KLAY, India’s leading early childhood education and care provider, today announced the appointment of Abhishek Joshi as Chief Executive Officer. A proven builder of some of India’s most trusted consumer brands, Abhishek takes charge at a defining moment for the education industry, as India places the early years of a child’s life at the very centre of its national education agenda.
 

Abhishek Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, KLAY (Founding Years Learning Solutions)
 

Abhishek’s mandate is clear and ambitious: to establish KLAY as the definitive early childhood ecosystem in India, to deepen the brand’s integrated proposition across learning, care, and parenting partnership, and to widen access to high-quality early education for families nationwide. The goal is not incremental growth, but to set the standard for what early childhood can and should be in India.
 

This ambition is grounded in simple and settled truth: nearly 90% of a child’s brain develops before the age of six. The curiosity, confidence, and character formed in these years shape everything that follows. KLAY’s belief is that getting the early years right is not childcare, it is the foundation for life.
 

Abhishek brings over two decades of experience scaling some of India’s best-known consumer businesses. He has held senior leadership roles at Licious, Jubilant FoodWorks (Domino’s India), Hindustan Unilever (HUL), and GCMMF (Amul), with a track record across business transformation, category building, and customer-centric growth. Known for a transformational leadership style, he is passionate about building purpose-driven organisations and high-performing teams. He is an alumnus of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), where he earned a PGDM in Sales & Marketing, and holds a B.Tech from Govind Ballabh Pant University. Outside work, he is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys trekking, surfing, and travel, and values time with his family.
 

Commenting on the appointment, Sandeep Reddy, Chairman, Founding Years Learning Solutions, said, “India is at an inflection point in how it thinks about the early years. The science is settled – what happens before a child turns six shapes the rest of their life. Our ambition is to make world-class early childhood education the norm, not the privilege, for Indian families. Abhishek has spent his career building brands that millions of Indians trust, and scaling them without ever compromising on quality. That is precisely the leadership KLAY needs to take its mission to its next chapter.”
 

Speaking about his appointment, Abhishek Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, KLAY (Founding Years Learning Solutions), said, “Few things matter more than how a child experiences the first years of life. KLAY has earned something rare – the deep, daily trust of parents. I am joining to build on that trust and widen our impact: to ensure that more children across India begin life with the strongest possible foundation, and that more parents have a partner they can count on through their parenting journey. This is a mission worth giving the best years of one’s career to.”
 

This appointment marks an important milestone for KLAY as it accelerates its mission to deliver high-quality early childhood education and care for families across India.

About KLAY (Founding Years Learning Solutions)

KLAY is India’s leading chain of preschools and daycare centres, trusted by over 80,000 families to give their children the best possible start in life. Founded in 2011, KLAY creates safe, nurturing, and engaging environments where children learn and grow, supported by passionate facilitators, modern infrastructure, and a proven pedagogy. As a trusted parenting partner to leading Fortune 500 organisations, KLAY brings together learning, care, and family support into a single, integrated proposition. The institution operates 180+ self-managed centres across 20+ cities in India, backed by 500+ corporate partnerships and a workforce of 3,500+ dedicated professionals – building the foundation for life, one child at a time.

SRM University-AP, Amaravati continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of research and scientific innovation across critical domains of science, technology, and the humanities. 26 faculty members were awarded prestigious grants from DST, ANRF, ICMR, NBHM, and other national bodies, reinforcing the university’s growing research leadership.

Vice Chancellor Ch Satish Kumar and SRM AP leadership, along with prestigious research grant recipients

Since January 2026, SRM AP researchers have secured 24 sponsored research projects and consultancy projects worth Rs. 13.71 crores from prestigious funding agencies, including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Translational Research Grant, and the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM).

