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    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.

    • Just In

    Disrupt Asia 2025: Startup Festival Launches USD 50M Fund, SEZ, and Cross-Border Partnerships

    Spotlight Posted on  —by Salil Urunkar

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    Disrupt Asia 2025

    Colombo, Sri Lanka: Disrupt Asia 2025, the island nation’s premier startup festival and innovation conference, will be hosted in Colombo from September 17–20, 2025, bringing together regional and global leaders to position Sri Lanka as South Asia’s emerging innovation hub.

    Organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), with support from international partners, the event will connect entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and changemakers.

    Disrupt Asia 2025 to Accelerate Digital Transformation and Startup Growth

    Building on successful editions between 2016 and 2019, Disrupt Asia 2025 will focus on driving digital transformation and fostering cross-border collaborations.

    Also Read: Media Tech Incubator Launched by IICT Mumbai and WaveX to Support AVGC-XR Startups

    The four-day event will feature curated discussions, networking sessions, and public showcases. Key initiatives include the launch of a USD 50 million Fund of Funds to support mission-driven startups, the creation of a Virtual Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to attract global tech firms, and new policy frameworks to enable deeper private sector engagement.

    India’s Central Role in Disrupt Asia 2025

    India is expected to play a significant role in shaping this year’s edition. Earlier in 2025, Disrupt Asia collaborated with Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, where a dedicated Sri Lankan pavilion showcased 10 high-potential startups across MedTech, FinTech, EdTech, AI, and Blockchain.

    The event also witnessed the signing of a landmark MoU between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Digital Economy and India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), aimed at strengthening innovation diplomacy, enabling joint policies, and fostering cross-border technology exchanges.

    Global and Regional Startup Leaders to Participate

    The event will feature notable voices from India’s startup ecosystem, including:

    • Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO, Paytm (Keynote Address)
    • Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners and Surge (Panel on South Asia’s Investment Landscape)
    • Kiran Chandra Kalluri, Partner, Dallas Venture Capital
    • Vineet Rai, Co-Founder, Intellecap

    They will be joined by international leaders such as Prashant Gulati (TiE Dubai), Nathan Griffith (Australia), James Tan (Quest Ventures, Singapore), and Carl R Hartlein (UK).

    Also Read: Tally Startup Challenge 2025 Invites Startups to Solve MSME Manufacturing Capacity Planning Issues

    Showcasing Sri Lanka’s Top 50 Startups

    The conference will also highlight 50 of Sri Lanka’s most promising startups, including Utech Technologies, Permia Sensing Lanka, SimpleBook, Nanosoft Global, MAGICBITS, PayMedia, Aahayani, Blue Lotus 360, Agent Zappy, and Emojot. These companies represent diverse sectors spanning health tech, fintech, AI, sustainability, and enterprise solutions.

    Strengthening Regional Innovation Ecosystem

    According to H.E. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, the event reflects the growing innovation and technology partnership between the two countries. He emphasized the role of Disrupt Asia in supporting Sri Lankan talent to connect with India’s vibrant tech ecosystem.

    Built on the five pillars of partnerships, pathways, people, policies, and prosperity, Disrupt Asia 2025 is more than just a startup platform—it is a regional movement to shape the future of entrepreneurship, technology, and cross-border innovation in South Asia.

    Tickets for Disrupt Asia 2025 are now open.
    For details, visit: https://disruptasia.today

    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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