Thursday, April 30, 2026
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Exwayz raises €1M to advance precise localisation for autonomous robots

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L-R: Antoine Plat, Hassan Bouchiba & Mathias Corsia, co-founders, Exwayz

Exwayz, an autonomous robotics startup, is addressing the navigation challenges faced by delivery robots, autonomous trucks, and warehouse machines operating in complex environments like ports, factories, tunnels, and dense urban areas. In such locations, GPS signals frequently drop or reflect, causing unreliable navigation.

Founded in 2021 by Hassan Bouchiba (CEO), Mathias Corsia (CTO), and Antoine Plat (COO), the company builds 3D perception and navigation software for autonomous systems. Its Exwayz SLAM technology— a real-time mapping and localisation solution—works seamlessly with any LiDAR-enabled robot and delivers GPS-free, centimetre-level accuracy.

The startup has now secured €1 million in a funding round led by CentraleSupélec Venture, which also includes a grant from the France 2030 i-Lab Innovation Competition. The 21st deeptech accelerator at Station F, in partnership with CentraleSupélec, also supports Exwayz. The company has also earned recognition as one of the Future 40 startups at Station F (2023) and holds BPI Deeptech certification.

“Our mission is simple: to make 3D localisation accessible to every manufacturer of autonomous systems. We want to break the glass ceiling still limiting robotics today and unlock new applications in industry, mobility, logistics, and safety,” explains Hassan Bouchiba, cofounder and CEO of Exwayz.

In Switzerland, scale-up Embotech relies on Exwayz SLAM to guide fully autonomous trucks within ports and logistics hubs where GPS performance is weak. In 2026, the Port of Rotterdam will deploy 30 autonomous trucks powered by Embotech and Exwayz to enhance container handling operations.

Boston-based geospatial data company Cyvl.ai, which serves more than 200 municipalities, uses Exwayz SLAM to produce highly accurate 3D maps of road networks. This capability supports the mapping of tens of thousands of kilometres of roads each year, enabling predictive maintenance and modernisation of infrastructure.

The newly raised capital will help the company expand its engineering team—especially in algorithms, 3D vision, and data science—and, moreover, advance its SLAM capabilities. It will also accelerate industrial deployments and, furthermore, enable the company to scale commercial operations in robotics, mobility, logistics, and industrial inspection through strategic partnerships and global pilot projects.

“Exwayz provides precise LiDAR-based localisation and mapping capabilities that strengthen our autonomous solutions. Their consistent quality, steady feature improvements and collaborative approach make them a valued technology partner,” says Giorgio Corbellini, COO of Embotech.

Daniel Pelaez, CEO of Cyvl.ai, adds: “Here at Cyvl, we’ve partnered with Exwayz to help power our SLAM pipelines to deliver robust, large-scale, and highly accurate 3D point clouds that fuel our solutions for cities. Exwayz software is reliable, and their support is top-notch.”

Tribe Stays raises $2.8M to scale premium managed-living portfolio across India

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Yogesh Mehra, founder & CEO, Tribe Stays

Premium managed-hospitality brand Tribe Stays has secured $2.8 million (₹24 crore) in a seed funding round led by Artha Venture Fund, with RiverWalk Holdings joining as co-lead. Additional participation came from Kunal Khanna (Founder & CEO – Vivaldis), Krishna Jain, and several other notable HNIs and family offices.

The newly raised capital will fuel Tribe’s expansion across its three luxury sub-brands—Tribe Student Accommodation (hostels), Tribe Commune (co-living), and Tribe Suites (executive apartments). Currently, Tribe operates 650 beds in Pune and now aims to introduce 1,000 more beds this financial year, while also pursuing a long-term roadmap to scale to 25,000 beds across Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Gurugram, and Pune.

Commenting on the funding, Yogesh Mehra, Founder & CEO, Tribe Stays, said, “This funding round is a strong validation of Tribe’s vision to redefine how young India experiences living. Our focus has always been to go beyond just accommodation and deliver a premium lifestyle experience through thoughtfully designed spaces, hospitality-driven services, and a vibrant community. With this investment, we are well-positioned to expand aggressively into new markets and strengthen Tribe’s position as the gold standard in student housing, co-living, and executive living.”

Tribe tailors its offerings for long-stay residents of up to a year, thereby serving a diverse customer base that includes students, corporate employees, working professionals, and extended-stay travellers.

Sharing his perspective on the investment, Anirudh Damani, Managing Partner, Artha Venture Fund, said, “We believe Tribe is emerging as one of the most promising players in India’s organized managed-living space. The company addresses a massive, underpenetrated market in premium accommodations for student and professional housing with an asset-light, hospitality-led approach that is both scalable and profitable. The team’s deep sector understanding and execution capability give us strong conviction that Tribe can set new benchmarks for premium living experiences across India.”

