IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has flagged risks of online money gaming platforms being exploited for money laundering, terror financing, and communication by extremist groups. To counter this, the “Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025” was approved on August 19 and will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20. The bill targets offshore operators evading taxes and regulations and proposes strict penalties for promoting online money games.

The Technology Development Board (TDB) is backing Primary Healthtech’s AI-powered portable blood testing device, Mobilab, developed by IIT Guwahati alumni Sahil Jagnani and Ankit Choudhury. Supported by BIRAC, Mobilab conducts over 25 tests, holds one patent with six pending, and has been used on 10,000 patients. TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak emphasized its role in advancing indigenous diagnostics and healthcare access, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat.

House of Biryan has raised $3.6 Mn in funding led by Bestvantage Investments, with MS Dhoni and others participating. Founded in 2022 by chefs Mohammed Bhol and Mikhail Shahani, the cloud kitchen brand has served 2.8 Mn customers with biryani, pizza, and sushi. Operating 22 kitchens across Mumbai, Delhi, and Dubai, it targets 120 – 150 outlets, INR 450 – 550 Cr revenue, and global expansion, while already being EBITDA-positive with INR 50 Cr ARR.

Accenture is acquiring CyberCX, a leading Asia Pacific cybersecurity firm, to strengthen its regional cyber resilience. The deal adds 1,400 experts and AI-powered platforms, enhancing Accenture’s managed detection, response, and security operations. Founded in 2019, CyberCX runs advanced security centers across the region. The move follows Accenture’s report showing 97% of Australian firms lack AI security readiness, underlining the deal’s strategic significance.

Vodafone Idea has partnered with IBM to modernize operations through AI and a unified DevOps model. The collaboration includes an AI Innovation Hub where Vi and IBM Consulting teams will co-develop AI solutions and automation tools. CTO Jagbir Singh highlighted its role in accelerating software development, while IBM leaders stressed its importance for India’s telecom sector. The initiative aims to boost IT agility, digital resilience, and customer experience.

R for Rabbit, a D2C baby product brand, raised $27 million in a round co-led by Filter Capital and 3one4 Capital, enabling Xponentia Capital’s exit. The funds will drive growth, omnichannel expansion, and product innovation. Founded by Kunal and Kinjal Popat, the company offers strollers, car seats, and more. With 2,000+ partners and 5 million parents served, it reports 35% CAGR since FY21, FY24 revenue of ₹170 crore, and $30M+ ARR target for FY25.

Credgenics, a SaaS debt collection platform, has acquired Arrise BPO Solutions under its ‘CG Setu’ initiative to expand into a full-stack provider. The deal combines digital tools with on-ground personnel, improving efficiency for lenders and borrowers. With Arrise’s 18,000-pincode network, Credgenics targets INR 850 Cr revenue in three years. Valued at $340 Mn, it posted INR 220 Cr revenue in FY25, working with lenders like ICICI and HDFC Bank.

Beyond Appliances has raised $4 million in Series A funding led by Fireside Ventures to strengthen manufacturing and R&D. Founded in 2024 by Eshwar K Vikas and Rakesh Patil, the startup sells smart kitchen appliances through its D2C site, Amazon, Flipkart, and retail stores. The funding will expand capacity and launch new products, tapping into India’s $19.31 billion smart kitchen market by 2030, where investor activity is surging.

Ahmedabad-based Amnex Infotechnologies has raised ₹460 Cr from Pantomath’s Bharat Value Fund to fuel growth. Founded in 2008 by Aditya Shah and Tapan Gosaliya, Amnex specializes in AI, IoT, GIS, and blockchain, with 18 platforms driving a 75% CAGR and 40%+ ROCE. The funding will expand its tech portfolio and critical infrastructure adoption, strengthening Amnex’s role in India’s digital backbone. The Wealth Company Asset Management managed the investment.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Go in India at ₹399/month, its first country-exclusive plan, payable via UPI. Powered by GPT-5, it offers 10x message capacity, daily image generations, extended memory, and improved Indic language support. Positioned between the free and Plus/Pro tiers, the plan unlocks advanced tools like image generation and Python-based data analysis. Available on both web and mobile, it expands AI accessibility for Indian users.

Goldi Solar, founded by Ishverbhai Dholakia, raised ₹137.5 crore from Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath to expand into solar cell production. With a 14.7 GW module capacity and EPC services, the company plans a large-scale cell facility by 2026 and a 1 GW Solar Park by FY25-26. In FY24, it posted ₹1,756.36 crore revenue and ₹59.38 crore profit. Kamath highlighted its role in driving India’s clean energy transition.

DOBRA, by Oxbow Brands, has raised ₹1.5 crore seed funding from D2C Insider Super Angels Fund and leading D2C founders. The brand, known for pop goli soda and artisanal cotton candy, plans to scale across retail, foodservice, quick commerce, and D2C channels. Tapping India’s $170B FMCG market, DOBRA gains not just capital but strategic insights for faster growth, as noted by investor Rahul Johar.

Former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal has launched Parallel Web Systems, a cloud platform reimagining AI’s web interaction. Backed by $30M from Khosla Ventures and others, it features AI research engines and a deep research API that enables real-time data synthesis, outperforming models like OpenAI’s GPT-5. With applications in coding assistants and workflow automation, Parallel enters the AI race amid Agrawal’s ongoing legal battle with Elon Musk.

Natasha Malpani, ex-Kae Capital, has launched Boundless Ventures, a ₹200 crore fund backing Indian AI startups at pre-seed and seed stages. Focus areas include consumer AI, infrastructure, healthcare, logistics, and Make-in-India hardware. The fund has already invested in six ventures, including SuperHealth, Armatrix, Piersight, and Knot. Along with capital, Boundless offers storytelling and market access, blending technical depth with cultural fluency.

