ELIVAAS Living expands Rajasthan portfolio with new luxury villa launch in Pushkar

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March 10, 2026

ELIVAAS Living has expanded its footprint in Rajasthan by launching ELIVAAS Tuscun Villa in Pushkar. With this addition, the company now operates more than 60 properties across the state, including popular destinations such as Udaipur, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Pushkar, Alwar, and Neemrana. These properties operate under the brands ELIVAAS, ELIVAAS Privé, and Alaya Stays.

The company stated that this expansion reflects its strategy of focusing on experience-driven travel destinations that consistently attract demand for private villas, curated group stays, and destination celebrations. Over the past few years, the brand has steadily expanded across Rajasthan while maintaining strong operational standards across its growing portfolio.

Moreover, each property follows a standardized service framework that includes structured housekeeping processes, responsive guest service systems, strict safety protocols, and periodic quality audits. At the same time, the company provides personalized services tailored to guest preferences and specific travel occasions.

Ritwik Khare, Founder and CEO of ELIVAAS Living, said, “Rajasthan today represents one of our most strategically important regions, with 60+ operational properties across key leisure destinations. Our entry into Pushkar is backed by destination-level demand data rather than sentiment. The town has seen a steady rise in premium leisure travel over the past few years, particularly from Delhi NCR and Jaipur, with a clear shift towards private, high-quality villa stays. As we expand, our standardised operating playbook ensures service consistency across locations, while each villa continues to offer a curated and personalised experience. Beyond accommodation, we deliver end-to-end holiday experiences, from curated activities and local immersion to personalised service, ensuring every stay is seamless and memorable. Our focus remains on building depth within high-intent leisure markets rather than expanding indiscriminately across geographies.”

The newly launched ELIVAAS Tuscun Villa features five bedrooms and offers a pet-friendly environment for guests. Additionally, the villa includes a private swimming pool and a landscaped lawn, which enhance the overall luxury stay experience. The property also sits close to Pushkar’s temples and lakes, thereby allowing visitors to easily explore the destination’s cultural and spiritual attractions.

With the launch of Tuscun Villa in Pushkar, the company not only increases its Rajasthan portfolio but also reinforces its focus on curated travel experiences, personalized hospitality, and high-quality private villa stays for modern travelers.

Aquaculture startup AquaExchange secures Rs 72-Cr funding to scale shrimp farming tech

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March 10, 2026

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Aquaculture startup AquaExchange secures Rs 72-Cr funding to scale shrimp farming tech — Pavan Kosaraju, Hemasundar Dhavili, Kareem Mohammod, and Kiran Bandi, co-founders, AquaExchange

AquaExchange, an aquaculture technology startup, has raised $8 million (approximately Rs 72 crore) in its Series B funding round. Endiya Partners and Factor Analytics co-led the investment round, while Accion Ventures also participated with support from Ocean 14 Capital.

According to filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), the company’s board approved a resolution to issue 67,324 Series B Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) and 20 equity shares. The company priced the shares at Rs 1,068.38 each and consequently raised around Rs 72 crore through the round.

The filings further revealed that Endiya Partners and Factor Analytics each invested Rs 30 crore in the funding round. Meanwhile, Accion Ventures invested Rs 12 crore as part of the overall capital infusion.

Following the latest funding round, AquaExchange’s valuation increased by nearly 74% and reached Rs 372 crore (approximately $41 million). Previously, the company recorded a valuation of Rs 214 crore during its Series A funding round in January 2024.

The company plans to deploy the fresh capital to expand its international technology business. Additionally, it will focus on increasing its domestic market share and strengthening its position across the aquaculture value chain.

After the allotment of shares in the Series B round, Endiya Partners and Factor Analytics each hold an 8.06% stake in the company. Meanwhile, Accion Ventures now holds a 9.68% stake in the aquaculture technology firm.

Entrepreneurs Pavan Kosaraju, Hemasundar Dhavili, Kareem Mohammod, and Kiran Bandi founded AquaExchange to empower aquaculture farmers through advanced technology solutions. The company enables farmers to improve crop yields, reduce farming risks, and manage rising input costs more efficiently.

Furthermore, AquaExchange offers a portfolio of technology-driven products, including PowerMon, a power management device designed for aquaculture operations, and AquaBot, an automated feed management system that improves feeding efficiency. In addition, the company helps farmers access formal crop loans and working capital through partnerships with financial institutions.

