DS Group and Marriott International join hands to bring W Hotels to Delhi NCR

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June 17, 2026

W Hotels, Marriott International’s lifestyle luxury brand, is looking forward to transform Delhi NCR’s luxury hospitality market as it prepares to enter the region. Strengthening its hospitality portfolio, DS Group, a leading FMCG conglomerate and diversified business corporation, has partnered with Marriott International to develop a new W Hotels property in Delhi NCR.

The upcoming luxury hotel, scheduled to open in the second half of 2027, will involve an investment of approximately Rs 400 crore and feature 200 premium guestrooms. The property will occupy a strategic location near Indira Gandhi International Airport and Aerocity, one of the most prominent hospitality and commercial hubs in Delhi NCR. The location will enable the hotel to cater to growing demand from both business and leisure travellers.

The project marks a significant milestone for India’s hospitality industry as it introduces the W Hotels brand to Delhi NCR for the first time. It will also become only the second W Hotels property in India after Goa. As a result, the development will add a fresh lifestyle-driven luxury hospitality offering to a market traditionally dominated by conventional luxury hotel brands.

Globally, W Hotels has established a strong presence across major international destinations, including London, New York, Dubai, and Singapore. The Delhi NCR property will combine the brand’s signature design-led philosophy, vibrant social experiences, and service excellence with elements inspired by local culture and heritage.

The hotel aims to attract a new generation of luxury travellers who seek immersive experiences, creative environments, and personalised hospitality. Furthermore, the project reflects the growing preference for lifestyle-focused hotels among younger, experience-driven consumers and affluent travellers.

W Hotels Delhi NCR will leverage its prime location, globally recognised brand identity, and substantial investment commitment to position itself as a landmark destination in the region’s evolving luxury hospitality landscape.

Highlighting the opportunity within India’s rapidly expanding hospitality sector, Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, DS Group, said, “The Indian hospitality sector is currently witnessing an unprecedented growth trajectory, fueled by a robust surge in domestic travel and a significant demand-supply mismatch in the premium segment. With approximately 0.27 hotel keys per 1,000 people compared to the global average of 2.2, India’s hotel penetration rate is roughly one-tenth of the global standard. As marquee global players are rapidly expanding their footprints across the Indian landscape, New Delhi remains the indispensable gateway to the high-value diplomatic and corporate echelons that ultimately establish a brand’s equity and authority in the subcontinent. The launch of Marriott International’s W Hotels brand reinforces our continued commitment to the hospitality business and marks a significant milestone in DS Group’s growth strategy, aligned with our long-term vision of providing unparalleled experiences to our guests.”

Kumar further revealed that DS Group is pursuing an aggressive hospitality expansion strategy. The company plans to double its existing room inventory by 2029 and invest Rs 1,000 crore over the coming years. The expansion will primarily focus on luxury and midscale hospitality segments across high-growth Tier I and Tier II cities.

Meanwhile, DS Group currently operates six hospitality assets across key destinations, including Namah Nainital, Namah Jim Corbett, Radisson Blu Guwahati, InterContinental Jaipur, Renaissance Bengaluru, and Holiday Inn Express Kolkata. Furthermore, the company continues to strengthen its presence in India’s hospitality sector through strategic investments and partnerships across premium and luxury hotel segments.

Discussing the strategic importance of the project, Nathan Andrews, Business Head, Hospitality, DS Group, said, “This project is a significant step for the DS Group as we expand our hospitality footprint with a target of 10–12 hotels by FY29. By bringing the iconic W Hotels brand to Delhi NCR, we are setting a new benchmark for design-led luxury projects in one of India’s most competitive markets. The Aerocity area continues to demonstrate exceptional demand and RevPAR growth, making it the ideal location for a globally recognised brand that combines unmatched connectivity with long-term value for Delhi NCR. This partnership underscores our commitment to shaping the future of Indian hospitality by delivering curated, high-impact experiences for the modern global traveller.”

