By Sayan Sen

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From Cosmoserve Space’s $3.17 million pre-seed to combat orbital debris and Bharat Intelligence’s Rs 7 crore raise to tackle India’s farm labour crisis with AI, YourStory brings today’s headlines spotlighting bold bets in the sector.

Bihar’s business bet: Local entrepreneurs push to rewrite the state’s economic story
For decades branded a “BIMARU” state, Bihar is now drawing optimism from homegrown entrepreneurs who see untapped potential.

At a roundtable moderated by YourStory founder Shradha Sharma, business leaders argued that the state is undervalued but poised for growth. “Business in Bihar today is like investing in a company that is yet to get its IPO listed,” said Gaurav Shah, MD of Banke Bihari Foods.

Shah, along with Prince Ranjan of Snowball Ice Cream and Anupam Singh of Anaisha Products and Litchica Foods, highlighted job creation as their biggest reward.

Despite hurdles such as flooding, skill gaps, and policy execution, the trio sees Bihar’s fundamentals as strong. Industrial parks, ethanol hubs, and improved logistics, they argue, signal a state ready for its next chapter. Read more.

Simple Energy raises $10M in bridge round to expand offline presence
Electric vehicle maker Simple Energy on Thursday raised $10 million in a bridge round led by existing investor Dr Arokiaswamy Velumani, Founder of Thyrocare’s Family Office.

The round also saw participation from other existing investors such as Balamurugan Arumugam and the Haran family office.

According to the company, it is looking to utilise 80% of the newly-raised funds to aid its network expansion across the country and for marketing initiatives.

In an interview with YourStory earlier this year, the company said that it was looking to open 150 stores and 200 service centres by the end of 2025. It currently has around 53 stores. Read more.
Handpickd raises $15M in Series A round led by Bertelsmann India Investments
Fresh produce delivery startup Handpickd has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments.

The round also saw participation from Titan Capital Winners Fund and existing investors. The company plans to use the funds to expand to more cities, hire talent, and improve its supply chain technology. Started in 2024 by Anant Goel (co-founder of Milkbasket), Nitin Gupta, and Sahil Madan,

Handpickd works differently from other grocery apps. It does not store fruits and vegetables in warehouses or dark stores. Instead, it takes customer orders first, buys the exact quantity directly from farmers, and delivers them the same morning—usually within six to seven hours. Read more.

Cosmoserve Space raises $3.17M in pre-seed round
Hyderabad-based Cosmoserve Space has raised $3.17 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round, led by investor Alan Rutledge with participation from AUM Ventures and Shakti VC. Ram Shriram, an early investor in Google, also joined the round.

Founded by ex-ISRO scientist Dr. Chiranjeevi Phanindra, the company is developing autonomous robotic spacecraft to tackle orbital debris, a growing threat to satellites and future space exploration.

Dr. Phanindra said the funding will “accelerate our mission to develop cutting-edge solutions for space debris mitigation.” Shriram added, “Space fuels human progress, but debris puts it at risk. Excited to back Cosmoserve Space, which is pioneering solutions to ensure a cleaner, sustainable space for generations to come.”
Bharat Intelligence secures Rs 7 Cr pre-seed backing from Sahyadri Farms
Bharat Intelligence has secured Rs 7 crore in pre-seed funding led by Sahyadri Farms, bringing over 22,500 farmers in as shareholders. The startup is building AI tailored for India’s rural economy, beginning with solutions to the farm labour shortage. Its platform forecasts demand and connects farmers with skilled crews via simple, vernacular tools.

“India’s economy is agrarian, deeply physical, and cannot be understood from the cloud alone. To build AI for India, it must be embedded in rural life,” CEO Azhaan Merchant said.
Recove raises Rs 5.3 Cr to digitise plastic recycling supply chains
Plastics recycling startup Recove has raised Rs 5.3 crore in its first external fundraise, led by US-based Momentum Capital. Other investors include Ganesh Natarajan (ex-Aptech, Zensar), Urban Ladder co-founder Ashish Goel, and Shruti Deorah.

Founded in 2024, Recove operates a B2B marketplace that connects suppliers of plastic waste with recycling companies. The funding will support expansion and pre-processing infrastructure to ensure high-quality inputs for recyclers.

“This investment will accelerate our expansion and enable us to invest in key pre-processing infrastructure across the recycling supply chain, starting with plastics,” CEO Viral Chhajer said.
Samaaro secures $500,000 pre-series A for AI-driven event marketing
AI-powered event marketing platform Samaaro has raised $500,000 in a pre-Series A round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with Silver Needle Ventures, LetsVenture, and others participating.

The company will use the funds to expand in India and the UAE, strengthen brand presence, and enhance its AI product suite.

Samaaro works with enterprises including ICICI Lombard, Apex Group, and Varun Beverages. Its platform integrates attendee management, lead scoring, and analytics to turn events into measurable revenue. “We are reimagining how enterprises run events by making them smarter, data-driven, and directly tied to revenue,” CEO Purnank Prakash said.
Yuyiii secures angel investment to scale curated stays platform
Travel-tech platform Yuyiii has raised an undisclosed angel round led by Sridhar Krishnamoorthy, ex-MD of Arjas Steel. The company, founded by Nidhi Sharma, offers curated leisure stays selected through a 26-point audit and classified into Platinum, Gold, or Silver tiers.

The funding will support the rollout of its updated app and AI Copilot, which recommends stays based on traveller moods and preferences. “Where you stay shapes how your trip feels. In a market flooded with listings and fake reviews, we’re bringing back trust and emotion,” Sharma said.

SIDBI launches DIA programme to strengthen MSME clusters
SIDBI has launched the Development of Industry Associations (DIA) scheme to strengthen MSME clusters. The initiative was unveiled at a conclave in New Delhi attended by 125 representatives from 90 associations nationwide.

CMD Manoj Mittal said the programme will provide infrastructure support, trained resources, and digital tools to make associations financially sustainable. He noted, “Strong Clusters need Strong Industry Associations.” The initiative includes a portal for networking, research, and addressing technical and financial needs.

(The copy will be updated throughout the day)

(Edited by Affirunisa Kankudti)