Indian Startup Funding This Week: Euler Motors, Rocketlane And More
It was a busy week for Indian startups. A startup is a young company that is just getting going. This week, money went into electric vehicles, software, health, and a big push into AI. AI, or artificial intelligence, means computer programs that can think and learn a little like people do.
The money news comes from Inc42, a website that tracks Indian startups. Together, these startups got hundreds of millions of dollars. Two names were the biggest. One was Euler Motors, which makes electric delivery vehicles. The other was Rocketlane, a company that makes business software. Many other startups also got fresh money.
Below is a simple list of the top deals, sorted by what each company does. But first, here is what a few money words mean.
A funding round is one time when a startup sells a small piece of itself to investors and gets money for it. Investors are people or firms who give money hoping to earn more later. A valuation is the price tag investors put on the whole company. The rounds have names in order. A seed round is the first, early money to start. A Series A round comes next to help it grow. Then come Series B, Series C, and more as the company gets bigger. Debt funding is a loan the startup must pay back. It is not selling a piece of the company.
Clean Tech And Electric Vehicles
Euler Motors — $73.6 Million
Euler Motors got about $73.6 million in a Series E round, says Inc42. The round was led by a firm called Lightrock. Euler makes electric three-wheelers and small trucks. People use these to carry goods and make deliveries. This was the single biggest deal of its week. It helped clean tech top the list. Clean tech means products that are good for the planet.
SolarSquare — $53 Million
SolarSquare got $53 million in a Series C round. It was led by a firm called Lightspeed. The company puts solar panels on the roofs of homes. Solar panels turn sunlight into power. This helps families make their own clean power and pay smaller electricity bills.
Karo Sambhav — $5.9 Million
Karo Sambhav got $5.9 million in a Pre-Series A round. It was led by a firm called Rainmatter. The company works on recycling and waste. It helps other companies deal with plastic and old electronics the right way.
Artificial Intelligence
AI was the hottest area this week. In one week, five AI startups got more than $265 million together. That made AI the top area for new money, Inc42 said.
Sarvam — $234 Million
Sarvam got a huge $234 million in a Series B round. HCLTech, a big Indian tech company, was a main backer. Sarvam builds AI “foundation models.” A foundation model is a large AI system trained to understand and write language. Sarvam’s models also work in Indian languages. This was the biggest single deal in both weekly reports.
Pramaana Labs — $27 Million
Pramaana Labs got $27 million in a seed round. It was led by Khosla Ventures. The company builds AI apps. A seed round this big is rare. It shows how keen investors are to back AI early.
Deccan AI — $25 Million
Deccan AI got $25 million. It was backed by A91 Partners. The company works on AI infrastructure. That means the behind-the-scenes tools and data that help other companies build their own AI.
Business Software (SaaS)
SaaS is short for “software as a service.” It means software you use over the internet for a regular fee. You do not buy it once. You keep paying to use it.
Rocketlane — $60 Million
Rocketlane got $60 million in a Series C round. It was led by Insight Partners. Its software helps companies welcome new customers and run projects after a sale. This was the second-biggest deal of its week.
Health And Wellness
CureFit — $47.2 Million
CureFit got $47.2 million in a Series G round. Temasek was the main investor. CureFit runs fitness centres and health programs. A Series G is a later round for a company that is already grown up.
Vetic — $40 Million
Vetic got $40 million. It was led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The company runs pet clinics and pet health services. This area is growing fast as more Indian families keep pets.
Plum — $20.4 Million
Plum got $20.4 million in a Series B round. It was led by Peak XV Ventures. Plum sells health insurance that companies give to their workers. This kind of business is called “insurtech.” That means insurance run with the help of technology.
Food, D2C And Media
D2C is short for “direct-to-consumer.” It means brands that sell straight to shoppers, often online. They skip big shops in the middle.
Swish — $38 Million
Swish got $38 million in a Series B round. It was backed by Hara Global and BCV. Swish is a foodtech startup. Foodtech means using technology in the food business. Swish works on fast food delivery.
TruNativ — $30 Million
TruNativ got $30 million in a Series B round. It was led by OrbiMed. It is a D2C food and nutrition brand. It sells its products straight to shoppers.
Rusk Media — $10.6 Million
Rusk Media got $10.6 million in a Pre-Series C round. It was backed by Nazara Technologies. The company makes digital shows and short videos for young viewers.
Foodstories — $5.2 Million
Foodstories got $5.2 million in a Series B round. The money was linked to investor Nikhil Kamath. It is a high-end food and grocery brand.
Key Facts: Biggest Deals This Week
| Company | Amount | Round | Lead Investor | What They Do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarvam | $234 Mn | Series B | HCLTech | AI foundation models |
| Euler Motors | $73.6 Mn | Series E | Lightrock | Electric delivery vehicles |
| Rocketlane | $60 Mn | Series C | Insight Partners | Business software (SaaS) |
| SolarSquare | $53 Mn | Series C | Lightspeed | Rooftop solar |
| CureFit | $47.2 Mn | Series G | Temasek | Fitness and health |
| Vetic | $40 Mn | — | Bessemer | Pet healthcare |
| Swish | $38 Mn | Series B | Hara Global, BCV | Food delivery |
| TruNativ | $30 Mn | Series B | OrbiMed | D2C nutrition |
| Pramaana Labs | $27 Mn | Seed | Khosla Ventures | AI applications |
| Deccan AI | $25 Mn | — | A91 Partners | AI infrastructure |
| Plum | $20.4 Mn | Series B | Peak XV Ventures | Health insurtech |
Inc42 shared two weekly reports. In one week, Indian startups got about $342.8 million from 25 deals. In another week, they got about $426 million from 19 deals. AI and clean tech were the top areas. But seed-stage funding, the earliest money for new startups, stayed weak.
FAQ
What is a funding round?
It is when a startup sells a small part of itself to investors for cash. The startup uses that money to grow, hire people, and build products.
What do Series A, B and C mean?
They are funding rounds in order. Series A is an early growth round. Each later letter usually means a bigger company raising more money.
What was the biggest deal this week?
The AI startup Sarvam got the most. It raised $234 million in a Series B round. HCLTech was a main backer, says Inc42.
Which sectors got the most money?
AI led the way. Five AI startups raised over $265 million together. Clean tech also did well. That includes electric vehicles and solar power.
Why It Matters (Especially For India And Founders)
These deals show where smart money thinks the future is. India is now backing its own AI companies, like Sarvam. Before, it mostly used AI tools made in other countries. This is big for a country that wants AI in its own languages.
For founders, the lesson is clear. A founder is a person who starts a company. Investors are paying a lot for AI and clean energy. But they are careful with very early seed deals. So if you are just starting out, a strong and focused idea matters more than ever. Wins like Euler Motors and SolarSquare also show something useful. Even “boring” real-world businesses can raise serious money.
The Takeaway
This was a strong week for Indian startups. AI, electric vehicles, and software led the way. From Sarvam’s giant AI round to Euler Motors and Rocketlane, the message is simple. India’s startup engine is still running fast. And right now, the heat is clearly on AI and clean tech.
Source: Inc42 — Euler Motors to Rocketlane and Inc42 — Sarvam to Influish.
