betterhood Secures ₹5 Crore Seed Round to Build India’s First Preventive Pain Care Ecosystem

betterhood, a Bengaluru-based preventive pain care startup, has raised ₹5 crore in a seed funding round led by Kairon Capital. The round also saw participation from a marquee set of consumer founders, including Yogesh Kabra of XYXX, Rishubh Satiya of Plix, Rohit Chawla and Sifat Khurana of Innovist, and Shayamal Vallabhjee, renowned sports scientist and performance coach.

Launched in October 2024 by Vikram Kadam and Neha Zade, betterhood is building India's first comprehensive preventive pain care ecosystem, focused on addressing musculoskeletal health before it becomes chronic and debilitating. The company currently offers products across posture supports, orthotic supports, and pain relief and recovery, while also investing in education, awareness and expert-led interventions aimed at helping consumers engage with the category earlier and more proactively.

India is sitting on a large but under-addressed MSK health challenge. Back pain, joint discomfort, postural fatigue and movement-related issues are increasingly common, yet most consumers still seek solutions only after pain has already worsened. betterhood is built on the belief that while MSK decline may become more common with age, a meaningful part of it can be delayed, managed or prevented through the right combination of products, habit correction, education and guided self-care.

Vikram Kadam, Co-founder, betterhood, said, "Most consumers in India still respond to pain only after it has become persistent enough to affect everyday life. We believe the real opportunity lies in shifting that behaviour earlier - toward prevention, posture correction, recovery and long-term musculoskeletal care. betterhood is being built to serve exactly that need, by combining science-backed products with education and habit change."

Since launch, betterhood has served over 60,000 customers and built a library of more than 1000 educational content pieces across platforms around posture, pain prevention, movement and recovery. By combining products with education-led discovery and expert-backed self-care, the company is positioning itself as more than a conventional D2C pain care brand.

Neha Zade, Co-founder, betterhood, said, "MSK issues today are lifestyle-rooted - shaped by how modern Indians work, commute, move and rest. This is why betterhood's products are designed with the modern user at the centre - blending scientific design with thoughtful aesthetics and user experiences so they integrate naturally into everyday life, rather than carrying the cold, clinical feel of traditional products."

Unlike pain care solutions that focus on short-term symptomatic relief, betterhood's products are designed to support more meaningful recovery by addressing underlying drivers such as posture, support, movement and everyday habits. What differentiates betterhood is its ambition to build trust and authority in the category, not just sell products. The company is investing in becoming a credible consumer-facing knowledge layer for preventive pain care, with the long-term goal of creating an integrated platform at the intersection of product, education and expert support.

Deepankur Malhotra, Founder and Managing Partner, Kairon Capital, said, "betterhood is addressing a large and highly under-served consumer need at the intersection of health, wellness and everyday lifestyle. What stood out to us was the founders' clarity of thought, strong early execution." 

India’s First Phygital Service Hub Launched in MP

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has inaugurated India’s first integrated phygital service centre in Umri village, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, under the Department of Telecommunications’ Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Initiative. The centre combines physical and digital access to healthcare, education, agriculture, banking, and government services, marking a major step toward rural digital empowerment.

Key Highlights of the Launch

• Location: Umri village, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh
• Date of Launch: March 15, 2026
• Launched By: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
• Initiative: Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot by the Department of Telecommunications
• Objective: To provide integrated access to essential services (healthcare, education, agriculture, banking, and government schemes) through a hybrid physical-digital model.

What “Phygital” Means Here

• Physical + Digital Integration: Villagers can walk into the centre for in-person assistance while simultaneously accessing online platforms.
• Service Coverage:
  • Healthcare: Telemedicine consultations, health awareness programs
  • Education: Digital learning modules, skill development courses
  • Agriculture: Online crop advisory, market price updates
  • Banking: Digital financial services, UPI-based transactions
  • Government Services: Access to schemes, certificates, and grievance redressal

Strategic Importance

• Digital Empowerment: Bridges the digital divide in rural India by offering both offline and online access.
• Holistic Development: Encourages rural communities to adopt digital tools while ensuring inclusivity for those less tech-savvy.
• Pilot Model: If successful, the initiative could be scaled across other districts and states, transforming rural service delivery nationwide.

