From the story of an accidental matchmaker to funding news and more, YourStory brings you today's headlines with the latest developments across sectors.
Featured stories
The accidental matchmaker: how a PhD in hydrodynamics built an elite matrimonial service
Anil Kumar does not look like a matchmaker. He looks like what he once was: a researcher who spent years on US Navy supercomputers solving Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, a consulting engineer who spent seven years advising clients in the marine industry from a boutique firm in Seattle, a Chicago Booth MBA who received the Dean's Award of Distinction. His WhatsApp status reads: "Have an ask? Please get straight to the point. Don't send me a plain, 'Hi/Hello/Hey' & expect a response. Friends know that it peeves me."
Funding news
Agilitas gets Rs 225 Cr funding from Nexus Venture, Rainmatter
Sportswear platform Agilitas has raised Rs 225 crore from Nexus Venture Partners and Rainmatter by Zerodha. The round includes a Rs 200 crore follow-on investment from Nexus, the venture capital firm that backs digital-native businesses in India and the US, and a Rs 25 crore investment from Rainmatter, Zerodha's long-term startup funding arm.
The Bengaluru-based company founded by Abhishek Ganguly, Atul Bajaj and Amit Prabhu, plans to use the capital to strengthen manufacturing, brand building, retail and technology.
Homebuyer advisory platform Propsoch raises $2M in seed funding
Propsoch, a Bengaluru-based homebuyer advisory platform, has raised $2 million in seed funding from Athera Venture Partners, Sparrow Capital, and Vakil Group. The company plans to use the funds to strengthen its research and advisory capabilities, expand its team, and enter new markets.
Founded by Ashish Acharya and Ravi Agrawal, Propsoch offers a buyer-focused, data-driven approach to property selection, evaluating homes across more than 80 factors including builder credibility, construction quality, project efficiency, and appreciation potential. The company combines proprietary analytics, industry expertise, and consumer feedback to support homebuyers with independent recommendations.
Zuvees bags Rs 15 Cr as part of Series A funding
Zuvees, a cross-border gifting platform, has raised Rs 15 crore from IvyCap Ventures as part of its ongoing Series A round, taking total funding to Rs 30 crore. The company plans to raise Rs 60 croree to Rs 80 crore in the round to support technology development, international expansion, and operational growth.
Founded by Vijaykumar Ghadge and Abhishek Daiya, Zuvees uses AI-driven personalisation, curated product selection, and proprietary logistics capabilities to improve the gifting experience, particularly for international customers. The latest funding will be used to enhance its recommendation engine, supply-chain infrastructure, and customer intelligence systems.
Student startups at Tet College of Business collectively raise R1 Cr seed funding
Student-founded startups created by international students at Tetr College of Business have collectively raised more than Rs 1 crore in seed funding from entrepreneurs, investors, and senior industry executives.
The ventures operate across consumer categories including food and beverages, beauty, home care, sustainability, and wellness. The funding has been earmarked for product development, manufacturing, supply-chain expansion, and market growth.
The startups were developed from concept to market, with students managing branding, production, distribution and sales.
Other news
Meesho, BSE partner to help MSMEs become IPO-ready
Meesho has partnered with BSE to launch Project Shikhar, an initiative aimed at helping MSMEs on its platform become publicly listed companies through the BSE SME platform.
Formalised through a memorandum of understanding, the programme will support high-performing ecommerce sellers in becoming investor-ready by providing structured guidance across key IPO-readiness milestones.
The collaboration is intended to improve access to institutional capital for digital-first businesses and support their transition from privately owned enterprises to publicly listed companies.
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma backs AWE Funds
Vijay Shekhar Sharma has joined AWE Funds, an early-growth venture capital platform, as an investor. The platform is focused on deeptech and technology-led startups across climate, healthcare and the future of work.
Sharma's participation strengthens AWE Funds' network of entrepreneurs, operators, and ecosystem leaders supporting innovation-driven startups. The fund focuses on backing companies addressing large-scale challenges through scalable technologies with long-term growth potential, particularly in areas such as AI, climate-tech, enterprise technology, healthcare innovation, and future-of-work solutions.
