Top Startup News Today: From Mythic Games to Fintech Frontiers | 15th October

India’s startup ecosystem continues to hum with energy — where mythology meets gaming, AI redefines communication, and innovation reshapes finance, homes, and everyday life. From the heart of Pune to the tech corridors of Bengaluru and Gurugram, today’s developments reflect a country where entrepreneurship isn’t just an idea — it’s a movement.

Top Startup News Today

Amitabh Bachchan Joins India’s Ramayana-Inspired AAA Game Dream

What happens when India’s greatest storyteller meets the country’s most celebrated actor? You get The Age of Bhaarat — a Ramayana and Mahabharata-inspired AAA action RPG being developed by Tara Gaming, co-founded by Amish Tripathi (author of the Shiva Trilogy) and Nouredine Abboud, a former Ubisoft producer.

Launched in 2024, Tara Gaming has already raised $20 million, and the studio now employs 140 people, including 40 in Pune. Backed by investor Nicolas Granatino and joined by Amitabh Bachchan, the company aims to create an Indian mythological universe that stands shoulder to shoulder with Assassin’s Creed and The Witcher.

Its cinematic trailer — dripping with cultural depth and global appeal — has earned international praise, even catching the attention of global gaming influencer Asmongold. With PC, console, and mobile versions planned, the game is slated for a Diwali 2027 release — poised to redefine how the world experiences Indian storytelling.

From Ghaziabad Workshop to Rs 190 Cr Brand: The Thermocool Story

Every Indian household knows the value of a summer air cooler — and that’s exactly how Thermocool began its journey back in 1992. Founded by brothers Rajeev and Sanjeev Gupta in a modest Ghaziabad workshop, the company has evolved into a Rs 190 crore home appliance powerhouse.

Now steered by the second generation — Tushar Gupta — Thermocool has expanded to over 200 products, ranging from TVs and washing machines to smart appliances designed for solar compatibility. With a 10% market share in North and East India, a new Rs 30 crore automated plant, and rising online sales, the company has its eyes firmly set on the future.

Ambitiously, it aims to touch Rs 300 crore in three years and Rs 500 crore in five, while exploring an IPO to fund R&D, technology upgrades, and international expansion into Nepal and South Africa.

A story of perseverance, innovation, and family-driven ambition — Thermocool proves that legacy brands can still innovate like startups.

India Gets Its First Tap-to-Pay Smart Ring from IIT-Madras Startup

Payments just got a futuristic twist — literally at your fingertips. Muse Wearables, an IIT-Madras-incubated deeptech startup, has launched Ring One, a sleek wearable that enables instant payments via NFC — no phone, no card, no wallet.

In partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the company is building the country’s first wearable payments ecosystem. Based in Bengaluru, Muse Wearables operates globally across the US, Europe, and other markets with a team of 200 engineers and designers.

Their vision: to turn everyday accessories into intelligent financial tools, blending fashion, function, and fintech.

Funding Frenzy: AI, Real Estate, Agri-Tech, and More

SpeakX Raises $16M to Teach India to Speak Fluent English

AI-driven edtech startup SpeakX has secured $16 million in a pre-Series B round led by WestBridge Capital, with participation from Elevation Capital and Goodwater Capital. Angels like Ronnie Screwvala (upGrad) and Shyamal Anadkat (OpenAI) also joined.

Once known as Yellow Class, the Gurugram-based startup pivoted in 2023 to become a Generative AI-powered English learning app, helping Indians improve spoken English through real-time conversational AI. With regional language support on the roadmap, SpeakX is setting out to make English fluency accessible to everyone — powered by GenAI.

HouseEazy Secures Rs 150 Cr to Simplify Home Resales

Full-stack proptech startup HouseEazy has raised Rs 150 crore ($17 million) in its Series B round led by Accel, with support from Chiratae Ventures and Antler.

Co-founded by Tarun Sainani and Deepak Bhatia, the platform shortens the resale home transaction process from the usual six months to just weeks. Its AI-powered pricing engine, built on 2 million+ data points, delivers transparent valuations, while AR/VR tools let buyers explore refurbished homes virtually.

The funds will fuel tech upgrades and geographic expansion — a step closer to transforming India’s complex real estate resale market into a smooth digital experience.

Two Brothers Organic Farms Raises Rs 110 Cr for Expansion

In the fertile fields of Pune, Two Brothers Organic Farms (TBOF) is sowing new seeds of growth. Founded by Ajinkya and Satyajit Hange, the regenerative agriculture-led brand has raised Rs 110 crore in Series B funding led by 360 ONE Asset, with participation from Rainmatter Investments and others.

TBOF plans to expand its 60,000 sq ft manufacturing facility into a full-scale food park, while deepening farmer engagement and building digital capabilities. From handcrafted ghee to millet-based snacks, TBOF has become a symbol of sustainable agriculture with global ambitions.

CIMCON Software Raises Rs 52 Cr to Power Smart Infrastructure

CIMCON Software, a pioneer in smart infrastructure technology, has raised Rs 52 crore led by Niveshaay. The company designs integrated hardware and software systems for smart water, lighting, and oil & gas infrastructure.

