---
title: "Indian Startup and Tech Reporting: Originals | bharat.digital"
description: "Original reporting and analysis from the bharat.digital desk on Indian startups, funding, deep tech and payments, each listing its sources."
url: "https://bharat.digital/originals/index.md"
canonical: "https://bharat.digital/originals/"
updated: "2026-11-02T08:30:14+05:30"
language: "en-IN"
site: "bharat.digital"
---

# Originals

Startup write-ups, features and analysis written by the bharat.digital desk. Every piece lists its sources.

## Features

- [Flying Wedge wants to build India's first AI-piloted fighter. Here is what it has shown so far](https://bharat.digital/originals/flying-wedge-fwd-supreme-autonomous-fighter/index.md) (Feature, 2026-10-29, 4 min read): The Bengaluru defence startup unveiled a static prototype of FWD Supreme, a 1.5 tonne autonomous combat aircraft, in New Delhi. The specs, the funding gap and what still has to fly.
- [Perceptyne is betting that factories want two arms on wheels, not a walking humanoid](https://bharat.digital/originals/perceptyne-pr-omni-humanoid-factory-robot/index.md) (Feature, 2026-10-29, 3 min read): The Hyderabad robotics startup's PR-OMNI is a wheeled semi-humanoid with two 7-axis arms, force sensing in every joint and teleoperation for training. What it is, who backs it and what is still unproven.
- [Torus Motion started out building defence robots. Importing motors made it build its own](https://bharat.digital/originals/torus-motion-ev-motors-chennai/index.md) (Feature, 2026-10-29, 3 min read): The Chennai startup, formerly Torus Robotics, makes high-efficiency electric motors for two- and three-wheelers and industrial machines. Its pivot says a lot about a gap in India's EV supply chain.
- [SatLeo Labs puts India's first commercial thermal imaging payload in orbit](https://bharat.digital/originals/satleo-labs-tapas-1-thermal-satellite/index.md) (Feature, 2026-10-29, 3 min read): The Ahmedabad startup's TAPAS-1 flew on SpaceX's Transporter-18. It wants to measure urban heat, landfill fires and crop stress from space, and says it has about $52 million in letters of intent.
- [India's DPDP compliance timeline, explained: what switches on, and when](https://bharat.digital/originals/dpdp-compliance-timeline-explained/index.md) (Feature, 2026-10-29, 3 min read): The data protection law arrives in three phases between November 2025 and May 2027. What each phase covers, the dates that matter for businesses, and where to read the full text for free.
- [QNu Labs and the business of getting India ready for quantum-safe encryption](https://bharat.digital/originals/qnu-labs-quantum-safe-security/index.md) (Feature, 2026-10-29, 3 min read): The Bengaluru startup raised Rs 200 Cr with the National Quantum Mission as a co-lead. What it sells, why the timing matters, and what the round is meant to pay for.

## Analysis

- [Affle is buying Israel's Perion for about $420 million. Half the price is Perion's own cash](https://bharat.digital/originals/affle-perion-420-mn-all-cash-acquisition-ctv-retail-media/index.md) (Analysis, 2026-11-02, 4 min read): The Gurugram adtech company's all cash deal for the Nasdaq listed firm adds connected TV, retail media and billboard advertising in North America to Affle's mobile business, with a go shop window open until December 11.
- [AM Intelligence wants up to $3 billion in debt to pay for its Nvidia Rubin GPUs. Here is what the money is for](https://bharat.digital/originals/am-intelligence-3-bn-debt-nvidia-rubin-gpus/index.md) (Analysis, 2026-11-01, 4 min read): The Greenko founders' AI infrastructure company has about 29,000 Rubin GPUs on order for India and Malaysia, and is now lining up loans, bonds and an equity round to pay for them.
- [Capillary's 3 million euro loss came down to a lookalike domain and WhatsApp, KPMG finds. The deepfake question stays open](https://bharat.digital/originals/capillary-kpmg-forensic-audit-payment-diversion-fraud/index.md) (Analysis, 2026-10-31, 4 min read): The forensic report on the Czech subsidiary fraud found impersonation and a fake confidential deal, not a hack. It could neither confirm nor rule out the voice cloning the company first described.