The funded projects span a diverse range of disciplines, including advanced materials & devices, bioscience for human health, waste-to-wealth, and literature and mathematics. The research project on genomic surveillance-driven phage therapy received Rs. 1.76 crores, the highest funding among the projects on the list, while the Indo-French project on plasmid-mediated phage resistance secured Rs. 99.9 lakhs.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Ch Satish Kumar congratulated the faculty members and research teams for their outstanding achievement in advancing high-quality research. He stated, “The success of our faculty in securing competitive research grants is a testament to the vibrant research culture that we continue to nurture at SRM University-AP. I am confident that these projects will lead to impactful discoveries, strengthen collaborations with leading institutions, create opportunities for our students, and contribute meaningfully to society.” He also encouraged the research cohort to now work towards securing major international research grants.

Deans of the schools of Engineering and Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Business Studies also expressed appreciation to the Principal Investigators, Co-Principal Investigators, and their research cohort for their dedication, perseverance, and commitment that drove this monumental achievement. 

This accomplishment highlights the university’s strong commitment to advancing impactful interdisciplinary research. SRM University-AP remains focused on nurturing a robust research culture, strengthening its research infrastructure and faculty capabilities to pursue funded projects that advance national priorities and global innovation.

Reinforcing its commitment to transforming Ayurveda into a globally accepted evidence-based healthcare system, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) to collaborate on scientific research, education, innovation, and product development in Ayurveda, phytomedicine, preventive healthcare, and integrative medicine.

From L to R: Dr. SHREEVARMA, Founder-Chairman, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. S. Ponnuaamy, Registrar, SRMIST

The partnership marks a significant milestone in Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030, a long-term mission to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem where traditional wisdom is strengthened through modern science, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and community wellness. The collaboration will be spearheaded by the Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM) under the Directorate of Research at SRMIST, bringing together academic excellence and clinical expertise to generate globally relevant scientific evidence for Ayurveda.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA, Founder-Chairman, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness Pvt. Ltd., said, “Healthcare is entering a new era where prevention, lifestyle medicine, and scientific validation will play a defining role in improving human health. Ayurveda embodies centuries of knowledge that remains highly relevant today. Our responsibility is to preserve this invaluable heritage while validating it through rigorous scientific research. Our collaboration with SRM Institute of Science and Technology is a significant milestone in Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030 to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem where research, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community wellness come together to improve lives and shape a healthier future for generations to come.”

Building the Future of Scientific Ayurveda
Driven by the growing global demand for preventive healthcare, personalised medicine, and holistic wellness, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness has been actively working to bridge the gap between classical Ayurvedic knowledge and modern scientific validation. Through this partnership with SRMIST, the organisation aims to establish a robust research ecosystem that will generate high-quality scientific evidence, strengthen the credibility of Ayurveda, and contribute to its wider global acceptance. The collaboration will focus on preserving the authenticity of traditional Ayurvedic principles while validating their safety, efficacy, and therapeutic value through interdisciplinary scientific research.

Research and Innovation Focus
Under the partnership, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness and SRMIST will jointly undertake multidisciplinary research in scientific validation of Ayurvedic formulations, phytochemical and analytical research, herbal drug standardisation, product innovation and formulation development, clinical pharmacology, lifestyle medicine, preventive healthcare, healthy ageing and longevity, integrative healthcare models, and clinical documentation for evidence generation.The collaboration will also create opportunities for student internships, doctoral and post-doctoral research, faculty development, professional education, skill development programmes, and industry-academia knowledge exchange, enabling research outcomes to translate into practical healthcare solutions.

Advancing Vision 2030
The collaboration further strengthens Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030, which seeks to establish a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem encompassing scientific research, integrative clinical care, preventive healthcare, education, herbal innovation, entrepreneurship, and community wellness. By combining Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness’ expertise in Ayurveda with SRM Institute of Science and Technology’s multidisciplinary research capabilities, the partnership aims to develop globally relevant healthcare solutions while positioning India as a leader in evidence-based Ayurveda and integrative healthcare.

About Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness
Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness is an integrated healthcare organisation dedicated to advancing preventive healthcare through Ayurveda, lifestyle medicine, scientific research, education, and community engagement.

