Latest news with #AbhinavSinha
Entrepreneur
9 minutes ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Kluisz.ai and Grexa AI Raise Early-Stage Funding for Growth
The below brands have announced their latest funding rounds. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. RTP Global Leads USD 9.6 Mn Funding Round In AI Cloud Startup a deep tech startup focused on AI-driven cloud solutions, has raised USD 9.6 million in seed funding led by RTP Global. The investment round also saw participation from Unicorn India Ventures, Blume Founders Fund, Climber Capital, and notable angel investors including Ritesh Agarwal, Dr Ritesh Malik, and Aditya Virwani. The Bengaluru-based company will use the funds to scale its engineering team, enhance product development, and support early customer deployments. Founded earlier this year by Abhinav Sinha, Vamshidhar Reddy, and Abhijeet Singh, is building an AI-native private cloud platform tailored for enterprise use. The platform is designed to handle AI workloads across hybrid, on-premise, edge, and sovereign cloud environments. It integrates security, observability, and automation from the ground up. "Our goal is to redefine private cloud infrastructure to meet the demands of the AI age. From silicon to software, the stack is built for performance, policy compliance, and security, without the need for manual effort," said Abhinav Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Madhur Makkar, Principal at RTP Global, added, "Abhinav, Vamshi and Abhijeet bring world-class experience and vision to this space. This is a team with deep technical experience and the product and market instinct to reimagine the private cloud in the AI era." Bhaskar Majumdar of Unicorn India Ventures highlighted that Indian deep tech startups are pushing boundaries and AI-powered cloud management platform offers enterprises a secure, high-performance system that could significantly impact global markets. empowers developers to set performance and compliance goals, while the platform automates deployment and execution across different cloud infrastructures. Grexa AI Bags INR 15.5 Cr Funding Led by Utsav Somani Grexa AI, a marketing technology startup, has raised INR 15.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Utsav Somani. The round also saw participation from Bharat Founders Fund, DeVC, Vernalis Capital, and several angel investors including Revant Bhate, Vaibhav Domkundwar, Ramakant Sharma, and Sumit Gupta. The newly secured funds will be used to accelerate product innovation and support go-to-market efforts. Grexa AI plans to continue developing its autonomous platform, which uses artificial intelligence to drive marketing performance based on real-time business data. Co-founded in 2024 by Ashutosh Kumar, Ayush Varshney, Arpit Oswal, and Narendra Agrawal, Grexa AI aims to simplify marketing for India's small business sector. The founding team previously built Testbook, an edtech platform with millions of users. The Thane-based startup offers an all-in-one platform that automates digital marketing for small businesses such as salons, clinics, gyms, cafés, travel agencies, and coaching centres. The platform handles social media, local SEO, advertisements, and website management without requiring technical expertise. Ashutosh Kumar, Co-founder and CEO, said that Grexa was built to serve the majority of Indian businesses that lack access to structured marketing. He added that traditional options like agencies or freelancers are often costly or ineffective for small enterprises. Currently, over 21,600 businesses have adopted the service since its beta launch. Grexa AI aims to empower one million small businesses over the next two years.
