Top Startup News Today: From Menstrual Equity to Deep-Tech Breakthroughs, the Week That Moved the Ecosystem

As the second week of October unfolds, India’s startup and innovation landscape is buzzing with stories of progress that go far beyond boardrooms and balance sheets. From Karnataka’s groundbreaking menstrual leave policy reshaping workplace equity, to homegrown deep-tech ventures tackling plastic waste and motor innovation, this week mirrors a larger truth — India’s startup ecosystem isn’t just scaling, it’s evolving with purpose.

Top Startup News Today 

A Policy That Puts Women’s Health at the Heart of Workplaces

In what could be remembered as a defining moment for workplace inclusion, the Karnataka government last week announced a one-day paid menstrual leave per month for women employees — across public, private, and industrial sectors.

It’s not the first time menstrual leave has been discussed in India, but Karnataka’s Menstrual Leave Policy 2025 stands apart for one key reason: its universality. By including women from every working sector, the state has set a precedent that others will likely follow.

Initially floated as a six-day policy last year, the framework was expanded to 12 days annually after stakeholder consultations. For millions of women, especially in IT, garment, manufacturing, and government sectors, this isn’t just a welfare move — it’s recognition.

In a country where over 355 million women menstruate, conversations around period leave have long been treated as exceptions. Karnataka’s step pushes menstrual health into mainstream policy dialogue — a milestone for workplace equity and women’s well-being.

Preserving a Vanishing Heritage: Meenu Subbiah’s Chettinad Revival

Sometimes, innovation lies not in creating the new, but in reviving the forgotten.

When Meenu Subbiah returned to her hometown of Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu in 1993 after completing a diamonds program at GIA–USA, she was heartbroken by what she saw — Chettinad jewellery, once a hallmark of heritage and precision, had lost its soul.

The Chettiars, a trading community with deep roots in Tamil Nadu, are known for their love for art, architecture, and ornaments. Their jewellery — inspired by temple motifs, peacocks, swans, and paisleys — was once entirely handcrafted, each piece telling a story of lineage and cultural wealth.

“But the jewellery being sold as Chettinad wasn’t authentic anymore; it had lost the detail, the balance, the essence,” recalls Subbiah.

Today, through Meenu Subbiah Diamonds, she’s not just reviving a lost art form — she’s building a bridge between past and present. Her work stands as a reminder that in India’s startup narrative, preservation is innovation too.

The Sound of Fairness: Hoopr’s Mission to Make Music Licensing Work for Artists

In the age of Reels and viral marketing, music has become the heartbeat of digital storytelling — but not always for the artists who create it.

For Gaurav Dagaonkar, an independent artist turned entrepreneur, the turning point came when one of his songs on women’s empowerment went viral — used by brands across social media campaigns without proper licensing. “After reaching out for royalties, I realised there was no real system for digital music use,” he says.

That frustration led to Hoopr, a startup that provides copyright-safe music for brands, creators, and platforms, while ensuring fair royalties for artists.

By marrying tech and creativity, Hoopr aims to empower a new generation of independent musicians — ensuring they’re not just heard, but paid. In a digital-first India, where content is currency, platforms like Hoopr are rewriting the rules of creative ownership.

Investing in Impact: Somerset Indus Bets on Affordable Healthcare

India’s healthtech revolution may be in full swing, but Ramesh Kannan of Somerset Indus Capital Partners believes the real opportunity lies ahead — in scaling access and affordability across smaller cities.

The Mumbai-based private equity firm, which manages nearly $500 million in assets, has spent a decade backing healthcare ventures that serve Tier II and Tier III India. From diagnostic networks to affordable hospitals, its portfolio spans 15 companies, many led by first-generation entrepreneurs.

Its third fund, Fund III, now in its closing stage, is expected to surpass its $250 million target, with commitments from European and US DFIs, domestic banks, and impact investors.

“Our focus is simple — bridge the healthcare gap with sustainable, scalable business models,” Kannan says.

