The CEO VINE

Author: sushree

  • Multibagg AI Raises Rs 1.5 Cr Pre-Seed Funding Led by AJVC 

    Multibagg AI Raises Rs 1.5 Cr Pre-Seed Funding Led by AJVC 

    AI-driven equity research startup Multibagg AI has raised Rs 1.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by AJVC. 

    The Bengaluru-based company had earlier raised Rs 65 lakh from friends and family, taking its total funding to Rs 2.15 crore. 

    The fresh capital will be used to expand the team and further develop the platform’s AI-led research and analytics capabilities.

    Multibagg AI is focused on offering institutional-style equity research tools to retail investors through an AI-native product. 

    Founded by Aaditya Anand in 2023, the platform aims to bridge the gap between the rapid rise in retail market participation and the limited availability of quality research. The startup said it recently crossed 10,000 users and has generated over Rs 10 lakh in annual recurring revenue.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/antinorm-raises-inr-28-crore-in-seed-round-led-by-fireside-ventures/

    Multibagg AI went live with its beta around six months ago and claims that users have linked portfolios worth more than Rs 5,000 crore on the platform. The company plans to scale its product as it works toward building a global fintech business from India in the equity research space. 

  • &Done Raises $3 Mn in Series A Led by RTP Global

    &Done Raises $3 Mn in Series A Led by RTP Global

    Indian professional haircare startup &Done has raised $3 million in a Series A funding round led by RTP Global.

    The round saw participation from Titan Capital, All In Capital, and angel investor Kitty Agarwal.

    The fresh capital will be used to expand the product lineup, deepen salon partnerships, and invest in research and brand-building initiatives as the company scales its presence across India.

    Founded in 2023, the Gurugram-based company is led by Atit Jain and Saumya Yadav. Jain previously co-founded live commerce platform BulBul, while Yadav is a former Urban Company executive and the founder of edtech startup Udayy.

    &Done operates a salon-first model, working closely with professional stylists before scaling its products through direct-to-consumer channels.

    The brand is focused on science-backed haircare solutions designed for Indian hair types and local conditions such as humidity and hard water.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/ev-charging-startup-roadgrid-raises-inr-12-cr-in-pre-series-a-round/

    The startup currently partners with over 1,500 stylists across more than 500 premium salons in regions including Delhi NCR, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Its product range includes salon-tested shampoos and conditioners developed using biotech-led formulations.

  • AntiNorm raises INR 28 crore in seed round led by Fireside Ventures

    AntiNorm raises INR 28 crore in seed round led by Fireside Ventures

    AntiNorm, a D2C beauty startup headquartered in New Delhi, has secured ₹28 crore in seed capital, with Fireside Ventures leading the round.

    Returning investors V3 Ventures and Rukam Capital joined the round, adding more capital on top of their previous investments.

    The company plans to use the capital to expand its digital and offline distribution, strengthen research and product development, and support working capital for fast-moving products. Part of the funding will also go toward hiring across product, growth, R&D, and operations.

    Founded in 2024 by Aparna Saxena, AntiNorm focuses on multifunctional beauty and personal care products designed to simplify daily routines for working women. Its current portfolio includes a dry shampoo, an all-in-one hair cream, and a lip treatment.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/emomee-secures-inr-2-crore-deal-on-shark-tank-india-season-5/

    Since launch, the brand says it has seen early traction with rising demand across channels and double-digit repeat purchase rates. Over the next year, AntiNorm plans to introduce up to seven new products across beauty, personal care, and hybrid categories, with a focus on climate-suited formulations.

    The funding comes amid growing interest in D2C beauty brands addressing convenience and performance, a segment where AntiNorm competes with players such as Mamaearth, Minimalist, Plum, and Sugar Cosmetics.

  • EV charging startup RoadGrid raises INR 12 Cr in pre-Series A round

    EV charging startup RoadGrid raises INR 12 Cr in pre-Series A round

    Indore-based EV charging infrastructure startup RoadGrid has raised ₹12 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by Venture Catalysts.

    The round also saw participation from Kamal Puri of Skyline Group, IPV, FAAD Network, LetsVenture, Vrinda Goyal of Pace Group, Haresh Patel of Arthanomics, and Maneesh Shrivastav of Alpha Value.

    According to the company, the fresh capital will be used to scale charger production, strengthen software integrations, and support nationwide deployment of its charging network.

    Founded in 2020 by Deepesh Shrinath, RoadGrid builds universal EV chargers that are designed to work across two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. Along with hardware, the startup is developing a cloud-based platform to manage charging operations, enable remote monitoring, and improve the overall charging experience for users and operators.

