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Roseate Hotels & Resorts enters luxury leisure segment with The Roseate Bhimtal opening

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Roseate Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hospitality brand of Bird Group, has announced the signing of The Roseate Bhimtal, a boutique luxury hotel overlooking the scenic Bhimtal Lake in Uttarakhand. The company plans to open the property in December 2026.

Moreover, this development represents the brand’s first management property in India. Therefore, the signing reflects a strategic move to expand into the country’s rapidly growing luxury leisure hospitality segment.

The upcoming resort will be located in the scenic Kumaon Hills and will feature 30 rooms designed with views overlooking Bhimtal Lake. Additionally, the hotel will focus on delivering personalised experiences that combine nature, wellness, and luxury hospitality.

The property will also benefit from strong accessibility. The resort is located approximately five hours by road from Delhi, around 45 minutes from Nainital, and nearly one hour from Pantnagar Airport. Consequently, the location positions the resort as a convenient yet tranquil escape for travellers seeking premium leisure experiences in Uttarakhand.

Furthermore, the property is surrounded by forest-covered hills and the calm waters of Bhimtal Lake. As a result, the resort aims to attract travellers who prefer quieter and more immersive destinations within the Himalayan region.

Commenting on the announcement, Kush Kapoor, CEO, Roseate Hotels & Resorts, said, “The moment I set foot on this serene estate amidst verdant greens, with a breathtaking view of the iconic Bhimtal Lake, it aligned beautifully with our vision to extend the Roseate experience. The signing of The Roseate Bhimtal represents a significant step in the evolution of Roseate Hotels & Resorts as we expand our portfolio through management partnerships. Uttarakhand continues to be a key leisure destination, and Bhimtal offers a unique combination of natural beauty, tranquility, and accessibility.”

Before the launch, the estate will undergo refurbishment in order to align the property with the brand’s luxury hospitality standards. Subsequently, the lakeside resort will offer curated guest experiences designed to enhance relaxation, wellness, and nature-based tourism.

With its scenic lakeside setting and focus on curated guest experiences, the resort aims to strengthen the brand’s footprint in Uttarakhand’s premium hospitality market. As demand for nature-driven luxury travel continues to rise, the upcoming property could become a sought-after destination for travellers seeking tranquility and upscale hospitality in the Himalayas.

Country Inn Hotels & Resorts opens Country Inn Jalandhar to strengthen hospitality presence

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Country Inn Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Espire Hospitality Limited, has announced the launch of Country Inn Jalandhar, a contemporary hotel designed to combine modern comfort with warm hospitality. The property offers convenient connectivity to the city’s major commercial districts and shopping hubs, and therefore it serves as an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers visiting Jalandhar.

The hotel features 48 well-appointed guest rooms, and each room reflects contemporary design elements while ensuring a comfortable and refined stay experience. Moreover, the property incorporates modern interiors and essential amenities that enhance convenience for guests throughout their stay. Whether travellers visit the city for business meetings, social events, or local sightseeing, the hotel provides a comfortable and accessible accommodation option.

Additionally, the hotel houses a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves a wide variety of flavours in a welcoming and relaxed environment. Guests can enjoy breakfast meetings, casual dining experiences, or leisurely meals with family and friends, while the restaurant offers a versatile space where visitors can explore diverse culinary options throughout the day.

Furthermore, the property offers a spacious venue for events and celebrations. The hotel includes an elegant 5,000-square-foot pillarless ballroom that accommodates corporate events, social gatherings, and special celebrations. With refined interiors and warm lighting, the venue creates a sophisticated atmosphere that allows events to take place seamlessly.

At the same time, the hotel plans to introduce additional lifestyle and wellness facilities in the near future. The management will soon launch a spa, a fully equipped fitness centre, and a dedicated kitty party hall, thereby providing guests with enhanced options for relaxation, wellness, and social gatherings.

Commenting on the launch, Akhil Arora, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Espire Hospitality Limited, said, “We are delighted to launch another Country Inn hotel in Punjab, further strengthening our presence in the region. Known as a thriving hub of manufacturing for various industries and its vibrant culture, Jalandhar attracts a steady influx of travellers throughout the year, both for business and leisure, and with this hotel, we aim to offer them an elevated stay, complemented by the Country Inn brand’s renowned heartfelt hospitality. The hotel reflects our continued commitment to delivering high-quality hospitality experiences in key urban destinations.”

