The Tech Panda takes a look at recent funding events in the tech ecosystem, seeking to know where the cash is flowing.
Startup: Makr Microsystems
Sector: Semiconductor Metrology
Amount: INR10.2 Crore
Led by: Bluehill.VC
Bluehill.VC, a frontier-tech-focused VC fund, led a Rs 10.2 crore seed round in Makr Microsystems, a semiconductor metrology company, with participation from Artha Venture Fund. Makr is developing technology that allows chipmakers to see and measure what is happening beneath the surface of a chip at the nanoscale.
Manu Iyer, General Partner, Bluehill.VC, says, “We are excited about companies that sit deeper in critical technology value chains. Makr is solving a difficult problem in semiconductor manufacturing at a time when the industry is moving toward increasingly complex architectures. We believe this is a global opportunity, and that world-class semiconductor equipment and technology can be built from India.”
Startup: OORJAA
Sector: Logistics
Amount: INR9.7 Crore
Led by: Equentis Angel Fund
OORJAA, a technology-led logistics platform, has raised INR9.7 crore in a Series A round led by Equentis Angel Fund, with participation from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). This is the first close of the larger round, for which the company is in advanced discussion with a few VC funds. The funds will be used toward technology and product development, scaling Datashastra, its proprietary AI/SaaS logistics stack, along with its control-tower and automation capabilities. The capital will also support expansion of its mid-mile and last-mile network across new cities and categories, take Datashastra to international markets beginning with the GCC, and build talent across technology, operations and enterprise sales.
Manish Goel, Founder & Managing Director, Equentis Wealth Advisory Services, says, “This is our second-round investment in OORJAA, after our maiden investment in November 2024. OORJAA is fast progressing into a formidable platform in the intra-city logistics market, serving pedigreed enterprise clients. With SaaS offering, they are drawing on the best practices from the international market as solutions to the Indian enterprise clients.”
Startup: Navi Limited
Sector: Fintech
Amount: US$100 Million
Led by: Prosus
Navi Limited announced an investment of USD 100 million from Prosus, marking Navi’s first institutional capital raise and an important milestone in its journey to build one of India’s leading technology-driven financial services institutions. The proposed investment aligns with Prosus’s long standing thesis in backing leading technology platforms in India and its confidence in Navi’s business, execution capabilities and a long-term ambition to build one of India’s leading technology-driven financial services institutions.
Ashutosh Sharma, Head of Prosus India Investments and M&A, said, “We are excited about our partnership with Navi, a business that is demonstrating all the qualities we look for while investing – a large base of loyal users, a platform play with multiple lines of businesses, a technology-first approach to problem solving and a relentless focus on delivering superior consumer experience. We believe the team has executed extremely well in the last 12 months despite a tough macro environment which makes the company well-positioned to capture significant opportunities in the sector in times to come. In Sachin, we see a founder who shares our philosophy of patient company-building, building better products, and creating meaningful long-term value at scale. We look forward to supporting Sachin and Navi’s long-term growth following completion of the transaction, subject to the required regulatory approvals.”
