Category: Funding

Edtech startup SiglQ.ai has raised $9.5 million in a seed funding round co-led by The House Fund and GSV Ventures.

The round also saw participation from Duolingo, General Catalyst India (Venture Highway), Peak XV Partners, Calibrate Ventures, and several prominent angel investors including Perplexity co-founder Andy Konwinski.

Founded in 2023 by Karttikeya Mangalam and Kurt Keutzer, SiglQ.ai builds AI-powered tools aimed at delivering personalized learning experiences at scale.

The funding will help the company ramp up hiring, improve its AI capabilities, and scale its platforms globally.

After operating in stealth mode for 18 months, SiglQ.ai has launched two products—PadhAI and EverTutor.ai—focused on the higher education markets in India and the U.S. PadhAI is already gaining traction among UPSC aspirants, with over 200,000 users.

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The company claims its AI tutor topped the UPSC 2024 Civil Services Exam rankings, outperforming more than 1.3 million human candidates and other AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude.

EverTutor.ai, designed for GRE test prep, has attracted over 10,000 users in just three months. SiglQ.ai now plans to expand EverTutor’s reach during the upcoming GRE exam cycles and further scale its impact on learners.

“We are at a pivotal moment in education where modern GenAI can provide a personal 1:1 tutor to every student and reduce the cost of one-on-one learning from hundreds of dollars an hour to the cost of computation,” said co-founder Karttikeya Mangalam.

The company will also be showcasing its latest innovations at the ASU+GSV Summit, underscoring its vision to make AI-driven education more accessible across the globe.

Bengaluru-based semiconductor startup Calligo Technologies has raised $1.1 million in a pre-Series A funding round, co-led by Seafund and Artha Venture Fund. The latest round adds to the $1.57 million previously secured from KITVEN and other investors.

The fresh capital will be directed towards research and development for its upcoming version 2.0 silicon chip and platform, alongside expanding its engineering and tech talent.

Founded in 2012 by Anantha Kinnal, Rajaraman Subramanian, and Vinay N. Hebbali, Calligo Technologies specializes in high-performance computing (HPC), Big Data, and AI workloads.

Calligo addresses performance bottlenecks in large-scale simulations and AI systems through its Posit arithmetic-based tools, including modified RISC-V compilers and libraries that run applications without source-code changes.

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In the past year, it has partnered with U.S. universities and supercomputing centers, soft-launched in the U.S., built an accelerator board, completed First Pass Silicon Ver 1.0, and begun customer shipments.

The funding comes at a time when India’s semiconductor market is on a growth trajectory. Valued at $6.67 billion in 2024, the market is projected to reach $14.09 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.1%, according to recent market research.

Nanotechnology startup Vimano has raised ₹25 crore (approximately $3 million) in its seed funding round led by Ankur Capital. This marks the first investment from Ankur Capital’s recently launched third fund.

The fresh capital will be used to expand Vimano’s team, kickstart pilot projects, and set up manufacturing operations, enabling the company to move from lab-scale innovation to real-world impact.

Founded in 2019 by Murari Ramkumar and Dr. Nagesh Kini, Vimano develops advanced membranes for clean energy systems such as redox flow batteries, fuel cells, and green hydrogen production. 

These adaptable membranes are designed to improve electricity flow, enhance durability, and reduce energy loss—making energy storage more efficient and cost-effective.

Currently, Vimano is working closely with partners in the energy sector to test and deploy its technology in real-world scenarios.

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The startup aims to accelerate the global shift to sustainable energy by supporting industries in need of cost-effective and high-performance clean power solutions.

This investment reflects Ankur Capital’s strong focus on deep-tech solutions tackling global challenges. Its third fund, backed by existing Limited Partners, has also supported startups like Captain Fresh, String Bio, Vegrow, Offgrid Energy Lab, BigHaat, Cropin, and Niramai.

New-age juice bar Alienkind has raised $1.2 million in a Seed funding round, securing a valuation of $10 million.

 The round saw participation from prominent industry veterans, including Super.money founder Prakash Sikaria, Ravi Iyer, Arpan Sheth, and others.

With the fresh capital infusion, Alienkind plans to accelerate its expansion into major metropolitan cities across India.

The funds will be used to build infrastructure, grow its team, and enhance brand visibility in key urban markets.

“Alienkind aims to make fresh fruit juices a lifestyle statement. The brand encourages the country to make the clear, superior choice of drinking juice from a place you can trust for transparency, value and quality, all at an unbelievable price point,” said Vikram Kakkireni, Co-Founder of Alienkind.

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Founded in 2024 by Vikram Kakkireni and Abhishek Kumar, the startup aims to make fresh fruit juices a lifestyle choice, inspiring consumers to embrace juice as the clear and elevated option for everyday refreshment.

Since its inception, Alienkind has quickly garnered national attention, setting itself apart in the Indian Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) space through a unique value proposition, accessible pricing, and strong brand identity.

Indore-based health tech startup Perkant Tech has raised ₹6.6 crore ($771K) in its seed funding round, led by YourNest Venture Capital.

The round also included contributions from the Atal New India Challenge (₹1 Cr), Villgro Foundation (₹35 Lakh), and Sanchi Connect (₹25 Lakh).

The funding will be used to enhance Perkant Tech’s AI-powered medical technology, expand its team, and gear up for a wider market launch. The startup also plans to introduce new features for early disease detection and recovery tracking.

Founded in 2020 by engineers Lokant Jain and Saniya Jeswani, Perkant Tech has developed “Abhay Parimiti,” a smart health scanning device that provides quick and accurate health assessments in under 60 seconds.

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Designed to function even in areas with limited medical access, the device can analyze over 700 body signals to detect potential health risks early.