The launch of Country Inn Jalandhar marks another step in Espire Hospitality’s regional expansion strategy. By offering modern accommodations, versatile dining options, and event facilities, the new property aims to cater to the growing demand for quality hospitality in the city. As Jalandhar continues to attract business travellers and tourists, the hotel positions itself as a comfortable and convenient destination that blends contemporary amenities with trusted hospitality.

SAMHI Hotels Limited expands portfolio with strategic investment in heritage hospitality platform RARE India

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Ashish Jakhanwala,Chairman & Managing Director, SAMHI Hotels Ltd.

SAMHI Hotels Limited has announced that its board has approved the acquisition of a 70% majority stake in RARE India, one of India’s earliest and largest platforms focused on heritage hotels, retreats, and experiential stays. The company expects to finalize definitive agreements by May 2026, and this move will mark SAMHI’s entry into the experiential leisure hospitality segment through an asset-light platform investment.

At the same time, SAMHI and RARE India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish an affiliation with Marriott International in order to leverage the company’s global distribution network and loyalty ecosystem. Under this proposed collaboration, RARE India will gain exclusive rights to operate its portfolio of hotels under the Outdoor Collection brand by Marriott Bonvoy across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, while Marriott will distribute the portfolio across its global channels. SAMHI expects to enter definitive agreements with Marriott once the acquisition process concludes.

Furthermore, this partnership will allow RARE India to transform from a representation platform into a fully integrated business-to-consumer distribution and experiential hospitality brand platform. Meanwhile, RARE India will continue operating independently under the leadership of its founder and existing management team, who remain committed to curating and nurturing the platform’s unique community of heritage and experiential property owners. As a result, the collaboration will also enable SAMHI to expand beyond its traditional business hotel segment and increase its overall portfolio to nearly 100 hotels through a mix of owned and affiliated properties.

RARE India was founded in 2003 by Shobha Rudra, and the platform has established itself as one of India’s earliest curated experiential hospitality networks. Currently, the company manages a portfolio of 67 hotels comprising approximately 990 rooms across more than 15 states in India, while it also maintains an international presence in Nepal and Bhutan.

Over the past two decades, the platform has developed a strong reputation for responsible tourism, local employment generation, and authentic travel experiences. Additionally, the company has carefully curated a portfolio that includes heritage palaces, wildlife lodges, retreats, and boutique hospitality properties. Moreover, it has built a strong community of hospitality entrepreneurs and travellers who value immersive and responsible tourism experiences.

In contrast to the increasingly crowded homestay and villa aggregator market, RARE India differentiates itself through its long-standing legacy, disciplined curation strategy, and philosophy-driven growth model. Consequently, this partnership will allow the company to accelerate expansion while maintaining its selective standards and strong community ethos. The platform believes that a significant community of property owners and travellers is willing to pay a premium for unique and authentic experiences, and therefore they will continue to choose RARE as their preferred platform, creating significant long-term growth opportunities.

As part of the investment, SAMHI Hotels plans to commit approximately ₹470 million, which will include a primary capital infusion into RARE India along with a smaller allocation toward purchasing shares from existing shareholders. The company will use the primary capital to strengthen management capabilities, upgrade technology and distribution systems, and expand marketing and brand visibility in order to support RARE’s next phase of growth.

Consistent with its established investment philosophy, SAMHI Hotels has identified long-term value in an underappreciated operating platform that holds strong brand equity and significant growth potential. Moreover, the company noted that the investment valuation significantly diverges from typical asset-light platform investments globally and within India. This investment will also represent SAMHI’s first asset-light platform investment in the leisure hospitality segment, thereby allowing the company to participate in a rapidly expanding market without altering its core balance sheet strategy focused on scaling business hotels in key office and gateway markets across India.

Additionally, the structure of the deal ensures limited capital exposure while offering asymmetrical return potential. Since the model remains asset-light, SAMHI expects significant long-term upside driven by improved distribution networks, technology integration, and stronger brand positioning.

Commenting on the development, Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman & Managing Director, SAMHI Hotels Ltd., said, “This investment in RARE India is a strategic adjacency that strengthens our platform without distracting from our core focus on business and gateway markets. RARE represents a combination of legacy, credibility, and scalable asset-light potential. With a strong proven founding team, an irreplaceable community of owners, and the proposed affiliation with Marriott, we believe RARE can emerge as a leading B2C brand in experience-led tourism. Importantly, this is a small financial investment but with asymmetrical return potential—consistent with our philosophy of discovering value in underappreciated opportunities.”

