India: May 2021

India’s tech startup news

May 2021’s Indian tech news headlines touched on subjects including artificial intelligence in agriculture, vaccine delivery using drones, startups selected for the Techstars India program, the Indian government’s cryptocurrency and social media regulations, and many more.

The headlines below outline May 2021’s tech news items from across India, providing Startup News Asia readers with:

• a quick reference to the month’s tech news from India;
• insights into developments in India’s startup ecosystems; and
• instant access to the articles behind each tech news headline.

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• India: An intro to Niramai, tech startup helping detect breast cancer using thermal analytics and artificial intelligence
• India: Telecom ministry grants 12 international equipment makers participation in 6-month 5G trials; notably absent are Huawei and ZTE
• India: A look at ReshaMandi, AI-driven agri-tech startup helping silk farmers improve quality, boosting income up to 30%
• India: Revenant Esports gaming platform startup gains $1M backing from advertising major Creativland Asia, boasting 15K active gamers
• IndiA: National Restaurant Assoc’n aiming to partner tech solution providers who offer direct deliveries, to help members minimise dependency on online aggregators
• IndiaTech, industry association representing startup ecosystem founders and investors, lays out proposed 5-point policy framework aimed at cryptocurrency regulation
• India: Short-video app Chingari launches Clubhouse clone, Fireside, as audio-only apps gain popularity
• India: Telangana government to trial delivery of vaccines using drones, in part towards developing a standardised framework for future use

• India: Google Maps now piloting feature to help users check availability of hospital beds and medical oxygen at select locations, listing user-generated information
• India: Geekster raises $200K pre-seed funding with education + human resources platform for technology professionals, focusing on company tech talent attrition rates
• India: Bitex cryptocurrency exchange launches Bitex Coin, its own utility token, to facilitate trading, addressing high deposit/withdrawal fees, custody of fiat and fiat withdrawal
• India: Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Digital University of Kerala, Kerala Blockchain Academy partner to launch startup-focused blockchain program
• Indian Institute of Tech in Madras researchers now field-testing BlockTrack, app-delivered and blockchain-based secure medical data and info exchange system
• India: Techstars seed accelerator unveils 9 startups selected for 3rd India cohort working in HR tech, 3D imagery in dentistry, construction technology and more
• India: 100X VC early-stage venture capital firm unveils latest investments in 11 startups working in energy analytics, deepfake identification, digital payments and more

• India: L&T Technology Services and Intel developed AI-based guidance system to help drivers locate nearby parking spaces, eyeing a market valued at $5.4BN by 2025
• India: Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay and other mobile wallets to be interoperable from April 2022, allowing sending and receiving of payments
• India: An intro to MoooFarm, agritech platform providing knowledge, support and cattle trading, and recently listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list
• India: PhonePe payments company to acquire IndusOS app store for $60M, potentially aiming to integrate with its own in-app platform, PhonePe Switch
• India: Wysa raises $5.5M Series A with AI-based mental health platform for individuals, and companies that want to have mental health in benefits programs
• India: Koo, home-grown Twitter clone, raises $30M in part seen to be benefiting from Indian gov’t clash with Twitter over manipulated media
• India: Polygon blockchain startup gains backing in part from Mark Cuban with framework for building and connecting Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks
• India: WhatsApp sues Indian gov’t over new rules designed to make all messages traceable

• India: FuelBuddy app-based fuel delivery platform acquires MyPetrolPump on-demand fuel delivery startup, growing to deliver near 40M litres to 30 cities
• India: Wadhwani AI partnered by Google’s philanthropic arm for AI-driven, app-based system to identify crop pests, predict disease trajectory, and provide actionable insights
• India: Stockal raises $3M pre-Series A with platform allowing investors to take stakes in assets including shares, ETFs and hedge funds outside of the Indian market
• India: Advertising Standards Council mandates that ‘net influencers be required to label promotional posts and run due diligence on claims made in those posts
• India: gradCapital student-focused venture capital firm launches $1M fund to help graduates translate ideas into businesses, looking at investing in 100 startups over 3 years
• India: Farm Infinity gains funding with cloud-based, mobile/web platform to facilitate access to financial services for India’s 125M smallholder farmers
• India: FarMart agri-tech raises $2.4M pre-Series A with platform providing wide-angle services for farmers, from boosted market access to data-driven decision making