Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (June 8, 2026)

YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.

Featured stories

Meet the woman entrepreneur taking Kerala’s coconut shell products to the world

Founded by Maria Kuriakose, Thenga Coco transforms discarded coconut shells into premium lifestyle products, creating jobs for women and rural artisans while building a Rs 3.5 crore export-focused business.

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How Matrix Geo Solutions navigated India's geospatial evolution

Matrix Geo Solutions has grown from a niche geospatial firm into a publicly listed industry player by adapting early to shifts in drone mapping, LIDAR, AI-powered geospatial intelligence, and digital infrastructure.

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Funding news

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's Immuneel Therapeutics raises Rs 100 Cr in Series B funding

Immuneel Therapeutics, an integrated cell and gene therapy platform founded by Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, has raised over Rs 100 crore in a Series B round of funding with participation from Singularity AMC, Rainmatter by Zerodha, and high networth individuals.

This funding round also saw participation of existing investors Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Eight Roads Ventures, and F-Prime Capital. The company will use this funding round to scale its GMP manufacturing capacity, advance its next-generation deep-tech cell and gene therapy pipeline toward clinical milestones, support the commercialisation of Qartemi, and accelerate international market entry across Asia Pacific and Middle East.

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GPS Renewables raises Rs 635 Cr in Series C funding

Bengaluru-based GPS Renewables (GPSR), a full-stack renewable oil and gas company, has secured Rs 635 crore in a Series C round of funding from multiple investors. PixelSky Capital, with participation from Spectrum Impact Family Office and other investors, led the equity funding round of Rs 125 crore.

Additionally, the company has tied up Rs 200 crore in equity for its asset holding platform, Arya, from a leading Korean conglomerate, following an earlier Rs 310 crore investment from Sojitz Corporation for its asset platform business.

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Other news

Cars24 appoints Infosys CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka to Board

Used-car marketplace Cars24 has appointed Infosys CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka as an Independent Director on its board, strengthening its leadership as the company prepares for its next phase of growth. Sanghrajka brings extensive experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and corporate governance, having served in senior leadership roles at Infosys, one of the few Indian companies listed in both India and the US.

Cars24 noted that Sanghrajka has already been associated with the company for four years as a member of its Audit Committee and has chaired several meetings. His appointment comes as Cars24 expands its ecosystem across vehicle buying, selling, financing, and ownership services in India, the UAE, and Australia, while exploring future public market opportunities.

Nasscom launches InnoTrek UK 2026 for deeptech startups

Nasscom has announced the launch of InnoTrek UK 2026, taking a select cohort of Indian DeepTech startups to the United Kingdom under its flagship global market access programme. Scheduled from June 8-12, the initiative aims to accelerate international expansion by providing startups with market insights, investor access, strategic connections, and business development opportunities. Participants will engage with industry leaders, policymakers, enterprises, and investors across the UK innovation ecosystem, including London Tech Week and emerging technology hubs such as Manchester.

Nasscom will also host the UK Forum in London on June 10, focusing on AI, DeepTech, digital transformation, innovation partnerships, and cross-border investments. The programme is designed to strengthen India-UK technology collaboration and help Indian startups build globally competitive businesses.

Stanley Lifestyles elevates Venkataramana Gorti as Managing Director

Luxury furniture and home solutions company Stanley Lifestyles has elevated Venkataramana Gorti from Joint Managing Director to Managing Director. The move marks a strategic leadership transition as the company accelerates growth in India’s premium home interiors market. Gorti has played a key role in strengthening operational efficiency, manufacturing capabilities, supply chain resilience, and scalable systems at Stanley.

In his new role, he will lead the company’s overall strategy and execution, focusing on retail expansion, manufacturing excellence, customer experience enhancement, and innovation. Stanley said the appointment aligns with its vision of becoming India’s most admired luxury furniture and home solutions brand. The leadership change comes as the company enters a new phase of growth and brand evolution.

Acer India secures number two position in PC Market

Acer India has secured the second position in India’s overall PC shipments market in Q1 2026, according to IDC’s latest quarterly tracker. The company recorded a 21.3% market share, reflecting sustained growth across consumer and enterprise segments. Acer ranked first in the education segment with a 62.1% market share and led the government segment with a 37.1% share in desktops, notebooks, and workstations. It also topped education and government desktop deployments while achieving a leading 63.7% share in education notebooks.

The performance highlights Acer’s growing presence in public-sector and institutional projects, supported by rising digital adoption and large-scale deployments across educational institutions and government organizations.