Shobha Rudra, Founder, RARE India, said, “RARE India has always been built on relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to responsible tourism. This partnership with SAMHI allows us to remain true to our philosophy and continue to preserve and build the RARE community of hotel owners and discerning travellers. Together, we aim to strengthen the foundation of the RARE community and scale our impact.”

Additionally, Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International, stated, “India’s experiential and heritage-led hospitality segment represents a significant long-term opportunity. RARE has built a distinctive portfolio rooted in authenticity and responsible tourism. Through this collaboration, we look forward to extending our global distribution platform and Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem to a highly curated collection of unique stays. Together with SAMHI and RARE, we aim to unlock incremental demand and broaden access to immersive travel experiences across India and the region.”

SAMHI Hotels’ strategic investment in RARE India marks an important step into the fast-growing experiential tourism segment. By combining RARE’s heritage hospitality expertise with Marriott’s global distribution network, the partnership aims to strengthen India’s experiential travel ecosystem. As demand for immersive travel experiences continues to grow, this collaboration could significantly expand access to curated heritage stays while creating long-term value for travellers, property owners, and the hospitality industry.

Sarvam AI launches Sarvam Startup Program to help early-stage companies build AI products

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Dr. Pratyush Kumar & Dr. Vivek Raghavan, co-founders, Sarvam AI

Sarvam AI has introduced the Sarvam Startup Program, and the company designed the initiative to help early-stage companies build artificial intelligence-powered products using its models and infrastructure.

In a series of posts on X, the generative AI startup announced that the program aims to support developers who are building applications within India’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. The company stated, “Today, we’re launching the Sarvam Startup Program. AI is the era for builders. We want to compound that momentum by powering the startup ecosystem with high-quality models and tools so they can create with full agency.”

According to the company, the program will provide selected startups with cloud credits, priority technical assistance, and production-ready infrastructure. Consequently, the initiative will allow companies to concentrate on developing and scaling their AI products instead of managing complex backend AI systems.

Moreover, participating startups will gain access to Sarvam AI’s suite of artificial intelligence tools and application programming interfaces. These capabilities include speech-to-text, text-to-speech, translation, chat completion, and document intelligence features.

Additionally, the platform supports more than 22 Indian languages along with English. Therefore, the company continues to emphasize the development of AI technologies that address India’s extensive linguistic diversity.

Furthermore, startups that join the program will receive direct technical assistance from Sarvam AI’s engineering team. As a result, participants will benefit from priority troubleshooting as well as expert guidance during product development.

The company also highlighted that startups in the program may receive co-branded case studies and promotional support during their product launches. Consequently, these opportunities may help emerging startups gain stronger visibility across the technology ecosystem.

Engineers Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar founded Sarvam AI, and the company has positioned itself as part of India’s broader effort to build sovereign generative AI infrastructure tailored to the country’s digital and linguistic landscape.

Meanwhile, the company has continued developing foundational models and APIs designed for multilingual AI applications. Specifically, these technologies focus on Indian languages, where many global AI systems still struggle to deliver accurate results.

Sarvam AI’s Startup Program highlights the growing momentum in India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. By providing infrastructure, developer support, and multilingual AI capabilities, the company aims to accelerate innovation among early-stage startups. As AI adoption continues to expand across industries, initiatives like this program could play a significant role in enabling developers to build scalable AI-driven solutions tailored for India’s diverse digital landscape.

Healthtech startup Cent secures funding to advance AI-based early detection of cancer and cardiac diseases

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Anshul Khandelwal, Shashank ND & Arpit Garg, co-founders, Cent

Healthtech startup Cent, founded by Shashank ND along with Arpit Garg, formerly of Lenskart, and Anshul Khandelwal, previously associated with Ola Electric, has secured an undisclosed investment from OneFlow Holdings, the family office of Shashank ND, and venture firm South Park Commons. The funding will help the company develop and scale its artificial intelligence-powered early disease detection platform.

Khandelwal, the cofounder and chief business officer of the healthtech startup, explained the startup’s focus and said, “Unlike most preventive healthcare services, we are solely focused on early detection of life-threatening diseases such as cancer and cardiac and metabolic conditions that comprise about 70–74% of deaths globally.”