With a patent secured in India and another pending in the U.S., Perkant Tech’s innovation aligns with India’s National Digital Health Mission. The device is user-friendly, making it accessible for both medical professionals and non-medical users, particularly in rural and remote locations.

Mental healthtech startup InnerGize has raised INR 4.5 Cr in a pre-seed funding round led by Antler, with participation from investors like Arjun Vaidya, Sharan Hegde, Ritesh Agarwal, and Aman Gupta.

This brings its total pre-seed funding to INR 6.5 Cr, including INR 2 Cr from government-backed schemes such as SISFS, MeitY Startup Scheme, NGIS, and BIRAC.

The funds will support manufacturing, clinical trials, and R&D, with a product launch set for April 2025.

Founded by Dr. Siddhant Bhargava, Shalmali Kadu, and Mitansh Khurana, InnerGize is developing a wearable device that uses Neuroacoustic Vagal Modulation technology to help manage stress, anxiety, sleep, and focus.

The discreet and portabledevice offers10-minute personalized sessions for stress relief, better sleep, mood stabilization, focus enhancement, pain management, and ADHD support.

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After pitching on Shark Tank India, the startup secured 1,300 pre-orders. The device, priced at INR 12,400, is available for pre-order at INR 5,000 – 6,000.

InnerGize aims to reach $10 Mn ARR in 18 months and expand into Gulf countries and Southeast Asia by year-end. It also plans to apply for FDA approval in Q2 2024.

India’s mental healthtech market, currently valued at $20.2 Bn, is projected to reach $27.4 Bn by 2033, with increasing investor interest in startups like Mave Health, Wysa, and LISSUN.

Indian luxury watch brand Argos Watches has raised ₹6.5 crore (approximately $780K) in an angel funding round, valuing the company at ₹45 crore ($5.4 million).

The investment comes from a group of high-net-worth Indian investors and is set to fuel product innovation, brand awareness, and online growth as the company aims to double its revenue this year.

Founded by M. Shahiwala, Argos Watches specializes in high-quality, vintage-style automatic and hand-wound timepieces at accessible prices, ranging between ₹8,000 and ₹20,000.

Operating through a direct-to-consumer model, the brand sells exclusively via its website, ensuring a seamless buying experience.

Its Apollo series and flagship Olympus watch, featuring a power reserve indicator, have gained traction among Indian watch enthusiasts.

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“This investment validates our vision of bringing precision-driven mechanical watches to Indian consumers,” said Channiwala. “With strong investor backing, we are set to scale operations, introduce new models, and push the boundaries of Indian watchmaking.”

As of 2025, Argos remains a bootstrapped venture with an estimated annual revenue of $580,000. With plans to expand its lineup with more advanced features, the brand is also strengthening its digital presence and community engagement efforts.

India’s luxury watch market, valued at over ₹10,000 crore, is witnessing steady growth, driven by rising disposable incomes and a growing preference for mechanical timepieces over quartz alternatives.

Bengaluru-based healthtech startup Stance Health has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm General Catalyst.

The round also saw participation from Antler, DeVC (backed by Z47), and angel investors, including Swiggy co-founders Sriharsha Majety and Nandan Reddy, as well as Onsurity’s co-founder Kulin Shah.

Founded in 2024 by Rohit Arora and Ninad Karandikar, Stance Health specializes in musculoskeletal (MSK) care, addressing pain in muscles, bones, and joints.

The startup offers a hybrid approach, combining in-person care at its centers with online recovery programs.

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Since launching its first center, Stance Health has conducted over 12,000 sessions in just eight months.

With fresh capital, the company plans to expand its tech platform, open six new centers by December, and extend its presence beyond Bengaluru next year.

AI-powered smart vending startup Wendor has raised $2.5 million (approximately ₹21 crore) in a seed funding round led by Elanpro.

The investment includes ₹5 crore in equity and ₹16 crore in debt, with Elanpro also offering operational support to strengthen Wendor’s logistics and service network across India.

Founded in 2021 by Lakshit Anand, Wendor is transforming retail automation with AI-powered vending machines that support digital payments, mobile integration, and advanced inventory management.

The fresh capital will be used to enhance its AI and computer vision solutions, improve efficiency, and expand both in India and internationally.

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To boost its market presence, Wendor plans to open ten experience centers across metro and Tier-1 cities within the next two months, allowing customers to interact with its cutting-edge vending solutions, including automated inventory tracking and AI-based product recognition.

The company has already built strong partnerships, including collaborations with NAFED and government offices like Rashtrapati Bhawan. Its vending machines are installed at tourist hotspots like the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, in partnership with Uttar Pradesh State Tourism and the Agra Development Authority.

Wendor also works with major brands such as Coca-Cola, Amul, Nivea, Apollo Hospitals, Unilever, and Fortis, further solidifying its presence in the automated retail sector.

Lehlah, a content-commerce platform enabling influencers to earn by recommending products, has raised ₹12.5 crore ($1.46 million) in a seed funding round led by Gruhas, the investment firm co-founded by Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath and Puzzolana Group’s Abhijeet Pai.

The fresh capital will be used to introduce new features, expand its team, and strengthen its presence in India’s growing influencer-driven shopping market.

Founded in December 2022 by Ashna Ruia, daughter of Essar Group director Prashant Ruia, Lehlah collaborates with top e-commerce platforms like Myntra, Meesho, Flipkart, and Nykaa, along with D2C brands such as Libas and Foxtale.

Initially focused on fashion and beauty, the platform is now expanding into home accessories and gadgets.

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Lehlah operates with a 50-member team, with its marketing division in Mumbai and tech team in Bengaluru.

The platform follows a commission-based model, where brands pay only when sales are generated through influencer recommendations.

Currently, influencers using Lehlah earn between ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 per month, reflecting the platform’s potential to provide sustainable income opportunities for content creators.