Thursday, August 6, 2026
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Starbucks and Tata Starbucks launch farmer support partnership in India

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Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks

Starbucks Coffee Company, in collaboration with Tata Starbucks, has launched a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) to strengthen India’s coffee value chain and empower 10,000 farmers by 2030. Meanwhile, Starbucks will also open its 500th Indian store this week in Delhi NCR—a Starbucks Reserve® coffeehouse offering a premium, immersive experience.

The FSP, based in Karnataka, brings together Tata Starbucks’ deep local insight, India’s coffee-growing legacy, and Starbucks’ global agronomy expertise. It will connect Indian farmers and agronomists with global best practices through open-source agronomy models. Additionally, it will support farmers in key coffee-growing states—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala—by boosting productivity, enabling sustainability, and strengthening links to Starbucks’ global farmer network.

Furthermore, the partnership will set up “model farms” to test farming innovations, introduce new varietals, and embed sustainable agronomy techniques suited to Indian conditions. It will also draw on insights from Starbucks Farmer Support Centers in Indonesia, China, and Costa Rica. Through Starbucks’ upcoming 2026 digital training tools, farmers will gain access to online modules on agronomy, C.A.F.E. practices, coffee quality, regenerative agriculture, and climate-resilient methods.

Over the next five years, Tata Starbucks will additionally donate one million high-yield Arabica seedlings to enhance productivity and farmer profitability.

During his India visit, Brian Niccol, Starbucks CEO, said, “India is one of our fastest-growing markets… It’s a long-term commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable coffee ecosystem that benefits everyone, from bean to cup.” Sunil D’Souza, CEO of Tata Consumer Products, added, “We are pleased to pair Starbucks’ global agronomy expertise with Tata’s footprint in India to drive tangible impact.”

Moreover, Tata Starbucks continues expanding rapidly. The opening of its 500th store marks an important milestone in strengthening India’s coffee culture. The new Starbucks Reserve® location will highlight elevated store design, handcrafted beverages, and storytelling rooted in Starbucks’ coffee heritage.

Sushant Dash, CEO of Tata Starbucks, emphasized, “As the largest specialty coffee player in India, we are proud to bring the Farmer Support Partnership… Our commitment extends beyond growth to investing in farmers, partners, and customers.”

Since entering India in 2012 as a 50/50 joint venture, Starbucks has grown to nearly 500 stores across 81 cities, supported by more than 4,437 partners. Together, Starbucks and Tata Starbucks aim to continue shaping India’s vibrant, sustainable coffee ecosystem.

Buddy4Study poised to surpass INR 900-Cr in education funding in FY 25-26

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Ashutosh Burnwal, Founder and CEO of Buddy4Study

Buddy4Study, India’s leading technology-driven education funding platform, is poised to reach a major milestone in FY 2025-26 by enabling over INR 900 crore in cumulative education funding since launch.

In this financial year alone, the platform will support more than 60,000 new scholars, while an additional 30,000 existing scholars will continue receiving multi-year assistance. Consequently, this expansion will increase Buddy4Study’s total reach to over 2 lakh unique scholars, up from 1.40 lakh.

This year’s scale-up marks a significant jump from FY 2024-25, when the platform facilitated INR 230 crore in scholarships for over 60,000 students. Buddy4Study’s wide-ranging funding solutions—including scholarships, education loans, government schemes, and institutional aid—have already enabled INR 640+ crore for 1.40 lakh scholars so far, and these efforts have solidified its position as India’s most comprehensive education support ecosystem.

“These numbers represent more than metrics—they represent dreams realized and futures transformed,” says Ashutosh Burnwal, Founder and CEO of Buddy4Study. “Reaching this milestone will reinforce our mission to ensure that no deserving student is left behind. Of the 1.40 lakh scholars we’ve felicitated across 11,000+ institutions—including IITs, IIMs, and NLUs—57% are young women, over 20,000 come from orphaned or single-parent households, and nine out of ten are first-generation learners. This is the true measure of our impact.”

