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Tata Power-DDL launches Solar Sakhi Abhiyan

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Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, in alignment with the Government of India’s flagship PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, recently launched the Solar Sakhi Abhiyan-a pioneering initiative dedicated to women’s empowerment and clean energy adoption. The launch event was organized at Pooth Khurd Village on the auspicious occasion of Navratra, a festival that celebrates the power and spirit of women.

The ceremony was graced by Mr. Neeraj Semwal, Secretary (Power), GNCTD; Mr. Ravi Dadhich, Special Secretary (Power); Mr. Kumar Abhishek, District Magistrate (North); Mrs. Anju Aman Dabas, Hon’ble Councillor; Mr. Dwijadas Basak, CEO, Tata Power-DDL; Mrs. Kiran Gupta, Chief Commercial, Tata Power-DDL; Mr. Bharat Chhabra, Chief-SIG, Tata Power-DDL; Mr. Rahul Kumar, Head-Special Customer Management & Solar; and Mr. Shashank Sharma, HoD-G&I, NBS & Solar, along with company officials, village representatives, and community members.

At the heart of the initiative are 100 Solar Sakhi members—women volunteers trained to serve as ambassadors of solar energy in villages. They will spread awareness on rooftop solar benefits, educate households on clean energy solutions, and act as a bridge between government policies and communities in more than 75 villages of Tata Power-DDL. Each Solar Sakhi has been provided with a distinctive jacket, symbolizing pride, leadership, and recognition.

Mr. Neeraj Semwal, Secretary (Power), GNCTD, said, “The Government of Delhi is committed to promoting renewable energy and inclusive growth. Initiatives like Solar Sakhi Abhiyan strengthen this vision by ensuring that women, the backbone of our society, play a leading role in spreading the benefits of rooftop solar. This step will not only reduce dependency on conventional energy but also contribute to the larger mission of sustainable development.”

Mrs. Anju Aman Dabas, Hon’ble Councilor, Pooth Khurd, said, “As Tata Power-DDL has been taking many initiatives of sustainability, especially Rooftop Solar, and creating awareness among communities, the launch of the Solar Sakhi campaign is a commendable effort. It reflects Tata Power-DDL’s commitment to both women-centric development and environmental responsibility. Our village is proud to be the starting point of such a meaningful initiative.”

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Dwijadas Basak, CEO, Tata Power-DDL, said, “Our vision has always been to merge sustainability with inclusivity. The Solar Sakhi Abhiyan reflects Tata Power-DDL’s strong belief in women-led progress. By enabling women to become ambassadors of solar energy, we are nurturing leaders who will guide communities toward a cleaner and brighter tomorrow.”

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Kiran Gupta (Chief-Customer Experience, Commercial & Govt. Affairs, EAC & Consumer Litigation), Tata Power-DDL, said, “The launch of the Solar Sakhi Abhiyan marks a significant step towards sustainable and inclusive growth. Empowering women to become ambassadors for rooftop solar strengthens the Delhi Government’s vision of renewable energy adoption and also reflects Tata Power-DDL’s commitment to women-led community progress and environmental responsibility. Solar Sakhi will inspire households to embrace clean energy, reduce reliance on conventional power, and pave the way for a brighter, greener tomorrow.”

The campaign, driven through Tata Power-DDL’s Village Customer Group (VCG) Solar, aspires to strengthen women’s role in sustainable development while contributing to India’s clean energy mission.

Hunger Inc raises Rs 215-Cr to accelerate growth and expansion

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Sameer Seth(Left) & Yash Bhanage(Right), co-founders, Hunger Inc.

Hunger Inc, the parent company of Bombay Sweet Shop and restaurant brands including Bombay Canteen, Veronica’s, O Pedro, and Papa’s, has raised Rs 215 crore in fresh funding, cofounder Sameer Seth confirmed. The investment saw Lighthouse and DSG Consumer Partners acquire a significant minority stake in the company.

Based in Mumbai, Hunger Inc plans to use the capital to strengthen its production and supply chain capabilities as it expands beyond Mumbai.

