Startup & Tech Daily Digest: 28 Jul

Zaggle has acquired a 19.9% stake in Unobanc for Rs 7.96 Cr, gaining a foothold in the cross-border payments and remittance infrastructure space. Unobanc provides technology backbone for digital forex and international money movement. The move signals Zaggle's intent to expand its fintech portfolio beyond domestic spend management.

Causal decision intelligence platform FireAI has raised Rs 2.5 Cr in a pre-seed round led by SucSEED Indovation Fund. The startup helps enterprises move beyond static dashboards toward real-time, explainable insights driven by causal reasoning. The funding will likely accelerate product development and early enterprise customer acquisition.

Autonomous drone startup Suind has closed a Rs 20.5 Cr Pre-Series A round backed by Transition Venture Capital Fund, valuing the company at Rs 80 Cr. Suind deploys AI-powered drones for precision agriculture, including crop monitoring and targeted spraying. The raise comes amid growing investor appetite for agri-tech solutions addressing farm productivity at scale.

Skin longevity brand LNGVTY has secured Rs 5 Cr in seed funding from Rukam Capital. The brand focuses on evidence-based skincare targeting biological renewal pathways, positioning itself within the emerging science-backed beauty segment. The capital is expected to support product expansion and brand-building efforts in the competitive D2C skincare market.

Student accommodation platform House of Student has raised $2 million in seed funding from Saltwater Sutra and Nirmitsu Inspirational Ventures. The platform simplifies housing discovery and booking for students heading to global education destinations. This funding positions the startup to broaden its accommodation network across key international study markets.

Online and offline jewellery retailer Bluestone reported Rs 737 Cr in revenue and Rs 6 Cr in profit for Q1 FY27, marking a significant operational milestone. The numbers reflect growing consumer confidence in omnichannel jewellery retail and the brand's expanding physical store presence. Achieving profitability this early in the fiscal year bodes well for full-year performance.

Insurance distribution platform Turtlemint has recorded its first-ever profitable quarter and is now targeting full-year profitability in FY27. The platform connects customers to health, life, and motor insurance products through a network of PoSPs. This milestone underscores the maturing unit economics of tech-led insurance distribution in India.

Digital lending platform Kissht has obtained AMFI registration to enter mutual fund distribution, broadening its financial services offering beyond personal loans and consumer credit. The move reflects a broader trend of fintech lenders evolving into full-stack wealth and credit platforms. This pivot could open a significant new revenue stream while deepening customer relationships.