The INR 900 crore milestone reflects Buddy4Study’s multi-layered education funding strategy, which addresses diverse learner needs at scale. Scholarships remain the foundation, with the platform having partnered with over 200 organizations since inception, including HDFC Bank, L’Oréal India, Colgate-Palmolive (India), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Kotak Education Foundation, Bharti Airtel Foundation, and Infosys Foundation. With 80+ active partners, the platform now facilitates customized scholarships designed for varied student communities. In the current fiscal year, Buddy4Study is broadening its reach by directing more support toward underserved groups through targeted programs.

Education loans provide additional support, with the platform having enabled over INR 2.90 crore in loans through collaborations with major banks like Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, as well as NBFCs such as Kuhoo Finance. These partnerships offer collateral-free loans of up to INR 20 lakh. Loan access has improved further through the Buddy4Loan platform, which now helps scale loan facilitation across the country.

Buddy4Study’s Student Financial Aid Offices (SFAOs) network—responsible for delivering verified funding opportunities directly on campuses—has expanded to 36 institutions and NGOs. Key partners include NIT Delhi, AISECT Group of Institutions, Lovely Professional University, IMT Ghaziabad, Sri Siddhartha School of Engineering, The Indian Agriculture College, Madras School of Social Work, and several colleges under the University of Delhi. Leading NGOs such as Teach For India, Avanti Fellows, the Gopalakrishnan Foundation for the Deaf, and the Dalmia Bharat Foundation are also using this model to support students. Buddy4Study now aims to scale the network to 1,000 SFAOs by March 2026, which will drive a major phase of its growth strategy.

Government partnerships further strengthen reach. Buddy4Study’s strong execution in the Free Coaching for DNT Students scheme under SEED—where it successfully onboarded 500 students from De-notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in FY 2024-25—resulted in a large-scale expansion, with the program now targeting 4,000 students this year. This progress demonstrates the government’s confidence in Buddy4Study’s ability to deliver impact at scale.

Alongside institutional initiatives, Buddy4Study’s Kind Circle platform has expanded philanthropic access by allowing individuals to create scholarships directly. With over INR 2.16 crore raised from 136 contributors so far, the initiative aims to build a INR 10 crore fund by March 2026, thus broadening grassroots contributions.

Beyond financial aid, Buddy4Study addresses students’ holistic development needs, which positions it as more than just a funding platform. Its evolving mentorship programs connect scholars with industry professionals to offer career insights and practical exposure. Through structured learning modules focused on professional skills, career readiness, and life skills, the platform ensures students grow academically and professionally.

“We’re building more than a funding platform—we’re creating a comprehensive support system that nurtures talent from financial assistance through professional development,” adds Burnwal. “Our vision for 2030 is to empower 10 lakh students, ensuring that education becomes a right, not a privilege, and that first-generation learners become tomorrow’s mentors.”

The newly launched Buddy4Vidya platform supports intellectual development and soft skills, offering training in communication, leadership, and professional grooming—skills often missing in traditional education. Its strong alumni community creates a self-sustaining support ecosystem where former scholars mentor newer students, fostering continuous guidance and empowerment.

AI startup Sierra reaches half-billion valuation milestone with explosive growth

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Bret Taylor, co-founder, Sierra

Sierra, a 21-month-old San Francisco–based startup that develops AI customer service agents for enterprises, announced on Friday that it has achieved a $100 million annual revenue run rate (ARR). This rapid rise indicates that companies across sectors are increasingly adopting AI agents.

The startup’s acceleration even surprised its experienced co-founders, former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and longtime Google veteran Clay Bavor, who wrote on their blog, “That’s a heck of a lot quicker than we expected.”

Sierra’s customer base includes tech companies such as Deliveroo, Discord, Ramp, Rivian, SoFi, and Tubi. Additionally, the list features established non-tech brands like ADT, Bissell, Vans, Cigna, and SiriusXM.

Taylor and Bavor said they initially believed tech companies would feel comfortable experimenting with AI customer service agents, but the fact that long-standing, traditional companies also chose Sierra as a provider astonished them.