“The capital will primarily be used for Bombay Sweet Shop and we’re going to start experimenting with Veronica’s because sandwiches and coffee is a scaleable format,” Seth said, adding that the company will not aggressively expand the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro brands for now. The deal also involved some early investors, including former Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani and a few angels, exiting through secondary transactions.

The company’s existing backer includes the Godrej family office. Bombay Sweet Shop, an omnichannel retail brand for Indian sweets, chocolates, and other confectionery, now accounts for more than half of Hunger Inc’s revenue, Seth noted.

In fiscal 2025, Hunger Inc posted Rs 115 crore in revenue with a 9% EBITDA margin and expects a topline of Rs 150 crore in FY26. “Bombay Sweet Shop is tracking Rs 8-9 crore in monthly revenue,” he added.

Currently operating only in Mumbai, Hunger Inc plans to expand to Delhi with a flagship Bombay Sweet Shop over the next 12–18 months. The brand currently runs five retail outlets and 18 dark stores, delivering directly via its own website as well as through aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato.

Founded in 2015 by Seth, Yash Bhanage, and the late chef Floyd Cardoz, Hunger Inc began with its flagship restaurant The Bombay Canteen, followed by O Pedro, which serves contemporary Goan cuisine. In 2023, it launched Veronica’s, a sandwich and café format aimed at younger consumers, and Papa’s, a 12-seater chef’s table concept.

On the possibility of adding more brands, Seth said, “Never say never, but the short-term focus is on building out the playbook. We’ve done Mumbai well, and Delhi is the next logical step for now. As we build out the supply chain and backend, we’ll see what’s next.”

The funding comes as deal activity in India’s quick service restaurant (QSR) and café sector accelerates. Seth said Hunger Inc is also expanding its B2B and institutional sales, supplying products directly to Starbucks and Oberoi Hotels. Bombay Sweet Shop recently partnered with IndiGo to provide in-flight items for its international business class. However, the company has stayed away from the quick commerce segment.

“Quick commerce is going through its own evolution… till now everyone was fighting for lower price points. One of the players said they were akin to a kirana store. Now, if I won’t list at a kirana store, it doesn’t make sense to be at a kirana store-equivalent channel yet. But now they are recognising the need to push their average order values up. So those conversations will happen in the next 12 months to see how we can do the right thing,” Seth explained.

Ixigo sells 10% stake to Prosus for ₹1,295-Cr to boost AI and hotel expansion

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Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, co-founders, Ixigo

Travel tech platform Ixigo has sold a 10% stake to Dutch investor Prosus for ₹1,295 crore, with plans to utilize the funds primarily for investing in artificial intelligence, expanding its hotel business, and pursuing acquisitions.

The company had earlier indicated intentions to sell up to a 16% stake. Ixigo’s parent company, Le Travenues Technology, will issue 46.2 million equity shares at ₹280 per share, including a premium of ₹279, to MIH Investments One BV, a venture capital fund managed by Prosus Ventures.

Following the allotment, Prosus will gain the right to appoint one director to Ixigo’s board, provided its holding remains at or above 10%.

Ixigo’s management noted that while the fresh issue of shares as part of the Prosus investment may dilute near-term returns, the capital is critical for long-term growth. “The plan is to invest in AI at its inflection point, accelerate growth, increase customer lifetime value and deepen operating leverage,” Ixigo stated in its stock exchange filing.

For Prosus, the investment expands its presence in India’s consumer internet sector, where it has backed companies like Flipkart, Swiggy, Meesho, and Urban Company. In the travel segment, Prosus previously invested in Goibibo, and MakeMyTrip later acquired the company.

Ixigo said it aims to increase investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and strengthen its position in the online hotel segment. The company, which went public in 2024, highlighted AI as a key differentiator, emphasizing opportunities in conversational and personalized travel booking systems.

