• 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.
  • Energy Launchpad 2025 Opens Applications for Clean Energy and Green Hydrogen Innovators

    Energy Launchpad 2025

    Pune: The Energy Launchpad 2025, a flagship 3-month mentoring program, has officially opened applications for innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers working in the clean energy and green hydrogen sector.

    Organized by the Social Innovations and the CoE for Clean Energy & Green Hydrogen at Venture Center, and supported by the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS), the initiative aims to nurture early-stage ideas into impactful ventures.

    Energy Launchpad 2025: Program Overview

    The Energy Launchpad is designed as a guided mentoring platform that provides participants with structured support through expert-led sessions, field immersion opportunities, industry networking, and access to funding avenues.

    Also Read: Ravi Pandit Launches HRIDAY Energy Network to Advance Biomass-Based Green Hydrogen

    The program will run from October 15, 2025, for three months, with sessions scheduled at four hours per week.

    Applications are open from September 2–20, 2025, and participation is capped at 15 candidates, selected through a committee-based process. The registration fee for the program is ₹1050.

    Energy Launchpad 2025: Focus Areas

    The mentoring program emphasizes cutting-edge areas in energy innovation, including:

    • Clean Energy and Green Hydrogen (GH2)
    • Renewable energy generation (solar, wind, hydro, waste-to-energy, biomass)
    • Energy storage solutions (batteries, supercapacitors, charging and swapping technologies)
    • End-use applications in mobility, industrial, and urban power requirements
    • Fuel cell technologies
    • Electrolyzers for hydrogen generation

    Energy Launchpad 2025: Program Benefits

    Participants in the Energy Launchpad will gain:

    • Insights into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, challenges, and opportunities in the energy sector
    • Opportunities for collaboration across industry, academia, and research networks
    • Field immersion visits for real-world problem validation
    • Guidance on intellectual property, regulatory processes, business planning, and fundraising
    • Demo Day presentations with recognition for the best business cases
    • Certificates of completion and mentoring for early-stage funding applications
    • Access to Venture Center’s facilities and funding networks for six months post-program

    Also Read: HYDGEN and NTU ERI Collaborate to Advance Onsite Green Hydrogen Production

    Eligibility for Energy Launchpad 2025

    The program invites applications from:

    • Innovators and technologists
    • Budding entrepreneurs in the clean energy domain
    • Researchers and students interested in entrepreneurship
    • Graduates in science, engineering, or medicine

    Application and Contact Information

    Interested candidates can apply between September 2–20, 2025. With seats restricted to 15, early application is encouraged.

    For further details and application links, visit:

    Apply Here

    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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