Latest news with #ShastraVC
Entrepreneur
29-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Drizz, Hey Concrete, and Genexis Biotech Raise Funding for Growth
The below brands have announced their latest funding rounds. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Drizz Secures USD 2.7 Mn to Advance Vision AI Mobile App Testing Drizz, a vision AI-powered mobile app testing company, has raised 2.7 million dollars in seed funding from Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from Shastra VC, Anuj Rathi and Vaibhav Domkundwar. The funds will be used to enhance Drizz's Vision AI engine, expand its engineering team and strengthen research capabilities. Founded in 2024 by former Amazon, Coinbase and Gojek engineers Asad Abrar, Partha Sarathi Mohanty and Yash Varyani, Drizz aims to address the challenges of mobile app quality assurance. Its platform replaces traditional locator-based test scripts with natural language prompts, enabling testing across iOS and Android in plain English. The system is designed to deliver over 97 percent test reliability while reducing the time needed for test creation. "Every app team is accelerating with AI, but testing still lags behind," said Asad Abrar, Co-founder and chief executive officer. "We built Drizz to keep up with modern development and deliver confidence at scale." Drizz supports no-code setup, CI/CD integration and multiple forms of testing, including UI, functional, API, multi-app and end-to-end. Its AI evaluates apps visually, adapting automatically to interface changes, screen densities and hardware variations. Alok Goyal, partner at Stellaris Venture Partners, said the company is addressing a key bottleneck in software development by taking a vision-first approach to mobile application testing. Udaipur's Hey Concrete Attracts INR 7.5 Cr to Drive Global Expansion Udaipur-based Hey Concrete has raised INR 7.5 crore in a strategic investment from Kamlesh Arjun Choudhari, a veteran in the global facades and cladding sector. The funding will be directed toward setting up an advanced manufacturing unit, expanding into key international architectural markets, and strengthening outreach for the company's GreenPro-certified concrete solutions. Founded by Aseem Bolia in Udaipur, Hey Concrete specialises in architecturally inspired, eco-conscious concrete products that combine design versatility with performance features such as fire resistance and sustainability. Its portfolio includes claddings, breeze blocks, murals, and other decorative yet functional concrete elements, with over 30 showrooms established across India. "This partnership is deeply personal to us," said Bolia. "Kamlesh's belief in our mission energizes our commitment to making Indian design and sustainability a global benchmark." Choudhari, who has over two decades of industry experience and a presence in markets across North America, the Middle East, and Australia, expressed confidence in the company's direction. "Hey Concrete is reshaping the possibilities of concrete with innovation rooted in function, design, and purpose," he said. Co-founders Shubham Babel and Shabbir H Rahim highlighted that the partnership will accelerate product evolution and global expansion while maintaining a focus on responsible, design-led innovation. With its emphasis on both aesthetics and environmental responsibility, Hey Concrete has contributed to more than 2,500 projects in India and is now positioning its products for broader global adoption, aiming to showcase Indian material innovation on an international stage. Genexis Biotech Secures INR 4 Cr to Expand Recombinant Protein Production Genexis Biotech, a Vadodara-based bio-manufacturing startup, has raised INR 4 crore in a seed funding round from GVFL with additional participation from Benzai10. The startup plans to use the funds to expand its bioreactor capacity, establish downstream processing infrastructure, introduce new recombinant proteins and enzymes, and enhance compliance, sales, and distribution operations. Founded in 2022, Genexis Biotech develops animal-origin-free recombinant proteins through precision fermentation for sectors including biopharma, food technology, and cell culture. Its current facility is a certified Class 10,000 cleanroom, and the company is building a GMP-compliant unit to support future growth. The product line includes recombinant peptidases such as amino peptidase and enterokinase, with upcoming launches of recombinant transferrin and albumin. In the past year, the startup partnered with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, signed an MoU with the Gujarat government, and secured orders for alternative protein formulations. The firm also aims to tap into regulated biotech export markets and explore collaborations with contract development and manufacturing organisations.
Economic Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Sports tech startup KhiladiPro raises $1 million in round led by Shastra VC, MGA Ventures
Sports tech startup KhiladiPro has raised $1 million in a funding round led by early-stage funds Shastra VC and MGA Ventures. The round also saw participation from angel funds will be used for developing its proprietary AI models, expanding its reach in domestic markets, and enhancing support systems for athletes. Founded in August 2023, the Bengaluru-based company provides standardised athletic assessments for children. The firm has over 60 AI models. Its flagship products include sports ability tests for badminton and cricket, the Khiladi Ability Index (KAI), which places all users on a unified rating scale, Olympiad for schools, and content play Khiladi Klub for high-potential youth athletes. It follows a transactional revenue model, charging a fee for each assessment conducted per child. 'Assessment is a key gap in the market. Around two crore children attend academies in the evenings, but there's no standard metric to track progress…So, assessments are crucial to provide a benchmark for all this time invested, helping kids understand where they truly stand,' cofounder and chief executive Utkarsh Yadav told ET. According to the firm, India's sports technology market is projected to reach $1,479 million by 2033. Over the past four months, KhiladiPro has partnered with around 75 to 80 academies, reaching about 40,000 students. The platform is currently carrying out between 2,000 and 3,000 assessments each plans to complete 200,000 assessments by the end of the current financial year, while also broadening its range of sports to cofounder Nirav Shah, the company is receiving inbound interest from international markets and is now exploring expansion into Australia and the UAE.'There are many sports tech companies using hardware sensors to track physical movements or biomarkers, but no one has been able to achieve the level of accuracy we have using just mobile devices and visual AI,' said Shah, noting that this is a widespread sports tech sector has seen increasing interest from investors due to its potential for innovation and growth. Last year in October, Str8bat raised $3.5 million in a funding round led by Exfinity Venture May 2024, Stupa Sports Analytics raised Rs 28 crore in a funding round led by Centre Court Capital and Peer Capital, while in February last year, SportVot raised Rs 9.4 crore in funding led by Omidyar Network India.