The startup states that it has become the first aquaculture technology firm in India to automate more than 25% of the country’s shrimp farming acreage. Currently, its platform monitors more than 80,000 acres of aquaculture farms worldwide. The company operates across five Indian states and also serves international markets such as Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, and Madagascar.

Financially, the company has reported strong revenue growth. Its operating revenue increased 2.3 times to Rs 240.51 crore in FY25 compared with Rs 104.88 crore in FY24. However, its losses also rose to Rs 12.71 crore from Rs 9.35 crore during the same period. Nevertheless, the company expects to achieve EBITDA profitability within the current financial year.

AquaExchange’s latest funding round highlights growing investor interest in aquaculture technology and sustainable food production solutions. By expanding its technology-driven farming solutions across global markets, the company aims to transform shrimp farming efficiency while supporting farmers with data-driven tools and financial access. As the aquaculture sector increasingly adopts automation and analytics, AquaExchange is positioning itself as a key technology enabler in the global seafood supply chain.

Reliance Retail acquires Pahadi Local to strengthen its beauty and personal care portfolio

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March 10, 2026

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Reliance Retail Limited has acquired the brand and business of Pahadi Local from Pahadi Goodness Private Limited, thereby strengthening its position in the rapidly growing beauty and personal care segment. The company confirmed the development through a media release and highlighted its strategy to expand its wellness and beauty offerings.

Pahadi Local operates as a Himalayan-inspired beauty and wellness brand that focuses on nature-led personal care products. The company draws inspiration from traditional Himalayan wellness practices while developing products based on natural ingredients. Following the acquisition, Reliance Retail will integrate the brand into its extensive retail ecosystem and scale it through its omnichannel network.

Isha Ambani, executive director at Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition. “With Pahadi Local’s roots in Himalayan wellness traditions and responsible sourcing, it is a strong addition to our beauty portfolio,” said Isha Ambani, executive director at Reliance Retail Ventures Limited.

The brand originally built its identity around products that incorporate Himalayan ingredients. Moreover, Pahadi Local collaborates with women-led self-help groups across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh to source raw materials responsibly. As a result, the company supports local communities while promoting sustainable sourcing practices. Its product portfolio currently includes several skincare items, including formulations that feature apricot kernel oil.

After completing the acquisition, the founding team of Pahadi Local will remain actively involved in guiding the brand’s creative direction and product development. Consequently, Reliance Retail aims to preserve the brand’s original identity while accelerating its growth.

Reliance Retail’s acquisition of Pahadi Local reflects its continued focus on expanding in the beauty and wellness segment while promoting brands rooted in natural and sustainable ingredients. By integrating the Himalayan-inspired brand into its omnichannel ecosystem, Reliance Retail aims to scale Pahadi Local nationwide and strengthen its position in India’s fast-growing personal care market.

Deeptech startup Newtrace secures $6.3M in funding to advance green hydrogen electrolyzer innovation

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March 10, 2026

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Deeptech startup Newtrace secures $6.3M in funding to advance green hydrogen electrolyzer innovation — Prasanta Sarkar and Rochan Sinha, co-founders, Newtrace

Newtrace, a deeptech startup focused on hydrogen innovation, has secured Rs 56.93 crore (approximately $6.3 million) in a Pre-Series A funding round. HDFC Bank and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital led the round, while investors such as Peak XV Partners’ Surge, Aavishkaar Capital, Speciale Invest, Micelio Technology Fund, and angel investors Manish Prataprai Gandhi and Renu Manish Gandhi also participated.

Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Bengaluru, the company focuses on developing advanced technologies for the green hydrogen sector. Specifically, Newtrace has created Voltagen, a proprietary advanced electrode technology designed for alkaline water electrolyzers. The technology significantly improves energy efficiency, extends the operational lifetime of systems, and reduces the total cost of hydrogen production.

Moreover, Voltagen works as a drop-in replacement for existing electrodes. Therefore, electrolyzer manufacturers and hydrogen producers can upgrade system performance without redesigning their current infrastructure. In addition, the company has commercialized membraneless electrolyzer technology as part of its broader innovation platform.

Entrepreneurs Prasanta Sarkar and Rochan Sinha founded Newtrace, and both founders bring deep expertise in electrochemistry, materials science, and industrial-scale technology development. Furthermore, the company operates from a 30,000-square-foot technology center in Bengaluru, where a multidisciplinary team of more than 45 engineers and scientists drives research and development.

