WestBridge CapitalElevate Education, a Gurugram-based higher education platform formerly known as Sunstone, has secured a Rs 170 crore Series D funding round from investment firm WestBridge Capital. The latest investment comes as the company looks to strengthen its technology platform, deepen the use of AI across its services, and expand partnerships with colleges and universities across India.Read moreAdage Automation raises Rs 230 Cr to accelerate AI-led industrial expansionAdage Automation, an industrial technology company specialising in gas analytics and environmental monitoring systems, has raised Rs 230 crore in a growth funding round led by InCred Growth Partners Fund, the private equity platform of InCred Alternative Investments.Read moreMilo Drive raises $2.4 million co-led by Caret Capital and Antler IndiaEV mobility platform Milo Drive has raised $2.4 million in a seed funding round co-led by Caret Capital and Antler India, with participation from Alteria Capital, IAN Capital, Climate Angels, Aureolis Capital and other investors. Founded by Monil Jayeshkumar Khatri and Vishal Jewrajka, the startup operates an asset-light, technology-driven EV mobility platform serving India’s ride-hailing ecosystem. It integrates vehicle access, charging intelligence, demand aggregation and operator tools to improve fleet efficiency and driver earnings. Milo Drive has already powered over one million rides and plans to strengthen its technology platform to support India’s transition to electric mobility through data-driven automation and machine learning-based ride allocation. The company aims to scale nationwide.Doodhvale Farms secures $1 million from Atomic CapitalDirect-to-consumer dairy brand Doodhvale Farms has raised an additional $1 million from existing investor Atomic Capital Fund I to accelerate expansion and strengthen its technology capabilities. The company will use the capital for market expansion, product innovation and AI-driven initiatives such as demand forecasting and route optimisation. Over the past year, Doodhvale Farms recorded around 65% revenue growth, with its D2C business contributing nearly 90% of total revenue. Value-added products now account for about 35% of sales. Operating across Delhi-NCR, Chandigarh, Ambala, Karnal and Meerut, the company also sells non-perishable products nationwide. It plans to deepen its presence in existing markets while expanding its daily essentials portfolio beyond dairy.Neothera raises Rs 9 crore led by Blume VenturesScience-led skin health startup Neothera has raised Rs 9 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by Blume Ventures, with participation from The Barbershop Fund, Consumer Collective, Veltis Capital and several angel investors. Founded by Radhika Agarwal, the company is building technology-backed solutions for chronic skin conditions by combining diagnostics, behavioural interventions, doctor-led protocols and clinical formulations. The fresh capital will be used to strengthen technology capabilities, expand research and development, grow the clinical team and scale customer acquisition across India. Neothera’s flagship eight-week acne care programme integrates AI-powered support, nutritional guidance and personalised treatment plans aimed at addressing the root causes of skin conditions rather than merely treating visible symptoms.eNLife Research raises Rs 6 crore led by Piper SericaBengaluru-based deeptech startup eNLife Research has raised Rs 6 crore in a seed funding round led by Piper Serica VC Fund. The company will use the capital to advance its blood-based biomarker platform, expand its research team and clinically validate its first diagnostic assay. Team eNLifeIncubated at the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development at the Indian Institute of Science, eNLife is developing AI-powered diagnostic solutions for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Its technology focuses on detecting multiple biomarkers through affordable blood tests capable of identifying diseases years before symptoms appear. The startup also plans to develop next-generation assays that simultaneously track dozens of biomarkers to improve early diagnosis of dementia and related neurological disorders.Avni Wellness raises Rs 4 crore led by Proteus PartnersWomen’s health startup Avni Wellness has raised Rs 4 crore in a strategic funding round led by Proteus Partners, with participation from operator-investors Puru Gupta and Sreejith Moolayil, Dr A. Velumani and Bharat ke Super Founders. The company will deploy the capital to strengthen its digital commerce operations, expand its cycle nutrition portfolio and scale its women-led micro-entrepreneur network to 10,000 entrepreneurs across India. Digital channels, including direct-to-consumer sales and ecommerce, currently contribute nearly 75% of revenue. Avni Wellness is building an integrated ecosystem spanning menstrual hygiene, cycle nutrition and awareness-led healthcare, while focusing on improving customer retention and expanding its presence across ecommerce marketplaces and quick commerce platforms.Rawbare secures fresh funding for retail expansionDirect-to-consumer eyewear brand Rawbare has raised fresh funding from Teamology Softech and Media Services, although the company did not disclose the investment amount. The startup plans to use the capital to expand its retail footprint, accelerate product development and strengthen its global presence. Founded by Affan Ahmad, Rawbare has built its brand around design-led, premium-quality eyewear and aims to scale without compromising on product quality or customer trust. The latest investment will support its long-term growth strategy while helping the company enter new markets. Rawbare said it remains focused on building a differentiated eyewear brand rather than pursuing rapid expansion, with emphasis on sustainable growth and customer loyalty.Other newsSwiggy expands Food on Train service to 180 citiesSwiggy has expanded its Food on Train service to 180 cities across India, strengthening its railway food delivery network. The company said orders through the service grew three-fold year-on-year during the first quarter of 2026. Swiggy also highlighted strong adoption of its recently launched ‘Scan your Ticket’ feature, which enables travellers to upload their railway ticket for automatic PNR detection and seamless food ordering. Multi-station orders, where passengers order meals at multiple stations during a single journey, increased by more than 300% year-on-year. Such customers spent nearly 2.2 times more than passengers placing a single order, reflecting growing demand for convenient food delivery services during long-distance train travel.UST partners Anthropic to accelerate enterprise AI adoptionTechnology solutions company UST has entered into a strategic alliance with AI research company Anthropic to help Global 1000 enterprises adopt AI at scale. Under the partnership, UST will integrate Anthropic’s Claude AI models into engineering environments and enterprise workflows across industries including semiconductors, automotive, manufacturing, telecom and IoT. The collaboration aims to help organisations move beyond isolated AI pilots and deploy trusted AI solutions across business operations. UST said the integration will improve design verification, semiconductor validation, factory operations and field service while enabling faster hardware-software integration. The partnership also supports the development of physical AI by embedding intelligence into industrial equipment, robotics and manufacturing processes.TELUS Digital, IISc join hands on AI researchTELUS Digital has partnered with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to promote advanced artificial intelligence research and strengthen India’s digital talent ecosystem. The collaboration will focus on joint research and development projects, technology innovation, skill development programmes, internships and academic exchanges. Both organisations will also organise workshops, expert interactions and collaborative events aimed at advancing AI research while preparing students for future technology careers. The partnership seeks to combine industry expertise with academic research to drive innovation in emerging digital technologies. TELUS Digital said the initiative reflects its commitment to supporting AI breakthroughs and building a future-ready workforce equipped to address evolving industry requirements.Ericsson launches innovation challenge for Indian startupsEricsson has launched the Ericsson Innovation Challenge, a nationwide initiative to encourage startups, researchers and technology innovators to develop solutions using 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and Internet of Things technologies. Organised in partnership with IAN Mentoring and Incubation Services and TiE Delhi-NCR, the programme aims to address societal challenges across healthcare, agriculture, sustainability, rural connectivity and advanced manufacturing. The initiative forms part of Ericsson’s global 150th anniversary celebrations and reflects the company’s commitment to fostering innovation with social impact. Selected innovators will receive support to build scalable technology solutions while contributing to India’s growing 5G ecosystem and strengthening the country’s innovation capabilities.Flipkart extends zero commission across fashion categoryFlipkart has expanded its Zero Commission policy to cover all fashion products sold on its marketplace, extending benefits beyond the earlier threshold of products priced up to Rs 1,000. The move is expected to benefit nearly 90,000 fashion sellers, including MSMEs and direct-to-consumer brands, by enabling them to retain higher margins and invest in business growth. Sellers will also gain access to AI-powered demand insights, trend analysis and catalogue management tools to improve product selection and customer reach. Flipkart said the initiative will enhance product availability across all price segments, including premium fashion, while supporting sellers as Gen Z consumers continue to drive evolving fashion trends on the platform.Darwinbox partners Neeyamo for global payroll integrationHR technology platform Darwinbox has partnered with global payroll and Employer of Record provider Neeyamo to offer enterprises a unified HR and payroll management solution. The collaboration enables organisations using Darwinbox to extend payroll operations across international markets through Neeyamo while maintaining a single system of record for employee data. The partnership aims to eliminate fragmented payroll systems, reduce manual reconciliation and improve global workforce visibility. Payroll data processed by Neeyamo will flow directly into Darwinbox, enabling consolidated reporting, governance and compliance. The companies said the integration will help enterprises expand into new markets faster while providing employees and HR teams with a consistent experience across global operations.Jio Haptik launches AI platform for small businessesJio Haptik has launched SOLO, an AI-native platform designed to help solopreneurs and small businesses automate marketing, sales and customer support. The Reliance Jio-backed conversational AI company aims to empower over two million entrepreneurs across India over the next three years through the platform. SOLO functions as an autonomous AI business team with two virtual assistants—Tara for marketing and Ved for sales and customer support. The platform automates content creation, lead generation, customer engagement and support while allowing business owners to review and approve AI-generated communications. Jio Haptik said SOLO will make advanced AI capabilities accessible to micro, small and medium enterprises regardless of their technical expertise or budget.Axis Max Life deploys GreyLabs AI voice platformAxis Max Life Insurance has deployed GreyLabs AI’s Voice AI Suite to improve customer intelligence and enhance sales performance. The AI-powered platform now analyses 100% of meaningful customer calls, enabling the insurer to move beyond selective call reviews. According to the company, the deployment has contributed to nearly a 15% improvement in sales conversions. The solution currently analyses more than six lakh customer calls involving over 700 agents, covering around 1.4 crore minutes of interactions. AI-generated insights are helping improve customer engagement, personalise follow-up communication and support