Farm Watt Innovations Raises ₹32.5 crore Funding led by IAN Alpha Fund

Founding Team – Farm Watt Innovations

IAN Alpha Fund, the second in the series of IAN Group’s VC funds, has co-led the ₹32.5 Crore funding round of Farm Watt Innovations, along with Rainmatter. The fresh capital will be utilized to strengthen the supply chain for India's rapidly expanding bioenergy sector, increase the number of biomass collection networks, construct additional aggregation hubs, invest in machinery, and develop its workforce.

Founded in 2023 by Kumar Neelendu, Kumar Neelendu brings over 23 years of diverse leadership experience, with the majority of his career dedicated to rural development, spanning financial inclusion, agriculture, and sustainable livelihood initiatives.

Since 2015, he has been actively involved in the renewable energy and bioenergy sector, working closely with European technology partners to secure the marketing rights for several advanced and future-ready technologies in the Compressed Biogas (CBG) industry. He has played a key role in introducing and commercializing these technologies across India and international markets.

Recognizing a critical gap in the emerging bioenergy ecosystem, Neelendu founded Farmwatt Innovations. He observed that while millions of tonnes of agricultural residue were being openly burned every year, the SATAT initiative had simultaneously triggered rapid investment in CBG and other green energy projects. However, there was no organized platform to connect biomass availability with the growing industry demand.

Going forward, Farmwatt aims to expand beyond aggregation and technology integration by developing its own portfolio of CBG, bio-pellet, and biochar plants, creating a fully integrated circular bioeconomy platform that delivers environmental, social, and economic impact.Approximately 92 million tonnes of crop residue are burned annually in India, contributing considerably to soil degradation and air pollution while releasing an estimated 34 million tonnes of CO2 into the sky. In addition, India produces around 500 million tons of agricultural residue a year, much of it is underutilized even though it has the potential to be used as feedstock for renewable energy.

The Government of India's SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) policy, which is propelling the swift growth of compressed biogas (CBG) facilities throughout the nation, has given this option even more impetus. However, the absence of a dependable, well-organized biomass supply chain that can produce high-quality feedstock on a large scale continues to be one of the industry's key problems.

The investment underlines IAN Alpha Fund's conviction that India's clean energy transition would depend on a robust biomass supply chain. They have created a unique strategy that helps both farmers and bioenergy companies by fusing an organized aggregation network with a thorough understanding of rural markets. The company is well-positioned to grow as the need for biomass continues to rise, thanks to its seasoned founding team, expanding network of farmers, and solid industry alliances.

Kumar Neelendu, Founder & Managing Director, Farm Watt Innovations, said, “This investment marks an important milestone in Farm Watt's journey towards building a scalable circular bioeconomy. As on the one hand, we had industries coming up in the biogas sector, like Reliance, IOCL, HPCL, BPCL. And, on the other, we had a situation where farmers were burning agri-waste. We thought it was the best time to get into the business.”

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner at IAN Alpha Fund, said, “India’s transition to clean energy hinges on solving a massive, dual-sided challenge: managing millions of tonnes of underutilized crop residue while meeting the bioenergy sector’s soaring demand for reliable biomass. This isn’t just an environmental hurdle—it’s a massive supply-chain opportunity.

Farm Watt is capturing this market by building the missing link between farmers and the renewable energy ecosystem. Through their dependable biomass aggregation network, they are simultaneously curbing stubble burning, boosting rural incomes, and accelerating India’s circular bioeconomy. We are proud to back a team whose deep rural market expertise and sharp execution capabilities position them to become a definitive leader in the space.”

Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar are among the states that the company intends to grow. Additionally, it intends to grow into digital biomass supply chain solutions, carbon credits, biochar, biomass preprocessing, and Bio-CBG initiatives.

The demand for a dependable biomass supply chain is anticipated to increase quickly as India keeps investing in compressed biogas and renewable energy. By lowering stubble burning, raising farmer earnings, and assisting the nation's move to cleaner energy, Farm Watt hopes to play a significant part in this change.

About Farm Watt Innovations:

Farm Watt Innovations Pvt Ltd is a climate-focused agribusiness and bioenergy enabler, working at trisection of agri waste management, rural livelihoods and renewable energy supply chain. Our core activity revolves around transforming agri residues into economic value while addressing critical environmental challenges like stubble burning causing air pollution and greenhouse gas emission. Our primary business activity involves aggregation, processing, and supply of agricultural biomass to downstream bioenergy applications such as Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants, bioenergy facilities, and circular bioeconomy enterprises.

A key pillar of our work is decentralized agri-residue aggregation hubs at clusters located at block level. Hubs facilitates collection, baling, storage, quality control and logistics of agri residues following standardized operational protocols, safety systems, and transparent weighing and payment mechanisms to ensure efficiency and fairness. We are currently operating from 15 Hubs spread across 6 states of northern, central and eastern India.

About IAN Alpha Fund:

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

Aquapulse Raises ₹45 Cr Led by NABVENTURES, With IAN Alpha Fund Joining to Transform India’s Shrimp Value Chain for Global Exports

IAN Group, the country's largest early-stage investment platform, through IAN Alpha Fund, has participated in the successful closure of Aquapulse's ₹45 crore funding round, led by NABVENTURES through its AgriSURE Fund. The company plans to deploy the fresh capital to strengthen farm-level technology and disease management systems, expand its farmer procurement network across eastern India, scale processing and export operations, and build working capital infrastructure to support its growing global business.

With assistance from Aquapulse in the areas of water quality monitoring, feed discipline, disease early-warning systems, and harvesting coordination, local entrepreneurs can oversee clusters of shrimp ponds according to the company's aquapreneur concept. The Company brings increased transparency and consistency for purchasers around the world while giving smaller, shrimp farmers stable revenue streams. Pre-harvest technology assistance, lagoon-based harvesting, processing collaborations, and export logistics are all integrated by the company into a single traceable supply chain platform. At the moment, they mostly export shrimp to China, Vietnam, and Japan, but it also serves institutional and modern trade clients in the country.

Established in 2023 by Abhishek and Abhilash Dwivedy, Aquapulse uses a hub-and-spoke strategy to directly enable increased productivity and therefore earnings for small shrimp farmers. While the company started with Odisha based farmers, the company has demonstrated scale as it expanded its model to Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal farmers. The Company has created a technology-enabled, farmer-focused procurement platform that directly links shrimp producers with organized domestic and international markets.

India is one of the biggest exporters of frozen shrimp in the world, and the industry contributes significantly to the nation's seafood export in 2025, for instance, seafood exports from India amounted to US$ 8.28 billion. Nonetheless, a significant portion of shrimp output still originates from dispersed smallholder farms, which largely lack access to organized market connections, technological assistance, stable pricing, and traceability mechanisms. Simultaneously, foreign consumers are keen for end-to-end sourcing visibility, sustainability, and consistency in quality, as there is a high demand for Indian shrimps. The company’s model is based on the belief that India's strength is based on organizing its large number of small farmers by integrating technology with organized market access. For India, this is an excellent aggregation model for low-earning small farmers to access global customers, with significantly higher earnings.

Abhishek Dwivedy, Co-Founder, MD & CEO, Aquapulse, said, “This round is a vote of confidence in the smallholder shrimp farmer. The capital lets us deepen the aquapreneur cluster model, strengthen pre-harvest technology at the pond, and scale processing and exports without losing the farmer-first discipline we started with. We are not trying to replace the existing value chain overnight. We are trying to organise it — pond by pond, cluster by cluster — so that quality, traceability and farmer income all move in the same direction.”

Abhilash Dwivedy, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Aquapulse, said, “Our job is to make the smallholder shrimp farmer a named, recognised participant in the global seafood chain — not an anonymous input.”

