Top Startup News Today: From Kerala’s Social Breakthrough to Deepinder Goyal’s New Scientific Vision | 25th October

India’s startup landscape never sleeps — and this week was a perfect reminder of that. From a fintech quietly redefining supply chain financing to Kerala scripting a social revolution, and from women artisans in Rajasthan transforming local economies to Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal backing the future of science — the Indian innovation story continues to evolve with stunning diversity and ambition.

Here’s a closer look at the stories shaping India’s entrepreneurial and impact ecosystem this week.

Top Startup News Today

SaralSCF: The Fintech Powering India’s Unrated Startups

In a country where many startups still struggle to access credit, SaralSCF, the supply chain finance arm of the BlackSoil Group, is quietly building a new lending playbook.

Founded in 2021, the company has been on a remarkable growth trajectory — its Assets Under Management (AUM) skyrocketed from ₹60 crore in 2023 to ₹344 crore by March 2025. That’s a 7x leap in just two years, powered by its sharp focus on unrated and emerging startups — a segment long ignored by traditional lenders.

What makes SaralSCF different is its technology-first approach. The company runs on a proprietary platform that manages end-to-end, high-volume, low-ticket transactions for distributors — a model that brings speed, transparency, and accessibility to India’s supply chain ecosystem.

At a time when fintechs are being tested for sustainability and compliance, SaralSCF’s rise signals how targeted innovation can open financial doors for India’s next-generation businesses.

A Ray of Relief for Indian Students in the U.S.

For thousands of Indian students in the United States, the H-1B visa has always been more than a permit — it’s been a bridge to dreams. So when news broke earlier this year about a potential $100,000 payment requirement for H-1B holders, anxiety rippled through Indian student communities across American campuses.

But this week brought a sigh of relief. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified that the additional payment would not apply to students and recent graduates already in the U.S., or those transitioning from an F-1 to an H-1B visa.

For many young Indians, this decision restores hope — ensuring their academic investments can still lead to meaningful professional opportunities without an additional financial burden.

Kerala Becomes the First Indian State to Eradicate Extreme Poverty

In a remarkable milestone for inclusive governance, Kerala has officially become India’s first state to eradicate extreme poverty.

The journey began in 2021 with the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP) — an ambitious programme that combined data-driven planning with deep community engagement. Over 14 lakh people participated in identifying and supporting 64,006 families living in extreme poverty.

Each family received a customised micro-plan — addressing everything from food and health to income and housing. The initiative was powered by a robust network of Kudumbashree groups, ASHAs, and anganwadi workers, ensuring that local knowledge translated into local action.

Kerala’s model — blending welfare delivery with sustainable livelihood creation — could become a national blueprint for fighting poverty in a structured, technology-integrated way.

The Women of Chandelao: Crafting Change, One Stitch at a Time

In the small village of Chandelao near Jodhpur, Rajasthan, a quiet revolution has been unfolding for years — led entirely by women.

The women’s collective Sundar Rang, founded in 2007 under the NGO Chandelao Vikas Sansthan, has turned craft into empowerment. Supported by global patrons Christine Andresen and Sven Williamson, the initiative now empowers over 35 women artisans who design exquisite block-printed and upcycled fabric products.

Every piece they make carries the name of its creator — a symbol of pride and identity. Beyond wages, artisans earn profit shares and receive education and skill training. The collective also offers flexible working hours, allowing women to manage both home and livelihood with dignity.

Sundar Rang isn’t just about beautiful crafts; it’s about redefining the role of women in rural India — from workers to entrepreneurs.

From Badnera to Harvard: The Inspiring Journey of Dipa Ghindani

Few stories capture the spirit of perseverance like that of Dipa Ghindani, a scientist from the small town of Badnera in Maharashtra, who now works at Harvard University’s Capasso Group — one of the world’s leading research hubs in nanophotonics.

Dipa’s academic path cuts across India, Europe, and the U.S. — from IIT-Bombay to TIFR, then a Helmholtz Fellowship in Germany, a PhD from Tampere University, Finland, and now a researcher at Harvard.

Her focus? Metalenses — ultra-thin optical lenses that could revolutionise imaging technology, from medical diagnostics to augmented reality devices.

Her story stands as a reminder that India’s talent pool — with the right opportunities and global exposure — can shape the world’s scientific future.

Funding and Startup Highlights

CapitalXB Raises $15 Million to Power SME Trade Finance

Mumbai-based CapitalXB has raised $15 million in a mix of debt and equity to expand its lending capacity and technology infrastructure. The firm focuses on trade finance solutions for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) — a sector grappling with a $525 billion credit gap in India.

The funding will allow CapitalXB to deepen its reach across India’s manufacturing and trade corridors, helping SMEs access faster, more flexible financing and boosting the country’s export ecosystem.

Deepinder Goyal’s $25 Million Science Bet

Deepinder Goyal, founder of Zomato, is venturing beyond food tech — into the very frontiers of biology. His self-funded initiative, Continue Research, has announced a fresh $25 million investment to accelerate early-stage science startups and fundamental research.

Unlike a traditional VC fund, Continue Research operates as a research-first collective focused on understanding what Goyal calls “the upstream mechanisms in biology.” The vision? To extend human health and push the boundaries of life sciences into what he describes as a “Post-Darwin era.”

It’s an unusual move for an entrepreneur best known for transforming food delivery — but it signals a growing trend of Indian founders using their success to back deep science innovation.

House of Kieraya (Furlenco) Swings Back to Profit

After years of losses, House of Kieraya, the parent company of Furlenco and UNLMTD, has made a sharp comeback — posting a ₹3.1 crore profit in FY2024–25.

The turnaround comes after a loss of ₹130.2 crore in the previous fiscal year. Revenue surged 64% YoY to ₹228.7 crore, driven largely by service income and a doubling of product sales. The shift toward diversified subscription offerings and product expansion has finally begun to pay off.

For India’s furniture rental industry — long burdened by capital-heavy models — Furlenco’s rebound could mark a new chapter of sustainable growth.

Celewish Raises $750,000 to Expand Celebrity Engagement Tech

Celewish Media, India’s celebrity engagement and influencer platform, has raised $750,000 from Dubai-based angel investors at a ₹62 crore valuation.

Founded by Mohssin Khan and Anvarul Hasan, Celewish bridges the worlds of entertainment, branding, and fan engagement — connecting celebrities, brands, and audiences for endorsements, events, and campaigns.

With stars like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan already on board, the company plans to expand across the Middle East, leveraging AI-driven influencer tools to link Bollywood’s reach with global brands.

Career247 to Train 1 Million Learners in AI and Digital Skills

India’s young talent pool is preparing for the AI era, and Career247 — the skilling arm of Adda Education — wants to lead that charge.

Since launching in 2025, the platform has already enrolled 3,000+ learners in Data Science and Analytics programs and is expanding into Full Stack Development, Cybersecurity, and Generative AI.

Its mission is ambitious — to train one million learners across India in job-ready digital and AI skills. Combining AI-driven tools, real-world projects, and placement support, Career247 aims to close the education-employment gap and equip India’s youth for the future of work.