    RoadGrid focuses on two verticals, delivering fast DC and off-board chargers to EV makers and fleet operators, and developing and operating public and commercial charging hubs.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/skininspired-raises-2-9-million-in-funding-led-by-spring-marketing-capital/

    The startup has active deployments in Indore, Noida, and at Indian Oil fuel stations, with a confirmed pipeline of over 1,000 chargers supporting players such as Euler Motors and VinFast’s India network.

    As of March 2025, the company reported annual revenue of ₹2.57 crore and plans to use the fresh capital to expand its presence across fuel stations, smart city projects, and logistics hubs as EV adoption scales nationwide.

  • EMoMee Secures INR 2 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India Season 5

    EMoMee Secures INR 2 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India Season 5

    Kids-focused content and IP startup EMoMee secured a ₹2 crore investment for 4% equity on Shark Tank India Season 5 (aired January 6, 2026), closing the deal with Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar at a ₹50 crore valuation.

    Founded by Varun Duggirala and Pooja Jauhari, whose earlier venture Glitch was acquired by WPP in 2017–18, EMoMee positions itself as a “Big Skills for Little Ones” brand spanning digital content and physical products.

    The startup runs a highly scaled YouTube-first model, clocking 1.7 crore views in the last 28 days, growing from ~1,000 subscribers in April 2025 to ~1.5 million by November 2025, with one video uploaded daily since April 2025.

    During the pitch, the founders initially asked for ₹1 crore for 2% equity. While Anupam Mittal offered ₹2 crore for 5% equity at a lower valuation, all five sharks showed interest, leading to intense negotiations.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/goat-life-extends-pre-seed-round-with-%e2%82%b91-6-cr-led-by-d2c-insider-super-angels/

    The founders’ counter-offer of ₹2 crore for 4% equity was accepted by Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar.

    EMoMee’s strategy is built around relatable characters, AI-generated content, and rapid content testing, supported by its “3S model” spanning Screen (content), Stage (play areas), and Shop (products).

  • Quick-commerce platform Zepto enables in-app UPI payments

    Quick-commerce platform Zepto enables in-app UPI payments

    Quick-commerce platform Zepto, led by Aadit Palicha, has launched an in-app UPI payments option, allowing users to complete transactions entirely within the Zepto app.

    The new feature removes the need to switch to external apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm during checkout.

    After a one-time setup, users can select UPI at checkout and authorize payments with their PIN directly inside Zepto. This keeps the payment flow within the app, reduces friction, and avoids manual copy-pasting of UPI IDs or QR scanning.

    The internal system also provides Zepto with real-time visibility into transaction success and failure rates, giving the company better control over high-frequency commerce operations.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/get-a-lot-of-cash-out-of-them-deepinder-goyal-on-swiggy-keeping-him-out-of-shark-tank-india/

    With this launch, Zepto joins competitors such as Swiggy, which uses NPCI’s UPI plug-in, and Zomato, which partnered with ICICI Bank to enable in-app UPI payments.

    While Zepto has not disclosed the bank or technology partner behind this feature, the move aligns the platform with other major consumer apps focused on faster and smoother payments.

  • GOAT Life extends pre-Seed round with ₹1.6 Cr led by D2C Insider Super Angels

    GOAT Life extends pre-Seed round with ₹1.6 Cr led by D2C Insider Super Angels

    Breakfast-focused D2C brand GOAT Life has raised ₹1.6 crore in an extended pre-seed funding round, adding to the ₹1.1 crore it had secured earlier.

    The extension was led by D2C Insider Super Angels, with backing from Consumer Collective by Atrium and angel investors including Vikram Ahuja, Akash Gupta, and Dhruv Kohli.

    The fresh capital will be deployed to strengthen GOAT Life’s presence on quick-commerce platforms such as Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, introduce new product variants, and scale up supply chain capabilities.

    Founded in 2023 by Yash Kalra, the Kota-based startup operates in the ready-to-eat, high-protein oats segment and rebranded from GoOAT in 2025. The brand positions itself as a clean-label breakfast alternative, claiming its products are free from refined sugar, preservatives, and artificial flavours.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/urban-harvest-acquires-gourmet-brand-cocosutra-in-%e2%82%b92-5-crore-cash-deal/

    GOAT Life reported a sharp jump in monthly revenue from about ₹10 lakh to nearly ₹65 lakh in recent months driven largely by its direct-to-consumer channel, which accounts for roughly 70% of sales.

  • Arrowhead raises $3 million in seed round led by Stellaris Venture Partners

    Arrowhead raises $3 million in seed round led by Stellaris Venture Partners

    Bengaluru-based voice technology startup Arrowhead has closed a $3 million seed funding round, with Stellaris Venture Partners leading the investment, as the company looks to accelerate the rollout of its AI-driven voice solutions for financial institutions.

    The funding round also drew backing from a group of high-profile angel investors, including founders and senior leaders from fintech companies such as CRED, M2P, Turtlemint, and Kissht, industry sources said.

