Startup news and updates: daily roundup (August 3, 2026)
Games long forgotten through time is getting a revival by one intrepid individual even as companies continue to raise funding, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectorsFeatured storiesVinita Sidhartha is on a curious quest to revive the games people playedVinita’s unending fascination for traditional Indian games is the fuel that keeps Kreeda going. The Chennai-based organisation is dedicated to researching, documenting, and promoting the rich heritage of Indian games.Read moreSnabbit says it has surpassed 1,15,000 jobs a dayBengaluru-based on-demand home services platform Snabbit said it has crossed 1,15,000 fulfilled jobs a day. This milestone, the company noted, reflects not only the rising demand for on-demand domestic services but also its improving financial discipline as it scales. It also said the latest milestone comes only months after it surpassed 50,000 daily jobs and 1 million monthly jobs.Read moreMobiKwik swings to net profit of Rs 7.6 Cr in Q1 FY27Fintech company MobiKwik swung into profit for the first quarter of 2026-27, driven by strong growth in its payments business, improved lending profitability and continued focus on cost efficiency. The company reported a net profit of Rs 7.6 crore for the first quarter of FY27 as compared to a loss of Rs 42 crore a year ago. MobiKwik said it has now registered profitability for three consecutive quarters.Read moreFunding newsideaForge secures Rs 151 Cr from govt’s RDI schemeLeading drone manufacturer ideaForge Technology has secured a letter of intent for up to Rs 151 crore in long-term debt financing under the Government of India’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme to develop YETI, a heavy-lift autonomous aerial platform designed for operations in extreme terrains and high-altitude environments.Read moreKaapi Machines raises Rs 50 Cr from Sedna HoReCaKaapi Machines, a coffee equipment and service provider based in Bengaluru, has raised Rs 50 crore in equity funding from Sedna HoReCa, a PE-backed B2B solutions provider for the HoReCa segment (hotels, restaurants and cafes/catering).Read moreRoadGrid secures Rs 13 crore TDB support for EV charger manufacturingRoadGrid India has secured Rs 13 crore in financial assistance from the Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology, for its Rs 27.5 crore project to establish a manufacturing and assembly facility for its patented Universal EV Charger. The upcoming plant, expected to begin commercial production in March 2027, will have an annual capacity of 2,000 chargers and generate over 100 direct jobs.RoadGrid’s charger integrates a 140 kW dual DC charging system with CCS2 and Type 6 connectors, along with AC charging capability, enabling charging across two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles and commercial EVs on a single platform. The project aims to accelerate EV adoption by offering interoperable charging infrastructure developed using indigenous technology.Quest Global makes investment in Lavni Ventures Fund IIQuest Global Engineering Services has announced a strategic investment in Lavni Ventures Fund II. A statement said the commitment is among the fund’s largest to date, signalling a deepening partnership between two organisations committed to advancing deep-tech innovations in sectors that include climate, energy, and health.Lavni Ventures backs early-stage, deep-tech startups building science-led solutions. Quest Global views its commitment to Lavni Ventures Fund II as a strategic step toward advancing its innovation agenda and supporting the next generation of deep-tech solutions. In addition to capital, the Lavni Ventures portfolio companies will have access to Quest Global’s engineering expertise and technical mentorship, as well as opportunities to engage with its global enterprise ecosystem to validate and scale innovative solutions.Yuvraj Singh joins stealth healthcare startup UN:BLOC as investorFormer Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has joined UN:BLOC, a new healthcare venture founded by entrepreneur Deepak Sahni, as an investor and member of its founding team. The move marks their second entrepreneurial association after Yuvraj backed Sahni’s previous venture, Healthians, during its early stages. UN:BLOC is currently operating in stealth mode, with details of its products and business model yet to be disclosed.Yuvraj said he decided to back the company after understanding the scale of the healthcare challenges it aims to address and its potential to improve millions of lives. Sahni described Yuvraj’s return as an early supporter as a significant milestone for the venture.Other newsAnicut Capital, Chennai Angels partner to boost startup investmentsAlternative asset manager Anicut Capital and angel investment network The Chennai Angels (TCA) have partnered to strengthen early-stage startup funding through a Category I Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) structure. The partnership aims to provide startups with institutional-grade capital while simplifying equity management through a single-investor cap table structure.Anicut Capital manages over Rs 4,500 crore in assets across seven funds and has backed more than 200 companies. TCA, founded in 2007, has over 150 investors and has invested more than ₹200 crore across 99 startups. The collaboration seeks to combine TCA’s deal sourcing capabilities with Anicut’s investment management expertise to improve access to growth capital for startups.Freshworks named Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for ITSMFreshworks Inc. has been recognised as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for IT Service Management (ITSM) Platforms, reflecting its focus on AI-powered service operations. The company said the recognition comes as enterprises increasingly seek intelligent service management capabilities beyond traditional ticketing systems.Freshworks CEO Dennis Woodside said the recognition highlights the company’s commitment to building Freshservice into an AI-powered platform that combines service management with infrastructure and asset intelligence. Gartner’s return to publishing the ITSM Magic Quadrant also signals the evolution of the market, driven by AI adoption and changing enterprise requirements for governance, automation and operational efficiency.ICRA upgrades Groww’s rating to AA with stable outlookICRA has upgraded the long-term rating of Billionbrains Garage Ventures Ltd, the parent company of investment platform Groww, to AA (Stable) from AA- (Stable), citing improvements in market position, capitalisation, profitability and liquidity.The rating agency said Groww has remained India’s largest stockbroker by active NSE clients for around 11 consecutive quarters, with a market share of about 29% as of June 2026. ICRA also highlighted the company’s strengthened balance sheet following its $202 million Series F funding in 2025 and IPO proceeds of around ₹1,060 crore. Groww reported a consolidated tangible net