With rising demand from universities and enterprises for structured relocation and managed-living solutions, Tribe aims to become the preferred partner for institutions and employers in need of dependable, high-quality accommodation options.

Jai Sumer Singh, co-founder and partner at RiverWalk Holdings, added, “Tribe is well-positioned to address the gap that exists in the premium managed co-living space in India. Scaling sustainably in this category requires deep hospitality DNA coupled with real estate excellence. The Tribe team has built those foundations early and will emerge as a leading operator going ahead.”

Realty firm Anant Raj plans ₹4,500-Cr investment in Andhra for data centre expansion

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Realty developer Anant Raj Ltd. has announced plans to invest ₹4,500 crore in Andhra Pradesh to establish new data centre facilities as part of its broader expansion strategy.

In a regulatory filing on Saturday, the company revealed that its subsidiary, Anant Raj Cloud Pvt Ltd (ARCPL), has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) to develop data center infrastructure along with an IT park in the state. Additionally, the investment will focus on data centre and cloud service development.

According to the company, the MoU aims to enable the creation of a data centre–IT park within a defined timeline.

“ARCPL will make a direct investment of approximately Rs 4,500 crore, to be executed in two phases,” Anant Raj said. The agreement outlines a phased investment approach for the development of the integrated facility.

The project will create around 8,500 direct jobs and 7,500 indirect jobs. APEDB will actively support the project’s execution by coordinating with central authorities, while limiting its role to promoting and enabling investments in the state.

Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, witnessed the formalization of the MoU on Friday.

This planned investment comes in addition to the company’s 307 MW of data centre capacity currently under development. At present, Anant Raj operates 28 MW of IT load at its Manesar and Panchkula campuses and is targeting a total capacity of 307 MW by 2031–32 across Manesar, Panchkula, and Rai in Haryana.

In June 2024, Anant Raj partnered with Orange Business, a French IT and telecom services company, to provide managed cloud services in India, further strengthening its technological capabilities.

The company also reiterated that it is on track to reach an installed IT load capacity of 117 MW by FY28. Established in 1969, Anant Raj has completed 9.96 million sq ft of residential and commercial development and owns nearly 320 acres of debt-free land in the Delhi-NCR region.

For the first half of FY26, Anant Raj reported ₹1,223.20 crore in revenue and ₹264.08 crore in profit after tax, further demonstrating its strong financial performance.

ExtraMile Play raises $500K seed funding to scale gamified employee engagement platform

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Pooja Bajaj, Founder, ExtraMile Play

ExtraMile Play, a gamified employee engagement platform, has secured about $500,000 in seed funding to boost product innovation, enhance its technology stack, and expand into new markets and enterprise categories.

The round was led by GSF (Gurgaon), with Mount Judi Ventures (Bengaluru), GrowthSense, and Growth91 (Ahmedabad) participating as co-leads. Early supporters of the company include Chirag Shah, Rahil Bhansali, Animesh Kumar, and 1SmallStep. With GSF joining as the lead investor, ExtraMile Play gains strategic reinforcement and access to a strong network of founders and investors. The StepUp Ventures has also played a crucial role in the company’s evolution by mentoring the team, providing investor access, and guiding a structured fundraising strategy that laid the foundation for sustainable scale.

Founded by Pooja Bajaj, ExtraMile Play aims to humanize workplaces through AI-powered, gamified experiences that elevate engagement, learning, and well-being. The platform allows enterprises to roll out measurable, cohesive engagement initiatives that align play with purpose and productivity.

“This milestone reflects the belief our early backers placed in us and the incredible dedication of our team,” said Pooja Bajaj, Founder & CEO, ExtraMile Play. “With our new investors on board, we’re ready to scale further—deepening automation, launching our mobile app, and integrating AI for smarter personalization. Our goal is to make gamified engagement an everyday part of work culture worldwide.”

Over the last year, ExtraMile Play has collaborated with more than 100 enterprises across sectors such as BFSI, retail, pharma, consulting, and IT, engaging over 1.5 lakh employees. The company has also launched new offerings in learning games, DEI, and well-being. Loyal clients, including Motilal Oswal, EY, Cipla, Aditya Birla Capital, Edelweiss, and Nexus Malls, have significantly contributed to its rapid growth.

The newly raised capital will be used to drive product development, strengthen technological capabilities, and also support entry into additional enterprise verticals and international markets, as ExtraMile Play continues to reshape workforce engagement for hybrid, remote, and onsite environments.