Under Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030, the organisation is building a multidisciplinary healthcare ecosystem focused on Integrative clinical care, Scientific research, Preventive healthcare, Healthcare education, Community wellness, Herbal product innovation, Healthcare entrepreneurship and Leadership development.

Its key initiatives include ACE Foundation, ACEVEDA, PCR Herbals, and AYUSHPRENEUR, each contributing to research, innovation, education, and the advancement of evidence-based traditional healthcare.

About Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA
Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA is an Ayurveda physician, researcher, educator, wellness entrepreneur, and Founder-Chairman of Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness. Through Vision 2030, he is leading initiatives in preventive healthcare, scientific research, healthcare education, wellness entrepreneurship, and community health, with the objective of building sustainable healthcare systems rooted in India’s traditional medical heritage.

About SRM Institute of Science and Technology
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) is one of India’s leading multidisciplinary universities, recognised for excellence in higher education, research, innovation, and international collaboration.

Through its Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM) under the Directorate of Research, SRMIST is committed to advancing scientific research that integrates traditional systems of medicine with modern healthcare science, supporting innovation and evidence generation in integrative medicine.

Reinforcing its position as one of India’s emerging leaders in medical education, healthcare innovation, and research, Vels Medical College & Hospital, a constituent institution of Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), successfully organized MED-AI Summit 2026 – Innovation to Impact, an International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, from 25 to 27 June 2026 at its campus in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, inaugurates MED-AI Summit 2026 at VMCH along with Dr. Sujoy Kar

Held under the visionary leadership of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder & Chancellor, VISTAS, the three-day international summit brought together leading clinicians, medical researchers, academicians, healthcare professionals, AI experts, technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders from India and abroad to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the future of healthcare.

The conference served as a global knowledge-sharing platform, focusing on AI-powered diagnostics, digital healthcare, predictive analytics, clinical decision support systems, precision medicine, intelligent medical education, biomedical research, and next-gzzeneration healthcare technologies. Through keynote lectures, scientific sessions, panel discussions, workshops, oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities, participants gained valuable insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled healthcare.

The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President – Vels Group of Institutions, with Dr. Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer & Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, serving as the Chief Guest.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer & Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, appreciated the visionary initiatives of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder & Chancellor, VISTAS, particularly the institution’s commitment to providing free medical treatment to nearly 200 villagers in the surrounding communities through its healthcare outreach programmes.

Emphasizing the future of medicine, Dr. Kar remarked that “Doctors must lead Artificial Intelligence, not be led by it.” He urged young medical professionals to learn both the language of medicine and the language of AI, enabling them to harness technology responsibly for better patient care.

He further encouraged students and faculty to devote more time to active research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, stating that research will be the driving force behind the next generation of healthcare advancements.

Expressing his enthusiasm for future collaborations, Dr. Kar said, “Apollo Hospitals looks forward to working closely with VELS. Together, we can strengthen research, innovation, and AI-driven healthcare for the benefit of society.”

Distinguished dignitaries present included Dr. S. Asokan, Chief Executive Officer, GEM Hospitals, Chennai; Dr. Kumudha Lingaraj, Dean, Vels Medical College & Hospital; Dr. Prince J. Samuel, Vice Principal (Academics); Dr. Maignana Kumar, Vice Principal (Accreditations); and Dr. Vijayashree R., Professor & Head, Department of Pathology and Organizing Chairperson, MED-AI Summit 2026. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from senior faculty members, researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and delegates representing premier institutions across the country.

Adding significant international value to the summit were globally acclaimed experts including Dr. Waqar M. Naqvi, Founder & Research Lead, AD Vivum Education & Research, Doha, Qatar, and Dr. Priyah Prathaban, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Malaysia.