worth of ₹8,413 crore as of March 31, 2026, while maintaining strong profitability despite regulatory changes.Pegasystems expands university partnerships to build AI talentPegasystems Inc. has expanded its University Academic Program (UAP) by partnering with additional Indian universities to strengthen education in agentic AI, generative AI and enterprise automation. VEMU Technical University has joined the programme, while existing collaborations with the University of Engineering & Management (UEM), Kolkata, and Woxsen University have been expanded.The initiative aims to train faculty and students in Pega technologies, creating a pipeline of industry-ready talent. The programme currently covers 23 universities, with plans to add another 30-40 institutions this year. Each 1.5-year cohort trains around 40-50 students, with several universities integrating the programme as a credit-based course in their engineering curricula.QNu Labs, SRMIST launch quantum communications training initiativeQNu Labs, a sovereign quantum cybersecurity company incubated at IIT Madras Research Park, has partnered with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) to train and certify its first batch of faculty in professional quantum communication courses. The collaboration also includes the establishment of a dedicated Quantum Communications Lab equipped with industry-grade quantum-safe products.The initiative aims to strengthen faculty expertise, enabling universities to scale quantum education and produce industry-ready professionals. The lab will provide students and researchers with hands-on access to technologies already deployed across India’s defence and banking sectors. The programme aligns with the National Quantum Mission’s objective of building indigenous quantum technologies and skilled talent.Licious partners with MoEngage for AI-driven customer engagementDirect-to-consumer meat and seafood brand Licious has partnered with customer engagement platform MoEngage to strengthen AI-powered personalisation across its digital ecosystem. The collaboration is aimed at enhancing customer experience, driving repeat purchases and supporting the company’s omnichannel expansion strategy.Licious plans to use AI-driven insights based on customer preferences, regional tastes and location data to deliver personalised interactions throughout the purchase journey. The platform will help the company engage new customers while reactivating existing users through tailored product recommendations. The company said the initiative builds on its presence across online, quick commerce and offline retail channels as it seeks to deepen customer loyalty.Safer Internet India launches online shopping safety handbookSafer Internet India (SII) has launched Your Guide to Safe Online Shopping, a consumer handbook designed to help shoppers identify and avoid online frauds and scams. Commissioned by Amazon under its Mission GraHAQ initiative, the handbook offers practical guidance on safe online shopping practices and consumer protection.Built around the themes of informed, alert and empowered consumers, the handbook covers common online shopping scams, consumer rights, grievance redressal mechanisms and measures to enhance digital safety. Mission GraHAQ, launched in 2022, has reached millions of consumers through awareness campaigns, digital outreach and partnerships promoting safe online shopping, payment security and fraud prevention across India.Nemetschek India, CADD Centre launch AI-enabled BIM coursesNemetschek India has partnered with CADD Centre to introduce a portfolio of AI-enabled Building Information Modelling (BIM) certification programmes aimed at developing digitally skilled professionals for the architecture, engineering and construction sector. The courses will cover technologies including Archicad, Solibri and Bluebeam.The learning portfolio includes executive diploma, master certificate and specialised certification programmes integrating AI with BIM workflows. Initially launched across select CADD Centre locations in Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune, the courses will later expand across its wider network and be offered through the CloudKampus online platform. The initiative targets students, architects, engineers and working professionals seeking industry-focused digital construction skills.Intellect Design Arena reports higher Q1 FY27 revenue and profitIntellect Design Arena reported a rise in revenue and profitability for the first quarter of FY27, with total income increasing to Rs 872 crore from Rs 734 crore a year earlier. EBITDA rose to Rs 194 crore from Rs 176 crore, while profit before tax increased to Rs 135 crore from Rs 126 crore.The company also reported higher platform, licence and annual maintenance contract revenues, alongside improved collections and cash reserves. During the quarter, Intellect strengthened its AI portfolio by carving out Purple Fabric as an independent business focused on enterprise AI solutions under the leadership of CEO Deepak Dastrala. The company said the move would accelerate AI innovation and expand adoption across industries.Anaptyss launches employee innovation and IP incubation programmeAI-first managed services company Anaptyss has launched IGNITE, an enterprise-wide employee innovation and intellectual property incubation programme aimed at converting employee ideas into customer solutions, commercial value and patents. The initiative establishes a structured framework for idea generation, co-creation with customers and development of intellectual property.Employees can participate through three tracks—IdeaLab, Co-Create and Patent Path—covering process improvements, customer-led innovation and patent creation. The programme includes leadership mentorship, executive sponsorship, milestone-based rewards and funding for prototype development and patent filing. Anaptyss said IGNITE is designed to institutionalise innovation as a core business capability while encouraging employees to contribute directly to the company’s long-term growth and technology portfolio.FarmerChat crosses 10 lakh usersDigital Green India has announced that FarmerChat, the multilingual, AI-powered farming advisory assistant it deploys, has crossed 10 lakh users in India since its launch in October 2024. Available in five languages, FarmerChat offers timely, context-aware guidance across a farmer’s decisions, from crop and pest management to livestock care and weather, even in low-connectivity environments.FarmerChat answers field-level questions across the farming cycle: crop planning, pest and disease management, livestock care, weather forecasts, and inputs. Building on this momentum, Digital Green India aims to add another 35 lakh farmers to the platform by 2028 — deepening women farmers’ participation, driving adoption of climate-smart practices, and improving household incomes. In India, FarmerChat has already answered over 30 lakh queries, with women making up around 45% of its users.
تم النشر: 2026-08-03 12:07:00
مصدر: yourstory.com