    Arrowhead plans to deploy the fresh capital towards advancing its core AI capabilities, strengthening its engineering and go-to-market teams, and expanding the reach of its voice automation platform across key financial services use cases.

    Founded in 2022 by Devyani Gupta and Vengadanathan Srinivasan, the startup focuses on building conversational voice agents that can independently manage extended and nuanced interactions. Its technology is designed to support banks, NBFCs, and fintech companies in areas such as sales, renewals, collections, and customer support, enabling them to scale operations without compromising on conversation quality.

    The company claims its voice agents can sustain natural conversations for up to 20 minutes, seamlessly handle language switching, and integrate with enterprise systems like CRMs and internal databases. Arrowhead also reports materially higher conversion rates compared to traditional human-led call operations.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/payment-infrastructure-startup-mylapay-bags-1-mn-in-funding/

    According to the startup, several financial institutions have already moved beyond trial deployments and are integrating its voice agents into live workflows.

    The startup currently serves more than 50 clients, including Paytm, Aditya Birla Capital, Bank of Baroda Cards, and InsuranceDekho, and saw a sharp rise in recurring revenue in the latter half of 2025.

  • SkinInspired raises $2.9 million in funding led by Spring Marketing Capital 

    SkinInspired raises $2.9 million in funding led by Spring Marketing Capital 

    Udaipur-headquartered skincare startup SkinInspired has secured $2.9 million (around ₹24 crore) in a Series A funding round led by Spring Marketing Capital.

    The round saw participation from Lotus Herbals’ Beauty Innovation Fund and Arihant Patni of Patni Financial Advisors, while existing backer Unilever Ventures also doubled down on its investment.

    The latest raise follows the company’s ₹12.25 crore seed round in July 2024, which was also led by Unilever Ventures.

    SkinInspired plans to deploy the fresh capital towards strengthening its research and formulation pipeline, stepping up brand-building initiatives, and expanding its team.

    The company is also looking to broaden its distribution footprint as it scales its presence across online and offline channels.

    Started in 2022 by FMCG veteran Piyush Jain alongside dermatologist Dr. Prashant Agrawal, SkinInspired is built around a research-led approach to skincare backed by clinical evidence. The brand co-creates its formulations with dermatologists, partners with over 200 skin experts, and has seen strong repeat usage across its product range.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/skiom-prepares-to-launch-skincare-brand-in-india/

    Dr. Agrawal said the brand will continue to emphasise formulation integrity, ingredient transparency, and clinical testing, while maintaining its commitment to vegan and cruelty-free standards.

    In addition to institutional investors, SkinInspired is backed by a group of angel investors including Arjun Vaidya, Ruchi Kohli, Chinmaya Goyal, Ana Kapur, Jivraj Singh Sachar, and Swapnil Sheth.

    With rising consumer demand for evidence-backed skincare solutions, SkinInspired aims to build a differentiated dermaceutical platform anchored in science, trust, and long-term efficacy.

  • Proptech startup Flent raises $2.5 million in Pre-Series A round led by Incubate Fund Asia

    Proptech startup Flent raises $2.5 million in Pre-Series A round led by Incubate Fund Asia

    Bengaluru-based proptech startup Flent has raised ₹21 crore (around $2.5 million) in a Pre-Series A round, including ₹17 crore in equity and ₹4 crore in debt.

    The round was led by Incubate Fund Asia, with backing from WEH Ventures, Twin & Bull Family Office, Stride Ventures, 91Ventures, Untitled VC, and several angel investors, including BlackBuck co-founder Rajesh Yabaji.

    Notably, more than 40 landlords and tenants using Flent’s platform also participated, collectively investing ₹1 crore.

    Flent plans to deploy the fresh capital to expand operations outside Bengaluru, with Mumbai and Gurugram next on its roadmap.

    The startup is also building additional products across the rental lifecycle, such as flatmate discovery, vacancy protection for property owners, and AI-driven tools to help users identify suitable locations and budgets.

    Launched in October 2023 by Mayank Lalwani, Rishabh Agnihotri, and Shail Daswani, Flent has built an integrated rental housing platform focused on ready-to-live-in, furnished homes with flexible leasing options.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/kayees-square-raises-inr-10-cr-in-pre-series-a-led-by-vakil-housing/

    The startup oversees the entire process, right from property setup and landlord onboarding to tenant vetting, upkeep, and rental protection while removing brokers and high upfront deposits from the equation.

    At present, Flent manages around 350 rooms across 140 premium homes in Bengaluru and reports occupancy levels of 90–95%, with an average tenant stay of about 14 months. On the supply side, the startup is focusing on high-value residential properties, especially those owned by investors and NRIs, where professional property management remains largely unorganised.