Moneymint

Change Engine founded by Varun Aggarwal, a startup accelerator, has announced plans to invest over $5 million in early-stage AI startups in India over the next five years. The initiative will support six promising AI startups each year, focusing on machine learning and AI-based business applications for global markets. Building India’s Next-Gen AI Products. Change Engine aims to go beyond basic AI by encouraging deep-tech innovations that are strong, scalable, and competitive globally. Their 6-month accelerator program offers startups: ✅ A safe space to test AI ideas ✅ Support in product development ✅ Access to a global network of mentors Each year, the program will fund six startups with $50K each, and an additional $150K can be raised through partnerships, totaling over $5M in investment over the next three years. AI Ecosystem & Success Stories Change Engine has played an important role in building India’s AI ecosystem, especially in Delhi NCR, where it has hosted events like the AI Product Bootcamp at IIT Delhi, helping train AI enthusiasts with experts from Google, Meta, and Amazon. Some success stories from previous cohorts include: 🚀 Rapture Innovation Labs (Sonic Lamb) – Featured on Shark Tank Season 4, securing ₹50L in funding. 🚀 CallPrep (callprep.io) – Chosen for Nikhil Kamath’s WTFund list. Industry-Backed Customer Advisory Board. A unique feature of the accelerator is its Customer Advisory Board, which includes leaders from Amazon, Google, McKinsey, and Adobe. This panel helps startups by: 🔹 Getting real-world feedback on their ideas 🔹 Refining marketing strategies 🔹 Ensuring their products are ready for global markets Driving India’s AI Leadership Based in Gurugram, Change Engine is focused on strengthening India’s position as a global AI hub by offering startups capital, mentorship, and industry connections. #AI #Startups #IndiaAI #MachineLearning #Innovation #GlobalExpansion #TechAccelerator #StartupSupport #ChangeEngine

Bengaluru-based mobile game publisher Felicity Games has raised $3 million (₹25.8 crore) in a seed funding round. The investment was led by 3one4 Capital, with participation from T-Accelerate Capital, MIXI Global Investments, and existing investors DeVC and Visceral Capital. Founded in 2023 by Anurag Choudhary, Felicity Games focuses on global game publishing by leveraging India’s gaming ecosystem. The company uses a data-driven approach to game development and publishing. Key Highlights: Previously raised $700K in pre-seed funding in December 2023. Plans to expand publishing infrastructure and strengthen ties with Indian game studios. Aims to scale existing titles and test new games by 2025. Performance: Surpassed $1M in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Crossed 1M downloads for top games like Seek & Find and Nova Solitaire. Achieved $100K gross revenue in February 2025, a 4X growth since November 2024. Felicity Games competes with global publishers like Voodoo, Homa, Rollic, and Supercent. With this funding, the company aims to accelerate its growth and establish itself as a leading mobile game publisher from India. #Gaming #Startup #FelicityGames #MobileGames #Funding #IndianStartups #GameDevelopment

Ashwin Malwade and Nupur Agarwal, a couple passionate about the environment, turned their love for sustainability into a mission. After organizing their own zero-waste wedding in 2020, they founded Greenmyna, a startup that helps plan eco-friendly events. From reusable decor to composting waste and planting trees, Greenmyna ensures celebrations are both joyful and planet-friendly. Since its launch, Greenmyna has composted 40,900 kg of waste, distributed 11,600+ meals, planted 1,850 trees, and recycled 30,350 kg of dry waste. Their work inspires couples across India to rethink traditional weddings and embrace sustainability. Despite challenges like convincing clients to adopt eco-friendly practices, Ashwin and Nupur have proven that sustainable weddings can be just as beautiful and memorable. Their dream? To make zero-waste celebrations the norm and inspire more people to care for the planet. #Sustainability #EcoFriendlyWeddings #Greenmyna #ZeroWaste #IndianWeddings #EcoConsciousLiving

goSTOPS, a leading community-driven travel brand, has announced a major milestone in its journey with a ₹35 crore Series A funding round. Founded by Pallavi Agarwal and Pankaj Parwanda, goSTOPS has grown from a single location to over 30 vibrant hubs, offering 2500+ beds designed for young, budget-conscious travelers. The brand’s mission is simple: to make travel accessible, immersive, and transformative for India’s youth. With its unique "goMORE. beMORE." ethos, goSTOPS creates social spaces where travelers connect, explore, and grow. This funding will fuel expansion, innovation, and the brand’s vision to redefine youth travel. The co-founders expressed gratitude to their guests, team, investors, and community, emphasizing that this achievement is a shared victory. From humble beginnings to becoming a trusted name in travel, goSTOPS continues to inspire young adventurers to break boundaries and embrace new experiences. The future looks bright as they aim to make travel not just memorable, but truly life-changing. #Travel #Startup #Funding #YouthTravel #goSTOPS #Innovation

Two childhood friends. One big dream. And a ₹6 lakh investment. That’s how Rohan Verma and Shubhangi Pandey started JustWravel in 2016. They saw a gap: young travelers wanted affordable, safe group trips. But no one was doing it right. So they quit their corporate jobs. Built a platform for fixed-departure tours. And created a community of 50,000+ travelers. But it wasn’t easy. No funding. No team. Just grit and a belief in their vision. Then came 2020. The pandemic hit. Revenue dropped to zero. Most would’ve quit. But not them. They pivoted. Introduced long-stay packages for remote workers. Kept their community engaged. And when travel bounced back, so did they. Today, JustWravel generates ₹12 crore in revenue. They’ve won awards. And are now expanding to 150 destinations with AI-powered travel planning. What’s the lesson here? Dream big. Start small. But never, ever give up. Because when you solve a real problem, success follows. P.S. If you’re looking for affordable, safe group trips, check out JustWravel. Trust me, it’s worth it. #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #TravelGoals #JustWravel #DreamBig #NeverGiveUp