Comparison: Traditional vs. Phygital Centres

Feature	Traditional Rural Centres	Phygital Service Centre
Service Access	Mostly physical, limited digital	Hybrid (physical + digital)
Healthcare	Local clinics only	Telemedicine + local support
Education	Schools, limited resources	Digital learning + skill hubs
Agriculture Support	Offline advisory	Real-time digital updates
Banking	Manual transactions	Digital payments, UPI, online banking
Government Services	Paper-based, slow	Online portals + assisted access

Challenges & Risks

• Digital Literacy Gap: Villagers may need training to fully benefit.
• Connectivity Issues: Reliable internet access is crucial for success.
• Scalability: Pilot success in Guna will determine feasibility for nationwide rollout.

This launch positions Guna as a testbed for rural digital transformation, with Scindia emphasizing that the initiative will “bring the world to Umri” by placing opportunities directly in villagers’ hands.

GitHub Sparks Student Backlash by Cutting Premium Copilot Models

GitHub has ignited frustration among students worldwide after announcing the removal of premium AI models from its free Copilot Student plan.

The change, effective immediately, strips access to advanced models such as GPT‑5.4, Claude Opus, and Claude Sonnet, leaving students with only the default “auto mode” option. While the plan remains free, the loss of manual model selection has been met with widespread criticism across developer communities.

GitHub’s Rationale

Martin Woodward, GitHub’s Vice President of Developer Relations, defended the move as a necessary step to ensure the program’s sustainability. “We want to keep Copilot free for students, but offering premium models at scale is not financially viable,” he explained in a statement.

Student Reaction

The timing of the decision has drawn particular ire, coinciding with the start of hackathon season. Many students rely on Copilot’s advanced reasoning capabilities for complex coding projects, and the sudden downgrade has left them scrambling for alternatives. Social media platforms and GitHub forums have been flooded with complaints, with some accusing the company of prioritizing cost-cutting over education.

Before vs. After

Feature	Old Student Plan	New Student Plan
Model Access	GPT‑5.4, Claude Opus, Claude Sonnet	Auto mode only
Cost	Free	Free
Flexibility	Manual model choice	Restricted
Community Sentiment	Positive	Negative

Broader Implications

Critics warn the move could widen the gap between students who can afford premium Copilot subscriptions and those who cannot. With competitors like Codeium and Tabnine offering free tiers, GitHub risks losing ground among the very audience it hopes to cultivate.

What’s Next

Students are calling on GitHub to reinstate at least one premium model in the free tier, while others are already exploring rival platforms. Whether GitHub adjusts its strategy remains to be seen, but the backlash highlights the delicate balance between cost management and community trust in the AI era.

AgniKul Cosmos and Raptee secure ₹25 crore each from TIDCO’s Startup Investment Policy

Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has approved investments of ₹25 crore each in space-tech startup AgniKul Cosmos and electric mobility startup Raptee Energy. These are the first deployments under the TIDCO Startup Investment Policy 2025, signaling direct government support for deep-tech and advanced manufacturing ventures in Tamil Nadu.

Key Highlights

• Investment Amount: ₹25 crore each
• Beneficiaries:
  • AgniKul Cosmos – A Chennai-based space-tech startup developing customizable, small-scale launch vehicles.
  • Raptee Energy – An electric mobility startup focused on high-performance motorcycles.
• Policy Framework: TIDCO Startup Investment Policy 2025
• Date of Approval: March 14, 2026
• Government Role: Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa personally handed over approval letters to the startups.

