Wheelocity, a Chennai-based startup, has pivoted to rural e-commerce, targeting India’s underserved semi-urban and rural markets. Founded by Selvam VMS in 2021, the company uses a unique “phygital” model, combining an app with a fleet of 1,000 electric vehicles for daily doorstep deliveries. Operating in 3,500 villages, Wheelocity plans to expand to 20,000 villages across southern India, aiming to reach 10 million consumers. Backed by Lightspeed, the startup recently raised $15 million to scale its operations and grow its electric fleet.
COOX, a home services booking platform, has raised $125,000 in Seed funding from Inflection Point Ventures to support its expansion to 40 cities, boost marketing efforts, and incorporate AI for enhanced operations. Founded by Akshat Gupta, Abhishek Gupta, and Rajat Johri, COOX offers services such as professional chefs, domestic cooks, bartenders, and event decoration for various gatherings. Since its 2019 launch, COOX has served over 5 lakh customers and onboarded more than 3,000 trained professionals, driving innovation in home services and creating gig opportunities in the hospitality sector. With the Indian food services market set to grow, COOX’s mission—“Hosts should enjoy as much as the guests”—positions it to meet rising demand for organized, tech-driven service solutions.
Transition VC has launched India’s first energy transition startup accelerator, in collaboration with T-Hub and IEEE, to support startups working in decarbonisation, energy storage, electrification of transport, and Net Zero technologies. With part of its ₹400-crore fund allocated to the initiative, Transition VC aims to incubate 7-8 startups, offering funding, R&D support, mentorship, and prototyping assistance. Co-founder Mohammed Shoeb Ali emphasized the importance of leveraging India's engineering expertise to reduce fossil fuel dependency. The accelerator aligns with the government’s energy transition goals, with two Centres of Excellence being established to drive innovation and sustainability efforts.
Singapore-based ThinKuvate has made the first close of its Rs 100-crore India-focused fund, raising Rs 25 crore within four months. The fund targets early-stage startups, co-investing alongside top venture capital firms in sectors like healthtech, fintech, AI, and more. ThinKuvate has already invested in four startups, including Rosh.ai and Zippee, and plans to back 30-40 companies with Rs 1.5-4 crore investments. Over 50% of the fund’s investors are NRIs from countries such as Singapore, the US, and Australia, highlighting its global appeal.
Visa processing platform Atlys has raised $20 million in its Series B round, co-led by Peak XV Partners and Elevation Capital, with participation from DST Global and Headline. The funding will drive Atlys' global expansion, product development, and entry into new markets. The three-year-old startup streamlines visa processes, reducing rejection rates and processing times to just 55 seconds. Atlys handles over 30,000 visa applications monthly, with India contributing 60%. Founder Mohak Nahta highlighted the company's 20x growth and the critical need for seamless visa processing amid India’s rising outbound tourism.
Antler India plans to double its investments in 2024, utilizing a ₹600 crore ($75 million) India-focused fund that was closed earlier this year. The firm has already invested in 63 startups and aims to support 100-120 more by the end of the year. Antler India primarily focuses on pre-seed ventures and operates independently from its Singapore-based global entity. Recently, the firm led an $11 million pre-Series A funding round in Bengaluru's ride-hailing startup, Namma Yatri. This investment aligns with Antler India's strategy to back startups building digital public infrastructure. In addition to digital infrastructure, Antler India is sector-agnostic, with a specific interest in SaaS, fintech, generative AI, and large networks like ONDC. The firm also benefits from its extensive global network, providing founders access to resources across 30 locations worldwide.