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “We invest in scalable, execution-driven companies that bridge critical market gaps. Aquapulse stood out immediately due to their deep understanding of the aquaculture ecosystem and a ground-level operational model that drives genuine value for both vendors and customers. By building a seamless 'farm-to-port' platform, Abhishek and Abhilash are matching dynamic international demand with unparalleled transparency, traceability, and market access. Aquapulse perfectly aligns with our fund’s thesis: backing innovative solutions that solve real-world problems at scale."

About Aquapulse

Aquapulse is the brand of Phoenix Marine Exports and Solution Pvt. Ltd. (PMES), a pond-to-port integrated shrimp aquaculture tech and seafood export company headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The company works directly with smallholder shrimp farmers across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal through an aquapreneur-led hub-and-spoke model — supporting them with pre-harvest technology, lagoon-based harvesting, processing and export logistics.

Aquapulse exports primarily to China, Vietnam and Japan, and serves domestic customers through a parallel channel. The company’s focus is on organising India’s fragmented smallholder shrimp value chain into a single, traceable platform that delivers consistent quality to global buyers and a more predictable livelihood to farmers at the pond.
About IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

About IAN Group

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Alpha Fund Leads ₹45cr in ANSCER Robotics to Scale AI‑Native Automation and Global Expansion

• ANSCER Robotics is well positioned to address evolving global demand for intelligent automation

IAN Group, the country’s largest early-stage investment platform, has led a ₹45 crores funding round in ANSCER Robotics, from IAN Alpha Fund, the second in its series of VC funds, along with Info Edge, and other angel investors. The investment will support the company’s next phase of growth across product innovation, US expansion, strategic partnerships, and partner-led deployment across factories and warehouses.

Founded in 2020 by Ribin Mathew (CEO), Ebin Sunny (COO), Raghu V (CBO), and Raj Mohan (CTO), ANSCER Robotics is building one of India’s most advanced AI-native automation platforms for industrial environments. Built in India and engineered to global safety standards, the company is developing robots for demanding real-world manufacturing and warehouse conditions environments where robots need to operate safely alongside people, forklifts, production lines, and high-throughput industrial processes. Its modular hardware and software stack is designed to enable faster deployment, easier servicing, and scalable adoption across domestic and international markets.

ANSCER’s India-built global platform is backed by deep manufacturing capability with a manufacturing facility in Bengaluru capable of producing more than 1,000 robots a year, supported by a dedicated 20,000 sq. ft. testing area where every robot undergoes performance, endurance, and application testing before it leaves the facility.

Ribin Mathew, Founder & CEO, ANSCER Robotics, said, “The first era of automation was about machines following instructions. The next era will be about machines understanding context, learning from operations, and working alongside enterprise intelligence. ANSCER is building that future through a robotics platform developed in India, designed for global standards, and ready for the AI-native factory.”
The investment comes at a time when industries globally are rapidly increasing investments in automation and smart manufacturing. Rising labor costs, operational inefficiencies, safety concerns, and the growing need for faster supply chains are pushing companies to adopt intelligent robotics solutions at scale."

Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “We believe that industrial automation technology has reached a critical point globally. Today, companies view automation as a key resource for resilience, intelligence, and competitive advantage, not just efficiency. It was the team's vision for the development not only of robotic hardware but also of an intelligent, interoperable automation solution that could evolve with the adoption of enterprise artificial intelligence that impressed us the most. Their approach of integrating robots, orchestration software, fleet intelligence, and AI-native infrastructure places them well in an industry expected to experience rapid growth globally in the coming years.”

IAN Alpha Fund’s investment thesis is the Company’s differentiated ability to combine industrial-grade robotics hardware with intelligent software and AI- models and agents, to bring both efficiency and security to industrial systems transformation with the integration of robotics and AI. The company’s focus on building interoperable systems, scalable deployment models, and future-ready automation infrastructure aligned well with the fund’s thesis around next-generation manufacturing technologies.

India has the opportunity to become a global hub for next-generation industrial technologies, and Anscer represents the kind of deep-tech innovation needed to build that future. The company has demonstrated strong technological capabilities, a clear understanding of industrial workflows, and the ability to develop scalable robotics systems that can solve real operational problems across manufacturing and warehousing environments.

At a time when manufacturers and warehouses are increasingly looking to automate operations, improve efficiency, and reduce dependency on manual processes, ANSCER Robotics is building intelligent robotic systems designed for modern industrial environments. The company develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), fleet management software, and AI-driven automation systems that help factories and warehouses move materials faster, reduce operational downtime, improve worker safety, and streamline workflows. Please check if some marquee customer names could be added.

Built in India and engineered to global safety standards, the company’s modular hardware and software stack enables faster deployment, simplified servicing, and scalable adoption across domestic and international markets. They currently operate from their headquarters in Bengaluru with a sales and support presence in the US, supporting customers and partners across the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

About ANSCER Robotics

ANSCER Robotics is a Bangalore-based industrial robotics company building one of India’s most advanced AI-native automation platforms for factories and warehouses. The company designs and manufactures autonomous mobile robots, intelligent fleet software, and next-generation industrial systems that help enterprises improve material movement, productivity, safety, and operational efficiency.

Positioned at the intersection of robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and manufacturing, ANSCER is developing a future-ready platform that combines intelligent mobility, advanced vision systems, Vision-Language Model capabilities, and enterprise-grade software integration. Its architecture is designed to support real-time analytics, contextual decision-making, and seamless interoperability with customer-owned Artificial Intelligence models and digital systems.

The company is also developing an open robotics infrastructure layer aligned with Model Context Protocol (MCP) principles, enabling enterprises to securely integrate their own Artificial Intelligence agents and Large Language Models into robotic operations while retaining ownership of internal data.
Website: https://www.anscer.com/

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

About IAN Group

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

The Sweet Change Raises ₹70 Lakhs in Funding Led By IAN Angel Fund

IAN Angel Fund, the evergreen fund of IAN Group, has led a ₹70 lakhs early-stage funding round in The Sweet Change, India's cleanest natural sweetener brand, along with participation from Udaan Angel Partners.

The company plans to use the fresh capital to strengthen product development, expand its presence across e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, grow brand awareness, and build a larger team as it scales operations across India.

Founded in 2024 by Manvi Agnihotri (Co-founder & CEO) and Sheen Hitashi (Co-founder & CBO), The Sweet Change was born out of a problem, observed at both a personal and professional level, that the co-founder Ms. Agnihotri witnessed closely during her years as a clinical nutritionist. Over the last 12 years, she has worked with more than 11,000+ patients dealing with diabetes, PCOS, insulin resistance, obesity, and lifestyle-related health conditions. One common challenge she repeatedly saw was the struggle to reduce sugar consumption without giving up taste.

The investment by IAN Angel Fund was driven by the growing demand for healthier food choices and the increasing awareness around metabolic health in India. The fund saw strong potential in the company’s clean-label positioning, differentiated product approach, and the founders’ deep understanding of consumer pain points.

The fund also viewed them as an emerging player in a category that is expected to see long-term growth as Indian consumers are increasingly moving towards preventive healthcare, fitness-focused lifestyles, and better nutritional choices. The company’s early customer adoption, repeat purchase trends, and capital-efficient growth further strengthened investor confidence.

Today, the company offers products made with natural ingredients, while avoiding artificial sweeteners. Its products are positioned as zero calorie, zero-sugar, zero-glycemic alternatives designed for health-conscious consumers as well as people managing medical and lifestyle conditions.

Manvi Agnihotri, Co-founder & CEO, The Sweet Change, said –

India deserves a sweetener it can trust. For 12 years, I watched people fail to quit sugar, not because they lacked discipline, but because the market failed them. This investment let us fix that - and put a clean, honest sweetener in every Indian kitchen that struggled to avoid sugar.

The Sweet Change has demonstrated strong early traction within a short span of launch. In just over a year, the brand has crossed ₹1.5 crore in revenue and fulfilled 12,000+ orders across India through its website alone. Built with a capital-efficient D2C model, the company is now gearing up to scale further through marketplaces and quick-commerce expansion.