GovEagle is thrilled to announce that it has raised $2.5 million in seed funding from Strategic Cyber Ventures, Y Combinator, Sequoia Scout, and a group of angel investors. Gabe Villasana and Akash M. are the Co-founders of GovEagle. Over the past year, many of the largest and fastest-growing government contractors have chosen GovEagle to improve their proposal process. Thanks to GovEagle, these customers are now submitting proposals 10 times faster while also improving the quality and depth of their responses. Responding to a government RFP is a complicated and high-stakes process. That’s why GovEagle doesn’t aim to replace humans. Instead, the company focuses on creating tools and experiences that help proposal teams work more effectively, using the latest AI technology to enhance their capabilities. This new funding will help GovEagle continue its mission of delivering top-quality solutions that its customers depend on. The company is grateful for the support and confidence from its investors, partners, customers, and new team members. With this backing, GovEagle is excited to keep pushing forward. #business #funding #startups

D2C jewellery brand GIVA  has raised ₹102 Cr (around $11.7 Mn) in a mix of equity and debt funding. The funding includes ₹52 Cr from Alteria Capital and ₹50 Cr from Northern Arc Capital. The company plans to use these funds to open new stores across Tier I and II cities like Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and others. Backed by Premji Invest, GIVA has seen strong growth, with its revenue reaching ₹273.6 Cr in FY24, a 66% increase from the previous year. However, its net loss also grew by 30% to ₹58.7 Cr due to rising metal costs. Founded in 2019 by Ishendra Agarwal, Nikita Prasad, and Sachin Shetty. GIVA started with fine silver jewellery and later expanded into gold and lab-grown diamonds. It competes with brands like CaratLane, Kushal’s, and Voylla in India’s growing online jewellery market, which is expected to hit $3.7 Bn by 2025. This funding comes as the industry sees increased activity, with BlueStone preparing for a ₹1,000+ Cr IPO. #success #startups #business

Founded in 2018, Pristyn Care is transforming surgery care in India by offering end-to-end support, from diagnosis to post-operative recovery. Using advanced technology and a network of 800+ hospitals and 400+ surgeons, it provides minimally invasive, painless surgeries with faster recovery in specialties like proctology, urology, and ENT. The company focuses on patient convenience, offering cashless treatments, 24/7 support, and app-based services for consultations and updates. Pristyn Care’s revenue comes from surgery fees, hospital partnerships, and additional services like diagnostics. Its asset-light model keeps costs low while ensuring scalability. Founded by Harsimarbir (Harsh) Singh, Dr Vaibhav Kapoor, and Dr. Garima Sawhney, the team combines medical expertise and tech innovation to deliver high-quality, affordable care. In 2021, Pristyn Care became a unicorn, valued at over $1.2 billion, and has successfully managed 50,000+ surgeries. With plans to expand into Tier-2/3 cities, add new specialties, and explore international markets, Pristyn Care is redefining healthcare in India with a patient-first approach. #success #business #startups

Entrepreneur and investor Kunal Bahl has a clear message for Indian startups: stop registering abroad and build your business in India instead. In a recent post on X, he called the trend of incorporating in the US or Singapore “outdated” and urged founders to think differently. Why India? Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal | AceVector Group and Shark Tank India judge, believes that incorporating in India isn’t just patriotic—it’s practical. He dismissed the idea that foreign registration makes fundraising or exits easier, pointing out that Indian VCs are actively funding startups, even in advanced fields like AI and DeepTech. Forget Unicorns, Focus on Real Value Bahl also criticized the startup world’s obsession with unicorn status (billion-dollar valuations). Instead, he advised founders to focus on building sustainable, profitable businesses that last. His Golden Words: “A business generating ₹100 crore in revenue, profitable, and running for 15 years—that’s a real unicorn.” Final Message: Think long-term, prioritize profitability, and create businesses that add real value to India. It’s time to dream big, but with roots firmly planted at home! #success #business #startups

Ganesh Balakrishnan, an IIM Bangalore graduate, faced a tough phase with his startup, Flatheads, which sold lightweight work sneakers. Despite initial funding of ₹5.2 crore, by 2022, sales dropped to ₹15 lakh/month, and losses hit ₹5.5 lakh/month. On Shark Tank India, Ganesh broke down, openly admitting his struggles, saying, “I might need a job” and “This might be the end.” But his honesty struck a chord with India. Flatheads sold out in 48 hours, attracted 2.1M+ website visitors, and the “Not Out Edition” sneakers flew off shelves. Ganesh turned his vulnerability into a powerful marketing tool, building a brand people wanted to support. Five months later, he used this momentum to get Flatheads acquired by Styched. Ganesh’s story is a masterclass in turning setbacks into success, proving he’s one of the smartest entrepreneurs in Indian startup history. His emotional honesty and smart strategy paid off big time! 👟🚀 #startup #success #entrepreneurship