The upcoming development reflects the company’s growing focus on emerging hospitality markets that cater to spiritual tourism, leisure travel, and business visitors. Gaya has continued to witness increasing domestic and international tourist arrivals, supported by enhanced connectivity, tourism infrastructure development, and rising demand for professionally managed accommodation.

Saurabh Gahoi said, “East India remains a key focus market in the company’s expansion plans, with Gaya emerging as a strategic hospitality destination due to its religious importance, growing tourism landscape, and improving infrastructure. The property aims to offer a seamless and guest-centric experience for both pilgrimage and business travellers. Recognised for its cultural and spiritual significance, Gaya continues to attract domestic and international visitors year-round. Enhanced connectivity, rising tourism activity, and increasing demand for quality accommodation are further strengthening the city’s position as a promising growth market for the hospitality industry.”

According to the company, the property is being designed to combine modern comfort with experience-led hospitality offerings. The hotel will feature well-appointed guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, banquet facilities, and an open-to-sky jacuzzi experience aimed at both leisure and business travellers.

The project is also expected to position itself as a destination for weddings, conferences, social events, and corporate gatherings, supported by nearly 4,000 square feet of dedicated banquet and event spaces.

The expansion comes amid growing momentum within India’s spiritual tourism and regional hospitality sectors, where destinations with strong cultural and religious significance are witnessing increased investment from hotel operators and real estate developers. Cities such as Gaya are increasingly emerging as strategic hospitality markets due to rising tourism demand, infrastructure upgrades, and improving accessibility.

As hospitality brands continue to diversify beyond metro cities, emerging pilgrimage and cultural destinations are becoming an important part of long-term growth strategies within India’s travel and tourism industry.

The upcoming resort further strengthens the group’s growing presence in experiential leisure destinations across India.

The resort will feature a combined inventory of 89 elegantly designed keys across both phases of development. The first phase will comprise 65 keys, including 6 luxury suites with private plunge pools, offering guests a refined and immersive stay experience amidst nature. As part of the second phase, the 24 exclusive villas will be introduced, further enhancing its appeal among long-stay leisure travellers and premium holiday seekers.

Designed to cater to leisure travellers, corporate offsites, weddings, and the rapidly growing destination events segment, the resort will offer an impressive range of premium facilities. These include a 6,000 sq. ft. banquet venue, sprawling 15,000 sq. ft. landscaped lawns, a world cuisine restaurant, a rooftop bar overlooking the valley, an infinity swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, and an E-Zone recreation area.

Blending luxury, scenic beauty, and thoughtfully curated experiences, ‘Myst by The Machan’ Panchgani is poised to emerge as one of the region’s most sought-after hospitality destinations.Commenting on the development,

Rakshit Sharma, COO, Machan Resorts, said

“Panchgani continues to emerge as one of Maharashtra’s most preferred leisure and weekend getaways, known for its breathtaking valley views, lush greenery, and pleasant weather throughout the year. We are delighted to bring the ‘Myst by The Machan’ experience to this beautiful location. Nestled amidst serene landscapes with breathtaking views of the valley, the property has been thoughtfully designed to offer guests a seamless blend of nature, comfort, and unforgettable experiences.”

He further added while speaking about the group’s expansion plans, “Our expansion pipeline includes upcoming hotels and resorts across key destinations such as Mulshi, Karjat, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Khandala, The Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and several more locations currently under development.”

About the Group

Machan Resorts LLP is widely recognized for pioneering luxury eco-stays in India. Its flagship property, The Machan Lonavala features iconic tree houses nestled within a private forest. The group also operates Legacy Mandawa, a regal haveli resort that blends heritage with modern hospitality along with several other operational, managed, and upcoming hospitality developments across diverse destinations.

The newly launched property features 33 rooms along with a rooftop restaurant, landscaped lawns, and a swimming pool. The hotel will also offer satvik dining experiences, including meals prepared without onion and garlic, alongside gluten-free breakfast options through its in-house dining concept, “Sahar-Back to the Roots.”

Strategically located approximately five kilometres from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple with direct highway connectivity, the property has been positioned to cater to pilgrims, spiritual travellers, cultural tourists, and organised group tours visiting the city.

The company stated that the hotel also integrates sustainability-focused operational practices including responsible energy usage and efficient resource management, aligning with the growing focus on eco-conscious hospitality development across India’s tourism sector.

The launch comes at a time when Ayodhya is witnessing a substantial increase in tourist and pilgrimage traffic, creating rising demand for quality hospitality infrastructure that combines accessibility, comfort, and responsible operational standards. Hospitality brands and developers are increasingly expanding into pilgrimage destinations as spiritual tourism emerges as a significant growth driver for India’s travel industry.

According to Eco Hotels and Resorts, the new property has been designed to serve a broad mix of leisure travellers, pilgrims, and cultural visitors while maintaining operational efficiency and sustainability standards.

Speaking on the launch, Vinod Kumar Tripathi said: “Ayodhya represents one of India’s most dynamic tourism markets. Launching our hotel here is a strategic step in expanding our footprint in spiritual and cultural destinations. We aim to deliver a premium hospitality experience while implementing eco-conscious practices that respect both the environment and the city’s cultural heritage.”

The development reflects a broader transformation within India’s hospitality landscape, where religious tourism, cultural travel, and sustainable hospitality infrastructure are increasingly shaping investment and expansion strategies across emerging destinations.

The company said the fresh capital will be used to scale its customer base across India while accelerating its AI-first strategy across products, operations, and organisational development.

Anil Goteti said: “We are excited to have General Catalyst join us as a partner, and the continued investment from Peak XV and Z47 is a strong validation of what we have built and where we are headed. Today, Scapia is a comprehensive travel ecosystem powered by a financial product at its core, designed for a generation of Indians that treats travel as a way of life. This round will help us strengthen our product suite further, bring more value to our customers through more offerings, scale the brand and bring in the best talent as we double down on building an AI-first culture and product approach. Our focus remains unchanged: building products that help our users travel and lead richer lives.”

Founded around the idea of building a travel-first financial ecosystem, Scapia operates at the intersection of two rapidly growing trends in India — the rise of digital financial adoption and the growing travel aspirations of younger consumers. The company has built a platform focused on how modern Indian travellers discover, plan, book, and experience travel experiences through integrated financial tools and rewards systems.

According to the company, flight bookings on the platform have grown 5-6 times year-on-year, while stays have increased nearly 8 times compared to the previous year. The startup also noted growing demand from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, which are contributing an increasing share of overall bookings.

A substantial portion of the newly raised funding will also be directed toward building an AI-native organisation and strengthening the Scapia brand across India. The company plans to expand teams across engineering, product development, data science, and design as it deepens its focus on artificial intelligence-driven consumer experiences.

Neeraj Arora said: “India’s next wave of great consumer companies will be built around behaviors that are genuinely new – not just digital versions of what came before. Scapia understood early that a generation of Indians for whom travel is a baseline expectation, not an aspiration, needed a financial product designed around that identity. The 7x customer growth last year and the depth of what they’ve built across the travel stack give us real confidence in where this goes. We’re glad to be part of it.”

Sakshi Chopra said: “As travel becomes an important part of how young Indians live and spend, consumers are looking for financial products built around that behaviour. Scapia has created a seamless travel-fintech experience spanning payments, rewards, zero forex markup and travel benefits in a way that deeply resonates with users. The team has combined strong product thinking with sharp execution, and we are excited to continue partnering with them as they scale.”

Vikram Vaidyanathan said: “We have backed Scapia since their very first round, and every round since has only deepened our conviction. From the dual-network card to Scapia Pay to Airport Privileges, few teams in Indian fintech have shipped this much, this fast, while staying disciplined on compliance. As consumer experiences turn AI-native, we are convinced Scapia will earn its place as a household name for the modern Indian traveller.”

Scapia currently offers co-branded credit cards in partnership with Federal Bank and BOBCARD. The company was also the first in India to launch a dual-network co-branded credit card supporting both Visa and RuPay networks.

The startup has positioned itself as an early mover in zero forex markup offerings for international spending while also expanding airport-related experiences beyond traditional lounge access into dining, shopping, and duty-free benefits. According to the company, one in three users now prefer shopping and dining experiences over conventional lounge access.

Over the last six months, the company has expanded its ecosystem with multiple new offerings including Scapia Pay, add-on credit cards, BBPS-enabled bill payments, Scapia Store, and travel-focused experiences. Its rewards ecosystem, powered by Scapia Coins, enables users to earn and redeem points across flights, trains, buses, hotels, visa services, and travel experiences.

The latest funding round reflects the broader momentum within India’s fintech and travel sectors, where companies leveraging artificial intelligence, embedded finance, and experience-driven ecosystems are increasingly shaping the next generation of digital consumer platforms.

Located in the scenic Dirang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, overlooking the Kameng River, the boutique mountain retreat has been designed to combine local Arunachali character with contemporary hospitality experiences. Surrounded by layered valleys, mist-covered hills, and natural landscapes, the property is positioned to cater to travellers seeking slower, immersive, and experience-driven stays.

The resort features a range of rooms and suites, including Premium View Rooms and Junior Suites, each equipped with private balconies offering views of the surrounding river and valley landscape. According to the company, the interiors incorporate warm tones, soft textures, and modern amenities aimed at delivering a comfortable yet locally rooted hospitality experience.

Dining at the property centres around an all-day restaurant serving a combination of multi-cuisine offerings and regional Northeast specialities, complemented by panoramic valley-facing views. The retreat also includes landscaped gardens, outdoor bonfire setups, and dedicated relaxation spaces designed to encourage guests to engage more closely with the surrounding natural environment.

Guests will also have access to curated local experiences and nature-focused activities, reinforcing the region’s positioning as a growing alternative to conventional hill station tourism. The resort’s low-density layout and emphasis on privacy are intended to create a more peaceful and immersive mountain stay experience.

Commenting on the addition, Sumit Mitruka said, “Dirang is an emerging destination with immense natural appeal, and we see growing interest from travellers looking for less crowded, experience-driven locations. Our approach has been to create a property that stays true to the destination while offering the comfort and consistency that guests expect from the Summit brand.”

The expansion reflects a broader shift within India’s tourism and hospitality industry, where travel brands are increasingly investing in unexplored and low-density destinations driven by the rise of experiential tourism, wellness travel, and nature-led hospitality. As infrastructure and connectivity improve across Northeast India, emerging destinations such as Dirang are gaining visibility among travellers seeking authentic and slower travel experiences.

GIFT City IFSC gives Skydo access to a globally aligned financial ecosystem designed specifically for international financial services. Unlike India’s domestic financial system, which is primarily designed around INR-denominated flows and local financial activity, GIFT City enables companies to build products and infrastructure tailored for businesses operating across borders.

The approval enables Skydo to expand capabilities such as multi-currency collections, e-money accounts and merchant acquisition, while building new payment corridors for Indian businesses operating globally. Over time, this also creates the foundation for more globally native financial products for Indian businesses.

Skydo has also received regulatory approval to support outward payment flows under the Reserve Bank of India’s Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) framework. Earlier this year, the company secured final authorisation from the RBI to operate as a PA-CB for export collections.

With these approvals, Skydo can support both sides of a business’ global payment journey. Indian companies will be able to receive payments from international clients and make payments to overseas vendors, software platforms, service providers and partners through a compliant and streamlined platform. Skydo currently serves more than 40,000 Indian businesses across 50+ cities and supports collections from 150+ countries.

Srivatsan Sridhar, Co-founder and CEO of Skydo, said, “GIFT City marks an important step in India’s ambition to build globally competitive financial infrastructure. With the PA-CB Outward approval and the GIFT City In-Principle Authorisation, we can support both sides of a business’ global payment journey in a simple and compliant way. For MSMEs and digital-first businesses, this means better access to global payment corridors, improved currency management and more efficient cross-border transactions.”

The expansion comes as India’s cross-border payments ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with businesses becoming increasingly global in how they sell, buy and operate. With India targeting $2 trillion in exports by FY30 and MSMEs contributing nearly 45% of exports, reliable infrastructure for both Indian businesses going global and global businesses entering India is becoming critical.

Movin Jain, Co-founder, Skydo, said, “The combination of these frameworks brings greater regulatory clarity and flexibility for fintechs to build compliant and innovative products. As GIFT City evolves into a global financial hub, multi-currency capabilities and globally aligned regulatory and risk standards will give Indian businesses a stronger foundation to scale internationally.”

Skydo currently supports collections in multiple currencies and enables exporters to receive payments locally from international clients with transparent pricing and faster settlements. The company will continue to expand its product stack, enter new geographies and build for emerging cross-border payment use cases.

Based in Gurugram and New York City, the startup was founded by Ria Rustagi and Bhavya. The company is developing what it describes as the world’s first closed-loop neuromodulation wearable built in a headphone-style format for everyday use, positioning itself at the intersection of neurotech, AI-driven wellness, and consumer healthcare.

At the centre of the company’s product ecosystem is a wearable device that combines neurostimulation, biometric sensing, and adaptive artificial intelligence to analyse and respond to users’ mental states in real time. The platform integrates technologies including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), binaural beats, and heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback to create personalised neuroadaptive experiences focused on reducing stress, improving concentration, enhancing sleep quality, and supporting cognitive wellness.

According to the company, the newly raised capital will be utilised to strengthen marketing initiatives, scale manufacturing operations, expand research and development efforts, and support its upcoming global Kickstarter launch planned for May 2026.

Over the past six months, more than 100 early adopters have reportedly tested the product, enabling the startup to refine its hardware systems, stimulation technology, and AI-powered adaptive algorithms through continuous real-world feedback and usage data.

The company has also achieved a significant regulatory milestone after receiving approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, granting the product medical device status in India. In addition, Sychedelic has filed multiple international patent applications that currently remain under patent-pending status.

With operations already established across India and the United States, the startup is now preparing for a broader international expansion as it seeks to strengthen its position within the rapidly evolving neuro-wellness and wearable technology market.

The funding reflects a broader shift within the global healthtech ecosystem, where startups focused on mental wellness, AI-powered healthcare, biometric intelligence, and neurotechnology are increasingly attracting investor attention amid rising consumer demand for proactive and personalised wellness solutions.

The funding round was led by Aeravti Ventures with participation from Tremis Capital and a group of angel investors. The investment also marks Aeravti Ventures’ second backing of ONO after previously leading the startup’s seed round.

Founded by Rama Rao Kancharapu and David Pokuri, the startup is focused on addressing long-standing inefficiencies within India’s post-harvest agricultural supply chain. The company aims to improve access to formal credit, reduce operational bottlenecks, and enable stronger long-distance market connectivity for agricultural small and medium enterprises across the country.

India’s agricultural supply chain has traditionally faced challenges including fragmented market structures, limited access to structured data, weak trust networks between buyers and sellers, and restricted access to institutional finance for farmers and agri-traders. Participants operating across long-distance agricultural trade routes often lack reliable tools for counterparty verification, risk assessment, and rapid working capital access.

ONO stated that it has developed a technology-driven intelligence platform that operates across this ecosystem by providing real-time insights into pricing, logistics, market behaviour, and trading volumes. The platform is designed to support farmers and agri-SMEs with faster payments, improved price discovery, and reduced transaction risks throughout the supply chain.

Rama Rao Kancharapu said, “The agricultural supply chain continues to operate with significant inefficiencies due to a lack of structured data, trusted networks, and timely access to finance. At ONO, we are building a technology and intelligence layer for the post-harvest ecosystem that enables stakeholders to make faster, smarter, and more reliable decisions, and more importantly, get timely access to fair credit. With Aeravti Ventures continuing to back us in this journey, we are focused on scaling our lending and market infrastructure capabilities across India.”

According to the company, ONO has already facilitated more than ₹100 crore in co-lending while maintaining a non-performing asset ratio of just 0.05%, significantly lower than conventional agricultural lending benchmarks. Beyond financing, the startup is also working to reduce fraud and payment defaults in long-distance agricultural trade, where produce and capital frequently move across hundreds of kilometres between parties without prior business relationships.

The platform currently operates across 12 states and more than 125 districts, serving over 1.3 lakh ecosystem participants including farmers, commission agents, traders, transporters, and buyers. The company also claims to have more than 2,000 paid subscribers, facilitated over ₹200 crore in beneficiary payouts, and enabled the movement of more than 25,000 metric tonnes of agricultural produce through long-distance markets.

