• 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. Venomics AI raises $2.7 million in a pre-seed round co-led by Speciale Invest and South Park Commons, with Operators Studio 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. 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. Venomics AI raises $2.7 million in a pre-seed round co-led by Speciale Invest and South Park Commons, with Operators Studio 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.
  • DPIIT Blue Star MoU Aims to Accelerate HVAC and Manufacturing Startups

    DPIIT Blue Star MoU

    In a significant push to strengthen India’s innovation landscape, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a strategic partnership under with Blue Star Limited (DPIIT Blue Star MoU), aimed at supporting startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs across the country.

    The MoU is expected to play a key role in advancing manufacturing-led innovation through structured industry collaboration.

    The agreement, signed with Blue Star Limited, focuses on fostering product startups operating in areas such as HVAC technologies, digital solutions, advanced manufacturing processes, and supply chain innovation.

    Through the DPIIT Blue Star MoU, startups will gain access to industry expertise and real-world opportunities to develop scalable and market-ready solutions.

    Also Read: Hettich India Inaugurates ₹2,000 Crore Advanced Manufacturing Facility at Indore

    As part of the DPIIT Blue Star MoU, participating startups will benefit from mentorship by industry experts, along with access to infrastructure support such as R&D laboratories and testing facilities.

    The initiative also includes pilot opportunities and market linkages, enabling startups to accelerate growth and achieve milestones like product validation, Proof-of-Concept (PoC) development, and integration into industry value chains.

    Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv stated that the collaboration represents an important step towards fostering industry-driven innovation in the manufacturing sector.

    He noted that such partnerships enable startups to engage with real-world problem statements and scale solutions with tangible outcomes.

    Under the DPIIT Blue Star MoU, DPIIT will collaborate with Blue Star Limited to organise innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge.

    These challenges, along with targeted hackathons, will focus on key domains such as HVAC, digital technologies, and manufacturing.

    Also Read: MaXcel Manufacturing Accelerator: Capital-A and SanchiConnect Select Enerzi, Misochain, Quintrans

    The initiative will provide startups opportunities to participate in structured PoC programmes, with selected entities being considered for pilot deployment and further engagement.

    DPIIT Blue Star MoU: Facilitating Access to Testing Facilities, R&D Infrastructure, and Technical support alongside structured mentorship programmes and periodic engagement sessions.

    These efforts aim to align startup innovations with evolving industry requirements and market demands.

    The Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, T L K Singh, and Managing Director, Blue Star Limited, B Thiagarajan, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.

    The DPIIT Blue Star MoU marks a strategic step toward building a stronger manufacturing startup ecosystem in India.

    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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