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Metadome.ai Secures $6.5 Million in Series A Funding to Expand XR and AI Capabilities

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Garima Bansal
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Metadome.ai Secures $6.5 Million in Series A Funding to Expand XR and AI Capabilities

Metadome.ai, an extended reality (XR) startup formerly known as Adloid, has successfully secured $6.5 million in Series A funding through an equity and debt round. The funding was led by Siana Capital and existing investor Chiratae Ventures, with new contributions from Alteria Capital, 3to-1 Capital, and Manish Choksi’s family office.

The company intends to use the investment to expand into new regions and enhance its capabilities by integrating advanced XR technologies with developments in artificial intelligence. Metadome.ai aims to strengthen its presence in the US, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. In December 2021, the Gurugram-based startup raised $4 million in its pre-Series A round, also led by Chiratae Ventures.

Founded in 2016 by Kanav Singla and Shorya Mahajan, Metadome.ai focuses on sales enablement through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) solutions, particularly in home decor, e-commerce, and mobility. The company collaborates with notable clients including Hewlett Packard (HP), Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, and Asian Paints.

Since its launch in 2018, Metadome.ai has experienced organic growth, with its customer base more than doubling in the past year. The company recently teamed up with Hippo Homes to offer a virtual reality experience at its new store in Greater Noida, enabling customers to explore home improvement solutions.

Metadome.ai is also a participant in NVIDIA’s Inception and Google Startup programs. Other emerging companies in the extended reality space in India include SmartVizX, Liminal, Embright Infotech, Scapic, and GMetri.

Pine Labs and Axis Bank Launch UPISetu for Effortless UPI Payments

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Garima Bansal
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Pine Labs and Axis Bank Launch UPISetu for Effortless UPI Payments

Setu, a Pine Labs company, has partnered with Axis Bank to introduce UPISetu, a UPI-focused payments platform designed for businesses and developers. This platform aims to simplify various processes such as integration, merchant onboarding, transaction tracking, refund and chargeback management, and reconciliation.

UPISetu offers a range of UPI functionalities, including QR code payments, UPI autopay, and third-party validation services through APIs. Merchants can create custom links or QR codes for both one-time and recurring payments, and benefit from features like customized brand offers, instant cashbacks, refunds, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

B Amrish Rau, CEO of Pine Labs, emphasized the importance of leveraging the massive consumer-led UPI growth in India. He highlighted UPISetu as a game-changing launch for the ecosystem, particularly as ‘credit on UPI’ gains momentum. Rau also mentioned the pioneering efforts of NPCI in making UPI a preferred payment method globally.

Setu encourages developers to explore UPISetu’s comprehensive sandbox environment, designed to facilitate seamless integration and innovation. This environment aims to support developers in creating and testing new UPI-based solutions effectively.

Sanjeev Moghe, President & Head of Cards & Payments at Axis Bank, stated that the partnership with Setu and Pine Labs reinforces their commitment to digitizing the merchant ecosystem. He also highlighted the provision of scalable, cloud-hosted infrastructure to merchant partners, emphasizing Axis Bank’s dedication to offering reliable and innovative business solutions in the UPI space.

Earlier this year, Setu launched Sesame, India’s first domain-specific large language model (LLM) for the BFSI sector, developed with Sarvam AI. This initiative aims to enhance credit decisions and personalize financial services by leveraging extensive financial data and India’s digital infrastructure.

Physics Wallah Expands into Healthcare with New School of Healthcare Initiative

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Garima Bansal
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Physics Wallah Expands into Healthcare with New School of Healthcare Initiative

After investing in brick-and-mortar skilling institutes for technology and management, the edtech unicorn Physics Wallah (PW) has expanded into healthcare, further broadening its range of skilling-related offerings.

Under the umbrella of PW Skills—the upskilling vertical of the Alakh Pandey-led firm—the School of Healthcare aims to address the shortage of skilled healthcare workers by offering specialized courses.

PW’s School of Healthcare, located in five cities—Noida, Indore, Lucknow, Patna, and Delhi—will offer programs designed to meet industry standards and cater to the diverse needs of the healthcare market.