- [India wants AI to come to the data: what MeitY's DEPA for AI Training actually proposes](https://bharat.digital/originals/depa-for-ai-training-meity-sealed-rooms/index.md) (Analysis, 2026-10-31, 5 min read): The draft framework, built with iSPIRT, would let startups train models on hospital, bank and government data inside sealed compute rooms. It is not binding yet, and the hard questions on payment and liability are still open.
- [UPI's merchant fee is coming after Diwali, and Pine Labs is already racing for the counter](https://bharat.digital/originals/upi-mdr-after-diwali-pine-labs-soundbox-push/index.md) (Analysis, 2026-10-30, 4 min read): A 0.4% MDR on merchant UPI payments above Rs 2,000 will touch only about 4% of transactions. Pine Labs says more than 65% of its UPI value sits above that line, and it plans 10 lakh more soundboxes.
- [Ten weeks of Indian startup funding: plenty of AI deals, mostly small cheques](https://bharat.digital/originals/ten-weeks-of-startup-funding-ai-deals/index.md) (Analysis, 2026-10-29, 3 min read): We tallied every round in Inc42's weekly funding tables from late August to late October. AI startups closed one in six deals, mostly small and early.

## Startup write-ups

- [Two Point O raises $10 Mn led by Transition VC to finance clean energy for factories and buildings](https://bharat.digital/originals/two-point-o-10-mn-series-a-transition-vc-clean-energy-financing/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-02, 2 min read): The Mumbai startup pays for solar, storage and efficiency projects at commercial and industrial sites and uses its own AI tools to underwrite and monitor them. The new money goes into deploying more assets and moving into battery storage and smaller businesses.
- [A seller claims to have super admin access to Vijay Sales' internal systems and is offering it for $25,000](https://bharat.digital/originals/vijay-sales-super-admin-access-allegedly-listed-25000-dark-web/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-02, 1 min read): The listing says the access reaches millions of order records plus employee, vendor and payment data. No outlet has been able to verify it, and the electronics retailer has not responded.
- [ED arrests Armstrong Exchange founder Sagar Dash, alleging betting money moved through a co-op bank account into crypto](https://bharat.digital/originals/armstrong-exchange-founder-sagar-dash-ed-arrest-apx-betting-laundering/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): The agency says proceeds of the All Panel Exchange betting and cyber fraud racket passed through mule accounts, shell firms and a Bengaluru credit society account opened for Dash's company before being turned into cryptocurrency.
- [Digi Yatra starts international passenger trials at seven airports using e-passport credentials](https://bharat.digital/originals/digi-yatra-international-passenger-trials-seven-airports-e-passport/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): Indian nationals with e-passports flying Air India and select IndiGo routes can now use the face based boarding app at terminal entry, security and boarding gates in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin and Amritsar until December.
- [India's fifth Digital Life Certificate drive targets 2.3 crore certificates, most of them through Aadhaar face authentication](https://bharat.digital/originals/digital-life-certificate-campaign-5-face-authentication-2000-districts/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): The month-long campaign runs across 2,000 cities and districts with banks, post offices, UIDAI and MeitY, and aims for 1.5 crore certificates generated by a face scan on a phone.
- [EPFO puts PF balance and passbook on WhatsApp and starts settling small dormant accounts on its own](https://bharat.digital/originals/epfo-whatsapp-services-auto-settlement-inoperative-accounts/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): Launched on EPFO's 74th Foundation Day, the WhatsApp channel shows balances and the last five transactions, while Aadhaar-verified inoperative accounts holding up to Rs 1,000 will be paid out without a claim.
- [SEBI fines CDSL Rs 1 Cr for cybersecurity and pledge lapses found in an FY24 inspection](https://bharat.digital/originals/sebi-fines-cdsl-rs-1-cr-cybersecurity-vapt-patching-pledge-lapses/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): The regulator says the depository left data loss prevention incomplete, patched vulnerabilities late and ran a VAPT that did not cover all its applications. It is CDSL's second Rs 1 Cr penalty this year.
- [Desible.ai raises Rs 32 Cr to turn voice AI into a workflow layer for insurers and lenders](https://bharat.digital/originals/desible-ai-rs-32-cr-seed-plus-prime-venture-partners-bfsi-voice-ai/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): Prime Venture Partners led the seed plus round. The founders now say the hard part is not a human sounding bot but getting it through a bank's compliance review.
