• Startup Pulse
    Traversal raises $120 million in a Series B round at a $1 billion valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins, Redpoint and Khosla Ventures, with Sequoia Capital, Battery Ventures and Amex Ventures participating. GIVA raises over $100 million in a round led by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. The Croffle Guys raises ₹14 crore in a round led by V3 Ventures, with N.A.N Partners participating. Solgram raises over $1 million in a pre-seed round led by DSG Consumer Partners and Saama Capital, with Kapil Chopra participating. Sachin Tendulkar makes a strategic investment in Metasports Interactive, the company behind Hitwicket. The amount was not disclosed. Hyeglo Beauty raises ₹7 crore in a round led by Sauce, with Giga Capital, Consumer Collective, Reckitt's Arjun Purkayastha and The Patient Capital participating. Unify Foodworks raises ₹5 crore in seed funding through convertible debentures from Atrium Ventures, SailThru Ventures, Arjun Vaidya and Abhishek Goyal. OBSESS raises approximately ₹3 crore in an angel round from Pushpendra Singh, Amit Goel and Harshit Vij. Dispatch Network raises ₹5 crore in a pre-seed round led by Antler India, with angel investors participating. Two Point O Capital raises $10 million in a round led by Transition Venture Capital, with Omnivore and angel investors participating. Traversal raises $120 million in a Series B round at a $1 billion valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins, Redpoint and Khosla Ventures, with Sequoia Capital, Battery Ventures and Amex Ventures participating. GIVA raises over $100 million in a round led by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. The Croffle Guys raises ₹14 crore in a round led by V3 Ventures, with N.A.N Partners participating. Solgram raises over $1 million in a pre-seed round led by DSG Consumer Partners and Saama Capital, with Kapil Chopra participating. Sachin Tendulkar makes a strategic investment in Metasports Interactive, the company behind Hitwicket. The amount was not disclosed. Hyeglo Beauty raises ₹7 crore in a round led by Sauce, with Giga Capital, Consumer Collective, Reckitt's Arjun Purkayastha and The Patient Capital participating. Unify Foodworks raises ₹5 crore in seed funding through convertible debentures from Atrium Ventures, SailThru Ventures, Arjun Vaidya and Abhishek Goyal. OBSESS raises approximately ₹3 crore in an angel round from Pushpendra Singh, Amit Goel and Harshit Vij. Dispatch Network raises ₹5 crore in a pre-seed round led by Antler India, with angel investors participating. Two Point O Capital raises $10 million in a round led by Transition Venture Capital, with Omnivore and angel investors participating.
  • QWEEN Set for Mid-February Debut as Rosy Blue and Kashikey Invest INR 1000 Crore

    QWEEN

    Bengaluru: QWEEN, the self-discovery experiential jewellery brand, is gearing up for its official debut by mid-February, marking a significant milestone in the country’s luxury retail landscape.

    The brand, conceptualized by founders Amit Kumar and Suyash Motarwar, was initially launched as a bootstrapped venture and later received seed funding from Japanese luxury jeweller Kashikey Co. Ltd.

    The early investment enabled product development and laid the foundation for QWEEN’s brand identity.

    QWEEN Secures Major Backing to Accelerate Growth

    QWEEN has now attracted substantial financial support, with global jewellery leader Rosy Blue and Kashikey jointly announcing an investment of ₹1000 crore.

    This capital infusion will scale the company into one of India’s most disruptive and innovative luxury retail concepts.

    Also Read: Lenskart House of Brands Expands with Meller Launch and Popmart Collaboration in India

    The brand is preparing to unveil India’s first self-discovery experiential jewellery stores – each spanning 5,000–6,000 sq. ft. – in Bangalore and Delhi.

    Focused on redefining how modern Indian women interact with fine jewellery, the brand emphasizes ethical craftsmanship, purpose-led design, and a contemporary luxury environment that makes fine, all-natural jewellery more invitational and less intimidating.

    Redefining Modern Luxury Through Experience and Transparency

    Rosy Blue, with a legacy of over six decades in the global jewellery value chain, brings mine-to-market expertise that enhances traceability, transparency, and trust.

    Manali Jayant Parekh, Director at Rosy Blue, highlighted that QWEEN fills a significant market gap by creating a high-impact brand built on modern retail formats and meaningful customer experiences. She noted that QWEEN aims to empower women to independently explore jewellery with features such as open displays, easy-to-use access cards, and the QWEEN Passport – key elements designed to create a more welcoming retail journey.

    She added that the investment supports the creation of natural, high-quality jewellery collections designed for modern lifestyles, featuring all-natural gemstones.

    QWEEN’s Ethical, Natural, and Innovative Approach Backed by Global Expertise

    Kashikey Co. Ltd., a near-century-old luxury jeweller, expressed strong commitment to the brand’s vision. Chairman Hisao Kato emphasized that QWEEN aligns with Kashikey’s philosophy of authenticity, beauty, and uncompromising craftsmanship.

    He stated that QWEEN’s mine-to-market approach, ethical sourcing, and conflict-free certification position it as a fresh, transformative force in India’s luxury jewellery market.

    Also Read: Zigly Opens First Comprehensive Pet Care Centre in Pune

    Introducing 20+ Collections and 3,000+ SKUs

    In a market saturated with mass-produced jewellery, the company is shifting the focus back to natural, ethically sourced materials. The brand will launch over 20 curated collections and more than 3,000 SKUs, featuring:

    • 100% natural diamonds
    • Natural gemstones
    • Natural gold and silver
    • Seven unique gold colours
    • Seven distinctive natural diamond shades

    The collections will cater to both everyday wear and special occasions, combining craftsmanship with versatility.

    New Benchmarks in Modern Luxury

    By merging Kashikey’s craftsmanship legacy with Rosy Blue’s global leadership and mine-to-market capabilities, QWEEN is positioned to set new industry standards in innovation, traceability, and modern luxury.

    Author

    • Salil Urunkar

      Salil Urunkar is a senior journalist and the editorial mind behind Sahyadri Startups. With years of experience covering Pune’s entrepreneurial rise, he’s passionate about telling the real stories of founders, disruptors, and game-changers.

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