The startup also continues to strengthen its intellectual property portfolio through multiple patent applications. At the same time, it has gained recognition under the National Green Hydrogen Mission in India. Additionally, the company presented its technology to global audiences, including a showcase before Narendra Modi during National Startup Day 2026.

“Green hydrogen’s cost problem is fundamentally a materials and manufacturing challenge,” said Prasanta Sarkar, CEO and Co-Founder of Newtrace. “Voltagen represents a new materials foundation that enables the efficiency and durability required to make green hydrogen cost-competitive. This funding allows us to transition from proving the science to scaling manufacturing.”

Meanwhile, the company continues to focus on translating its technological innovations into large-scale industrial solutions. “We built Newtrace to address the most critical and underinvested component of the electrolyzer stack,” said Rochan Sinha, CTO and Co-Founder of Newtrace. “Our focus now is on translating our technology into reliable, scalable manufacturing that can serve the global hydrogen economy.”

The company plans to use the newly raised capital to expand its manufacturing and engineering capabilities. Additionally, the funding will support pilot-scale manufacturing, customer validation programs, and supply agreements with industry partners. Consequently, Newtrace expects to begin initial commercial deliveries of Voltagen electrodes within the next 12 months.

Newtrace’s latest funding round highlights growing investor confidence in deeptech innovations aimed at accelerating the green hydrogen economy. By advancing electrode technology that improves efficiency and lowers production costs, the company positions itself as a key enabler of scalable hydrogen infrastructure. As demand for sustainable energy solutions rises globally, Newtrace’s Voltagen technology could play a crucial role in making green hydrogen commercially viable.

PayU teams up with GoKwik to boost conversion and payment success for India’s D2C brands

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March 10, 2026

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PayU teams up with GoKwik to boost conversion and payment success for India’s D2C brands — Chirag Taneja, CEO - GoKwik

PayU, one of India’s leading digital payments and financial services providers, has partnered with GoKwik, a category leader in checkout optimization and conversion solutions for direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. Together, the companies have introduced India’s first Integrated Conversion-to-Completion stack. This strategic collaboration aims to tackle a major challenge in the D2C ecosystem: revenue loss caused by checkout abandonment, payment failures, and inefficiencies during the final stage of online purchases.

As India’s D2C sector continues to mature, merchants increasingly demand dependable end-to-end infrastructure. Therefore, the new partnership introduces an integrated commerce layer that combines GoKwik’s conversion intelligence with PayU’s robust and scalable payments infrastructure. As a result, D2C brands can move beyond fragmented tools and address checkout and payment challenges at scale.

Vineet Sethi, Chief Growth and Marketing Officer at PayU, emphasized the growing demand for unified commerce solutions. “Across the D2C ecosystem, the demand from founders is clear: they need integrated solutions that solve for payment reliability and checkout conversion in one cohesive layer. This isn’t a hypothetical challenge; it’s a measurable drain on potential revenue,” said Vineet Sethi, Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, PayU. The coming together of PayU’s deep payments expertise and GoKwik’s category-leading conversion intelligence is a direct response to this merchant need. It’s about creating the kind of continuous, high-success experience that is non-negotiable for any brand aiming to move from early traction to major scale.”

Meanwhile, Chirag Taneja, CEO of GoKwik, highlighted the strategic value of the collaboration. “GoKwik has set the industry standard for D2C conversion and checkout optimization. Our partnership with PayU is a strategic and natural evolution of that commitment,” said Chirag Taneja, CEO of GoKwik. “By tightly integrating our intelligence with PayU’s robust payments infrastructure, we are extending the impact of our platform to ensure a seamless, high-success-rate payments experience. This is about delivering the final, critical piece of the puzzle, enabling our merchants to unlock the next level of growth with total confidence and zero friction.”

The partnership already shows measurable results for brands using the integrated solution. For instance, Ganesh Sonawane, founder of Frido, shared early outcomes from adopting the stack. “I’m incredibly excited about this partnership in action. With GoKwik and PayU both now a seamless part of our commerce journey, the difference has been immediate and quantifiable,” says Ganesh Sonawane, Founder – Frido. “GoKwik’s conversion intelligence gets customers ready, and PayU’s reliability ensures they complete the transaction without friction. Since integrating this stack, we have seen an encouraging conversion lift and a massive boost in transaction success rates. This is the integrated solution the D2C market needed to move from great growth to sustainable scale.”