- [CopperPilot raises $390K for an AI agent that turns plain English into circuit board designs](https://bharat.digital/originals/copperpilot-390k-pre-seed-neon-fund-ai-pcb-design-agent/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 1 min read): Neon Fund led the pre-seed round as the Bengaluru and Houston startup opened Epsilon, the first version of its hardware design agent, to engineers.
- [L Catterton invests in InMobi's Glance as it bets on AI shopping agents in the US](https://bharat.digital/originals/glance-l-catterton-strategic-investment-ai-shopping-us/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): The consumer-focused investor did not disclose the size of the deal. Glance wants to move shoppers from inspiration to checkout on phones and TVs without a search box.
- [Arrowhead AI launches Fletch, its own 14 language text to speech model for bank and lender voice agents](https://bharat.digital/originals/arrowhead-ai-fletch-14-language-text-to-speech-model-bfsi-voice-agents/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): The Bengaluru voice AI startup says the model already runs inside a calling stack that handles more than a million customer calls a day.
- [Vouch raises $500,000 from Y Combinator to build an AI wealth manager for Indian families](https://bharat.digital/originals/vouch-500k-pre-seed-y-combinator-ai-wealth-manager-india/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 1 min read): Founded by a former Robinhood product manager, the startup plans to launch its app in November 2026, subject to regulatory licensing.
- [SpectraGaze Systems raises Rs 3.7 Cr from GVFL to build Indian infrared detectors for space and defence](https://bharat.digital/originals/spectragaze-systems-rs-3-7-cr-seed-gvfl-infrared-detectors/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 1 min read): The Ahmedabad startup, founded by a former ISRO scientist, ran on customer programmes for three years before this first outside round.
- [SBI Card and Air India are building a new Visa co-brand credit card for Maharaja Club members](https://bharat.digital/originals/air-india-sbi-card-visa-co-brand-credit-card-maharaja-club/index.md) (Startup, 2026-11-01, 2 min read): The partners announced the programme on October 28 but have not yet said when it launches, what it costs or how many points it earns.
- [Fibe plugs its loans into Hygge Energy's rooftop solar marketplace to speed up PM Surya Ghar adoption](https://bharat.digital/originals/fibe-hygge-energy-rooftop-solar-loans-pm-surya-ghar/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The digital lender and the Canadian fintech for cleantech firm want households to find a solar installer and the loan to pay for it in one digital journey.
- [IN-SPACe offers Rs 67 Cr to four space startups for iodine thrusters, refuellable engines, space clocks and a NavIC chip](https://bharat.digital/originals/in-space-taf-rs-67-cr-manastu-inspecity-vyomic-mumbaisemi/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The second round of the Technology Adoption Fund takes the number of backed companies to seven. Money will flow in stages against milestones.
- [D-Propulse lines up a 2027 flight test for its rotating detonation engine after DRDO ground runs](https://bharat.digital/originals/d-propulse-rotating-detonation-engine-2027-flight-test/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Delhi startup founded by Saurav Jha and former DRDO scientist V Ramanujachari has no revenue yet and is looking at testing services while it works toward flight hardware.
- [eMudhra quits the global TLS business after weak CA keys, but India's accountability questions remain open](https://bharat.digital/originals/emudhra-exits-tls-weak-ca-keys-chrome-root-removal/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): Browsers distrusted the Bengaluru certifying authority's ECC root within days. In India, a MeitY probe and a CERT-In advisory are so far the only official responses.
- [Pronto founder Anjali Sardana launches Provision Labs, a US physical AI data venture](https://bharat.digital/originals/provision-labs-anjali-sardana-pronto-physical-ai-data-us/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 1 min read): The San Francisco company will collect real world data to train and test robots and other machines, with backing from the same investors behind Pronto.
- [BioStack raises $9.5 Mn seed round led by Peak XV, DCVC and Afore to build training data for medical AI](https://bharat.digital/originals/biostack-9-5-mn-seed-peak-xv-dcvc-medical-ai-training-data/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 1 min read): The Y Combinator backed startup, which works with hospitals in India, the US, Brazil and Argentina, says it has access to more than 100 million de-identified patient records.
