Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 29th September 2025: Petpooja Raises $15.5 Mn, Kapiva Secures $60 Mn, YouTube Premium Lite Launch & Tata Motors CEO Appointment

India’s startup ecosystem continues to see strong investor interest as funding rounds, corporate developments, and product launches shape the market. Today’s roundup covers major funding announcements from Petpooja, Hocco, Kapiva, and Plazza, along with emerging AI and mobility startups. Additionally, YouTube has launched its Premium Lite plan in

Apple Made in India: Creating 3,50,000 Jobs, Factories And...

1 in every 5 iPhones is now made in India, thanks to 45 suppliers and government schemes that have given it a significant boost. Learn more.

EY Hikes India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.7%, Urges Diversification of Export Markets

Based on robust growth in the June quarter and the implementation of GST reforms, EY increased India's real gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the fiscal year 2025–2026 (FY26) from 6.5% to 6.7%. EY stated in its 'Economy Watch' report for September 2025

Sam Altman’s Bold Warning: AI Could Replace 40% of Jobs by 2030

"GPT-5 is already smarter than me," where the job replacement that took 75 years will shrink down to 5. What's going to happen?

INR 3 Lakh Crore Gone: India’s Top 10 Companies Suffer a Cap Drop...

Indian Stock Market is in red, TCS, Infosys & top banks suffer Cap losses as BSE is down by 2,199.77 points or 2.66% in just a...

Unicorn Startup Spinny Narrows Losses in FY25 as Revenue Rises 25%

Spinny's revenue grew 25% to INR 4,657 crore in FY25, while net losses fell to INR 424 crore. The used-car unicorn improved margins, reduced expenses, and strengthened its path toward breakeven amid a challenging market.

GSK CEO Emma Walmsley Steps Down, Luke Miels Appointed as New CEO

After nearly nine years, Emma Walmsley, the CEO of GSK Plc, is leaving her position. Luke Miels, the chief commercial officer of the British pharmaceutical company, will take over as CEO. After working for other large European pharmaceutical companies, Miels joined GSK in 2017 and is now in charge of

YouTube Brings Premium Lite to India at Rs 89 per Month

YouTube has launched its Premium Lite plan in India at Rs 89 per month. The new low-cost subscription offers ad-free viewing on most videos but excludes features like YouTube Music, downloads, and background play. The rollout is set to reach all users in the coming weeks. A Cheaper Way to

Snapchat Memories Are No Longer Free: 5 GB Limit and What You Need to Know

Are your old snap memories safe? Is the new pricing affordable for Indians? 100GB for...

India in the AI Spotlight: Anthropic Follows Openai’s Footsteps To...

Office in Delhi, offering an affordable price for Indians, and tripling the workforce size to serve the second-largest market...

Venture Catalysts Leads $400K Pre-Seed Round Funding round for Vaani AI Research to Accelerate the Global Voice-First Economy

Venture Catalysts, India’s leading early-stage investor and integrated incubator, today announced that it has led an $400k pre-seed funding round for Vaani AI Research, the startup pioneering the “Stripe for Voice AI” by offering a full-stack, production-grade voice agent platform. The round also drew participation from Dr. Abhishek Sharma

Accenture Lays Off 11,000 Employees, Cautions of More Job Cuts Ahead as AI Reshapes Workforce

In just three months, Accenture has secretly reduced its workforce by almost 11,000 workers, and the axe may not be hanging down anytime soon. The mammoth consulting firm is currently undergoing a comprehensive transformation aimed at equipping it for a future in which artificial intelligence—rather than human consultants—

Fixed Deposits vs Other Investment Options: Which is the Better Choice for Your Money?

For many years, Indian depositors looking for security and stability turned to fixed deposits (FDs). It was common practice to roll over FDs at maturity because it was thought that these investments yielded consistent returns. However, this strategy is being questioned in the current financial environment. The yields on top

Who is Shailesh Chandra? Tata Motors’ New MD & CEO Amid JLR Challenges

Tata Motors appoints Shailesh Chandra as MD & CEO and Dhiman Gupta as CFO from October 1, 2025. Chandra, an EV and strategy expert, will lead the company through growth and challenges, including JLR’s cyberattack disruptions, while continuing his role in electric mobility.

Centre Unveils Guidelines for INR 2,000-Crore Nationwide EV Charging Network to Boost Electric Mobility

Under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) programme, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has released the operating rules for the installation of EV public charging stations (EV PCS). Under the PM E-Drive programme, the government had set aside INR 2,000 crore to

Arattai Surges to No. 1: Can India’s Homegrown Messenger Challenge WhatsApp?

Zoho’s homegrown messaging app Arattai is rapidly gaining attention as a Made-in-India alternative to WhatsApp. With strong government support and rising downloads, Arattai reflects India’s push for self-reliant digital platforms and a new chapter in local tech innovation.

Ex-Google CEO Criticizes Work From Home, Says it’s “Killing Growth” and Affecting Work-Life Balance

According to Business Insider, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has expressed concerns about the expanding trend of flexible employment once more, stating that it may be eroding the tech industry's competitive advantage. Schmidt said in an interview with the "All-In" podcast that working from home hinders

Arattai Messaging App Explained: What it is, Why the IT Minister is Backing it, and if it Can Replace WhatsApp in India

The government of India is supporting a new competitor in the texting space. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promoted Arattai, a native messaging software created by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation, as a WhatsApp substitute that is built in India, to the public recently. Pradhan highlighted Arattai's domestic origins by

Madhvani Group’s INSCO Assumes Full Control of HNGIL Following Successful IBC Resolution

Hindustan National Glass & Industries Limited (HNGIL), India's former largest container glass manufacturer, has been formally acquired by Independent Sugar Corporation Limited (INSCO), a division of the Madhvani Group, based in Uganda, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) process. INSCO was able to acquire complete control of

WeWork India to Launch INR 3,000 Crore IPO on October 3: Key Details and What to Expect

According to various media reports, WeWork India, a prominent co-working company, is preparing to conduct its initial public offering (IPO) on October 3. With an estimated price range of INR 615 to INR 648 per share of face value INR 10 each, the issue size is estimated to be close

Jaguar Land Rover Secures UK Government Guarantee for £1.5 Billion Loan to Drive EV Expansion

The UK government will support Jaguar Land Rover with a £1.5 billion ($2 billion) loan to alleviate the burden on suppliers caused by the automaker's production stop, which was brought on by a cyberattack. The government announced on 27 September that the loan, which will be given

Trump’s 100% Tariff on Branded Drugs Sends Ripples Across India’s Pharma Industry

In a surprise announcement on 25 September, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration will slap a 100% tariff on branded and patented medicines imported into the United States from 1 October. He made it clear that only drug makers already building plants on U.S. soil would escape

Elon Musk’s xAI Sues OpenAI for Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets and Poaching Employees

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets and confidential business information. The complaint was filed earlier this week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. What the lawsuit claims According to the court

Dubai Regulator Halts HDFC Bank DIFC Branch from Onboarding New Clients: Here’s Why

On September 26, HDFC Bank Limited declared that the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) had formally instructed its Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) office to restrict the onboarding of new customers.  The DIFC branch is prohibited from approaching or doing business with new clients who have not finished the onboarding