Fynd launches AI-powered fashion platform ‘Fynd Create’

Reliance-backed retail technology company Fynd has launched Fynd Create, an AI-powered platform that integrates design intelligence, sourcing, and manufacturing into a single ecosystem. The platform aims to help fashion brands respond faster to changing consumer trends by reducing product development cycles and improving demand forecasting. Fynd Create analyzes global fashion movements, cultural shifts, social signals, and consumer behaviour to generate actionable insights. The launch comes as retailers face increasing pressure to optimize inventory, reduce overstocking, and protect margins amid volatile demand. By enabling real-time, demand-driven production, Fynd seeks to modernize traditional fashion supply chains and improve speed-to-market for brands operating in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

Apna launches AI interview prep lounge

AI-native hiring platform Apna has launched India’s first AI Interview Prep Lounge at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Kaushalya Vikas Kendra in Mumbai. Inaugurated by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the facility features three AI-powered interview preparation kiosks.

The platform allows job seekers to practice role-specific mock interviews, receive instant feedback, and explore relevant employment opportunities. Supporting more than 25,000 job roles across companies and multiple languages, the service is available free of cost. Apna said the initiative aims to bridge the gap between skill development and interview readiness, helping first-time job seekers gain confidence and improve their chances of securing employment in an increasingly competitive job market.

Livlong 365 partners Yugen Infra for healthcare-integrated living

Healthcare and wellness platform Livlong 365 has partnered with Yugen Infra to develop a healthcare-integrated living ecosystem at Yugen Golf City. Under the partnership, Livlong 365 will help design and implement preventive healthcare programmes, wellness initiatives, rehabilitation support, assisted living services, emergency medical access, and healthcare infrastructure.

The project will be developed in collaboration with leading healthcare providers, including the Manipal Hospitals Group. The initiative seeks to make healthcare an integral part of residential infrastructure rather than an external service. Both companies believe the model could set a new benchmark for wellness-driven living communities by combining healthcare, lifestyle, and residential development into a single integrated ecosystem.

Intellect Design Arena carves out Purple Fabric business

Intellect Design Arena has announced the carve-out of its Purple Fabric business into an independent line of business, marking a significant strategic move in its AI-focused growth journey. The company has appointed Deepak Dastrala as CEO and Business Head of Purple Fabric, reporting directly to Chairman and Managing Director Arun Jain. Intellect said the move comes as enterprises increasingly shift from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment. By operating independently, Purple Fabric will gain greater agility, dedicated resources, and strategic focus to accelerate growth in the Business Impact AI market. The company believes the carve-out will enable Purple Fabric to establish its own identity while capitalising on rising demand for enterprise AI solutions.

Tally Solutions invests in HR Tech Platform OTU India

Tally Solutions has made a strategic investment in OTU India, an HR technology platform owned by Kaamlo Platform Pvt Ltd. The investment is aimed at expanding Tally’s connected business ecosystem and delivering greater value to MSMEs through integrated digital solutions. OTU India’s SaaS platform, OTUHRPLUS, digitises employee lifecycle processes including hiring, onboarding, workforce operations, and post-joining management. The two companies are also exploring joint go-to-market initiatives and integration opportunities. Tally said the collaboration will help businesses access scalable solutions across finance, compliance, payments, and workforce management, enabling a more holistic approach to operational efficiency and business growth.

Nayanta University signs MoU with University College Cork

Nayanta University, Pune, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, to strengthen academic and research collaboration. The partnership will focus on student and faculty exchanges, joint academic programmes, collaborative research initiatives, and cultural engagement. The agreement was signed during a visit by Vice Chancellor Dr Ranjan Banerjee to the UCC campus. Both institutions highlighted sustainability as an initial area of cooperation and emphasized the importance of fostering global learning opportunities. The collaboration is expected to deepen educational ties between India and Ireland while creating new avenues for academic excellence, international exposure, and research-driven innovation for students and faculty members.

Cautio appoints Nitin Chadha as SVP growth & strategy

AI-powered fleet safety and mobility intelligence platform Cautio has appointed Nitin Chadha as Senior Vice President – Growth & Strategy. Chadha brings more than two decades of experience across mobility, automotive, consumer technology, insurance, and startups, having held leadership roles at Acko, Spinny, and Park+. He also founded shared mobility platform sRide. At Cautio, Chadha will lead strategic partnerships, business growth, and enterprise expansion initiatives.

The appointment comes as demand rises for AI-driven safety and operational intelligence solutions in commercial mobility, supported by growing regulatory focus on road safety, driver monitoring, and advanced analytics technologies across India’s transportation ecosystem.