Strategic Significance

• AgniKul Cosmos
  • Works on 3D-printed rocket engines and modular launch systems.
  • Aims to reduce costs and increase accessibility for satellite launches.
  • Strengthens India’s position in the global space-tech ecosystem.
• Raptee Energy
  • Focused on premium electric motorcycles with advanced battery management systems.
  • Targets urban mobility and sustainability goals.
  • Aligns with Tamil Nadu’s push toward becoming an EV manufacturing hub.

Contextual Significance 

Startup	Sector	Highlight from Press Release	Strategic Role
AgniKul Cosmos	Space-tech	First Indian startup to test 3D-printed rocket engines	Expands India’s private space launch capabilities
Raptee Energy	Electric mobility	Premium EV motorcycles with advanced battery systems	Strengthens Tamil Nadu’s EV ecosystem

Risks & Challenges

• Capital Deployment: ₹25 crore is significant but may only cover early-stage scaling; both startups will need further rounds of funding.
• Market Competition:
  • AgniKul faces global competition from Rocket Lab and other small-launch providers.
  • Raptee competes with Ola Electric, Ather Energy, and international EV brands.
• Policy Dependence: Success hinges on sustained government support and favorable regulations.

Outlook

• These investments highlight Tamil Nadu’s ambition to be a leader in deep-tech and EV manufacturing.
• AgniKul Cosmos could position India as a competitive player in low-cost satellite launches, while Raptee Energy strengthens the premium EV motorcycle segment.
• The move also signals a shift in state policy toward direct equity participation in startups, rather than just incubation or grants.

War in Iran Puts India’s $11 Bn Phone Trade at Risk

India’s mobile phone exports, worth $11 billion in the first half of FY26, could face a loss of $2–3 billion due to the ongoing Iran war. The disruption of Gulf trade routes, rising freight costs, and reduced consumption in West Asia are the main drivers of this projected hit.

Key Impact on India’s Mobile Exports

• Projected Loss: $2–3 billion in FY26.
• Sector Size: Mobile exports generated $11 billion in the first six months of FY26.
• Primary Cause: Disruption of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and trade corridor.
• Affected Region: Gulf countries, a major hub for electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies that re-export Indian mobile phones.
• Top Commodity at Risk: Mobile phones are among the top five most-impacted export categories.

Why the Gulf Matters

• The Gulf region is both a consumption hub and a transit hub for Indian electronics.
• EMS companies rely on Gulf ports for distribution into West Asia, Africa, and Europe.
• With war-driven instability, insurance premiums, freight costs, and delivery timelines have all surged.

Comparative Snapshot

Factor	Pre-War (FY26 H1)	Current Impact (Post-War)
Mobile Export Revenue	$11 billion	Risk of $2–3 billion loss
Freight Costs	Stable	Rising sharply
Gulf Trade Routes	Reliable	Disrupted (Strait of Hormuz)
Insurance Premiums	Moderate	Increased significantly
Consumption Demand	Strong	Weakening in Gulf markets

⚠️ Risks & Trade-Offs

• Supply Chain Delays: Longer shipping times due to rerouting around conflict zones.
• Higher Costs: Freight and insurance hikes squeeze margins for exporters.
• Demand Shock: Gulf consumers may cut back on electronics purchases amid regional instability.
• Strategic Vulnerability: Heavy reliance on Gulf markets exposes India’s mobile sector to geopolitical risks.

Possible Mitigation Strategies

• Diversify Export Markets: Strengthen trade with Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America to reduce Gulf dependency.
• Local Warehousing: Establish storage hubs outside conflict zones to ensure smoother distribution.
• Policy Support: Government may need to extend export incentives or subsidies to cushion losses.
• Supply Chain Resilience: Explore alternate shipping routes via Europe or East Africa.

Bottom Line

The Iran war is not just a geopolitical crisis—it’s a trade shock for India’s mobile export sector, threatening up to $3 billion in losses. For Gurugram-based exporters and EMS firms, this underscores the urgency of market diversification and supply chain resilience to safeguard India’s fast-growing electronics industry.