Furthermore, this collaboration signals a major shift for D2C merchants away from fragmented point solutions. Instead, the integrated stack delivers a unified commerce experience that significantly reduces checkout-to-payment drop-offs and improves transaction success rates. Consequently, brands can redirect their focus from operational challenges to accelerating growth.

At the same time, the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment by PayU and GoKwik to strengthen India’s rapidly expanding D2C ecosystem. The sector continues to drive digital innovation, employment opportunities, and e-commerce adoption across the country. By developing solutions tailored specifically for the operational realities of D2C commerce, both companies aim to empower the next generation of digital-first Indian brands.

The strategic alliance between PayU and GoKwik marks a significant milestone in India’s D2C commerce infrastructure. By integrating checkout optimization with reliable payment processing, the new Conversion-to-Completion stack directly addresses one of the biggest revenue leaks faced by online brands. As D2C companies scale aggressively, such integrated technology solutions will play a crucial role in improving conversion rates, reducing transaction failures, and enabling sustainable long-term growth.

Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal in talks to invest $1 Million in space drone startup Kalam Labs

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March 9, 2026

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Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal in talks to invest $1 Million in space drone startup Kalam Labs — Harshit Awasthi, Sashakt Tripathi and Ahmad Faraaz, co-founders, Kalam Labs

Deepinder Goyal, founder of Zomato, is reportedly in advanced discussions to invest around $1 million (approximately Rs 9 crore) in space technology startup Kalam Labs, according to people familiar with the matter.

The proposed investment will form part of a broader funding round worth $5–7 million. In addition, other investors such as Globaz Technologies are expected to participate in the round, sources indicated.

Based in Lucknow, Kalam Labs focuses on developing near-space drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that can operate in the stratosphere. These drones can fly significantly higher than most conventional drone systems currently in operation.

The startup began its journey in 2018 and operates under the leadership of founders Harshit Awasthi, Sashakt Tripathi, and Ahmad Faraaz. All three founders graduated from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, around 2022.

Initially, Kalam Labs launched as an edutainment platform that streamed live science classes for children. However, the company later pivoted toward developing advanced drones capable of operating at near-space altitudes while maintaining minimal thermal signatures.

According to the founders, these characteristics allow the drones to remain difficult for radar systems to detect or intercept.

The founders also explained that the company builds its aerial vehicles at a cost similar to standard drone manufacturing. However, they claim the drones deliver capabilities closer to those of mini fighter jets. The founders presented this concept while pitching the startup on the television reality show Shark Tank India, where Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, invested in the company.

Kalam Labs also gained public visibility through its involvement in the Indian film Fighter, which featured actors Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. Furthermore, the startup counts venture investors such as Lightspeed and Y Combinator among its backers.

Investor interest in drone technology startups has grown significantly in India over the past year, particularly following Operation Sindoor. Drones increasingly play a critical role in modern warfare and defence applications, which has accelerated investment in the sector.

The potential Kalam Labs investment would represent one of Goyal’s smaller bets in the startup ecosystem. Nevertheless, the move highlights his growing interest in frontier technologies and deeptech ventures.

Recently, Goyal has invested in several advanced technology initiatives, including space technology startup Pixxel, wearable technology company Temple, aviation venture LAT Aerospace, and Continue, a longevity-focused research initiative.

Reports previously indicated that Goyal was also in discussions to invest $25–30 million (approximately Rs 220–270 crore) of his personal wealth into Pixxel.

Separately, Temple recently raised $54 million (around Rs 490 crore) from investors, including Steadview Capital, Vy Capital, Peak XV Partners, and Info Edge.

Earlier this year, while announcing his decision to step down as chief executive officer of Eternal, Goyal explained his motivations for exploring new ventures. He stated, “This transition allows Eternal to remain sharply focused while giving me the space to explore ideas that do not fit Eternal’s risk profile.”

Deepinder Goyal’s potential investment in Kalam Labs highlights a growing trend among prominent entrepreneurs to back deeptech and frontier innovation. As drone technology becomes increasingly critical in sectors such as defence, aerospace, and surveillance, startups like Kalam Labs are attracting attention from influential investors who aim to support the next generation of advanced technology companies.

