Venture capital news

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

By Anurag Gurtu Congratulations to the enterprise AI company that just raised another nine-figure round to solve a problem software is supposed to solve by itself: getting humans to use the product. You know the one. Won’t name it. Don’t have to. You’ve read the press release — “autonomous,” “agentic,” “category-defining” in paragraph one, and then, a few paragraphs down, where the money is actually going: hiring an army of engineers to sit inside customer offices and manually make the “autonomous” thing behave. Nothing says “we’ve built the future of work” quite like raising half a billion dollars to hire more people to do the work. The business model, decoded Anurag Gurtu, co-founder and CEO of Airrived. Here’s how it works, in case the deck was too artfully vague: Sell the customer an “AI platform.” Discover the platform doesn’t actually do the thing on its own. Send in the forward deployed engineers: sharp young people with CS degrees who now spend six months hand-building the workflow the website implied already existed. Bill the customer for “software.” Book it as ARR. Raise a bigger round because “ARR go up.” Repeat, forever, with an increasingly large and increasingly expensive engineering org standing between the product and the promise it made. This is not a flywheel. This is a payroll with a pitch deck.

Read the full story at Crunchbase News (opens in a new tab)Published 19 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Update| October 19, 17:48 Shares of Urban Company ended today’s trading session 9.92% lower at ₹142.6 apiece on the BSE. Original| October 19, 12:28 IST Shares of home services company Urban Company slumped 9.5% to ₹143.30 apiece on the BSE during early trading today, following its Q2 FY27 results and board approval for a fundraise of up to ₹2,500 Cr. At 12:10 IST, the stock was trading 8.56% lower at ₹144.75 on the BSE. The company’s market capitalisation stood at ₹22,323 Cr (about $2.7 Bn) at the time. Urban Company reported a consolidated net loss of ₹182.5 Cr for Q2 FY27 on Friday (October 16) as against a loss of ₹59.3 Cr a year earlier and ₹92.1 Cr in the preceding quarter. Operating revenue rose 41% to ₹537.3 Cr from ₹380 Cr in Q2 FY26. However, total expenses increased 61.5% to ₹745.7 Cr, driven largely by higher spending on its quick household help business, InstaHelp. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of ₹144 Cr, including what it described as a “deliberate” ₹174 Cr investment in InstaHelp. Excluding the vertical, adjusted EBITDA stood at ₹30 Cr. The company’s board also approved a proposal to raise up to ₹2,500 Cr through equity shares and/or convertible securities via preferential allotment or private placement.

Read the full story at Inc42 (opens in a new tab)Published 19 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Leverage Edu plans to increase its focus on artificial intelligence (AI), customer experience and marketing efficiency as it expands into new markets, founder Akshay Chaturvedi said. In a post on X following Entrackr ’s report on the company’s FY26 financial numbers, Chaturvedi outlined priorities including technology adoption, university partnerships, cash flow management and new go-to-market (GTM) initiatives. He said expansion into less competitive international markets had helped the company enter new destinations. Better brand awareness and referrals had also reduced customer acquisition costs (CAC), although local players continued to hold an advantage in several regions. The company is expanding the use of AI across its operations. Chaturvedi said its AI suite, LE-AI, had started contributing to business functions. Leverage Edu has introduced AI-based analysis after counselling sessions to help coaches improve performance and is extending its use to consumers and partners. Chaturvedi also said higher uptake of financial services, housing, insurance and other offerings had improved customer lifetime value (LTV) and net promoter score (NPS). Leverage Edu’s operating revenue more than doubled to Rs 364.4 crore in FY26 from Rs 173.3 crore in FY25. Its net loss narrowed 82% to Rs 19.4 crore, while EBITDA turned positive at Rs 2 crore.

Read the full story at Entrackr (opens in a new tab)Published 18 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Hunger Pangs Limited, the operator of premium Burmese restaurant chain Burma Burma, has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The proposed IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 150 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 2.79 crore shares by existing shareholders. The promoters, Ankit Virendra Gupta and Chirag Narendra Chhajer, will each sell up to 60 lakh shares. Promoter group entity Bbigplas Poly will offload up to 42 lakh shares. Among the investor shareholders, Negen Tech Opportunities Angel Fund will sell up to 64.68 lakh shares, Venture Catalysts Angel Growth Fund up to 27.72 lakh shares and L V Angel Fund up to 5.25 lakh shares. Other selling shareholders include Nisarg Ajaykumar Vakharia, Shweta Sharma and Mehul Kirit Mehta. The company plans to use the proceeds from the fresh issue to set up new Burma Burma restaurants across India and for general corporate purposes. Panthomath Capital Advisors is the sole book-running lead manager to the issue. Hunger Pangs operates Burma Burma, a premium Pan-Asian casual dining chain built around Burmese cuisine, cultural storytelling and experiential dining. Its menu development focuses on culinary research and innovation, supported by standardised processes across its restaurant network.