Moreover, he clarified that the company follows a direct-to-consumer model. He stated, “Most healthcare companies in India are B2B, selling services to hospitals, insurers, or corporates. Our revenue comes directly from consumers. We do not earn commissions from hospitals, doctors, or insurers.”

The Bengaluru-based company began operations in the first quarter of FY26. Since then, the startup has completed more than 1,500 diagnostic scans, according to the company’s statement.

Additionally, the healthtech startup revealed that around 26% of these scans identified clinically meaningful findings. Furthermore, nearly 3–4% of the scans detected critical medical conditions such as cancer or severe heart blockages that required immediate treatment, even though the individuals showed no visible symptoms.

The founding team drew inspiration for the venture from personal experiences. Both Khandelwal and Shashank lost family members to cancer, and therefore they examined why medical professionals often detect serious illnesses at late stages despite significant advancements in medical technology.

Shashank explained the vision behind the company and said, “In the preventive space, we need dedicated infrastructure, the right technology, the right protocols, the right capital, built specifically for detection. That is the gap Cent is designed to close.”

The company built its platform around a proprietary screening protocol called CCNM, which stands for cardiac, cancer, neurological, and metabolic health. The system integrates full-body MRI scans, cardiac CT scans, ECG testing, DEXA scans, more than 120 blood and urine biomarkers, and genomic testing. Subsequently, artificial intelligence processes this extensive medical data, while radiologists and specialists review the results to generate a comprehensive organ-level health report.

Khandelwal further explained that the system produces a detailed 60–70 page diagnostic report that assigns a health score to each organ in the body.

At the same time, he pointed out that investors increasingly show interest in this healthcare segment because non-communicable diseases continue to rise globally, and artificial intelligence holds strong potential to transform diagnostic systems. He also highlighted that healthcare spending in India currently accounts for around 3% of the country’s GDP, which remains significantly lower than the spending levels seen in developed economies.

To evaluate the performance of its technology, the healthtech startup uses a proprietary metric known as the Early Detection Index (EDI). The company reports an EDI score of approximately 83%, whereas traditional annual health checkups typically achieve detection rates of only about 15–20%.

Meanwhile, the company has maintained strong growth momentum. Cent currently records around 50% month-on-month growth and has already reached an annualised revenue run rate of nearly $2 million.

With the newly secured investment, the company plans to launch dedicated early detection centres across major Indian cities. The first facility will open in Bengaluru in April, after which the company will expand to Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.

Khandelwal also outlined the company’s future funding strategy and said, “We expect the series A (growth-stage) to be roughly five to six times the size of the seed (early-stage) round, which will help us scale our network of early detection centres and also begin international expansion.”

Additionally, the startup continues to collaborate with global imaging equipment manufacturers in order to deploy and optimise advanced diagnostic technologies such as MRI systems specifically designed for preventive screening.

As the burden of non-communicable diseases continues to rise, the healtech startup seeks to enable earlier detection of life-threatening conditions and improve long-term health outcomes. With fresh funding and ambitious expansion plans, Cent is positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly evolving AI-driven health diagnostics ecosystem.

AI startup Cheerio AI secures ₹8-Cr to build multimodal AI for customer engagement

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Nishant Das, Avinash Upadhyay & Priam Jain, co-founders, Cheerio AI

Cheerio AI, an AI-powered customer engagement platform, has raised ₹8 crore in a seed funding round led by Artha Venture Fund through its second fund, Artha Venture Fund II (AVF II). Additionally, the round witnessed participation from Hyderabad Angels, TiE Angels, LetsVenture, and Invention Engine.

Moreover, several notable angel investors joined the round, including Arjun Vaidya, Anand Shahni of WedMeGood, Vivek Mathur, formerly of Elevation Capital, and Ajeet Khurana. In addition, the company’s early customers, such as Habuild and Nitin Verma from InstaAstro, also participated in the investment round.

The company plans to deploy the fresh capital to develop advanced multimodal AI capabilities. Specifically, the startup will focus on building a proprietary small-model large language model (LLM) designed for advertising content generation. Furthermore, Cheerio AI aims to expand its platform beyond messaging and introduce voice and video engagement capabilities.

