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By EquityPandit

EquityPandit

EquityPandit
TECHNOLOGY

Apple to Introduce Payment Terminals in iPhone

Apple is planning to launch a new feature that will allow businesses to accept credit cards and digital payments with just a tap on their iPhones. The feature will use near field communications (NFC) technology for making all types of payments, the company said in a statement.


Fintech services like Stripe and Shopify Point will be the first to offer the “Tap to Pay” feature to business customers in the United States, the company added. Apple has been strengthening its fintech services. It launched its own credit card with Goldman Sachs in the year 2019 and is now working on a “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) service.

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India’s Tech Startups Secure $2.5 Billion in Q1 2025, Up 8.7% YoY

Ali Waghbakriwala

India’s tech startups raised $2.5 billion in the first quarter of FY25, reflecting a 13.64% increase from the previous quarter and an 8.7% growth compared to Q1 FY24, according to a report released on Monday. With this funding, India remains the third-largest startup investment hub globally, following the United States and the United Kingdom.

Major Funding Highlights

According to the Tracxn Geo Quarterly India Tech Report, out of the total $2.5 billion raised, three startups, including Erisha E Mobility, Darwinbox, and Infra Market, secured over $100 million each, matching the number from the previous quarter.

  • Late-stage startups led funding rounds, attracting $1.8 billion, a jump from $1.3 billion in Q4 FY24.
  • Early-stage startups secured $528 million, while seed-stage startups raised $157 million.

Delhi-based tech firms led the funding landscape, accounting for 40% of the total investments, followed by Bengaluru with 21.64%.

Top Investors

  1. Accel, Blume Ventures, and Peak XV Partners were the most active investors in Q1 FY25.
  2. Venture Catalysts, Unicorn India Ventures, and YourNest dominated seed-stage investments.
  3. Avataar Ventures and Sofina were top late-stage investors, while Accel, Peak XV Partners, and Vertex Ventures led early-stage funding.

Top-Performing Sectors

The report identified auto tech, enterprise applications, and retail as the fastest-growing sectors:

  • Auto tech witnessed a funding surge to $1.1 billion, up from $214.6 million in Q4 FY24.
  • Enterprise applications secured $650.7 million, reflecting a 21.94% rise from the previous quarter.
  • Retail investments increased 21.67% to $481.5 million from $395.8 million in Q4 FY24.

IPOs & Unicorns

Six companies, including Nukleus, Maxvolt Energy, Volercars, and Harshil Agrotech, went public in Q1 FY25. However, no new unicorns emerged this quarter, in contrast to two unicorns formed in Q1 FY24.

Acquisitions

The quarter saw 38 acquisitions, marking a 15.15% increase from the previous quarter and a 40.74% rise compared to Q1 FY24. The largest deal was Magma General’s $516 million acquisition by DS Group and Patanjali Ayurved, surpassing Minimalist’s $350 million acquisition by Hindustan Unilever.

India’s startup ecosystem continues to gain momentum, with increasing investments, sectoral growth, and rising M&A activity reaffirming its position as a key player in the global tech landscape.

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Fractal Invests $20 Mn in AI-Driven Supply Chain Platform Asper.AI

Ali Waghbakriwala

SaaS unicorn Fractal has announced a $20 million (Rs 172 crore) investment in its AI-powered supply chain management platform, Asper.AI.

The funding aims to accelerate product development, expand Asper.AI’s enterprise customer base globally, and drive its next growth phase, Fractal stated.

Asper.AI co-founder and CEO Mohit Agarwal emphasized that the capital will help the platform attract experienced talent and enhance its product offerings.

Launched under Fractal’s umbrella in 2022 by Mohit Agarwal and Anuj Kaushik, Asper.AI utilizes AI to automate decision-making for retail businesses, covering areas such as demand forecasting, revenue growth management, inventory planning, and sales execution.

Fractal co-founder and CEO Pranay Agrawal highlighted Asper.AI’s rapid growth and innovation over the past three years, stating that the investment will unlock new opportunities for enterprise customers and fuel its long-term vision.

Meanwhile, Fractal Analytics, founded in 2000 by Srikanth Velamakanni, Pranay Agrawal, and Ashwath Bhat, provides AI and advanced analytics solutions to Fortune 500 companies. Backed by TPG Capital and Khazanah Nasional, Fractal has raised $685 million to date.

This investment comes as Fractal looks to strengthen its financial position after recording losses in FY 2023-24. The company has also been investing in its product arm amid plans to list on the Indian stock market.

