Top Startup News Today: From PhysicsWallah’s IPO run to Swiggy’s new urban lifestyle play | 12th November

The Indian startup ecosystem kicked off the week with a burst of energy — from IPO action in edtech to fresh funding rounds across healthtech, logistics, and sustainability. With a strong investor appetite and growing innovation across sectors, November 11 brought a mix of momentum and milestones for the country’s entrepreneurs.

Here’s a detailed look at the top developments making headlines in the startup world today.

Top Startup News Today

PhysicsWallah IPO Gets Strong Anchor Backing

India’s homegrown edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah (PW) is making a confident debut on Dalal Street. The company’s initial public offering (IPO) has attracted remarkable attention from institutional investors, signalling strong market confidence in the profitability of India’s most affordable education platform.

PW has allotted 14.34 crore equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 109 per share, successfully raising around Rs 1,563 crore ahead of the public issue opening. The issue opens today, November 11, and will close on November 13.

The list of anchor investors reads like a who’s who of the Indian financial ecosystem — ICICI Prudential, Kotak Mahindra, Nippon India, Motilal Oswal, and Aditya Birla Sun Life are among the key participants.

The company’s IPO journey represents not just another milestone for a startup but a defining moment for India’s edtech story — one that started with YouTube lectures and now eyes public listing glory.

Sacheerome: The Scent Behind India’s FMCG Giants

In a world driven by data and AI, one company is quietly ruling the world of fragrances and flavours.Sacheerome, a legacy business that began in early 1900s Kolkata as a saffron and musk trader, has now transformed into a modern research-driven powerhouse in the flavour and fragrance industry.

Today, its scents and flavours power the products of ITC, Wipro, Raymond, Dabur, Emami, and Himalaya, among others — names that dominate Indian households. Sacheerome also exports to over 30 countries, with a massive library of 10,000+ formulations and a manufacturing capacity of 15,000 metric tonnes per year.

Blending heritage with innovation, the company is using robotic precision and natural ingredient breakthroughs to redefine sensory experiences for brands worldwide.

GreenFi Raises $2M for AI-Powered ESG Risk Solutions

In the growing space of sustainable finance, GreenFi is stepping up to redefine how banks and enterprises manage ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) risk.

The Kerala-based startup has raised $2 million in a seed round led by Transition VC, with participation from senior banking executives from Singapore and the Middle East.

Founded in 2023 by Barun Chandran, GreenFi leverages artificial intelligence to offer next-gen risk and compliance tools for financial institutions. The fresh capital will fuel its global expansion into California, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, while bolstering its AI innovation engine.

QuickShift Secures Rs 22 Cr in Pre-Series A Round

The rapid rise of India’s D2C economy has created immense demand for smarter, faster logistics. Stepping up to that challenge, QuickShift, a full-stack fulfilment platform, has raised Rs 22 crore in a Pre-Series A round led by Atomic Capital, with participation from Axilor Ventures and other marquee investors.

The company plans to use the funds to advance its AI-led fulfilment platform that helps brands make real-time operational decisions, strengthen leadership and operations, and expand across North and South India.

Founded by Anshul Goenka and Pradipto Roy, QuickShift is positioning itself as a game-changer for D2C brands seeking agile, data-driven logistics solutions.

Praan Health Raises Rs 8.5 Cr for Chronic Care Expansion

Healthtech startup Praan Health, founded in 2024 by Navneeth Ramprasad, is on a mission to simplify chronic care for India’s ageing population.

The Bengaluru-based company has raised Rs 8.5 crore in a seed round led by Rainmatter Investments, with participation from WEH Ventures and a group of angel investors including PhysicsWallah’s Alakh Pandey, Prateek Maheshwari, and Arjun Vaidya (of Dr. Vaidya’s).

Targeted at users managing the health of their parents aged 50 and above, Praan plans to expand its clinical and coaching teams, invest in technology, and establish health centres across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR.

Protouch Secures Investment from Enrission India Capital and GVFL

Protouch, a rapidly growing D2C beauty appliance brand founded by Tanisha Lakhani, has received new funding from Enrission India Capital and GVFL.

The company offers innovative, high-performance beauty tech devices and plans to use the capital to expand its product portfolio and market reach. Protouch’s mission is clear — to democratise premium beauty experiences by offering salon-grade technology at affordable prices.

Swiggy Expands ‘Crew’ to New Cities

Swiggy, known for transforming India’s food delivery landscape, is now eyeing a new frontier — lifestyle concierge services.

Its premium offering ‘Crew’, initially launched as a pilot, has now expanded to Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR. The service caters to urban professionals seeking a seamless blend of AI-powered and human-assisted convenience — from booking restaurant tables to managing travel, events, gifting, and even government documentation tasks.

According to Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Food Delivery at Swiggy, the growing adoption of Crew reflects how India’s urban consumers are increasingly outsourcing everyday tasks for efficiency and comfort.

BII and BlueOrchard Launch $250M Climate Fund

In a major step towards sustainable finance, British International Investment (BII) has partnered with BlueOrchard Finance to launch the BlueOrchard Climate Action Mobilisation Fund (BOCAMF) — a $250 million fund aimed at financing climate projects in emerging markets.

The fund will provide senior loans to banks, microfinance institutions, and intermediaries that support climate-focused SMEs. BII will anchor the fund as part of its £100 million mobilisation initiative announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

This partnership aims to unlock insurance capital for green initiatives, signalling a new wave of climate financing.

Hiranandani Forays into Senior Living with Rs 300 Cr Project

Real estate major Hiranandani Communities has announced its entry into the premium senior living segment with a new project, Elements at Hiranandani Parks in Oragadam, Chennai, in collaboration with GTB Group.

The Rs 300 crore project spans 4.5 acres, featuring 400 residences across two phases. Units will start from Rs 60 lakh onwards. Designed for holistic living, the project includes wellness centres, medical assistance, recreational facilities, and assisted living options.

This initiative forms part of Hiranandani’s broader plan to generate Rs 4,000 crore in topline revenue over the next five years across 100 acres in Oragadam.

Celcius Logistics Appoints Nayan Sanghavi as CFO

Cold-chain logistics innovator Celcius Logistics has appointed Nayan Sanghavi as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Sanghavi, a veteran with over 24 years of experience in logistics and finance at Allcargo Supply Chain and DHL Supply Chain, will lead the company’s financial transformation and growth strategy.

Celcius recently launched Celcius Green, India’s first fully electric refrigerated fleet, and Celcius+, a specialised division for pharma logistics. Founder and CEO Swarup Bose said Sanghavi’s expertise will play a crucial role as the company accelerates its next phase of expansion.

From edtech to elder care and AI logistics to fragrances — India’s startup ecosystem continues to showcase its diversity and dynamism. The spirit of innovation runs deep, and as new sectors open up, investors are clearly betting on India’s next decade of growth.