product development decisions based on customer conversations. The insurer said the platform has strengthened its ability to understand customer intent at scale.WhatsApp unveils Meta Business Agent for enterprisesWhatsApp has introduced Meta Business Agent, an AI-powered assistant designed to help businesses automate customer interactions and improve engagement. Announced at WhatsApp’s annual Business Summit in Mumbai, the solution enables businesses to respond to customer queries, recommend products, book appointments, qualify leads and manage customer support around the clock. Businesses can also determine when human agents should intervene in conversations. Beyond customer engagement, the AI assistant provides summaries of missed interactions and actionable insights from customer conversations to help businesses improve operations. Meta said the new capability is aimed at enabling companies of all sizes to deliver faster, more personalised customer experiences while improving operational efficiency and driving business growth.TriGen Wealth crosses Rs 5,000 crore AUM milestoneTriGen Wealth, the wealth management arm of Prime Securities, has crossed Rs 5,000 crore in assets under management within 13 months of onboarding its first clients. The company now serves over 1,000 clients across more than 13 locations spanning metro, Tier-I and Tier-II cities. TriGen attributes its growth to a technology-enabled wealth management platform and a consultative advisory approach. The firm offers investment solutions across equities, mutual funds, portfolio management services, alternative investment funds, bonds and other asset classes. It also provides services including portfolio construction and intergenerational wealth planning. The milestone highlights the company’s rapid expansion in India’s growing wealth management market.Vimag Labs granted fifth patentVimag Labs, a deeptech startup has been granted its fifth patent in India. The patent, titled “A Robust Rotating Transformer Excited Synchronous Motor and Its Control,” covers the foundational motor architecture of the company’s proprietary Virtual Magnet Synchronous Motor (VMSM) platform. Unlike conventional Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs), which rely on fixed rare-earth magnets embedded in the rotor, VMSM generates and controls its magnetic field in real time using power electronics and proprietary control algorithms. The result is a brushless, slip-ring-free synchronous motor that matches or exceeds the performance of permanent magnet solutions—without any magnets. This latest grant brings the company’s intellectual property portfolio to five patents granted, ten in the pipeline, and fifteen trademarks filed — spanning motor architecture, software controls, power electronics, and application-specific implementations.Scaler to train 10,000 AI deployment engineersEdtech platform Scaler has launched a new Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) Specialisation and announced plans to train 10,000 professionals over the next year. The company will invest Rs 25 crore in curriculum development, AI infrastructure, industry partnerships and learner support to address growing demand for engineers capable of deploying AI in enterprise environments. Scaler said demand for Forward Deployed Engineers has risen sharply as companies increasingly seek professionals with expertise in AI, enterprise integration and business operations. The 7.5-month programme combines AI engineering, cloud computing, backend development, system design and enterprise integration with practical business simulations, preparing learners to operationalise AI solutions across large organisations.Netradyne partners BSSPL to enhance aviation fleet safetyAI-powered fleet safety technology company Netradyne has partnered with Bharat Stars Services Private Limited (BSSPL), a joint venture between Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Singapore-based ST Airport Services, to deploy its Driver•i platform across aviation fuelling fleets operating at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru airports. The AI-driven solution analyses 100% of driving time using computer vision and edge AI to provide continuous monitoring of fleet operations. It detects early signs of driver fatigue and drowsiness while issuing real-time in-cab alerts to improve safety. The deployment is aimed at strengthening operational safety standards in airport ground handling, one of the most critical environments in the aviation sector, while enhancing fleet visibility and operational efficiency.Vokka expands quick commerce presence across IndiaFragrance and personal care brand Vokka has expanded its presence across India’s leading quick commerce platforms, including Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Amazon Now. The rollout extends the company’s reach to more than 320 cities, enabling customers to receive products in as little as 10 minutes. Vokka said the expansion strengthens access to its affordable range of perfumes, body lotions and personal care products through instant delivery channels. The company currently operates in over 240 cities via Blinkit, more than 60 cities through Zepto and several other locations across Swiggy Instamart and Amazon Now. The move is expected to boost customer convenience while expanding Vokka’s footprint in India’s fast-growing quick commerce market.Story TV appoints Manan Mehta as content strategy headMicrodrama platform Story TV has appointed former Yash Raj Films executive Manan Mehta as Senior Vice President–Content and Strategy to lead its next phase of growth in premium vertical storytelling. Mehta brings over two decades of experience across business strategy, marketing and content, having previously worked with Leo Burnett, Taproot, Razorfish and Yash Raj Films. Story TV said the appointment reflects its strategy of bringing mainstream creative talent and studio-quality storytelling into India’s rapidly expanding vertical content market. The company claims to have an audience of over 100 million users and expects the fast-growing vertical storytelling segment to emerge as a significant opportunity in India’s digital entertainment landscape.
تم النشر: 2026-07-08 13:44:00
مصدر: yourstory.com
