From a look back at the IPO class of 2025 to updates on Prosus’ portfolio companies Rapido and PayU, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.
Featured stories:
The IPO class of 2025: How new-age startups minted billionaires and VC windfalls
If 2021 is remembered as the year India’s startup IPO engine truly switched on, 2025 will be remembered for something bigger—as the year startup investors finally saw multi-bagger returns.
Several companies that listed between 2021 and 2024 delivered strong outcomes for venture firms, but the scale and consistency of this year’s listings have been much bigger, sharply defining the IPO wave of 2025.
Read the entire list of companies that went public in 2025 here.
How can Indian MSMEs automate their finance functions?
Kicking off YourStory’s How To series, this article looks at how artificial Intelligence-led transformation across the MSME ecosystem could unlock more than $490 billion in economic value.
But, despite the potential, adoption remains low. Cheruku Srikanth, Founder and CEO at Digital CFO, shares how MSMEs can structurally automate their finance functions.
Read the article here.
Funding news
Wealthy raises Rs 130 Cr from Bertelsmann India, Alphawave Global and Shepherd’s Hill
Wealthy.in has secured Rs 130 crore in fresh funding led by Bertelsmann India Investments, as the wealth-tech firm looks to scale its AI-driven tools for mutual fund distributors and expand reach beyond major cities.
Existing investor Alphawave Global, new investor Shepherd’s Hill, and several tech entrepreneurs also participated in the round.
Read the full story here.
FinReach raises Rs 21.9 Cr led by Colossa Ventures, existing investors
Private-sector credit services provider FinReach on Monday raised Rs 21.9 crore in a funding round, led by Colossa Ventures and existing impact investors Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Omidyar Network Fund, and Caspian SME Impact Fund IV.
The newly raised capital will be used to scale operations and strengthen the firm’s risk and technology platform, the company said.
Founded in December 2020, FinReach focuses on Tier-III to Tier-V regions, helping micro-entrepreneurs, women-led businesses, and smallholder farmers overcome the lack of collateral that often blocks access to formal credit. So far, FinReach’s programmes have served more than 14,150 individuals, including over 2,050 women borrowers.
FAE Beauty team
FAE Beauty raises Rs 17 Cr in fresh funding round
Beauty brand FAE Beauty on Monday raised Rs 17 crore in a fresh funding round led by Spring Marketing Capital, with participation from existing investors including Titan Capital Winners Fund, Arihant Patni, and marquee angels.
The company intends to use the newly raised funds to double down on product innovation, launch new categories, and strengthen the company’s omnibus-channel presence across marketplaces, quick commerce, and offline retail.
Pontaq makes Rs 5.5 crore strategic investments in two deep-tech startups
UK-India cross-border VC firm, Pontaq Ventures, on Monday said it has invested Rs 5.5 crore in two Indian deep-tech companies—Dweepi and Edgehax.
The investments will be used by the companies to scale their edge computing solutions, accelerate product developments, and expand their enterprise-focused technologies.
Dweepi is a deep-tech startup developing robotic track-inspection systems that enhance railway safety and enable predictive, AI-driven maintenance. Meanwhile, Edgehax is building scalable Edge AI computing platforms that combine compute, connectivity, and storage, powering real-time automation and intelligence for enterprises across industries.
The latest investment marks Pontaq’s second round of investment in both Dweepi and Edgehax.
Other news:
Scaler appoints Ratnakar Reddy as Head of India & MENA region
Edtech platform Scaler on Monday appointed Ratnakar Reddy as its B2B business Head of India & MENA region. In this role, Reddy will lead the company’s efforts to empower government, digital natives, and large-scale enterprises in their artificial intelligence adoption journey.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ratnakar Reddy to our leadership team,” said Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-founder of Scaler. “His unparalleled cross-sector experience and deep insights into AI position him perfectly to spearhead our B2B expansion across India and MENA. As we strategically scale our operations and bridge the critical AI talent gap, Ratnakar’s leadership and expertise will be pivotal.”
Flipkart to host first edition of its Beauty Catalyst conclave
E-commerce marketplace Flipkart on Monday said it will host the first edition of its Beauty Catalyst conclave in Bengaluru on December 1st. The direct-to-consumer forum is curated for emerging beauty and personal care brands.
The event will bring together over 50 D2C brands across skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and wellness categories to help them explore new growth opportunities and exchange strategies for scaling in the digital ecosystem.
To address key growth challenges faced by emerging brands, attendees will gain access to tailored solutions, strategic mentorship, and practical recommendations from category experts. The event will feature deep-dive sessions on positioning, merchandising, shopper engagement, and brand storytelling, equipping founders with tools to drive visibility and deliver differentiated customer experiences.
Verlinvest appoints Amit Aggarwal to lead early-growth investments in India
Consumer investment firm Verlinvest on Monday appointed Amit Aggarwal to lead its early-growth investments in India.
Prior to joining Verlinvest, Aggarwal served as the Principal at Elevation Capital, where he focused on seed and early-stage consumer technology investments. He has led investments into startups such as Atlys, Seekho, and SolarSquare.
CoinDCX appoints Kotak’s former group chief risk officer as advisor
Crypto exchange CoinDCX appointed Arvind Kathpalia, former President and Group Chief Risk Officer at Kotak Mahindra Bank, to its advisory board.
In this role, Kathpalia will provide strategic guidance on strengthening CoinDCX’s risk governance framework, fostering rigorous risk assessment, and aligning the company’s practices with global standards.
He will also advise the leadership team on long-term risk strategies.
“At CoinDCX, protecting customer assets through strong governance and compliance is our highest priority. We are committed to bringing the same level of rigour that traditional finance applies, ensuring our users experience the highest standards of safety and trust. The appointment of Mr Kathpalia, with his deep expertise in risk management, reinforces our mission to build a resilient, future-ready, and compliant exchange,” said Sumit Gupta, Co-founder of CoinDCX.