The conference also featured an impressive lineup of distinguished national experts including Dr. T. V. Geetha (Anna University, Chennai), Dr. Kalavathy Moses S. (SIMS Hospital, Chennai), Dr. C. N. Srinivas (Sukraa Software Solutions), Dr. Madhuvanthi Mohan (Rajan Eye Care, Chennai), Dr. S. Asokan (GEM Hospitals), Dr. Sudha Jasmine Rajan (Christian Medical College, Vellore), Dr. D. C. Mathangi (Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai), Dr. S. Rajendiran (Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar), and Mr. Venkata Phanidhar Nelluri, who shared their expertise on AI applications in surgery, pathology, ophthalmology, laboratory medicine, medical education, biomedical research, and critical care.

The summit witnessed exceptional participation throughout all three days. The pre-conference hands-on workshops conducted on 25 June 2026 attracted 333 participants across seven clinical departments, highlighting the growing interest in AI-driven clinical learning.

The scientific conference held on 26 and 27 June 2026 recorded 447 delegates each day, comprising faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate students, clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives from leading medical colleges, hospitals, universities, and research institutions across India.

MED-AI Summit 2026 featured seven pre-conference workshops, nine scientific sessions, the prestigious Velan Oration Lecture, oral and poster presentations, award-winning research paper sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative networking opportunities, making it one of the most comprehensive AI-focused healthcare conferences hosted by a medical institution in the region.

During the conference, speakers emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern medicine by improving diagnostic accuracy, strengthening clinical decision-making, enhancing patient outcomes, accelerating medical research, and transforming healthcare delivery. They also underscored the importance of ethical, responsible, and evidence-based integration of AI technologies to complement clinical expertise while maintaining patient safety and trust.

Speaking about the significance of the summit, the organizers reiterated that Vels Medical College & Hospital remains committed to creating an ecosystem that promotes innovation, interdisciplinary research, technology-enabled medical education, and collaborative healthcare solutions. The institution continues to invest in academic excellence while preparing future healthcare professionals to lead in the era of digital medicine and Artificial Intelligence.

MED-AI Summit 2026 stands as yet another milestone in the journey of Vels Medical College & Hospital towards becoming a nationally and internationally recognized centre for medical education, clinical excellence, healthcare innovation, and cutting-edge research. By bringing together globally renowned experts, leading academicians, clinicians, researchers, students, and industry pioneers, the summit has strengthened Vels Medical College & Hospital’s reputation as a destination for transformative medical learning and AI-driven healthcare innovation, paving the way for future collaborations that will shape the next generation of intelligent heaalthcare.

For more details please visit : velsmedicalcollege.com.

Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Route Mobile, a Proximus Global company and a leading provider of cloud communications and digital engagement solutions, to expand the reach of its Business Messaging platform. The collaboration aims to help enterprises connect more effectively with their customers through interactive & trusted messaging.

Truecaller and Route Mobile Announce Partnership to Strengthen Global Business Messaging

As part of the partnership, Route Mobile will enable access to Truecaller Business Messaging, empowering enterprises to deliver secure, reliable, and trusted communication at scale. Communication is at the core of every business, and this collaboration aims to make customer interactions more seamless, secure, and effective.

Priyam Bose, Global Head, GTM, Truecaller, said, “This partnership marks a significant step in expanding our global footprint by enabling more businesses to connect with their customers through trusted and highly contextual messaging. It will help drive broader platform adoption and create new strategic opportunities to better serve enterprise customers through Route Mobile’s extensive and well-established global network.”

Tushar Agnihotri, CEO, Route Mobile, said, “We are delighted to partner with Truecaller to bring advanced business messaging solutions to enterprises globally. By combining our robust CPaaS infrastructure with Truecaller’s extensive user reach and rich media messaging, we are enabling brands to communicate more effectively, build trusted interactions, and engage customers in a more meaningful way. This collaboration supports secure, reliable communication at scale, helping businesses strengthen customer engagement and improve campaign effectiveness.”

The partnership aims to enhance user engagement by enabling businesses to reach more than 500 million monthly active users globally on Truecaller with contextual, immersive, rich-media messages that seamlessly integrate images, documents, and videos.

