• Startup Pulse
    Deeptech Aerospace Startup Tessat Space Raises ₹1 Crore in Angel Funding Round from Xylapay Morsa raises $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Jackson Square Ventures, with participation from the a16z Scout Fund. Kutlerri.ai raises $4 million from Narahari Investments. JSW Ventures completes the first close of Fund III, with JSW Family Office as anchor investor. Desible.ai raises ₹32 crore in a funding round led by Prime Venture Partners, with participation from Invention Engine. mistEO raises ₹18 crore in a seed round led by MGF Kavachh, with Seafund and other investors participating. Astrome Technologies signs an agreement with the Technology Development Board for ₹64.05 crore in support through optionally convertible debt under the RDI Fund. Nawgati is selected among the top 10 finalists of the UAE-India Startup Series 2.0. ValueQuest commits ₹775 crore across Sagar Defence Engineering, TASE Global and Rational Engineers. Greenjoules raises ₹150 crore in a Series B round co-led by Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund and Climate Pledge Fund, with Rainmatter and Singularity Strategic Autonomy Fund participating, and secures a separate ₹100 crore loan from the Technology Development Board. Deeptech Aerospace Startup Tessat Space Raises ₹1 Crore in Angel Funding Round from Xylapay Morsa raises $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Jackson Square Ventures, with participation from the a16z Scout Fund. Kutlerri.ai raises $4 million from Narahari Investments. JSW Ventures completes the first close of Fund III, with JSW Family Office as anchor investor. Desible.ai raises ₹32 crore in a funding round led by Prime Venture Partners, with participation from Invention Engine. mistEO raises ₹18 crore in a seed round led by MGF Kavachh, with Seafund and other investors participating. Astrome Technologies signs an agreement with the Technology Development Board for ₹64.05 crore in support through optionally convertible debt under the RDI Fund. Nawgati is selected among the top 10 finalists of the UAE-India Startup Series 2.0. ValueQuest commits ₹775 crore across Sagar Defence Engineering, TASE Global and Rational Engineers. Greenjoules raises ₹150 crore in a Series B round co-led by Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund and Climate Pledge Fund, with Rainmatter and Singularity Strategic Autonomy Fund participating, and secures a separate ₹100 crore loan from the Technology Development Board.
  • Singapore: L’Oréal Announces Finalists for 2025 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program Grand Finale

    Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program

    Singapore: L’Oréal has revealed the 10 grand finalists of its 2025 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, the largest open innovation competition of its kind across South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA).

    These startups will compete in Singapore on November 7, 2025, for a L’Oréal-funded commercial pilot and a year-long mentorship program.

    The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program is designed to discover and support cutting-edge startups offering scalable solutions for the beauty industry.

    Finalists from SAPMENA bring innovations in synthetic data, AI-driven marketing, creator collaborations, material science, biotechnology, and more.

    Also Read: Aneet Padda Named as the New Face of Lakmē to Redefine Beauty for Gen Z

    Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program: A Gateway for Startups

    The competition also underscores SAPMENA’s position as a fast-growing region with a digitally savvy population and strong innovation potential.

    The 2025 Grand Finalists

    The 10 startups shortlisted for the Grand Finale of the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program are:

    • Betterdata (Singapore): Synthetic data generation for analytics and model training.
    • Halo AI (UAE): AI-based creator collaboration and content vetting.
    • Heatseeker (Australia): AI platform for real-time in-market consumer testing.
    • Infloso AI (India): AI ecosystem supporting brand building and marketing campaigns.
    • Newera Bio (Australia): Bio-based dyes and binders reducing costs and resource intensity.
    • Springboards (Australia): AI tools for creativity, ideation, and campaign design.
    • Sravathi AI (India): AI-driven pharma development platform combining molecular modeling and chemistry.
    • Without (India): Material science enterprise transforming waste into recyclable products.
    • Wubble.ai (Singapore): Enterprise-grade AI solution for royalty-free, customized music creation.

    Also Read: The Style Edit: Ananya Panday Hosts Exclusive Fashion Experience on Airbnb Originals

    Grand Finale in Singapore

    On November 7, these startups will pitch to a judging panel comprising industry experts from L’Oréal, Google, Meta, and Veros Ventures.

    The top three winners will secure commercial pilots with L’Oréal, access to 37 international brands, visibility across 35 SAPMENA markets, and mentorship with senior executives.

    Lex Bradshaw-Zanger, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, L’Oréal SAPMENA, highlighted the significance of the competition: “The 2025 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program reflects the exceptional creativity of startups across the region. Collaboration with these innovators allows us to test groundbreaking solutions and redefine the future of beauty tech.”

    About the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program

    The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program covers five challenge areas: Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good, and Science for Beauty. Regional winners from India, Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand, and the Middle East have advanced to the SAPMENA Grand Finale.

    The program positions SAPMENA as a launchpad for startups to gain global exposure, leverage partnerships, and scale their innovations in the global beauty industry.

    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.

    Back to top