• 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.
  • AI, Skills, and Strategy Are Reshaping the Future of Learning and Development

    future of learning and development

    Pune: The GydeBites podcast’s latest episode takes a deep dive into the future of learning and development, featuring Donald H Taylor – one of the most influential voices in global L&D strategy.

    Hosted by Prasanna Vaidya, the episode explores how AI, data, automation, and interpersonal skills are transforming workplace learning in real time.

    With over 30 years of international experience in corporate training and education technology, Taylor presents a compelling vision of what lies ahead for the learning and development profession.

    According to him, while AI tools like ChatGPT and generative AI dominate headlines, the real opportunity is in using artificial intelligence to streamline organizational knowledge-sharing and skill-building processes.

    Also Read: LinkedIn India Hiring ROI Research: 70 Per Cent of Pune Recruiters Invest in AI

    “L&D professionals can no longer focus solely on creating content. The future of learning and development demands a strong grasp of internal skill data, job market trends, and actionable insights,” Taylor explains.

    He advocates that traditional course development should only remain for content tied directly to an organization’s competitive edge or ‘secret sauce’.

    Future of Learning and Development Leaders

    The conversation identifies two essential future-ready skills for L&D leaders:

    • Active listening – to understand and respond effectively to business needs.
    • Data fluency – the ability to ask meaningful questions and interpret data beyond surface-level analytics.

    Taylor further stresses the power of professional networks. “Your best career move, your next breakthrough idea – it all comes from the strength of your network,” he notes.

    He also calls on L&D professionals to earn their “seat at the table” by aligning efforts with real business outcomes. “Solve one genuine business problem, and word will spread about the true value of L&D,” Taylor adds.

    Also Read: iMocha Partners with Degreed to Launch AI-Powered Skills and Learning Integration

    The GydeBites episode offers strategic foresight and actionable tips for navigating the ever-changing landscape of workplace education – making it a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of learning and development.

    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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