From startups that raised big from VCs this year, to H Sraiyanti’s Auto Queens documentary on the members of Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS) in Chennai, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.
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Year in Review: startups that raised big from VCs in 2025
In 2025, venture capital (VC) firms were loading up ammunition, with major players like Accel and Nexus Venture Partners closing new funds. However, the overall funding activity remained subdued during the year, weighed down by a slowdown in growth and late-stage investments. Despite the dip, 22 companies managed to raise funding above $100 million this year, data from Tracxn shows.
Quick commerce company Zepto, electric vehicle maker Erisha e-Mobility, and newly-listed investment platform Groww, are few of the companies that attracted large capital from VC firms.
Read here.
This startup is building AI agents that think like finance teams
New York and Bengaluru-based Hyperbots automates complex finance workflows like finance professionals by providing reasoning, with the help of agentic, AI-native co-pilots. . Founded in 2023 by Rajeev Pathak, Niyati Chhaya and Ram Jayaraman, Hyperbots focuses on automating core functions like procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, expense management, analytics, and other finance processes.
The platform has been pre-trained on over 30 million finance documents and delivers high accuracy in production. Its early adoption is strongest in invoice processing and accruals use cases, with deployments across global enterprises including NASDAQ-listed healthcare and companies in semiconductors, EV infrastructure, and marketing services.
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Auto Queens captures life beyond the spectacle of women’s empowerment
Auto Queens, a documentary by H Sraiyanti, follows members of Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS), the first registered union of women autorickshaw drivers in Chennai. Rather than framing their lives as typical inspirational success stories, the film focuses on the everyday realities of these women, including friendship, humour, care, routine struggles, and systemic challenges in a male-dominated field.
It highlights how VPMS evolved from a WhatsApp support group into a formal union that provides community, low-interest loans, legal support, and solidarity when women face harassment or exclusion. The narrative foregrounds ordinary life and community solidarity over exceptionalism.
Read here.
Others news
BharatPe and YES Bank launch ‘Pay Later with BharatPe’ to offer instant UPI credit
Fintech company BharatPe, in partnership with YES Bank, has announced the launch of ‘Pay Later with BharatPe’ credit on UPI, powered by NPCI. The product is designed to democratise access to credit across India, enabling both consumers and merchants to manage their financial needs with ease.
‘Pay Later with BharatPe’ consumers can now make payments using a credit line
across all merchant touchpoints. This includes scanning any UPI QR code, shopping
online, or paying for recharges, or bill payments on the BharatPe app.
‘Pay Later With BharatPe’ offers instant UPI credit with zero paperwork or delays, allowing users to spend daily and repay monthly either in full or via flexible three to 12 month EMIs. The interest free credit facility provides up to 45 days of interest-free usage, with limits refreshed upon repayment. Users can track usage, limits, and repayments seamlessly within the app, manage EMIs, and pay securely via UPI, all in one place.
Uber partners with Bangalore Police to enhance safety for riders and drivers
Image Source:Shutterstock
Uber announced a technology integration with the Bangalore City Police (BCP) to enhance safety on rides for riders and drivers by strengthening emergency response in the city. Through this integration, riders and drivers seeking emergency assistance will be able to share their real-time location data, trip details, and contact information with the police directly from the Uber app. The feature enables faster access to critical information, supporting quicker and potentially life-saving intervention by first responders.
Uber has previously implemented similar safety integrations with law enforcement authorities in Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Mumbai.
This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.
