Welcome “India” Bulls!

Indian startup ecosystem lit up the scoreboard 30 startups raised a whopping $205 million, a sharp jump from the previous week’s $130 million. Growth-stage players led the charge, with The Sleep Company taking a commanding $56 million in combined primary and secondary funding. Other notable raises: Renee Cosmetics ($30M) and Fibe’s lending arm ($26.5M in debt). Early-stage champions included Jeh Aerospace ($11M), DPDZero, TurboHire, Mitigata, and GameRamp.

Beyond capital, the runway shifted: Clear (formerly ClearTax) trimmed 20–25% of its workforce, signaling caution. Meanwhile, Reliance wrote off its $200M Dunzo investment, and Bluestone reduced its IPO size ahead of market debut. Notably, Zepto launched a 10-minute pharmacy delivery service in major Indian cities, and iServeU secured a $10M five-year deal with the Central Bank of India to ramp up rural digital payments using soundboxes.

This isn’t just money it’s momentum, recalibration, and reinvention. If you’re watching India’s startup pulse, this week screams evolution.

Dive in to stay ahead!

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

• Funding Space

• Case Study

• Everything else you need to know

• Life Hack in Video

• Special

STARTUPS THIS WEEK

🚀 Embitel: Bengaluru’s Tech Phoenix Powers Volkswagen’s Digital Brain

What began as a strategic minority stake has evolved into a full acquisition and today, Embitel stands as the digital heartbeat of Volkswagen Group. A Bengaluru-based automotive technology pioneer, Embitel joined forces with VW in 2019 and has been integral to developing CARIAD India, VW’s software hub powering brands like Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen.

Beyond stewarding Volkswagen’s digital transformation including over-the-air updates, connected car systems, EV controllers, and telematics Embitel also serves global clients, with third-party revenue making up 30% of its income. Their GCC+1 model ensures innovation and IP security go hand-in-hand. With over 8 million vehicles running Embitel-developed components, their impact is as vast as their ambition.

And they’re scaling fast increasing their headcount from 1,300 to a target of 4,000 by 2030. Their hiring drive spans Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Coimbatore, focusing on ADAS, cybersecurity, AI, and SDV technologies.

This is proof that with the right niche and execution, an Indian tech partner can steer global auto digital transformation. Embitel is not just riding the EV wave it’s building it.

FUNDING SPACE

💰 Weekly Funding Spotlight: Major Startup Investments (Aug 02 - Aug 08)

The past week witnessed significant investments across various sectors:

💍 Sparkle: BlueStone just shimmered its way into the spotlight, raising a dazzling ₹693 crore from anchor investors ahead of its IPO (priced at ₹492–₹517/share). With 275 stores across 117 cities, this jewellery retailer is polishing its financials for a grand debut.

🔌 Boost: Nuuk, the design-savvy D2C appliance maker, secured $2 million (~₹19 crore) in follow-on funding from Vertex Ventures SEA and Good Capital pushing total funding north of $10 million (~₹90 crore). Expect sharper products and a beefed-up “Made-in-India” supply chain.

🔥 Next-gen: Clean-energy innovator HYLENR raised $3 million in a Pre-Series A round to scale its LENR-based carbon-free heat systems from lab to industry. The deep-tech play is racing toward global markets, one clean energy solution at a time.

🧬 Heal: QRL Bioscience landed ₹3 crore from GVFL to advance its personalized, cell-based therapies targeting diabetic foot ulcers and osteoarthritis. It’s a leap forward in regenerative medicine moving breakthroughs from bench to bedside.

CASE STUDY

Starbucks: Brewing a Global Brand with Heart and Tech

What’s the secret ingredient behind Starbucks’s global success? It’s not just the coffee and more than just cozy cafés. Starbucks remains a marketing marvel through brand consistency, mobile innovation, personalization, and community-first experiences.

They’ve kept their visual identity simple and translatable evolving the logo over 47 years to become instantly recognizable, whether in Seattle or Singapore. Their mobile app? A trailblazer from 2009, enabling prepay, quick pickup, and in-app offers. Today, 31% of their orders are mobile, blending convenience with loyalty. They even personalize tunes via the app talk about brand immersion!

Starbucks doesn’t just serve drinks they serve moments. Through music events, art exhibits, and “third place” ambiance, they transform coffee runs into experiences worth paying for. Their loyalty program further deepens connection by rewarding repeats with exclusive offers.

All of this shows that real brand magic isn’t about flashy ads it’s about consistency, ease, and emotional resonance. If you’re building a brand, start with the customer because people don’t remember the product. They remember how it made them feel.

FROM THE WAR ZONE

Everything else you need to know

 ⚡ Speed: Zepto just unveiled Zepto Pharmacy, promising lightning-fast 10-minute medicine delivery in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. After a year-long pilot, the quick-commerce unicorn is rolling out this carefully calibrated expansion because in health, every minute counts.

💰 Cashout: Alibaba’s Antfin quietly exited with ₹4,097 crore (~$482 million) via a block deal in Eternal, marking another bold retreat from India’s food delivery scene. It’s part of a broader unwind what’s next for investor confidence in once hot, now cooling unicorns?

📉 Write-off: Reliance Retail has officially struck Dunzo from its books, writing off a ₹1,645 crore ($200 million) stake as the hyperlocal darling fizzled out. A stark reminder that even giants can stumble in the fierce quick-commerce race.

🚀 Boom: Travel-tech platform Yatra stunned the market with a 296% YoY net profit jump to ₹16 crore, while revenue more than doubled to ₹210 crore in Q1 FY26. That’s what happens when rebound meets runway mind the travel boom.

LIFE HACKS

SPECIAL

How to Build a Startup That Actually Attracts VC Attention

VCs don’t fund ideas they fund momentum.

Before chasing investors, build traction. Show them early signs revenue, beta users, partnerships. This isn't just about earnings it's about evidence.

Clarity matters. VCs invest in the size and urgency of the problem you're solving. A vague pitch won’t cut it. Make every sentence count: “We reduce delivery failures by 30%” beats “We make logistics easier” every time.

Hang your story on your team. Investors back people who can execute under pressure. Share why you with your background, grit, and chemistry are the right founders to solve this.

Dress your digital footprint; brand matters. Whether VCs Google you or visit your LinkedIn, ensure your online presence reinforces credibility not confusion.

Finally, remove friction. Make investing in you easy share clear metrics, a roadmap, and thoughtful gaps. VCs want clarity, not complexity.

Your Opinion Matters!

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Thanks for reading.

Until tomorrow!

Hanoomaan India Business team

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