Read the full story at Entrackr (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Restaurant chain Burma Burma’s parent entity, Hunger Pangs Limited, saw its net loss skyrocket nearly 31X to ₹15.4 Cr in the fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) compared to ₹50 Lakh in the previous fiscal year. According to its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), the restaurant chain’s revenue from operations also zoomed 46.6% to ₹155.5 Cr in the fiscal under review from ₹106.1 Cr in FY25. Including other income of ₹1.5 Cr, Burma Burma’s total income stood at ₹157 Cr in FY26. On the operational front, the restaurant chain’s EBITDA also climbed 20.2% to ₹25.7 Cr in FY26 from ₹21.4 Cr in the year ago fiscal. Besides its FY26 financials, the DRHP also shed light on the company’s Q1 FY27 numbers. Burma Burma’s parent reported a net profit of ₹1.1 Cr in the quarter under review against an operating revenue of ₹53.7 Cr. Given total expenses of ₹55.2 Cr during the quarter, what helped the company mint a profit in Q1 FY27 was ₹1.98 Cr in deferred tax credits. Burma Burma also reported an EBITDA profit of ₹11.4 Cr in the quarter ended June 2026, while the EBITDA margin stood at 21.3%. Founded in 2013 by Ankit Gupta and Chirag Chhajer, Hunger Pangs operates premium casual restaurant chain Burma Burma, which serves vegetarian Burmese cuisine. It competes with the likes of brands such as Mainland China, Mamagoto, Yum Yum Cha, and Berco’s.

Read the full story at Inc42 (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Flipkart-owned travel platform Cleartrip’s net loss widened 28.1% YoY to ₹805 Cr in FY26 from ₹628.4 Cr in FY25, as its expenses continued to outpace revenue growth. The online travel aggregator’s operating revenue grew 20.8% to ₹198.3 Cr during the year from ₹164.1 Cr in the previous fiscal. Including other income, Cleartrip reported total income of around ₹241.3 Cr, compared with ₹366.7 Cr in FY25. Other income declined 34.2% YoY to ₹43 Cr. Meanwhile, spending on cashbacks and discounts rose 47.5% to ₹897.5 Cr in FY26 from ₹608.2 Cr a year earlier, outpacing top line growth. Cleartrip generated ₹702.2 Cr from service charges and ₹378.4 Cr from commissions and incentives before accounting for cashbacks and discounts, taking the combined figure to around ₹1,095.7 Cr. These figures should be distinguished from the operating revenue reported in its financial statements. Founded in 2006 by Hrush Bhatt, Matthew Spacie and Stuart Crighton, Cleartrip enables users to book flights, hotels, trains, buses and local activities through its website and app. Ecommerce major Flipkart acquired the company in 2021. Cleartrip’s accumulated losses rose to ₹3,828 Cr as of March 31, 2026, from ₹3,023 Cr a year earlier. Its negative net worth also widened to ₹3,066 Cr from ₹2,262 Cr in FY25.

Read the full story at Inc42 (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Listed home services major Urban Company’s board approved a proposal to raise up to ₹2,500 Cr yesterday, seeking to shore up its war chest at a critical juncture. On one hand, Urban Company’s instant home services business, InstaHelp, is facing stiff competition. Fighting rivals Snabbit and Pronto for a slice of the market has turned out to be an expensive affair , with spending on InstaHelp contributing to Urban Company’s widening losses. At the same time, the company is looking to expand its product lineup under the Native brand by entering the residential air conditioner market. Meanwhile, its bread and butter consumer services continue to generate stable results. Urban Company’s financials reflect these pressures. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of ₹144 Cr in Q2 FY27, driven by a ₹174 Cr investment in InstaHelp. Excluding InstaHelp, it reported an adjusted EBITDA profit of ₹30 Cr. During the quarter, consolidated revenue from operations grew 41.4% YoY to ₹537.3 Cr , while total expenses increased 61.5% to ₹745.7 Cr. Consequently, the company’s consolidated net loss more than tripled to ₹182.5 Cr from ₹59.3 Cr in the year-ago period.

