• Startup Pulse
    altM raises $10.3 million in a Series A round led by Rainmatter by Zerodha and Mela Ventures, with Omnivore, Theia Ventures, Aureolis Ventures, Spectrum Impact and strategic angel investors participating. 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. altM raises $10.3 million in a Series A round led by Rainmatter by Zerodha and Mela Ventures, with Omnivore, Theia Ventures, Aureolis Ventures, Spectrum Impact and strategic angel investors participating. 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.
  • Vi 5G Service in Pune Launched: Next-Gen Connectivity with Unlimited Data Plans

    Vi 5G service in Pune

    Pune: Telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) today announced the launch of its Vi 5G service in Pune, making the city the fifth in Maharashtra to experience the company’s next-generation connectivity. The rollout will be available to customers starting tomorrow.

    Vi first introduced its 5G services in India with the launch of Vi 5G in Mumbai in March 2025. Since then, the company has expanded across Maharashtra to Nagpur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. With Pune joining the list, Vi continues its phased 5G expansion across its 17 priority circles where spectrum has been acquired.

    Also Read: Vodafone and Cyient Launch AI-Powered Global Network Configuration Management Platform

    Vi 5G Service in Pune: Unlimited Data Plans from ₹299

    Vi customers with 5G-enabled smartphones can begin using Vi 5G service in Pune starting tomorrow. As part of an introductory offer, Vi is providing unlimited 5G data on plans starting from ₹299. The service promises enhanced experiences such as ultra-HD streaming, immersive gaming, real-time video conferencing, faster downloads, and seamless access to cloud-based services.

    Rohit Tandon, Operations Director at Vodafone Idea, commented: “As we launch Vi 5G service in Pune, we are excited to bring future-ready connectivity to the Queen of the Deccan. With our robust 4G network complementing 5G, we are committed to expanding systematically across Maharashtra in line with rising customer demand and 5G handset adoption.”

    Vi 5G service in Pune: Network Infrastructure and 4G Upgrades in Maharashtra

    To support its 5G rollout in Pune and Maharashtra, Vi has partnered with Ericsson to deploy advanced, energy-efficient infrastructure. The operator has also integrated AI-powered Self-Organizing Networks (SON) to automatically optimize network performance for users.

    Also Read: Vi Business Expands IoT Smart Metering Footprint, Eyes 12 Million Connections

    In parallel, Vi has upgraded its 4G network in the Maharashtra & Goa circle. Since March 2024, it has:

    • Deployed 900 MHz spectrum on over 7,900 sites for stronger indoor coverage
    • Expanded 2100 MHz spectrum capacity across 7,000+ sites
    • Added more than 2,100 new sites across 2,200 towns

    These enhancements reflect Vi’s strategy to ensure both urban and rural users receive reliable, high-speed connectivity.

    Vi’s 5G Expansion Across India

    Before the Pune launch, Vi had rolled out 5G in key cities including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Mysuru, Chandigarh, Patna, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Vishakhapatnam, Kochi, Madurai, and Thiruvananthapuram, among others. The expansion highlights Vi’s commitment to building a future-ready network catering to the digital needs of both consumers and enterprises.

    For more details on availability, pricing, and supported devices, customers can visit: https://www.myvi.in/5g-network

    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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