Arundhati Bhattacharya’s Padma Shri, Starlink’s India Debut, and Maharashtra’s New EV Policy

Salesforce South Asia CEO Arundhati Bhattacharya receives the Padma Shri for her leadership in banking and tech. Meanwhile, Starlink gears up for its India debut with partnership talks with Nelco and BSNL, hinting at a satellite-powered connectivity revolution. On the ground, Maharashtra’s new EV policy rolls out with tax breaks and infrastructure boosts, positioning the state as a future-ready hub for clean mobility. Besides, there’s also Startup Spotlight to savor.

Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Badhai Ho Badhai”: Salesforce South Asia CEO Arundhati Bhattacharya Conferred With Padma Shri

In a quiet moment of national recognition, Arundhati Bhattacharya, CEO of Salesforce South Asia and former SBI chairperson, has been awarded the Padma Shri.

Her decades-long service in banking, and now tech, has quietly reshaped India’s financial and digital backbone. It’s a reminder that leadership, when steady and unassuming, often speaks the loudest.

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“Hum Saath Saath Hai”: Starlink In Partnership Talks With Nelco, BSNL Ahead Of India Entry Plan

Starlink is quietly lining up alliances with Indian players like Nelco and BSNL as it eyes a long-awaited entry into the country.

The Elon Musk-backed satcom firm seems to be playing it local this time, after previous regulatory hiccups. If things align, rural connectivity in India might finally get a skyward push.

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“Paryavaran Ke Khatir”: Maharashtra Approves New EV Policy With Tax Waivers, Infra Push

Maharashtra has rolled out a new EV policy promising toll waivers, purchase subsidies, and a ₹1,993 Cr push for clean mobility.

It’s a bid to steer the state toward an electric future, with perks lasting till 2030. On paper, it’s ambitious—now it waits to see if the roads will follow.

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1. Ahmedabad-based SatLeo has raised its maiden round led by Merak Ventures, backing its thermal imaging tech for space. The 2023-founded startup already claims $25 Mn in client intent—hot start, quite literally.
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2. Anveshan, the Gurugram-based farm-to-table food brand, has raised ₹48 Cr in a Series A round led by Wipro Consumer Care Ventures. With big-name backers like BoAt’s Aman Gupta onboard, the brand’s clean-label mission just got a major boost.
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3. QNu Labs has secured ₹60 Cr in strategic funding led by the National Quantum Mission, with backing from top investors like Speciale Invest and Singularity AMC. The startup’s patented quantum cryptography tech aims to future-proof data privacy in an era of escalating cyber threats
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4. Stimuler has raised $3.75 Mn in a pre-Series A round led by Lightspeed and SWC Global, signalling strong investor faith in its early promise. With a diverse backer list, the startup’s next move will be closely watched.
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5. Robotics startup Vividobots has raised ₹1.47 Cr in seed funding from Inflection Point Ventures to drive innovation and sector-specific deployment. Born from a tragic accident, the Chennai-based trio is building bots with a mission—to make construction safer, smarter, and more humane.
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6. Maritime services firm Sadhav Offshore has raised ₹25 Cr in an equity round led by Negen Undiscovered Value Fund, with support from HNIs and family offices. The capital is expected to anchor its next phase of coastal and offshore expansion.
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“Sab Jeev Se Prem”: Urban Animal Is Pioneering Canine DNA Testing in India

Urban Animal is shaking up pet care in India with its innovative canine DNA testing, offering dog owners insights into everything from breed composition to health risks.

Founded by Akash Murali and Arunav Vaish, the idea came to life after a personal experience with their dog, Milo, and has since grown into a solution that’s as smart as it is personal. Though they didn’t secure funding on Shark Tank India, their pioneering approach is set to carve out a new space in the Indian pet care market.

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