At the same time, the company will accelerate the development of AI-powered automation tools and strengthen enterprise-grade infrastructure. Consequently, these improvements will enable businesses to achieve faster growth, higher customer engagement, and stronger return on investment while maintaining robust security and compliance standards.

Cheerio AI has also demonstrated strong business growth. In fact, the company’s revenue has grown by approximately 450 percent year-over-year during the past two years.

Additionally, the startup plans to expand its workforce over the next six months by hiring talent across engineering, artificial intelligence research, enterprise sales, and customer success teams. Through these hires, the company aims to support rapid scaling and expand its presence in global markets.

Speaking on the announcement, Nishant Das, Co-founder at Cheerio AI, said, “Avinash, Priam, and I are thrilled to partner with Artha and our co-investors. This investment is a strong validation of our vision and will enable us to significantly deepen our AI-driven automation capabilities while accelerating our expansion into the enterprise segment. At Cheerio AI, we envision a future where businesses operate with just three employees—the business founder, the technology founder, and Cheerio AI. This funding is a crucial step toward making that vision a reality.”

Meanwhile, investors also expressed strong confidence in the startup’s long-term potential in the AI-driven customer engagement market.

“Our decision to invest in Cheerio AI is anchored in strong conviction around the long-term opportunity this team is building toward. As enterprises operate across an increasingly complex set of digital channels, customer retention and lifetime value optimization have become mission-critical. Cheerio’s AI-native approach to unifying and orchestrating customer engagement positions it well to become a category-defining platform in this space,” said Anirudh A. Damani, Managing Partner at Artha Venture Fund.

“This round carried strong ecosystem validation from us. The opportunity was referred by one of our LPs, and after we shared it with the founders in our portfolio for our feedback, they too chose to invest alongside us! When experienced operators commit their own capital, it reinforces both founder quality and execution depth. That conviction mattered.”

Cheerio AI differentiates itself from conventional customer engagement tools by offering a unified platform that combines omnichannel communication, workflow automation, and applied artificial intelligence capabilities.

As a result, the platform enables non-technical teams to automate marketing and engagement workflows, reduce manual effort, improve customer interactions, and deliver higher return on investment at scale.

By expanding into multimodal AI capabilities such as voice, video, and proprietary LLM-powered ad generation, the startup aims to redefine how businesses interact with customers across digital channels. With rapid revenue growth, strong investor backing, and plans for global expansion, Cheerio AI is positioning itself as a next-generation AI automation platform for modern enterprises.

Wyndham expands Udaipur portfolio with wellness-focused Wyndham Garden Udaipur Bhuwana

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Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched Wyndham Garden Udaipur Bhuwana, a hillside retreat designed to provide travellers with tranquility, wellness, and meaningful connections with nature. The new property introduces a refreshing hospitality experience for visitors seeking relaxation and immersive stays in one of Rajasthan’s most scenic destinations.

Located amid the rolling hills of the Aravalli Hills, the 70-room hotel offers sweeping views that capture the timeless beauty of Udaipur. At the same time, the property creates an atmosphere that feels far removed from the pace of everyday life while remaining closely connected to nature.

Furthermore, the hotel encourages guests to slow down, unwind, and rediscover balance in a peaceful environment surrounded by natural landscapes. From the moment visitors arrive, the architectural design reflects the rhythm of the land and integrates harmoniously with the surrounding hills.

The property also incorporates traditional Rajasthani architectural elements, natural materials, and open layouts that strengthen the connection between indoor spaces and the outdoor landscape. As a result, guests experience seamless transitions between interior comfort and natural surroundings.

Moreover, guests can wake up to birdsong, relax beside the swimming pool, or watch sunsets across the Aravalli Hills, while each moment enhances the sense of restoration and renewal.

The hotel draws inspiration from Udaipur’s spiritual atmosphere, and therefore it provides a calm sanctuary for wellness-focused travellers, couples, and guests seeking mindful escapes. In addition, the property offers an ideal setting for destination weddings and intimate celebrations.

As Wyndham’s fifth property in Udaipur, widely recognized as India’s premier wedding destination, the hotel strategically positions itself to meet rising demand for luxury, experience-driven wedding celebrations.

To support these events, Wyndham Garden Udaipur Bhuwana features a 557-square-metre pillarless banquet hall along with a large open lawn where couples can exchange vows against a dramatic backdrop of hills and golden sunsets, thereby creating memorable wedding experiences.

