Welcome “India” Bulls!

India delivered a blockbuster 7.8% GDP growth in Q1 FY26 (April–June 2025), beating forecasts and posting its strongest performance in five quarters. Fueled by a services boom, manufacturing rebound, and construction growth, the numbers reaffirm India’s economic resilience amid a challenging global backdrop.

Key drivers included government capex, steady household demand, and rural recovery, which offset slowing exports. However, the spotlight now turns to 50% U.S. tariffs, set to impact India’s trade competitiveness. Economists caution that while the headline growth is encouraging, external headwinds could narrow the margin for error in the coming months.

Still, this robust start underscores India’s role as a global growth engine

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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

• Case Study

• Everything else you need to know

• Life Hack in Video

• Special

• Must Watch

STARTUPS THIS WEEK

Reliance Deepens AI Push with Meta & Google Partnerships

Reliance is doubling down on artificial intelligence by striking fresh partnerships with Meta and Google, aiming to supercharge AI adoption across India’s digital ecosystem. Announced during Reliance’s AGM, the move underscores the company’s ambition to not just be a telecom and retail giant but also a serious AI powerhouse.

Through its telecom arm Jio Platforms, Reliance plans to integrate AI-driven solutions into its 5G network, cloud services, and consumer platforms - bringing smarter tools to millions of Indians. The partnership with Google focuses on scalable AI infrastructure and affordable AI-driven apps, while Meta is working with Reliance to explore AI for commerce and consumer engagement on platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram.

Mukesh Ambani highlighted that India cannot afford to lag in the AI race, framing Reliance’s AI push as a national growth imperative. The initiative will support startups, small businesses, and enterprises by giving them access to AI tools, data-driven insights, and new monetization channels.

By marrying its vast consumer base with global tech expertise, Reliance is positioning itself as the bridge between Silicon Valley’s AI breakthroughs and India’s massive digital market.

POLICY

Top Government Subsidy & Loan Schemes for Startups and MSMEs in India

India’s startup and MSME ecosystem is getting a big push from the government through a range of subsidy and loan schemes designed to ease funding challenges and encourage innovation. At the forefront is the MUDRA Loan Scheme, offering collateral-free credit of up to ₹10 lakh for micro and small enterprises, helping first-time entrepreneurs kickstart their ventures.

For early-stage startups, the Startup India Seed Fund provides crucial financial backing for proof of concept, prototype development, and product trials. Meanwhile, SIDBI’s Fund of Funds channels investments into venture capital firms, ensuring that high-potential startups get access to growth-stage capital.

Other schemes like the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) give lenders confidence by covering loan defaults, while the Stand-Up India Scheme empowers women and SC/ST entrepreneurs with easy financing options.

Together, these initiatives form a support ecosystem that not only tackles the funding gap but also signals the government’s commitment to making India a global hub for entrepreneurship. For founders, the message is clear - capital is no longer the biggest roadblock; execution is.

CASE STUDY

Black Tap Expands Beyond Burgers with Tender Crush and Singles & Doubles

Black Tap, best known for its over-the-top CrazyShakes and Instagram-famous burgers, is branching out with two bold new concepts - Tender Crush and Singles & Doubles. The move marks a strategic brand expansion aimed at tapping into fast-growing categories while staying true to Black Tap’s playful food culture.

Tender Crush will spotlight chef-driven crispy chicken, kicking off with a flagship location in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and another at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. The concept is designed for the chicken-loving crowd that craves flavor with a gourmet twist.

Meanwhile, Singles & Doubles is a streamlined, fast-casual burger joint rolling out later this year at JFK Airport’s Terminal 8. The brand will focus on simplicity - think juicy single or double-stacked burgers, fries, and shakes - perfect for travelers looking for comfort food with speed.

This expansion reflects Black Tap’s evolution from a niche burger-and-shake shop into a multi-concept food group with a global footprint. By targeting both premium chicken dining and fast-casual burger lovers, the company is positioning itself to capture two of the hottest categories in American dining.

FROM THE WAR ZONE

Everything else you need to know

🚀 Lift-off: Groww has SEBI’s nod for its IPO, aiming to raise $700M–$1B at a valuation of $7–8B. With FY25 profits tripling, this could be India’s most awaited fintech listing.

⚡ Turbocharged: VC firm a99 is launching a $100M third fund, eight times bigger than its last, to back 12–15 startups in manufacturing and infra with $5M–$10M checks.

🔄 Reboot: EaseMyTrip founder Nishant Pitti takes over as Chairman & MD as brother Prashant steps down. Promoters remain fully invested, signaling long-term commitment.

👓 Visionary: Reliance unveiled JioFrames, AI-powered smart glasses with live translation, photo capture, and streaming - directly taking on Meta’s Ray-Ban wearables.

LIFE HACKS

SPECIAL

The Rise of SportsTech in India

India’s SportsTech sector is booming, reshaping how fans consume sports, how athletes train, and how organizations manage performance. With more than 2,000 startups operating in the space, the industry spans fantasy gaming, AI-driven performance analytics, wearables, e-sports, digital ticketing, and fan engagement platforms.

Major players like Dream11, MPL, and Games24x7 have already made fantasy gaming mainstream, while startups such as Stupa Sports Analytics and Hudle are using data to improve athlete performance and training at the grassroots level. At the same time, AR/VR-based coaching platforms and AI-powered scouting tools are bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.

The market potential is massive - India’s sports industry is expected to hit $100 billion by 2027, with SportsTech becoming one of its fastest-growing verticals. Backed by increasing smartphone penetration, 5G rollout, and a sports-hungry millennial audience, investors have poured millions into the sector, fueling Series A+ rounds across categories.

From stadiums to smartphones, SportsTech is revolutionizing the game.

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Until tomorrow!

Hanoomaan India Business team

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