Speaking on the significance of the agreement, Kiran Andicot, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International, said, “The signing of our first W Hotels in Delhi NCR is set to introduce a bold new expression of luxury to this dynamic, high-energy market. We are delighted to collaborate with the Dharampal Satyapal Group, whose legacy of excellence and forward-looking approach to premium, experience-led hospitality aligns seamlessly with Marriott International’s commitment to delivering differentiated, high-quality hospitality experiences, grounded in strong partnerships and a shared vision for long-term value creation.”

The addition of W Hotels further reinforces DS Group’s commitment to expanding its footprint in India’s luxury hospitality sector. Known for its bold design philosophy, contemporary luxury experiences, and strong focus on self-expression, W Hotels brings a distinctive lifestyle hospitality concept centered on creativity, connection, and immersive guest experiences.

AI Robotics startup Genesis AI plans commercial rollout of Eno by 2026

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June 17, 2026

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Genesis AI, the French robotics startup backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, has unveiled its first general-purpose robot, Eno, marking a significant step in the evolution of artificial intelligence beyond chatbots and software applications into physical machines.

Unlike many robots currently under development by leading manufacturers, Eno does not follow a humanoid design. Instead, the robot features a wheeled base, a foldable tower structure and hands designed to match the form and functionality of human hands. The company has focused on enhancing human capabilities rather than replicating human appearance.

The launch comes as advances in artificial intelligence continue to accelerate growth in the global robotics market. While businesses increasingly explore automation opportunities across industries, experts continue to debate the impact of robotics on employment. At the same time, developers still face technical challenges related to processing power, battery life and operational efficiency.

Founded in early 2025, Genesis AI has already secured $105 million (€90.6 million) in funding, making it one of the largest seed rounds in France. The funding matches the record seed round raised by Mistral AI, Europe’s leading artificial intelligence company. However, the startup has not disclosed its valuation.

Eno operates on Genesis AI’s proprietary artificial intelligence model. Rather than imitating human form, the company has designed the robot to extend human capabilities and improve productivity across a wide range of applications.

Genesis AI plans to begin production and targeted customer deployments by the end of 2026. Initially, the company will focus on logistics and manufacturing customers before expanding into hospitality, healthcare, and consumer markets.

In a statement, Schmidt said the robot’s breakthrough will not replace human expertise, but rather “amplify it” to unlock what he called “one of the largest economic opportunities of the AI era.”

The company has already built dozens of Eno units and plans to significantly scale production during the second half of 2026. Vivian Sun, Vice President of Commercial and Strategy at Genesis AI, said that the company selected a wheeled base because most industrial customers operate in environments with flat floors.

Sun explained that legged robots make sense only for specific use cases such as navigating stairs. She added, “We are mimicking humans in capabilities, not in form. Humans can go up and down, and so does the robot, but through this foldable design.”

As artificial intelligence and robotics continue to converge, Genesis AI aims to position Eno as a practical, scalable solution for industrial and commercial environments. By prioritising functionality, mobility, and AI-powered performance over humanoid aesthetics, the company seeks to address real-world business needs while accelerating the adoption of next-generation robotics technology.

Creator-Tech startup Influish secures angel investment, targets Rs 100-Cr ARR by 2027

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June 17, 2026

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Creator-Tech startup Influish secures angel investment, targets Rs 100-Cr ARR by 2027 — (L-R) Shivani Rajora, Sankalp Nag and Tushar Jain, co-founders, Influish

Influish, a rapidly growing creator economy platform that connects content creators with brands, has raised a pre-seed funding round at a valuation of Rs 25 crore. Angel investors, including Pankaj Vermani, cofounder of lingerie brand Clovia, along with Jeetendra Tewani and Sachin Harneja, backed the investment.