According to the exchange filing, Ixigo will allocate the ₹1,295 crore raised from Prosus across four key areas. The company will use approximately ₹323.9 crore for organic growth, including investments in new AI platforms, technology upgrades, hotel business expansion, and advertising. It will earmark another 25% of the funds for acquisitions, joint ventures, or strategic investments, with the flexibility to redirect any unspent amount back to organic initiatives. Ixigo will also allocate a further ₹323.9 crore to working capital to support its operations across flights, trains, buses, and hotels. The remaining 25% will cover general corporate purposes, such as rentals, staff costs, contingencies, and administrative expenses.

Kolte-Patil Developers acquires 7.5-acre land in Pune for Rs 1,400-Cr housing project

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Rajesh Patil, Managing Director, Kolte-Patil Developers Limited

Realty company Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd has purchased a 7.5-acre land parcel in Pune to develop a housing project valued at approximately Rs 1,400 crore. According to a regulatory filing on Friday, the land is located in Bhugaon, Pune.

The forthcoming project will additionally feature an estimated saleable area of around 1.9 million square feet, with a gross development value (GDV) of about Rs 1,400 crore. However, the company has not disclosed the seller’s name or the acquisition cost of the land.

Commenting on the development, Rajesh Patil, Managing Director, Kolte-Patil Developers Limited said, “Foraying into a new high-potential micro-market through outright acquisition of this strategically located land in Bhugaon strengthens our presence in Pune. With growing demand accelerated by improving infrastructure and rising end-user interest, our presence in Bhugaon aligns with our strategy of delivering well-planned, value-driven developments. Backed by our deep understanding of evolving lifestyles and a legacy of over three decades, this addition reinforces our commitment to creating thoughtful communities that enable better quality of life.”

Kolte-Patil has successfully developed over 68 projects, including residential complexes, integrated townships, commercial spaces, and IT parks, totaling more than 30 million square feet of saleable area across Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Recognized as one of India’s leading real estate developers, Kolte-Patil continues to expand its footprint with high-value residential and commercial projects.

Austrian startup newsrooms raises €750K to revolutionize AI-driven content creation

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The Austrian company newsrooms has raised €750,000 in pre-seed funding for its AI-supported content creation platform.

Founded in 2024, the platform brands itself as an “AI text manufacturing company” and enables users to swiftly generate a variety of formats—ranging from articles, press releases, and social media posts to entire books—directly from texts, documents, or audio recordings without requiring prompts. Its AI-driven tool assists communication departments, agencies, and editorial teams in producing content more efficiently, freeing up time for strategy, creativity, and in-depth research.

Newsrooms distinguishes itself from other AI solutions through its high-quality language output, allowing for precise, personalized linguistic adaptation for each user, as well as strong data security, with all data processed exclusively within the EU.

The platform operates entirely without prompts. Users can upload text, documents, audio, or video files, or create content directly within the tool. The AI automatically converts the input into multiple formats—such as blog posts, press releases, or social media updates—so users can adapt a single text for all communication channels with just one click.

Initially incubated within Hermann Futter’s Compass Group, the company later transitioned to the founding team’s ownership following a successful initial phase. Futter continues as an investor, while Hansi Hansmann, through his Hans(wo)men Group, joined as a new investor. In June this year, newsrooms also acquired the Austrian tech media platform Trending Topics.

CEO and co-founder Erek Stoisser stated, “With newsrooms, we are not only striving for a simplification of work processes, but a sustainable transformation of content production and journalism. Due to the high response in Austria, we are already planning expansion into other European markets in the coming months.”

The founding team includes Stoisser, experienced in PR and advertising, CTO Matteo Rosoli, Head of AI Alexander Maitz, and, following the acquisition of Trending Topics, its founders Jakob Steinschaden and Bastian Kellhofer.

“With this team, we precisely combine the expertise that our target groups need daily with the technical know-how that translates these requirements into practical solutions,” Stoisser adds.

Investor Hansi Hansmann commented, “I find the vision of newsrooms fascinating. In the future, just one person can take over the content creation of an entire publishing house. I find the quality of their work particularly convincing. When Hermann Futter first told me about newsrooms, I absolutely wanted to be part of this idea. The communications industry is experiencing the second major disruption after search and social media. With new tools like newsrooms, this crisis-tested industry can now work efficiently and generate profits.”

