Top Startup News Today: Key IPO Milestones, Fresh Capital, Strategic Appointments & Expansions | 18th Nov

On a brisk Tuesday that carried the unmistakable buzz of a maturing startup ecosystem, India’s entrepreneurial landscape witnessed a string of high-impact developments—from a blockbuster market debut to early-stage funding wins, global healthcare collaborations and expansions across quick-commerce and manufacturing. The momentum reflected not just the scale at which Indian startups now operate, but also the breadth of innovation unfolding across sectors.

Top Startup News Today

PhysicsWallah’s strong stock market debut sets the tone

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah (PW)—a brand that started with humble YouTube beginnings—achieved a symbolic milestone as it stepped into the public markets with an impressive 33% premium on listing.

PW’s shares opened at Rs 143 on BSE and Rs 145 on NSE, rising well above the issue price and signalling strong investor faith. While the IPO began on a quieter note, the final day (November 13) saw a surge in institutional participation, pushing the overall subscription to 1.8x, driven primarily by QIB investors subscribing 2.7x their quota.

For the edtech sector—often questioned after the pandemic boom faded—PW’s listing is a crucial sentiment booster, underscoring that sustainable, profitable education models still have the market’s confidence.

Funding Momentum in Early-stage Startups

Circle raises Rs 3.4 Cr to make C2C commerce safer

Bengaluru-based Circle, founded in 2025 by Ankit Misra and Chirag Kataruka, is taking a fresh shot at fixing India’s fragmented second-hand market. The startup secured Rs 3.4 crore in a pre-seed round led by Titan Capital, with participation from Myntra Co-founder Raveen Sastry.

Circle operates a C2C marketplace with AI-verified listings, managed doorstep logistics, and secure payments—an attempt to remove distrust and unpredictability that often plague peer-to-peer buying and selling. The early capital sets the stage for Circle to refine its full-stack model and expand service reliability.

Pype AI raises $1.2M to automate patient communication

Bengaluru- and US-focused Pype AI secured $1.2 million in pre-seed funding led by Kalaari Capital, with Wyser Capital and Tenity also participating.

Founded in 2024 by Dhruv Mehra (ex-Meta) and Ashish Tripathy (ex-LinkedIn), Pype AI is building specialty-trained voice AI agents that power front-desk operations for clinics and hospitals. With a $50B+ healthcare communication opportunity in the US alone, the startup plans to use this capital for product development and targeted market expansion.

Axirium Aerospace raises $3.5M to scale advanced precision manufacturing

Deeptech and aerospace got a major boost as Axirium Aerospace announced a $3.5 million seed round led by Shastra VC and BEENEXT, along with notable angels including Ashish Gupta (Helion Advisors) and PVS Raju (AIG Hospitals).

Founded by industry veterans Nishant Khurana, Neeraj Agarwal, and Piyush Agarwal, the startup is building advanced production capabilities to serve global aerospace needs. The founders’ prior stint at Tata Advanced Systems Limited, where they helped scale massive aerospace programs, brings deep execution and program engineering expertise to Axirium’s ambitions.

The new capital will support talent expansion and the setup of their first state-of-the-art facility, positioning Axirium as a high-trust global partner from India.

Unlimitr raises $1.1M to scale its global AI-powered wellness marketplace

Wellness-tech platform Unlimitr raised $1.1 million from a Texas-based investor consortium. Founded by Dr Ruchika Gupta and Gaurav Agarwal, the platform aims to build a global marketplace for culturally aligned wellness solutions—positioning itself as the “Amazon of wellness.”

The idea traces back to Dr Gupta’s near-fatal delivery and difficult postpartum journey in the US—an experience that exposed the lack of accessible, personalised wellness care. Unlimitr now aims to merge AI, coaching, fitness, and holistic health into one seamless ecosystem.

Other Key Developments

BharatPe strengthens Unity Small Finance Bank board with Anil Kishora

Fintech major BharatPe appointed veteran banker Anil Kishora as a non-executive, non-independent director on the board of Unity Small Finance Bank. With over 40 years of banking experience, Kishora’s induction is seen as significant for governance and strategic alignment.

He joins Sumeet Singh, BharatPe’s chief legal and corporate affairs officer, marking the company’s strengthened representation on Unity’s board.

Vaidam Health partners with Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health

Medical tourism facilitator Vaidam Health signed an MoU with the Ministry of Health, Vanuatu, enabling easier access to advanced and affordable healthcare treatments in India for patients from the Pacific nation.

The collaboration ensures streamlined patient journeys—from documentation to post-treatment care—aiming to make cross-border healthcare more transparent and efficient.

ZILO expands with second Mumbai dark store, enters new categories

Fashion quick-commerce platform ZILO opened its second dark store in Mumbai, just three months after launch, and expanded into accessories, footwear, bags, watches, and jewellery.

The addition of premium brands—including Titan, Guess, Lavie, Giva, Neemans, Tommy Hilfiger and more—enhances its hybrid model across apparel and non-apparel categories. With deliveries starting at 60 minutes and at-home trials, ZILO is positioning itself as a high-speed fashion delivery player in urban India.

Musashi India completes Phase 2 expansion of Bengaluru plant

Automotive and EV component manufacturer Musashi India, a subsidiary of Japan’s Musashi Seimitsu Industries, completed the second phase of expansion of its Bengaluru manufacturing facility.

The upgraded unit, now spanning 32,000 sq m with an additional 11,000 sq m of new space, includes enhanced forging, machining, and heat-treatment capabilities. Fully operational by December, it strengthens Musashi’s position in India’s accelerating EV and automotive supply chain.