Tag: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Four portfolio startups of Invention Engine, a founder-led accelerator focused on early-stage AI and deep tech companies, have collectively secured approximately $2.5 million in a new funding round.

The startups that received this investment include Sonic Lamb, Cheerio AI, Desible.ai, and Magicroll. Sonic Lamb, known for its India-designed headphones, raised $1 million to expand its brand globally, particularly in automotive and pro-audio sound applications. Cheerio AI, a no-code AI marketing automation platform, received around $1 million to enhance its customer engagement and retention automation capabilities. Desible.ai, a conversational infrastructure platform for the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector, secured $250,000 to develop AI-powered voice agents with multilingual and empathetic features. Magicroll, an AI-powered video editing platform, obtained $100,000 to further improve its content personalization and go-to-market strategies.

Invention Engine has also introduced the ‘ACE $100k’ cohort, offering $100,000 per startup in patient capital. This initiative aims to support early-stage startups focusing on AI-led innovations, expanding the reach of its investment program in India.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Fintech startup Coreworks.AI has secured $5 million in a seed funding round led by Together Fund, as reported by Entrackr. Founded in 2025 by Prashant Kumar and Pavan Sondur, the company introduces AI SuperAnalyst, a platform that streamlines the conversion of business data into comprehensive presentations and reports.

AI SuperAnalyst integrates with ERP systems, CRM platforms, financial models, and spreadsheets to generate spreadsheet models, written analysis, and slide presentations efficiently. The platform emphasizes security, boasting SOC 2 readiness, end-to-end encryption, and stringent data protection measures to safeguard customer data from AI model training.

Coreworks.AI’s platform caters to various business needs, from crafting quarterly board decks to preparing operational reports and customer proposal decks, all customizable to match a company’s branding and style templates.

This funding round signifies a pivotal moment for Coreworks.AI, propelling the development and adoption of AI technologies in data analytics, empowering businesses to leverage data insights effectively.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Visa processing startup Atlys recently closed a successful Series C funding round, raising $36 million. The funding was led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with participation from existing investors such as Elevation Capital, Long Journey Ventures, and Peak XV Partners. Travel platform MakeMyTrip also joined as a new investor in this round.

Atlys plans to use the capital to expand into new international markets and further develop its AI capabilities. The company aims to leverage AI technology for various aspects of the visa process, including document verification, eligibility checks, and traveler support.

Founded in 2021 by Mohak Nahta, Atlys offers a digital platform that enables travelers to explore, apply for, and manage visas across over 120 destinations. Since its previous funding round, the startup has processed nearly 450,000 visas and has significantly grown its presence in key global markets like the UAE, the US, the UK, and Australia. These international markets now account for almost half of the company’s total business.

Atlys has experienced remarkable growth, currently operating at an annual visa run rate exceeding 700,000 applications. The acquisition of the UK unit of visa services firm Artionis in February 2025 further strengthened Atlys’ position in Europe and bolstered its visa processing infrastructure.

With this recent funding injection and strategic expansion, Atlys is poised to establish a comprehensive global digital visa platform for international travelers.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Digital payments platform PhonePe has decided to pause its initial public offering (IPO) due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and market volatility, as reported by Entrackr : Latest Posts.

The company, which has over 650 million registered users and a merchant network of more than 47 million, aims to go public in India once stability returns to global capital markets. The delay in PhonePe’s IPO is a strategic move amidst increased market volatility driven by tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel.

PhonePe’s CEO Sameer Nigam expressed the company’s commitment to its IPO plans despite the temporary hold, hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict. Founded in 2016, PhonePe had filed its updated DRHP earlier this year to raise approximately $1.5 billion through an IPO, targeting a valuation of around $10.5 billion.

The decision to postpone the IPO reflects a cautious approach, considering the potential impact of market fluctuations on the company’s valuation. With Walmart as its largest shareholder, PhonePe’s valuation is a critical factor for the fintech firm, influencing the timing of its public market debut.

Overall, PhonePe’s temporary halt in IPO proceedings underscores how geopolitical events can disrupt tech offerings and highlights the importance of market stability for companies entering the public domain.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Agritech startup Verdant Impact has successfully raised $3 million in a recent seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures. Other notable participants in the funding round include Infynyte Club, Yash Kotak, Alok Soni, and a-IDEA NAARM.

The newly acquired funds will be allocated towards team expansion, market expansion in North and North-East India, research and development efforts, and enhancements to its Pashu.AI platform. A significant portion of the investment will also go towards upgrading the company’s technology infrastructure with the integration of blockchain technology.

Founded by Manish Kumar, Verdant Impact specializes in developing AI-driven solutions for livestock management and bovine genetics. The startup’s offerings include Pashu.AI, a comprehensive platform for monitoring livestock health, tracking genetic information, and managing farms, as well as Bharat Pashudhan, an IoT device designed for herd monitoring purposes.

Verdant Impact has reported serving over 600,000 farmers and achieving an impressive revenue growth of 8X since its last funding round in March 2025. The company has set ambitious revenue targets, aiming to reach Rs 100 crore in revenue for FY26 while maintaining profitability.

