The Souled Store’s Acquisition, Startup Founders Meet Piyush Goyal, and CoinSwitch’s Crypto Futures

The Souled Store levels up its pop culture merchandise game by acquiring Redwolf, bringing fresh creativity to the casual wear space. Meanwhile, leading founders from the likes of OYO and Cars24 met with Piyush Goyal to discuss the future of deeptech and growth in India’s volatile startup ecosystem. Over at CoinSwitch, they’ve rolled out INR-based crypto futures, making the complex world of crypto trading more accessible to Indian investors. Besides, there’s also Startup Spotlight to savor.

Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Pop Culture Ka Mahautsav”: The Souled Store Buys Redwolf To Boost Presence In Pop Culture Merchandise Space

The Souled Store just levelled up its pop culture game by acquiring Redwolf, the indie brand known for bold graphic tees and fandom flair.

With Redwolf’s creative chops now in-house, expect the casual wear of geeks and nerds to scream everything from superheroes to sitcoms.

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“Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas”: Startup Founders Discuss Growth, Deeptech Innovation With Piyush Goyal

In a closed-door meeting on April 24, some of India’s leading startup founders met with Piyush Goyal to discuss the road ahead for innovation and deeptech.

The conversation, hosted by the Startup Policy Forum, reflected both ambition and concern over sustaining growth in a volatile ecosystem. Among the key proposals was a founder-led investment fund—signalling a push for more self-driven support in uncertain times.

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“Days Of Future Past”: CoinSwitch launches INR-based crypto futures

CoinSwitch just rolled out INR-based crypto futures, cutting out the currency conversion hassle for Indian traders.

That means quicker trades, fewer fees, and a smoother ride into the world of crypto derivatives. For desi investors eyeing the future, this could be a game-changer.

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1. Backed by Inflection Point Ventures and EaseMyTrip’s Rikant Pittie, the startup, Primebook has secured fresh funding to supercharge its R&D and product innovation. This follows its earlier INR 16.5 Cr raise through a mix of equity and debt.
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2. Metafin has raised fresh capital led by Vertex Ventures to expand its rural financing business, enhance tech capabilities, and strengthen leadership. The NBFC, founded in 2018, empowers rural India with loans for solar panels, EVs, and more.
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3. Mugafi has raised $3 Mn to scale its AI-powered scriptwriting tool, Ved, designed to assist filmmakers in crafting stories from plot to dialogue. Founded in 2020, the startup aims to be the creative partner behind the next wave of Indian cinema.
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4. HexaHealth’s board has cleared a proposal to issue 49,491 Series A CCPS, following a recent INR 2.80 Cr raise via preferential shares. The healthtech startup continues to expand its patient-first services—from consultations to post-surgery care.
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5. CollegeDekho has raised ₹40 Cr from Recur Club to accelerate its growth and innovation in the edtech and higher education space. The funding reinforces confidence in its mission to simplify college choices for students across India.
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6. Scandalous Foods has bagged ₹2 Cr in an extended seed round led by New Age India Fund to ramp up production and scale distribution. The food startup is eyeing deeper reach among small and mid-sized players
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7. KALKI Fashion has secured ₹225 Cr from Lighthouse Funds to expand its retail footprint both domestically and internationally. The funding will enhance its supply chain, boost product development, and elevate customer experience.
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8. Piramal Alternatives has invested ₹160 Cr in Chennai’s Saimirra Innopharm through its India Credit Opportunities Fund II, marking the fund’s third sector-agnostic investment. This strategic move boosts Piramal Group’s footprint in the pharmaceutical sector.
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“Bidi Se Saat Janmo Ki Mukti”: Meet Flow, India's Flavored Breathing Revolution

QuitCi’s Flow device is shaking up smoking cessation with its nicotine-free, flavored breathing exercises, offering a sensory substitute for those looking to quit.

Developed by ex-smoker Jeevan Gowda and business strategist Vinod Prakash, the device is part of a holistic approach, complemented by "Zero Cravings" gummies and "ReNewMe" candies to tackle withdrawal and recovery. Though the startup didn’t land funding on Shark Tank India, QuitCi is still pushing forward, hoping to help users kick the habit with a natural, science-backed approach.

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