Rishabh Singh said, “ONO is solving one of the most critical infrastructure gaps within Indian agriculture, building trust, transparency, and financial accessibility across post-harvest supply chains. The company’s ability to leverage data and AI to unlock market access and reduce inefficiencies at scale strongly aligns with our investment thesis at Aeravti Ventures. Having partnered with ONO since its seed stage, we continue to remain highly confident in the team’s execution capabilities and long-term vision.”

The funding comes shortly after ONO acquired a significant stake in a non-banking financial company, a move expected to strengthen its lending infrastructure and expand direct credit access for underserved agri-SMEs. The startup is also preparing for a larger Series A funding round as it looks to scale its presence further across India’s agricultural markets.

The development reflects a broader trend within India’s agritech ecosystem, where startups leveraging artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and digital finance infrastructure are playing a growing role in formalising agricultural trade, improving financial inclusion, and modernising rural supply chains.

The hotel is scheduled to become operational by June 2026 and is poised to offer guests a seamless blend of comfort, convenience, and warm hospitality in the heart of the city.

Located in the historic core of Amritsar near prominent attractions such as Jallianwala Bagh, Akal Takht, and the city’s vibrant local markets, the hotel enjoys exceptional accessibility for pilgrims, tourists, and families visiting the city.

Speaking on the new agreement, Pushpendra Bansal, COO, of Lords Hotels & Resorts, said, “Amritsar is one of India’s most important spiritual and tourism destinations, and this signing further strengthens our presence in high-potential pilgrimage markets. We thank our partners for their trust and look forward to delivering Lords’ signature hospitality experience in the heart of the city.”

The 54-room property will feature well-appointed rooms, contemporary amenities, dining facilities, and personalized guest experiences thoughtfully designed for pilgrims, families, and leisure travellers visiting Amritsar.

Commenting on the signing, Vikas Suri, Vice President, Lords Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are delighted to announce Lords Inn Amritsar, strategically located just 80 steps from the Golden Temple. The hotel will offer guests unmatched convenience, comfort, and warm hospitality in the heart of the city, making it an ideal stay destination for travellers seeking both spiritual connectivity and a memorable hospitality experience.”

Amritsar continues to remain one of India’s most visited spiritual destinations, attracting devotees and travellers from across the globe. The city’s rich cultural heritage, authentic Punjabi cuisine, and spiritual significance make it a high-potential hospitality market with year-round demand.

With this signing, Lords Hotels & Resorts continues its expansion momentum across India and Nepal, reinforcing its commitment to delivering quality hospitality experiences across business, leisure, and pilgrimage destinations.

About Lords Hotels & Resorts

Lords Hotels & Resorts is one of India’s leading mid-market hospitality brands, known for delivering quality stays across leisure, business, and pilgrimage destinations in India and Nepal. With a steadily expanding portfolio, the brand remains committed to offering value-driven experiences backed by reliable service and warm hospitality.

The Bengaluru-based real estate company is expanding its hospitality footprint in cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Darjeeling, reflecting growing confidence in the long-term outlook for India’s tourism, business travel, and premium accommodation markets.

Sattva Group has already established a presence in the hospitality sector through developments such as JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata and Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences. These projects highlight the company’s strategic focus on upscale and premium hospitality infrastructure within high-growth urban and destination markets.

The expansion comes during a period of sustained growth for India’s hotel industry, which continues to benefit from strong post-pandemic travel recovery. Domestic tourism, corporate mobility, weddings, MICE demand, and experiential leisure travel are contributing to rising occupancy levels and stronger average daily room rates across major cities and tourism-driven destinations.

Hospitality is increasingly emerging as a key strategic vertical for Indian real estate developers, particularly as integrated townships, mixed-use developments, and urban infrastructure projects create new opportunities for branded hotels, serviced residences, and lifestyle-oriented hospitality assets.

Industry observers believe demand for premium hospitality infrastructure is expected to remain resilient in the coming years, supported by improving air connectivity, rising disposable incomes, growing domestic tourism activity, and changing consumer preferences centred around experience-driven travel.

With its expanding hospitality pipeline, Sattva Group joins a broader wave of Indian developers increasing investments in hotels and travel infrastructure as hospitality assets become more closely linked to urban development, destination growth, and long-term real estate strategy.