Hermann Futter also remarked, “When I saw the tool for the first time, I immediately recognised the impact it would have on communication departments and the media industry. AI must be seen as an opportunity to produce content more efficiently and synergistically.”

Flipkart’s Super.money partners with Juspay to boost digital payments and market reach

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Super.money, the financial services platform launched by Walmart-owned Flipkart, has entered into a strategic partnership with payments infrastructure provider Juspay to enhance its direct-to-consumer (D2C) checkout capabilities.

The collaboration is a key step toward Super.money’s target of achieving $100 million in annual revenue by 2026. The move also marks a fresh opportunity for Juspay to regain momentum after facing challenges with major payment companies earlier this year.

Recently, the platform launched its D2C checkout product, Super.money Breeze, an advanced solution offering merchants a seamless one-click checkout experience. The product eliminates the need for repeated logins and one-time passwords, simplifying online transactions for consumers. Industry sources revealed that Juspay powers the payments infrastructure behind the product, which the company initially kept under wraps.

The partnership will help Super.money expand its presence among D2C brands and reach a wider audience beyond Flipkart’s existing customer base. The new product also highlights Super.money’s efforts to establish its own identity in the highly competitive e-commerce ecosystem, despite already benefiting from Flipkart’s extensive distribution network.

For Juspay, the alliance is equally significant. The payments firm is rebuilding relationships with Indian merchants after losing several major clients earlier this year, when multiple payment gateways moved to their in-house systems.

Earlier, many payment aggregators preferred Juspay as their back-end partner for its robust routing technology that improved transaction success rates. The company, which also holds a payment aggregator license from the Reserve Bank of India, continues to serve major clients such as Amazon.

Interestingly, Super.money’s decision to collaborate with Juspay contrasts with the growing trend of payment companies developing and maintaining their own infrastructure. However, for a young fintech still expanding beyond Flipkart’s ecosystem, this partnership provides a faster path to D2C integrations without having to build full-scale payment infrastructure from scratch. It also reflects Super.money’s ambition to strengthen its role in digital transactions and deepen engagement with consumers.

Kairali Ayurvedic Group brings signature wellness experience to Goa with new resort

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Abhilash K Ramesh, Executive Director, Kairali Ayurvedic Group

Kairali Ayurvedic Group, renowned for its award-winning “Kairali—The Ayurvedic Healing Village” in Palakkad, Kerala, will expand its presence to Goa by launching a yoga-inspired, ultra-luxury boutique resort at Agonda Beach, South Goa. Spanning nearly 2 acres, Villa Raag will establish itself as Agonda Beach’s most luxurious yoga- and wellness-focused resort.

Designed to merge nature, technology, and refined living, Villa Raag not only offers an unparalleled five-star hospitality experience but also creates a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The resort will feature elegant, technology-enabled accommodations, personalized beachfront service, 24-hour kitchen access, and a serene outdoor swimming pool, providing guests with a holistic environment for self-discovery and well-being.

Abhilash K Ramesh, Executive Director, Kairali Ayurvedic Group, said, “We wanted to offer something unique that blends the yoga touch with the Goa way of living. Villa Raag at Agonda will be a new chapter in how we look at luxury. It’s a new boutique yoga-led retreat in a 5-star setting.”

Moreover, Villa Raag’s focus on wellness programs, yoga retreats, and immersive healing experiences positions it as a prime destination for global travelers who seek both indulgence and introspection. Scheduled to open in just a month, this new luxury property further reinforces Kairali Ayurvedic Group’s commitment to delivering authentic, memorable experiences that go beyond traditional hospitality.

BiMA raises €500K to introduce screen-free storytelling for kids

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Greta Garkisch & Larissa Ruf, co-founders, BiMA

Munich-based BiMA, a mindful entertainment platform for children, has raised €500,000 in a pre-seed funding round. Investors include Antler and angel investors from Oetinger Publishing Group—Julia Bielenberg, Thilo Schmid, and Christian Graef—along with Andreas Peters (ex-Disney), Felix van de Sande (Kickbase/COBE), and Silvia Sommer (ex-Birkenstock/Roland Berger).