- [AU Small Finance Bank investigates a possible leak of vehicle loan data from a Salesforce hosted platform after a hacker group's claims](https://bharat.digital/originals/au-small-finance-bank-probes-salesforce-vehicle-loan-data-leak/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Jaipur lender says its own systems are unaffected. The group calling itself ScarlettGroup claims KYC, PAN, Aadhaar and loan records, which no outlet has been able to verify.
- [Atomberg gets SEBI clearance for its IPO, with a Rs 450 crore fresh issue and a large investor sale](https://bharat.digital/originals/atomberg-sebi-nod-ipo-rs-450-cr-fresh-issue/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Mumbai fan and appliance maker grew FY26 revenue 34.8% to Rs 1,293.77 crore but posted a Rs 148.88 crore loss, and plans to put Rs 100 crore of the fresh money into R&D.
- [Simplismart raises $14 Mn Series B led by Dallas Venture Capital, with NVIDIA joining the round](https://bharat.digital/originals/simplismart-14-mn-series-b-dallas-vc-nvidia-ai-inference/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 1 min read): The Bengaluru AI inference infrastructure startup says its annualised revenue run rate grew 14x in six months, and will use the all-primary round to expand in North America.
- [Hitesh Oberoi to step down as Info Edge CEO after nearly 27 years; Sanjeev Bikhchandani returns as Group CEO](https://bharat.digital/originals/info-edge-hitesh-oberoi-steps-down-sanjeev-bikhchandani-group-ceo/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Naukri parent announced the handover alongside Q2 FY27 results in which AI and data products reached an annualised revenue run rate of about Rs 240 Cr.
- [Clinics On Cloud raises Rs 120 Cr Series A from Dubai's Model42 to take its AI-assisted Health ATMs abroad](https://bharat.digital/originals/clinics-on-cloud-rs-120-cr-series-a-model42-health-atms/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Pune healthtech company, bootstrapped for eight years, is valued at Rs 600 Cr and plans a UAE-led push into Africa, the US and Southeast Asia.
- [Tata Communications to spend up to $450 Mn on a 10,000 km fibre 'AI super highway' linking India's data centres](https://bharat.digital/originals/tata-communications-ai-super-highway-10000-km-fibre-rs-4350-cr/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Rs 4,350 Cr plan, funded from operating cash flows, aims to add about 6 Pbps of capacity between FY30 and FY36, starting with the Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai corridor.
- [CapGrid closes Rs 50 Cr round led by Hero Enterprise to grow its cloud manufacturing network for precision parts](https://bharat.digital/originals/capgrid-rs-50-cr-hero-enterprise-rs-430-cr-valuation-cloud-manufacturing/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 1 min read): The Gurugram B2B manufacturing startup is valued at Rs 430 Cr after a mix of primary and secondary deals; filings show Rs 46.28 Cr of fresh capital.
- [Jio Platforms posts Rs 8,389 Cr Q2 profit, up 13.7%, in its first results as a listed company](https://bharat.digital/originals/jio-platforms-q2-fy27-profit-rs-8389-cr-first-results-after-listing/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): Operating revenue rose 11.4% to Rs 40,475 Cr, ARPU reached Rs 218.8 and the customer base crossed 542 million, two days after a record stock market debut.
- [Practo founder's Cent raises $15 million Series A to build AI driven preventive health screening](https://bharat.digital/originals/cent-15-mn-series-a-blume-spc-ai-preventive-health-scans/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): Blume Ventures and South Park Commons led the round. The Bengaluru company has bought AI radiology tool Medsee and says it has run 10,000 whole body scans.
- [Hunar.AI raises Rs 40 crore Series A led by Blume Ventures for voice agents that hire and manage frontline workers](https://bharat.digital/originals/hunar-ai-rs-40-cr-series-a-blume-frontline-workforce-voice-agents/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-31, 2 min read): The Bengaluru company, which counts Swiggy, Delhivery and Flipkart among its clients, plans to build its own inference layer and small language models for workforce tasks.
- [QNu Labs signs Netpoleon India to take its QShield 2.0 quantum-safe platform to enterprises](https://bharat.digital/originals/qnu-labs-netpoleon-india-qshield-quantum-safe-distribution/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru deeptech company will reach banks, government, defence and telecom buyers through the cybersecurity distributor's channel partners and system integrators, six weeks after launching the platform.
- [Manastu Space signs Rs 116 Cr government deal to take its green satellite propulsion to flight readiness](https://bharat.digital/originals/manastu-space-tdb-rs-116-cr-green-propulsion-rdi-fund/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Technology Development Board will back the Navi Mumbai startup's Rs 277.63 Cr project through optionally convertible debt from the RDI Fund. Inc42 separately reports a fresh Rs 22 Cr equity raise, citing filings.
- [Delhivery swings to Rs 41 Cr Q2 profit as express parcels grow 32% and its robotics lab starts production](https://bharat.digital/originals/delhivery-q2-fy27-profit-rs-41-cr-delhivery-local-robotics/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 2 min read): The logistics company's operating revenue crossed Rs 3,000 Cr for the September quarter. It also raised its target for intracity service Delhivery Local and said AI automation has halved some support costs.
- [IIT Kanpur's C3iHub will build and run Uttar Pradesh's Rs 104 Cr cyber security operations centre](https://bharat.digital/originals/c3ihub-iit-kanpur-up-cyber-security-operations-centre-rs-104-cr/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The state cabinet approved a 24x7 centre to watch government networks, applications and data, and gave the IIT Kanpur cybersecurity hub three years to set it up and operate it.
- [PB Fintech's Q2 profit rises 43% to Rs 192 Cr as insurance premium through Policybazaar grows 38%](https://bharat.digital/originals/pb-fintech-q2-fy27-profit-rs-192-cr-insurance-premium-38/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Gurugram company behind Policybazaar and Paisabazaar grew operating revenue 35% to Rs 2,178 Cr in the September quarter, while the insurance regulator weighs changes to the commissions its business depends on.
- [Shadowfax's Q2 profit jumps five times to Rs 68 Cr as hyperlocal deliveries grow 88%](https://bharat.digital/originals/shadowfax-q2-fy27-profit-rs-68-cr-hyperlocal-ai-routing/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru logistics company's operating revenue rose 57% to Rs 1,538 Cr in the September quarter, its sixth straight quarter of growth above 55%, and it now plans routes for its truck network with an in-house AI system.
- [Matiks raises $10 Mn from General Catalyst to take its brain games app global, starting with the US](https://bharat.digital/originals/matiks-10-mn-general-catalyst-brain-games-global/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru social gaming startup says 2.2 million people played 48 million math, memory, logic and puzzle games on its app in September, and it is building an AI tool that lets users make their own games.
- [Paar Autonomy raises Rs 10 Cr to put its drone cameras and GPS free navigation into serial production](https://bharat.digital/originals/paar-autonomy-rs-10-cr-advantedge-gps-denied-drone-perception/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru defence tech startup builds the perception layer for unmanned aircraft, rovers and boats, so they can keep working when GPS and radio links are jammed.
- [Navi completes Rs 940 Cr Prosus round, its first institutional money, with Sachin Bansal still owning 84%](https://bharat.digital/originals/navi-rs-940-cr-prosus-ccps-allotment-valuation/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 2 min read): Regulatory filings show the fintech issued preference shares to a Prosus subsidiary, closing the deal first announced in August and giving Prosus an 8.59% stake ahead of Navi's planned IPO.
- [BlackBuck grows Q2 revenue 56% as its trucking payments base keeps compounding](https://bharat.digital/originals/blackbuck-q2-fy27-profit-up-42-fastag-tolling-superloads/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The listed trucking platform earned Rs 41.4 Cr in the September quarter, with FASTag tolling and telematics still the core and its newer freight and lending lines growing faster.
- [Fino Payments Bank posts a second straight quarterly loss as its digital payments arm stays shut](https://bharat.digital/originals/fino-payments-bank-q2-fy27-loss-digital-payments-paused-sfb/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): A Rs 20.9 Cr loss in Q2 FY27 reflects lower fee income, the cost of a core banking migration and a payments vertical that earned nothing this quarter, while loan referrals for its planned small finance bank grew almost fourfold.
- [Bijnis returns as Zorit with Rs 27 Cr to restock neighbourhood shops in 60 minutes](https://bharat.digital/originals/zorit-ex-bijnis-rs-27-cr-sparrow-capital-b2b-quick-commerce/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): Three years after Info Edge wrote off its stake, the B2B retail platform has rebranded, raised a round led by Sparrow Capital and says half its dark stores now break even.
- [Carbelim raises Rs 10 Cr from IIT Madras's deeptech fund for microalgae carbon capture](https://bharat.digital/originals/carbelim-rs-10-cr-iitm-unicorn-frontier-fund-microalgae-carbon-capture/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Kerala startup, which turns atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen using microalgae systems, is the first from the state to get money from the IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund.
- [Pine Labs' Q2 profit jumps over 6X and it bets on UPI fees with 10 lakh more soundboxes](https://bharat.digital/originals/pine-labs-q2-fy27-profit-upi-mdr-soundboxes/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 2 min read): Operating revenue rose 24% to Rs 806.2 crore. The payments company says most of its UPI value comes from payments above Rs 2,000, the line where NPCI's new merchant fee will apply.
- [Kissht doubles Q2 profit to Rs 125 Cr as its loan book grows 68%](https://bharat.digital/originals/kissht-q2-fy27-profit-doubles-aum-9317-cr/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Mumbai digital lender's operating revenue rose 44.7% to Rs 731.8 crore, bad loans fell, and it raised its full-year AUM growth guidance to over 60%.
- [Venttup raises $3 Mn from Rainmatter and Unicorn India Ventures to build precision parts at home](https://bharat.digital/originals/venttup-3m-pre-series-a-rainmatter-precision-manufacturing/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru B2B manufacturer, which localises critical components for energy, defence, aerospace and space customers, is setting up its own prototyping and machining facility.
- [CloudSEK opens a 12-week incubator for security founders and ships an AI gateway](https://bharat.digital/originals/cloudsek-launchpad-incubator-keyvigil-ai-gateway/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru threat intelligence company will pick 10 early-stage cybersecurity startups for Launchpad, each eligible for up to $5,000 in AI model credits routed through its new KeyVigil gateway.
- [Skydo gets final IFSCA licence to run payment services from GIFT City](https://bharat.digital/originals/skydo-ifsca-final-psp-licence-gift-city/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru cross-border payments company plans a multi-currency account that lets Indian exporters hold foreign currency instead of converting it on arrival.
- [Bengaluru-built Inkle buys Finally's bookkeeping business in its first acquisition](https://bharat.digital/originals/inkle-acquires-finally-bookkeeping-division/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The AI-led CPA and bookkeeping firm, profitable on a $1.5 Mn pre-seed round, picks up about 100 staff and a base of non-tech US small businesses in an all-cash asset deal.
- [PhonePe renames Indus Appstore and turns it into a digital goods marketplace](https://bharat.digital/originals/phonepe-appstore-rebrand-indus-digital-goods/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): Now called PhonePe Appstore and present on more than 200 million devices, the Google Play rival is adding gift cards, top-ups and a browser-based webstore.
- [Pixxel sets up Pixxel Federal to sell hyperspectral imaging to US government agencies](https://bharat.digital/originals/pixxel-federal-us-subsidiary-defence-intelligence/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Bengaluru spacetech company's new US arm will chase civilian, defence and intelligence contracts, building on existing work with NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office.
- [Freshworks buys Robusta to add an AI incident investigator to Freshservice](https://bharat.digital/originals/freshworks-acquires-robusta-ai-incident-investigation/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The Nasdaq-listed SaaS company is folding the Israeli startup's root-cause engine into its IT service management platform. Terms were not disclosed.
- [Viridian Ingni Propulsion raises Rs 1.47 crore to build full electric drive systems in India](https://bharat.digital/originals/viridian-ingni-propulsion-pre-seed-electric-motors/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-30, 1 min read): The IIT Madras Research Park startup designs motors, controllers and firmware as one unit for EVs, drones and robots, and is heading into pilot production.
- [Coratia Technologies raises Rs 18 crore to deliver its Indian Navy underwater robot contract](https://bharat.digital/originals/coratia-technologies-rs-18-cr-bridge-underwater-robotics/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Odisha deeptech startup's bridge round, led by MGF Kavachh, funds a Rs 66 crore iDEX order and more R&D on its Jalasimha ROV.