“Udaipur is a destination that speaks to the soul, and Wyndham Garden Udaipur Bhuwana is designed to reflect that spirit. As our fifth hotel in the city, this opening represents our vision of hospitality that goes beyond comfort, offering restorative experiences and memorable celebrations that feel deeply connected to place, nature and wellbeing. It also marks the third Wyndham Garden to open in India in just two years, reflecting the strong demand for nature-led, experience-driven stays and the brand’s continued growth in the country,” shared Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Although the hotel sits amid tranquil natural surroundings, it still offers convenient access to major city landmarks and travel hubs. The property is located close to Maharana Pratap Airport, which lies approximately a 30-minute drive away, ensuring smooth travel for both leisure travellers and wedding guests.

From the hotel, visitors can easily explore Udaipur’s historic palaces, temples, and scenic lakeside ghats. Afterwards, guests can return to the quiet hillside environment where calmness replaces the bustle of the city.

“We are proud to unveil Wyndham Garden Udaipur Bhuwana, a resort that combines Rajasthan’s rich heritage with immersive guest experiences. In partnership with Wyndham and Zappy Holidays Resorts, we are creating a destination that offers culture, luxury, and unforgettable stays for travellers from around the world,” added Vikram Singh Chauhan, Founder & CEO, NILE Hospitality.

Globally, Wyndham Garden Hotels are known for their warm hospitality and nature-inspired design. At Udaipur Bhuwana, the brand brings this philosophy to life through calm luxury, personalized service, and thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage guests to relax and remain present in the moment.

The hotel welcomes visitors with a traditional Rajasthani greeting and offers several modern amenities, including 24-hour room service, complimentary WiFi, a business centre, a gymnasium, an outdoor swimming pool, and a spa equipped with a steam room.

In addition, the property enhances guest experiences through unique offerings such as a courtyard high tea ritual, a game room, a children’s pool, and a dedicated play area. Concierge services, a travel desk, local shuttle services, and complimentary parking also ensure convenience for travellers.

Each non-smoking guest room includes a private balcony and modern comforts designed to create a peaceful and relaxing retreat for visitors.

“Our goal was to create a sanctuary, a place where guests feel grounded, restored, and connected to the timeless beauty of Udaipur. Whether for a peaceful retreat or a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, Wyndham Garden Udaipur Bhuwana offers an experience that stays with you long after you leave,” said Durgesh Kumawat, Proprietor, Zappy Holidays Resorts, managed by NILE Hospitality.

Developers built the hotel through a partnership between Zappy Holidays Resorts and NILE Hospitality, and the project combines international hospitality standards with strong regional character. At the same time, the property honors Udaipur’s spiritual landscape while delivering world-class service under the Wyndham Advantage.

The opening further strengthens Wyndham’s partnership with NILE Hospitality, which already manages seven hotels across India, including Ramada Encore Udaipur and Ramada by Wyndham Ranchi.

Looking ahead, Wyndham and NILE Hospitality plan to expand their collaboration across the region. The companies are also working under an exclusive development agreement to introduce Microtel by Wyndham to India, with plans to launch 40 Microtel properties across the country by 2031.

FMCG startup Peping raises ₹2.5-Cr to boost distribution and product innovation

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Chirag Maheshwari and Prateek Maheshwari, co-Founders, Peping

Indian FMCG startup Peping has secured ₹2.5 crore in a funding round led by IAN Angel Fund, the evergreen investment fund of Indian Angel Network, while several angel investors also participated in the round.

The company plans to utilize the newly raised capital to accelerate distribution growth, strengthen supply chain operations, increase brand-building initiatives, and introduce new beverage flavours to the market.

Entrepreneurs Chirag Maheshwari and Prateek Maheshwari founded Peping with the goal of creating functional beverages designed for modern Indian consumers. The startup develops low-calorie prebiotic fizzy drinks and probiotic digestive shots that consumers can incorporate into their daily routines.

Unlike niche kombucha brands, probiotic beverages designed primarily for children, or clinical probiotic capsules, Peping focuses on delivering beverages that combine taste, affordability, and shelf stability while aligning with Indian flavour preferences.

Moreover, the company offers a dual product format that includes functional sodas for regular consumption and digestive health shots for targeted gut support. Consequently, this approach allows the brand to cater to multiple consumption occasions while also addressing growing consumer awareness around gut health and functional nutrition.