Read the full story at Inc42 (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

This week, 28 Indian startups raised $302.85 million across 8 growth-stage deals, 21 early-stage deals, and 1 undisclosed round. The week also saw 5 key appointments, 1 departure and a fund launch. In contrast, 28 startups had collectively secured about $113.35 million in the previous week. [ Growth-stage deals ] Growth-stage startups raised $220.37 million across eight deals this week, led by Tessolve Semiconductor, a Hero Electronix company, which secured $75 million from US-based Vector Line Capital. Homegrown sports brand Boldfit raised over Rs 400 crore in a Series B round led by Bharat Value Fund, while AI agent startup RapidCanvas secured $29 million from Vertex Ventures. Bengaluru-based Scimplify raised $25 million in a strategic round led by Hitachi Ventures. Construction robotics startup Origin raised $20 million in a round co-led by Accel and Zacua Ventures. Meanwhile, D2C personal care brand Nat Habit is raising Rs 142.6 crore ($15 million) in a fresh round led by Trident Growth Partners. Toothsi's parent MakeO raised Rs 90 crore from Singularity AMC, while B2B manufacturing startup CapGrid secured Rs 46.28 crore ($4.87 million) in a pre-Series B round led by Hero Enterprise Partner Ventures.

Read the full story at Entrackr (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

The Indian startup ecosystem continued to mature in FY26, with 22 new-age tech companies making their public market debut as against 13 in FY25. At the same time, a growing number of startups turned profitable or moved closer to profitability after years of cost rationalisation to adjust to the new funding realities. Despite a tough Q4 for many startups due to geopolitical uncertainties, Indian startups are expected to improve their top and bottom line numbers in FY26. Of the 102 startups in the tracker, 65, or about 63.7%, reported profits in FY26. However, the profitability picture remained uneven. Together, these 65 startups generated a net profit of ₹14,511.8 Cr, while the remaining 37 posted a cumulative loss of ₹30,950.8 Cr, underscoring that sustainable profitability remains a work in progress for a section of the ecosystem. Even so, the scale of India’s startup ecosystem continued to expand. The 102 companies generated ₹4.75 Lakh Cr in operating revenue in FY26, a sharp 34.62% increase from ₹3.53 Lakh Cr in FY25. To help you track the financial health of new-age tech companies, Inc42 has launched the FY26 Financial Tracker , bringing together key financial metrics in one place. The tracker will be updated periodically with the latest financial disclosures and deeper insights into the performance of India’s startup ecosystem.

Read the full story at Inc42 (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Leverage Edu, which helps Indian students secure admissions to overseas universities, more than doubled its operating revenue in FY26 as it expanded its international presence. The Delhi-based company also turned EBITDA-positive during the year, while its net losses narrowed 82% year-on-year to Rs 19 crore. The edtech startup’s operating revenue more than doubled to Rs 364.4 crore in FY26 from Rs 173.3 crore in FY25, according to its consolidated financial statements filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). Founded by Akshay Chaturvedi in 2017, Leverage Edu helps students navigate the overseas education process, from university selection and admissions to education financing. The platform caters to students across India and international markets, with access to universities in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Japan and Dubai. Student placement services remained Leverage Edu’s largest revenue stream in FY26, contributing 77% of operating revenue as the segment grew 2.3 times year-on-year to Rs 281.8 crore, supported by the company’s expansion into new markets. Its Fly business, launched in late 2022 to provide financial services to students going abroad, also gained traction, with revenue doubling to Rs 59.6 crore. The segment earns commissions from education loans, foreign exchange and student accommodation services.

Read the full story at Entrackr (opens in a new tab)Published 17 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Asia’s startup funding held up at the second-highest level in years in the third quarter, even as investment fell slightly from Q2 totals. Overall, investors put $38.5 billion into reported seed- through growth-stage financings for countries in the region in Q3, per Crunchbase data. Of that, a majority went to AI-focused companies, echoing the trends we’ve seen globally . Deal counts, meanwhile, were relatively flat. That indicates concentration of capital into favored startups remains pronounced but is not intensifying. Table of contents An AI-driven quarter China leads by far in country-by-country breakdown Late stage Early stage Seed A big quarter for China Methodology Glossary of funding terms An AI-driven quarter Around 55% of investment — an estimated $21 billion — went to AI-focused companies. Total funding is down substantially from the prior quarter, which was boosted by a $7.4 billion financing for China’s DeepSeek , but still the second-highest tally on record. For Q3, a couple of extra-large rounds bolstered the AI investment tally. The largest went to Beijing-based foundational model company Moonshot AI , which secured $3.5 billion in July at a reported $35 billion valuation. Kling AI , the AI spinout of China-based short video platform Kuaishou Technology , was the second-biggest fundraiser.

