Expansions, layoffs, funding, leadership moves, and policy shifts — with our take on what it means for hiring in India, today and over the next five years.
Kily, an Indian startup building agentic AI solutions, has secured ₹30 crore in a funding round led by an early-stage venture capital firm. The fresh capital is earmarked to accelerate deployment of its AI platform across the market. This investment signals continued investor appetite for agentic AI ventures in India's growing tech ecosystem.
Two seasoned Indian startup executives — formerly at logistics giant Delhivery and travel platform Cleartrip — have co-founded Profound, a new venture aimed at delivering AI-powered professional support services to individuals. The startup signals a growing conviction among experienced operators that working professionals in India need smarter, tech-driven tools to navigate their careers. This adds to a broader wave of AI-first platforms targeting the career and employability space.
Ather Energy has reported a notably improved first quarter, managing to significantly reduce its losses even as broader concerns swirl around slowing electric two-wheeler sales in India. The performance stands out against a backdrop of industry-wide headwinds, suggesting the company has made meaningful operational and cost-efficiency gains. This turnaround positions Ather as a relative bright spot in what has been a turbulent period for Indian EV makers.
India's religious goods and services market is rapidly moving online, with platforms now enabling consumers to order pooja essentials, book rituals, and access faith-based services on demand. This shift is drawing startup investment and digitising a traditionally unorganised sector. The convenience economy around religious practice is emerging as a distinct and growing vertical in Indian e-commerce.
Bengaluru-based enterprise tech startup Superleap has secured ₹36 crore in a pre-Series A funding round, with Peak XV's Surge programme leading the investment. The startup builds AI-native customer relationship management tools aimed at enterprise clients. The fresh capital is expected to fuel product development and team expansion.
B2B fintech firm GetVantage has closed a ₹63 crore Series A1 funding round, aimed at broadening its revenue-based financing platform for Indian businesses. The capital injection is expected to fuel operational growth, product development, and market reach across the B2B lending space. This adds to the growing momentum in India's alternative business financing ecosystem.
Supply chain solutions firm LEAP India posted a sharp 66% rise in net profit to ₹62.3 crore in FY26, with revenues climbing 56% year-on-year. The IPO-bound company's strong financials suggest robust business momentum heading into a public listing. This growth trajectory positions the firm for potential workforce expansion across its operations.
Home decor marketplace Vaaree has closed a ₹65 crore Series A funding round co-led by Hero Enterprise. The fresh capital is expected to help the startup strengthen its technology infrastructure, expand its product catalogue, and scale operations across India. This investment signals growing institutional confidence in the organised online home decor segment.
Nykaa posted a consolidated net profit of ₹79.8 crore in Q1, representing a more than threefold increase compared to the same period last year. The sharp earnings growth reflects strengthening demand in India's beauty and personal care market. This financial health positions the company to sustain and potentially accelerate its operational investments.
MapmyIndia recorded a 6.3% year-on-year rise in net profit to ₹50.4 crore alongside 15% revenue growth in the first quarter, signalling sustained business momentum. The geospatial technology firm's improving financials suggest continued investment in its core mapping, navigation, and location intelligence products. Such consistent top- and bottom-line growth typically precedes headcount expansion in technology-driven companies.
Nykaa's board has greenlit a deal to acquire a 51% controlling stake in Aminu, a direct-to-consumer skincare brand. The move signals Nykaa's continued push to deepen its presence in the premium skincare segment by bringing promising D2C labels under its umbrella. This acquisition gives Nykaa greater control over Aminu's product development, distribution, and growth strategy.
A fatal incident at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited in July 2025, where two field operators died from toxic exposure, has reignited conversations about deploying robotics in high-risk industrial environments. Indian robotics startup Octobotics is positioning its machines to take over dangerous tasks in sectors like oil refining, petrochemicals, and heavy manufacturing. The incident underscores a broader push across Indian industry to automate roles where human presence carries life-threatening risk.