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A collective voice for animal welfare

Bharati Ramachandran, CEO of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), discusses the state of the animal welfare movement in India and highlights that, while the country has a strong cultural ethos of compassion and a reasonably robust legal framework for animal protection, the real challenge lies in implementation.

Under her leadership, the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations has focused on building a collaborative movement-supporting grassroots organisations, scaling humane interventions like Animal Birth Control programmes, and encouraging citizen participation.

Country all set to take historic step towards women's empowerment: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that his government is resolutely moving forward for the empowerment of women in the three-day special sitting of Parliament, scheduled from April 16 to 18.

During this session, the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as the Women's Reservation Act, will be amended for its implementation in 2029.

Funding news

The Hosteller raises Rs 150 Cr in Series B funding round

The Hosteller Founder & CEO Pranav Dangi

National hostel chain The Hosteller has raised Rs 150 crore in a Series B funding round led by PROMAFT Partners and V3 Ventures.

This funding round also saw participation from ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, Merisis Wealth Trust, and family offices. The Mumbai-headquartered startup claims that this is the largest institutional funding round raised by a backpacker hostel company in India.

The Hosteller plans to use the capital to expand across key travel destinations, strengthen operational efficiency, and build the brand.

Intellithink raises seed investment

L-R Sridhar Venugopal, Founder and CEO and Aswin Venu, Co-Founder, Intellithink

Intellithink, an industrial AI startup focused on machine health and energy efficiency, has announced a seed investment of Rs 17 crore. The round was led by Pentathlon Ventures, which has invested Rs 6.5 crore through its India Fund II.

The round also saw participation from Anicut Capital and Veltis Capital.

Intellithink is addressing unplanned downtime issues through IntelliVibe, its AI-driven monitoring system that combines proprietary sensors with predictive analytics to detect faults early and improve efficiency.

The firm plans to use the funding to expand its enterprise customer base across India and the Middle East while accelerating the commercialisation of its end-to-end AI solution.

Cohoma Coffee raises Rs 5 Cr in seed round

Cohoma Coffee founders Paritosh and Kanika Birla

Cohoma Coffee has raised Rs 5 crore in a seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures and Swishin VC.

The fund will be used to accelerate the firm's international expansion and scale up its manufacturing capabilities.

Founded by Paritosh and Kanika Birla, Cohoma Coffee offers a wide range of specialty coffee products for home brewing, all designed to be prepared in under a minute without the need for specialised equipment. It also manufactures super-automatic machines for hospitality and corporates.

It targets consumers and businesses through retail, ecommerce, and hospitality channels.

Aliste Technologies secures Rs 30 Cr in pre-Series A round

Energy management startup Aliste Technologies has secured Rs 30 crore in a pre-Series A round led by Big Global JSC (the corporate venture arm of the Bitexco Group) to scale its sustainable enterprise energy management solutions.

The round also saw significant participation from existing investor Yournest Venture Capital and their manufacturing partner Hbeon Labs.

Funds raised would be used to double down on research into energy-aligned solutions and to improve distribution.

Aliste Technologies was founded in 2021 by VIT batchmates Anant Ohri, Aakarsh Nayyar, Bhavya Kansal, Konark Gautam & Shreyansh Jain.

University of Liverpool and IISc back early-stage research with joint seed fund

The University of Liverpool (UOL) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have announced a joint seed fund for early-stage collaborative research in areas such as AI, health and space.

The two institutions said they will co-invest annually for an initial three years.

UOL and IISc signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023, and their biochemistry links go back to one of the oldest traditions in the field at either institution.

Indigo invests in air-taxi maker Sarla Aviation

India's biggest airline, IndiGo, has picked up an equity stake worth Rs 10 crore in Accel-backed air-taxi startup, Sarla Aviation, regulatory filings show.

Founded in 2023 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan, Sarla Aviation is developing electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Shunya.

The newly raised funds are expected to be used to cover general operating expenses, working capital requirements, capital expenditures, and expand business operations.

Other news

CheQ and AU Small Finance Bank launch CheQ AU Credit Card

CheQ has announced the launch of the CheQ AU Credit Card in partnership with AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB).

