Singapore-headquartered angel investment platform ThinKuvate has announced the first close of its India fund at INR 250 million. The investment comes within four months of the formal launch of the ThinKuvate India Fund — I.

The firm has made investments in four startups – Rosh.ai, Zippee, Pantherun, and NymbleUp.

Rosh.ai was founded in 2021 by Roshy John and Rajaram Moorthy. It specialises in autonomous vehicle technology, providing solutions for the automotive, seaport, and mining industries. The company has raised $1 million in Pre-Series A led by EV2 Ventures, with participation from Caret Capital and ThinKuvate.

Zippee was founded by Madhav Kasturia in 2021 and offers same-day delivery for more than 100 (D2C) brands. Zippee is scaling its operations in metro cities and expanding its brand partnership.

Founded in 2019 by Srinivas Shekar, Pantherun is a cybersecurity company specialising in advanced data protection solutions. The company has raised a bridge round led by QuickHeal Family Office and SIDBI Ventures, with participation from 8X, PiperSerica, and ThinKuvate.

NymbleUp.ai was founded in 2019 by Yogesh Bhatt & Manish Thakur. It has secured pre-series A  led by Chandigarh Angels, IVY Cap, and ThinKuvate. It provides AI-driven predictive workforce management solutions for QSRs and retail chains; forecasting demand across all sales channels at 15-minute intervals. 

ThinKuvate plans to invest in early-stage startups from seed to Series A, focusing on companies leveraging technology at the forefront.

Ghanshyam Ahuja, Managing Partner, ThinKuvate said, “We have been investing in Indian startups and saw the potential growth opportunities. That led us to launch an India-focused fund, we have reached the first milestone in little over 100 days. This validates our thesis on the next-gen innovations taking place in India, which have a global appeal.”

ThinKuvate continues to raise its target corpus, the fund plans to invest in 30 – 40 startups with an average investment size of INR 15 million to INR 40 million. The fund has also attracted top tier general partners globally, to manage the deal flow, due diligence, and overall portfolio management. More than 50 percent of investors in the fund are NRIs from various countries, top of them being Singapore, Australia, the USA, the UK, and Indonesia.

Mayank Jain, CEO, ThinKuvate, says, “We have built capabilities within our team to provide support and help to startups scale faster. The profile of limited partners, who are working professionals with senior roles in large corporates, would be a huge differentiator for the companies we back. Our vast network will not only bring in quality capital but provide access to the founders to accelerate their growth journey post funding from ThinKuvate. As we continue to raise the target corpus, we have already built a healthy deal flow and we are confident that with this fund, we will be able to build a strong portfolio and generate stellar returns for our investors.”

Automotive Test Systems has inaugurated a new EV lab at Amrita Automotive Research and Technology Centre (AARTC), Coimbatore. The AARTC is part of Amrita University, with which Automotive Test Systems has a long standing association. In fact, the AARTC has completed 10 years of operation and has been supporting the industry and academia by helping them to conduct research on various domains including powertrain emission testing, RLDA, vehicle dynamics, NVH, ADAS etc. it has enabled the development of safer, sustainable and reliable products .
A grand affair, the inauguration of the new lab was done by Latha Chembrakalam, Vice President and Head of Technical Centre India, Continental Automotive (Bengaluru), Dr Rmdhas rumugam Sakunthalai, Director, GARC, Rajesh D, Vice President, Volvo Group Trucks Technology, and Bhaktha Keshavachar, CEO, CharaTechnologies.
The new lab houses a 48 kWh electric motor test bench, a battery test lab and a simulation lab as an extension of the existing facility.
Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the tech centre that Automotive Test Systems and Amrita University are already operating jointly, the inauguration of new lab saw delegates and guests from the industry and academia made it to Coimbatore. 
They also attended a two day workshop on sustainable mobility at the Amrita University, 
The entire CIR team of Amrita University led by Prof. Parameswaran attended the event. The mechanical engineering team led by Prof. Ramesh lend its support in organising the event.
The team of AARTC led by P.N. Prasad, Desigan Murugesan and Prof. Lakshmikanthan C contributed to the success of the event. 
State-of-the-art, the 160 kW test bench and chassis dynamometer in the lab are already being used extensively by the industry for testing and development of electric motors and motor controllers among other electric vehicle components, mentioned Ramanathan Srinivasan, Managing Director, Automotive Test Systems.
                    
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Novus Hi-Tech, a global leader in Driver Monitoring System (DMS), In-Cabin Sensing and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), is all set to unveil and implement its latest suite of safety solutions for mines, in compliance with Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), on the Eicher Pro 8035 XM mining trucks at the prestigious Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.

Specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced in mining operations and other heavy-duty applications, the mining safety suite includes cutting-edge solutions like the Driver Monitoring System (DMS), an AI-based camera system that tracks driver behaviour in real-time to identify and notify drivers in the event of fatigue or inattention. Additionally, the suite features the Auto Dipper System, which automatically lowers headlights to low beam for maximum visibility while minimising glare for other road users, and the Proximity Warning System (PWS), an advanced RADAR system that provides real-time notifications regarding adjacent objects and vehicles.

Live product presentations and demonstrations showcasing how these patent-pending innovations improve operational safety, enhance regulatory compliance and mitigate risks in difficult mining environments will be part of the unveiling event, which will take place on 20 January 2025 at 11:30 am at OD1.1 in front of exhibition hall 2.

Anuj Kapuria, CEO & Founder, The Hi-Tech Group, said, "Our unwavering mission to help fleets achieve zero-accident operations through cutting-edge technologies is exemplified by the Hi-Tech Safe product suite, which has already prevented over 200,000 accidents. Today, we are thrilled to launch a pioneering safety solution specifically designed for mining operations, in partnership with Eicher Trucks and Buses, setting a new standard for operational safety and efficiency."

Leading motion technology company Schaeffler India is showcasing its cutting-edge mobility solutions at the Auto Expo Components Show 2025, a component of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, in New Delhi. This demonstrates the company's dedication to electrification, digitalisation and sustainable mobility that is suited to the particular requirements of the Indian market. From 18 to 21 January 2025, visitors may interact with the company's specialists and see its cutting-edge solutions at Hall-1, Booth: E5, Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Schaeffler India's Vehicle Lifetime Solutions (VLS) business will showcase a range of customer-focused services, market-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology. The solutions and technologies on display will show how the division is focusing to be the best partner for the evolving mobility ecosystem. It will include repair and service solutions for combustion engines, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles under its well-known brands INA, FAG, LuK, Schaeffler TruPower, and the service brand, REPXPERT.

The display of Schaeffler's cutting-edge automotive solutions, such as the 3-in-1 Electric Axle, which combines the power electronics, motor and gearbox for optimal EV performance, will be another highlight of the show. Furthermore, in partnership with Vitesco Technologies, a Schaeffler Group company, the exhibit will showcase the high-voltage axle drive (EMR4), sensors, controls and actuator solutions from the integrated portfolio. At The Auto Expo Components Show 2025, Schaeffler India reiterates its dedication to helping India's automotive transition.

Micah Shepard, President, Vehicle Lifetime Solutions Asia Pacific, said, “The automotive industry is undergoing rapid change which requires a continuous commitment towards innovation. As trends such as digitalisation and sustainability come into focus in the automotive industry, we are taking a holistic view of the mobility ecosystem to offer comprehensive solutions and create sustainable long-term value.”

Sharad Bhatia, President, Vehicle Lifetime Solutions India, said, “India’s diverse and growing mobility ecosystem demands innovative solutions that are both sustainable and reliable. At Schaeffler India, we combine our global expertise with localised engineering to deliver products that meet these needs. Backed by a robust distribution and supply chain network, our repair and service solutions from Vehicle Lifetime Solutions division offer value across the entire vehicle lifecycle, empowering customers and supporting India’s sustainable mobility ambitions.”

The Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA) and XLRI Delhi-NCR showcased an early example of Indian automotive design at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. INDEA championed ‘Design in India’ by showing one of the first Indian design initiatives in the automotive space from the late-1970s – a testament to the can-do spirit of automotive start-ups in the country. 

Echoing the Prime Minister's vision of making India a global hub for innovation and sustainable development, and as a tribute to India’s automotive heritage, the booth showcased the Sipani Badal, a pioneering three-wheeled car from the late-1970s. The Badal, with its innovative-for-its-time fiberglass body and unique, individualistic design, represented a bold step in Indian automotive design when it was first unveiled almost five decades ago. Today, it serves as a reminder of the country’s long history of innovation and ingenuity, while highlighting INDEA’s mission to drive innovation and shape the future of mobility.

Visitors at the exhibition also had an opportunity to explore the creativity via the Wacom tablet. Using intuitive software, attendees explored the artistic potential by creating unique designs, which they could print and take home as personalized mementos. 

Reflecting on the event, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR Dr. K.S. Casimir said, “INDEA’s participation at the Expo highlighted our commitment to nurturing designers who not only innovate but also address the broader societal and environmental challenges of the future. INDEA, with its focus on design excellence, will prepare the students for the future of work. By nurturing creativity and fostering innovation, we are opening new avenues for education and equipping our graduates with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world."

INDEA Founder Avik Chattopadhyay added, “The Expo is more than an opportunity to showcase INDEA—it is about inspiring creativity and innovation. The exhibition showcases the remarkable synergy between tradition and innovation, as exemplified by the Sipani Badal and the cutting-edge designs on display. It's a testament to the ingenuity of the Indian spirit and a testament to the future of Indian automotive design."