The company says it builds AI agents capable of handling tasks such as authenticating patients for healthcare providers, processing returns, ordering replacement credit cards, and assisting customers with mortgage applications—essentially automating work that human customer service representatives previously managed.

Sierra competes with startups like Decagon and Intercom; however, the company maintains that it is the current leader in the AI customer service category.

The company also uses an outcomes-based pricing model, charging customers for completed tasks rather than flat subscription fees.

Taylor and Bavor met at Google in 2005, where Taylor hired Bavor as an associate product manager.

Investors last valued the startup at $10 billion when it raised $350 million in a September round led by Greenoaks Capital. Sequoia, Benchmark, ICONIQ, and Thrive Capital also invested in the company. Based on its $100 million ARR, this valuation gives Sierra a 100x revenue multiple, which remains substantial despite its exceptionally rapid growth.

A Stanford computer science graduate, Taylor co-created Google Maps before founding FriendFeed, which Facebook acquired. At Facebook, he served as CTO and helped develop the iconic “Like” button. He later founded Quip, a Google Docs competitor that Salesforce purchased for $750 million in 2016.

Taylor then served as Salesforce co-CEO alongside Marc Benioff for over a year. After Taylor departed Salesforce in 2023, Bavor—who spent 18 years at Google leading products like Gmail and Google Drive—invited him to lunch, where they decided to launch Sierra.

Agnikul Cosmos raises Rs 150-Cr to accelerate reusable rocket development

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Srinath Ravichandran & Moin SPM, co-founders, Agnikul Cosmos

Space startup Agnikul Cosmos announced on Saturday that it has raised Rs 150 crore in a new funding round at a valuation of over half a billion dollars, and it will use the capital to build reusable launch vehicles.

Moreover, IIT-Chennai-incubated Agnikul demonstrated a suborbital rocket launch last year and plans to deploy its 3D-printed Agnibaan rocket next year to place small satellites into low Earth orbit.

The startup also continues working on recovering the lower stage of its launch vehicle, which it intends to reuse for future missions.

“This fundraiser allows us to work on such missions while also focusing on scaling launch frequency and building for the world, from India,” Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos, said.

Additionally, the funding round attracted participation from family offices and institutional investors such as Advenza Global Limited, Atharva Green Ecotech LLP, HDFC Bank, Artha Select Fund, Prathithi Ventures, and 100X.VC.

The company will invest this capital in scaling production units for aerospace and rocket components and advancing its stage-recovery program.

Furthermore, the startup has earmarked a portion of the funds for developing its integrated space campus on the 350 acres allocated by the Tamil Nadu government, which will host end-to-end facilities for manufacturing and testing launch vehicle systems, according to a company statement.

Agnikul will also channel the new funds into strengthening its reusable launch architecture, building on its recently granted patent that extends the operational life of upper stages.

This innovation creates new opportunities for reusability and cost-effective orbital access, marking a major milestone toward developing the world’s first recoverable small-satellite launch vehicle.

“With growing demand and more than a dozen customers eager to launch with us, scaling our operational depth was the natural next step. The indigenous facility, which is planned near the new upcoming launchpad of India, will equip us to serve these missions on schedule and with the responsiveness the market expects,” Moin S P M, co-founder and COO of Agnikul, said.

Agnikul claims to serve customers in India, the Middle East, and Australia and aims to meet a globally distributed launch demand, reinforcing India’s rising leadership in the spacetech sector.

Recently, Agnikul also unveiled a new large-format metal additive manufacturing unit, which will enable it to use 3D printing for multiple subsystems beyond engines.

Hyperpure extends services to all food businesses across India

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Rishi Arora, CEO, Hyperpure

Hyperpure, the B2B grocery supply unit of Zomato’s parent Eternal, has broadened its services beyond hotels and restaurants to include all types of food businesses.

Moreover, Hyperpure aims to target home bakers, caterers, street-food vendors, and small party-supply providers to expand its customer base beyond restaurants, hotels, cloud kitchens, and cafés. Now, these businesses can log in to Hyperpure with their phone numbers to place orders.

Launched in 2018, the platform has steadily expanded its offerings in recent years by introducing rapid grocery delivery and scaling its supply chain capabilities.

“For years, we focused on solving supply chain challenges for restaurants and commercial kitchens, but we knew the opportunity and responsibility was much larger,” said Rishi Arora, CEO, Hyperpure, in a statement. “By opening Hyperpure to all, we’re democratizing access to the infrastructure every food business needs to grow and succeed.”

However, this push comes as it faces a revenue decline after it stopped supplying groceries to sellers on Blinkit, which shifted to an inventory-led model from September 1. Consequently, for the second quarter of FY26, Hyperpure recorded a 31 percent year-on-year (YoY) drop in revenue to Rs 1,023 crore due to this transition in its quick-commerce model.

Additionally, in September, the platform leased around 2.5 lakh square feet of warehouse space for over five years in Bhiwandi near Mumbai to reinforce its supply operations. With this step, the platform now operates 11 warehouses across India.

In Q2FY26, Eternal’s operating revenue surged threefold to Rs 13,590 crore, largely driven by Blinkit’s move to an inventory-led model. Nevertheless, the company’s net profit fell 63 percent YoY to Rs 65 crore, as increased spending on Blinkit put pressure on margins.

Semiconductor startup Sophrosyne Technologies raises $2 Mn in funding

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L-R: Jatin Gupta & Dr. Manish Srivastava, Co-founders, Sophrosyne Technologies

Semiconductor startup Sophrosyne Technologies has secured $2 Mn (approximately INR 17.7 Cr) in a seed funding round from early-stage venture capital firm Bluehill Capital. This investment comes soon after the company received a $1.2 Mn design-linked incentive (DLI) grant from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

With this infusion of capital, Sophrosyne Technologies plans to speed up its shift from prototype silicon to full-scale commercial products, expand its silicon and firmware design teams, and scale early customer deployments in India and overseas.

Founded in 2022 by Manish Srivastava, Sophrosyne Technologies operates as a fabless semiconductor company working on multi-vital biosensing system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for digital health devices and wearables. The startup aims to integrate ECG, PPG, respiration, and temperature monitoring into a single, ultra-low-power silicon chip to enable compact and energy-efficient medical wearables.

The company’s flagship offering will serve as a semiconductor platform capable of high-precision, multi-vital tracking for medical-grade health monitoring applications.

Additionally, Sophrosyne is creating proprietary AI models for advanced signal processing, deep learning, and on-edge optimization to convert physiological data into actionable health insights.

Although Sophrosyne is still developing its technology, the company intends to supply its solutions to global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and device makers seeking integrated and cost-effective health monitoring technologies.

“We are moving toward production-grade silicon and early OEM rollouts. Having a deep-tech investor like Bluehill VC, backed by leaders such as Vinod Dham, Manu Iyer, and Sridhar Parthasarathi, gives us access to world-class semiconductor guidance that few startups can tap into,” Srivastava said.

The funding round arrives at a time when India’s semiconductor industry is rapidly expanding, driven by strong regulatory support.

A key driver of this momentum is the Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which aims to support investments in chip design, display manufacturing, and semiconductor fabrication to strengthen India’s role in global electronics value chains.

Under the ISM, the government states that it has provided “design infrastructure support” to 278 academic institutions and 72 startups while training nearly 60,000 students in semiconductor fabrication.

Four years after launching the Indian Semiconductor Mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled India’s first indigenous semiconductor chip—the Vikram 32-bit processor—developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in collaboration with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Semicon India 2025.

Developers engineered the Vikram processor to operate reliably as a space-grade chip in extreme environmental conditions.

On the private sector side, the government has approved 10 semiconductor projects with a combined investment of INR 1.60 Lakh Cr, led by companies such as Micron, Kaynes, Tata Electronics, and SiCSem.

At the core of this activity lies India’s expanding semiconductor market, which will reach a $150 Bn opportunity by 2030.

Insurtech startup Pibit.AI raises $7 Mn to advance AI-driven underwriting

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Pibit.AI, an insurtech startup developing AI-driven underwriting systems, has secured $7 million in a Series A round led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with continued support from existing investors Y Combinator and Arali Ventures.

The startup plans to use the new capital to enhance product development and accelerate the adoption of its flagship Centralized Underwriting Risk Environment (CURE) across the insurance sector.

Pibit.AI noted that while insurance revolves around assessing risk, industry tools have not evolved quickly enough to support underwriters. Many teams still spend up to a third of their time on manual data entry, triage, and data enrichment. With submission volumes rising and the underwriting talent pool shrinking, the company emphasized that efficiency has become essential. Pibit.AI aims to make underwriting faster, more accurate, and more dependable.

Akash Agarwal, founder and CEO of Pibit.AI, said, “Pibit.AI was built around one idea: that AI should empower underwriters, not replace them. Too many systems prioritize speed over trust. We’re building something that’s transparent, explainable, and decision-ready—a system that gives underwriters confidence in every output while helping them move faster than ever before.”

Furthermore, CURE operates as a comprehensive system that optimizes the underwriting process by managing submissions, parsing documents, conducting research, analyzing risk, and coordinating workflows within a single environment.

The platform’s modules—ClearCURE for triage, DocumentCURE for document intelligence, and ResearchCURE for real-time data enrichment—enable underwriters to transform raw submissions into actionable decisions more quickly. RiskCURE assesses each account using portfolio-specific indicators, while WorkflowCURE brings together tasks, insights, and team collaboration in one integrated workspace.

Alok Goyal, Partner at Stellaris Venture Partners, said, “Underwriting has long been constrained by manual reviews, inconsistent data, and tools that haven’t kept pace with rising submission volumes. With CURE, Pibit.AI automates and unifies these workflows, improving accuracy, reducing costs, and accelerating quote generation to drive higher revenue. We’re excited to partner with Akash and lead Pibit.AI’s Series A round as it scales.”

Over the next 12 to 18 months, Pibit.AI plans to broaden its advanced risk models, API frameworks, and data partnerships so the CURE platform can better adapt to new business lines and emerging risk categories.

Maruti Suzuki invests ₹2-Cr in connected mobility startup Ravity Software Solutions

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Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has invested nearly INR 2 crore in Ravity Software Solutions Private Limited, acquiring an equity stake of over 7.84 percent through the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund. Ravity Software Solutions operates as a technology-driven startup that delivers connected mobility insights.

Moreover, Maruti Suzuki channels its startup investments through the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund, an initiative created to strategically back high-potential startups that demonstrate innovation and the ability to develop solutions aligned with the company’s operational needs.

This investment marks the third funding under the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund. The company previously invested INR 2 crore each in Amlgo Labs Private Limited in March 2024 and Sociograph Solutions Private Limited in June 2022.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Aligning to our core value of keeping the customer at the core of our business, we are focused on enhancing the vehicle ownership experience. In the age of open innovation, we strive to co-create business solutions with specialized entities operating in a particular field. Startups are ideal partners, as they bring agility, fresh thinking, and cutting-edge solutions to support our goal of ensuring customer delight. Our investment in Ravity Software Solutions Private Limited will enable us to elevate customer experience through data-driven insights. We have been associating with startups since 2019 under our Maruti Suzuki Innovation programs. Through this initiative, we are investing in a culture of innovation, building strategic partnerships, and unlocking new opportunities, in line with the government’s ‘Startup India’ initiative to promote entrepreneurship in the country.”

Vikas Rungta, Founder, Ravity Software Solutions Private Limited, said, “It is an honor to be associated with an industry leader like Maruti Suzuki, whose name is synonymous with bringing personal mobility to millions in India as well as across the globe. An automobile major like Maruti Suzuki partnering with a startup speaks volumes about its forward-thinking mindset, humility, and openness to learn and collaborate to explore new ideas. With our excellence and expertise in AI, analytics, and mobility, we are committed to upholding the trust Maruti Suzuki has placed in us. We believe that the high complementarity of our strengths—Maruti Suzuki’s scale of business and our agility and entrepreneurship—will further enhance customer experience and delight.”