The platform offers both one-way and two-way communication capabilities, with a broad range of functionalities, including verified business messaging, hyperlinks for actionability, smart-priority sticky notifications, and read receipts. These capabilities are designed to help businesses improve customer interactions and engagement.

About Truecaller
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021.

About Proximus Global
Proximus Global, combining the strengths of Telesign, BICS, and Route Mobile, is transforming the future of communications and digital identity. Together, our solutions fuel innovation across the world’s largest companies and emerging brands. Our unrivaled global reach empowers businesses to create engaging experiences with built-in fraud protection across the entire customer lifecycle. Our comprehensive suite of solutions – from our super network for voice, messaging, and data, to 5G and IoT; and from verification and intelligence to CPaaS for personalized omnichannel engagement – enables businesses and communities to thrive. Reaching over 5 billion subscribers, securing more than 180 billion transactions annually, and connecting 1,000+ destinations, we honor our commitment to connect, protect, and engage everyone, everywhere. For more information, visit www.proximusglobal.com.

Vishal Mega Mart, a leader in the retail domain, is happy to announce its inclusion in the prestigious 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list, a definitive ranking of India’s 500 most valuable companies. This recognition highlights Vishal Mega Mart’s continuous commitment to make the aspirations of a billion Indians affordable.
 

Vishal Mega Mart Outlet
 

Mr. Gunender Kapur, MD & CEO of Vishal Mega Mart, stated, “We are pleased to be featured in the 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 List. It reflects the trust that millions of customers across India place in us and the dedication and hard work of thousands of our employees in our stores, warehouses and offices across the country.”
 

The 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list, a collaboration between Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private and Hurun India, is a benchmark for corporate success in the Indian economy. It highlights the top 500 most valuable companies in India. Being part of this list puts Vishal Mega Mart among the elite group of companies that are shaping the narrative of India’s growth and dynamism.

About Vishal Mega Mart

Vishal Mega Mart Limited is a one stop destination for making aspirations affordable for India’s young and middle-income group customers. The company strives to provide an aspirational range of high-quality fashion, general merchandise and FMCG products at prices that are affordable. The company curates a unique range of merchandise through its portfolio of 26 own brands which contribute to 75% of our revenue.
 

Vishal has a pan-India presence with 800+ stores across 535+ cities. Further, Vishal’s digital quick commerce initiative is now available in more than 500 cities with a registered user base of 14 million.
 

With 169 million customers, Vishal’s loyalty program is India’s largest customer loyalty program and ranks as the 12th largest globally. Vishal Mega Mart has also been featured in the Kantar BrandZ™ 2025 Most Valuable Indian Brands List (Top 100).
 

About Hurun India 500
The Hurun India 500 is an annual ranking published by Hurun India that recognizes India’s 500 most valuable companies based on their market capitalization (for listed companies) or estimated valuation (for unlisted companies). The list serves as a benchmark of corporate excellence and reflects the strength, scale and resilience of India’s business ecosystem across sectors such as retail, FMCG, technology, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare and consumer businesses.
 

The 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500, published in collaboration with Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private, showcases companies that have demonstrated sustained value creation, strong business performance and long-term growth. The ranking highlights organizations that are contributing significantly to India’s economic development through innovation, employment generation and expanding consumer access. Being featured in the Hurun India 500 places companies among India’s most valuable enterprises and recognizes their role in shaping the country’s evolving corporate landscape.
 

The ranking is widely regarded by industry leaders, investors and policymakers as an important indicator of corporate performance and business leadership in India. It provides insights into emerging sectors, evolving consumer trends and the growing influence of Indian enterprises on both domestic and global markets. The annual list also celebrates companies that continue to build enduring brands, strengthen governance practices and drive sustainable growth while contributing meaningfully to India’s expanding economy.

Parimatch Sports, a high-quality sportswear brand inspired by the world’s top athletes, has launched its new YouTube show, “Inside the Game” – a series that goes beyond results and achievements to uncover the people behind the athletes. Each episode combines candid conversations with competitions, games and challenges, giving guests the opportunity to answer unconventional questions and reveal sides of themselves rarely seen in traditional interviews.