Nexedge Capital expands presence with Ahmedabad office

Wealth management and advisory firm Nexedge Capital has launched its Ahmedabad office as part of its expansion strategy in Gujarat. The company plans to open three additional offices across the state, targeting entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals, and multi-generational families. Nexedge Capital said the new office will provide personalised wealth management, investment advisory, succession planning, and family office services.

The expansion reflects Gujarat’s growing importance as a hub for entrepreneurship and business growth. The firm aims to strengthen its position as a trusted financial advisor by offering tailored solutions to meet the evolving needs of high-net-worth individuals and business families across the region.

RAH Infotech partners 1Kosmos on identity security

Cybersecurity distributor RAH Infotech has entered into a strategic partnership with digital identity specialist 1Kosmos to expand identity security solutions in India. Through the alliance, RAH Infotech will offer 1Kosmos’ portfolio of identity proofing, passwordless authentication, document verification, liveness detection, and adaptive access technologies. The solutions are aimed at sectors including banking, financial services, government, healthcare, telecom, and IT services, where secure digital identity management is critical. The partnership seeks to address growing cybersecurity and compliance requirements by helping enterprises strengthen identity verification processes while reducing reliance on traditional password-based authentication systems.

AssisTech Foundation hosts cATalyst Cohort 7 demo day

AssisTech Foundation hosted the Demo Day for the seventh cohort of its cATalyst Assistive Technology Startup Acceleration Programme in Bengaluru. Supported by SBI Foundation and the India Impact Investors Council, the event showcased innovations from startups developing accessibility solutions for persons with disabilities. Cohort 7 brought together 11 startups, with nine presenting technology-led products focused on improving accessibility, livelihoods, and independence. Since its launch in 2018, the cATalyst programme has mentored over 65 startups and built a network of more than 500 assistive technology ventures. The initiative continues to play a key role in strengthening India’s inclusive innovation ecosystem and supporting disability-focused entrepreneurship.

Coromandel, Samunnati partner to Support FPOs

Coromandel International Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Samunnati Agri Value Chain Solutions Private Limited to improve access to agricultural inputs for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across India.

Under the partnership, Coromandel will supply and promote its crop nutrition, crop protection and agri-service solutions through Samunnati’s extensive FPO network. The collaboration aims to strengthen market access and ensure wider availability of quality agri-inputs for farmers. Both companies will also explore customised marketing initiatives, product demonstrations and technology adoption programmes to encourage sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, Samunnati Finance Private Limited may provide financial assistance to eligible FPOs and agri ecosystem participants for procurement of Coromandel products, subject to regulatory requirements and separate arrangements.

Powerlook targets Rs 500 crore GMV, 100+ Stores by FY30

Fast-fashion menswear brand Powerlook has outlined an aggressive expansion roadmap after crossing Rs 225 crore in GMV during FY26. The company aims to achieve Rs 500 crore GMV by FY29 and expand its retail network to more than 100 stores across India by FY30. Powerlook plans to strengthen its omnichannel presence through investments in retail expansion, technology, supply chain capabilities and customer experience. The brand will increase its store count to over 50 by FY28 through a mix of company-owned and franchise-operated outlets. Expansion will focus on major metros including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, along with Tier-II cities such as Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Lucknow. The company is leveraging customer analytics and demand-mapping tools to identify high-potential locations.

HCLTech launches AI innovation zone with Google Cloud

HCLTech has launched an AI Innovation Zone in collaboration with Google Cloud at Santa Clara, California. The facility is designed to help enterprises develop and scale AI applications across agentic, kinetic and physical AI use cases. Powered by Gemini Enterprise, the innovation hub will provide a dedicated environment for designing, building and deploying AI-driven workflows, advancing robotics-led innovation and developing industry-specific AI solutions. The initiative builds on the expanded partnership between HCLTech and Google Cloud announced earlier this year. By combining Google Cloud’s AI capabilities with HCLTech’s portfolio of AI and industry-focused solutions, the centre aims to support enterprises in accelerating their transition towards becoming agentic organisations.

Awshad expands product portfolio

Medical cannabis wellness startup Awshad has launched Calmagummies Gold, a new CBD+THC-infused gummy product focused on stress relief, relaxation and sleep recovery. The launch comes amid increasing consumer interest in plant-based wellness products and alternative recovery solutions. According to industry estimates cited by the company, India’s gummy market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.4 per cent between 2024 and 2030, while demand for cannabinoid-infused wellness products is also rising. Building on the response to its existing Calmagummies range, Awshad aims to tap into the expanding nutraceutical and functional wellness market with the new offering.