The startup has developed a comprehensive platform that helps content creators expand their audience, secure brand partnerships, and efficiently manage their businesses. Since its launch in April, Influish has introduced several tools, including Instagram automation powered by official Meta APIs, verified performance analytics, educational resources, and structured workflows for brand collaborations.

College dropouts Sankalp Nag, Tushar Jain, and Shivani Rajora founded Influish with a vision to simplify creator growth and monetisation. The startup currently operates under the CoFounder Circle Accelerator, a venture-building platform founded by serial entrepreneur Darpan Sanghvi.

According to Nag, viral content and agency-driven funnels significantly contributed to the platform’s rapid growth, driving users from social media reels to app downloads.

“Creators connect their Instagram through our official Meta API, access free learning content and automations on day one, and unlock brand collaborations and premium tools on our paid tier. We’re working on invoice generation, an agency dashboard with escrow payments, automated contracts, and live verified metrics,” Nag told.

The company reported profitability before completing the funding round. Moreover, Influish stated that it has achieved approximately 50% month-on-month revenue growth through a zero customer acquisition cost (CAC) model. The platform has also surpassed 10 lakh creators since its launch.

Influish plans to deploy the newly raised capital toward expanding product capabilities, strengthening its AI-powered creator tools, and developing dedicated dashboards for brands and agencies. Furthermore, the startup aims to achieve Rs 100 crore in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by December 2027.

The platform currently follows a subscription-based business model. Users initially pay an annual entry fee, which later transitions into a monthly subscription plan.

Highlighting a key challenge within the creator ecosystem, Nag said, “The creator economy has a fake metrics problem, and agencies know how to game it—paid boosts, inflated engagement, numbers that look great on a deck but don’t convert. We use official Meta APIs and profile analysis to validate every creator on the platform, so the data you see is real.”

The funding round arrives at a time when India’s creator economy continues to witness strong momentum. As brands increasingly allocate marketing budgets toward influencer campaigns and creator-led content, platforms such as Influish are positioning themselves to deliver transparency, verified analytics, creator monetisation opportunities, influencer marketing solutions, and scalable brand collaboration infrastructure for the next phase of digital growth.

Fintech wearable startup SEVEN launches 7 Ring Air to democratize wearable payments

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June 16, 2026

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Fintech company SEVEN announced the commercial launch of its contactless payment ring, 7 Ring Air, on April 19. Priced at ₹1,477, the wearable payment device has generated stronger-than-expected demand since its launch and is now available for purchase.

SEVEN designed 7 Ring Air to make everyday transactions seamless, instant, and virtually invisible. The ring enables users to make secure tap-to-pay transactions without requiring a smartphone, wallet, battery, or internet connection, offering a frictionless payment experience in daily life.

The company specifically developed the product for situations where speed and convenience matter most. The ring has gained particular attention for metro travel payments, allowing commuters to pass through ticketing gates quickly and efficiently without interrupting their movement. In addition, users can make payments effortlessly at cafés, restaurants, fuel stations, and retail stores.

“7 Ring Air is designed to democratize wearable payments, making this cutting-edge fintech technology affordable, accessible, and truly mass-market for everyday users, not just early adopters,” said Vijay Khubchandani, co-founder & CEO of SEVEN. “7 Ring Air can also be used for metro travel payments, where users are now literally gliding through the gates and enjoying the seamless experience of using a smart ring for metro ticketing.”

The product’s early success has been driven by a combination of customer orders, organic social media content, and user-generated experiences that highlight convenience rather than technical specifications. Consumers have shared stories emphasizing how the ring simplifies everyday activities by eliminating payment-related interruptions.

Many users describe experiences such as walking through metro gates without breaking stride, completing café and restaurant transactions without reaching for a phone or wallet, and making purchases without consciously thinking about the payment process itself.

SEVEN believes the product’s affordability has played a key role in driving adoption among a wider audience. Rather than positioning the device as a premium gadget, the company has focused on making wearable payment technology practical and accessible for everyday consumers.