For the Co-founder Sheen Hitaishi, the focus has been on building a brand that makes healthier choices simpler and more approachable for consumers.

While several sugar substitutes existed in the market, many contained artificial ingredients, had an unpleasant bitter aftertaste, or failed to build long-term consumer trust. This gap led to the creation of The Sweet Change, a brand focused on offering cleaner, more transparent, and better-tasting sugar alternatives for Indian consumers.

The company plans to continue expanding its omnichannel presence across D2C, marketplaces, and quick commerce, while also exploring opportunities in cafés, hospitality, and institutional partnerships over time.

About The Sweet Change

Founded by a clinical nutritionist after working with 11,000+ patients struggling with diabetes, PCOS, insulin resistance, and other lifestyle disorders, The Sweet Change was built on a powerful belief: people should never have to choose between health and sweetness.

The Sweet Change is building India’s next-generation clean sweetener brand creating natural alternatives that deliver the taste and experience of sugar, without the spike, guilt, or compromise. With a strong focus on clean ingredients, trust, and everyday usability, the brand is making healthier sweetness simple, enjoyable, and accessible for modern Indian consumers.Vision is to lead India’s shift away from refined sugar and build the country’s most trusted clean-sweetness brand for the next generation.

Mission

To bring healthier sweetness into 600 million Indian homes by creating products that make reducing sugar effortless, sustainable, and joyful - without compromising on taste.

About IAN Angel Fund

IAN Angel Fund, the evergreen fund of IAN Group, is a SEBI-registered Category I AIF and part of India’s leading early-stage investment platform, which pioneered angel investing in the country. Today, IAN invests through its Angel Fund and venture capital funds, backed by a network of ~500 investors, including iconic entrepreneurs and industry leaders from India and overseas. The platform enables founders to raise capital from ₹50 lakh to ₹50 crore as they scale, while offering investors a diversified early- stage portfolio across both emerging and growth-stage startups.

About IAN Group

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered venture capital funds, including the US$100 million IAN Alpha Fund. IAN supports entrepreneurs with capital, mentoring by experienced founders, and access to global markets. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Alpha Fund Leads $6 Mn Investment Round in BigEndian Semiconductors

• As AI and edge computing surge, startup bets on security-first chip design to position India as a product-led semiconductor hub

IAN Group, the country’s largest early-stage investment platform, has led a USD$ 6 million funding round in BigEndian, through IAN Alpha Fund, the second in its series of VC funds, along with Vertex Ventures SEA, IvyCap Ventures, and other angel investors.

Sunil Kumar

The fresh capital will be deployed across chip design, team expansion, and tapeout cycles, one of the most capital-intensive and critical stages in semiconductor development. The company is also building cross-border partnerships, particularly in Taiwan, to bridge design and manufacturing, an essential step in navigating today’s globally distributed semiconductor supply chain.

Founded in 2024, BigEndian is developing System-on-Chips (SoCs) focused on AI Vision applications that enable machines to process and interpret visual data instantly. These are critical for applications such as smart surveillance, autonomous systems, industrial automation, and connected devices, where decisions need to be made at the edge, not the cloud.

The opportunity is also being shaped by a structural shift in the market. A significant majority of India’s surveillance and CCTV infrastructure currently relies on imported, predominantly Chinese SoCs. With increasing regulatory scrutiny globally and India’s STQC norms pushing for trusted, non-Chinese alternatives, OEMs are actively seeking reliable indigenous solutions, creating a well-defined and time-sensitive gap that companies like BigEndian are positioned to address.

The semiconductor industry is undergoing a structural shift away from general-purpose chips toward highly specialized silicon designed for AI, edge computing, and real-time data processing. At the same time, rising concerns around data security, cyber threats, and digital sovereignty are forcing companies and governments to rethink how chips are designed at the most fundamental level.

It is at this intersection that BigEndian is building, with a full-stack approach that integrates hardware, security, and software. Its “Secure by Design™” philosophy embeds security at the silicon level rather than as an afterthought, while its platform-led approach is designed to enable long-term ecosystem integration and recurring value creation.

Sunil Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO, BigEndian Semiconductors, said, “Raising capital in semiconductors is never about the money alone. It’s about earning trust in your ability to execute. This funding validates not just our technology, but our approach to building silicon the hard way: from architecture to tape-out, with a long-term roadmap in mind. India has no shortage of engineering talent or market demand. What we need is conviction capital that understands the cost, risk, and importance of building fabless semiconductor companies. At BigEndian, we’re committed to proving that world-class chips can be designed, built, and scaled from India.”

Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “The semiconductor landscape is moving from scale to specialization, with increasing emphasis on secure, domain-specific chip design. BigEndian is building at the intersection of AI, edge computing, and hardware-level security, but what stood out for us, at IAN, was the team’s proven execution capability, with prior successful tape-outs, and the early market validation they have demonstrated through OEM partnerships.

We believe India’s opportunity in semiconductors lies not just in design services, but in building globally competitive product companies. BigEndian’s full-stack approach and focus on trusted, indigenous solutions position it well to address a critical and evolving market need.”

India’s opportunity in this space is both clear and urgent. The country already contributes significantly to global semiconductor design talent, yet captures limited value due to the absence of large-scale product companies. With policy tailwinds such as the India Semiconductor Mission and growing investor appetite for deeptech, the ecosystem is now primed for companies that can move up the value chain.

The broader market tailwinds are hard to ignore. AI-driven workloads, proliferation of smart devices, and the rise of edge computing are driving demand for custom silicon at an unprecedented pace. At the same time, geopolitical shifts and supply chain disruptions have made semiconductor self-reliance a strategic priority for nations.

Early indicators of market traction further strengthen this outlook, with the company already engaging with OEM partners who are actively aligning with emerging regulatory requirements and seeking dependable alternatives in the ecosystem.

In this environment, startups like BigEndian are not just building products, they are helping define India’s role in the global semiconductor value chain.

About BigEndian Semiconductors

BigEndian Semiconductors is a fabless semiconductor startup building secure, high-performance System-on-Chips (SoCs) for AI Vision applications - designed in India for the global. Founded by a veteran team with a track record in delivering world-first innovations—from 4G chipsets to unicorn-scale SaaS platforms—BigEndian is focused on developing silicon platforms that power next-generation AI Vision systems powering surveillance, industrial, automotive, IoT, and enterprise systems.

At the heart of BigEndian’s vision is a “Secure by Design™” philosophy that tightly integrates hardware and software. With deep expertise in VLSI, system architecture, and embedded software, the company is developing trusted silicon solutions that serve both national security and commercial needs.

Headquartered in Bengaluru with strategic partnerships across Taiwan and India, BigEndian is working to build an ecosystem that supports end-to-end semiconductor innovation—from architecture to tapeout to product launch. The company is backed by a leadership team with decades of experience at Intel, ARM, Broadcom, Cypress, Centillium, and Zenoti, and is supported by government programs and deep-tech investors.

BigEndian is on a mission to help India become a global hub for semiconductor design, innovation, and manufacturing, starting with Fabless, and building toward Fab.

About IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Alpha Fund Leads ₹32.7 Crore Investment Round in a Sports-Tech Startup, SportVot

• Building the infrastructure layer for the long tail of global sports, bringing visibility, structure, and talent discovery to an ecosystem that has remained largely unseen

IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group’s 2nd VC Fund, has led a ₹32.7 crore funding round in SportVot along with Anicut Capital, Lets Venture, Capital A, Sucseed Indovation, Garima Vohra, and Gaurav Chanana from Lucifer Circus & Lucifer Sports, and others. The investment will support SportVot in accelerating its international expansion, strengthening its AI-led production and analytics capabilities. It will also help the company scale its white-label OTT solutions for sports bodies and leagues both in India and globally.

As sports media continues to digitise, a large structural gap remains. While top-tier leagues benefit from high-quality broadcast infrastructure, nearly 99% of sporting events globally remain unrecorded, undistributed, and commercially untapped. This has limited visibility, monetisation, and talent discovery across the broader sports ecosystem.

SportVot is addressing this gap through a full-stack, AI-enabled sports tech solution that enables organisers, from grassroots tournaments to semi-professional leagues, to produce and stream matches at broadcast quality without requiring expensive infrastructure. Its hardware-agnostic approach allows seamless capture through smartphones as well as professional cameras, significantly reducing the cost and complexity of sports production while enabling scale across geographies.

The company has already captured over 500,000 matches across 30 + countries and reaches an audience of more than 100 million viewers. With growing traction across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia, SportVot is building a relevant platform at the intersection of sports, media, and technology.

SportVot represents more than a sports production solution. As it scales across the long tail of global sports, the company is building a proprietary data and visibility layer over an ecosystem that has historically remained fragmented and under-discovered, presenting a significant opportunity that, according to IAN, is waiting to be unlocked. Over time, SportVot has the potential to emerge not only as an enabler of production and distribution but also as a meaningful infrastructure layer for talent discovery and scouting, enabled by analytics and unlocking monetisation through multiple channels.

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “At IAN Alpha Fund, we look for high-efficiency models that solve structural gaps. SportVot is doing exactly that by building for a segment of the sports world that has remained largely invisible despite its scale. What stood out to us was the company’s hardware-agnostic, AI-powered solution and its highly capital-efficient B2B model. Converting local matches into structured data, it creates a powerful infrastructure for talent scouting and commercial analytics. This blend of immediate business strength and long-term strategic value makes SportVot a compelling investment for IAN Alpha Fund.”

Founded by Sidhhant Agarwal (CEO), Yash Bhagwatkar (COO), and Shubhangi Gupta (CMO), the team has built a full-stack, integrated platform covering the full broadcast lifecycle, including live capture, streaming, graphics, scoring, and performance analytics within a single system.

Sidhhant Agarwal, Founder & CEO, SportVot, “We are proud to have the backing of IAN Alpha Fund along with our new and existing investors in what marks the largest investment raised by a sports technology company in India. We plan to use these funds to scale our offerings in international markets, with some initial success coming our way in Australia & Africa. The plan is to get into European, West Asian, and American markets. Our vision is to democratise access to technology and video creation for the 99% of sports tournaments & leagues that go unnoticed. This will help us increase our scale from 100k matches annually to half a million every year. The support from such marquee investors not only validates what SportVot is building but is also a massive indication that sports & sports tech in India is at an inflection point.”

Beyond production and distribution, SportVot is also building a proprietary data layer, with each match contributing to a growing repository of sports data. Over time, this is expected to unlock opportunities across performance analytics, talent discovery and scouting, and monetisation.

With this investment, IAN Alpha Fund continues to back companies building scalable, technology-led solutions for large, underserved markets. The Fund remains focused on supporting businesses that combine strong execution with global relevance, building solutions from India, for India, and the world.

IAN Alpha Fund Backs RoshAi’s Retrofit Autonomy Platform to Scale Driverless Industrial Fleets Globally

IAN Group, the country’s largest early-stage investment platform, has led a funding round in RoshAi of ₹22 Crore through IAN Alpha Fund, the second in its series of VC funds. RoshAi is a deep-tech autonomy company building retrofit-based driverless solutions for industrial vehicles. The investment will support the company in strengthening its product, expanding deployments, and scaling its presence across global industrial markets.

RoshAi is working to solve a long-standing challenge in industrial operations, enabling existing heavy vehicles in ports, mining sites, and logistics hubs to operate autonomously without requiring new fleet investments. As industries look to improve safety, reduce operational risks, and increase efficiency, the need for reliable and cost-effective autonomy solutions is becoming more pronounced. By combining AI-powered autonomy systems, sensors, and cloud-based fleet software, RoshAi allows operators to upgrade their current fleets and move towards driverless operations in a practical and scalable way.

The global industrial autonomous vehicles market is expanding rapidly, projected to grow from $47.6 billion in 2024 to $162.8 billion by 2030. RoshAi is focused on key segments within this opportunity, particularly autonomy retrofit kits and fleet management software, which are seeing strong adoption as operators look for faster and more efficient ways to implement automation.

The company has demonstrated early validation through partnerships with Tier 1 OEMs and repeat customer engagements. Its autonomy solutions have been tested over 100,000 km with zero safety incidents, supported by a growing patent portfolio and a technology stack designed for scalability across industrial environments.

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “RoshAi is solving industrial autonomy through a retrofit-first approach, enabling operators to upgrade existing fleets rather than invest in new infrastructure. With strong early validation, repeat customer engagement, and a scalable autonomy platform, the company is well-positioned to build a globally relevant deep-tech business from India.”

Headquartered in Kochi, RoshAi is led by Dr. Roshy John and Rajaram Moorthy, who bring extensive experience in autonomous mobility, AI, and engineering. The team has built and tested its autonomy platform across industrial environments, demonstrating strong reliability and safety performance.

Roshy John, Founder & CEO, RoshAi, said,“Our focus is to make industrial operations safer and more efficient by enabling existing fleets to operate autonomously. This investment allows us to accelerate product development, scale deployments across global markets, and continue building a robust autonomy platform for industrial use cases. We are glad to have IAN’s support as we move into this next phase.”

RoshAi is building an autonomy platform that includes retrofit hardware, an in-vehicle autonomy system, and a cloud-based fleet management platform. This enables industrial operators to upgrade existing fleets instead of investing in new vehicles or infrastructure, reducing costs and accelerating adoption.

The company is currently working with industrial operators across ports, mining, and logistics environments through pilot projects and early deployments. It plans to expand into markets such as the United States, Australia, and Southeast Asia, where demand for industrial automation and driverless solutions is growing steadily.

With this investment, IAN Alpha Fund continues to back deep-tech startups building practical and scalable solutions for real-world challenges. The fund remains focused on supporting companies that solve problems from India, for India and the world.

About RoshAi

RoshAi (Rosh.AI Private Limited) is a deep-tech autonomy company that enables commercial vehicles operating in confined environments such as seaports, mining sites, airports, and industrial yards to run driverless using a combination of retrofit hardware and AI-powered fleet software. The company offers an autonomy operating system, vehicle retrofit kits, and a cloud-based fleet management platform that together deliver safer operations, higher uptime, and better unit economics for industrial customers. RoshAi follows an “Android-for-autonomy” model, licensing its AI software stack to OEMs and fleet operators globally while deploying its retrofit hardware for existing fleets.

About IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

About IAN Group

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Alpha Fund Leads $9M Round in Skye Air Mobility’s Drone Logistics Push

Ankit Kumar, Founder & CEO, Skye Air Mobility

• IAN Alpha Fund leads Series B investment round in Skye Air Mobility
• Funding of $9M is to fuel hyperlocal drone delivery expansion

IAN Group, the country’s single largest early-stage investment platform, has led the Series B investment round in Skye Air Mobility, a leading hyperlocal drone delivery platform, through IAN Alpha Fund, second in the series of IAN Group’s VC Funds. The round also saw participation from AVNM Ventures, Faad Capital, Bajaj Capital, and other prominent investors, underscoring strong market confidence in Skye Air's autonomous logistics capabilities and Physical AI Infrastructure.

IAN Alpha Fund invests in innovative startups and MSMEs solving real problems or those aligning with India’s strategic imperatives. This investment reflects its conviction in next-generation logistics infrastructure being built with deep-tech products.

India’s last-mile logistics market is currently estimated at $5.5 billion and projected to reach $10 billion by 2030. Drone-enabled delivery is expected to capture a meaningful share as delivery speed, efficiency, and sustainability become increasingly critical for e-commerce and quick commerce players.

