Top Startup News Today: Deeptech, Healthcare AI, EV Infra and Climate Startups Take Centre Stage

India’s startup story has never been a straight line. It moves in waves—of ambition, capital, science, policy, and purpose. On some days, it’s about billion-dollar opportunities. On others, it’s about solving deeply local problems with precision and patience.

Today’s roundup captures that full spectrum: from deeptech labs inside premier institutes to mobility platforms built for gig workers; from AI-powered hospital operating systems to startups replacing single-use plastic at scale. If there is one common thread, it is this—Indian entrepreneurship is steadily moving from experimentation to execution.

Here’s a detailed look at the biggest developments shaping the ecosystem.

Top Startup News Today

IISc’s FSID: Turning Research into Real-World Deeptech

At the heart of India’s scientific ecosystem, the Indian Institute of Science is quietly building one of the country’s most structured deeptech pipelines through its Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID).

Formally incorporated in 2020, FSID has become a serious launchpad for science-led startups. Each year, it receives nearly 400 applications. Only 20 make the cut. Notably, 45% of these founders come from outside IISc—an important signal that the platform is not insular but ecosystem-oriented.

FSID offers lab access, mentorship, and funding—critical ingredients for deeptech founders who often struggle to move from prototype to product. Director Prof Balan Gurumoorthy sums up the vision simply: it’s about taking the know-how developed on campus into the outside world.

Going forward, FSID plans to support 25–30 startups annually, signalling a stronger push toward structured deeptech commercialisation.

Healthcare Capital Gets a Boost: W Health Ventures Closes Rs 550 Cr

Healthcare-focused venture firm W Health Ventures has completed the first close of its second fund at Rs 550 crore, targeting a final corpus of Rs 630 crore.

Unlike traditional investors, W Health works hands-on from inception. Managing Partner Dr Pankaj Jethwani says the firm co-founds companies alongside founders, clinicians, and operators.

The new fund plans to incubate eight to ten companies over four years, deploying Rs 30–50 crore per venture. The first fund backed startups such as Nivaan, BeatO, and Wysa. Fund II has already launched Everhope Oncology in partnership with Narayana Health and is also building a US-based psychiatry venture.

The message is clear: healthcare innovation is shifting from incremental improvement to full-stack venture creation.

ThirdAI Raises $3M to Bring Causal AI to Semiconductor Fabs

Deeptech startup ThirdAI Automation has raised $3 million in seed funding co-led by Endiya Partners and Capria Ventures.

Founded in 2024 by Vivek Vishwakarma and Sainyam Galhotra, the company has built a Causal AI platform designed to automate root cause analysis inside semiconductor fabrication plants.

Its impact is measurable: equipment diagnostic time can drop by up to 80%, with over 90% accuracy. That translates directly into improved yield and reduced downtime—critical for India’s Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0).

The new capital will accelerate product development and expand its global team. As India builds domestic semiconductor capacity, startups like ThirdAI are positioning themselves as core infrastructure partners.

Climate Tech in Action: UKHI Targets 24 Lakh Kg Plastic Replacement

Delhi-based biopolymer startup UKHI has raised Rs 10.5 crore in seed funding led by Venture Catalysts.

The startup is scaling production of EcoGran, its biodegradable polymer line. Founder Vishal Vivek frames the challenge honestly: single-use plastic is a massive systems problem. The solution lies in materials that match industrial standards and compete economically.

So far, UKHI has sold over 2 lakh kilograms of biopolymer material. Its goal is ambitious—replace 24 lakh kilograms of single-use plastic in the next 12 months.

Shark Tank Momentum: UrbanWipe Secures Rs 2 Cr

Non-toxic cleaning startup UrbanWipe raised Rs 2 crore on Shark Tank India Season 5 from Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal.

For co-founder Rajat Mathur, the funding was about validation as much as capital. Currently a lead engineer at Naukri.com, he aims to build a Rs 100 crore D2C brand focused on environmentally responsible cleaning solutions.