Parimatch Sports Launches “Inside the Game” YouTube Show, Kicking Off with Ritu Phogat

The first episode features wrestler and professional MMA athlete Ritu Phogat, who shares insights into her career path, the values and beliefs that guide her, and her ambitions beyond the sporting arena.

“Every stage of my career has required courage, discipline and a willingness to step into the unknown. It was great to share some of those experiences on Inside the Game and give fans a chance to see a different side of me beyond competition,” said Ritu Phogat.

The episode reveals that Ritu is always ready to embrace a total life pivot. If the right offer comes, she would gladly dive into a completely different industry like Bollywood.

“Fans usually see the performances, the results and the highlights, but there’s much more to every sporting story. With this series, we wanted to create a space for honest conversations, light-hearted moments and stories that fans don’t often get to see. Ritu Phogat was the ideal guest to launch the show, as her career, resilience and ambition reflect the qualities that inspire sports fans around the world,” said the Parimatch Sports Press Office.

Watch Inside the Game on the Parimatch Sports YouTube channel for a closer look at her journey. To stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring leading names from the world of sport subscribe to the Parimatch Sports YouTube channel.

GrowthCap Ventures today announced its continued investment in Bengaluru-based portfolio company Spense, participating in the company’s USD 2.8 million Seed round led by Arkam Ventures, alongside Razorpay Ventures, Atrium Ventures, and a distinguished group of fintech and technology operators including Kunal Shah (CRED), Madhusudhan E (KreditBee), Ravishankar (Active.ai), Suresh Rayasam Venkatasubbaih (LinkedIn), and Sayandeb Banerjee (The Math Company). The round marks an important milestone for the company and reinforces growing institutional conviction in the future of asset-backed credit infrastructure.

Spense Founders and Growthcap Ventures Team, From Left to right – Srinivas Krishnamurthy, Pratekk Agarwaal, Pawan Kumar, Neeti Bokaria Source: Growthcap Ventures (Investors)

GrowthCap Ventures was the first institutional investor in Spense, leading the company’s pre-seed round in May 2025, and has continued to back the company as it scales. The follow-on investment reflects GrowthCap’s conviction in both the founders and the emerging opportunity to build the infrastructure powering India’s next generation of credit.

As India’s credit ecosystem evolves beyond unsecured lending, a vast pool of assets—including fixed deposits, mutual funds, equities, invoices and other financial assets—remains underutilised within the formal credit system. Spense enables banks to transform these assets into modern credit products through a bank-native infrastructure layer that integrates seamlessly with existing banking systems.

The company has already partnered with leading institutions to launch secured credit cards and credit lines backed by customer assets. Today, Spense works with seven major banks, powers over 2 lakh active cards, issues more than 40,000 cards every month, and contributes to nearly 8% of India’s monthly credit card issuance, underscoring the growing demand for modern asset-backed lending infrastructure.

The fresh capital will be used to deepen banking partnerships, accelerate product development, expand engineering and go-to-market teams, launch Credit Line on UPI (CLOU), and further build the infrastructure and intelligence layer for the future of asset-backed credit.

“India’s credit challenge is often viewed as a risk problem. We believe it is fundamentally an infrastructure problem. India does not have a shortage of assets. It has a shortage of infrastructure that can convert those assets into usable credit. We believe the next generation of banking will be built on two foundations: infrastructure that unlocks assets and AI that makes credit intelligent, scalable and accessible. If you have a valuable asset, you should have access to modern credit,” Pawan Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Spense.

“For decades, banks digitized accounts, payments and transactions. The next phase of banking is the digitization of collateral itself,” Srinivas Krishnamurthy, Co-founder & CTO, Spense.

