Top Startup News Today: From Deeptech Push to Digital Garages — Key Highlights | 16th October

India’s startup ecosystem continues to pulse with fresh innovation and strategic collaborations — from EV makers calling for more deeptech funding, to agri-tech accelerators empowering rural innovation, and AI startups securing big-ticket investments. The spirit of Indian entrepreneurship remains unstoppable, and Wednesday, October 16, 2025, brought a rich mix of stories shaping that future.

Top Startup News Today

Digitising India’s Local Garages: Partnr’s Mission to Empower Mechanics

Every Indian city — from bustling metros to remote towns — depends on the unassuming neighbourhood mechanic. In the narrow bylanes where two-wheelers and four-wheelers line up, these mechanics are the unsung backbone of India’s mobility. With over 27 crore two-wheelers and 7 crore cars plying the country’s roads, the unorganised garage sector silently keeps India moving.

Yet, despite its scale, the industry faces a serious problem — fragmentation. Small garages often struggle with sourcing spare parts, managing orders, or adopting modern diagnostic tools.

Enter Partnr, a Delhi-based startup aiming to digitise India’s unorganised two-wheeler repair ecosystem. The startup’s tech platform connects mechanics, suppliers, and customers in one digital chain — enabling garages to streamline their services, access genuine parts, and build trust among customers.

By bridging the technology gap, Partnr is bringing the digital revolution to one of India’s most overlooked yet vital sectors — giving small workshops the tools to compete with large authorised service centres.

“Deeptech Needs Easier Access to Capital”: Ather CEO Tarun Mehta

At the Micelio Mobility Global Clean Mobility Summit in Bengaluru, Ather Energy Co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta made a candid observation: deeptech startups in India are still struggling for access to capital.

In a fireside chat with Infosys Co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, Mehta noted that while software startups enjoy an established funding network, deeptech and hardware ventures face a steeper climb.

“Funding has been a difficult journey for most deeptech, hardware, and R&D-heavy startups in India,” Mehta said, urging the ecosystem to open more financing avenues. He admitted that Ather was “fortunate” to have found investors who believed in its long-term vision — a rarity in the deeptech space.

The message was clear — if India wants to lead in innovation, it must make capital more accessible to those building future technologies.

Coinbase Doubles Down on CoinDCX at $2.45 Billion Valuation

Global crypto major Coinbase is reasserting its confidence in the Indian market. The company announced a fresh investment in CoinDCX, valuing the homegrown exchange at $2.45 billion.

CoinDCX said the new infusion — an extension of its previous round — will be used to enhance product offerings, roll out new on-chain use cases for India, and expand to new markets.

The move signals continued faith in India’s digital asset ecosystem despite regulatory uncertainties, marking Coinbase’s strategic push in one of the world’s most promising crypto markets.

Prosus Ups Stake in ixigo to 15%, Early Investors Exit

In another big deal, Prosus has raised its stake to around 15% in Le Travenues Technology, the parent company of travel platform ixigo.

Prosus acquired the additional 5.06% stake through a mix of primary and secondary transactions, buying shares worth ₹620–660 crore from early backers Peak XV Partners and Elevation Capital.

The move underscores Prosus’ growing interest in India’s digital travel sector, even as early investors book gains amid ixigo’s sustained profitability and strong market positioning.

Funding Frenzy: AI, Agri, and Security Startups Steal the Spotlight

Consuma Raises $1.3 Million to Redefine Brand Insights

AI startup Consuma, founded by Abhilash Madabhushi in 2021, has raised $1.3 million in seed funding led by Equirus InnovateX Fund.

Consuma’s platform helps brands derive faster, actionable insights from digital consumer behaviour. Already working with over 35 global names — including Godrej and Britannia — the startup enables marketers to make decisions in real-time rather than wait months for traditional research data.

“In today’s quick commerce world, insights have a very short shelf life,” said Sadhika Agarwal, Principal Officer, Equirus InnovateX Fund. “Consuma’s decision intelligence platform helps brands turn raw data into strategy within minutes, not weeks.”

Fragaria Fruits Bags $2 Million to Grow Premium Berries in India

High-tech farming startup Fragaria Fruits secured $2 million in seed funding led by WEH Ventures, with participation from Rainmatter, Spiral Ventures, and Akshayakalpa CEO Sashi Kumar.

The Bengaluru-based startup will use the funds to expand its premium fruit portfolio to include blueberries and raspberries, bringing high-quality, sustainable produce to Indian consumers year-round.

