India’s Minerals Pivot, WhatsApp Vs CCI, and Even Healthcare’s New Plan

For years, India’s biggest strategic weakness has been hiding in plain sight: we don’t control the minerals that power modern tech. China refines 90% of rare earths, dominates lithium, cobalt, graphite; and therefore controls the global EV, electronics, and clean-tech supply chain. India can’t change geology, but it can change strategy.

And that’s exactly what’s happening. Through a new National Critical Minerals Mission, EPR rules, and a ₹1,500 crore battery recycling push, India is shifting from mining to circularity - turning battery waste into strategic independence.

LOHUM, a battery recycling and rare-earth materials company, sits right at the center of this moment. In a sector where deep-tech startups usually lose money for a decade, LOHUM has done the unthinkable: ₹529 crore in FY24 revenue, ₹28 crore profit, and now preparing a ₹1,000 crore pre-IPO raise. Its message is simple: India may not own rare minerals, but it can own the refining and recycling that every EV battery eventually needs.

Every EV battery becomes raw material 7-8 years later. Every solar storage unit becomes feedstock. In a world where countries are scrambling to reduce China dependence, recycling is the only arena where India can compete from day one.

LOHUM has built this edge through long-term deals with Mercedes-Benz Energy, MG Motor, Stellantis, Glencore, and OEMs in India and the U.S. It’s expanding capacity to 70,000 tonnes, setting up a UAE plant, and building a US joint venture.

LOHUM’s profitability comes from chemistry, logistics, and boring operational discipline - not slogans. It built sourcing networks, refining tech, and predictable offtake instead of chasing unicorn valuations like early-stage EV startups or hydrogen fantasies.

The global backdrop makes this even more urgent. China has already curbed exports of gallium, graphite, and germanium. The US, EU, and Japan are rewriting supply-chain laws. And India, which imports almost everything needed for EVs, grid storage, and electronics, can’t risk the next decade looking like the last one.

But the sector isn’t risk-free. Battery material prices swing wildly. Lithium crashes can kill margins overnight. If sodium-ion or new chemistries scale faster, recyclers must reinvent their playbook. And India still graduates too few materials scientists and deep-tech engineers to support a full domestic ecosystem.

Still, the direction is clear. India’s best shot at mineral independence isn’t digging new mines - it’s squeezing value out of what already exists. That’s why the government is pushing recycling, why OEMs are signing long-term contracts, and why LOHUM’s eventual IPO in 2026-27 will be a test of whether Indian public markets finally understand deep-tech.

Let’s go through what else is happening in Indian startup world - Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Aa Dekhe Zara”: WhatsApp Vs CCI As Watchdog Seeks Clarity From NCLAT On Judgement

WhatsApp and the CCI are back in the ring, with the watchdog nudging NCLAT to clarify whether user consent applies only to ads or to all those shadowy data detours.

The tribunal had partly relaxed its earlier block on WhatsApp sharing data with Meta, even as it kept the hefty penalty intact. Now the question hangs in the air like a mischievous echo: what exactly counts as consent in a world built on “take it or leave it” terms.

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“Saari Maao Ko Salam”: Even Healthcare launches comprehensive maternity care plan in India

Even Healthcare has rolled out a maternity care plan that wraps expecting families in steady, medically guided support from the first flutter to the delivery room. The offering promises crystal-clear costs and coverage that spans scans, tests, consultations, and a private in-patient stay.

It feels like a small revolution in a country where maternity planning often drifts in fog, now steadied by a round-the-clock care manager who keeps the journey calm and clear.

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“Suswagatam Suswagatam”: Probus Appoints Atrey Bhardwaj as Chief Growth Officer

Probus has handed the growth reins to Atrey Bhardwaj as it gears up for a fresh push into scale, digital acceleration, and distribution-heavy expansion.

With two decades across major insurers and banks, he arrives with a toolkit tuned for alliances, sales, and strategy that actually moves the revenue needle. His earlier stint at Probus adds a homecoming glow to the appointment, promising faster execution and fewer awkward first-day introductions.

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1. Agraga has secured ₹100 Cr in a pre-Series B round led by Bajaj Finserv Group to turbocharge digital solutions for MSME cross-border logistics. With IvyCap Ventures and global angels joining in, the startup now edges closer to untangling trade flows.

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2. CtrlB has raised $2.5 Mn, about ₹22.2 Cr, in a seed round led by Chiratae Ventures to help enterprises slash their observability costs. With plans to scale its tech, lock in key certifications, and expand across India and the US, the startup is gearing up to turn cloud monitoring from a money pit into a smoother, smarter operation.

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3. AgroStar has secured $30 Mn to supercharge its omnichannel expansion and deepen its AI-driven agri stack, with the round led by climate-focused investor Just Climate. Serving over 10 Mn farmers through 10,000 retail stores, the startup now aims to spark fresh product innovation that ripples across India’s fields.

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4. Ultrahuman has raised ₹100 Cr in venture debt from Alteria Capital to power its push into Canada, Mexico, and Australia. The move sets the stage for a larger upcoming round, even as the company juggles a patent tussle with Oura in the US over its smart ring.

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5. Thimblerr has raised $1.4 Mn in a bridge round backed by Inflection Point Ventures and a clutch of prominent investors to strengthen its tech-led fashion supply-chain network. With support from 3one4 Capital, Mount Judi Ventures, Venture Catalysts, and We Founder Circle, the platform is stitching together a faster, smarter backbone for apparel manufacturing.

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6. Kaaj has secured $3.8 Mn, roughly ₹33.7 Cr, in a seed round led by Kindred Ventures to bring automation and intelligence to small business lending. With top fintech-focused investors joining in, the startup aims to turn credit assessment from a slow ritual into a swift, data-driven decision.

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