Oracle’s $300B AI Power Move with OpenAI Puts India on the Global Tech Map

Welcome “India” Bulls!

India’s startup ecosystem is buzzing with fresh capital injections across deeptech, food innovation, and clean energy. Crion Technologies bagged INR 3.5 crore in a round led by SIG Tattva, fueling its flagship platform Clonos. Positioned as a digital twin for factories, Clonos delivers real-time predictive insights to minimize downtime and optimize operations - an efficiency play that manufacturers can’t ignore.

Meanwhile, BioKraft Foods secured INR 2 crore in pre-seed funding. The company is pioneering cultivated meat through biotech and 3D bioprinting. With more than 400 prototypes tested, BioKraft is edging closer to solving the taste, texture, and scalability puzzle that could transform protein consumption in a resource-constrained world.

On the sustainability front, PeakAmp raised a notable INR 12 crore to expand its EV battery recycling technology. Their end-to-end process - from collection to refining- achieves over 99% purity in recovering critical metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt.

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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.

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STARTUPS THIS WEEK

Oracle’s $300B OpenAI Deal: India’s Big Leap in AI Infrastructure

Oracle has inked a $300 billion deal with OpenAI, securing nearly 4.5 gigawatts of computing power over the next five years. To put that in perspective, that’s the energy equivalent of two Hoover Dams or enough to power about four million homes. This partnership marks one of the largest AI-focused infrastructure commitments to date.

Why does it matter for India? The country is emerging as a strategic hub for AI infrastructure, thanks to its robust engineering talent, competitive energy costs, and government-backed incentives. States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are already rolling out land allocations, renewable energy capacity, and tax perks to lure hyperscale data centers. This positions India not just as a consumer of AI but as a builder of its backbone.

For Oracle, the deal is a power move against rivals like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google in the cloud race. For OpenAI, it means a diversified and resilient computing pipeline beyond its Microsoft alliance. And for Indian startups, this could usher in a new era where “AI factories” become a tangible reality, opening doors to innovation at scale.

FROM THE WAR ZONE

Everything else you need to know

📈 Flipkart’s B2C arm: crossed the ₹20,000 crore revenue mark in FY25 (~₹20,493 Cr, up 14.4% YoY from ₹17,907 Cr) while trimming net losses by 37% to ₹1,494 Cr. Marketplace and advertising drove gains, but logistics revenue dipped sharply.

🏢 Deloitte India: is reinstating stricter hybrid working norms: from October 1, staff in its seven Indian offices must work from the office at least 2 days/week, with non-compliance potentially impacting performance reviews.

🚌 GreenCell Mobility: bags USD 37 million from the World Bank’s IFC (via debt + equity), as part of a larger $137 million fund involving JBM ECOLIFE. The investment is earmarked to deploy 4,000 electric buses and charging stations across 39 municipalities, and generate 12,000 jobs (with a gender inclusivity focus).

🏡 Unico Housing Finance raised ₹120 crore from Anicut Capital and UC Impower to scale affordable housing finance in Tier II & III cities. Since its inception in December 2023, it has grown to 86 branches across 7 states, with AUM ~₹500 crore. The equity infusion will push its net worth past ₹210 crore.

STARTUP INSIGHTS

🥤 From Coffee to Bubble Tea: Meet the Beverage Startups Shaping India’s Drink Culture

India’s beverage startup scene is fizzing with creativity, offering everything from nostalgia-driven treats to wellness-focused brews. Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, founded in 2013, has become the country’s specialty coffee pioneer, running 80+ cafés, multiple roasteries, and even an outlet in Tokyo, backed by over $72M in funding. Riding the bubble tea wave, Boba Bhai has already served 400,000 customers, clocked ₹8 Cr in revenue, and now aims for 150 stores by 2025.

Wellness drinks are also on the rise. Blue Tea blends Ayurvedic herbs like butterfly pea and shankhpushpi for caffeine-free health teas, while CoCoFit delivers farm-to-cup coconut-based beverages with no added sugar or preservatives. For younger audiences, FOMO Iced Tea brings trendy flavors and clean labels, while Skippi Pops revives childhood memories with preservative-free ice pops.

Meanwhile, Coolberg is redefining social drinking with non-alcoholic beers expanding into global markets, and DropKaffe is pushing ready-to-drink coffee across 19 cities. Premium labels like Malaki are carving a niche with artisanal, Himalayan-inspired drinks.

LIFE HACKS

SPECIAL

🔑 How ZenBusiness Grew to $1.7B: Founder’s People-First Success Secret Revealed

Shanaz Hemmati, cofounder and COO of ZenBusiness, has scaled her startup into a $1.7 billion company by focusing on a deceptively simple principle: put people first. ZenBusiness helps small businesses with everything from forming LLCs to staying legally compliant and managing finances - a one-stop platform for entrepreneurs navigating complex systems.

Hemmati’s leadership philosophy is rooted in three traits: fearlessness, ethics, and passion. She argues that waiting for “perfect” delays progress; instead, launch, learn, and adapt. Transparency, she says, builds long-term trust, while genuine passion keeps founders resilient when challenges mount. Mentorship also played a key role in her journey - listening to others’ perspectives helped her find clarity during moments of uncertainty.

On the innovation front, ZenBusiness recently unveiled Velo, its built-in AI assistant. Designed to guide entrepreneurs step-by-step through forming businesses, Velo reduces friction and empowers first-time founders to take action with confidence.

TOOL

🛒 Smart Shopping with AI: How Tools Like Honey & Klarna Help You Save More

Shopping smarter just got easier with AI-powered deal finders that take the guesswork out of bargain hunting. According to StartupTalky, platforms like Honey, Klarna, and Google Shopping are transforming how consumers shop online. Instead of manually hunting for promo codes or checking endless tabs, Honey automatically applies the best coupons at checkout, Klarna lets users spread payments while surfacing exclusive offers, and Google Shopping compares prices across retailers in seconds.

Beyond coupon clipping, AI tools now track price drops, send alerts when items go on sale, and even analyze shopping behavior to deliver personalized recommendations. Some platforms offer built-in budget tracking, turning impulse buys into intentional purchases. The result? A shift from passive spending to data-driven, value-first shopping.

The guide suggests stacking strategies: use one app for automated couponing, another for real-time price alerts, and a third for broader marketplace scans. This layered approach ensures shoppers maximize every opportunity to save.

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Until tomorrow!

Hanoomaan India Business team

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