“Price was never an afterthought — it was how to make this invisible convenience part of everyday life,” added Vijay Khubchandani. “At Rs 1,477, 7 Ring Air is intentionally accessible: not a luxury item, but a practical tool that lets people get on with their day. The launch response tells us people are ready to move on from the way they’ve been paying.”

The growing popularity of contactless payments, wearable technology, and digital transactions continues to create opportunities for innovative payment solutions. By combining convenience, affordability, and ease of use, SEVEN aims to accelerate the adoption of wearable payment technology among mainstream consumers across India.

The launch of 7 Ring Air highlights the increasing demand for faster and more convenient payment solutions in India’s rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem. With its affordable pricing, contactless functionality, and seamless user experience, the smart payment ring has positioned itself as a practical alternative to traditional payment methods. As consumers increasingly embrace wearable technology and frictionless transactions, SEVEN’s 7 Ring Air could play a significant role in shaping the future of everyday payments.

Save Soil, Save Farming: ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ Aims to Promote Sustainable Agriculture

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June 16, 2026

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New Delhi, 16 June 2026: With Indian agriculture facing mounting challenges such as climate change, declining soil fertility, falling groundwater levels, and the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched a nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ (Save Farms Campaign) to promote sustainable and profitable farming practices.

The campaign is centred around the message: “If soil is protected, farming will survive, farmers will prosper, and the nation will thrive.” Agricultural experts underline that soil health is the foundation of agricultural productivity and food security. Continued degradation of soil fertility could lead to lower crop yields, higher cultivation costs, and long-term risks to food production.

As part of the initiative, Indian Potash Limited (IPL) is actively working to raise awareness among farmers about soil health management, balanced nutrient application, and modern agricultural practices. Experts note that while the Green Revolution significantly boosted foodgrain production, the excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has adversely affected soil quality in many regions. Overuse of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash has disrupted nutrient balance, while declining levels of beneficial microorganisms and organic carbon have reduced the soil’s water-holding capacity.

A key focus of the campaign is promoting the use of Soil Health Cards, which provide scientific recommendations on nutrient deficiencies and fertiliser requirements for individual farms. The initiative seeks to encourage balanced fertiliser use, reduce input costs, and preserve soil fertility over the long term.

The campaign also promotes natural and organic farming practices, including the use of farmyard manure, compost, vermicompost, and green manure to improve soil health and sustain productivity. Farmers are being trained in these techniques to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.

Recognising the growing water crisis, the campaign places special emphasis on water conservation through drip and sprinkler irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and water-efficient farming technologies. Farmers are also being educated on seed treatment, balanced nutrient management, modern sowing techniques, crop diversification, and selecting crops suited to local agro-climatic conditions.

In addition, the initiative aims to protect farmers from economic losses caused by counterfeit fertilisers and pesticides by educating them about identifying quality agricultural inputs and ensuring their proper use.

Dr. P.S. Gahlaut, Managing Director of Indian Potash Limited, said that the use of balanced fertilisers, Soil Health Cards, organic manures, and micronutrients can significantly improve soil health. He added that amid ongoing tensions in West Asia and rising global fertiliser prices, the need for soil conservation and balanced nutrient management has become more critical than ever.

RateGain and Duetto join forces to transform hotel revenue management

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June 16, 2026

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RateGain and Duetto join forces to transform hotel revenue management — Bhanu Chopra, Founder and Chairman, RateGain Travel Technologies

RateGain Travel Technologies shares rose 2.85% to ₹847.40 after the company announced a strategic partnership with Duetto, a leading provider of revenue and profit software for the global hospitality industry.

Through the collaboration, RateGain will integrate its AI-powered channel manager with Duetto’s Revenue & Profit Operating System (RP-OS). The integration will enable hoteliers to automate real-time rate updates across multiple distribution channels while leveraging advanced demand forecasting and pricing optimization capabilities.