India’s healthcare sector is experiencing rapid growth, yet only 15% of the 65 lakh allied health professionals are vocationally trained, highlighting an urgent need for high-quality, affordable education. With the launch of the healthcare school, the company aims to bridge this gap by offering diverse, hands-on training programs.

The courses include practical internships for hands-on professional development. For vocational courses such as Medical Lab Technician (MLT) and Operation Theatre Technician (OTT), students will undergo two years of classroom training followed by a one-year internship. Advanced Diploma programs in MLT and OTT consist of a one-year classroom component and a one-year internship. PW Skills plans to offer comprehensive placement support, including interview preparation, soft skills, and computer literacy, with the aim of securing global placements for graduates in the future.

This development comes a few months after the Alakh Pandey-led firm entered the physical schools segment with PW Gurukulam Schools in Gurugram and Varanasi. PW, which started in the test-prep segment and later expanded into the skilling space, aims to replicate this success with its schools.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Noida, the edtech firm aspires to be a lifelong learning partner for its students. Its offerings span various educational segments, including two Gurukulam Schools, test preparation in over 43 categories, a skilling vertical, higher education, and study abroad programs.

BlueBinaries Secures Rs 60 Crore Funding Led by Anicut Capital to Boost SDV and Digital Capabilities

By
Garima Bansal
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0
BlueBinaries Secures Rs 60 Crore Funding Led by Anicut Capital to Boost SDV and Digital Capabilities

Engineering and technology services company BlueBinaries has raised Rs 60 crore ($7.2 million) through a combination of debt and equity funding, led by Anicut Capital.

The funds will be used to expand its existing customer base of OEMs and tier I automotive suppliers across various regions, and to enhance its SDV and digital capabilities, as stated in a press release by BlueBinaries.

Founded in 2017 by Srinivas Aravapalli and Kishore LM, BlueBinaries focuses on accelerating the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with E/E architecture design and development services, as well as digital technologies like cloud computing, DevOps, AI/ML, cybersecurity, and IoT solutions.

Market research indicates that the automotive electronics and software market is projected to exceed $80 billion by the end of 2030.

Based in Chennai, the company serves a diverse customer base in Europe, the UK, the USA, and the APAC region. It aims to deliver cutting-edge technological solutions and services for the mobility industry.

Anicut Capital is in the process of raising its third credit fund with a target corpus of Rs 1,300-1,500 crore. The firm is also nearing the close of its first debt fund under the GIFT City structure.

Next Bharat Ventures Partners with 3one4 Capital and Antler India to Empower Early-Stage Startups

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Garima Bansal
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Next Bharat Ventures Partners with 3one4 Capital and Antler India to Empower Early-Stage Startups

Next Bharat Ventures has entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with venture capital funds 3one4 Capital and Antler India, which invest in early-stage startups in India and internationally.

The company, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corp Japan, will collaborate closely with 3one4 Capital and Antler India to offer strategic guidance, funding opportunities, and extensive networks to early-stage startups in both mainstream business and social sectors through a cohort-based approach.

Forging strategic associations with Antler India and 3one4 Capital is a deliberate effort to nurture and empower the early-stage startup ecosystem, with the expectation of a successful collaboration paving the way for a new generation of socially conscious entrepreneurs in India, as stated by Vipul Nath Jindal, Managing Director and CEO of Next Bharat Ventures.

The company, through its flagship initiative—the Next Bharat Residency program, aims to create an end-to-end support ecosystem for impact entrepreneurs. The application process is open until August 12, 2024, with the program scheduled to commence on October 14, 2024.

The approach to nurturing startups through high selectivity and the Antler Residency Platform is tailored, combining global expertise in cohort-based investments with the vision to create social impact in Tier II and III India, aiming to scale solutions that will make a significant difference in India’s entrepreneurship landscape, according to Rajiv Srivatsa, Partner and Investor at Antler India.

The MoU was signed by Jindal, along with Siddarth Pai, Founding Partner at 3one4 Capital, and Lakshmikant PB, Director-Finance at Antler India.

