Startup News 2026: Latest Funding, Acquisitions, and Innovations

30 SEC SUMMARY

Stay updated with the latest in startup news for 2026. From Cradlewise’s Series A funding to Adobe’s acquisition of Rilo, this article covers major funding rounds, strategic acquisitions, and groundbreaking innovations from leading startups and tech companies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. The Open Field’s Forest Economy Infrastructure
2. Nextgen Finance Raises Rs 215 Cr
3. Cradlewise Raises $12M Series A
4. Adobe Acquires Indian AI Startup Rilo
5. VLCC Raises Rs 110 Cr in Funding
6. Makr Microsystems Raises Rs 10.2 Cr Seed
7. IDFC FIRST Bank and BITS Pilani Launch Accelerator Program
8. Garuda Aerospace Deploys Drones for Flood Relief
9. Wingify Appoints Mehernaz Dalal as CFO
10. Swiggy CREW Forays into Travel Services
11. eBikeGo to Roll Out 50 Bicycle Stores
12. LTTS Announces FARM Initiative
13. IIT-M Unveils AI Tools for Early Kidney Disease Detection
14. AMD and Delhi University to Train 10,000 AI Students

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Adobe acquires Indian AI startup Rilo for an undisclosed amount.
• VLCC raises Rs 110 crore in funding from BlackSoil Capital.
• Makr Microsystems raises Rs 10.2 crore seed led by Bluehill VC.
• Garuda Aerospace deploys drones for flood relief operations in Nepal.
• AMD and Delhi University to train 10,000 AI students.

The Open Field’s Forest Economy Infrastructure

The Open Field is working with tribal and forest-dependent communities in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to formalise forest-produce value chains. It has deployed portable Ayan Hubs for decentralised processing and is building a data-led Forest OS to improve traceability and buyer linkages. This initiative aims to empower local communities by providing them with the tools to manage and sell their forest produce efficiently.

NextGen Finance Raises Rs 215 Cr

Business NextGen Finance has raised Rs 215 crore with prior RBI approval to scale its secured MSME lending beyond India’s top 100 locations. The round, led by Beams Fintech Fund and others, will support technology investments and geographic expansion. This funding will enable NextGen Finance to extend its services to more micro, small, and medium enterprises across the country.

Cradlewise Raises $12M Series A

Cradlewise raised $12 million in Series A funding led by 3one4 Capital and Prudent Investment Management. The company said the capital will go towards growth, channel expansion, research and development, and entry into international markets for its smart infant sleep system. This funding will help Cradlewise scale its operations and bring its innovative sleep solutions to a global audience.

Adobe Acquires Indian AI Startup Rilo

Global design software company Adobe has acquired Indian AI startup Rilo for an undisclosed amount. Rilo’s founders confirmed the acquisition in their LinkedIn posts. Founded in 2025 by IIT Bombay alumni Georgi Boby and Dhruv Jaglan, Rilo has developed AI agents designed to provide insights into enterprise go-to-market strategies. The acquisition is expected to add Rilo’s AI capabilities to Adobe’s customer experience and marketing offerings.

VLCC Raises Rs 110 Cr in Funding

Homegrown beauty and wellness company VLCC has raised Rs 110 crore in funding from BlackSoil Capital to support its next phase of growth across its beauty, wellness, and personal care businesses. According to a statement, VLCC, which is backed by global private equity firm Carlyle, will utilise this funding to support its ongoing business requirements and growth opportunities, including strengthening its operating platform and supporting the expansion of its businesses and subsidiaries.

Makr Microsystems Raises Rs 10.2 Cr Seed

Bluehill VC led a Rs 10.2 crore seed round in Makr Microsystems, with participation from Artha Venture Fund. The semiconductor metrology startup said the funds will be used for technology development, customer validation and commercial development. Makr said it is building nanoscale subsurface 3D metrology products for chipmakers using Acoustic Atomic Force Microscopy, optical tomography and 3D analytics software to visualise hidden structures and defects non destructively. The company said initial applications include advanced packaging, hybrid bonding, buried interfaces and chiplet interconnects.

