Top Startup News Today: Apna.co’s $6M Campus Tank, AI in Hotels

India’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve with youth-driven entrepreneurship, AI-powered hospitality platforms, and strategic funding initiatives. Globally, founders are converging at Harvard for the Startup World Cup, while cybersecurity ventures and AI-driven startupsgain momentum. Here’s the TICE verified roundup of today’s top startup stories from India and abroad.

Apna.co Launches Campus Tank with $6 Million for Young Founders

Apna.co, India’s leading jobs and careers platform, has unveiled Campus Tank, a nationwide launchpad designed for entrepreneurs under 30. Backed by Chandigarh University and Venture Catalysts, the initiative brings together a $6 million funding pool, incubation support, mentorship, and specialized training.

More than 20,000 aspiring founders have already registered, with over 50% innovating in AI, climate tech, and healthcare—sectors expected to define India’s next decade. Previous editions in Punjab and Delhi featured leaders such as Dr. Jitendra Singh, Jagmeet Singh Bedi, and Amit Singhal.

Apna’s CEO Nirmit Parikh highlighted the vision: “India needs a million entrepreneurs to transform its future. Campus Tank is not just about funding startups—it’s about creating a movement that generates jobs and accelerates India’s growth story.”

GydeXP Raises Strategic Pre-Seed to Reinvent Hotel Experiences

Hospitality-tech startup GydeXP, founded by IIT Delhi alumnus Aakarshan Saxena, secured a strategic pre-seed round from SwiftSeed Ventures, StayCircle, and Xammer.

The platform digitizes hotel guest experiences using culturally intelligent AI agents that operate via WhatsApp. These AI “employees” manage guest queries, coordinate experiences, and drive upselling—transforming hotels into smart, responsive service hubs.

Born out of real-world insights at MahaKumbh 2025, where manual coordination alone generated over ₹40 lakh in guest revenue, GydeXP will now:

• Deploy AI across 100+ hotel properties
• Integrate with leading hotel management systems
• Expand into Southeast Asia’s tourism hotspots

Amar Dixit, founder of SwiftSeed, called GydeXP “the future of how we explore and connect with the world.”

Global Startup Spotlight: Harvard’s Startup World Cup and AI Ventures

Harvard Hosts Startup World Cup Regional

Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs (HAE) is hosting the Startup World Cup Regional today at Harvard Medical School. Keynote speaker Mark Penn, Chairman of Stagwell and author of Microtrends, will headline the event alongside a fireside chat moderated by Bill Reichert of Pegasus Tech Ventures.

Twelve alumni-founded startups will pitch for a chance to compete in Silicon Valley’s $1 million grand finale, with the event livestreamed globally to offer founders international exposure.

Netskope Files for IPO Amid Cybersecurity Surge

Netskope, a leading cybersecurity firm backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, has officially filed for IPO. It joins Rubrik in a rare wave of public listings from security startups, reflecting strong investor demand for enterprise solutions amid growing AI-driven cyber risks.

Bluejay AI Raises $4M for Trustworthy Enterprise AI

Seattle-based Bluejay AI, founded by ex-Amazon and Microsoft engineers, raised $4 million to develop reliable, auditable AI agents for regulated industries. The company aims to address the “black box” problem in enterprise AI by building transparent, compliance-ready systems designed for trust and safety.

Startups in India 2025 and Beyond

Today’s stories highlight a shift toward youth empowerment, AI-driven transformation, and global collaboration.India’s young founders are innovating in high-impact sectors, while international platforms like Harvard’s Startup World Cup are amplifying innovation across borders.

TICE will continue to spotlight the entrepreneurs and changemakers shaping India’s growth story and global tech leadership.

About Top Startup News Today

Top Startup News Today is TICE’s daily spotlight on the ideas, entrepreneurs, and ventures shaping the future of business. We cover India’s fast-growing startup ecosystem—spanning IPOs, youth-led innovation, AI breakthroughs, and consumer-first disruption—while also tracking global shifts in mobility, cybersecurity, space tech, and funding. Our goal is to deliver verified, insightful, and context-rich stories that go beyond headlines, helping founders, investors, and readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters.

Disclaimer: This news update has been curated from leading published sources and verified reports. While TICE strives for accuracy and timeliness, we encourage readers to reach out for clarifications, fact updates, or corrections at editorial@tice.news.