Founded by Ankit Kumar, Skye Air Mobility is building one of India’s leading hyperlocal drone delivery networks. The company combines autonomous drones, intelligent airspace management, and ground-based delivery infrastructure to enable scalable and sustainable last-mile logistics. In just over 2 years of operations, the company has completed more than 3.6 million autonomous deliveries while eliminating over 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. This demonstrates how aerial logistics can complement traditional supply chains and significantly reduce delivery times in dense urban environments. Their drones are designed to carry payloads of up to 10 kilograms, enabling applications ranging from e-commerce deliveries and pharmaceuticals to industrial supply chains.

A key differentiator in Skye Air’s model is its network-driven delivery architecture, which integrates aerial drones with ground logistics through a hub-pod-walker system designed specifically for Indian urban environments. This hybrid approach recognizes that drones alone cannot solve last-mile delivery challenges but can dramatically improve efficiency when integrated with existing logistics systems This also ensures that there is no dramatic loss of jobs by leveraging technology, in this case, drones

Skye Air also focuses on high-volume e-commerce logistics, one of the most demanding segments in the supply chain ecosystem, which has helped stress-test its technology and operational capabilities. The company already works with multiple enterprise customers across e-commerce, quick commerce, healthcare, and supply chain sectors. Across these two sectors, they have a portfolio of marquee customers, including Blue Dart Express, Shiprocket, Flipkart, Frido, Tata 1MG, Zepto and others.

Ankit Kumar, Founder & CEO, Skye Air Mobility, said, “When we started Skye Air, I was told that autonomous drone delivery in India was more than a decade away. We have completed 3.6 million deliveries and saved over 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ in just over two years, and we are just getting started. This fundraise marks our transition from proving the model to scaling the infrastructure. The capital will go toward deepening our Physical AI stack, connecting autonomous drones, intelligent airspace management through Skye UTM, and AI-powered ground robotics into a single seamless delivery chain. India has a rare opportunity not just to adopt the global playbook on drone logistics, but to write it for the world.”

Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said: “Last-mile logistics in India is not just a speed challenge, it is a structural one. The real unlock lies in the infrastructure that enables reliable, scalable autonomous aerial delivery. What stood out with Skye Air is that Ankit and the team recognised this early and built an integrated system combining airspace management, a hub-pod-walker network, and a Physical AI logistics stack. With over 3.5 million deliveries completed in two years, the model is already proving itself. India has a real opportunity to set the global benchmark for autonomous logistics infrastructure, and we are excited to back Skye Air in building that future.”

With the new funding, Skye Air plans to start expanding its operations beyond Delhi-NCR into cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, while further strengthening its technology stack across drone operations, airspace management, and autonomous logistics systems.

About Skye Air Mobility:

Skye Air Mobility is India's leading hyperlocal drone delivery platform, redefining last-mile logistics through autonomous aerial intelligence. In just two years of operations, the company has completed over 3.6 million autonomous deliveries while eliminating more than 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, demonstrating that speed and sustainability are not a trade-off.

At the heart of Skye Air's operations is Skye UTM, a proprietary AI-powered aerial traffic management platform that serves as the command-and-control backbone for complex urban delivery networks. Skye UTM enables safe, scalable, and coordinated drone operations across dynamic airspace making high-density, multi-route deployments not just possible, but reliable. Skye Air's flagship delivery drones are engineered to carry payloads of up to 10 kg, purpose-built for the demands of modern commerce from pharmaceuticals and e-commerce to food and industrial supply chains.

As India charts its course toward a drone-powered future, Skye Air Mobility stands at the forefront building the infrastructure, intelligence, and operational trust that will define what aerial logistics looks like at scale.

About IAN Alpha Fund:

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

About IAN Group:
IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Alpha Fund Backs Peptris in ₹70 Crore Series A to Advance AI Drug Discovery

IAN Alpha Fund, the 2nd in the series of IAN Group’s VC funds, along with Speciale Invest, has co-led a ₹70 crore Series A funding round in Peptris, a Bengaluru-based AI-powered drug discovery company. The round also saw participation from Tenacity Ventures, BYT Ventures, and other investors. The investment strengthens Peptris’ proposition as one of the leading Indian AI drug discovery platforms progressing beyond molecule generation towards clinical-ready assets. It is an opportune time for such an investment, as companies like Peptris not only help drug companies globally reduce development costs amid high failure rates but also assist with life-cycle management of their patents.

Founded in 2019, Peptris has built an AI-led discovery engine that addresses one of the most persistent problems in healthcare: despite scientific advances, drug discovery remains slow, expensive, and failure-prone, leaving large unmet medical needs. This challenge is most acute in the pre-clinical stage, where time, capital, and scientific uncertainty often derail promising programs much before drugs reach the clinical stage.

Peptris’ differentiator is its proprietary AI models, which not only generate novel molecules but also help predict critical drug development parameters early. This enables faster and better-informed decision-making and has already resulted in the discovery of Novel Chemical Entities (NCEs) as well as drug repurposing and rescue opportunities, with multiple programs now advancing towards clinical development.

This fresh capital infusion will be used to advance its existing programs toward clinical readiness and to significantly expand its pipeline over the next 24 months. The company plans to initiate several new NCE programs, alongside multiple drug repurposing and rescue programs (shelved clinical stage drugs of other companies). The company will also expand teams across biology, chemistry, data science, and AI, while building dedicated business development capabilities in the US and Europe to deepen partnerships with global pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Business Model: Peptris follows a B2B engagement model, working closely with pharma, biotech, and select FMCG partners to license assets and co-develop programs. Several of its discovery programs each address multi-billion-dollar global market opportunities, underlining the company’s value potential.

Leadership Team: Peptris is led by a founding team comprising Narayanan Venkatasubramanian (CEO), Shridhar Narayanan (CSO), Anand Budni (CTO), and Amit Mahajan (Chief Data Scientist), bringing together deep expertise across AI drug discovery and computational science. The team combines strong academic grounding with hands-on experience in building technology-led platforms and translating complex biological problems into data-driven solutions.

CEO Statement: Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, Co-founder & CEO, Peptris, said, “Our mission has been to harness AI to address meaningful healthcare challenges that enhance quality of life, not merely extend lifespan. The true reward lies in seeing this work translate into hope for patients, relief for caregivers, and a more accessible future for those with limited or unaffordable treatment options. Peptris is especially encouraged to have IAN Alpha Fund share this conviction as an early backer, reinforcing our commitment to building impactful, patient-centered innovation.”

Investor Statement: Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “Drug discovery is becoming economically unsustainable, with expenses nearly doubling every nine years and pre-clinical development swallowing disproportionate time and capital. The use of AI for molecule discovery, which re-engineers the economics of early drug discovery by enabling faster decisions, reducing costs, and significantly accelerating go-to-market timelines, really excited us. This is driven by a team with scientific depth and computational rigor. This innovation could absolutely help change the drug discovery ecosystem not only in India but globally. At its core, this investment is about serving humanity better.”

Therapeutic Focus: Peptris focuses on therapeutic areas including rare diseases, inflammation, oncology, and women’s health to deliver a durable impact for patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems globally.

About Peptris

Peptris is an AI-powered pre-clinical drug discovery company based in Bengaluru. Peptris has created AI models to generate novel molecules and predict varied parameters that are critical to reduce failures in drug development. The approach has led to the discovery of Novel Chemical Entities (NCE), drug repurposing and rescue opportunities. With novel solutions and a healthy pipeline of molecules, Peptris is one of the few nimble AI drug discovery companies to be entering clinical development and has successfully licensed its first program in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

About IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a $100 Mn SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the 2nd fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology.

