The Stories Behind the Startups

Deep Dive • 5 min read

"Blinkit for Cement": HomeRun Raises ₹60 Cr to Deliver Construction Materials in 60 Minutes

Bengaluru-based HomeRun has secured ₹60 Crore in a Series A round led by Sorin Investments to bring the 'quick commerce' revolution to the construction site. Dubbed the "Blinkit for Cement," the startup is building a hyper-local logistics network designed to deliver heavy building materials—like cement, steel, and aggregates—within just 60 minutes. This capital injection will fuel their mission to organize India's massive $90 billion construction market, solving critical pain points around project delays and inventory mismanagement for contractors.

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Deep Dive • 5 min read

Stable Money Secures $25M from Peak XV to Democratize Fixed-Return Investing

Bengaluru-based wealthtech platform Stable Money has secured a significant $25 million investment led by Peak XV Partners, betting big on the often-overlooked power of "boring but stable" returns. While most investment apps chase the volatility of the stock market, Stable Money is carving out a unique niche by aggregating high-yield Fixed Deposits (FDs) and Bonds. This capital injection will fuel their mission to democratize access to fixed-income assets, offering risk-averse Indian investors a streamlined, transparent alternative to traditional banking channels.

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Deep Dive • 5 min read

RISA Labs Raises $11.1M to Build the "AI OS" for Cancer Care

RISA Labs has secured $11.1 million in a funding round co-led by Cencora Ventures and Optum Ventures to solve one of the deadliest delays in healthcare: administrative red tape. The Palo Alto-based startup, backed by Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, is deploying its "Business Operating System as a Service" (BOSS) to act as an AI-driven nervous system for oncology centers. By using autonomous agents to handle complex workflows like prior authorizations and benefits verification, RISA Labs aims to drastically reduce the time between diagnosis and treatment—ensuring that life-saving care isn't stalled by paperwork.

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Deep Dive • 5 min read

Emversity Secures $30M to Bridge India's Skills Gap: Backed by Premji Invest

Emversity, the edtech venture founded by former Unacademy executive Vivek Sinha, has secured a robust $30 million in Series A funding led by Premji Invest. Addressing the critical disconnect between academic degrees and industry needs, the startup partners with universities to embed specialized, 'job-ready' training modules directly into the curriculum. Initially focused on healthcare and hospitality, this fresh capital will fuel Emversity's expansion into the manufacturing sector, aiming to fix the employability pipeline for India's blue and grey-collar workforce.

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Deep Dive • 5 min read

Skild AI Hits $14 Billion Valuation After Massive $1.4B Funding Round

In a defining moment for the robotics industry, Pittsburgh-based Skild AI has catapulted to a $14 billion valuation following a massive $1.4 billion funding round. As capital aggressively shifts from text-based generative AI to physical automation, Skild AI is leading the charge for "General Purpose Robotics." The company is building a foundational "brain" capable of adapting to any robot hardware, promising to unlock a new era where AI doesn't just chat, but actively navigates and manipulates the physical world.

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Deep Dive • 5 min read

Unacademy Exits Offline Operations: Shifts to Franchise Model to Cut Burn

In a major strategic pivot, SoftBank-backed edtech giant Unacademy has announced its exit from direct offline operations, opting to shut down its company-owned centers by April. Following the collapse of high-profile merger talks with upGrad, the company is doubling down on financial discipline by transitioning to an "asset-light" franchise model. This move allows Unacademy to maintain a physical presence without the heavy operational burn of leasing and managing real estate, signaling a decisive shift away from the capital-intensive expansion strategies of the past.

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