In September 2024, reports suggested that Fractal was preparing to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI for a $500 million IPO, targeting a $3.5 billion valuation. However, no further updates have been shared regarding its IPO timeline.

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iHub Robotics Secures Rs 4.3 Crore in Pre-Seed Funding Round 

Ali Waghbakriwala

Indian startup iHub Robotics has secured Rs 4.3 crore ($520,000) in pre-seed funding from U.S. investors to advance its humanoid robotics technology.

The funds will be used to establish India’s largest humanoid robotics manufacturing facility in Kerala. The expansion is expected to create over 150 jobs in the next two years, contributing to the country’s deep-tech ecosystem.

iHub Robotics has already gained international recognition by exporting its semi-humanoid robot, Tara Gen-1, to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Designed for sectors like hospitality, healthcare, transportation hubs, and customer service, Tara Gen-1 enhances operational efficiency with AI-powered automation.

Equipped with emotion recognition, AI-driven natural conversations, and real-time decision-making, the robot adapts to diverse environments. It can assist with navigation, customer inquiries, and personalized services, seamlessly functioning in multi-language settings.

In January 2025, iHub Robotics was recognized by NVIDIA and selected for the NVIDIA Humanoid Robotics Program, gaining access to cutting-edge AI technologies, research collaborations, and a global network.

Beyond robotics development, the company has launched the iHub School of Learning, an initiative aimed at training 100,000 students in deep-tech skills, preparing them for careers in AI and automation.

CEO Athil Krishna described the funding as a pivotal step toward advancing “Physical AI,” where intelligent robots integrate seamlessly into industries, enhancing human capabilities.

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AmpereHour Energy Secures $5 Million in Funding to Expand Energy Storage Solutions

Ali Waghbakriwala

Energy storage startup AmpereHour Energy has raised $5 million (approximately Rs 43.6 crore) in a funding round led by climate-focused investment firm Avaana Capital, with participation from UC Impower and existing angel investors.

This follows the company’s earlier funding round, where it secured $2.45 million from AngelList and other investors. The latest funds will be utilized to enhance manufacturing and software capabilities, drive research and development (R&D), and accelerate product innovation.

Founded in 2017 by Ayush Misra, Rahul Shelke, Harshal Thakur, and Neehar Jathar, Mumbai-based AmpereHour Energy specializes in battery energy storage systems that support businesses and power grids in storing and managing electricity efficiently. The company focuses on stationary energy storage for power infrastructure.

Its proprietary Elina energy management software is designed to optimize battery performance for renewable energy integration, backup power, and grid stability. The company serves major clients, including Amazon, Siemens, Coca-Cola, and Indigrid, and has deployed projects at over 50 locations.

Currently, AmpereHour is in the process of commissioning around 50 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage capacity, with plans to scale up to 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) over the next 18 months based on existing contracts. The company is also expanding its geographical presence, with ongoing projects in Oman and Nigeria, while new ventures in Belgium and the UAE are currently under commissioning.

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Darwinbox Secures $140 Million to Expand Internationally

Ali Waghbakriwala

Indian SaaS startup Darwinbox, which offers a platform for hiring, onboarding, and employee management, has raised $140 million to compete with industry leaders like Rippling and Deel while accelerating its global expansion, particularly in the U.S.

The funding round, co-led by KKR and Partners Group, includes both primary and secondary share sales, with several unnamed investors partially exiting their stakes. Darwinbox’s investor lineup features Microsoft, Salesforce, Sequoia, TCV, Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India), and Lightspeed.

With this latest round, Darwinbox’s total fundraising has reached approximately $270 million. While the company did not disclose its exact valuation, co-founder Jayant Paleti confirmed to TechCrunch that it was an up-round. Reports last week suggested the company’s valuation stands at around $950 million. Notably, Darwinbox was previously valued at over $1 billion during its 2022 funding round.

You Might Be Interested In

In the competitive HR-tech space, giants like Deel and Rippling command valuations between $12 billion and $13 billion, while Darwinbox also contends with legacy players such as SAP, Oracle, and Workday.

Despite being smaller than some rivals, Darwinbox stands out as part of the new wave of homegrown enterprise startups emerging from India and Southeast Asia, reflecting the region’s growing tech ecosystem beyond e-commerce.

The company serves over 1,000 enterprise clients, managing employee administration for more than 3 million users. It primarily targets mid-market companies with 3,000+ employees.

Currently, 60% of Darwinbox’s revenue comes from outside India, with the U.S. being its fastest-growing market. To strengthen its presence, co-founder Jayant Paleti has relocated to Texas, positioning the company for further expansion in North America.

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