• Startup Pulse
    Docterz raises ₹5 crore in funding from Vineeta Singh, Avnish Anand and around 20 doctors who use the platform. AceBlend raises $9.91 million in a Series A2 round led by 3one4 Capital, with Fireside Ventures participating. Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre raises ₹28 crore in a Series A round led by Alkemi Growth Capital. Carbelim raises ₹10 crore from the IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund. Viridian Ingni Propulsion raises ₹1.47 crore in a pre-seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures. Venttup raises $3 million in a pre-Series A round led by Rainmatter and Unicorn India Ventures. ISLAND Beauty raises ₹2.58 crore in funding from AJVC and angel investors. Sridhar Vembu warns of painful economic rebalancing as AI reshapes computer-based jobs. GomatiRoots raises ₹1 lakh in funding through YourStory's Shuru Kar initiative. Bijnis rebrands as Zorit and raises nearly ₹27 crore in funding led by Sparrow Capital, with Info Edge, WaterBridge, Better Capital and other investors participating. Docterz raises ₹5 crore in funding from Vineeta Singh, Avnish Anand and around 20 doctors who use the platform. AceBlend raises $9.91 million in a Series A2 round led by 3one4 Capital, with Fireside Ventures participating. Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre raises ₹28 crore in a Series A round led by Alkemi Growth Capital. Carbelim raises ₹10 crore from the IIT Madras Unicorn Frontier Fund. Viridian Ingni Propulsion raises ₹1.47 crore in a pre-seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures. Venttup raises $3 million in a pre-Series A round led by Rainmatter and Unicorn India Ventures. ISLAND Beauty raises ₹2.58 crore in funding from AJVC and angel investors. Sridhar Vembu warns of painful economic rebalancing as AI reshapes computer-based jobs. GomatiRoots raises ₹1 lakh in funding through YourStory's Shuru Kar initiative. Bijnis rebrands as Zorit and raises nearly ₹27 crore in funding led by Sparrow Capital, with Info Edge, WaterBridge, Better Capital and other investors participating.
  • SVG Ventures Sunrise Agri Fund Invests in EF Polymer

    SVG Ventures Sunrise Agri Fund Invests in EF Polymer

    Los Gatos, CA: SVG Ventures has announced that the Sunrise Agri Fund, a $50 million corporate venture capital fund launched in 2024 in partnership with Kagome Co., Ltd., has completed a strategic investment in EF Polymer K.K., headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.

    EF Polymer develops 100% biodegradable, high-absorbency polymers made from plant-based raw materials to help farmers conserve water and enhance resilience in open-field agriculture.

    Sunrise Agri Fund Backs Biodegradable Polymer Innovation

    The investment by the Sunrise Agri Fund comes at a time when climate change and water scarcity continue to challenge global agriculture. EF Polymer’s biodegradable water-retention technology offers a sustainable solution to reduce drought impact and optimize water usage for farmers worldwide.

    Also Read: Syngenta DevCon 2025 Showcases AI Innovations to Transform Indian Agriculture

    “EF Polymer’s biodegradable absorbent polymers represent a powerful innovation at the intersection of sustainability and productivity,” said John Hartnett, Founder & CEO of SVG Ventures | THRIVE.

    “Through the Sunrise Agri Fund, we are proud to support EF Polymer in scaling this technology globally to help farmers address critical challenges related to climate change and water scarcity.”

    Strengthening Global Agricultural Supply Chains

    Through this investment, SVG Ventures and Kagome will collaborate with EF Polymer to accelerate commercialization and expand access to its water-retention solutions across international agricultural supply chains. This partnership reflects a shared mission to drive sustainable and resource-efficient farming practices.

    Founded in 2018, EF Polymer operates from Okinawa, Japan, with a growing footprint in India and other global markets. Its mission is to deliver sustainable agricultural solutions that empower farmers while safeguarding natural resources.

    Also Read: Why Investing in Smallholder Farmers and Rural Communities Is Key to Global Food Security

    The Sunrise Agri Fund, managed by SVG Ventures, focuses on breakthrough agricultural technologies that strengthen sustainability and resilience, with priority areas such as breeding innovations, pest management, efficient farming practices, and sustainable open-field crop production.

    SVG Ventures | THRIVE, based in Los Gatos, California, is a global agrifood innovation platform with a network of more than 10,000 startups across 100+ countries, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, investors, and growers to accelerate innovation in the food and agriculture sectors.

    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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