Read the full story at Crunchbase News (opens in a new tab)Published 16 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Want to keep track of the largest startup funding deals in 2026 with our curated list of $100 million-plus venture deals to U.S.-based companies? Check out The Crunchbase Megadeals Board . This is a weekly feature that runs down the week’s Top 10 announced funding rounds in the U.S. Check out last week’s biggest funding deal roundup here . Startup investors aren’t exactly hitting pause, but they did scale back on giant rounds this past week, with just two startup financings in the multiple hundreds of millions. The biggest round went to AI infrastructure provider Modal Labs , which picked up $750 million, followed by construction automation unicorn Icon , which secured $200 million. Other sectors that attracted larger rounds this past week included biotech, insurance and AI. 1. Modal Labs , $750M, AI infrastructure: Modal Labs, a provider of cloud infrastructure for AI inference and other applications, secured $750 million in a Series D funding round led by Accel at a $15.75 billion valuation. The New York-headquartered company said it recently exceeded an annual revenue run rate of $1 billion. 2. Icon , $200M, construction tech: Austin-based Icon, a developer of robotic construction systems known for its 3D-printed homes, closed on $200 million in Series D funding led by Baillie Gifford and BlackRock . The company says it is on pace for 4x revenue growth in 2026. 3.

Read the full story at Crunchbase News (opens in a new tab)Published 16 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

It’s an insecure world out there, and investors are responding by scaling up their cybersecurity spending. For the third quarter of 2026, global cybersecurity- and privacy-focused startups pulled in a total of $6.8 billion, per Crunchbase data. That’s up about 50% from the prior quarter and tied for the highest quarterly tally in years, as charted below. The funding bump was due to larger rounds, not more of them. Round counts actually declined sequentially across all stages last quarter, Crunchbase data shows. Biggest cybersecurity fundraisers AI startups accounted for the overwhelming majority of cybersecurity funding, with a particular focus on identity security. Overall, at least 18 companies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity closed rounds of $100 million or more this past quarter. Of those, the largest funding recipient by far was enterprise identity security provider Keyfactor , which picked up $1 billion in a July growth round led by Summit Partners . Founded in 2001, the Ohio company isn’t exactly a startup, but it has attracted the bulk of its venture funding in the past 10 years and its pivot to AI is also of a more recent vintage. Dallas-based Island tied for second place with a $400 million September Series F led by Evolution Equity Partners .

Read the full story at Crunchbase News (opens in a new tab)Published 15 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Sifted shares only the headline in its public feed. The full story is on its site.

Read the full story at Sifted (opens in a new tab)Published 15 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

The funding comes as Ramp's annualized revenue crosses $2B, and its customer count reaches 85,000.

Read the full story at TechCrunch (opens in a new tab)Published 15 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

Sifted shares only the headline in its public feed. The full story is on its site.

Read the full story at Sifted (opens in a new tab)Published 14 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.

In plain words: How much money is moving and at what prices: the mood of the market.

By Daniel Kjellén A first venture usually follows a well-worn playbook: a gap in the market, obsessive refinement of concept and pitch, eventual conviction that the solution is as bulletproof as it is revolutionary. Then, the dreaded phase of product-market fit. Instead of building the future of an entire industry, you find yourself forced to focus on a narrow use case and spend the first invaluable years proving that your idea can make money and scale. The grand vision gets put on pause. For most founders, this journey is the only one available. After all, investors are betting on someone who has never built a company before, so a small check and a narrow product limit what everyone stands to lose. But some ambitions need total commitment from the start, and having built a company before helps when taking them on. Lessons from the front line Daniel Kjellén, CEO and co-founder of Freda. After selling my first venture, Tink , to Visa for €1.8 billion (about $1.9 billion USD) in 2022, I found myself in a new position — and it wasn’t horizontal on a sun lounger. My co-founder Fredrik Hedberg and I had a real war chest of our own, and a brand-new entrepreneurial bug. For the first time in our lives, we had the experience and the resources to undertake something truly world-changing. Compliance is a gauntlet that any founder will be painfully familiar with.

Read the full story at Crunchbase News (opens in a new tab)Published 14 Oct 2026. This is the publisher’s own feed excerpt.