With its in-house manufacturing of remote terminal units (RTUs) and SCADA software, CIMCON empowers cities and industries to operate more efficiently and sustainably — aligning perfectly with India’s “Smart Bharat” vision.

Social Media Reinvented: Currently Raises $1M

Ahmedabad-based Currently, founded by Mitesh Shethwala, has raised $1 million led by Aarvi Family Office LLP. The startup aims to bring social media back to its roots — real social connection — instead of ad-driven engagement.

Funds will go towards expanding engineering and design teams to build what Shethwala calls “India’s first real-time social network” — where social actually means being social.

Orange Sugar Raises Rs 4 Cr for Kidswear Brand Expansion

Premium kidswear startup Orange Sugar has raised Rs 4 crore in a pre-seed round led by Consumer Collective by Atrium, with Ramakant Sharma as co-lead.

Founded by Tarun and Payal Agrawal and Bharath Gupta, the brand offers 100% cotton apparel for kids up to age 10. The funds will go toward expanding product lines, brand-building, and distribution — bringing comfortable, conscious clothing to India’s youngest consumers.

Muttley Crew Raises Rs 3.5 Cr to Nourish India’s Pets

Bengaluru-based pet food brand Muttley Crew, founded by Smriti Thomas, has raised Rs 3.5 crore ($425,000) to scale its line of preservative-free, human-grade pet food.

The brand currently operates in 20 outlets across Bengaluru and has expanded to Mysore, Goa, Hyderabad, and Kochi. With this funding, it plans to enhance R&D and increase retail presence.

“We want to redefine pet nutrition with the same care we give human food,” said Thomas.

Fery Rides Raises Rs 2.07 Cr to Empower Women Drivers

Women driving change — literally. Gurugram-based Fery Rides, a women-led mobility startup, has raised Rs 2.07 crore in seed funding from IAN Angel Fund.

Founded by Ajay Kumar, Vindhya Mehrotra, and Himanshu Chaubey, Fery offers safe, electric rides driven by women for women passengers. Since April 2023, the company has completed 65,000 rides, empowered 250 women drivers, and achieved 50,000 app downloads.

Funds will be used to strengthen its technology and expand operations beyond NCR.

AIensured Secures Backing for Ethical AI Governance

Noida-based AIensured has received funding from STPI and Pontaq under MeitY’s NextGen Technology Fund, along with angel support. The startup builds AI assurance platforms for bias detection, transparency, and ethical governance.

COO Neelima Vobugari said the funding “reinforces our commitment to responsible AI,” as India deepens its focus on ethical AI frameworks.

Beyond Startups: Big Moves in Tech and Finance

🇯🇵 UPI Goes Global: NPCI & NTT DATA Japan Partner for Acceptance

UPI continues its global march — this time to Japan. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed an MoU with NTT DATA Japan to enable UPI acceptance across Japanese merchants, benefiting over 208,000 Indian tourists who visited Japan this year.

“This partnership lays the foundation for enabling UPI acceptance in Japan,” said Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NIPL.

Capital India Home Loans Rebrands as People Home Finance

After a $170 million investment led by Lightspeed, Premji Invest, and Gaja Capital, Capital India Home Loans has rebranded as People Home Finance Limited.

The rebranding signals a new mission — to expand affordable housing finance across Tier II and III cities. Founder Satrajit Bhattacharya said, “Our new name says exactly what we stand for — a housing finance company built for the people of India.”

Curie Money Gets NPCI Nod, Launches Nationwide

Fintech startup Curie Money has become India’s first UPI app that allows users to earn returns from liquid mutual funds while keeping instant payment access.

Founded by Arindam Ghosh and Tushar Choudhary, Curie partners with YES Bank, ICICI Prudential, and Bajaj Finserv AMC, offering up to 6.7% annualized returns. The app’s nationwide rollout follows NPCI’s final approval — marking a new chapter in India’s “money that grows” movement.

Lxme Launches LxmePay — India’s First UPI for Women

In a move empowering women financially, Mumbai-based Lxme has launched LxmePay, a UPI platform that converts daily transactions into savings via digital gold rewards.

Founded by Priti Rathi Gupta and Ridhi Doongursee, Lxme aims to help women take charge of their money with budgeting, investing, and lending tools — all in one app. “LxmePay isn’t just a payments app; it’s a movement,” said Gupta.

The platform builds on Lxme’s mission of driving financial literacy and inclusion for women across India.

Zscaler Appoints Hemant Dabke as VP & MD for India & SAARC

Global cybersecurity leader Zscaler has appointed Hemant Dabke as VP & MD for India & SAARC. With experience at Databricks, UiPath, SAP, Tech Mahindra, and Microsoft, Dabke will spearhead regional growth and security initiatives.

TCS Deepens Ties with Google Cloud for AI Transformation

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to integrate the Gemini Enterprise AI platform.

The collaboration will enable TCS’ 590,000+ workforce to build next-gen AI-driven solutions. “AI is fundamentally redefining professional services,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, as TCS COO Aarthi Subramanian added that Gemini will “empower our workforce and redefine client value.”

From mythological gaming universes to wearable payments, regenerative farms, and AI-driven learning — today’s stories showcase India’s boundless creative energy. The country’s startups are not just innovating — they’re rewriting how the world thinks about technology, tradition, and transformation.