India Accelerator has launched a new vertical to back cleantech businesses. This initiative supports startups focused on sustainability, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and climate change. Each startup will receive INR 1.5 Cr from the Finvolve Accelerator Fund and INR 4.1 Cr from the Finvolve Seed Fund. Finvolve, a joint venture of India Accelerator and Finolutions, aims to help wealth managers explore startup investments. The vertical will provide growth frameworks for clean energy, e-waste recycling, lithium-ion battery manufacturing, and biotechnology startups. India Accelerator's founder Ashish Bhatia emphasized redefining resource use and building a regenerative future. Managing Partner Deepak Nagpal highlighted the circular economy's potential, promoting responsible consumption and production.
India’s federal government has abolished the controversial “angel tax” for all classes of investors, marking a significant victory for the country's startup ecosystem. Introduced in 2012 to control money laundering, the tax had long burdened early-stage companies and their backers. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the removal during her budget speech, aiming to bolster the entrepreneurial spirit and support innovation. The abolition of the angel tax has been widely welcomed by the startup community, including entrepreneurs, investors, and venture capitalists. Siddharth Pai of 3one4 Capital called it a "watershed moment," while Amit Mehra of Lightspeed highlighted the reduction in tax-related uncertainty for startups. This move is expected to foster a more supportive investment environment, fueling innovation and growth.
Yali Capital has launched an ₹810 crore venture fund, including a ₹310 crore greenshoe option, to support early-stage deep tech startups in India. Co-founded by Ganapathy Subramaniam, former CEO of Cosmic Circuits, and Mathew Cyriac, Executive Chairman of Florintree, the fund aims to invest in areas such as chip design, robotics, genomics, smart manufacturing, aerospace, and AI. Yali Capital's advisory team includes Lip-Bu Tan, former CEO of Cadence, known for taking over 130 deep tech companies to IPO globally. Tan expressed his eagerness to help create globally recognized deep tech companies from India. The fund has approved investments in four startups, finalizing by Q3 2024.
IndusDC, committed to reducing 1 giga tonne of CO2 emissions by 2035, has earmarked Rs 100 crore for supporting tech startups in the industrial and energy sectors for FY25 and FY26. Aiming to launch five startups within two years and over 50 globally in a decade, each will receive up to Rs 20 crore from a mix of grants, equity, and debt. Founded by Kushant Uppal, Satyanarayanan Seshadri, and Kaustubh Hanmantgad, IndusDC has secured an investment from Mirik Gogri of Spectrum Impact. They're collaborating with IIT Madras on three hard-tech startups and planning to partner with other research institutes to harness intellectual properties for scalable ventures.
Investment firm 100X.VC is negotiating with four large corporates from Japan and Hong Kong to invest in early-stage Indian startups, as part of its corporate venture capital (CVC) initiative launched in August 2021. This initiative partners with Indian and international corporates to assist in making informed early-stage investment decisions. Notable partners include Panasonic and Pidilite Ventures, with Pidilite investing around $9 million in six startups through this collaboration. 100X.VC has invested in over 150 early-stage startups, including Data Sutram, Dezy, and Beyond Snacks. The firm’s CVC vertical operates independently from its venture capital operations, focusing on helping corporates strike profitable deals and identify acquisition targets. Founder and CFO Yagnesh Sanghrajka anticipates growing interest from CVCs in India's thriving startup ecosystem.
Centriti, a B2B e-procurement platform, has secured Rs 6 crore in funding led by Emergent India Ventures, with participation from Atrium Angels, Alluvium Capital, Venture Garage, CoralBay Ventures, HOF, and Brigade Group. The funds will enhance tech capabilities, reduce service time, and expand into new geographies. Founded in 2022 by Daljeet Singh, Centriti uses mid-mile logistics, warehousing, and AI-driven inventory management to optimize costs and efficiency for hotels and restaurants. The Delhi-based startup collaborates with major brands like Taj Hotels, Oberoi Hotels, Accor Group, Barbeque Nation, and Chai Point. Currently operating in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Jaipur, Centriti plans to expand to Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Chennai within two years. With a current monthly run rate of Rs 2 crore, the company aims to reach Rs 6 crore by December 2024, scaling up 10x in two years.