“We invested in Spense at the pre-seed stage because we believed asset-backed credit would become one of the defining themes in financial services. Pawan and Srinivas have demonstrated exceptional clarity of vision and execution, building infrastructure that enables banks to unlock liquidity against assets at scale. We’re delighted to welcome Arkam Ventures and our fellow investors, and are excited to continue supporting the team as they build the future of banking infrastructure in India,” Pratekk Agarwaal, Founder & General Partner, GrowthCap Ventures.

About GrowthCap Ventures

GrowthCap Ventures is an operator-led early-stage venture capital firm focused on backing category-defining startups across FinTech, AI and DeepTech. The firm partners with founders from the earliest stages of company building, often as the first institutional investor, providing not only capital but also hands-on operational support, strategic guidance and access to an extensive network of founders, operators and enterprise partners.

The continued investment in Spense reflects GrowthCap’s high-conviction approach of backing exceptional founders early and supporting them through successive stages of growth. As an operator-led fund, GrowthCap works closely with portfolio companies on product strategy, customer introductions, hiring, fundraising and long-term company building.

Spense’s successful upround is another example of GrowthCap Ventures’ commitment to identifying category leaders early and partnering with founders building the next generation of foundational technology companies from India.

One of India’s most trusted hyper local real estate platforms catering to the Chennai market, This real estate listing platform has officially transitioned from Chennaiproperties.in to Chennaiproperties.com, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards becoming a more accessible, future-ready, and globally recognized property destination.

Chennaiproperties.com Ushers in a New Era of Digital Real Estate Discovery

Since its launch in 2014, Chennaiproperties.in has helped thousands of home buyers connect with reputed builders and discover residential projects across Chennai. What began as a vision to simplify property discovery in the city has evolved into a leading hyper-local real estate platform trusted by developers, investors, home buyers, and NRIs alike.

The move to Chennaiproperties.com reflects the company’s continued commitment to enhancing user experience, strengthening its brand presence, and expanding its reach to a wider audience, particularly the growing global community of Chennai-focused property seekers.

A Decade of Connecting Chennai’s Property Ecosystem

Over the years, Chennaiproperties.com has built a strong reputation for offering verified property listings, detailed project information, and localized insights that help buyers make informed real estate decisions.

With Chennai witnessing rapid urban growth, infrastructure development, and increasing interest from both domestic and international investors, the platform has emerged as a trusted digital gateway to the city’s real estate market.

Why Home buyers choose Chennaiproperties.com

• Chennai-Centric Expertise

Unlike generic property portals, Chennaiproperties.com is exclusively focused on Chennai and its surrounding growth corridors. This dedicated focus enables the platform to provide deeper market insights and more relevant property options.

• Trusted & Verified Listings

The platform emphasizes quality and authenticity, ensuring that listings are sourced from trusted developers and verified partners, helping users search with greater confidence.

• Hyper-Local Intelligence

Property decisions extend beyond square footage and pricing. Chennaiproperties.com offers valuable neighborhood insights, including information about schools, healthcare facilities, transportation connectivity, shopping destinations, and civic infrastructure.

• Direct Developer Connect

The platform facilitates direct interaction between buyers and developers, enabling faster communication, better transparency, and a more efficient property-buying experience.

• Comprehensive Property Discovery

From affordable housing projects to premium residential developments, users can explore a wide range of options tailored to different budgets and lifestyle requirements.

More Than a Domain Change

The transition to Chennaiproperties.com represents more than a new web address. It signifies the next phase of growth for the platform, with a sharper focus on innovation, user experience, technology integration, and market expansion.

The new domain strengthens the brand’s global visibility while creating a foundation for future enhancements that will make property discovery faster, smarter, and more intuitive.

Looking Ahead

As Chennai continues to establish itself as one of India’s most dynamic real estate markets, Chennaiproperties.com remains committed to helping home buyers, investors, and developers navigate the market with confidence.

With a stronger digital identity and an ambitious road map ahead, Chennaiproperties.com is poised to play an even larger role in shaping the future of property discovery in Chennai.

Visit: Chennaiproperties.com