With a growing footprint across India, ExtraMile Play is transforming how organizations foster connection and engagement. Its gamified platform helps companies of all sizes build cultures rooted in participation, recognition, and meaningful interaction—ensuring employees feel included and energized regardless of where they work.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts strengthens luxury portfolio with debut resort in Ha Long Bay

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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, a brand under IHG Hotels & Resorts, has unveiled its first international luxury resort in Ha Long Bay, marking a major milestone in its Southeast Asia expansion.

Located in the Ha Long Marina Urban Area in Quang Ninh province, the resort combines contemporary sophistication with cultural heritage, offering travelers immersive experiences set against the bay’s famed limestone formations and vibrant blue waters.

The property includes around 275 rooms, suites, and villas, each offering sweeping views of the bay’s striking islands. Guests can enjoy six unique dining options—from a waterfront restaurant to a rooftop bar and an elegant lounge. Additional amenities include a signature spa, multiple outdoor pools, a children’s activity center, and versatile event venues suited for both corporate functions and social celebrations.

Designed by WATG, the resort’s architecture draws inspiration from the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay, while also incorporating patterns and elements that reflect traditional Vietnamese stories and the harmony of sea and land. Meanwhile, the interiors crafted by P49Deesign highlight local culture through bamboo basket-boat influences, shimmering textures, and colors inspired by the surrounding waters.

IHG noted that the new resort underscores its focus on sustainable luxury and elevated guest experiences rooted in local connection. The opening strengthens IHG’s plans to expand its luxury and lifestyle offerings in strategic global markets while supporting Quang Ninh’s ambition to grow its premium tourism sector.

Poised to attract both leisure travellers seeking tranquillity and business guests needing upscale event spaces, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts  aims to become a standout symbol of coastal luxury in Vietnam.

Warburg, Permira in advanced talks to acquire Clearwater Analytics: Source

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Global private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Permira are in discussions to acquire investment and accounting software provider Clearwater Analytics, according to a source.

The Boise, Idaho–based company offers technology that helps businesses efficiently manage their investment portfolios, while also providing tools that streamline reporting and enhance operational visibility.

The potential deal—involving the same firms that supported Clearwater’s 2021 IPO—may take several weeks to materialize, the source indicated. Warburg Pincus, Permira, and Clearwater Analytics Holdings have not yet commented on the development.

Clearwater, which debuted on the public markets in 2021 with a valuation of $5.5 billion, has since grown and held a market capitalization of roughly $5.63 billion as of Friday’s close, based on LSEG data.

Honasa Consumer makes strategic investment in oral care startup Fang

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L-R: Jitendra Arora, Ankit Agarwal & Ashutosh Jaiswal, co-founders, Fang

Fang Oral Care has raised ₹10 crore in funding from Honasa Consumer Ltd., the parent company behind brands such as Mamaearth, The Derma Co., and Aqualogica, the Mumbai-based startup announced.

Established in 2022 by Ankit Agarwal, Ashutosh Jaiswal, and Jitendra Arora, Fang focuses on teeth whitening and oral wellness offerings, selling through its own website and major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, as well as quick commerce channels.

The newly secured capital will support research and development, the expansion of its product range, and the strengthening of its digital presence across online and quick commerce platforms. Each of the three founders brings more than 20 years of expertise spanning product development, e-commerce, performance marketing, and healthcare manufacturing.

Varun Alagh, Chairman and CEO of Honasa Consumer, said the company recognized the founders for their deep category knowledge and strong vision for transforming the oral care landscape. He called oral care a high-growth category ripe for disruption, with Fang well-positioned to lead through offerings that combine aspirational branding with scientific credibility.

Co-founder Ashutosh Jaiswal noted that the team chose Honasa for its proven ability to build purpose-driven brands and its shared mission of making science-led oral care more accessible. Fang’s current lineup includes teeth whitening products and toothpastes formulated with active ingredients. Honasa Consumer remains India’s largest digital-first beauty and personal care company, with seven brands under its umbrella.

jüSTa Hotels & Resorts strengthens footprint as NUO enters Nagpur

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Homegrown hospitality group Onora Hospitality, which operates jüSTa Hotels & Resorts, NUO by jüSTa and Bookmark Resorts, has teamed up with Aviyaara Hospitality to bring its energetic and rapidly expanding brand NUO by jüSTa to Nagpur.