Additionally, the combined solution will provide granular restriction controls, helping hotels streamline operations, improve revenue management, and respond more effectively to changing market conditions.

As part of the agreement, Duetto has designated RateGain as a Preferred Partner. The company stated that it currently offers the most comprehensive and feature-rich channel manager integration available on Duetto’s platform, a capability that other channel management providers have yet to match.

RateGain’s channel manager enables hotels to manage online distribution across more than 400 demand partners worldwide. Powered by Agentic ARI technology, the platform uses intelligent rate and inventory management logic to prioritize updates based on booking urgency and commercial impact. Consequently, hotels can maximize revenue opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and react more quickly to market fluctuations.

Meanwhile, Duetto’s RP-OS platform helps hotels, casinos, and resorts make data-driven commercial decisions through intelligent pricing, demand forecasting, and profit benchmarking tools. By combining these capabilities, the partnership aims to strengthen hoteliers’ ability to optimize performance across their entire distribution strategy.

Commenting on the collaboration, Alex Zoghlin, CEO of Duetto, said, “By pairing Duetto’s RP-OS with RateGain’s comprehensive channel manager, hotels can drive more direct bookings while engineering for profitability across their entire distribution strategy.”

Bhanu Chopra, founder and managing director of RateGain, said, “This integration marks a significant step forward in the future of hotel distribution. With Agentic ARI, we empower hotels to execute revenue strategies in real time across every channel, without friction. By combining our AI-powered channel manager with Duetto’s RP-OS, we deliver a fully automated, scalable solution that enables hoteliers to optimize revenue across 400+ channels and reach new travelers faster and more profitably.”

The companies emphasized that the partnership reflects their shared commitment to innovation and their vision of providing hotels with smarter, faster, and more dynamic technology solutions to address the evolving demands of the global hospitality sector.

RateGain Travel Technologies operates as a global provider of AI-powered Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions for the travel and hospitality industries. The company processes one of the world’s largest volumes of electronic transactions, pricing data, and travel intent information. As a result, it supports revenue management, distribution, and marketing teams across hotels, airlines, meta-search platforms, package providers, car rental companies, travel management firms, cruise operators, and ferry services.

On the financial front, RateGain reported strong growth for the quarter ended March 2026. Consolidated net profit increased 27.70% year-on-year to ₹69.99 crore, compared with ₹54.81 crore during the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Furthermore, revenue from operations surged 174.48% to ₹715.55 crore from ₹260.69 crore in the same quarter last year, highlighting the company’s expanding market presence and growing demand for its AI-driven hospitality technology solutions.

The partnership between RateGain and Duetto marks a significant advancement in hotel revenue management and distribution technology. By integrating AI-powered channel management with advanced pricing and forecasting tools, the companies aim to help hospitality businesses maximize revenue, improve operational efficiency, and enhance profitability. Coupled with RateGain’s strong financial performance, the collaboration reinforces the company’s position as a leading global provider of AI-driven travel and hospitality solutions.

Interior design startup HomeLane prepares for IPO amid expansion plans across India

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June 16, 2026

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Interior design startup HomeLane prepares for IPO amid expansion plans across India — Srikanth B Iyer & Tanuj Choudhry, co-founders, HomeLane

Home interiors platform HomeLane plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) within the next 12 to 24 months as it pursues expansion into new cities and adjacent home furnishing categories, according to its co-founder and CEO, Srikanth Iyer.

Founded in 2014, HomeLane helps homeowners design and furnish kitchens, bedrooms, and living spaces. The company has attracted investments from Peak XV Partners, Accel, and Pidilite Industries. It competes with established players such as Godrej Interio and Livspace in India’s rapidly growing home interiors market.

The company’s IPO ambitions coincide with strong long-term growth prospects for the Indian interior design industry. According to data from P&S Intelligence, rising disposable incomes, rapid urbanization, and growing inspiration from social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest are expected to drive the market from its 2024 levels to approximately $81.2 billion by 2030.