With India’s healthcare market expanding rapidly, Somerset’s focus on underserved geographies is a timely reminder that innovation is only meaningful when it’s inclusive.

Funding Spotlight: Chara Technologies Raises ₹52 Crore to Build Rare-Earth-Free Motors

In the world of clean tech, Bengaluru-based Chara Technologies is turning heads — and motors.

The company, which designs rare-earth-free electric motors, has raised ₹52 crore in Series A funding led by Arkam Ventures, with participation from Exfinity Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital, and IIMA Ventures.

The funds will fuel the setup of a dedicated testing and validation facility in Bengaluru, ramping up production capacity from 20,000 to 100,000 units annually. The company also plans to roll out new motor lines — lighter, faster, and industrial-grade variants.

At a time when global supply chains are strained and sustainability is the mantra, Chara’s innovation could redefine India’s position in the EV and industrial motor ecosystem.

Deep-Tech Takes the Lead: Dia Mirza-Backed ‘Without’ Turns Waste into Worth

At a sprawling 1,030 sq m facility in Pune, deep-tech startup Without is doing what many thought impossible — recycling the unrecyclable.

Backed by actor and environmentalist Dia Mirza, the startup has launched India’s first FOAK (First of a Kind) demonstration recycling plant, capable of processing five tonnes of plastic waste a month.

The plant integrates material intake, chemical transformation, and product manufacturing — all under one roof. Its patented low-energy technology transforms multi-layered plastics and soiled textiles into polyolefins and terephthalic acid, offering a scalable alternative to conventional pyrolysis.

Following a $1.9 million seed round led by Rewilding Wealth and supported by Mirza, Spectrum Impact, and others, Without plans to establish three more recycling hubs by FY27.

It’s innovation with intent — the kind that redefines sustainability, one molecule at a time.

Wealth Management Shake-Up: Equirus and Sapient Finserv Merge

Two of India’s independent financial firms, Equirus Group and Sapient Finserv, have joined hands in an equity-swap merger to create a top-10 non-bank wealth platform with a combined AUM of ₹35,000 crore.

Sapient Finserv, headquartered in Pune, brings ₹13,500 crore in AUM and a monthly SIP book of ₹65 crore. Its founders Amit Bivalkar and Pallav Bagaria will now join Equirus Wealth’s leadership team and board.

The merger strengthens Equirus’s wealth and family office services, positioning the combined entity to scale to ₹50,000 crore AUM and expand through proprietary research and new financial products.

Defence Innovation: BEL Veteran Joins Olee.Space

In another key development, Olee.Space, a photonics and defence-tech innovator, has appointed V. Gowtama Mannava, former CMD of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), as its Strategic Production Advisor.

With over 40 years of experience in defence electronics, Mannava’s appointment will bolster Olee.Space’s R&D and manufacturing capabilities in aerospace, LIDAR, and secure communication technologies.

Founder James Solomon said the move aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and will accelerate the startup’s mission to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing.

Building Skills for Tomorrow: Career247 and Unnati Foundation Lead the Way

In the skilling and education space, Career247, the digital arm of Adda Education, is on a mission to empower one million learners with AI and digital skills.

Launched in January 2025, the platform has already trained 3,000+ active learners in data science, full-stack development, cybersecurity, and generative AI, blending real-world projects and AI-integrated tools for job-ready outcomes.

Meanwhile, in Gujarat, the Unnati Foundation has signed an MoU with the state government to train 25,000 youth annually under its UNXT programme — aiming to reach 75,000 students across 200 colleges and ITIs over three years.

The 200-hour course blends communication, life skills, and workplace readiness, supported by psychometric assessments and job-linkage platforms like Udhyogam.

Both initiatives echo a common vision — preparing India’s youth not just for jobs, but for a digital-first, AI-driven economy.

From menstrual health to deep-tech sustainability, from wealth management to workforce readiness — India’s innovation map this week is a mosaic of purpose-led progress.

These aren’t isolated stories. Together, they signal a larger shift in India’s startup ecosystem — one where growth, inclusion, and sustainability are no longer competing priorities, but shared goals.