Ecosystem harkat: Scalable, enterprise-grade AI-Ready IT solutions for SMBs, tech fund doubling down on India bets & final close of Rs 400 cr maiden fund for consumer startups

The Tech Panda takes a look at what’s buzzing in the startup ecosystem.

India’s tech and startup ecosystem is buzzing with momentum. From scalable, enterprise-grade AI-ready IT solutions tailored for SMBs, to a global tech fund doubling down on India bets, and the final close of a INR400 crore maiden fund for consumer startups, three developments are shaping how innovation and capital are flowing into the country’s digital future.

This month, Lenovo announced new IT infrastructure solutions tailored to help small and medium businesses (SMBs) easily deploy, scale and leverage modern IT in the era of AI. The solutions are designed to accelerate growth and innovation from day one with pre-tested and validated bundles of servers, software and consumption-based pricing options that help growing businesses move faster from decision to deployment. Featuring guided setup and built-in security, the solutions help businesses quickly modernize outdated infrastructure to prepare for today’s AI-powered workplace while delivering insights to anywhere that business happens. 

“SMBs face a challenging and competitive landscape today, with many struggling to modernize IT while keeping costs under control. Lenovo is helping these businesses stay current with solutions that remove traditional barriers of complexity and expense,” said Sumir Bhatia, President, Asia Pacific, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo. “Our SMB portfolio simplifies the way businesses acquire, deploy, and manage IT, accelerating innovation and operational efficiency from day one. By providing AI-ready, enterprise-grade technology that is flexible, secure, and easy to adopt, we are giving SMBs the tools to compete and grow with confidence in today’s AI-driven era.”

Also, Foundamental, a venture capital platform dedicated to the project economy (project-based sectors such as construction, infrastructure, and heavy-industry supply chains), debuted its third fund to double down on its India and APAC bets in addition to other global markets. The firm, led by Berlin-based Managing Partners Shubhankar Bhattacharya and Patric Hellermann, aims to have final close of Fund III by end of calendar 2025.

“Backing winners and market leaders across continents has helped us compound our knowledge, enabling us to spot the founder traits that win and the business models that endure in the project economy. Being a global investor gives us this distinctive unfair advantage in partnering with Indian founders,” said Bhattacharya.

In August, early growth investment fund Atomic Capital announced the final close of its maiden fund with a corpus of over Rs 400 crore, focused on early growth-stage Indian consumer, consumer-tech, and consumer-enabler startups. This is one of the largest debut funds dedicated to fueling India’s next wave of consumer growth. With an average first cheque size of Rs 10 to 30 crore, the fund aims to build a curated portfolio of 10–12 companies, with a portion of the corpus reserved for follow-on investments.

The Fund would be investing in early growth stage Indian consumer, consumer-tech, and consumer-enabler startups in sectors spanning F&B, nutraceuticals, electronics accessories, logistics, financial services, e-commerce SaaS, omnichannel infrastructure and manufacturing.

Apoorv Gautam, Founder and Managing Partner, says, “At Atomic Capital, we are not just investors—we are partners for the long haul, bound by a shared mission to shape the future of Indian consumption. Our commitment goes beyond capital; we bring hands-on support, strategic know-how, and the conviction that building enduring brands can transform lives and unlock significant value. Our focus is on capital-efficient businesses addressing large and expanding markets. Additionally, our investment decisions are driven by a strong rapport with the founding team, clear revenue momentum, and disciplined capital efficiency. We are firm believers in sustainable, capital-efficient growth — it’s the cornerstone of building enduring businesses.”