Startup Spotlights

In a major move to bridge India’s persistent digital divide, Japanese networking leader GNA (Global Network Access) has officially entered the Indian market. The company’s debut strategy is both impactful and star-studded: a nationwide rollout of secure, high-speed public Wi-Fi services, officially launched in partnership with cricket legend and national icon Harbhajan Singh. This initiative directly targets underserved rural and semi-urban regions, aiming to transform public internet access from a luxury to a safe, reliable utility for education, healthcare, and economic growth.

In a significant move for India’s burgeoning pet care industry, Coimbatore-based startup Right4Paws has successfully raised ₹14 crore in a Series A funding round. This investment supercharges the company’s mission to deliver premium, natural nutrition for India’s rapidly growing population of dogs and cats. Founded by Vigneshwaran and Sathishkumar, Right4Paws is tackling a major gap in the market by offering vet-formulated, human-grade foods, moving beyond traditional, filler-heavy options to provide tailored nutrition for modern, health-conscious pet parents.

Google has announced a major $10 million investment in India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. This strategic funding aims to transition AI from research labs to real-world solutions. It focuses on two key areas: solving societal challenges and ensuring linguistic inclusion for all Indians.

The proposal for an AI City in Lucknow, emerging from a landmark meeting between the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government and the Tata Group, represents a significant step in the state’s ambitious plan to transform into a major technology hub. While still under discussion, this move is a key component of a comprehensive strategic vision, underpinned by substantial central funding and a range of ongoing, state-wide AI implementation projects. The initiative aims to position Lucknow as a serious rival to established tech hubs like Bengaluru, leveraging the might of corporate partnerships and the state’s own growing startup momentum.

The kitchen, the heart of the traditional Indian home, is undergoing a digital renaissance. At the forefront of this transformation is EDT, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) startup that has just secured $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to build “smart, beautiful, and functional” appliances for the modern consumer. Led by Sauce VC and backed by a formidable alliance of investors and angels, this funding round signals a significant vote of confidence in a new breed of Indian consumer tech that prioritizes intelligent design, material safety, and seamless technology integration.