Entrepreneur
30-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Shastra VC and MGA Ventures Lead USD 1 Mn Investment in Sports Tech Startup KhiladiPro
The capital infusion will be used to scale KPro's proprietary AI technology, expand its domestic footprint, and strengthen support systems for young athletes across India. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. KhiladiPro (KPro), the Bengaluru-based Visual AI sports tech startup, has raised USD 1 million in a funding round led by Shastra VC and MGA Ventures. The round also saw participation from notable investors including M Pallonji, Jeena & Co., Ayaz Billawala, Nimesh Kampani, and Jaimin Bhat, former CFO of Kotak Bank. The capital infusion will be used to scale KPro's proprietary AI technology, expand its domestic footprint, and strengthen support systems for young athletes across India. Founded in August 2023 by Utkarsh Yadav, KPro is on a mission to democratise athletic talent discovery and youth fitness development using cutting-edge Visual AI. "This funding validates our mission to make world-class sports science and coaching accessible to every child in India on their smartphones, regardless of geography or background," said Yadav. "We're empowering current and future generations of khiladis to chase their sporting dreams." KPro's offerings include AI-driven sports ability tests for cricket and badminton, the Khiladi Ability Index (KAI)—India's first AI benchmark for youth fitness—KPro Olympiad for schools, and Khiladi Klub for high-potential youth. These tools allow mobile-based, standardised assessments that generate expert-level insights and personalized video feedback. Built on global fitness frameworks like Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) and Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), KPro enables early talent identification and structured athletic growth. With over 56 proprietary AI models developed in-house and collaborations with major sports associations such as Karnataka Badminton Association and the Handball Association of India, KPro aims to conduct 200,000 assessments by 2025. Its inclusive 6-pincode marketing strategy targets outreach in India's underserved Tier III and IV towns, aligning closely with national initiatives like Khelo India and the 2036 Olympic vision. Investor Jay Desai of MGA Ventures highlighted, "KhiladiPro represents the rare confluence of deep-tech innovation and social impact. It's one of the most exciting early-stage ventures in India's sports-tech space." Now poised for international expansion to Australia and the UAE, KPro is not just redefining youth fitness—it's laying the foundation for India's Olympic future through technology, inclusion, and purpose-driven innovation.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Avammune Therapeutics raises $12 million to advance cancer therapies
Avammune Therapeutics founders Arun Papaiah, Srinivasan Namala, and Aditya Kulkarni BENGALURU: Biopharmaceutical startup Avammune Therapeutics has raised $12 million (Rs 100 crore) in a Series A funding round co-led by Capital 2B, Shastra VC, and Kotak Lifesciences Fund I, with additional participation from IvyCap Ventures and returning investor 1Crowd. Founded in 2020, Avammune is developing small molecule immunotherapies that activate the body's innate immune system to treat cancer and autoimmune disorders. The latest infusion will fund clinical development of its lead asset AVA-NP-695 – an ENPP1 inhibitor – alongside preclinical work on pipeline candidates, as per a company statement. The company operates out of Philadelphia and Bengaluru and was started by serial biotech entrepreneurs Arun Papaiah, Srinivasan Namala, and Aditya Kulkarni. AVA-NP-695 has demonstrated strong antitumor responses in preclinical models for cancers including osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and triple negative breast cancer. It has also been tested in veterinary patients through compassionate-use programs, according to the company. 'Current immuno-oncology drugs mostly target the adaptive immune system and are largely biologics that require injections,' said CEO Papaiah. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo 'We're taking a small molecule approach to activating the innate immune system, which could be easier to administer and potentially more accessible, especially in emerging markets.' Unlike traditional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation, immuno-oncology (IO) treatments aim to harness the immune system to selectively attack cancer cells. While approved IO drugs like checkpoint inhibitors have shown results, only 30-40% of patients respond to them. Targeting innate immunity represents a newer frontier in IO drug development, the company said. The global IO market, currently estimated at $100 billion, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17%, driven by increasing cancer incidence and demand for novel therapies. Most existing IO therapies are high-cost biologics with limited accessibility in countries like India. 'The best-in-class profile of AVA-NP-695 and its early data in hard-to-treat cancers make it a compelling candidate,' said Shastra VC partner Avijeet Alagathi, noting the lack of progress in osteosarcoma treatment over the past four decades. Avammune's broader pipeline includes AVA-ADR, an ADAR1 p150 inhibitor that has shown in vivo efficacy – an uncommon feat in its category. The company has also developed a proprietary chemical library to target DNA/RNA-binding proteins, which it says allows it to create highly targeted therapies at lower doses. With a team of over 40 across its global operations, Avammune partners with institutions including UCSF, Oxford University, and University of Queensland for early-stage research collaborations. The company plans to initiate human trials for AVA-NP-695 in the near future. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