In addition to its core business operations, Verdant Impact is actively engaged in initiatives such as the India Methane Mission, which is centered around reducing methane emissions from dairy farming and facilitating carbon credit mechanisms for farmers.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Accel and Google’s AI Futures Fund (AIFF) have revealed the five startups selected to join the 2026 Atoms AI Cohort. This collaboration combines Accel’s support for Indian founders with Google’s advanced AI infrastructure to propel early-stage teams from concept to global expansion.

The chosen startups, selected from over 4,000 applicants, will each receive up to $2 million in co-investment, evenly split between Accel and the Google AI Futures Fund. Additionally, they will benefit from up to $350,000 in compute credits covering Google Cloud, Gemini, and Google DeepMind resources.

The 2026 Cohort encompasses five key verticals, showcasing the wide spectrum of AI innovation and India’s increasing impact on developing globally scalable solutions.

The cohort features K-Dense, focusing on an AI co-scientist to accelerate discoveries in life sciences, physics, chemistry, and more; Dodge.ai, introducing autonomous AI agents to modernize ERP systems; Persistence Labs, leveraging voice AI to revolutionize large-scale call center operations; Zingroll, constructing AI-centric entertainment and streaming experiences for consumers; and LevelPlane, enhancing industrial automation for precision-driven automotive and aerospace manufacturing.

Accel’s Atoms initiative signifies the firm’s commitment to supporting India’s most innovative founders at the outset of their entrepreneurial journeys. Having been the initial backer for numerous successful Indian enterprises such as Flipkart, Freshworks, and Swiggy, Accel employs its extensive network and expertise to assist pre-seed founders in navigating their early stages.

Backed by Accel Atoms, over 45 companies have collectively secured more than $300 million in subsequent funding, marking a transformative period for early-stage innovation in India, where global capital and technology synergize to accelerate founder progression.

The AI Futures Fund is dedicated to backing frontier AI startups globally by combining funding with early access to technology, infrastructure, and mentorship from Google and DeepMind teams, aiming to expedite responsible AI innovation and facilitate the global expansion of cutting-edge applications.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Himanshu Ratnoo, the CEO of Cars24’s used-car business in India, is resigning after nearly six years with the company. His departure will see Cars24 co-founder Vikram Chopra take direct oversight of the India used cars team.

The move, communicated internally via emails reviewed by Entrackr, comes as Ratnoo had recently taken on a high-profile role in the company’s public communication, leading a TV branding campaign during the T20 World Cup.

Ratnoo joined Cars24 in 2020 and later became CEO of the India used cars vertical in 2024, overseeing initiatives like Touch & Buy and CarTruth. In an email to staff, Ratnoo expressed the difficulty of his decision, highlighting his time at Cars24 as a privilege.

Chopra reassured employees of a seamless transition, emphasizing the company’s readiness for a new phase of growth. Cars24, founded in 2015, operates a digital used car marketplace expanding internationally.

The industry context reveals Cars24’s revenue declined in FY25, while Spinny, a competitor, reported strong growth during the same period. Ratnoo’s exit marks a significant leadership change in Cars24’s journey, potentially impacting the Indian used car tech sector.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

This week, the Indian startup ecosystem saw a significant funding surge, with 22 startups collectively raising approximately $162.98 million, up from the previous week’s $105.08 million. The funding was divided into 6 growth-stage and 16 early-stage deals, indicating a vibrant investment landscape.

Growth-Stage Deals: Growth-stage startups secured $120.3 million through various funding rounds. Mozark led the pack with a $40 million Series B round, followed by investments in Captain Fresh, Mosaic Wellness, KaarTech, Skye Air Mobility, and AquaExchange.

Early-Stage Deals: Early-stage startups raised $29.05 million across 16 deals, showcasing investor interest in budding ventures. Newtrace, Coreworks.AI, Namma Yatri, Boba Bhai, Aditi Toys, Verdant Impact, and DrinkPrime were among the beneficiaries.

City and Segment Breakdown: Bengaluru led the city-wise deal count with 9 deals, followed by Delhi-NCR with 5 deals. F&B startups topped the segment-wise funding activities, with AI, SaaS, agritech, fintech, and e-commerce sectors also receiving investments.

Series-Wise Distribution: Seed deals dominated the week with 6 transactions, alongside significant contributions from Series B and pre-Series A rounds.

Week-on-Week Trend: Startup funding surged by 55% to $162.98 million compared to the previous week, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Indian startup ecosystem.

Key Developments: The week also witnessed key appointments, acquisitions like CARS24 acquiring Vehicle Info, layoffs at Dream Sports, ESOP buyback by Emversity, new launches, partnerships, financial results, and other news shaping the startup landscape.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

Certification-based technical training platform Newton School is set to receive fresh funding from Prateek Boob, co-founder of PhysicsWallah. The Gurugram-based company will issue 72,738 Series B1 preference shares to raise around Rs 25 crore, valued at approximately $117 million. Newton School offers industry-led tech education programs like B.Tech in Computer Science and AI, emphasizing hands-on learning and job-ready skills.

Prateek’s investment will give him a 2.37% stake in Newton School. The company, having raised $32 million to date, reported significant revenue growth and reduced losses in the previous fiscal year. This move coincides with PhysicsWallah’s expansion in the school education sector, with recent acquisitions and investments in educational programs.

Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts