India’s SaaS story in 2025: Consolidation, AI rush and a reset in growth strategies
During the year, Indian SaaS companies completed 30 domestic acquisitions worth about $386 million, compared with 40 deals worth $253 million in 2024 and 35 deals worth $124 million in 2023.
Trump-era regulations, Bitcoin's record run, institutional inflows mark crypto's inflection point in 2025
Industry leaders note that 2025 marked a shift in market behaviour, with prominent equity market investors beginning to diversify into crypto, altering the traditional boom-and-bust trading patterns that have long defined the sector.
Blinkit CFO Vipin Kapooria quits in about a year since taking over; likely to rejoin Flipkart
Kapooria, appointed around October 2024, was Blinkit's first full-time CFO since 2022. He has now quit to rejoin Flipkart, marking his third stint with the e-commerce major, just ahead of its IPO, sources told Moneycontrol
Cross-border payments gain momentum amid RBI push, exporter and freelancer demand
Large payment gateway players like Razorpay, Cashfree and newer startups are positioning themselves to capture this shift.
Founders of InMobi, NoBroker, Yulu and others commit Rs 100 crore to IIT Kanpur
The fresh commitment of Rs 100 crore is the highest-ever by any batch at IIT Kanpur, the institution informed on its social media. Of the total corpus, Rs 30 crore will come just from InMobi’s founder Tewari in his personal capacity.
Start-up Street: In 2026, roadblocks are many, as are opportunities
Overall funding for start-ups is likely to increase, with opportunities in new AI-related areas and Deep Tech, and start-ups are also entering Tier 2 and Tier 3 downs. But a few key risks bear watching
Zepto to confidentially file draft IPO papers on December 26
“Zepto’s pre-filing work is done and it will likely inform all the stakeholders about the filing on December 26,” a source told Moneycontrol
OPINION | 2025 Roundup: The year Indian startups got its mojo back
In 2025, Indian startups revived with AI-driven applications, particularly in voice tech and quick commerce, while venture capital investment surged, focusing on full-service AI and global expansion
Late-stage funding pullback cools India’s startup investments in 2025
Indian startups raised about $9.8 billion across 880 deals in 2025 year-to-date, marginally lower than $10.1 billion across 976 deals in 2024, as a slowdown in late-stage funding reshaped capital flows, Venture Intelligence data showed.
Deeptech startup Naxatra Labs raises $3 million Pre-Series A led by Rainmatter
Founded in Ahmedabad by Abhilash Maurya, Arnav Biswas, and Piyush Verma Naxatra Labs designs and manufactures high-efficiency electric motors for EVs and industrial applications.
Anicut Capital closes Rs 1,275-crore private credit fund, to back consumer, engineering and SaaS players
The private credit fund will deploy capital across consumer, SaaS, manufacturing and engineering services companies, as mature businesses increasingly turn to non-dilutive financing
The 2025 reset: Regulatory changes force diversification, resilience in India's brokerage sector
A structural reset in 2025 forced top brokers to shift away from derivatives reliance toward wealth creation, as retail investors embrace long-term, disciplined investing
From boAt to Zepto: Over 20 new-age firms gear up for 2026 IPOs as late-stage funding shrinks
The cohort features some of India’s most recognisable private-market names
Ather Energy to raise scooter prices by up to Rs 3,000 from January 1, 2026
The company says the price increase is linked to higher raw material, forex and electronics component costs.
Most MSMEs aren’t aware of DPDP Rules compliance yet, says Tally Solutions MD Tejas Goenka
In the coming quarter, Tally will be releasing a slew of AI solutions that will help its MSME customers access complex business data using voice and text over phone.
PowerUp Money raises $12 million Series A led by Peak XV to scale mutual fund advisory
Wealthtech startup plans to expand research-led, zero-commission investment advice and launch new managed advisory offerings as retail MF participation rises in India
Audiobooks platform Kuku taps Kotak, JM Financial and others for Rs 3,000 cr IPO
Kuku will look to file its papers during the January-March quarter and look to list on the stock exchanges by the mid of calendar year 2026, a source told Moneycontrol
Rentomojo FY25 profit surges 92% to Rs 43 cr; revenue at Rs 266 cr on strong rental demand
The rental consumer-tech firm posted its third consecutive profitable year, driven by a refurbished asset flywheel, an expanding offline network, and longer subscription tenures.
Health-tech firm Practo said to seek banks for 2026 IPO
Practo’s holding company in Singapore is planning to shift its legal base back to India to facilitate its listing and the process is expected to be completed by February, the people said.
Why Indian brokerages want AI to analyse your portfolio, but not pick your stocks yet
AI is moving closer to the investor’s decision loop, promising faster analysis, personalised insights and conversational interfaces. At the same time, it raises unresolved questions around accountability, explainability and regulation.
Premium baby gear startup Loopie raises Rs 7.2 crore led by Sauce VC, Hyperscale Ventures, Patni Family Office
The fundraise comes amid rising investor activity in the baby care segment, with specialised brands and vertical quick-commerce models gaining traction.
Indian institutional crypto investments outpace global exchange averages; grows 30-50% YoY
Institutional investors in India have remained focused buying blue chip and high-liquidity crypto tokens including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Ripple; making up to 2-5% of their overall portfolios.
South Korean firms Krafton, Naver, Mirae Asset launch Rs 6,000 Crore Unicorn Growth Fund to back Indian startups
The fund aims to back startups poised to become unicorns across areas such as AI, fintech, digital content, and logistics.
Jar in talks to raise over $100 million at $550 million valuation; WestBridge issues termsheet
As many as five investors are engaging with Jar for the new round.
Oben Electric raises Rs 85 crore in pre-Series B round to fund retail expansion, product launches
The round saw participation from investors including Raj K Soin, Musa Dakri and Ramesh Bhutada. With this infusion, Oben Electric’s total funding to date stands at Rs 285 crore.