Built around the philosophy of ‘Moving Forward,’ NUO by jüSTa Hotels & Resorts combines the warmth and personalized feel of a boutique hotel with the functionality, design sensibility, and operational intelligence suited to India’s modern professionals. The brand integrates smart rooms, well-designed work areas, and engaging social spaces that encourage networking and community interaction. With its low-capex and high-efficiency model, NUO by jüSTa Hotels & Resorts provides investors with a scalable hospitality format that works across major metros as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

“NUO by jüSTa is a space full of life, ideas, and consciousness,” said Ashish Vohra, Founder & CEO, Onora Hospitality. “Bringing it to Nagpur marks the beginning of our journey to take this young, design-driven, and sustainable brand to every major business city in the country. Our goal is to create spaces that reflect the rhythm of modern India—efficient, expressive, and forward-moving.”

Set to open within the next two years, the property will offer 40 rooms, a co-working café, a meeting room, and a versatile social space for events and gatherings. Aviyaara Hospitality, backed by a well-established Nagpur-based business family with interests in mining, education, and hospitality, expressed strong enthusiasm for the partnership.

“We are excited to bring this dynamic brand to Nagpur—one that truly embodies the city’s youthful spirit. We look forward to seeing NUO by jüSTa emerge as a vibrant destination for the young and the spirited,” said Kshitiz Agarwal, CEO, Aviyaara Hospitality.

Codeyoung raises $5 Mn in Series A to strengthen global edtech footprint

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Shailendra Dhakad and Rupika Taneja, co-founders, Codeyoung

Edtech startup Codeyoung has raised $5 Mn (INR 44.4 Cr) in its Series A funding round, led by 12 Flags Group—an investor in Blue Tokai—and Enzia Ventures. Cofounder Shailendra Dhakad said that the fundraising includes an equal share of primary and secondary components, with the secondary portion offering an exit to early backer Guild Capital.

The newly raised capital will help the company strengthen its footprint in existing international markets, particularly in the US and Canada. A portion of the funds will also support the development of AI-driven personalization tools and the launch of new learning categories.

Founded in 2020 by Dhakad and Rupika Taneja, Codeyoung provides one-to-one online lessons for learners aged 5–17 across subjects such as math, English, coding, and science.

“Currently, we have around 15,000 students learning from us every week. Overall, around 20,000+ students are active on the platform. In terms of our student distribution, 70% are from North America, which includes the US and Canada, around 25% come from the UK, and the remaining 5% are from the rest of the world,” Dhakad said.

The platform has about 1,100 trainers working as independent contractors from multiple continents, most of whom conduct at least 5–6 sessions weekly, he added.

Codeyoung’s operations team, based in Bengaluru, consists of around 350 employees. The startup currently reports an annual recurring revenue of $15 Mn. “Currently, Codeyoung is cash flow positive. We generate a revenue of about $1.8 Mn on a monthly basis,” Dhakad said.

The funding arrives after a challenging period for the Indian edtech sector, marked by BYJU’S—the sector’s highest-valued startup—entering insolvency. Despite this, 2025 has seen renewed activity, with platforms such as Leap, CENTA, and speakX securing investments. India’s edtech market will expand to $29 Bn by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 25.87% from 2022 to 2030.

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah recently closed its IPO and will list on November 18, while Imarticus Learning is gearing up for its public offering, planning to raise around INR 750 Cr through a mix of fresh issuance and an offer for sale.

Intellipaat joins hands with IndiaAI Mission to boost nationwide AI literacy

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Diwakar Chittora, Founder & CEO, Intellipaat

In a major step toward making Artificial Intelligence (AI) education accessible nationwide, Intellipaat, one of India’s prominent AI-driven learning and upskilling platforms, has collaborated with the IndiaAI Mission—an initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India—to launch the ‘YUVAi for ALL’ program. This nationwide initiative aims to equip citizens with essential AI knowledge and prepare the country for an AI-enabled future.

Through this partnership, Intellipaat will provide free training in artificial intelligence and generative AI to students, educators, and working professionals. The initiative supports the government’s goal of empowering 10 million citizens with foundational AI competencies by January 2026. As part of the collaboration, participants will receive government-recognized certificates, while Intellipaat will host AI awareness sessions, generative AI tool demonstrations, and community-focused learning events, along with providing foundational AI literacy e-learning content.

“At Intellipaat, we have always believed that India’s true potential lies in its youth and educators. Our partnership with the IndiaAI Mission represents a shared vision to make AI education accessible to every citizen, regardless of their background. By empowering India’s Youth with this foundational AI literacy, we are taking a major step toward realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a Digital and AI-Enabled Bharat,” said Diwakar Chittora, Founder & CEO, Intellipaat.

The IndiaAI Mission, led by MeitY, is the Government of India’s flagship program focused on fostering the responsible growth and adoption of artificial intelligence. Its objective is to strengthen AI research, innovation, and awareness across all segments of society, ultimately positioning India as a global leader in AI talent and real-world applications.

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