However, HomeLane is pursuing its public market debut at a time when India’s IPO market has slowed following a two-year boom. Market volatility triggered by the Middle East conflict and continued foreign investor outflows have weighed on investor sentiment.

Despite these challenges, Srikanth Iyer emphasized that market conditions alone will not determine the company’s listing plans.

“We can’t be fully dependent ‌on how markets are behaving on our IPO decision,” Iyer said. “We want to focus internally on getting to month-on-month, quarter-on-quarter profitability. If we do that, we believe ⁠we will be able to list in any market.”

HomeLane plans to utilize IPO proceeds to strengthen its presence across India while expanding into adjacent categories. The company intends to enter segments such as kitchen appliances, including chimneys and hobs, as well as soft furnishings. It may achieve this expansion either by developing products internally or through strategic acquisitions.

Additionally, the Bengaluru-based company is increasing its focus on artificial intelligence. After acquiring rival Design Cafe in 2024, HomeLane accelerated its technology investments to improve operational efficiency and customer experience.

The company reported that AI has already transformed its design process by enabling employees to create design options within minutes instead of days. Consequently, HomeLane has reduced design costs by nearly 25% and lowered overall operating costs by approximately 1.5% to 2%.

According to business intelligence platform Tracxn, HomeLane carried a valuation of ₹27.60 billion ($291.79 million) as of September 2025. Looking ahead, the company expects to achieve profitability and generate revenue of ₹10 billion during the current fiscal year before targeting approximately ₹30 billion in revenue by fiscal 2031.

Financial performance has also shown steady improvement. Tracxn data revealed that HomeLane’s revenue increased 22% year-over-year to ₹7.56 billion in fiscal 2025. Meanwhile, the company reduced its net loss to ₹1.11 billion from ₹1.22 billion during the same period.

Although Iyer noted that HomeLane’s fiscal 2026 revenue remained largely flat, the company continues to focus on profitability, expansion, technology adoption, and category diversification as it prepares for its eventual stock market debut.

HomeLane’s planned IPO marks a significant milestone in its growth journey as it seeks to capitalize on India’s booming home interiors market. Through expansion into new cities, entry into complementary product categories, strategic use of AI, and a strong focus on profitability, the company aims to strengthen its market position ahead of its public listing. As consumer demand for personalized home solutions continues to rise, HomeLane appears well-positioned to benefit from the next phase of growth in India’s home improvement and interior design sector.

Qualcomm in talks to acquire AI chip startup Tenstorrent for up to $10 Billion

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June 16, 2026

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Qualcomm is reportedly in discussions to acquire AI chip startup Tenstorrent is in a deal valued between $8 billion and $10 billion, according to a report published, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Following the report, Qualcomm’s shares slipped approximately 1% in extended trading, reflecting investor reaction to the potential transaction.

According to the report, negotiations remain ongoing, and both the valuation and deal structure could still change. Additionally, the discussions could ultimately fail to result in an agreement. The report noted that it remains unclear whether the proposed purchase price would include performance-based milestone payments, a mechanism that acquirers have frequently used in previous semiconductor startup acquisitions.

The potential acquisition aligns with Qualcomm’s broader strategy to diversify beyond its traditional smartphone chip business. As one of the world’s largest suppliers of mobile processors, the company has increasingly focused on expanding its presence in high-growth technology segments, including artificial intelligence, data center processors, and autonomous vehicle chips.

Founded in 2016, Tenstorrent has emerged as a notable player in the AI semiconductor industry. The company develops specialized accelerators designed for training artificial intelligence models and running AI applications, positioning itself within one of the fastest-growing areas of the global technology market.

Tenstorrent operates under the leadership of Jim Keller, a former Apple chip designer who also oversaw Tesla’s efforts to develop chips for autonomous driving systems. Under his leadership, the startup has attracted industry attention for its AI-focused hardware innovations and ambitions to compete in the rapidly evolving AI infrastructure space.