Combining strategic expertise in early-stage investments with Next Bharat’s focus on socially impactful enterprises aims to provide comprehensive support to further the mission of entrepreneurship and value creation in India, as expressed by Siddarth Pai, Founding Partner at 3one4 Capital.

Kindlife Raises $8 Million in Series A to Expand K-Beauty and Wellness Platform Across India, Korea, and Japan

By
Garima Bansal
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0
Kindlife Raises $8 Million in Series A to Expand K-Beauty and Wellness Platform Across India, Korea, and Japan

Beauty, wellness, and health platform Kindlife has raised $8 million in its Series A funding round. The investment was led by JB-Dooeun, TK Fund, and MIXI Global Investments, with participation from Kalaari Capital and other angel investors.

The company announced that this capital will facilitate the building of strong connections between Korea, Japan, and India. Supported by a robust distribution network, Kindlife ensures seamless delivery of premium Korean beauty brands. The platform includes a community of thousands of beauty creators who share recommendations and adopt a content-first approach, educating consumers on the latest K-beauty trends.

Kindlife was founded by Shopclues Co-founder Radhika Ghai, Vidit Jain, and Manasa Garemella. It curates Korean and Japanese skincare products, particularly targeting Gen Z customers. The platform utilizes proprietary AI technology to offer personalized skincare and wellness recommendations, with a strong emphasis on premium Korean and Japanese beauty brands.

Previously, Kindlife secured $2.5 million in seed funding from Kalaari Capital, Titan Capital, Java Capital, and others.

Tomoharu Urabe, Principal Partner at MIXI Global Investments, expressed excitement about joining the investment round, stating that Kindlife is creating a user-friendly ecommerce platform featuring AI-enabled discoverability and a built-in influencer community. The early metrics indicate the concept’s success, and the company looks forward to supporting Kindlife’s business expansion.

Cellivate Technologies Secures $1 Million Seed Funding to Revolutionize Cell Culture and Biomanufacturing

By
Garima Bansal
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Cellivate Technologies Secures $1 Million Seed Funding to Revolutionize Cell Culture and Biomanufacturing

Bio-tech startup Cellivate Technologies has secured $1 million in seed funding led by Antler, with additional contributions from Venture Catalysts, Hatcher+, and We Founder Circle.

The investment will be used to boost research and development, enhance production capabilities, and broaden market presence, as stated by Cellivate.

Founded by Viknish Krishnan Kutty, Cellivate focuses on developing innovative solutions for cell culture and biomanufacturing challenges. Key products include advanced microcarriers for scaling up cell growth and a novel cell-based serum aimed at replacing fetal bovine serum.

Market research forecasts that the cell culture market, particularly in microcarriers and serum, will reach $33 billion by 2030.

Cellivate’s advanced microcarriers and cell-based serum alternatives are expected to lower costs, improve efficiency, and address ethical issues in cell culture. These technological advancements could reduce reliance on animal-derived products, as many ingredients traditionally sourced from animals can now be obtained from cells.

Vama.app Partners with ONDC to Broaden Access to Spiritual Services and Reach a Wider Audience

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Garima Bansal
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Vama.app Partners with ONDC to Broaden Access to Spiritual Services and Reach a Wider Audience

The government-backed e-commerce platform Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is expanding its spiritual services offerings by integrating with Vama.app. This collaboration will introduce services such as virtual pujas, temple darshans, rituals, and astrology services to ONDC’s network.

ONDC already hosts spiritual services providers like Iskcon and Hari Bol.

Vama.app, backed by Wavemaker Partners, is joining ONDC as both a buyer and seller platform. The company aims to increase its reach by leveraging the network to offer its services to a broader audience.

Manu Jain, co-founder of Vama.app, stated that the New Delhi-based startup currently serves 400,000 monthly users and anticipates doubling this number with ONDC’s support. He highlighted that ONDC’s extensive network of approximately 3,000 apps will facilitate the distribution of Vama’s services. The rollout will occur in phases, starting with a few apps before expanding to others.

