From Cradlewise’s Series A and Makr Microsystems’ seed round to Adobe’s acquisition of Rilo and AMD’s collaboration with Delhi University,YourStorybrings you today's headlines and the latest news across sectors. The Open Field is working with tribal and forest-dependent communities in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to formalise forest-produce value chains. It has deployed portable Ayan Hubs for decentralised processing and is building a data-led Forest OS to improve traceability and buyer linkages. Business Nextgen Finance has raised Rs 215 crore with prior RBI approval to scale its secured MSME lending beyond India’s top 100 locations. The round, led by Beams Fintech Fund and others, will support technology investments and geographic expansion. Cradlewise raised $12 million in Series A funding led by 3one4 Capital and Prudent Investment Management. The company said the capital will go towards growth, channel expansion, research and development, and entry into international markets for its smart infant sleep system. Global design software company Adobe has acquired Indian AI startup Rilo for an undisclosed amount. Rilo’s founders confirmed the acquisition in posts on LinkedIn. Founded in 2025 by IIT Bombay alumni Georgi Boby and Dhruv Jaglan, Rilo has developed AI agents designed to provide insights into enterprise go-to-market strategies. The acquisition is expected to add Rilo’s AI capabilities to Adobe’s customer experience and marketing offerings. Rilo had raised $1 million from Peak XV, DeVC, and Day Zero Ventures. Homegrown beauty and wellness company VLCC has raised Rs 110 crore in funding from BlackSoil Capital to support its next phase of growth across its beauty, wellness, and personal care businesses. According to a statement, VLCC, which is backed by global private equity firm Carlyle, will utilise this funding to support its ongoing business requirements and growth opportunities, including strengthening its operating platform and supporting the expansion of its businesses and subsidiaries. Bluehill VC led a Rs 10.2 crore seed round in Makr Microsystems, with participation from Artha Venture Fund. The semiconductor metrology startup said the funds will be used for technology development, customer validation and commercial development. Makr said it is building nanoscale subsurface 3D metrology products for chipmakers using Acoustic Atomic Force Microscopy, optical tomography and 3D analytics software to visualise hidden structures and defects non destructively. The company said initial applications include advanced packaging, hybrid bonding, buried interfaces and chiplet interconnects. IDFC FIRST Bank, through its CSR division FIRST IMPACT, has partnered with the Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), BITS Pilani, under IGNITE, its startup incubation programme, to launch an accelerator programme for startups working on health and environmental challenges. As part of the programme, selected startups will receive g