If completed, the acquisition would represent one of the largest deals in the AI chip sector and could significantly strengthen Qualcomm’s position in the race to capitalize on the growing demand for artificial intelligence computing power. Furthermore, the move would accelerate Qualcomm’s efforts to build a stronger foothold in data center and AI infrastructure markets as companies worldwide invest heavily in next-generation AI technologies.

As competition intensifies among semiconductor companies seeking leadership in AI hardware, a potential Tenstorrent acquisition could provide Qualcomm with advanced AI accelerator technology and experienced engineering talent, further enhancing its long-term growth strategy beyond smartphones.

India’s AI ecosystem gets a major lift as Sarvam secures $234 Mn, achieves unicorn status

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June 16, 2026

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India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem received a significant boost as Bengaluru-based AI startup Sarvam announced a fresh funding round of $234 million, raising its valuation to $1.5 billion and making it India’s newest AI unicorn. The development comes at a time when governments and enterprises worldwide are actively investing in domestic AI capabilities instead of depending entirely on overseas technology providers.

HCLTech is leading the funding round with a strategic investment of $150 million. In addition, existing investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, and Peak XV Partners, participated in the round. Sarvam also revealed plans to expand the funding round to a total of $300 million.

The investment marks a major milestone for Sarvam, which has positioned itself among the few Indian startups building an end-to-end artificial intelligence ecosystem. Rather than focusing solely on AI applications, the company develops foundational AI models, computing infrastructure, and enterprise software solutions. Furthermore, the strategic partnership with HCLTech is expected to accelerate the adoption of Sarvam’s technology across businesses and government organizations.

As part of the collaboration, Sarvam will integrate its AI models with HCLTech’s engineering capabilities, software assets, and extensive enterprise customer network. Together, the companies aim to deliver advanced AI solutions designed for large-scale deployments across multiple industries.

Over the last two years, Sarvam has strengthened its presence in the AI sector by launching two open-source AI models powered by 30-billion and 105-billion parameters. Consequently, the company has emerged as a strong contender in India’s rapidly growing artificial intelligence market.

Meanwhile, demand for Sarvam’s AI-powered products continues to rise. The company reported that its platforms currently manage more than 2 million daily interactions and process approximately 10 million API requests every day. Additionally, its technology transcribes over 500,000 hours of audio each month, highlighting the scale and growing adoption of its AI solutions.

Beyond these impressive usage metrics, Sarvam has secured several high-impact deployments across sectors. According to the company, its multilingual voice agents supported a government initiative that collected information from 17 million farmers. Similarly, a nationwide insurance campaign utilized the technology to engage with 45 million policyholders. Sarvam also stated that one of its fintech clients has deployed the company’s agentic AI technology across a sales network comprising more than 350,000 personnel.

These large-scale implementations have helped Sarvam evolve beyond the role of a traditional AI model developer. Instead, the company is increasingly focusing on real-world applications in banking, insurance, government services, and other sectors where automation, multilingual communication, and AI-driven efficiency are becoming critical business requirements.

The funding announcement follows another important achievement for the startup. Recently, Sarvam reduced the pricing of its document intelligence platform, Sarvam Vision, by nearly 67 percent after witnessing strong adoption among developers and enterprises. As a result, the platform has gained significant traction across industries.

The company revealed that organizations now digitize more than 35 million pages through Sarvam Vision. Moreover, the platform supports all 22 official Indian languages and enables businesses and institutions to process large volumes of documents with greater speed and efficiency.

With fresh capital, growing enterprise adoption, large-scale government deployments, and an expanding portfolio of AI products, Sarvam is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s artificial intelligence revolution. As the country intensifies its focus on building indigenous AI capabilities, the startup’s rise to unicorn status highlights the increasing global relevance of India’s AI innovation ecosystem and its potential to compete on the world stage.

