India continues to serve as a significant growth market for Apple, as startups in the country continue to attract investments of various sizes. According to YourStory, India became a prominent growth market for Apple in the fourth quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, achieving record revenue for the company in the country.
Apple CEO John Ternus stated that the company set revenue records in September in both developed and emerging markets, in addition to the overall record in India. The growth in India was driven by a record iPhone upgrade rate in September, according to Worldpanel surveys, where the iPhone entered the list of best-selling smartphone models in the country.
Meanwhile, venture capital (VC) funding for Indian startups decreased to a new low in October, falling by 66% compared to October of last year, and by 49% compared to September 2025. The total venture funding in October amounted to only $581 million, whereas it reached $1.6 billion in October 2025; in September 2026, the amount raised was $1.1 billion, according to YourStory Research.
The wealthtech platform PowerUp Money, which provides mutual fund advice and digital wealth management services, attracted $10 million in a round led by early-stage investment firm Flourish Ventures. Existing investors participating included Peak XV Partners, Accel, Blume Ventures, Kae Capital, 8i Ventures, and DeVC. The Bengaluru-based company plans to use a significant portion of the capital to develop its AI-powered wealth management platform and expand its managed advisory business.
Metasports Interactive, a cricket strategy game developer from Hyderabad, brought on cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as a strategic investor who will also act as a game ambassador. Financial terms and valuation remain confidential. Current sponsors include venture firms Prime Venture Partners and Horizon Ventures from Singapore, as well as cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle.
Upsurge India conducted a secondary transaction worth over 50 crore rupees in iD Fresh Food, a fresh produce manufacturer in Bengaluru, facilitating an exit for early investor Blue Ashva Capital. This deal involved the transfer of approximately 1% of equity, with TG Fund and WW Ventures participating as co-leads. Founded in 2005, iD Fresh specializes in preservative-free ready-to-cook products, including idli and dosa batter, Indian bread, and chutney. The company reported revenue exceeding 870 crore rupees in the 2026 fiscal year compared to 681 crore rupees in the 2025 fiscal year, demonstrating growth of over 25%. This transaction highlights the growing interest of institutional investors in established Indian consumer businesses and the increasing importance of secondary liquidity in private markets.
The startup The Croffle Guys, a fast-food restaurant chain from Mumbai, raised 14 crore rupees in a round led by V3 Ventures with support from Verlinvest, at a post-money valuation of 100 crore rupees. N.A.N. Partners also participated in the round. Founded in 2025, the company has increased its number of outlets from two to eight in one year and achieved an annual revenue of 24 crore rupees. The startup aims to open more than 40 outlets, primarily in Mumbai and Delhi, with selective presence in Pune. The company's goal is to achieve an annual revenue of 100 crore rupees within the next 10–12 months. Previously, the company received an investment of 2.5 crore rupees on Shark Tank India at a valuation of 50 crore rupees.
The premium food platform Solgram from Gurugram attracted over $1 million in a pre-seed funding round, led by DSG Consumer Partners and Saama Capital with participation from hospitality entrepreneur Kapil Chopra. The funds raised will be directed towards expanding cold chain infrastructure with temperature control, strengthening technological capabilities, and deepening relationships with suppliers. Launched in Gurugram, Solgram offers fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods, and gourmet items through an integrated supply chain covering procurement, storage, and last-mile delivery. The platform also offers specialized health-oriented selections through its Mindful Mode feature. Solgram plans to expand across the National Capital Region before moving into other Tier 1 markets. The company's business model focuses on product quality, origin, and reliability, not just delivery speed.
Unify Foodworks, the exclusive franchisee across India for Moe's Casa Mexicana and Carvel, raised 5 crore rupees in seed funding through convertible notes. These funds will support the expansion of both international restaurant brands across the National Capital Region (NCR), where they debuted in India. The company plans to increase store density, consumer awareness, and operational capabilities before entering additional markets. Moe's Casa Mexicana offers Mexican-style dishes, including burritos, bowls, and tacos, while Carvel is an American ice cream brand founded in 1934. Unify Foodworks has developed a long-term expansion roadmap anticipating over 100 stores across India. The company is also developing integrated supply chain and operational systems to support its expansion.
The climate tech startup ECOPATH from Bengaluru attracted 2.25 crore rupees in seed funding from Social Alpha and Gemcorp to scale its cement-free construction technology. The company has secured a contract value exceeding 40 crore rupees over two years since its inception. Founded by Sourav Kumar and Abhishek Chazde, ECOPATH develops cement-free concrete using industrial byproducts, including steel industry waste, and patented binders. The funding will be used to expand production capacity, develop the supply chain, conduct research, and build the team. The company has signed over 40 commercial contracts, including Lodha, Tata Power, and Jindal Steel. ECOPATH claims that its materials can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 75% compared to traditional cement-based alternatives, depending on application and project specifications.