Currently, Peping distributes its products through several quick-commerce and online grocery platforms, including Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, BigBasket, First Club, Namdhari’s, and Ratnadeep. In addition, the brand has expanded its retail presence to more than 200 outlets across Bengaluru.

Furthermore, the startup has also entered alternative distribution channels by partnering with gyms, cafés, and corporate offices through catering collaborations. These partnerships help the company reach health-conscious consumers in everyday lifestyle environments.

At the same time, Peping has invested in building its own production capabilities. The company developed its manufacturing facility using off-the-shelf components, and it has also brought soda canning operations in-house. As a result, this strategy improves profit margins while enabling better control over product quality and supply chain efficiency.

Chirag Maheshwari, Co-founder, Peping, said, “We are thrilled to welcome IAN Group on board alongside key co-investors Signal Ventures, Eleven Eleven, and other angels. Beyond sharing our excitement for Peping’s vision, they bring invaluable strategic expertise to accelerate our distribution expansion and strengthen brand presence.”

Peping’s latest funding round highlights growing investor interest in India’s functional beverage market, particularly as consumers increasingly prioritize gut health, low-calorie drinks, and convenient nutrition. By combining prebiotic sodas with probiotic digestive shots, the startup aims to create a scalable product category tailored to Indian tastes and lifestyles.

Bengaluru startup AquaAirX launches AVATAAR, India’s first air-and-underwater amphibious drone

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Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup AquaAirX has introduced what it describes as India’s first amphibious drone capable of functioning both in the air and underwater. This technological advancement could significantly transform maritime surveillance, defence missions, and offshore industrial inspections across the country.

Moreover, the platform represents an important milestone not only for the company but also for India’s broader ambition to develop indigenous advanced robotics and autonomous technologies.

At the center of AquaAirX’s innovation lies an amphibious drone platform that transitions smoothly between aerial flight and underwater operations. Unlike traditional drones that operate exclusively in the air or underwater robots that remain submerged, the system combines both capabilities within a single platform.

Consequently, the drone can take off like a conventional aerial vehicle, dive into water during a mission, execute underwater tasks, and then resurface to continue flying. The company’s flagship platform, AVATAAR, supports complex maritime missions that require intelligence and operational capability across both aerial and underwater environments.

Furthermore, this hybrid capability significantly improves operational efficiency in sectors where separate systems usually handle aerial monitoring and underwater exploration.

As a result, the technology offers potential applications across several critical sectors. These include maritime and coastal surveillance, defence and naval reconnaissance, offshore infrastructure inspections, environmental monitoring and ocean research, as well as disaster response and search-and-rescue operations.

By integrating aerial and underwater capabilities into a single autonomous vehicle, the platform reduces deployment costs while simplifying operational complexity. At the same time, it delivers real-time situational awareness in challenging and dynamic maritime environments.

The founders launched AquaAirX in 2024. Aeronautical engineers Gouthami T. S. and Jitendra Kumar Purnmal Saini established the startup after sharing a common interest in robotics, aerospace engineering, and autonomous technologies.

During their engineering journey, the founders began studying the limitations of existing maritime technologies. They discovered a significant operational gap because aerial drones could observe oceans from above, while underwater vehicles could explore beneath the surface, yet no single system could efficiently perform both functions.

Therefore, the founders decided to design prototypes that could transition smoothly between air and water environments. Over time, the concept evolved from a research idea into a full-scale deep-tech startup focused on developing AI-powered amphibious drones and underwater robotics systems.

Through this initiative, the company aims to help industries, governments, and research institutions explore and monitor ocean ecosystems using intelligent autonomous technologies.

Despite its recent launch, AquaAirX has already achieved notable technological progress. The company’s amphibious drone platform has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, which indicates that the system has successfully demonstrated its capabilities in relevant operational environments and is approaching real-world deployment.

Meanwhile, the startup has also attracted strong investor interest. Recently, AquaAirX secured ₹12.5 crore in seed funding with the round led by Rainmatter, the investment initiative backed by Zerodha.

Additionally, investors including Prime Venture Partners, Wyser, and India Accelerator also participated in the funding round.

The company will use the newly raised capital to enhance drone autonomy, strengthen underwater communication systems, and expand its engineering and research teams.