Fragaria aims to blend precision farming with sustainable practices, making premium fruits more accessible and reducing import dependency.

Matters.AI Raises ₹55 Crore to Launch Self-Learning AI Security Engineer

In a major win for the cybersecurity space, Matters.AI has raised ₹55 crore to build a first-of-its-kind AI Security Engineer — a system that learns autonomously to predict and prevent data misuse.

Unlike conventional platforms that merely alert or monitor, Matters.AI’s product acts like a virtual security expert capable of taking real-time defensive action across cloud, SaaS, and on-prem environments.

The seed round was co-led by Kalaari Capital and Endiya Partners, with Better Capital and Carya Venture Partners participating.

Corporate Moves: Collaborations, MoUs, and Launches

Cisco and Social Alpha Launch Agritech Accelerator — Krishi Mangal 3.0

Cisco India CSR and Social Alpha have launched the third edition of their flagship programme — Krishi Mangal 3.0. The accelerator will nurture seven startups innovating in soil health, water conservation, farm mechanisation, and post-harvest management.

Each startup will receive non-dilutive funding up to ₹50 lakh, with potential access to additional support of ₹2 crore. The initiative aims to impact over 2 lakh farmers and 150 FPOs across India.

Deloitte India and OneTrust Simplify Privacy Compliance

Deloitte India has partnered with OneTrust, a leading privacy tech company, to automate and streamline compliance for Indian enterprises. The collaboration will help businesses turn privacy governance from a manual task into a scalable, automated function.

The partnership will enable firms to adopt global best practices for consent management, risk assessment, and AI-ready data governance — vital as India’s digital economy grows.

EaseMyTrip Partners with Raipur District to Boost Tourism and Youth Employment

In a move blending social impact with skill development, EaseMyTrip has signed an MoU with the Raipur District Administration to train youth in travel and tourism services.

The partnership will upskill participants in digital booking, hospitality, and tour guiding — empowering local communities while strengthening Chhattisgarh’s tourism economy.

Giva Automates Logistics with ClickPost Ahead of Festive Season

Jewellery brand Giva is gearing up for the festive rush with a logistics overhaul. The company has partnered with ClickPost to automate its supply chain and improve delivery efficiency as it expands toward 350 stores by March 2026.

According to Nikhil Rangari, AVP of Operations, the automation has reduced manual logistics time by 80%, transforming what used to be a 3-hour task into a seamless 30-minute process.

Chalet Hotels Launches Premium Brand ‘ATHIVA’

Hospitality chain Chalet Hotels has introduced a new luxury brand, ATHIVA Hotels & Resorts, debuting with over 900 rooms across six properties.

The first property, The Dukes Retreat in Khandala, has already been transformed under the ATHIVA banner. Other upcoming hotels include a revamped Navi Mumbai business property and three greenfield projects in Goa and Thiruvananthapuram.

ATHIVA’s concept caters to millennial and Gen Z travellers with unique touches like Breakfast@Anytime and a “Binge Box” of healthy snacks replacing traditional minibars.

PhysicsWallah and BSF Join Hands for Educational Empowerment

Edtech major PhysicsWallah (PW) has partnered with the Border Security Force (BSF) to offer scholarships and full fee waivers for families of personnel, including martyred soldiers.

Children of BSF martyrs will receive 100% fee waivers, while serving and retired personnel’s families will get 25–35% scholarships across JEE, NEET, UPSC, and other competitive courses.

Greaves Electric Mobility Ties Up with Shriram Green Finance for EV Loans

Greaves Electric Mobility and Shriram Green Finance have joined forces to make EV ownership easier. The collaboration offers customers loans covering up to 90% of the vehicle’s value, with flexible repayment options for electric three-wheelers and light commercial vehicles.

IIT Bhubaneswar Partners with Indian Army for AR-VR Defence Tech

In a strategic collaboration, IIT Bhubaneswar has signed an MoU with the Simulator Development Division (SDD) of the Indian Army.

The partnership will focus on innovation in AR, VR, AI, robotics, and defence simulation, supported by IIT’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Centre of Excellence (VARCOE).

It also includes training programmes, hackathons, and internships to promote defence-tech innovation among students.

From deeptech advocacy to AI-powered insights and agri-innovation, today’s stories underline one truth — India’s startup landscape isn’t slowing down. It’s diversifying, digitising, and daring to dream bigger across every sector imaginable.

As founders, investors, and corporations align toward a tech-driven, sustainable future — the Indian startup ecosystem continues to prove why it remains one of the world’s most exciting entrepreneurial frontiers.