Founded in 2020, Vama.app has established partnerships with over 250 temples and features a network of more than 300 astrologers on its platform.

T Koshy, managing director and chief executive of ONDC, emphasized the network’s goal to become a comprehensive platform catering to a range of needs, from commerce to spiritual services.

SigTuple Secures $4 Million in Extended Series C Funding to Expand AI-Powered Digital Microscopy Solutions

By
Garima Bansal
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0
SigTuple Secures $4 Million in Extended Series C Funding to Expand AI-Powered Digital Microscopy Solutions

SigTuple, a medtech startup specializing in digital microscopy solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has secured Rs 33 crore ($4 million) in an extended series C funding round led by Sidbi Venture Capital. Existing investors, including Endiya Partners, also participated in the round.

The new funds will be used to drive the company’s geographical expansion, broaden its product portfolio, and support regulatory clearances. Founded in 2015 by Tathagato Rai Dastidar, SigTuple leverages AI and robotics to automate manual microscopic reviews. The company’s device captures high-quality images of diseased samples through a camera lens, which are then analyzed by AI. The results are delivered to experts via a cloud-based platform, streamlining the overall diagnostic process.

AI currently handles around 95% of the expert’s workload, significantly reducing the review time per sample. Where an expert might typically take five to ten minutes to review a sample and draw a conclusion, the process can now be completed within a minute. This efficiency allows the same expert, who previously reviewed 50 samples daily, to now potentially examine 300 to 400 samples.

To date, SigTuple has raised a total of $50 million. The company has already expanded into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, with plans to enter Europe and the Americas. In September 2023, its flagship product, AI100, received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Recently, SigTuple beta-released its new device, AS76, which can analyze various sample types, including tissue, sputum, blood, and urine. The company also plans to enter the point-of-care (PoC) market next year, using microfluidic technology and imaging to conduct essential tests within minutes.

SigTuple integrates optics, robotics, microfluidics, and AI into healthcare. With the upcoming launch of its second product and developments in point-of-care technology, the company aims to cater to all digital health needs of the pathology department, including hematology, histopathology, and cytology.

Pixxel Launches Aurora Transforming Access to Earth Observation Data

By
Garima Bansal
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0
Pixxel Launches Aurora Transforming Access to Earth Observation Data

Pixxel, a hyperspectral Earth-imaging technology company, has launched Aurora, an Earth Observation (EO) studio aimed at making remote sensing analysis accessible to a broad audience. Aurora provides a platform for user groups to access, interpret, and utilize EO data. Developed in-house, it offers a vast archive of open-source and commercial remote sensing datasets, with plans to integrate Pixxel’s hyperspectral imagery by the end of 2024.

Aurora is designed to remove barriers to entry in Earth observation analysis by offering a no-code environment where users can visualize and compare satellite imagery, customize workflows, and implement analytical models quickly. This feature is particularly beneficial for organizations in agriculture, forestry, mining, climate technology, and energy, allowing them to incorporate Earth observation data seamlessly into their operations.

The platform includes several indices for specific applications, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for assessing vegetation health, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) for estimating water surface area, and the Oil Spill Index (OSI) for detecting oil spills. These tools provide crucial data for monitoring environmental conditions and mitigating hazards.

Aurora also offers various models through its marketplace, including the Forest Above-Ground Biomass Model for monitoring forest health and carbon stocks, and the Water Quality Index Model for evaluating water quality. Additionally, the Crop Bio-parameters Model supports precision agriculture by providing insights into crop health, while the Change Detection Model tracks land use changes and disaster impacts.

Pixxel has emphasized that Aurora delivers accurate and relevant data tailored to compliance and business needs across different industries. Future updates to Aurora will further enhance its capabilities, allowing for data fusion across extensive Areas of Interest (AOIs) and integrating hyperspectral data with other EO datasets for more comprehensive analyses.

In addition to the launch of Aurora, Pixxel is preparing to deploy six commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites, known as “Fireflies,” within the year. These satellites are expected to enhance the platform’s data offerings and provide users with even more detailed and precise Earth observation capabilities.

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