Mint
10 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Kluisz.ai raises $9.6 million in largest AI seed round of 2025 so far
Hospitality chain OYO's former global chief operating officer (COO) Abhinav Sinha has launched a B2B-focused startup for private cloud infrastructure after raising $9.6 million in seed funding. Sinha started the company two-and-a-half months ago with his co-founders Vamshidhar Reddy and Abhijeet Singh, who formerly worked at McKinsey & Co and AT&T, respectively. Kluisz's seed round is the largest in the artificial intelligence space so far this year, according to Tracxn data. Overall, the company has raised the seventh largest equity seed round, out of 489 deals so far this year. Notably, Kluisz is the only AI software company among the top 10 seed investments so far this year, with five others being deep-tech, while the rest are split between investment tech, religion tech, fintech and B2B-ecommerce. The number one and two spots are held respectively by electric commercial vehicle maker EKA, which raised $23 million from Enam Holdings, and RackBank, a provider of AI-focused data centre colocation services that raised $16.5 million from investment firm KRIIS. New York-based early-stage venture capital firm RTP Global led the round, with participation from Unicorn India Ventures, Blume Founders Fund, Climber Capital and a few angel investors including OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal. Apart from his previous role as COO at OYO, Sinha was chief product officer as well and credits his time in the dual roles as the reason for his new venture. 'We were honing down on drivers in the cloud ecosystem, trying to figure out efficiency, reducing latency and experimenting. We always wanted to set up a private cloud for ourselves but found it daunting," Sinha told Mint in an interview. Kluisz will be spending about 80% of the seed funding on hiring its engineering talent while the rest will go towards expanding its go-to-market team. Currently, the firm's main focus is on India as a market, while also looking at the Middle East. 'The tailwinds, from a data sovereignty perspective, is very high. Even from the perspective of enterprises focusing on generative AI and agentic solutions," said Sinha. The company aims to have its first customer by the end of the year or by January 2026, and eventually have a mix of small and medium businesses as well as enterprise customers contributing to revenue. Kluisz is targeting banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), as well as manufacturing as early customers. 'The private cloud infrastructure market will continue to grow, fuelled by the increasing adoption of data-intensive workloads among enterprises," D.D. Mishra, vice-president analyst at technology consulting firm Gartner, told Mint in a written response. The company's pitch is that while cloud infrastructure set-ups generally need a lot of people to operate efficiently given that data requirements are always scaling, AI can do a lot of the heavy lifting, especially when it comes to private cloud systems. As a result, a generative AI private cloud reduces costs and manpower. 'While traditionally favoured by sectors with strict compliance and security needs, private clouds are gaining some traction more broadly as organizations seek greater control, customization, and performance, especially for AI applications requiring specialized hardware and low-latency data access," Mishra said. How large is the market really? With AI becoming more prevalent across enterprise, data security is becoming a pressing requirement for large companies. As a result, they'll see private cloud offerings as a boon for AI-related workloads. An IBM report from last year shows that 32% of Indian companies use only a private cloud, while 18% use a public one. However, 47% said that they use a hybrid cloud environment. In fact, hybrid continues to be the dominant IT infrastructure. A hybrid cloud is a form of cloud computing that allows organisations to manage their ecosystem using a combination of private, public and on-premises data centres. Last year, cloud computing company Nutanix's survey found that 46% of the 1,500 respondents had already adopted hybrid cloud ecosystems. Technology consulting firm Gartner's own survey is even more bullish, suggesting that 90% of organizations will adopt a hybrid cloud approach by 2027. That being said, end-user spending on public cloud services dwarfs private cloud significantly. Company spends on private cloud are expected to exceed $84 billion by 2029, according to Gartner's IT Services forecast. Public cloud end-user spending is expected to touch $723 billion this year alone.
Hans India
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
15-year-old squash prodigy to represent India at World Championships
In a landmark moment for Indian squash, 15-year-old Anika Dubey from Pune has earned a spot on India's Under-19 Girls' team for the upcoming World Junior Squash Championships, set to take place in Cairo, Egypt, this July. The milestone makes her the youngest-ever player from Maharashtra to qualify in this age category, adding her name to the growing list of young Indian athletes making waves internationally. Currently ranked No. 2 in India in the U-19 girls' division, Anika secured her position following a stellar performance at the national selection trials earlier this year. Her achievement has been widely celebrated, especially in Maharashtra's sporting circles, where her rise is being hailed as a breakthrough for squash talent from smaller cities. 'This isn't just Anika's win—it's a moment of hope for every aspiring sportsperson in India's under-resourced towns,' said her coach and mentor Abhinav Sinha. 