WeWork India expands beyond coworking with new design-and-build platform Rivet

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March 9, 2026

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WeWork India expands beyond coworking with new design-and-build platform Rivet — Karan Virwani, Managing Director & CEO of WeWork India

WeWork India has launched Rivet, an end-to-end design-and-build (D&B) platform designed for enterprises that want to create customised office spaces, as demand for integrated workplace solutions continues to grow in India’s commercial real estate sector.

The new platform offers enterprises a single-contract model that covers design, engineering, and construction. As a result, the system replaces the traditional multi-vendor approach that companies usually use for office fit-outs. Karan Virwani, managing director and chief executive officer of WeWork India, highlighted the market potential behind the initiative.

Commenting on the launch, Virwani said that India’s workplace landscape is evolving rapidly. Over the past eight years, we have built deep insight into how enterprises operate and how workspace shapes performance, while designing, evaluating, and operating over 8.2 million square feet across markets. Working with businesses of varying scales and sizes and a broad partner ecosystem has given us real-time understanding of what truly drives workplace success. Rivet brings that experience together into an integrated platform by combining behavioral insight, operational depth, and execution capability. It is built to deliver premium commercial workspaces that perform at scale, with the precision and confidence that enterprises demand.

“In terms of market size, the design-and-build segment in India is valued at roughly $30-40 billion today and has been growing at around 8% annually, according to industry reports. We are also seeing this in our own business, where companies are spending more on office environments,” Virwani added.

Rivet primarily targets large enterprises, global capability centres (GCCs), and companies that want customised workplaces outside the traditional flexible workspace model. Over the past year, WeWork India has already delivered design-and-build projects worth Rs 55 crore across major cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune.

The company also stated that Rivet builds on its experience designing and managing more than 8.2 million square feet of workspace across India. Additionally, the platform will use technology-driven planning tools such as building information modelling (BIM) and real-time site monitoring to improve cost efficiency and project execution timelines.

Virwani explained the platform’s operational approach and said, “It is a turnkey solution where we handle everything, from evaluating the space to designing, constructing, and delivering it to the customer. We also manage the multiple vendors involved in executing such projects.”

Alongside the launch, the company promoted Arnav S Gusain to chief executive officer of Rivet while he continues to serve as chief supply officer at WeWork India.

“As we launch this new vertical, Arnav takes on the role of CEO of Rivet, bringing deep domain expertise and a proven track record. With over three decades of experience, he brings a holistic understanding of the real estate and workspace ecosystems. In his capacity as Chief of Supply at WeWork India, he has been instrumental in expanding our portfolio and strengthening delivery capabilities. Furthermore, backed by an experienced team that has delivered large-scale projects across markets, we are committed to building Rivet into the benchmark for end-to-end workspace delivery in India,” Virwani added.

Gusain explained that the platform will serve businesses across various industries, although the company expects strong demand for tailored workspaces. He said, “The design-and-build segment is quite fragmented, with multiple vendors and operators involved in most projects. Having experienced these challenges ourselves, we believe there is an opportunity to bring greater efficiency and transparency to clients.”

Virwani also revealed that Rivet could contribute approximately 10 percent of WeWork India’s total revenue in the future.

The launch comes at a time when India’s office market is experiencing strong momentum. According to research by JLL, gross office leasing in India reached 83.3 million square feet in 2025. Consequently, many companies now prefer customised office environments that promote collaboration and boost employee productivity.

Furthermore, Rivet reflects WeWork India’s broader strategy to expand beyond flexible workspaces and move toward a comprehensive workspace-as-a-service model. Currently, the company operates 73 centres across eight cities, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, and Hyderabad, and it manages more than 1.21 lakh desks.

Rivet will compete with other managed workspace and office design-and-build platforms in the market, including Awfis Build as well as offerings from IndiQube, Skootr, and TableSpace.

The launch of Rivet marks a strategic move by WeWork India to diversify beyond coworking and tap into the rapidly growing design-and-build market for enterprise workspaces. By offering a single-contract, technology-driven solution, the company aims to simplify office development while meeting the rising demand for customised, productivity-focused workplaces across India.

