Indian startups are continuing to tap capital markets but at lowered valuation as fresh money comes into deeptech startups,YourStorybrings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors The Gurugram-based ecommerce enablement platform has reduced the size of its initial public offering by 31% from Rs 2,342 crore to Rs 1,618 crore ahead of its market debut on August 12. Cresa makes hot-water-soluble sanitary pads that are 100% biodegradable, plastic-free, and dissolve in 80 seconds, tackling disposal waste, sanitation workers' dignity, and menstrual stigma in one plant-based innovation. Influencer Anushka Rathod speaks about responsible content creation, women’s financial empowerment, and why building wealth is ultimately about small, consistent habits. Piper Serica, a Mumbai-based investment house that invests in public and private markets, has raised Rs 300 crore as the first close for its Rs 800 crore Bharat Tech Fund. A statement said nearly 50% of the commitments for the first close came from the existing investors of Fund I who were institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. HomeRun, a quick commerce platform for construction and interior materials, has raised $12 million in a Series A+ round of funding led by Nexus Venture Partners with participation from existing investors Sorin Investments, Titan Capital, Sparrow Capital and Consumer Collective by Atrium. Alternative credit platform BlackSoil has invested Rs 80 crore in Mumbai-based fintech SaaS company Mintoak to finance the debt component of its acquisition of Dubai-headquartered loyalty technology firm ICC Loyalty. The acquisition expands Mintoak's presence to over 20 countries, with partnerships across more than 50 banks including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, SBI Payments and Emirates Islamic. The combined entity now supports over five million merchants, 11 million customers and processes annual payment volumes exceeding $93 billion. BlackSoil said the investment was driven by Mintoak's profitable growth, strong banking relationships and technology-led business model. The merged business generates over $30 million in annual revenue, reflecting BlackSoil's growing focus on acquisition financing and technology-enabled enterprises. Deeptech startup Consint.AI has raised Rs 22 crore in a Series A funding round led by BIG Global Investment JSC, Equanimity Ventures Trust II and Seafund Venture India Scheme I. The company will use the fresh capital to accelerate international expansion, strengthen enterprise delivery and develop a foundational AI model dedicated to fraud, waste and abuse detection across insurance and banking. Consint.AI said its AI platform has analysed over 100 million transactions, identified fraud worth more than Rs 1,000 crore and deployed over 500 AI and machine learning models. The startup also plans to expand its healthcare and insurance offerings while growing operations across India, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia
