Pixxel launches Fireflies🛰️
TikTok preparing for US shutdown, Swiggy incorporates sports subsidiary, Meta warns India, Funding Deals and more.
Good morning and welcome to Thursday’s edition of Rise & Shine!
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
— Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s witty yet profound words today remind us of the power of forgiveness—not only as a tool for inner peace but also as a surprising strength that disarms negativity.
Holding onto anger only burdens us, while forgiveness demonstrates strength and emotional maturity.
Tech Updates
Pixxel launches Fireflies, India’s first private satellite constellation
Google-backed Pixxel launched three commercial satellites for its Firefly constellation on Tuesday night. The Bengaluru-based hyperspectral imaging startup plans to deploy 18 satellites in its constellation, which will provide advanced climate and Earth insights. Firefly satellites were launched via SpaceX’s Exolaunch, offering unmatched accuracy in detecting changes in vegetation, water quality, and atmospheric conditions.
TikTok preparing for US shutdown on Sunday: reports
TikTok plans to shutdown its app for US users on Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app could come into effect unless the Supreme Court moves to block it. As per the law, there will be a ban on new TikTok downloads on Apple or Google app stores. Existing users will be able to use the app for some time.
Swiggy incorporates sports subsidiary to go beyond food and grocery delivery
Foodtech firm Swiggy has received approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to incorporate a wholly-owned subsidiary, Swiggy Sports Pvt. Ltd, to enter the sports and recreational activities segment. The move signifies Swiggy’s effort to go beyond food and grocery delivery, attempting to solidify its out-of-home consumption business, which generated a gross revenue of ₹45.8 crore in the June quarter of 2024-25.
Meta warns India antitrust ruling could force rollback of features, hurt business
Meta may have to "pause" certain features in India due to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) banning WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta for advertising. The November ruling, which imposed a $24.5 million fine and a five-year ban, accused Meta of abusing dominance and coercing WhatsApp users to accept its 2021 privacy policy.
Funding Deals
Foxtale, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) skincare brand, has secured $30 million (approximately Rs 250 crore) in a funding round led by Japanese beauty products company Kose Corporation. Existing investors Z47 (formerly Matrix Partners India), Kae Capital, and Panthera Growth Partners also participated in this round.
Climate-focused deeptech startup Ecozen has raised over $23 million in debt funding from responsAbility Investments AG, Northern Arc Capital Limited, Maanaveeya Development & Finance Private Limited, and others.
Third-party logistics and warehousing company Emiza Supply Chain Services has raised Rs 50 crore (approximately $6 million), led by Evolvence India, with the participation of Mirabilis Investment.
B2B tyre marketplace TyrePlex has raised Rs 20 crore (around $2.4 million) in a funding round led by PeerCapital. Titan Capital Winners Fund, Sattva Family Office, and existing investors, including 100 Unicorns, participated in the round.
Biotech startup Zerocircle which creates seaweed-based alternatives to petro-plastics, has raised Rs 20 crore in a funding round led by Zerodha cofounder Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter. The round also saw participation from early-stage venture capital firms 1Crowd, VC Grid, 7th Gen Ventures, and environmental advocate Trudie Styler, among others.
KisaanSay, a cross-category direct-from-origin food brand, has raised $2 million in its pre-seed round led by Jungle Ventures through First Cheque@Jungle. The round also saw participation from senior leaders in the food industry.
Healthtech startup ErlySign has raised Rs 16 crore ($1.8 million) in its pre-Series A round from Ashish Kacholia.
GreenStitch, a sustainability-focused SaaS platform designed for the fashion and textile industry, has raised $1.2 million in its seed round, which was led by Equirus InnovateX Fund and participated in by Ivycap Ventures, Warmup Ventures, and Zeca Ventures.
Parking management platform ParkMate has raised $1.2 million in a funding round led by Cactus Partners and participation from existing investors like Venture Catalysts and the Marwah Group Family Office.
House of Chikankari, a Delhi-based artisanal-led ethnic wear D2C brand, has raised Rs 4 crore in its seed round from angel investors and micro-VC funds, including Tudip Ventures, Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), Manoj Meena (Atomberg), Ankit Nagori (Curefoods), Hitesh Dhingra (The Man Company), Alluvium Capital, and Aurinko Partners.
Sukoon Unlimited, an agetech startup and a community-driven platform for seniors, has raised $430K in its pre-seed round. This round saw notable investors like Anchorage Capital Partners(India), Vinay Jain, an oncologist and philanthropist, Manish Dureja, Rahul Dash, Prantik Mazumdar, Neeraj Sagar, and Sudhir Kamath.
🏡 Short Story: The Forgiving Neighbor
Liam’s neighbor, Dan, constantly complained about trivial things—overgrown hedges, misplaced trash bins—creating tension between them. One day, Liam decided to forgive Dan’s pettiness and started greeting him warmly each morning.
Over time, Dan softened, and their relationship transformed into mutual respect. Liam’s act of forgiveness not only eased his stress but also turned an enemy into a friend.
Tweet of the day🐥
Today, let go of grudges and embrace the freedom that comes with forgiveness. It’s a gift to others and a way to lighten your heart.
Rise & Shine reminds you that choosing kindness over resentment is a strength that uplifts everyone.
Have a forgiving and peaceful Thursday!
Thanks for reading till the end!