Plum announces Rs 15 Cr maiden ESOP buyback
Plum has announced its first employee stock ownership plan buyback programme worth Rs 15 crore, allowing 199 current and former employees to sell up to 25% of their vested ESOPs.
Eligible participants include 73 current and 126 former employees, with 17 expected to receive payouts exceeding Rs 20 lakh. The programme extends to former interns and early team members. Current employees will receive full fair market value without exercise costs or discounts.
Green Drive Mobility, Montra Electric, and TVS Vehicle Mobility partner
Green Drive Mobility, in partnership with Montra Electric and TVS Vehicle Mobility, has deployed 100 EVIATOR 350 electric refrigerated trucks across India to support More Retail's quick-commerce operations.
The rollout expands the use of electric vehicles in urban cold-chain logistics, where reliable temperature control and operational efficiency are critical. The EVIATOR 350 features an integrated refrigeration system capable of maintaining temperatures between -25°C and +25°C, allowing transport of perishable and temperature-sensitive goods.
Bombay Shirt Company to open flagship store in Chennai
Bombay Shirt Company is to open a 2,500 sq ft flagship store in Chennai, introducing a new retail concept called The Den. The space combines the brand's custom-made and ready-to-wear menswear offerings with hospitality-focused features, including a café developed in partnership with KUP Coffee Roasters and a dedicated gelato bar.
The store offers a complete menswear range spanning shirts, trousers, denim, knitwear, outerwear, and seasonal collections. Customers can also access personalised styling, a wide selection of premium fabrics, and in-house tailoring services for made-to-measure garments.
Located on Khader Nawaz Khan Road in Nungambakkam, the store is part of the company's ongoing expansion across India.
Bombay Shirt Company's 2,500 sq ft flagship store in Chennai." align="center">Bombay Shirt Company's 2,500 sq ft flagship store in Chennai.
Truecaller partners with Gupshup
Truecaller has partnered with Gupshup to expand the availability of its Business Messaging platform across India, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and other international markets. The collaboration aims to help enterprises move beyond traditional SMS by enabling verified, rich-media communication through the Truecaller platform.
Key features include verified sender identities with brand logos and verification badges, support for images, videos and documents, one-tap actions for tasks such as OTP verification and order tracking, and priority notifications for time-sensitive updates. The partnership combines Gupshup's enterprise reach with Truecaller's messaging technology.
Veranda K-12 partners with Kauvery Hospitals
Veranda K-12 has announced a partnership between BVM Global Schools and Kauvery Hospital, a multi-speciality healthcare provider in Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru, to strengthen on-campus healthcare support for students.
Under the arrangement, Kauvery Hospital will provide qualified nursing staff, essential medical infrastructure, primary healthcare protocols, and emergency response support across BVM Global Schools.
The partnership establishes a structured framework covering healthcare delivery, student safety, and operational responsibilities to ensure timely medical assistance within school premises. The initiative forms part of Veranda K-12's broader effort to enhance student well-being by integrating health and safety measures into the school environment alongside academic development.
New Relic showcases capabilities developed with Microsoft at Build 2026
AI-powered observability platform New Relic has highlighted new AI and observability capabilities developed through its long-running partnership with Microsoft at Build 2026, alongside strong growth in Azure Marketplace bookings.
The company has expanded integrations with Microsoft Azure and GitHub to help enterprises monitor AI applications, automate incident detection, and reduce resolution times. Key additions include integration of New Relic's observability insights into Azure SRE Agent workflows, monitoring for Microsoft Foundry, and security and deployment tools for GitHub Copilot and GitHub Actions.
Redrob AI launches AI-powered platform in India
Redrob AI has launched an AI-powered professional platform in India, built specifically for the Indian workforce. It combines six core functions within a single interface: job search, AI assistance, resume creation, research, productivity tools, and workflow automation.
The platform claims to support more than 30 Indian languages and is designed around local work and communication patterns, particularly benefitting users in Tier II and III markets. It provides access to more than 790 million profiles and 20 million job listings. It targets students and early- to mid-career professionals.
VenturEdu's roadshow to find next-gen founders
Education platform VenturEdu has launched Jumpstart, a three-month roadshow across 25 Indian cities to identify candidates for its 14-month residential post-graduate programme in entrepreneurship.
The programme is open to students, working professionals, family business successors. and early-stage founders. The selection process focuses on entrepreneurial potential rather than academic background.
Shortlisted candidates will join a Gurugram-based programme featuring practical entrepreneurship modules, an international immersion in Dubai or Singapore, and mentorship through an eight-week engagement with startup leadership teams.
PPMS Group ropes in Prashant Janadri for Activatr
PPMS Group has appointed Prashant Janadri, co-founder and former CEO of Taskmo, to support Activatr Worklabs, its technology-led retail execution and distribution platform. Activatr is focused on helping FMCG, D2C and consumer brands expand offline by addressing fragmented retail and distribution processes. The platform combines distributor discovery, sales-force automation, demand generation, inventory visibility and retail analytics within a single system.
It aims to provide end-to-end distribution and retail intelligence through a distribution-as-a-service model, offering Launch, Growth and Scale plans tailored to different stages of a brand's offline expansion. The initiative seeks to streamline market entry, channel development and retail execution across India.
Melento integrates StockHolding DigiDoc into its AI-powered enterprise platform
Melento has integrated StockHolding DigiDoc into its AI-powered enterprise platform, enabling organisations to generate legally compliant digital stamp papers through a single API-based workflow. The solution aims to simplify document execution by eliminating manual stamp paper procurement, reducing vendor dependencies and supporting compliance with state-specific regulations across multiple Indian states and union territories.
DigiDoc offers both fully digital and hybrid execution modes, with features including automated stamp-duty calculation, real-time document generation and prepaid wallet-based payments. The platform is targeted at sectors such as BFSI, insurance, fintech, procurement and legal services, where compliant and efficient document processing is critical.
Cognizant launches Ace Team Program
Cognizant has launched the Ace Team Program, an initiative aimed at developing a community of high-potential engineers to support its transition into an AI-focused organization. The India-focused programme combines selective hiring, advanced talent development and a centrally governed engineering community.
Participants will work on client projects using AI-native tools and modern technology architectures. Cognizant said the initiative will support its strategy around hyperproductivity, industrialised AI and agentification while accelerating innovation, platform development and digital transformation projects for global clients.
Zyoin Group partners with Karnataka Digital Economy Mission
Zyoin Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) to support the growth of GCCs (global capability centres) in Karnataka. The partnership aims to strengthen the state's position as a preferred GCC destination by aligning talent strategies with ecosystem and policy support.
Zyoin will contribute expertise in GCC advisory, talent intelligence, and employer branding, while KDEM will facilitate industry engagement and strategic initiatives. The collaboration is expected to help attract more global enterprises and reinforce Karnataka's leadership in the digital economy and GCC ecosystem.
Pantherun expands market reach through strategic partnerships
Pantherun Technologies has entered into strategic partnership agreements with Dynatech Defence Technologies and Security WareHouse India to expand its presence across the Indian market. The partnerships will help promote Pantherun's industrial networking, communication and cybersecurity solutions among organizations in defence, industrial automation, infrastructure and enterprise sectors.
By combining Pantherun's technology portfolio with the partners' market expertise and customer networks, the collaborations aim to accelerate the adoption of secure digital infrastructure and advanced communication technologies across critical industries in India.
Xflow receives IFSCA approval for GIFT Clity operations
Cross-border payments platform Xflow has received in-principle approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) in GIFT City. The approval enables Xflow to offer services including multi-currency collections, cross-border remittances and merchant acquisition for businesses operating within the financial hub.
The company believes the licence will help support payment flows into and out of GIFT City and strengthen its regulatory framework. Xflow already holds RBI authorisations for cross-border payment aggregation and online payment aggregation, alongside a Money Services Business licence in Canada.