The IndiaAI Mission is expanding GPU capacity with 3,850 new units, including 1,050 Google Trillium TPUs, 1,300 Nvidia H100 GPUs from Locuz, 50 Trillium TPUs from Ishan Infotech, and 2,500 GPUs from Sify. Led by CEO Abhishek Singh, the initiative now counts over 17,300 GPUs, with 14,000 more planned, to support startups and research. India’s AI market is projected to exceed $17B by 2030.

Bengaluru-based fintech Niyo, via Finnew Solutions, has acquired Mumbai’s Kanji Forex to expand into the offline foreign exchange market. Founded in 1935, Kanji Forex will now operate as Niyo Forex, integrating with Niyo’s digital platform to offer forex cards and outward remittances under its AD Category II license. Amit Talwar, with 27 years’ banking experience at IndusInd and ICICI, has been named CEO.

Zepto, best known for rapid grocery delivery, has entered real estate by partnering with The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL). Users can now book land plots directly on the Zepto app, ensuring secure and transparent purchases. The collaboration focuses on premium and spiritual destinations like Vrindavan, promoted through festive campaigns such as Janmashtami.

Prime Minister Modi announced GST 2.0, set for Diwali, featuring simplified taxes with two main slabs 5% and 18% and a higher rate for select goods. MSMEs are expected to benefit from easier compliance and better cash flow. Draft changes await GST Council approval, with possible price cuts if 12% goods move to 5%. The reform aims to spur festive demand while safeguarding revenues.

NHAI introduced the FASTag Annual Pass on August 15, 2025, at 1,150 toll plazas. Priced at ₹3,000 for non-commercial vehicles, it can be activated via the Rajmargyatra App or NHAI website. Day one saw 1.4 lakh users and 1.39 lakh transactions. With 98% penetration and 80M users, FASTag further streamlines toll collection.

India is pushing for semiconductor self-sufficiency, with Tata Electronics building a ₹91,000 crore fab in Dholera, Gujarat, targeting 50,000 wafer starts per month. The plan includes multiple ATMP units and investments from Applied Materials and Lam Research. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw contrasted this progress with past failed Intel efforts, noting SCL remains at lab scale.

Infosys and Telstra are forming a joint venture to drive AI-led cloud and digital transformation in Australia. Infosys will acquire 75% of Versent Group, while Telstra retains 25%. The partnership combines Infosys’ AI platforms—Topaz and Cobalt with Versent’s cloud expertise to deliver differentiated value for enterprises. Building on prior collaborations, the deal is expected to close in H2 FY 2026.

BII is investing Rs 70 crore ($8.2M) in Altum Credo to expand affordable housing finance. Altum Credo will issue 40 lakh+ Series C1 shares at Rs 173, raising BII’s stake from 9.04% to 12.55%. Aavishkaar Capital remains the largest shareholder at 14.27%. The funding supports expansion into new geographies, following last year’s $40M round led by Z3Partners and Oikocredit. Altum Credo’s total funding now stands at $80M.

Darwinbox, an AI-powered HCM platform, raised $40M from Teachers’ Venture Growth to expand in North America and advance AI innovation. Serving 1,000+ enterprises and 4M employees in 130 countries, it invests in agentic AI and backs the Model Context Protocol. Following a $140M round by Partners Group and KKR, leaders stress global growth and AI-first solutions. Recognized by Gartner and Forrester, Darwinbox seeks to transform HR tech.

Shreetech Data, a Mumbai-based digital infrastructure firm, has raised $4.5 million from Aarii Ventures and Cello Family Office to expand data center, power infrastructure, and manufacturing operations. The company has completed over 100 data center projects with 500+ MW sanctioned power. Its Datalix brand makes LV switchboards and PDUs. Revenue grew from ₹88 crore in FY21 to ₹613 crore in FY25, driven by a 62% CAGR in data infrastructure services.

An RBI committee proposes an adaptable AI policy for the financial sector, focusing on innovation, risk control, and consumer protection. It recommends consolidated AI guidance, an AI Liability Framework, board-approved AI policies, and audit systems. Experts highlight benefits and concerns—Pranesh Prakash warns of auditability issues, while Srikanth L says it favors industry over consumers. The plan includes an AI Standing Committee and governance for autonomous AI systems.

Oracle has laid off over 150 OCI team members in the US and India, including roles in Enterprise Engineering, Fusion ERP, and AI/ML. The cuts come amid record stock gains and major deals with OpenAI, TikTok, and Temu. Oracle says it’s part of strategic restructuring, shifting focus to AI infrastructure, with new AI-focused hiring underway in Tennessee.

Bengaluru-based Dozee is set to secure $10M in debt funding from Stockhausen International, its second raise since March 2025. The RPM and EWS provider, founded in 2015, offers products like Shravan and a smart vital-sign monitoring mat, recently earning CE Mark certification under EU MDR 2017/745. Backed by Prime Venture Partners, Yournest, and 3One4 Capital, Dozee’s total funding now stands at $38M.

Refold AI, based in Bengaluru and San Mateo, has raised $6.5M in seed funding co-led by Eniac and Tidal Ventures. Founded in 2023 by Jugal Anchalia and Abhishek Kumar, the startup uses AI to automate API integrations, replacing middleware for workflows like ERP-CRM syncing and finance automation. Targeting a $350B market, its AI agents learn system behavior, maintain integration code, and reduce manual effort.