The funds will support innovation and manufacturing expansion, strengthening UrbanWipe’s product roadmap.

Digitory Raises $500,000 to Power Restaurant Tech

Restaurant-tech platform Digitory has raised $500,000 in pre-Series A funding from angel investor Tejas Paresh Lodaya.

The bootstrapped startup already powers operations for over 1.8 million diners and works with restaurant brands like Toit, Bier Library, Biergarten, and Pumphouse.

Digitory positions itself as the core operational infrastructure for restaurants—combining local execution with centralised cloud intelligence to ensure business continuity across locations.

Manufacturing Momentum: Indigrid Closes Rs 75 Cr Series A

Electronics manufacturer Indigrid Technology has closed its extended Series A round at Rs 75 crore, raising an additional Rs 40 crore.

Backed by Cactus Partners and Valour Capital, Indigrid plans to scale capacity at its Manesar and Goa facilities to meet demand for automotive, consumer, and industrial electronics. It also aims to deepen its technology capabilities and explore strategic acquisitions.

The focus is clear—strengthen India’s position as an integrated EMS, ESDM, and ODM partner.

EV Infrastructure & Skill-to-Income Pathways

Gurugram-based Startup Stairs has partnered with AITMC Ventures (AVPL) and Victory Electric Vehicles International to build a pan-India EV charging ecosystem.

The initiative will evaluate EV training across 70 ITIs and support manufacturing at AVPL’s Future Tech Park in Hisar. Trained candidates may receive franchise opportunities requiring Rs 5–10 lakh investments to set up EV charging centres and dealerships.

The model ties skilling directly to entrepreneurship—creating income pathways aligned with the EV transition.

Superhealth Launches Agentic AI ‘SuperOS’

Healthcare provider Superhealth has launched SuperOS, a full-stack agentic AI operating system to manage hospital workflows end-to-end.

Currently deployed at its Bengaluru flagship hospital, SuperOS automates diagnostics, surgical coordination, discharge summaries, and inventory management. It supports 15 Indian languages and reduces radiology reporting time by 30%.

The company’s ambition is bold: a zero-wait patient experience while maximising doctor-patient time.

Edtech, Lending & Inclusive Platforms

Bengaluru-based Edify has onboarded cricketer Ravi Bishnoi as brand ambassador and angel investor as it targets $10 million ARR. Founded in 2023, the refurbished laptop platform has already served 50,000 customers and grown 5x year-on-year. India’s secondary electronics market presents an $11 billion opportunity.

Meanwhile, mPokket has increased its loan size to Rs 2 lakh for small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs, strengthening working capital access as it marks its 10th anniversary.

NEMBHARAT is rolling out a commission-free national mobility platform focused on gig worker welfare, while PeakAmp is expanding leadership to accelerate battery circularity.

Defence, Space & Robotics

IG Defence has received approval to set up a Rs 300 crore multi-drone manufacturing facility in Odisha’s Ganjam district, strengthening indigenous defence production.

IIT Guwahati has signed a five-year MoU with Skyroot Aerospace to promote space-grade component development and joint academic programs, while CynLr has unveiled its Object Intelligence platform, enabling robots to manipulate unknown objects within seconds.

ErlySign secured US FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for its saliva-based oral cancer detection kit, and Global HealthX crossed $15 million in healthcare investments.

Today’s developments tell a larger story.

Deeptech is moving from research labs to revenue pipelines. Climate and sustainability are becoming measurable commitments, not just ESG narratives. Healthcare is embracing full-stack AI systems. Manufacturing and electronics are scaling domestically. And entrepreneurship is increasingly linked to skilling, mobility, and financial inclusion.

India’s startup ecosystem is no longer defined solely by valuation milestones. It is increasingly defined by infrastructure—scientific, digital, industrial, and social.

And that shift may well be the most important headline of all.