BiMA focuses on mindful entertainment and creativity for children, and its first product is a child-friendly, screen-free projector that not only transforms bedrooms into immersive, story-driven environments but also encourages family interaction. Designed to stimulate imagination and strengthen family bonds, BiMA operates in a rapidly growing sector that combines edutainment, well-being, and consumer technology, while simultaneously tapping into emerging trends in children’s mindful entertainment.

The potential market is significant. In Germany alone, approximately 3.5 million households with children aged 0–5 represent an opportunity exceeding €730 million. Across Europe, the addressable market expands to 17 million households, or €3.7 billion, while globally, over 420 million households suggest a market exceeding €88 billion.

Founded in 2024 by Larissa Ruf (CEO) and Greta Garkisch (CTO), BiMA’s team brings together expertise in education, consumer science, and deeptech.

Larissa Ruf explained the vision behind the company:

“Most toys are designed to keep kids busy, and that’s perfectly fine. But we wanted to create something different: a product that brings families together at the most meaningful time of day. With BiMA, evenings become magical moments of connection and imagination.”

The new funding will not only support BiMA’s market launch but also cover the first production run, while simultaneously driving marketing campaigns, further expanding the team, and additionally developing content.

HSBC India launches ‘Innovation Banking’ with $1 Bn fund to fuel startup growth

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Ajay Sharma, Head of Banking, HSBC India

HSBC India on Thursday announced the launch of its ‘Innovation Banking’ platform in India, designed to provide comprehensive banking and financing solutions for entrepreneurial ventures at every stage of growth—from seed funding to IPO—along with support for their investors.

As part of this initiative, the bank has committed $1 billion in non-dilutive debt capital, not only to help Indian startups scale their operations without giving up equity but also to enable founders and investors to maintain greater control over their businesses, the bank said in a statement.

HSBC India added that it already holds a significant balance sheet allocation for fund financing across venture capital and domestic private equity funds. With the introduction of Innovation Banking, the bank aims to broaden its offerings to cover a wider range of funds and financial propositions, strengthening its foothold in the startup ecosystem.

The launch in India also marks an expansion of HSBC’s global Innovation Banking network, which connects clients through over 900 experts worldwide and provides specialized financing solutions.

David Sabow, Global Head of HSBC Innovation Banking, said the $1 billion allocation reflects the bank’s long-term commitment to India’s innovation economy, job creation, and skill development.

Ajay Sharma, Head of Banking, HSBC India, said, “With the launch of HSBC Innovation Banking in India, we are deepening our support for the vibrant startup ecosystem, where we have a proven track record of partnering with clients on their growth journeys.”

He further noted that HSBC’s global connectivity and extensive venture network position the platform to help Indian startups scale internationally and access new markets.

Highlighting India’s potential, HSBC India said that Indian startups will contribute $1 trillion to the domestic economy and create 50 million new jobs by 2030, as the country continues to be the fastest-growing major economy and a global tech and talent hub.

NeoLiv to invest ₹2,300-Cr in integrated township development in Faridabad

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Mohit Malhotra, Founder and CEO of NeoLiv

Real estate developer NeoLiv has announced plans to develop a 62-acre township in Faridabad, Haryana, with an estimated revenue potential of ₹2,300 crore, as part of its strategy to expand operations amid growing housing demand.

In a statement on Thursday, the company confirmed it has entered into a management agreement to develop land spanning Sectors 98 and 99A in Faridabad. The upcoming township will primarily feature housing plots and villas, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of around ₹2,300 crore. However, the real estate developer did not disclose details about the landowner, total number of units, or the investment outlay for the project.

Mohit Malhotra, founder and CEO of NeoLiv, said, “This partnership represents a significant milestone for NeoLiv as we announce our largest foray to date in one of the fast-growing regions of NCR.”

Currently, NeoLiv is also developing projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Sonipat, Haryana, as it continues to strengthen its presence across major real estate markets.

With this Faridabad project, NeoLiv aims to tap into the surging demand for plotted developments and premium housing in NCR, further solidifying its position as a fast-growing player in India’s real estate sector.

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