Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 19th January 2026: Culture Raises INR 2 Cr, Gully Labs Secures INR 30 Cr, Reliance Jio IPO Update & More

India’s startup and business ecosystem continues to witness a mix of funding momentum and major corporate developments. In today’s roundup, social networking platform Culture raised INR 2 crore in a seed round led by Acuvest Infra, while premium sneaker brand Gully Labs secured INR 30 crore in Series A funding to scale its retail presence. D2C accessories brand Salty also bagged INR 30.1 crore to strengthen its offline and online expansion, and microbrewery 33&Brew raised INR 20 crore to grow its brewery operations. Beyond funding, we track key updates on the Reliance Jio IPO timeline and Wipro’s onboarding delay, highlighting critical shifts across India’s tech and corporate landscape.

Daily Indian Startup Funding Roundup - 19th January 2026

Culture raises INR 2 Crore in seed round led by Acuvest Infra

Social networking startup Culture has secured INR 2 crore in a seed funding round led by Acuvest Infra, aimed at accelerating product development, expanding community initiatives, and strengthening platform safety infrastructure. The Hyderabad-based platform uses AI-driven interest-based video matching to help users connect around shared passions such as music, travel, and wellness, and plans to launch creator-led Spaces for live discussions, events, and hybrid experiences to deepen engagement and future monetisation.

33&Brew raises INR 20 Crore Series A led by Optimistic Capital

33&Brew, a vinyl-themed microbrewery blending craft beer with curated music experiences, has raised INR 20 crore (approx. $2.2M) in a Series A round led by Optimistic Capital. The funds will support construction and expansion of the brand’s brewery operations, enhancing bottling and kegging infrastructure, and driving growth of its progressive Indian menu and music-centric dining experience in Bengaluru’s craft beer market.

Salty secures INR 30.1 Crore funding led by MG Investment

D2C accessories and lifestyle brand Salty has raised INR 30.1 crore in a funding round led by MG Investment, with participation from existing investors including Anicut Capital, All In Capital, and JK Group, plus new angel investors. The capital will be used to strengthen the team, expand digital distribution, build the first offline flagship store, broaden the product portfolio across categories like watches and bags, and enhance delivery capabilities nationwide.

Gully Labs raises INR 30 Crore Series A led by Saama Capital & Zeropearl VC

Homegrown premium sneaker brand Gully Labs has raised INR 30 crore in a Series A funding round led by Saama Capital with participation from Zeropearl VC. The fresh capital will help scale the brand’s product portfolio, expand offline retail presence across key Indian cities, and increase global visibility, particularly in markets such as the US and UK.

Key Business News for 19th January 2026

Reliance Jio IPO timeline: RIL awaits final government notification

Reliance Industries’ telecom and digital arm Jio Platforms is nearing one of India’s most anticipated IPOs but is currently awaiting a final government notification on updated regulatory norms before formally beginning the process. According to the latest startup report, RIL is internally preparing for the public offering, aligning with recent SEBI guidelines on minimum public shareholding and dilution requirements for mega listings. Jio’s operational performance remains strong, with rising revenue, net profit, and a growing subscriber base, setting the stage for a potential IPO in the coming months once approvals are in place.

Wipro onboarding delay affects ~250 engineering graduates

Global IT services firm Wipro has been accused of delaying the onboarding of around 250 engineering graduates despite issuing formal offer letters and confirmed joining details, according to a complaint by the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) to India’s Labour & Employment Ministry. Affected candidates reportedly received letters of intent as early as May 2025 but remained in limbo without clear timelines, written explanations, or formal cancellation. Follow-ups by graduates drew no substantial responses, leaving many in uncertainty months after recruitment.

Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 16th January 2026

India’s startup ecosystem continues to see vibrant activity in January 2026, with major developments across space tech, online knowledge platforms, and auto-tech sectors.

StartupTalky- Business News, Insights and StoriesStartupTalky News