Stamps by Eight Continents strengthens Rajasthan presence with new Pushkar boutique hotel

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Haninder Sachdeva, CEO, Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts

Eight Continents Hotels and Resorts has expanded its Stamps portfolio by opening a new property in Pushkar on November 1, 2025. The company continues to pursue its strategy of strengthening its presence in major leisure destinations across India, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Haninder Sachdeva, CEO, Eight Continents Hotels and Resorts, said, “With every new opening, we are strengthening a hospitality ecosystem that speaks to every kind of traveller India hosts today. Eight Continents has always believed that true scale comes from serving diverse needs with equal commitment, whether it’s a full-service experience, a lifestyle retreat, or a focused limited-service stay. Our expanding portfolio across segments reflects this philosophy in action. Pushkar marks another step in our journey to create meaningful, accessible, and distinctive stays across India’s most promising destinations. We are building a network that travellers can trust—no matter where their journey takes them.”

Recognizing Pushkar’s appeal to both domestic and international travellers—owing to the world’s only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma—the company identified the city as an ideal fit for the Stamps leisure business model.

Stamps Pushkar showcases a blend of modern comfort and traditional Rajasthani craftsmanship. The hotel offers contemporary rooms and amenities while incorporating regional artistic elements such as locally inspired paintings. Its culinary offerings highlight the flavors of Rajasthani cuisine, complemented by Israeli dishes that cater to Pushkar’s global visitor profile.

The Pushkar launch follows the brand’s recent opening in Jodhpur and strengthens Eight Continents’ expansion plans across Rajasthan. The company aims to position Stamps as a competitive player in high-potential destinations where cultural tourism and consistent demand create long-term growth opportunities.

SaffronStays strengthens portfolio with launch of Junglebrooke in Kolad

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Devendra Parulekar, founder of SaffronStays

SaffronStays is putting compassion at the centre of travel with the launch of Junglebrooke, an animal-first getaway in Kolad, Maharashtra. Ganesh Nayak, founder of Animals Matter To Me, owns the retreat and envisions it as a cageless haven where stray animals receive the affection of pets, pets come first. A portion of the proceeds, as part of its sustainability initiative, supports the rescue, rehabilitation, and care of animals.

Located across an acre inside the verdant AMTM Kolad campus, Junglebrooke marks a pioneering offering for India’s conscious travellers. The retreat incorporates recycled furniture repurposed from Film City sets and elevated structures to maintain open green spaces, all guided by the philosophy “Pets Over People.”

The property features eight large cottages, an eco-friendly design ethos, and close proximity to an empathetic rescue ecosystem. Guests can engage in guided tours, interact with animals, practice yoga, or enjoy quiet reading sessions in nature. Each stay includes accommodation for two guests with one pet at no charge, along with complimentary pet meals, pool access, yoga classes, karaoke, and more.

From dogs and cats to cows, pigs, ducks, rabbits, and geese, the animals here now enjoy a peaceful and cared-for environment. A sprawling 10,000 sq. ft. cage-free cattery provides a sanctuary for cats, while the gaushala offers a safe grazing space for rescued cattle. Picture this: beginning your day by feeding a rescued calf, splashing in the infinity pool with your dog by noon, and unwinding at sunset with a drink while your pet relaxes beside you—ending the night under a starry sky, comforted by the knowledge that your stay contributes to meaningful change.

AMTM, home to more than 400 rescued animals, has long served as a refuge for dogs, cats, cows, pigs, ducks, and rabbits from Kolad and Mumbai. Philanthropists and industrialists such as Nawshir Mirza, Cyrus Mistry, and the Tata Group have bolstered the organisation’s mission, enabling it to expand its facilities and strengthen its rescue work.

“Junglebrooke is our way of giving a voice to the voiceless, those with paws, claws, wings, and whiskers. It’s built as a space where pets can truly be themselves, and humans are happy companions in their world. A place where dogs can run free, cats can nap under trees, and their people can unwind right alongside them. Every stay becomes a small step toward a kinder world for animals and for us,” says Devendra Parulekar, founder of SaffronStays.