Beyond product development, AquaAirX has also gained exposure through international startup ecosystems and innovation programs. The startup has collaborated with accelerator platforms such as NSRCEL and has participated in global initiatives including Israel Aerospace Industries’ NeuSPHERE program, which supports deep-tech ventures through mentorship and industry partnerships.

As global interest in maritime security and ocean exploration continues to grow, technologies capable of delivering intelligence across both air and water domains are becoming increasingly valuable.

For India, which has a vast coastline and expanding blue economy ambitions, such innovations could strengthen coastal defence, enhance port monitoring, and improve management of offshore energy infrastructure.

Looking ahead, AquaAirX plans to advance its amphibious drone platform through large-scale field trials and eventual commercial deployment.

The company also intends to collaborate with defence agencies, maritime authorities, and industrial partners in order to integrate its technology into real-world operational missions.

With continued research, strategic partnerships, and sustained funding, AquaAirX aims to position itself as a global leader in the emerging field of amphibious robotics and ocean intelligence systems.

For a startup founded recently, the launch of India’s first amphibious drone highlights both strong technological ambition and the rapid evolution of India’s deep-tech innovation ecosystem.

If AquaAirX successfully scales its technology platform, Indian-built autonomous systems could soon operate seamlessly across both skies and oceans, thereby opening new frontiers in maritime intelligence and robotics.

Jaipur-based Fine Acers Group plans expansion strategy in India’s luxury hospitality sector

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Dinesh Yadav, Founder and Managing Director, Fine Acers

Jaipur-based Fine Acers Group is accelerating its expansion strategy in India’s luxury hospitality sector as it plans to launch five new properties across major tourist destinations over the next three years. The hospitality developer currently operates resorts in Jaipur, Pushkar, and Goa, and it is now strengthening collaborations with international hotel brands to capture rising demand for premium leisure stays and destination weddings.

The company is also expanding its strategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as it aims to capitalize on the rapid growth of India’s upscale hospitality market. This collaboration aligns with the increasing demand for luxury resort experiences and high-end wedding destinations across the country.

Dinesh Yadav, founder and managing director of Fine Acers, said, “Currently, we have an operational inventory of 200 rooms spread across three properties. In the next three years, we will be adding 700 keys spanning across five properties located in tourist destinations like Jaipur, Jawai, Udaipur, Pushkar, and Coorg.”

At the same time, the company is also developing seven additional hospitality projects with a total capacity of 1,500 rooms. For these developments, the group has signed franchise agreements with several global hotel brands to strengthen its international hospitality portfolio.

As part of its expansion strategy, Fine Acers recently announced the signing of two Dolce by Wyndham resorts in Goa and Udaipur. This move marks the debut of the Dolce by Wyndham brand in India. The resorts are scheduled to open by 2030, and they highlight Wyndham’s strategy to expand its upscale hospitality presence in the country while supporting Fine Acers’ vision of building landmark properties in high-demand destinations.

Meanwhile, beyond its growing development pipeline, Fine Acers has also built a distinctive investment model within the hospitality sector. The company uses a sale-and-leaseback structure that allows investors to participate directly in hotel ownership while the company continues to operate the properties.

Under this model, Fine Acers sells nearly 70 percent of a property’s inventory to investors and then leases the units back for hotel operations. As a result, investors receive annual returns of around seven percent while the company manages the property professionally.

“Investors also enjoy lifestyle privileges such as 25 complimentary nights a year and one wedding event,” said Yadav.

Additionally, the investment model is gaining strong traction among high-net-worth individuals and non-resident Indians who want exposure to India’s fast-growing hospitality market without handling the complexities of hotel operations.

Yadav further highlighted the sector’s strong growth outlook. “With India’s tourism and hospitality sector projected to reach $60 billion by 2028, the combination of steady returns and lifestyle benefits is proving attractive to investors seeking both financial and experiential value,” added Yadav.

He said, “Our collaboration with Wyndham reflects premium leisure and wedding markets and reinforces our commitment to developing iconic assets.”

Fine Acers Group is positioning itself as a fast-growing player in India’s luxury hospitality landscape. By expanding its resort portfolio, strengthening partnerships with global hotel brands, and introducing innovative investment models, the company is aligning its strategy with the country’s booming tourism industry. As demand for luxury travel and destination weddings continues to grow, Fine Acers aims to develop landmark hospitality assets across India’s most sought-after destinations.

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