Ola, homegrown cab hailing startup, has raised $ 36 million from Tekne Capital Management, a New York based hedge fund, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies.
VCCircle reported, the company allocated 171,173 fully and compulsorily convertible preference shares at Rs. 13,521 apiece. Delaware based Tekne Private Ventures III LP invested Rs. 167.15 crores for about 1.23 lakh shares while 47,548 shares worth Rs. 64.28 crores were issued to Tekne Private Ventures I Master from the Cayman Islands.
The new shares were allotted at the same price at which Ola raised $ 104.4 million from Falcon Edge Capital and Ratan Tata’s RNT Capital Advisers. According to the filings, these shares were allocated on 7 June 2017, after a board resolution was passed on May 29. Ola’s valuation could not be ascertained as it is not clear whether this investment is a part of a larger funding round or if more investors are involved. In August 2015, Ola was valued to be close to $ 4.8 billion while media reports in February this year pegged its valuation to be around $3.5 billion.
In April this year, the cab aggregator company raised $ 250 million from Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp., making SoftBank Ola’s largest investor. They also raised $50 million (Rs. 322 crores) from Tekne Capital Management LLC., and were in talks with Coatue Management LLC., for raising more funds.
Ola and US based Uber Technologies Ltd., have been locked in a fierce battle to capture India’s lucrative cab hailing market. Ola has also launched local innovations better suited for the Indian market, including a bike taxi service, Ola Bike. It was also reported, Microsoft was likely to invest $50-100 million in Ola, resulting in Ola switching to Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure from Amazon Web Services.
For the financial year 2015 – 2016, Ola’s operating revenue jumped to Rs. 438.6 crores from Rs. 57.5 crores while their consolidated net loss tripled to Rs. 2,311.7 crores. The total expenditure surged to Rs. 3,078.19 crores from Rs. 899.7 crores the year before. At present, Ola operates in 100 Indian cities while Uber has a presence in only 29 cities.
Apple’s recent iOS 18.7 rollout provides a secure alternative to the visually revamped iOS 26, empowering iPhone users to choose between system stability and next-generation features. While iOS 18.7 focuses on important security updates and bug fixes, it maintains the familiar iOS experience for users of older devices like iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and SE models up to the 16e. The update is lightweight—about one-fifteenth the size of iOS 26—which means quicker downloads and less storage consumption. It’s designed for reliability and fast installation, making it ideal for users who prioritize a stable and secure operating system over design changes.
In contrast, iOS 26 introduces Apple’s ambitious “Liquid Glass” interface with a transparent look across apps, enhanced widget and lock screen customization, smarter Siri, and improved camera controls. These innovations, however, come with a larger update size and compatibility exclusive to newer iPhones beginning from the iPhone 11 series. While early adopters can enjoy the futuristic interface and AI-powered upgrades, major OS launches may present initial bugs or app compatibility issues that cautious users typically wish to avoid.
Choosing between iOS 18.7 and iOS 26 depends on each user’s priorities—those seeking guaranteed stability and fast security fixes should consider sticking with iOS 18.7, while users excited about premium features and visual changes should migrate to iOS 26 if their device supports it. Both updates are available through Software Update settings, and Apple will support iOS 18.7 for only a limited duration, eventually encouraging all users to transition to the latest platform. This dual update strategy ensures every iPhone user can safely update their device for a seamless and secure experience in 2025.
EndureAir, a deep-tech drone startup specializing in UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and aerial robotics solutions, has successfully raised INR 25 crore in a funding round led by IAN Alpha Fund, with participation from IAN Angel Fund. The fresh capital infusion will enable EndureAir to enhance its advanced drone technologies for defense applications, broaden its reach in enterprise markets, and accelerate the development of next-generation high-altitude logistics and aerial robotics platforms.
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Abhishek, a professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, along with his former students Rama Krishna and Chirag Jain, EndureAir stands out in India’s indigenous UAV sector by developing both hardware and software in-house. Backed by over 15 years of rotorcraft research and holding eight patents in flight dynamics and autonomous systems, the company has rapidly established itself as a pioneer in the deep-tech drone ecosystem.
EndureAir’s flagship drone platforms, including the Sabal heavy-lift UAV family inducted by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and the Vibhram drone supporting Telangana’s Medicine from the Sky program, are deployed in critical operations. The startup also collaborates with Bharat Electronics Limited for co-developing high-altitude drones and works with Bhutan’s Druk Holding & Investments on remote logistics missions. With this funding, EndureAir aims to position India as a global leader in UAV innovation, advancing resilient domestic drone systems for defense and enterprise applications.
Venture Catalysts, a leading Mumbai-based venture capital platform, has secured Rs 150 crore (around $18 million) through a strategic mix of primary and secondary transactions. This fresh round of funding resulted in a company valuation of approximately $200 million and drew participation from high-profile investors such as Ashish Kacholia, the Shah Rukh Khan family office, Aishwarya Rai, as well as several established capital market veterans and renowned business houses. The move not only demonstrates strong investor confidence but also positions Venture Catalysts at the forefront of India’s rapidly evolving startup landscape.
The infusion of capital is earmarked to accelerate key initiatives, including expanding Venture Catalysts’ leadership team, launching new investment funds, and exploring advanced technology solutions with an emphasis on AI-enabled due diligence and reporting tools. Additionally, the firm aims to strengthen its footprint across major Indian startup hubs and grow its suite of Category II alternative investment funds, harnessing this growth to support a new wave of promising startups and founders within the ecosystem.
Since its inception in 2016, Venture Catalysts has evolved from an angel network to a multi-fund powerhouse, managing over $500 million in assets and deploying nearly $200 million across more than 400 startups, including industry leaders like BharatPe, Renee Cosmetics, and InsuranceDekho. This latest funding round reinforces Venture Catalysts’ pivotal role in nurturing and scaling some of India’s most innovative startups, catalyzing growth throughout the country’s thriving entrepreneurial sector.