• Startup Pulse
    EloElo Group raises $80 million in a Series C round led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, with MIT Investment Co. and existing investors participating. Peppermint Robotics raises ₹100 crore (approximately $10.5 million) in a Pre-Series B round led by pi Ventures and Crane Venture Partners, with Asiana Fund 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. EloElo Group raises $80 million in a Series C round led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, with MIT Investment Co. and existing investors participating. Peppermint Robotics raises ₹100 crore (approximately $10.5 million) in a Pre-Series B round led by pi Ventures and Crane Venture Partners, with Asiana Fund 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.
  • How Antra Johri Turned Family Struggles into Global Success at UOW

    Antra Johri

    GIFT City, Gujarat: Antra Johri, a determined student from Haridwar, has emerged as a symbol of resilience and ambition, celebrating her graduation with a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) degree from the University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia.

    Her inspiring journey – from overcoming personal challenges in small-town India to pursuing higher education abroad – highlights the transformative power of opportunity, education, and courage.

    Also Read: Sonakshi Chaturvedi Explores Matrilineal Memory Through Zaat at British Council New Delhi

    Raised in Haridwar, Antra’s early years were marked by adversity after losing her father at the age of ten. Her mother, driven by compassion and strength, founded Hakuna Matata, an NGO supporting families with children with special needs, including Antra’s autistic brother.

    This spirit of social change and empowerment deeply influenced Antra Johri, who supported the NGO by managing social media, creating visual content, and spreading awareness – igniting her passion for marketing and storytelling.

    The turning point in Antra’s journey came when she connected with the Global Offshore Admission Pathway (GOAP) program. After completing online modules through GOAP, Antra took a leap of faith and moved to Australia in 2022, enrolling at UOW College. She fast-tracked her Diploma of Business in just seven months and transitioned seamlessly into the second year of her bachelor’s program.

    Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new culture and academic system at age 17, Antra thrived. At UOW, she immersed herself in student life – founding a photography club, volunteering for social causes, and participating in cultural events like Indian classical dance performances.

    Also Read: Shruti Gochhwal Launches D2C Ethnic Wear Brand Sharmeeli

    A hands-on marketing campaign project during her studies reinforced her ambition and honed her strategic thinking.

    Antra Johri: Communications and Digital Marketing Officer at UOW College

    Her passion and dedication led to her current role as Communications and Digital Marketing Officer at UOW College, where she manages content creation, social media campaigns, event promotions, and more.

    “I love combining creativity with purpose,” says Antra Johri. “Every project is an opportunity to tell a meaningful story.”

    Antra’s academic aspirations continue – having recently completed a short course in Brand Management from the University of London, she plans to pursue a Master’s or MBA while expanding her photography business.

    Her graduation ceremony became a heartwarming moment of triumph as her mother joined her in Wollongong to witness the fruits of their shared sacrifices.

    To fellow international students, Antra Johri offers this advice: “You don’t need to have all the answers. Be curious, ask questions, and take the first step. The support and opportunity are out there – you just need to reach for them.”

    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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