The Gurugram-based technology platform 30 Sundays, which specializes in vacation planning and booking, has raised 61 crore rupees in a Series A funding round. Bessemer Venture Partners led this round, with existing investors Info Edge Ventures and Eximius Ventures also participating.
The company intends to use the raised funds to enhance its product portfolio, strengthen its technological and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and expand its workforce. Furthermore, 30 Sundays plans to invest in marketing and brand building, accelerating its entry into new markets and customer segments.
Recently, 30 Sundays launched its services in New Zealand and Mauritius. The company is currently preparing to enter markets such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. According to the company itself, it is a full-fledged AI-powered travel planning platform that manages the entire customer interaction cycle—from searching and itinerary creation to booking—and provides concierge service during the trip.
The startup reported achieving an annual Gross Booking Value (GBV) of approximately 200 crore rupees based on data from four main destinations: Bali, Vietnam, Maldives, and Thailand. Kshitij Chaudhary, co-founder and CEO of 30 Sundays, noted that they created 30 Sundays to make travel fair and simple, guaranteeing every client a personalized trip and access to a guide immediately upon arrival.
According to the startup, the overseas leisure travel market in India is estimated at approximately 25 billion US dollars and shows an annual growth rate of about 11.4%. This growth is driven by structural factors such as the expansion of the middle class, simplification of visa norms for Indian travelers, and the increase in global budget airlines.
The company has integrated AI into sales and operational processes, covering lead qualification, route creation, follow-up, and reservation. 30 Sundays stated a twofold increase in sales department productivity. Kitty Agarwal, a partner at Info Edge Ventures, commented that 30 Sundays' use of AI combined with human oversight for personalization and traveler support has demonstrated an astonishing adoption rate among customers, as few new consumer platforms achieve such organic growth and recommendations so quickly.
The Ahmedabad-based Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) manager Steptrade Capital has achieved the first close of its CAT II AIF, named Chanakya Opportunities Fund II (COF II), securing investment commitments totaling 100 crore rupees.
Chanakya Opportunities Fund II was launched in February 2026 with a target capital of 500 crore rupees. Commitments were received for the fund from Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNIs), family offices, and other investors. The company reported that after completing the first close and the planned capital deployment start in August, the fund is opening the next allocation round for a wider range of suitable investors.
According to Steptrade Capital, investor interest in India's private markets continues to grow as more companies prefer to remain private longer before going public. Furthermore, it is noted that investors are increasingly seeking to participate in business development during the final stages of private ownership rather than waiting for access to the public market.
COF II is built around three long-term investment themes expected to benefit from India's structural economic transformation. The first theme is advanced manufacturing, covering semiconductors, specialty chemicals, aerospace and defense, as well as electronics and ESDM. The second theme is energy and infrastructure transition (iInfrastructure), including battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle ecosystems, power transmission, transformers, grid modernization, and data center infrastructure. The third theme is new drivers, encompassing robotics and AI, digital healthcare diagnostics, biomanufacturing, and rare earth element supply chains.
CA Kresha Gupta, Fund Manager of Chanakya Opportunities Fund I and II, and Director of Steptrade Capital, stated that the response to the first close reflects growing investor confidence that the pre-IPO stage has become an important part of long-term wealth creation. She emphasized that the company's focus remains on identifying enterprises that benefit from structural changes in manufacturing, energy, and technology before they become widely accessible.
COF II is designed for growth-stage and pre-IPO companies. At this stage, businesses have typically achieved commercial scale while remaining outside public markets, where their valuation is often adjusted after an IPO, as noted in the statement.
Open Secret, a company that produces healthy snacks, has raised over 50 crore rupees. These funds were obtained through an initial equity capital of 30 crore rupees from Desai Brothers Group and institutional debt.
The acquired capital is intended to accelerate retail expansion, introduce product innovations, and develop AI-based supply chain capabilities. The company aims to capitalize on the growing consumer demand for nutritious products by offering healthier alternatives to traditional packaged snacks.
Open Secret reported achieving an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) exceeding 200 crore rupees and demonstrating a monthly growth rate of 10%. Furthermore, the company has achieved EBITDA profitability and positive operating cash flow.
The new capital will be directed towards increasing the offline retail network, strengthening the product portfolio, and integrating artificial intelligence across the entire supply chain. Currently, Open Secret's products are available in over 500 retail outlets, including DMart and Reliance Smart, and the company plans to significantly expand its physical distribution network across India.
The company is also increasing investments in its range of savory snacks, such as chips and namkeen, which has been identified as the fastest-growing category. Concurrently, AI agents are being utilized to optimize production cycles and reduce time-to-market for new products. Ahana Gautam, founder and CEO of Open Secret, noted that the demand for healthy snacks significantly outpaces supply, and they are actively working to bridge this gap.
Gautam added that the collaboration with Desai Brothers Group will strengthen the company's manufacturing and distribution capabilities, helping it achieve a target ARR of 1,000 crore rupees within the next three years while maintaining profitability. Desai Brothers Group stated that its investment reflects confidence in the growing demand for healthier food and Open Secret's ability to build a scalable consumer brand. Existing investor Z47 also confirmed its support, citing the company's disciplined growth and its strong potential in India's fast-growing healthy snacking market.
E3 Electric.Ai, a Bangalore-based company developing AI-powered electric scooters, has successfully raised 100 crore rupees in a Series A funding round that included equity and debt financing.
The global venture firm BluVenture Holdings served as the lead investor. The capital raised will be used to accelerate product innovation, strengthen research and development, and expand the company's presence in the Indian market ahead of the commercial launch of the E3 TRION scooter.
This funding comes as the Indian two-wheeler EV market enters a new phase of development. While earlier growth was driven by the shift from gasoline to electric vehicles, competition is now increasingly focused on software, connected technologies, and AI. These features are intended to improve safety, maintenance, and the overall ownership experience of the vehicle.
E3 Electric.Ai, founded in Bangalore, develops modular electric scooters, allowing for the creation of various models based on a single platform. The company stated that its patented AI system can monitor vehicle health, support predictive maintenance by identifying potential issues before they escalate, and provide intelligent route planning to reduce range anxiety.
The startup has formed a team of over 100 engineers and researchers and has filed more than 18 patent applications covering battery systems, modular architecture, and AI-based safety technologies.
Founder and CEO P. Sanjeev believes that electric vehicles should 'predict, learn, and continuously improve,' making mobility safer, more reliable, and more accessible over time. According to Sanjeev, the company's modular platform allows for the development of numerous scooter variants on one chassis, while the AI capabilities are designed to enhance maintenance and driver confidence.
BluVenture Holdings views India as a significant opportunity, given it is the world's largest two-wheeler transport market. Shaun Dawson, an LP partner at BluVenture Holdings, noted that India is at a 'turning point' in its transition to electric mobility and highly praised E3's combination of modular engineering and software intelligence for the country's scooter market.
The mobility sector in India continues to attract investment despite increasing competition. This week, Hero MotoCorp approved investments of up to 1000 crore rupees in Ather Energy, an electric scooter manufacturer whose shares are listed on the stock exchange, indicating sustained investor confidence in the segment. Previously, Bangalore-based Ultraviolette Automotive received 404 crore rupees to expand its portfolio of electric motorcycles.
The political environment also remains favorable: the Centre extended incentives for relevant electric two-wheelers under the PM E-DRIVE program until July 2026. This program aims to lower the initial cost of EVs, support charging infrastructure, and strengthen domestic manufacturing, although industry leaders continue to seek additional policy support to help nascent manufacturers scale production.