- [Tensrai raises Rs 3.4 crore to retrofit existing machines with autonomy](https://bharat.digital/originals/tensrai-pre-seed-retrofit-autonomy-physical-ai/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Hyderabad physical AI startup wants factories and warehouses to add self-driving skills to equipment they already own.
- [Docterz raises Rs 5 crore, with doctors who use its software putting in most of it](https://bharat.digital/originals/docterz-rs-5-cr-doctor-investors-clinic-software/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): About 20 doctor users contributed nearly Rs 3 crore of the round, alongside Vineeta Singh and Avnish Anand.
- [Kaara Space runs the first integrated vacuum test of its Hall-effect thruster](https://bharat.digital/originals/kaara-space-hall-effect-thruster-vacuum-test/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Hyderabad space startup is building a 550 W argon electric thruster for satellites of 200 to 500 kg.
- [Quintrans turns a student hyperloop project into Indian linear motors for factories and ports](https://bharat.digital/originals/quintrans-linear-motors-pre-seed-capital-a/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Pune startup raised a $750K pre-seed round from Capital-A and has built a 100 m linear motor test track for port automation.
- [Harvested Robotics builds a tractor-mounted AI laser weeder for Indian farms](https://bharat.digital/originals/harvested-robotics-rakshak-ai-laser-weeder/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Hyderabad startup, backed by Anand Mahindra and Arali Ventures, uses cameras and blue lasers to kill weeds without chemicals.
- [Gridflow tests an autonomous electric pod that runs on its own guideway](https://bharat.digital/originals/gridflow-autonomous-electric-pod-transit-hubballi/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Hubballi startup's prototype pod carries four people at about 30 km/h, with a 60 km/h demonstration planned.
- [Omspace signs with Japan's Astro Gate to plan where its reusable rocket could land and relaunch](https://bharat.digital/originals/omspace-infinity-one-astro-gate-japan-mou/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Ahmedabad launch startup flew Gujarat's first sounding rocket in March and has finished landing legs for Infinity One.
- [Astrophel Aerospace tests an Indian-made actuator for its reusable rocket hopper](https://bharat.digital/originals/astrophel-aerospace-actuator-test-reusable-rocket/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Pune startup's actuator handled 5 kN loads. Its vertical takeoff and landing test flight has slipped to early 2027.
- [xTerra Robotics launches DHAV-Hy, a quadruped robot with wheels on its feet](https://bharat.digital/originals/xterra-robotics-dhav-hy-wheeled-quadruped/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The IIT Kanpur spin-out's 22 kg robot rolls at about 18 km/h on flat ground and walks over stairs and slopes.
- [Strider Robotics' M3 quadruped tows a car and heads into industrial pilots](https://bharat.digital/originals/strider-robotics-m3-quadruped-tows-car/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The IISc and ARTPARK spin-out says its robot carries up to 40 kg and has more than 80% Indian content by cost.
- [Scrub Robotics builds autonomous boats to clean Bengaluru's lakes](https://bharat.digital/originals/scrub-robotics-autonomous-lake-cleaning-robots/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The RV College of Engineering team has tested its robots at Kengeri and Madiwala lakes and is now seeking municipal pilots.
- [Altersage's Cocobot climbs coconut trees so farmers do not have to](https://bharat.digital/originals/altersage-cocobot-coconut-harvesting-robot/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Kerala startup's 11 kg robot climbs a 20 m tree in under a minute. A fully automatic AI version is in development.
- [Scimplify raises $25M from Hitachi Ventures to make critical materials outside China](https://bharat.digital/originals/scimplify-25m-hitachi-ventures-critical-materials/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru specialty chemicals startup uses an AI platform to move from a customer order to finished material in as little as two months.
- [Agnikul fires its 3D-printed Agnite engine through thrust sweeps ahead of Mission-02](https://bharat.digital/originals/agnikul-agnite-engine-thrust-sweep-mission-02/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Chennai launch startup says the long-duration test brings its Agnibaan rocket closer to its next flight.
