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ARKit Brings ‘Take On Me’ To Life
Developers, using Apple’s upcoming ARKit API, have been creating some impressive augmented reality apps and games. The latest to join the bandwagon is Chicago based TRIXI Studios!
The video game company has created an app that combines augmented reality with real life effortlessly. The app, which is not publicly available yet, illustrates the power of Apple’s augmented reality framework. Using Apple’s ARKit, the app gives iOS developers a relatively easy way to weave AR content into their apps without the need to make an engine from scratch.
The company released a video in which they seamlessly integrate augmented reality with real life, transforming dancing kids and the room into animated pencil sketches as they move into the drawn areas of the image. The founder of TRIXI, Chip Sineni told The Verge, “When ARKit came along, we were very excited by the idea that just ‘normal’ phones could do such great AR, so it seemed like the perfect situation to stress test what ARKit could do.”
The Norwegian band A-Ha, formed in Oslo in 1982, released their ‘Take On Me’ video in 1985. It integrates the real world with the comic world using a combination pencil sketch animation and live action. The original video took months to make because of the thousand hand drawn sketches that were applied to a live action shoot with rotoscoping, in which live action footage is traced over frame by frame to give the characters realistic movements. TRIXI can complete the process in just a couple of days. Previously Apple’s ARKit was used to created only augmented bar charts, fidget spinners and virtual pets. This video takes the technology to a whole other level.
Bar charts are so boring!!! #ARKit @thevrara #ios #iosdev #wwdc pic.twitter.com/jpG4VLGZ8n
— azamsharp (@azamsharp) June 8, 2017
The video, according to the team, was possible with purchases from Unity 3D’s Asset Stores, using GameFlow for visual scripting and Maximo for characters and animations. Finally, artificial intelligence assets were used to give the video logic. Founder Sineni added,“It is crazy how asset stores have democratized code and art for game making, that anyone can do this so quickly now.”
Watch their awesome video here!
Rozana, India’s leading rural retail platform, has secured ₹290 crore ($35 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Omidyar Network India, Vivid Capital, and Tana Investment Holding. This Rozana funding brings its total capital to over ₹500 crore, fueling hyperlocal expansion in underserved rural markets. Founded in 2021 by brothers Prashant and Prateek Chauhan, the startup’s phygital model blends micro-stores, app-based ordering, and last-mile delivery to connect 5 million+ users in 12 states with brands like ITC and HUL.
The ₹290 crore investment will supercharge Rozana’s rural omnichannel retail strategy, targeting 5x growth in 18 months. Plans include adding 5,000 micro-stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan; AI-powered inventory tech; and new categories like groceries and electronics. By empowering 20,000+ rural micro-entrepreneurs, Rozana taps into India’s $700 billion rural retail boom, where smartphone penetration and UPI drive 12% annual growth.
This Rozana Series B milestone positions it as a frontrunner against rivals like Ninjacart, eyeing unicorn status by 2028 amid ONDC tailwinds. CEO Prashant Chauhan emphasized, “We’re building rural prosperity through accessible premium brands.” For more on Rozana funding news and rural retail trends, stay updated on India’s startup ecosystem.
Peak XV Partners has launched three new funds totaling $1.3 billion, targeting India’s booming startup ecosystem. The lineup features the $600M Surge fund (8th edition) for early-stage ventures, a $300M Growth Fund for Series B+ scaling, and a $400M Acceleration Fund for rapid portfolio expansion. This commitment arrives as India’s VC inflows rebound, with AI and fintech leading 2026 trends.
These funds build on Peak XV’s legacy of backing unicorns like Zomato and Pine Labs, offering founders capital plus strategic guidance amid post-winter recovery. Early-stage deals surged 20% last year per Tracxn, positioning Peak XV to fuel the next wave of innovation in SaaS, climate tech, and consumer plays.
For startups eyeing Peak XV new funds or Surge fund 2026 applications, this signals prime opportunities. Investors and marketers should watch for deployment updates India remains a global VC hotspot.
Hyderabad, January 13, 2026 Neeman’s, India’s leading D2C footwear brand famed for sustainable shoes and patented PIXLL® technology, has raised $4 million from existing investors. This funding boosts its cumulative capital past $10 million since 2015, with a post-money valuation nearing $50 million. CEO Vijay Chahoria emphasized offline retail as the “next frontier,” planning 50+ new stores in Tier 2/3 cities like Jaipur and Lucknow to blend eco-friendly innovation with hands-on customer experiences.
In India’s booming D2C ecosystem where footwear sales hit ₹1.2 lakh crore in 2025 Neeman’s targets hybrid retail amid high online CAC and 25-30% returns. Backed by vegan, machine-washable shoes priced ₹2,000-4,000, the brand leverages PIXLL® (5x more breathable than leather) for carbon-neutral comfort. Recent 5x revenue growth to ₹100 crore ARR, 1M+ pairs sold via Myntra and stores, and awards at India D2C Summit 2025 position it ahead of rivals like Paaduks.
Neeman’s offline expansion India eyes the $15B sustainable footwear market by 2028, fueled by PLI schemes, Gen Z’s 70% eco-preference (Nielsen), and Southeast Asia exports. Challenges like real estate costs are offset by data-driven inventory and omnichannel QR tech. Watch for Q1 2026 launches in Hyderabad and Bengaluru redefining D2C success through authentic, “Wear the Change” branding.
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