Daily Indian Startup Funding Roundup & Key News - 18 March 2026: Burger Singh Bags ₹82 Cr, Urban Company Sees ₹632 Cr Stake Buy & More
The Indian startup ecosystem remained active on 18 March 2026, with multiple funding deals across QSR, fintech, AI, and enterprise SaaS sectors. Leading the day, Burger Singh raised ₹82 crore in Series B funding, while Weaver Services secured a massive ₹1,450 crore investment to strengthen its housing finance play.
Overall, today’s funding activity highlights strong investor interest in consumer brands, AI-driven platforms, and financial services startups in India.
Daily Indian Startup Funding Digest - 18 March 2026
| Startup | Sector | Funding | Round | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burger Singh | QSR / Food & Beverage | ₹82 Crore | Series B | Artal Asia (with Negen, Aurum Rising India Fund) |
| CometChat | Communication SaaS / AI | $6.5 Million | Strategic Round | RUN Ventures |
| Aerchain | Enterprise Procurement / SaaS | $13 Million | Series A | Pavestone VC (with IndiaMART) |
| Weaver Services | Fintech / Housing Finance | ₹1,450 Crore | Funding Round | Premji Invest, Lightspeed |
| Verbaflo | Conversational AI | $7 Million | Seed | Pi Labs |
| Optimo Capital | Investment Platform / VC | ₹100 Crore | Fundraise | Punjab National Bank (PNB) |
| BlackSoil Capital | Venture Debt / Credit | ₹200 Crore | Fundraise | Impact Fund Denmark |
Burger Singh Raises ₹82 Crore Series B Led by Artal Asia
QSR chain Burger Singh has raised ₹82 crore in a Series B round led by Artal Asia, with participation from Negen Undiscovered Value Fund and Aurum Rising India Fund.
The round values the company at ₹520 crore and will be used to expand its offline footprint, strengthen supply chain operations, and scale across Tier II and Tier III cities. The funding highlights growing investor confidence in India’s homegrown QSR brands competing with global chains.
CometChat Secures $6.5 Million Strategic Funding from RUN Ventures
Communication platform CometChat has raised $6.5 million in a strategic round led by RUN Ventures.
The company is evolving into a next-generation AI agent platform, enabling businesses to build real-time messaging, voice, and AI-powered customer interaction layers within their applications. The funds will support product innovation, AI capabilities, and global expansion.
Aerchain Raises $13 Million Series A Led by Pavestone VC
Enterprise procurement platform Aerchain has secured $13 million in a Series A round led by Pavestone VC, with participation from IndiaMART.
The startup provides AI-powered procurement automation, helping enterprises streamline sourcing, supplier discovery, and cost optimisation. The fresh capital will be used to enhance its AI stack and expand its global enterprise footprint.
Weaver Services Raises ₹1,450 Crore Led by Premji Invest and Lightspeed
Weaver Services has raised ₹1,450 crore across structured funding rounds led by Premji Invest and Lightspeed.
The company plans to use the funds to acquire a majority stake in Centrum Housing Finance, strengthening its presence in the affordable housing finance segment. This marks one of the largest fintech-linked deals in recent months, signalling strong investor interest in credit and housing finance platforms.
Verbaflo Raises $7 Million Seed Round Led by Pi Labs
Conversational AI startup Verbaflo has raised $7 million in a seed round led by Pi Labs.
The company is building AI-driven enterprise communication tools, focused on automating workflows, improving customer engagement, and enabling intelligent conversational interfaces. The funding will be used to scale product development and expand enterprise adoption.
Optimo Capital Raises ₹100 Crore from PNB
Investment platform Optimo Capital, founded by Prashant Pitti, has raised ₹100 crore from Punjab National Bank (PNB).
The capital will be deployed to back early-stage and growth startups, strengthening Optimo’s role in India’s evolving venture investment ecosystem.
BlackSoil Capital Raises ₹200 Crore from Denmark-Based Impact Fund
Alternative credit platform BlackSoil Capital has secured ₹200 crore from a Denmark-based impact fund.
The firm provides venture debt and structured credit solutions to startups and MSMEs, and the new capital will help expand its lending portfolio and support high-growth companies with non-dilutive financing.
Key Business News for 18 March 2026
SBI Mutual Fund Buys Additional Stake in Urban Company
SBI Mutual Fund has acquired an additional ~4% stake in Urban Company for ₹632 crore, increasing its exposure to the home services marketplace. The transaction coincided with the expiry of lock-in periods for early investors, allowing existing shareholders to offload stakes.
Following the deal, Urban Company’s stock witnessed strong market activity and price movement, reflecting renewed institutional confidence in the platform’s growth trajectory.
Perfios Appoints Nitin Chugh as Group CEO
Fintech SaaS company Perfios has appointed Nitin Chugh as its new Group CEO and Managing Director, strengthening its leadership team.
Chugh brings extensive experience from banking, digital transformation, and financial services, having previously served at State Bank of India and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. The move is aimed at driving Perfios’ next phase of growth and scaling its global fintech SaaS operations, while existing leadership continues to oversee core business functions.
Stock Markets to Remain Open During Gudi Padwa, Eid, and Navratri
India’s leading exchanges, including National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), will remain open during key March festivals such as Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Eid, and Chaitra Navratri.
There are no trading holidays scheduled during this period, meaning regular market operations will continue despite the festive calendar. This ensures uninterrupted trading activity and liquidity for investors during a typically active market phase.
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