Ideabaaz launches Startup Fest 2026
Ideabaaz has announced the launch of Startup Fest 2026, a five-day startup ecosystem event scheduled for August 26-30 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event will bring together more than 300 startups, 150 investors, mentors, industry leaders and media representatives.
The festival will feature startup exhibitions, founder mentorship programmes, Demo Day pitches, workshops and investor networking sessions. Applications opened on June 1, with 50 startups to be selected for a six-week mentorship and investor-readiness programme. The top 10 startups will present their ideas to a panel of investors during the event.
Atom Financial Services acquires Sirius Capital
Atom Financial Services Group has completed the acquisition of UAE-based Sirius Capital, strengthening its investment banking and strategic advisory capabilities. The acquisition marks the launch of Atom Investment Banking and expands the group's offerings across wealth management, insurance broking, legacy planning and advisory services.
With operations spanning India, the UAE, and Singapore, Atom aims to leverage the acquisition to enhance cross-border corporate finance, debt restructuring, M&A and strategic advisory services. The move is expected to strengthen the group's presence across key financial corridors connecting India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
GoTrust launches automated consent management platform
GoTrust has launched an automated consent management platform to help enterprises manage user consent and comply with evolving privacy regulations, including India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The platform enables centralised consent capture, management, and synchronisation across websites and applications.
Key features include region-aware consent orchestration, granular consent tracking, automated lifecycle management, and audit-ready documentation. Targeted at sectors such as BFSI, fintech, healthcare, e-commerce and technology, the solution aims to reduce manual compliance efforts while improving transparency and governance around user data management.
Right Horizons launches new Category III AIF
Bengaluru-based Right Horizons Portfolio Management has launched the RH Rising India Opportunities AIF, a closed-ended Category III alternative investment fund with a target corpus of Rs 100 crore and an equal greenshoe option. The fund is open to resident Indians, NRIs, HNIs, corporates and institutional investors with a minimum investment of Rs 1 crore.
The strategy will focus on a diversified multi-cap portfolio with an initial bias towards small- and mid-cap stocks, supported by active risk management and hedging mechanisms. The fund will hold 20-25 high-conviction investments over a six-year tenure.
Activatr Worklabs strengthens leadership team
PPMS Group has appointed Prashant Janadri, Co-founder and former CEO of Taskmo, to support Activatr Worklabs, its retail execution and distribution intelligence platform. Activatr aims to simplify offline expansion for FMCG, D2C and consumer brands by integrating distributor networks, sales force automation, inventory visibility and retail analytics into a unified platform.
The company offers structured go-to-market plans designed for brands at different stages of offline growth. Janadri's appointment is expected to strengthen the platform's technology-driven approach to retail distribution and execution.
Younion Brand Experiences appoints new chief creative officer
Younion Brand Experiences has appointed Sharat Kuttikat as the chief creative officer. In his new role, Kuttikat will lead the agency's creative vision across India, ASEAN and ANZ markets, strengthening strategy, ideation and execution capabilities. With over two decades of experience at agencies including McCann, Ogilvy and DDB Mudra, he will focus on building a unified creative function across geographies and enhancing collaboration between strategy, creative and delivery teams.
The appointment is aimed at elevating the quality and effectiveness of the agency's work as it continues to expand its footprint in the technology-focused brand experiences sector.
Table Space names Ashwin Chandrasekar as chief information & technology officer
Flexible workspace provider Table Space has appointed Ashwin Chandrasekar as the chief information and technology officer. Chandrasekar will lead the company's technology strategy, focusing on automation, enterprise data engineering, software development and IoT-enabled workplace solutions.
He will also work on improving workplace experiences through advanced digital tools and operational efficiencies.
Previously the CTO at Third Wave Coffee, Chandrasekar played a key role in building the technology infrastructure of the speciality coffee chain. His experience spans multiple sectors and geographies, including India, Singapore, Chile, the United States, and Canada.
(This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.)
Edited by Swetha Kannan