IDFC FIRST Bank and BITS Pilani Launch Accelerator Program

IDFC FIRST Bank, through its CSR division FIRST IMPACT, has partnered with the Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), BITS Pilani, under IGNITE, its startup incubation programme, to launch an accelerator programme for startups working on health and environmental challenges. As part of the programme, selected startups will receive grant support, incubation and acceleration, mentorship, and access to relevant ecosystem networks to help develop and scale their solutions. BITS Pilani, as an implementing partner for IGNITE, will support eight startups from across India working in areas including climate technology, carbon reduction and removal, AI- and machine learning-based healthcare diagnostics, medical devices, and assistive technologies.

Garuda Aerospace Deploys Drones for Flood Relief

IPO-bound Garuda Aerospace has deployed drones in Nepal’s Rasuwa district to support flood relief and emergency response following severe flooding that damaged infrastructure and disrupted connectivity and supply chains. The company is deploying Sanjeevani logistics drones, capable of carrying up to 25 kg, to deliver food, medicines, and water to affected communities. It is also providing battery systems, communication and ground-support equipment, along with certified drone pilots, to support relief operations and help teams reach areas difficult to access through conventional transport.

Wingify Appoints Mehernaz Dalal as CFO

Wingify appointed Mehernaz Dalal as Chief Financial Officer. The company said she will work with CEO Sparsh Gupta, the leadership team, Everstone and the Board to build the financial and operating platform for the next phase as VWO and AB Tasty come together. According to Wingify, the combined business has crossed $100 million in annual revenue, serves more than 4,000 customers and operates from 11 offices, with the United States and Europe accounting for about 90% of revenue. The company said Dalal brings over 20 years of finance leadership experience.

Swiggy CREW Forays into Travel Services

Swiggy CREW, the premium concierge platform within the Swiggy ecosystem, has entered the travel segment with a dedicated personal travel concierge service. The service will help users plan and book trips, curate itineraries, and provide on-ground assistance during their travels, the company said. The launch follows a year of operating CREW as a broader personal concierge service. According to the company, travel emerged as the category with the highest demand for end-to-end assistance, prompting it to focus the service on travel.

eBikeGo to Roll Out 50 Bicycle Stores

EBG Group’s eBikeGo said it will roll out 50 integrated bicycle stores across India, according to a press release shared with the desk. The company described the outlets as integrated stores. The material accessed does not disclose the launch schedule, city list, formats or investment outlay for the planned rollout.

LTTS Announces FARM Initiative

LTTS announced an initiative called FARM, as per a press note titled “LTTS FARM Announcement” shared with the desk. The company announced the initiative in the press material. The note available to the desk does not provide details on scope, timelines, participating partners or target sectors for FARM.

IIT-M Unveils AI Tools for Early Kidney Disease Detection

IIT-M announced AI tools for early kidney disease detection, according to a press release shared with the desk. The release said the tools are intended to enable earlier identification of kidney conditions. The material accessed does not include technical specifications, validation data or deployment timelines for the tools.

AMD and Delhi University to Train 10,000 AI Students

AMD and the University of Delhi signed an MoU to bring AMD’s AI Engage Developer Program to the campus, providing access to the ROCm software platform, learning resources and developer GPU cloud credits. The initiative aims to train up to 10,000 students over the next year. Students and faculty will get workshops and cloud resources for hands-on experimentation. “Move from learning AI concepts to building AI solutions,” said Jaya Jagadish, Country Head and SVP Engineering, AMD India. Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh said the collaboration will help create a stronger pipeline of AI developers and researchers.

FAQ Section

What is the latest funding round for Cradlewise?

Cradlewise raised $12 million in Series A funding led by 3one4 Capital and Prudent Investment Management.

Who acquired Indian AI startup Rilo?

Global design software company Adobe acquired Indian AI startup Rilo.

What is the focus of IDFC FIRST Bank and BITS Pilani’s accelerator program?

The accelerator program focuses on startups working on health and environmental challenges.

Conclusion

The startup ecosystem in 2026 is buzzing with significant funding rounds, strategic acquisitions, and innovative projects. From Cradlewise’s Series A funding to Adobe’s acquisition of Rilo, this article highlights the dynamic and evolving landscape of startups and tech companies.

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