Daily Indian Startup Funding Roundup & Key News - 5 March 2026: Cheerio AI Raises ₹8 Cr, Moneyview Files ₹1500 Cr IPO, & More

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05 Mar 2026 — 3 min read

Daily Indian Startup Funding Roundup & Key News - 5 March 2026

India’s startup ecosystem saw activity across AI automation, healthtech, and consumer beverages, while major developments emerged in fintech IPO plans and strategic acquisitions in the beauty sector. From early-stage funding rounds to large-scale public market ambitions, here are the key funding deals and business developments that shaped 5 March 2026.

Daily Indian Startup Funding Digest - 5th March 2026

Startup	Sector	Funding	Round	Lead Investors
Cheerio AI	AI Customer Engagement	₹8 Crore	Seed	Artha Venture Fund II
Peping	Functional Beverages	₹2.5 Crore	Early Stage	IAN Angel Fund

Cheerio AI Raises ₹8 Crore Seed Round Led by Artha Venture Fund II

AI-powered customer engagement platform Cheerio AI raised ₹8 crore in a seed funding round led by Artha Venture Fund II, with participation from Hyderabad Angels, TiE Angels, LetsVenture, Invention Engine, and several angel investors.

The Bengaluru-based startup provides an AI-driven platform that integrates marketing, support, and sales workflows across channels, including WhatsApp, email, SMS, social messaging, and in-app communication.

The newly raised capital will be used to build multi-modal AI capabilities, including a proprietary small-model LLM for ad generation, expand the platform into voice and video communication channels, and strengthen enterprise-grade automation features. The company also plans to expand its engineering and AI teams while preparing for global expansion.

Functional Beverage Startup Peping Raises ₹2.5 Crore from IAN Angel Fund

Functional beverage brand Peping secured ₹2.5 crore in funding led by IAN Angel Fund.

The startup focuses on developing health-focused beverages aimed at modern consumers seeking functional nutrition and lifestyle products. The capital will be used to strengthen product development, expand distribution channels, and accelerate brand building as the company looks to scale in India’s fast-growing health and wellness beverage segment.

Key Business News for 5th March 2026

Fintech Unicorn Moneyview Files DRHP for ₹1500 Crore IPO

Bengaluru-based fintech unicorn Moneyview has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI to launch an IPO worth around ₹1500 crore.

The IPO will include a combination of fresh equity issuance and an offer for sale by existing investors. Moneyview, which provides digital lending and personal finance solutions, has grown rapidly in India’s fintech ecosystem and is now preparing to enter public markets amid rising demand for digital credit platforms.

Ananya Birla’s Svatantra Microfin Plans ₹3000 Crore IPO

Microfinance company Svatantra Microfin, backed by entrepreneur Ananya Birla, is preparing for a ₹3000 crore IPO as it looks to expand its lending footprint.

The company focuses on providing financial services to underserved rural borrowers, particularly women entrepreneurs and small businesses. The planned IPO is expected to help the company strengthen capital reserves and accelerate its growth in India’s microfinance sector.

Estée Lauder to Acquire Full Ownership of Forest Essentials

Global beauty giant Estée Lauder Companies is set to acquire the remaining stake in Forest Essentials, a luxury Ayurvedic skincare brand, taking full ownership of the Indian beauty brand.

The acquisition marks a significant step in Estée Lauder’s strategy to deepen its presence in India’s premium beauty market. Forest Essentials has built a strong position in the luxury Ayurvedic skincare category, combining traditional formulations with premium retail experiences.