Arnya Real Estate Fund secures ₹1,030-Cr first close to invest in Mumbai and Pune projects

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March 9, 2026

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Arnya Real Estate Fund secures ₹1,030-Cr first close to invest in Mumbai and Pune projects — Sharad Mittal, founder and chief executive officer of Arnya Real Estates Fund Advisors

Arnya Real Estates Fund Advisors, in partnership with real estate developer Supreme Universal, has completed the first close of its Arnya Real Estate Fund—Equity and secured investment commitments worth Rs 1,030 crore from domestic and international investors. The fund will deploy the capital across residential real estate projects in Mumbai and Pune.

Sharad Mittal, founder and chief executive officer of Arnya Real Estates Fund Advisors, explained that the firm is already exploring redevelopment opportunities in Mumbai. He said, “There are a couple of redevelopment transactions under negotiation, and we will start looking at those transactions as soon as we do the first close. The larger focus of the fund is to look at redevelopment as a strategy in Mumbai.”

Mittal further noted that the company has raised most of the capital from domestic investors. However, the fund has also attracted selective participation from investors in the Middle East and Singapore. He added that the investor base mainly consists of family offices and high-net-worth individuals.

Arnya launched the fund in November 2025 with a target corpus of Rs 1,250 crore. The company now expects to complete the final close within the next two months. Meanwhile, both partners have contributed a total sponsor commitment of Rs 220 crore to the fund.

Mittal also outlined the firm’s investment strategy and scale of deployment. He said, “From a portfolio creation perspective, we are looking at approximately eight to 10 transactions in total. On average, each investment would be between Rs 125 crore and Rs 150 crore. This fund has a seven-year life.”

Currently, Arnya manages assets worth nearly Rs 1,800 crore. Under the partnership, Supreme Universal will take responsibility for executing the residential development projects supported by the fund.

Sunny Bijlani, joint managing director at Supreme Universal, highlighted the importance of institutional capital in the evolving real estate market. He said, “As the real estate sector evolves, the quality and structure of capital have become as important as execution capability. Institutional partnerships such as this bring discipline, transparency, and long-term alignment into redevelopment projects. Together, we are building a model where institutional capital and on-ground execution expertise converge to deliver premium projects for homeowners and consistent outcomes for investors.”

Mittal also clarified that Arnya currently operates through two investment strategies: debt and equity. He said, “This equity platform is what is keeping us busy right now. In the next financial year, we will see if any interesting opportunity comes up to plan something new.”

Arnya’s successful first close reflects strong investor confidence in structured real estate investment platforms focused on redevelopment opportunities. With institutional capital, strategic partnerships, and a clear focus on premium residential projects in Mumbai and Pune, the fund aims to create value for homeowners while delivering stable returns for investors over the next seven years.

Silicon Valley AI startup Integral AI targets Japan’s industrial robotics market

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March 9, 2026

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A Silicon Valley–founded artificial intelligence startup Integral AI Inc., has turned its focus to Japan to demonstrate how AI can transform one of the world’s largest industrial robot supply chains.

The five-year-old startup founded by former Google researchers Jad Tarifi and Nima Asgharbeygi, develops AI models designed for automated systems such as robots and self-driving vehicles. Since 2021, the company has collaborated with auto parts manufacturer Denso Corp. to train industrial robots to learn new capabilities by observing demonstrations.

At the same time, the 15-person startup has started early discussions with major Japanese corporations, including Toyota Motor Corp., Sony Group Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. Through these conversations, the company aims to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can improve manufacturing efficiency and automation.

Furthermore, Tarifi explained that the next stage will allow a human operator to give a robot a language command such as “make a coffee,” after which the robot will independently learn how to complete the task. This capability could significantly change how machines learn and adapt within industrial environments.

Japan already holds a dominant position in the robotics industry. Companies such as Fanuc Corp. and Yaskawa Electric Corp. rank among the world’s leading industrial robot manufacturers. Meanwhile, SoftBank Group Corp. is acquiring the robotics unit of ABB Ltd., which further strengthens the country’s robotics ecosystem. Additionally, automation specialists such as Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. contribute to the sector’s growth.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, Japanese companies deliver roughly 29 percent of the global supply of industrial robots. However, Tarifi believes the country still has a gap to address in artificial intelligence capabilities. As he explained, “Japan is strong in robotics, but they’re not strong in AI and computing.”

Tarifi, who established Google’s first generative AI team in 2013, belongs to a growing group of AI researchers who believe the brain’s neocortex holds the key to building advanced AI systems. These scientists study how humans learn as children and attempt to replicate that process in artificial intelligence models.