About IAN Group

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Alpha Fund Backs D-Propulse Aerospace with ₹25 Crore Investment

(Left to Right) Dr. V. Ramanujachari, Co-founder & CTO, D-Propulse Aerospace; and Saurav Jha, Founder & CEO, D-Propulse Aero

IAN Alpha Fund, the 2nd in the series of IAN Group’s VC fund, has invested ₹25 crores in D-Propulse Aerospace Private Limited to support the development of next-generation aerospace propulsion systems. The investment reflects IAN Group’s commitment to support deep-tech startups aligned to India’s strategic imperatives. D-Propulse’s advanced propulsion technologies bring critical innovation to India’s long-term defence strength and industrial resilience.

D-Propulse is building indigenous Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) based propulsion systems that fundamentally change how high-speed platforms are designed, manufactured, and deployed. Unlike conventional jet engines, RDEs have no moving parts. In fact, they are mechanically simpler, easier to manufacture, and more reliable at scale than even traditional ramjets and scramjets. They also deliver 25% or higher thermal efficiency gains, enabling smaller engines to deliver higher performance.

This combination brings down system costs significantly. By offering performance comparable to today’s high-speed weapons at a fraction of the cost, the company seeks to enable “mass in precision”, the ability to deploy fast, accurate systems at scale.

Founded in July 2025, D-Propulse was created to address a long-standing weakness in India’s defence ecosystem: advanced aero-propulsion. As integrated air and missile defence systems mature globally, traditional radar stealth is losing effectiveness. In the unipolar world of today, there is a need for countries to shift to build self-dependence in critical areas of defence and adoption of high-supersonic and hypersonic platforms is one such need., Existing propulsion technologies make the systems large, expensive, and difficult to scale which is the problem that D-Propulse is targeting to solve for in both defence and industry.

The company is led by an experienced team with strategic insights drawn from India’s defence and research ecosystem. Dr V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and former Chairman of DRDO, serves as Chief Mentor. Founder and CEO Saurav Jha is a defence expert who advises the Indian government and leading Indian companies on strategic technology issues. Co-founder and CTO Dr V. Ramanujachari, a former senior DRDO scientist, led India’s scramjet engine programme and played a key role in the propulsion system used in the Akash missile. Prof. S. Chakravarthy, Head of NCCRD at IIT Madras, is Chief Advisor.

This depth of experience translates directly into execution on the ground. D-Propulse has already achieved a significant technology readiness level in air-breathing rotating detonation combustors and is progressing to flight-capable versions for technology demonstration.

Saurav Jha, Founder & CEO, D-propulse Aerospace, said, “We have entered an era where speed is the new stealth. Defence budgets across the major power centres of the world are pivoting in recognition of this new reality. Our vision is to ensure that India is fully equipped to not merely navigate but potentially dominate this emerging era of high-supersonic and hypersonic systems and platforms. Towards that end, we are progressing indigenous air-breathing rotating detonation engine technology and also building bespoke systems around it. Our plans are not limited to developing RDE-powered effectors but extend to the creation of high-supersonic drones as well.”

Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “Propulsion is the hardest and most capital-intensive problem in high-speed aerospace systems, and it has historically been the limiting factor for scale. What excites us, at IAN, about D-Propulse is not just the choice of Rotating Detonation technology, but the way it fundamentally changes system economics, simpler engines, higher efficiency, and dramatically lower costs. Affordability is the real unlock if India is to move from a few exquisite platforms to true scale. We see D-Propulse’s team that understands both the physics and the strategic context, and are delighted to back them as a long-term partner in building this for India.”

The seed capital from IAN Alpha Fund will be used to expand the engineering team, strengthen computing and simulation capabilities, and set up limited testing infrastructure. The company is also integrating AI into both operations and technical development to accelerate design and validation cycles. Initial engagements with the Indian military are underway, with export markets to be addressed in close consultation with the government at a later stage.

Globally, rotating detonation combustion is emerging as a general-purpose technology with applications across propulsion, rockets, gas turbines, and power generation, representing a potential $100 billion market by 2035. While India currently has limited activity in this space, global interest is accelerating, creating a timely opportunity for indigenous leadership.

With this investment, IAN Alpha Fund reinforces its role as a conviction-driven investor in deep technology, backing teams that combine scientific depth, execution capability, and a clear understanding of how technology shapes strategic needs to deliver high ROIs.

About D-Propulse Aerospace:

Deeppropulse Aerospace Private Limited is an Indian aerospace startup focused on developing next-generation high-speed propulsion systems for defence and civilian applications. The company is working on proprietary rotating detonation engine (RDE) technology, which has the potential to significantly improve propulsion efficiency and performance in advanced aerospace platforms. Through its innovation-led approach, D-Propulse aims to support the development of faster, more efficient, and mission-ready aerospace solutions for the future.

About IAN Group:

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IAN Angel Fund Invests in LearnTube.ai to Drive AI-Powered Career Acceleration Across India

(Left to Right) Shronit Ladhani, Co-founder & CEO and Gargi Ruparelia, Co-founder at LearnTube

IAN Group, the country’s single largest early-stage investment platform, has invested, through the IAN Angel Fund, in the seed round of LearnTube.ai, an AI-powered personalized learning and career acceleration platform. Nazara Technologies and Blitzscaling Ventures also participated in the round. The funding will be used to strengthen the company’s AI-powered skilling-to-job platform, enhance interactive and practical learning experiences, expand multi-language support, and accelerate growth across Bharat while testing select global markets.

LearnTube.ai helps learners bridge skill gaps to achieve clear career goals through personalized, AI-driven learning paths. The platform offers certifications and courses designed to turn individual career goals into structured, day-by-day learning paths. Each course is built from a quick baseline and evolves dynamically through adaptive lessons, practical scenario drills, and mock interviews. Learners are guided toward verifiable skill mastery through role-specific projects, assessments, and certifications.

It currently offers over 200 in-demand career skills, including cybersecurity, HR management, project management, and AI-focused roles. The platform serves learners from IITs and NITs to Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns across India, and is used to stay relevant, upskill, and switch roles across 100+ countries.

LearnTube's focus on tangible career outcomes has translated into a strong placement impact. Learners have moved into roles at leading companies such as Google, PhonePe, Novartis, Reliance Retail, Jio, Baker Hughes, Mirae Asset Capital, and InsightSoftware, as well as several high-growth startups. Many users have reported 30 to 120% salary growth, while fresh graduates have secured roles offering ₹6-12 lakhs per annum. The platform also maintains a 48% course completion rate, significantly above industry benchmarks for online learning.

Founded in 2020 as CareerNinja and rebranded to LearnTube.ai in 2022, the company is led by Shronit Ladhani (Co-founder & CEO) and Gargi Ruparelia (Co-founder) and is headquartered in Mumbai. LearnTube has grown consistently, with its learner base expanding by 110% year-on-year, even as the broader edtech sector faced a slowdown.

Shronit Ladhani, Co-founder & CEO, LearnTube, said, “We are grateful to welcome long-term partners like IAN Group and other marquee investors from Silicon Valley. This reflects our early focus on AI-powered learning and the impact it is already creating. What excites us most is the real-world outcomes we see every day: learners securing roles at companies like Google and PhonePe, doubling their salaries, and moving their careers forward. We’ve come a long way, but there are still 997 million more careers to build.”

It will also roll out new features such as AI voice tutors, interactive video learning, and multi-language support. LearnTube will explore expanding its footprint across India while testing select global markets, with a parallel emphasis on improving unit economics and long-term sustainability.

The company attributes its resilience to an AI-first product strategy, a micro-learning approach aligned with real workplace needs, and the ability to stay agile by enhancing existing content rather than relying on expensive production.

About LearnTube:

LearnTube is an AI-powered, personalized learning and career acceleration platform backed by Google’s AI accelerator and trusted by 2.8M+ learners. LearnTube takes you from gap to goal by helping build & showcase workplace skills: with a custom path, real-time doubt-solving, and practical assessments, projects, and verifiable badges/certifications so you become job-ready faster! We are on a mission to build a billion careers.