- [Jedlik Motors is building an enclosed electric two-wheeler with crab-walk steering](https://bharat.digital/originals/jedlik-motors-e-pod-enclosed-electric-two-wheeler/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Chennai startup's e-POD prototype targets a June 2027 launch at about Rs 2.5 lakh, with a battery subscription option.
- [IG Defence test-fires rocket motors for JWALA, a low-cost anti-drone micro-missile](https://bharat.digital/originals/ig-defence-jwala-micro-missile-rocket-motor-test/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The interceptor is designed as the hard-kill layer of an AI battle management system called GRID.
- [Boson Whitewater turns treated sewage water into drinking quality water for Bengaluru](https://bharat.digital/originals/boson-whitewater-stp-water-to-potable/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The startup's 11-stage system has recovered more than 65 crore litres, according to NITI Aayog, and runs India's first indirect potable reuse project.
- [unWOOD turns mixed plastic waste into a material you can saw, screw and sit on](https://bharat.digital/originals/unwood-plastic-waste-to-wood-alternative/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru startup's process bonds commingled plastics into a wood-like composite without water or heavy heat, and won a Climate-KIC grant.
- [EKA Mobility plans Rs 1,000 Cr of R&D after raising over Rs 1,400 Cr in debt for e-bus orders](https://bharat.digital/originals/eka-mobility-ebus-debt-rs-1000-cr-rnd/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Pune electric bus maker has won thousands of buses in central tenders against Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland.
- [Nova Spectral AI raises Rs 21.15 Cr to build an Indian infrared image sensor chip](https://bharat.digital/originals/nova-spectral-ai-seed-swir-image-sensor/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru deeptech startup, led in its seed round by Shastra VC, wants to make short-wave infrared vision cheap enough for drones, robots and phones.
- [Protectt.ai takes control of Bosch-incubated AIShield to build an AI security stack](https://bharat.digital/originals/protectt-ai-majority-stake-aishield-bosch/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 2 min read): The Bessemer-backed mobile app security startup is buying a majority stake in AIShield through new and existing shares. Bosch keeps a minority stake and no deal value was disclosed.
- [QwikBuild raises $2.3 Mn and sets up a Japan joint venture with its lead investor](https://bharat.digital/originals/qwikbuild-pre-seed-enterprise-ai-japan-jv/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru startup, founded by a former slice executive, uses AI agents to build enterprise software and says it already serves more than 100 companies.
- [Tradl raises $4.1 Mn from Nexus and Stellaris to bring quant tools to retail traders](https://bharat.digital/originals/tradl-seed-ai-quant-tools-retail-traders/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru startup pairs a language model with a rules based quant engine, so the same question on the same data always returns the same answer.
- [Mochatrade raises $5.5 Mn to let Indian traders bet on US stocks in rupees](https://bharat.digital/originals/mochatrade-seed-us-stock-perpetuals/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 2 min read): The Y Combinator-backed startup, led in its seed round by CoinFund, wants Indians to fund trades over UPI and track profit and loss in rupees. It has not launched publicly yet.
- [Live2.ai raises Rs 130 Cr for AI agents that watch what people say about brands](https://bharat.digital/originals/live2-ai-pre-series-b-social-intelligence/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru startup's pre-Series B, led by IvyCap Ventures, mixes fresh capital with a secondary sale. It says 90% of its revenue comes from outside India.
- [Simplismart raises $14 Mn to sell the software layer between AI models and GPUs](https://bharat.digital/originals/simplismart-series-b-ai-inference/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): The Bengaluru startup's Series B was led by Dallas Venture Capital, with Nvidia among the backers. Its pitch is cheaper, more controllable AI inference.
- [Quanfluence raises $10 Mn to build a photonic quantum computer in Bengaluru](https://bharat.digital/originals/quanfluence-photonic-quantum-computer/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): Chiratae Ventures led the round. The startup already sells an optical Ising machine and is targeting early quantum processors by 2027.
- [RapidCanvas raises $29 Mn to take enterprise AI from pilot to production](https://bharat.digital/originals/rapidcanvas-series-b-enterprise-ai/index.md) (Startup, 2026-10-29, 1 min read): Vertex Ventures SEA & India led the Series B. The company pairs its platform with field engineers who stay with each deployment.