Latest news with #ShastraVC
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- 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