Therefore, Tarifi aims to design AI models that can extract knowledge from smaller datasets while also processing new information without erasing previously learned data. This approach plays a crucial role in continuous learning systems.

As a result, such models could allow companies to advance physical AI technologies and tackle complex challenges such as designing new batteries, discovering advanced materials and drugs, and powering humanoid robots. Tarifi emphasized that these applications could redefine how industries deploy artificial intelligence.

Ultimately, the company wants to enable organizations to train robots that can build other robots. Tarifi explained the broader vision clearly: “They might build a cooking robot, they might build a cleaning robot, or they might build a factory robot that builds an iPhone.”

Moreover, the ability for machines to learn independently could reduce the need for constant software updates. Tarifi noted that current large language models, including ChatGPT from OpenAI and Gemini from Google, depend heavily on human-guided training processes. Consequently, this dependence can limit flexibility, efficiency, and reliability.

Tarifi’s personal history also shaped his motivation to work on physical AI. After facing life-threatening conditions as a child in war-torn Lebanon, he developed a strong belief that artificial intelligence must influence the physical world rather than remain limited to digital systems. He expressed this belief during a 2024 interview with Nikola Danaylov, author of Conversations with the Future: 21 Visions for the 21st Century, on the Singularity.FM podcast.

So far, Integral AI has raised approximately $5.5 million in funding. Now, the startup aims to secure another $10 million in a new funding round to expand its AI model and prepare it for a public release.

Although this amount appears small compared with the massive investments that large technology companies pour into artificial intelligence, Tarifi believes it is sufficient for algorithm development. After the company launches its Genesis AI model later this year, it plans to pursue larger investments to scale operations.

Danaylov commented on the company’s ambitious approach and said, “The company’s claims are extremely bold.” He also added, “But when you can’t afford to use or recreate the paradigm, you have no other option but to invent a new one.”

Integral AI is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence by developing systems that allow machines to learn tasks independently. By targeting Japan’s powerful robotics industry and collaborating with leading manufacturers, the startup aims to accelerate the development of physical AI systems capable of transforming manufacturing, automation, and advanced robotics worldwide.

Enterprise tech firm KaarTech bags $11 Million to expand enterprise tech capabilities

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March 9, 2026

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KaarTech has secured USD 11 million (around Rs 100 crore) in a new funding round led by Playbook Partners, as the enterprise technology firm plans to accelerate growth and expand its international presence, according to media reports.

Playbook Partners managing partner Vikas Choudhury said that the company is helping large enterprise clients migrate their systems to the cloud from on-premises infrastructure. It is also helping these companies become AI-ready.

Founded in 2006, the Chennai-based company delivers SAP-led digital transformation services to enterprises. The firm provides a wide range of solutions, including SAP implementation and support, cloud and data services, artificial intelligence-driven automation, analytics, and managed services. Consequently, businesses rely on the company to modernize and streamline their operational systems.

According to regulatory filings, the company approved the issuance of 4,00,520 Series B compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) at an issue price of Rs 2,496.75 per share. Through this issuance, the company raised the capital from Playbook Partners to strengthen its financial position and support expansion plans.

The company plans to allocate the newly raised capital toward capital expenditure, business expansion, and general working capital requirements. Furthermore, the funding will help the firm enhance its enterprise technology capabilities and scale its global operations.

The investment has valued KaarTech at nearly Rs 2,100 crore (approximately USD 231 million) on a post-money basis. Earlier in 2023, the company had already secured USD 30 million from A91 Partners to support its strategic expansion initiatives.

KaarTech has also demonstrated strong financial performance. The company increased its revenue by about 56 percent year-on-year, reaching Rs 718 crore in FY25 compared to Rs 458 crore in the previous fiscal year. Moreover, the firm returned to profitability and reported a net profit of Rs 7.74 crore after posting a loss in FY24.

Entrepreneurs Maran Nagarajan, Ratnakumar N., Selvakumaran Manickam, and Gaurdian George founded the company to help enterprises manage and optimize their business operations through digital transformation technologies.

The latest funding round marks another milestone for KaarTech as it strengthens its position in the enterprise technology and SAP transformation ecosystem. Strong revenue growth, renewed profitability, and support from strategic investors position the company to accelerate innovation, expand internationally, and help enterprises advance their digital transformation journeys.

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