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About us
This initiative was started by a team of journalists and startup enthusiasts. We track the news and events that shape startups in India including in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and beyond. For any update, feel free to reach vimalchanderjoshi33@gmail.com
News in Start-ups
By March 2026, the Startup India program officially registered over 2.23 lakh ventures. The 2025-26 fiscal year alone saw a surge of 55,200 new approvals, marking the most significant annual increase in history.
Spike in number
India had 131 unicorns as of June 2026, with Skyroot becoming the latest entrant on May 7, even as total funding of $8.09 billion so far in 2026 marked a nearly 18% drop compared to the same period in 2025.
Century of unicorns
AI and deep tech
Artificial Intelligence and deep-tech startups pulled in $920 million (26.7% of sector funding) in 2026, led by companies like Krutrim, Sarvam AI, and Mad Street Den, with AI startups commanding 40%+ valuation premiums over non-AI peers
Founders in Focus
Skyroot Aerospace
Arjun Mehta
Skyroot Aerospace, headquartered in Hyderabad, was founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka.
Indian Defence News
On May 7, 2026, Skyroot became India's first space-tech unicorn after raising $60 million in new investment, valuing the company at $1.1 billion on a pre-money basis. The round was co-led by Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC and Sherpalo Ventures, with participation from funds managed by BlackRock, Playbook Partners, the Shanghvi Family Office, and others.
With this round, Skyroot's total capital raised reached $160 million, and the company nearly doubled its valuation in about 30 months. Ram Shriram, an early Google investor and Sherpalo Ventures founder, joined Skyroot's board.
Orbital breakthrough: On July 18, 2026, Skyroot's Vikram-1 rocket successfully placed a payload into a 450 km orbit — making India only the third country after the US and China to host a privately designed and funded orbital launch vehicle. Reaching orbit on the very first attempt is rare for a startup and highlights how far the company has come since its 2018 founding. Industry leaders and policymakers hailed the unicorn status as a defining moment for India's private space sector, aligning with national ambitions to capture up to 10% of the global space economy by 2033, with more than 300 startups now active in India's space domain
Sneha Rao
Building the Ecosystem
Exploring the challenges and opportunities of the Indian startup ecosystem from the heart of Bangalore.
Unicorn Dreams
How visionary leaders are scaling their ventures and navigating the global market with Indian precision.
Vikram Singh
Bangalore
Hyderabad
Known for its deep roots in IT, Hyderabad is now a rising star for biotech and advanced manufacturing.
Chennai
Chennai is leading the charge in AI, robotics, and the next generation of smart city solutions.
Pune
The Silicon Valley of India is a hub for hardware startups and a thriving community of tech founders.
Mumbai
The financial capital of India is home to a dynamic ecosystem of fintech and digital banking startups.
Delhi
From AI to edtech, Delhi is the epicenter of innovation and the next wave of Indian entrepreneurship.