Sarvam’s latest funding round underscores the growing confidence investors have in India’s artificial intelligence sector. By building foundational AI models, enterprise solutions, and multilingual technologies tailored to Indian needs, the company is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s AI infrastructure. As demand for local AI solutions continues to accelerate, Sarvam’s unicorn milestone could serve as a catalyst for the next phase of innovation, investment, and digital transformation across India.

Hospitality brand Saltstayz to expand portfolio with 22 properties this financial year

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June 15, 2026

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Homegrown hospitality company Saltstayz has unveiled ambitious expansion plans to add more than 22 properties during the current financial year, increasing its portfolio to 55 hotels across India. As part of its next growth phase, the company will focus on strengthening its presence in western and southern India while continuing to expand across emerging hospitality markets.

Currently, Saltstayz operates 33 hotels with approximately 1,214 keys in the mid-premium and premium hospitality segments. The Gurugram-based company manages its properties under three brands—Autograph, Select, and Premier—and has established a presence across seven cities in India.

Speaking about the expansion strategy, Saltstayz co-founder Gaurav Gupta said, “We are planning to add another 22 properties this fiscal year, taking the total to 55 hotels this year. Our presence is more in the north, so in our next phase of expansion we will focus more on the south and the west.”

The company follows an asset-light business model that includes lease agreements, revenue-sharing arrangements, and management contracts. This strategy allows Saltstayz to scale rapidly without investing heavily in property ownership. As a result, the company has set an ambitious target of operating 250 hotels across 50 cities with approximately 10,000 to 11,000 keys by FY30.

Furthermore, Gupta emphasized that the company prefers not to own hospitality assets because doing so could slow its growth trajectory. Instead, Saltstayz intends to expand aggressively across both existing markets and new destinations throughout the country.

“We prefer not to own assets because it will slow down our expansion. We want to expand our presence across the country to 50 cities by FY30. This will include both existing cities and new markets. We are also planning to focus on signing properties in religious places; spiritual tourism is the next big thing in India. Basically, we are looking at opportunities in any city that has year-round footfall,” Gupta said.

In addition to geographical expansion, Saltstayz sees significant opportunities in India’s rapidly growing spiritual tourism segment. With increasing domestic travel to religious and pilgrimage destinations, the company plans to sign properties in cities that attract consistent tourist traffic throughout the year.

The expansion is also expected to create substantial employment opportunities. Saltstayz currently employs approximately 670 people and reported revenue of around Rs 1,214 crore in FY26. Looking ahead, the company aims to increase its workforce to between 3,000 and 3,500 employees while targeting revenue of Rs 1,500 crore by FY30.

Notably, Saltstayz has funded its growth entirely through internal resources since its inception. Highlighting the company’s financial approach, Gupta said, “We are totally bootstrapped, funding entirely through our own resources. We have not liquidated any equity in the company as of now, so the expansion is done organically. Till now we have invested Rs 12 crores.”

To support its next phase of expansion, the company plans to invest an additional Rs 18 crore to Rs 20 crore in entering new markets. Thanks to its asset-light operating model, Saltstayz requires relatively limited capital expenditure compared to traditional hotel ownership models.

However, the company also recognizes the need for additional funding to achieve its long-term growth targets. Consequently, Saltstayz is exploring fundraising opportunities that could accelerate its nationwide expansion plans.

Discussing future financing options, Gupta said, “We also realise that to reach the FY30 target, we will require a quick influx of funds. So just to cater to that, we’re also looking to raise some money this year. So far, we have considered mostly debt as a funding option, but I think equity is on the cards as well, though we have not decided on this yet.”

As India’s hospitality sector continues to benefit from rising domestic tourism, business travel, and spiritual tourism, Saltstayz is positioning itself to capture opportunities across multiple travel segments. Through its expansion into new cities, focus on religious destinations, and scalable business model, the company aims to strengthen its position in the country’s growing hotel industry.

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