Actor Mahesh Babu joined Mumbai-based game development studio Shortgun Games as a strategic investor to support the creation of premium PC and console games. The partnership will focus on creating original intellectual properties for international markets, including North America and Europe. The studio's flagship project, PROJECT TAKEDOWN, is a high-budget action-adventure game under development for platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Shortgun Games, founded by Jeet Chandan and Vidhit Mehta, aims to create a cinematic gaming experience from India for a global audience. The company also invited action director Vicky Arora to lead combat design in the game, integrating motion capture choreography and physics stunt mechanics.
Cellegant Energy Systems, founded by a professor from IIT Gandhinagar, attracted 2.61 crore rupees from investors, including GVFL Prarambh Fund Trust, CoCreate Aarambh, and IIEC, the IIT Gandhinagar incubator. The funding will be used to develop indigenous hybrid hydrogen fuel cells for electric power units designed to extend the flight duration of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Founded by Dr. Atul Bhargav, the startup's primary objective is to demonstrate a 35 kg hydrogen drone. It aims to advance the technology readiness level from three to six within the next six to twelve months. Cellegant is also developing energy solutions for autonomous robots, marine vessels, and other applications. The investment will support technology development, intellectual property protection, and team expansion.
DBS Foundation awarded $3 million Singapore dollars, equivalent to approximately 22 crore rupees, to four social enterprises across Asia under its Impact Beyond Award program. Indian Taisho Ventures, which manages the elderly care platform Khyaal, will receive $1 million Singapore dollars, equivalent to approximately 7.4 crore rupees. Khyaal serves over five million users and provides services covering physical, emotional, cognitive, social, financial, and digital well-being for people over 50 years old. The funding will help strengthen the platform and expand services in second and third-tier cities, as well as explore opportunities in Southeast Asia. Other award recipients include Hon Yang Healthcare in Taiwan, One Bite Design Studio in Hong Kong, and Shanghai Fuyuan Elderly Care Service in China.
OBSESS, a fitness and sports technology startup from Delhi NCR, attracted angel funding to create an integrated digital ecosystem for the Indian fitness and health industry. Investors in the round included Pushpendra Singh, co-founder of Centricity, Amitt Goel, and Harshit Vij, co-founder of Freecultr. Founded in 2026 by Tushar Sharma and Yash Kumar, the company develops a platform that covers gym searches, memberships, personal training, sports field booking, fitness products, nutrition, and wellness services. The funding amount was not disclosed. The capital will be directed towards technology development, expanding the network of gyms and trainers, user acquisition, and partnerships. OBSESS also plans to implement AI-based features for workout planning, nutrition recommendations, and personalization.
Adobe launched the Adobe for Startups program, designed to help early-stage startups strengthen their brands, content creation capabilities, and customer engagement. Eligible startups will receive 12 months of free access to Adobe Firefly Pro Plus, Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express Premium, and Semrush. The program is open to startups founded within the last five years and that have raised less than $15 million in funding, subject to eligibility and availability in the country. The offer combines AI-powered creative tools, document productivity solutions, and marketing analytics capabilities. Adobe will also provide founders with opportunities to participate in workshops, events, and training programs with its experts. The initiative aims to help startups build their brand and scale marketing efforts with limited resources.
Smarten Power Systems reported a 77.4% year-over-year growth in consolidated operating revenue to ₹204.54 crore for the first half of the 2027 fiscal year, compared to ₹115.26 crore in the same period last year. Consolidated profit after tax more than doubled to ₹11.99 crore, showing a growth of 103.8% compared to ₹5.88 crore in the first half of the 2026 fiscal year. Profit before tax increased by 111.9% to ₹15.83 crore, and earnings per share stood at ₹6.31. On a standalone basis, revenue grew by 87% to ₹201.37 crore. The company manufactures backup power and solar energy products, including home UPS systems, solar inverters, batteries, and solar panels, operating in 23 states and two union territories.
According to New Relic's Visibility Forecast for India in 2026, Indian enterprises lose an average of $3 million for every major IT system outage. The report, based on a survey of 500 Indian respondents, found that 61% of organizations face serious outages weekly or more often. Nearly 31% encounter such disruptions several times a day. The study also showed that 56% of Indian organizations monitor AI agents in operation, compared to the global average of 35%. However, developers spend almost half their time resolving system failures. India also leads in OpenTelemetry standardization, with 42% of respondents being fully standardized. New Relic noted that fragmented monitoring tools continue to limit the benefits of investing in advanced observability.
365squared, part of Proximus Global, launched 365callguard—an AI-powered voice fraud protection solution for mobile and fixed operators. The platform is designed to detect and prevent fraudulent calls before they reach subscribers. It addresses seven categories of fraud, including vishing, caller ID spoofing, vishing, international revenue-share fraud, SIM box fraud, and flash calls.
