Welcome “India” Bulls!

India is on the brink of a $40 billion AI infrastructure boom, with global tech giants like AWS and Microsoft already committing major investments. The country has the chance to position itself as Asia’s next AI data hub, but only if it moves fast. To seize this “once-in-a-generation” opportunity, India must overhaul policies, streamline regulations, and rapidly scale its AI talent base. If done right, it could transform India into not just a consumer of AI, but a global exporter of AI-driven services and infrastructure.

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P.S. The Sunday Special is designed to help you discover the most important Startup insights outside of Share Markets. Our regular Share Market updates will resume as usual on Monday.

Startup Menu

• Startups this Week: Minus zero’s self-driving breakthrough in India

• Funding Space

• Special: Can India build its own drone empire?

• Everything else you need to know

• Life Hack in Video: How to force yourself to take action day by day

• Ideas: Rural Business Spotlight: Cultivating prosperity in India’s heartland

STARTUPS THIS WEEK

Minus zero’s self-driving breakthrough in India

Bengaluru-based startup Minus Zero just unveiled the zPod, a futuristic, fully autonomous EV with no steering wheel and no pedals, built specifically for India’s chaotic roads. Unlike global AV players that rely on expensive LiDAR tech, zPod uses high-resolution cameras and a proprietary Nature-Inspired AI that mimics human intuition behind the wheel.

This 4-seater prototype doesn’t just flaunt innovation, it challenges conventional thinking about self-driving cars in emerging markets. Think about it: navigating potholes, pedestrians, cattle, and traffic chaos with only visual inputs. That’s bold. That’s local-first autonomy.

Funded with $1.77 million from IIT Mandi Catalyst, Chiratae Ventures, and others, Minus Zero isn’t trying to manufacture at scale (yet). Their real play? Licensing this cost-effective AV tech stack to traditional carmakers, making Indian streets the training ground for the future of mobility.

💡 The Big Signal: If autonomy can work in India, it can work anywhere. Minus Zero might not just be building a car, they’re laying the foundation for a new global AV standard, born in Bengaluru’s bumper-to-bumper chaos.

The question now isn’t whether AVs will come to India, it’s whether India will lead the world in building them.

FUNDING SPACE

💰 Weekly Funding Spotlight: Major Startup Investments (May 17 - May 23)

The past week witnessed significant investments across various sectors:

▪️ Electrified: Euler Motors raised $77M from Hero MotoCorp and BII to scale its HiLoad EV and launch StormEV, a 4-wheel electric cargo vehicle with ADAS for smarter logistics.

▪️ Vigilant: Cybersecurity startup CloudSEK raised $19M to strengthen its AI-powered threat detection platform, helping companies fight online threats before they hit.

▪️ Mythic: Mumbai-based Mythik secured $15M to bring Indian mythology to global screens using immersive storytelling tech, with backing from SRK's family office.

▪️ Grounded: Bengaluru’s Alt Carbon raised $12M for its unique climate solution, spreading basalt rock dust to trap carbon and enrich soil.

▪️ Decoded: Founded by MIT and Rice alums, Biostate AI raised $12M to build AI tools that decode diseases using high-speed RNA sequencing.

SPECIAL

Can India build its own drone empire?

India isn’t just looking to buy drones, it wants to build them, end to end. A bold new roadmap aims to make the country a self-reliant drone hub by 2030. The strategy? Master five critical pillars:

• Propulsion Systems: Engines tailored for India’s diverse landscapes.

• Advanced Batteries: High-endurance lithium and sodium-ion cells.

• Sensor Tech: Swapping imported semiconductors for homegrown, AI-enabled sensors.

• Flight Software: Autonomous, fail-safe systems coded in India.

• Lightweight Materials: Locally sourced carbon composites to cut costs.

Here’s why it matters: over 80% of drone parts are still imported, creating a massive opportunity for local innovation. With drone demand soaring across agriculture, defense, logistics, and disaster response, India must close this gap.

The PLI scheme offers direct manufacturing support, and the Drone Didi initiative is skilling 15,000 rural women to become drone pilots, proving that this isn’t just policy, it’s action.

💡 The Big Picture: India’s drone market could hit ₹2,300 crore by 2030. If India nails its tech stack now, it won’t just reduce reliance on imports, it could shape the future of drone innovation for the entire Global South.

The question isn’t whether India can build drones.
It’s whether it can lead the world in doing so.

FROM THE WAR ZONE

Everything else you need to know

📉 Overheated: Zepto has paused Café ops in smaller cities due to high burn and supply issues. Quick commerce may be fast, but not always sustainable at scale.

🧠 ScrollBuy: Glance launched an AI shopping app that lets users instantly buy what they see on screen. It’s impulse buying, reimagined for the Gen Z feed.

🥂 Spirited: Vivek Oberoi acquired a 21% stake in Rutland Square Spirits, signaling his entry into India’s premium liquor wave. Star power meets spirit biz.

❌ Wilted: Otipy has abruptly shut operations, leaving customers and staff in limbo. A promising farm-to-home model just couldn't harvest long-term results.

LIFE HACKS

Force Yourself To Take Action Day By Day- Jim Rohn

IDEAS

Rural Business Spotlight: Cultivating prosperity in India’s heartland

India’s villages are no longer just agrarian outposts, they’re emerging as dynamic hubs for entrepreneurship. From food processing to healthcare and green energy, here are 10 high-impact rural business ideas that marry tradition with innovation:

• Banana Wafer Production: Crunchy, export-ready snacks made from locally grown bananas.

• Mini Supermarkets: Community-centric retail spaces serving daily essentials.

• PET Bottle Manufacturing: Meet packaging demand locally and profitably.

• Buffalo Milk Vending: Tap into India’s love for fresh dairy with automated dispensers.

• Iodized Salt Production: Serve a health need while building a scalable brand.

• Blogging: Share rural wisdom or stories with the world, and monetize.

• Air Bubble Packaging: Ride the e-commerce wave by supplying essential packing material.

• Integrated Fish-Duck Farming: Boost productivity through sustainable land use.

• Diagnostic Centers: Bridge the healthcare gap with basic testing services.

• Bio-Diesel Production: Leverage agri-waste to produce clean, local fuel.

These aren’t just businesses, they’re rural revolutions. Each one offers the power to uplift communities, generate local employment, and drive India’s inclusive growth story from the ground up.

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Until tomorrow!

Mohit & the OneZero-F team

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