'She's shown how belief, grit, and love for the game can overcome limitations of geography and infrastructure.' Anika's journey has been one of persistence and passion. With limited training facilities in Pune, she has routinely commuted to Mumbai on weekends, training at the elite Khar Gymkhana. Her unwavering commitment to the sport, even while juggling school and travel, has earned admiration across the Indian squash community. Dubbed the 'Golden Girl of Pune', Anika is already a three-time National Champion and a key athlete in the Kanga Kids Program by Chance2Sports, which mentors India's most promising youth athletes. Her inclusion in the Indian squad for the World Juniors is not just a personal triumph, but a powerful symbol of what young athletes from non-metro cities can achieve with the right guidance and determination. Anika's most recent success came at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, where she clinched gold as part of Team Maharashtra, alongside Anjali Semwal, Sunita Patel, and Akanksha Gupta. The victory further solidified her standing as one of India's most exciting young squash players. Coach Abhinav Sinha, who has worked closely with Anika since her early days, noted: 'What sets Anika apart is her ability to meet challenges head-on without losing the joy she finds in playing. Watching her grow from a curious beginner into a player ready to compete at a global level has been incredibly fulfilling. And the best part—she's only getting started.' As she gears up for the World Junior Squash Championships in July 2025, Anika remains humble yet confident. 'I'm grateful for everyone who believed in me. This is just the beginning,' she said after the team announcement.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Sober but Social: Darling Drinks Introduces Revolutionary Non-Alcoholic Beer
A Major Retail Debut: Launched at Whole Foods in Florida & Texas CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / Consumer habits are evolving, with more people choosing mindful, health-conscious drinking options over traditional alcoholic beverages. Driven by wellness trends, the sober-curious movement, and a growing demand for alternatives that complement an active lifestyle, the market for premium alcohol-free beverages is booming. Enter Darling Drinks, a brand on a mission to redefine the way we drink. With a focus on bold flavors, high-quality ingredients, and an uncompromising taste experience, Darling Drinks is making it easier than ever to enjoy a great beer-With just 0.5% alcohol! "We set out to create a drink that brings people together without compromise," says Abhinav Sinha, CEO of Darling Drinks. "This isn't just about going alcohol-free-it's about redefining how we celebrate, connect, and unwind." Crafted for Flavor: Two Bold Beers That Elevate the Experience Darling Drinks launches with two carefully crafted, distinct beers designed to appeal to a wide range of palates. Whether you're a fan of crisp lagers or bold IPAs, there's a Darling beer for you. Delhi Darling - The Darling Lager A crisp, refreshing lager brewed in the classic light and effervescent style. It features a smooth finish with a subtle hop bitterness, balanced by delicate hints of citrus that add a refreshing complexity. This easy-drinking beer is perfect for casual sipping, social gatherings, or winding down after a long day. New York Darling - The Darling IPA For those who prefer bolder flavors, this hop-forward IPA delivers a robust citrusy bitterness, complemented by floral undertones that add depth to its complex profile. Crafted to satisfy craft beer enthusiasts and IPA lovers, it offers a full-bodied, flavorful experience-without the alcohol. "We wanted to create beers that feel familiar yet exciting-something people genuinely enjoy, not just an alternative," Abhinav adds. "It's about giving people an option that tastes great, whether or not they're drinking alcohol." A Major Retail Debut: Launched at Whole Foods in Florida & Texas As a key milestone in its expansion, Darling Drinks is available at Whole Foods locations across Florida and Texas. The collaboration with Whole Foods-a retailer renowned for its commitment to high-quality, wellness-oriented products-places the brand in front of an audience that values mindful choices. Beyond Whole Foods, Darling Drinks is also preparing to launch with additional retail partners in the coming months, ensuring more people across the U.S. have access to their innovative brews. More Flavors & Expansion on the Horizon With consumer interest in non-alcoholic beverages skyrocketing, Darling Drinks is already planning its next moves. The brand has ambitious plans to introduce new flavors and expand its availability nationwide, giving customers even more exciting options. "This is just the beginning," says Abhinav, CEO of Darling Drinks. "We're listening to our customers and continuously innovating to bring more unique flavors and styles to the market. Our goal is to create a lineup that rivals traditional beers in both taste and variety." The rise of non-alcoholic beer isn't just a passing trend-it's a cultural shift. Whether people are cutting back on alcohol for health reasons, personal preference, or simply exploring a new way to socialize, the demand for flavorful, high-quality non-alcoholic beverages is here to stay. Join the Movement: Discover the World of Darling Drinks Darling Drinks isn't just about what's missing-it's about what's gained. With every sip, drinkers experience bold flavors, premium ingredients, and the freedom to enjoy social moments without compromise. Cheers to a healthier, more vibrant lifestyle! Contact Information Shikha Doshi Head of PRleaderdship@ SOURCE: Darling Drinks LLC press release
Business Insider
04-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Jefferies Sticks to Its Buy Rating for Mindspace Business Parks REIT (MINDSPACE)
In a report released on May 2, Abhinav Sinha CFA from Jefferies maintained a Buy rating on Mindspace Business Parks REIT (MINDSPACE – Research Report), with a price target of INR420.00. The company's shares closed last Tuesday at INR345.06. Protect Your Portfolio Against Market Uncertainty Discover companies with rock-solid fundamentals in TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter. Receive undervalued stocks, resilient to market uncertainty, delivered straight to your inbox. Mindspace Business Parks REIT has an analyst consensus of Hold.