The co-branded credit card will simplify payments, maximise rewards and bring together credit experiences aligned with the evolving spending habits of Indians. It also marks CheQ's expansion from bill payments into credit card issuance. The card also features an LED-powered tap-to-pay function and a unified rewards system within the CheQ app.

i-Hub Gujarat and SanchiConnect launch TattvaX Cohort 2

i-Hub Gujarat has partnered with SanchiConnect to announce the launch of TattvaX Cohort 2.

Applications for the programme will open on April 15, 2026, marking the beginning of the second edition of TattvaX.

The 90-day programme offers mentorship, workshops, and pilot opportunities to help startups test and refine their solutions.

A key highlight of TattvaX Cohort 2 is its focus on Proof of Concept (PoC) and pilot access, enabling startups to work with industry stakeholders to test and validate their solutions in real-world environments.

It concludes with a Demo Day, where selected startups present to investors and corporates for potential funding and partnerships.

LPL Financial opens GCC in Hyderabad

US-based wealth management firm LPL Financial has opened its global capability centre (GCC) in Hyderabad.

The Hyderabad GCC is expected to improve operational efficiency, scale back-office capabilities, and drive innovation, LPL Financial said in a statement.

The company added that Hyderabad was chosen for its advanced infrastructure and deep talent pool, particularly in financial services, technology, artificial intelligence, automation, and cloud engineering.

Snabbit appoints Abhinav Ankur as CBO

Snabbit announced on Thursday that it has appointed Abhinav Ankur as its Chief Business Officer (CBO).

Abhinav will lead Snabbit's business expansion. Abhinav brings extensive experience across consumer internet and logistics-led platforms, having held leadership roles at OYO and WheelsEye. Known for translating strategy into execution at pace, he joins Snabbit at a pivotal moment as the company moves from rapid early adoption to structured market leadership.

Snabbit is India's first quick-service app for on-demand home services, focused on delivering speed, reliability, and convenience for everyday household needs.

Tesco Business Solutions launches GCC Leadership Forum

Tesco Business Solutions, in collaboration with KPMG, has launched the GCC Leadership Circle, a peer-driven platform for senior Global Capability Centre (GCC) leaders to exchange insights on the sector's evolution.

The initiative aims to foster candid discussions on AI integration, operating models, talent, and governance as GCCs transition into strategic drivers of enterprise value. Designed as a closed-door, discussion-led forum, it will enable leaders to share real-world experiences and future strategies. The move builds on Tesco's transformation into a strategic partner within its parent group and aligns with its broader ambition to shape the GCC ecosystem through collaboration and its emerging B2B proposition, OmniSol.

Sasken Technologies opens Hyderabad engineering CoE

Sasken Technologies Ltd. has inaugurated a new Center of Excellence in Hyderabad to strengthen its product engineering and digital transformation capabilities. The facility will focus on next-generation technologies including 5G, IoT, embedded systems, and connected devices, while supporting industries such as automotive and satellite communications.

The company has appointed Nirmala Datla as Site Leader and plans to hire over 100 specialists across semiconductors, data science, and engineering. The expansion aims to enhance customer collaboration, accelerate innovation, and reduce time-to-market. The Hyderabad CoE marks a strategic investment in scaling delivery capabilities and leveraging the city's strong technology talent pool to support global clients.

S&P Global expands India presence with Gurugram Hub

S&P Global has inaugurated a 190,000 sq ft office in Gurugram, reinforcing India's role as a key talent hub. The facility will house over 3,500 employees across technology, data, and operations, supporting the company's global divisions. Designed with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and employee wellbeing, the office features advanced collaboration tools, creative spaces, and wellness amenities.

With over 16,000 employees in India, S&P Global highlighted the country's strategic importance to its global growth. The new hub reflects the company's commitment to investing in talent, fostering innovation, and strengthening its presence in one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.

General Mills appoints Anjali Singh to lead Global Business Solutions

General Mills has appointed Anjali Singh as Head of Global Business Solutions, reinforcing its India center's role as a strategic hub. Singh, with over 25 years of experience across sectors including telecom and financial services, will lead global operations while anchoring the India GCC. Previously with Ericsson, she brings expertise in digital transformation and operational leadership.

The appointment underscores General Mills' focus on strengthening its global capability centers to drive innovation and growth. The India center will continue to play a pivotal role in talent development and enterprise strategy as the company advances its broader "Accelerate" growth agenda.