Veefin’s Strategic Stake, Google’s Gemini Launch In India, IN-SPACe’s Pre-Incubation Program and more

Rannvijay supports Rockit as it rockets forward in beverage innovation; Veefin ventures into tax solutions for seamless supply chains; Google launches Gemini, speaking nine local languages; IN-SPACe ignites space startup dreams; and Vivo gears up with a mammoth smartphone plant on the horizon.

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What Matters

“Roadies Se Startup Tak Ka Safar”: Roadies’ Fame Rannvijay Backs Beverage Startup Rockit In Sauce.vc-Led Round

Roadies’ fame Rannvijay has backed the beverage startup Rockit in a Sauce.vc-led funding round, and Singha has joined as the brand ambassador. Founder Vedant Garg shared plans to scale offline distribution in North India, boost brand awareness, and increase market presence.

Rockit, an energy drink startup, sells its products through retail distribution and B2B ecommerce platforms like Udaan, ApnaKlub, and Walmart.

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“Ab Aayega Maza”: Veefin Picks Up Strategic Stake In Regime Tax Solutions To Expand Supply Chain Financing Play

Veefin has picked up a strategic 26% stake in Regime Tax Solutions to bolster its supply chain financing capabilities. This integration brings Regime’s GST compliance and accounts automation solutions, TaxGenie and PayInvoice, onto Veefin’s platform.

With the deal, Veefin's top executives Raja Debnath, Payal Maisheri, and Afzal Modak will join Regime's board, promising a seamless collaboration.

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“Sarva Gunn Sampanna”: Google Brings In Gemini Mobile App In India With Support For Nine Local Language

Google is launching the Gemini mobile app in India, supporting nine local languages, and making it available to iOS users via the Google app in the coming weeks. The tech giant is also enhancing Gemini Advanced with new data analysis capabilities and file uploads.

This move aligns with the rapidly growing GenAI landscape in India, where investors are increasingly focusing on homegrown AI startups.

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“Safalta Ki Seedhi”: IN-SPACe Unveils Pre Incubation Program For Early Stage Space Startups

IN-SPACe has unveiled a 21-month pre-incubation program for early-stage space startups, offering comprehensive support from ideation to prototype development. Aspiring space entrepreneurs will benefit from mentorship by experts in academia, research institutions, incubators, and the space industry.

This initiative by IN-SPACe, an autonomous nodal agency under the Department of Space, marks a significant boost for India's burgeoning space sector.

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“Mauja HI Mauja”: Vivo To Unveil INR 3,000 Cr Smartphone Manufacturing Plant In India Next Month

Vivo is set to unveil a massive INR 3,000 Cr smartphone manufacturing plant in India next month, with an impressive annual production capacity of 120 million devices. The company is currently seeking an Indian joint venture partner for its manufacturing operations.

This development follows closely on reports of Tata Group negotiating to acquire a majority stake in Vivo's Indian unit, signaling a significant shake-up in the Indian smartphone market.

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1. SaaS startup Maxim AI has raised $3 Mn (around INR 25 Cr) in a seed funding round led by Elevation Capital. The round also saw participation from a host of angel investors, including founders of Postman, Chargebee, Groww, Razorpay, Media.net among others.

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2. Alyve Health has secured INR 45 Cr (approximately $5.5 Mn) in Series A funding led by Axilor Ventures, alongside 1Crowd Fund, Inhealth Ventures, and Trifecta Capital. The funding will fuel the expansion of their healthcare offerings through platform enhancements and operational scaling.

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3. Bluestone is reportedly negotiating to raise around INR 830 Cr in pre-IPO funding, involving share sales by early investors and fresh capital infusion. Peak XV is expected to contribute approximately INR 415 Cr ($50 Mn) in this round, structured with a blend of primary and secondary transactions.

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4. Proptech startup Landeed secures strategic funding from Paradigm Shift VC to expand its product portfolio and workforce globally. The launch of AI Property Analyzer represents a major leap in Landeed's innovation within the proptech sector.

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5. Fintech startup LEO1 secures strategic investment from cricketer Rohit Sharma to address cash flow challenges in educational institutions and innovate student solutions across India. LEO1 focuses on responsible financial behavior by streamlining fee collection, having raised INR 291 Cr in funding over the past three years.

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6. Craft beer maker Bira 91 has secured $25 million in Series D funding from existing investor Kirin Holdings Singapore, adding to its recent $50 million raised over the past three months.

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7. UGRO Capital Limited, an MSME-focused NBFC, has raised Rs 1,265 crore through compulsory convertible debentures (CCDs) and warrants. The funding round saw a Rs 500 crore investment from private equity investor Samena Capital and other investors.

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8. Bengaluru-based generative AI startup Ayna has raised $1.5 million in its seed funding round led by Inflexor Ventures. The round also saw participation from angel investors such as Jabong founder Praveen Sinha and Credgenics cofounder Mayank Khera.

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9. Speech analytics startup GreyLabs AI, focused on financial institutions, has secured over $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Matrix Partners India. The funding round also attracted investments from prominent figures like Vasant Sridhar, Narasimha Reddy, and other angel investors.

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