About IAN Group:

IAN Group is India’s largest horizontal platform for early-stage investments, comprising the IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, and a series of SEBI-registered Venture Capital Funds, the latest being a US$100mn VC Fund, IAN Alpha Fund. IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores, supported by high-quality mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, enabling access to global markets. IAN Group backs founders across domains and helps them scale their companies across India and beyond. Forbes has recognised IAN as one of the most iconic business and economic developments of Independent India over the last 75 years, alongside institutions such as LIC, NASSCOM, the RBI, and Naukri.com.

IISc-backed Morphing Machines Raises ₹38.36 Cr to Build India’s Next-Gen Semiconductor Accelerator

Morphing Machines, a Bengaluru-based fabless semiconductor IP company at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has raised ₹38.36 crore in a Series A funding round led by IAN Alpha Fund, with participation from Speciale Invest, IvyCap Ventures, and Navam Capital. Existing investors from the Seed round include Speciale Invest, IvyCap Ventures, Navam Capital, Golden Sparrow Ventures, IIMA Ventures, and DeVC.

Morphing Machines is part of India’s growing Deeptech ecosystem, developing breakthrough technologies that push the boundaries of computing. The company is building a many core processor that can handle diverse workloads with speed and efficiency, addressing the needs of industries such as data centers and artificial intelligence. These are sectors where demand is growing rapidly and existing hardware is struggling to keep pace.

After more than a decade of research, the company brings a combination of deep technical expertise and practical product focus. Unlike traditional approaches, the company is building semiconductor solutions that are not only powerful but also energy-efficient and scalable, making them relevant for high-performance computing, AI, and next-generation enterprise applications.

The company was founded by Deepak Shapeti (Co-Founder & CEO), Dr. Ranjani Narayan (Founder & CTO), and Prof. S. K. Nandy (Founder & Chief Scientific Advisor). The idea originated from a deep research foundation backed by IISc (Indian Institute of Science). The vision formalized from the work done on developed processors for DRDO and Safran Aerospace. These projects laid the foundation for Morphing Machines’ breakthrough innovation of creating software-defined hardware that can adapt to fast-changing needs.

Deepak Shapeti, Co-founder & CEO, Morphing Machines, said, “Data Centers today demand agility—REDEFINE uniquely adapts to any workload, from AI to analytics, delivering breakthrough efficiency and lower costs for the next era of cloud computing. Our Series A funding will accelerate deployment of REDEFINE into consumer cloud data centers, hyperscalers, and other such use cases where we can offer customers better performance, efficiency, and flexibility while dramatically lowering total cost of ownership.”

Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “We are delighted to partner with Morphing Machines, a deep-tech semiconductor startup built on nearly two decades of pioneering research at the Indian Institute of Science. Morphing Machines is developing REDEFINE™, a runtime reconfigurable manycore parallel compute processor that combines the flexibility of an FPGA with the performance of an ASIC. Like a Swiss knife, REDEFINE™ can dynamically switch between CPU and GPU capacity cores, making it ideal for the diverse, demanding and yet unpredictable workloads of modern applications that are increasingly AI-driven. The timing couldn’t be better: with the rising demands of high-performance computing, data centers, Generative AI, 6G, ADAS etc., the need for scalable AI acceleration is more urgent than ever. We are thrilled to work alongside Dr. Ranjani Narayan, Prof. S.K. Nandy, and Deepak Shapeti as they push the frontiers of India’s semiconductor mission.”

Vishesh Rajaram, Managing Partner, Speciale Invest, said, “At Speciale Invest, we are committed to backing founders who are building at the very edge of science and engineering. Morphing Machines exemplifies this — bringing together more than a decade of IISc-led research and transforming it into a commercially scalable semiconductor innovation. REDEFINE™ is a breakthrough architecture that addresses the growing demand for compute agility in data centers and AI workloads globally. We are excited to partner with Deepak, Dr. Ranjani, and Prof. Nandy as they push forward India’s semiconductor mission and build a globally competitive deeptech company.”

The new funding will be used to build and test its first chip, strengthen its product, and expand the team from 50 to more than 90 people. The company also plans to start demos with customers and secure early adoption in data centers. Over time, Morphing Machines will expand into global markets such as the US and Europe where Data center markets are already saturated and require for improved compute is paramount.

In the next 12 to 24 months, the company will focus on building its first proof-of-silicon chip, signing paid pilot projects with data center customers, and improving its software toolchain. They aim to become a global leader in semiconductor accelerators while contributing to India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.

About Morphing Machines:

Morphing Machines is a Bengaluru-based fabless semiconductor IP company incubated at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The company is developing REDEFINE™, the world’s most dynamic and flexible processor designed for demanding compute environments, starting with data centers and high-performance compute infrastructure. Unlike fixed ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) or power-hungry FPGAs, REDEFINE aims to deliver ASIC-like performance with FPGA-like flexibility. Backed by a decade of IISc-led research and patents, the company is supported by government initiatives like DLI (Design-Linked Incentive) and C2S (Chips2Startup).

About IAN Alpha Fund:

IAN Alpha Fund, a ₹1,000 crores (US$125 mn) SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the second fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

About IAN Group:

IAN Group is the country’s single largest platform for seed and early-stage investment platform with IAN Angel Network, BioAngels and IAN Fund I and IAN Alpha Fund enabling entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores. The platform brings money, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and global market access. The platform is sector-agnostic and has funded innovative start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries, thereby growing the global footprint of companies. IAN has been listed by Forbes as one of iconic business and economic events of Independent India, over 75 years along with LIC, NASSCOM, RBI, Naukri.com amongst others

Unmanned Aviation Startup EndureAir Raises ₹25 Cr Funding Led By IAN Alpha Fund

EndureAir Systems, a deep-tech UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) company & aerial robotic solutions provider, has raised ₹25 crores from IAN Alpha Fund (along with IAN Angel Fund). The capital will be deployed to strengthen EndureAir’s deep-tech drone capabilities for the defense ecosystem, expand into enterprise markets, and advance the development of next-generation high-altitude logistics and aerial robotics platforms.

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Abhishek, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, along with his former students Rama Krishna and Chirag Jain, EndureAir has rapidly emerged as a pioneer in India’s indigenous UAV sector. Unlike drone assemblers, the company develops both hardware and software entirely in-house, backed by more than 15 years of rotorcraft research and a portfolio of 8 patents. This research-driven approach gives EndureAir a strong edge in building rugged and mission-ready UAVs tailored for India’s terrain.EndureAir’s flagship platforms are already in active deployment. Sabal, its heavy-lift logistics UAV family (10–70 kg payloads), has proven high-altitude capabilities, with Sabal (20 kg) inducted by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command. Vibhram, its long-endurance UAV, powered Telangana’s Medicine from the Sky program by delivering vaccines to remote areas. Alakh, the nano-UAV series, has supported high-stakes rescue operations including the Chamoli cloudburst, Silkyara Tunnel rescue, and earthquake relief in Turkey.

EndureAir is also co-developing high-altitude logistics drones with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and working with Druk Holding & Investments group (DHI) in Bhutan on pilot logistics missions to remote monasteries.

Rama Krishna, Co-founder & CEO, EndureAir, said, “As we continue to develop the next generation of deep-tech aerial robotics for the defense ecosystem, we are dedicated to promoting enterprise adoption of UAV technology. With the help of this fundraise led by IAN Alpha Fund, we can move more quickly to develop strong, domestic systems that can function well even in the most difficult environments. By creating solutions that benefit the Indian armed forces as well as transform how businesses use aerial mobility/logistics, we hope to position India as a global leader in UAV innovation.”

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “EndureAir embodies the very best of India's deep-tech potential. By transforming cutting-edge research into powerful, indigenous solutions, they are meeting critical needs in defense, enterprise, and disaster response. We're proud to partner with a team that is not only pushing the boundaries of UAV technology but also demonstrating how India's innovative spirit can set a new global standard.”

Headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, EndureAir Systems originated from advanced UAV research at IIT Kanpur and has since evolved into a mission-driven enterprise serving defense, logistics, surveillance, and disaster-response sectors. Its UAVs have already been deployed by the Indian Army, government agencies, and international humanitarian missions in critical environments. With this funding round, the company aims to strengthen its leadership in high-altitude UAV logistics, expand enterprise offerings, and continue building cutting-edge aerial robotics solutions that demonstrate India’s deep-tech innovation.

About EndureAir Systems:

EndureAir Systems is a Noida-based deep-tech UAV company founded in 2018 by Dr. Abhishek, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, along with his students — now IIT Kanpur alumni — Rama Krishna and Chirag Jain, to advance India’s aerial autonomy. Built on more than 15 years of vertical flight and UAV research, EndureAir designs and manufactures both hardware and software entirely in-house, supported by 8 patents in flight dynamics and autonomy. EndureAir is shaping the future of rugged, reliable, and proudly indigenous UAV systems for India and beyond.

About IAN Alpha Fund:

IAN Alpha Fund, a ₹1,000 crores (US$125 mn) SEBI-registered Category II AIF VC Fund, is the second fund in IAN Group’s series of funds. The Fund explores opportunities in diverse sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, deep tech, agritech, medtech, hardware and electronics, manufacturing, Web 3.0, Metaverse, Industry 4.0, SaaS, and other sectors where innovation is transformational. The Fund invests in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Group continues its two-decade legacy of building a portfolio of technology-focused, innovative companies led by founders who not only understand customer needs but also have the leadership qualities to build large and valuable businesses.

IAN Group Appoints Sarika Saxena as Managing Partner at IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Group has appointed Sarika Saxena as Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, a SEBI registered AIF Cat II, sector agnostic Venture Capital fund. Sarika brings extensive experience with a proven track record in startup and early stage investments.

Sarika brings over 25 years of diverse professional experience and having served in key & leadership positions across different organizations. Her investment portfolio has covered a range of sectors, including consumer, technology, fintech, edtech, etc both within the domestic and international markets. Her leadership has been instrumental in facilitating early-stage investments totaling ~USD 100 million and has overseen an AUM of around USD 300 million. Sarika brings critical value to the Fund with experience in scaling companies & M&A.

Raman Roy, Co-Founder IAN, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Sarika Saxena as the new Managing Partner of IAN Alpha Fund. Her exceptional insights, extensive industry expertise, and unwavering commitment to early stage investing makes her a perfect addition to the top class team of current Managing Partners. We are confident that Sarika will not only accelerate our diversified investment strategy but also drive growth for the portfolio companies, the Fund invests in"

Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner at IAN Alpha Fund, said, "I am truly honored to be a part of IAN, an esteemed organization that has consistently led the industry as a pioneer for an impressive 16 years. I am excited to join the prestigious IAN leadership team and I look forward to utilizing my domain expertise, extensive global network, and multifaceted experience to drive the IAN Alpha Fund's success, both in India and on the international stage."

IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a Rs. 1000 crores (US$125mn) SEBI registered AIF Category II VC Fund, is the second Fund in IAN’s series of Funds. It is being built to leverage the portfolios of both IAN Angel Platform and IAN Fund I apart from investing in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology. With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN continues its legacy of building a portfolio of high-quality companies by founders who not only understand the customer need but have leadership qualities to build a high quality management to build valuable businesses.

About IAN

IAN Group is the country’s single largest platform for seed and early stage investment platform with IAN Angel Group, BioAngels and IAN Fund I, the first in the series of VC Fund enabling entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores from quality investors who provide funds, mentoring and global market access. The platform brings money, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs. The platform is sector-agnostic and has funded innovative start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries, thereby growing the global footprint of companies. IAN has been listed by Forbes as one of iconic business and economic events of Independent India, over 75 years along with LIC, NASSCOM, RBI, Naukri.com amongst others.

IAN Group Welcomes Priyank Garg as Managing Partner of IAN Alpha Fund

IAN, the Indian seed and early-stage investment platform, welcomes Priyank Garg as Managing Partner of the IAN Alpha Fund, the second in the series of IAN Group’s funds. Priyank’s coming on board will strengthen the Fund’s top team and enable it to match and exceed its excellent track record of Fund 1 and the Angel Group.

An entrepreneur and active early stage investor, Priyank brings over 26 years of experience in the cleantech, manufacturing, healthtech, SaaS & technology sectors. A Stanford and IIT Delhi graduate, he brings cross border experience with Yahoo and has, over the last 15 years, invested in over 60 companies, across a variety of sectors, both in India and overseas.

Priyank co-founded IOTomation, a building IoT company in 2019. He is currently the President of the Delhi Chapter of ISHRAE (Indian Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers). As a TiE Charter Member, supports the Million Sparks Foundation and is deeply engaged with various startup / early stage platforms like NASSCOM Emerge, India Innovation Initiative, Samsung Innovation, Times of India Big Challenge jury, etc.

Embarking on this new journey, Priyank Garg, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “I am delighted to join the IAN Group as part of the IAN Alpha Fund for the next stage of our journey. As an angel investor, I have been investing with IAN for 14 years across sectors and have really appreciated the depth of engagement, quality of portfolio founders, focus on governance and returns. Having tried many others, this is the only platform that puts health of the Indian startup eco-system at the heart of its work from the day of its founding to today. I look forward to progressing IAN’s focus on solving real problems of the world from India with tech, innovation and transformation, augmented with my passion and experience in Deeptech and Cleantech, and bring about India’s golden hour”

Speaking on the same, Saurabh Srivastava, Co-founder and Chairman, IAN, said, “We are delighted to welcome Priyank to the IAN Alpha Fund. He is well known in the seed / early stage investor ecosystem and we look forward to leveraging his business building experience for the Fund’s portfolio companies which, in turn, will enable high returns for our Investors.”

Ms. Padmaja Ruparel, Co-foounder IAN and Sr. Managing Partner IAN Alpha Fund, said, “We are truly excited to have Priyank join the IAN Alpha Fund. He brings decades of experience in building businesses in India and the US, in environment friendly spaces. With his deep engagement with the startup ecosystem, he will just add to the mentoring and market access that IAN brings to its portfolio companies, ensuring a far lower risk to investors."

IAN Alpha Fund

IAN Alpha Fund, a Rs. 1000 crores (US$125mn) SEBI registered, AIF Category II VC Fund, is the second Fund in IAN’s series of Funds. It is being built to leverage the portfolios of both IAN Angel Platform and IAN Fund I apart from investing in innovative startups solving real problems for India and the world, with sustainable business models enabling scale by leveraging technology . With the IAN Alpha Fund, IAN continues its legacy of building a portfolio of high quality companies by founders who not only understand the customer need but have leadership qualities to build complementary and high execution focused teams to build valuable businesses.

About IAN

Indian Angel Network is India’s first angel investor group, comprising renowned, successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs from across the world. With investors from 12 countries, IAN’s presence spans 7 global locations. The platform is sector-agnostic and has funded innovative start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries, thereby growing the global footprint of companies. IAN has been enabling excellent cash exits year-on-year to its investors for the last 14 years. Some of its marquee investee companies include Spinny, Box8, Uniphore Software Systems, WOW Momos, Consure Medical, FarEye, Propelld, Dhruva Space, WebEngage, and FarMart, amongst others.

Apart from the IAN’s angel investor network, the platform comprises BioAngels, India’s first sector-focused angel investor group, in partnership with BIRAC, an enterprise of the Department of Biotechnology. The IAN Group also includes the IAN Fund I, an INR 375 crore VC fund, and a Rs. 1,000 crores IAN Alpha Fund, to build the single largest platform for seed and early-stage investing enabling entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores from quality investors who provide funds, mentoring and global market access.