Fintech Startups To Watch: Startups That Caught Our Eye In August

Source: inc42

Fintech Startups To Watch: Startups That Caught Our Eye In August

Business

India's fintech sector in August focused on UPI sustainability, AI integration, and specialized services. While the government debated merchant discount rates for UPI, companies like Razorpay launched AI models for payment intelligence. Investors showed strong interest in wealthtech and SaaS, with significant funding for Centricity and Navi. Additionally, early-stage startups like CoverSure, Fold Money, Komplai, Tap Invest, and The Financialist are innovating in insurance, accounting, and investment management.

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When you cannot change life, learn to change yourself

Startups

When circumstances cannot be changed, changing our perspective, habits, and responses can help us find strength and meaning within difficulty.

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ESDS’ IPO Litmus Test, Even Axes 350 Jobs & More

Business

ESDS Software Solution is launching a ₹720 crore IPO to expand its cloud and GPU capabilities. Meanwhile, PRISM, the OYO parent, reports a 306% profit surge ahead of its own public listing. In other news, Even Healthcare cut 30% of its staff to pivot its business model, InstaAstro raised $12 million, and Deepinder Goyal’s Temple acquired Longevous. Additionally, drone startup Raphe mPhibr is now valued at $900 million.

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AI, athletes, and Keith Rabois: StrictlyVC is back in New York on September 10

Startups

TechCrunch's StrictlyVC series returns to New York's West Village on September 10, co-hosted by Collaborative Fund. The event features a high-profile lineup, including Keith Rabois discussing AI and venture capital, and Deven Parekh of Insight Partners. Other guests include Craig Shapiro, Jason Levien, Tristan Walker, and Brynn Putnam, who will explore sports investments and community-focused startups. The evening will combine fireside chats with networking opportunities for attendees.

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Bill Gates wants AI taxed, jobs reserved for humans

Startups

India's EV market could reach Rs 20 lakh crore by 2030, while The/Nudge Foundation launched a Rs 250 crore impact fund. OYO's parent Prism reported surging profits, and Meta agreed to an $18 billion settlement regarding child addiction. Bill Gates advocated for an AI tax to protect workers, Temple acquired Longevous for longevity research, and Nvidia reportedly agreed to buy Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.

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From software to satellites: Why India's next venture opportunity lies in deeptech

Startups

India's venture capital landscape is evolving from a software-centric model to a deep tech and hardware focus. Startups are now prioritizing frontier technologies like aerospace, semiconductors, and robotics to solve global physical problems. Driven by Generative AI, increased corporate spending, and government initiatives like the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, India aims to build defensible intellectual property and compete globally in advanced engineering and manufacturing.

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Anthropic and OpenAI are joining the AI stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature an AI Stage presented by Google for Startups from October 13–15 in San Francisco. Industry leaders from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and AWS will discuss evolving business models, enterprise security gaps, and new job categories like GTM engineering. The event focuses on practical challenges for founders, including sustainable pricing and agentic AI infrastructure, alongside networking opportunities for over 10,000 tech and VC leaders.

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Rivian’s CFO is leaving the company

Startups

"Rivian announced that Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough will resign at the end of October to pursue a new opportunity and relocate to the East Coast for family reasons. The company stated her departure is not due to any disagreement. Vice President of Finance Derek Mulvey will serve as interim CFO. This transition occurs as Rivian focuses on scaling production and sales for its new R2 SUV model.".

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Bluesky adds an ‘algorithmic opt-out’ feature for those who don’t want to go viral

Startups

Sometimes people just want to post to their followers, Bluesky says.

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Buried in Meta’s $18B settlement is a legal pass on kids’ data

Startups

Meta’s settlement with 29 states allows it to retain certain data from children under 13 to train and test age-detection models, highlighting a privacy tradeoff built into the deal.

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YouTube now lets creators tag Amazon products and earn commissions from purchases

Startups

YouTube has introduced a new feature allowing eligible U.S. creators to tag Amazon products directly in their videos, shorts, and livestreams. This native integration replaces manual affiliate links, enabling creators to earn commissions on sales. The system includes auto-tagging and a curated product catalog. While limited to U.S. creators, tags are visible globally. Participants must be enrolled in YouTube's Partner and Shopping Affiliate programs and have Amazon accounts.

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Barret Zoph, the Thinking Machines co-founder who defected to OpenAI, is now at Google

Startups

"Barret Zoph has joined Google as vice president of research, focusing on RL and post-training for Gemini. Zoph's career path has been volatile, moving from OpenAI to co-found Thinking Machines, returning to OpenAI for five months, and now returning to Google. His frequent transitions highlight a broader trend of high executive turnover within the AI industry, particularly at OpenAI, which has lost several key leaders recently.".

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ATF declares ‘major incident’ as ransomware gang claims hack

Startups

"The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has declared a cyberattack on a standalone system a “major incident,” requiring formal notification to Congress. The targeted system contained sensitive information regarding ATF investigation targets. While the Qilin ransomware gang claimed responsibility, no evidence has been provided. This classification is reserved for incidents likely to cause demonstrable harm to U.S. national security or broader national interests.".

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OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and 100 other companies call for action to defend against rogue AI

Startups

Over a hundred tech companies, including OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, have signed an open letter urging public and private sectors to collaborate against escalating AI-driven cyber threats. Citing recent security breaches by AI agents, the group warns that critical infrastructure is at risk. They advocate for a collective response and new security standards, while simultaneously developing defensive AI tools like OpenAI’s Daybreak and Microsoft’s Perception platform.

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IPO-Bound ESDS Software Bags ₹216 Cr From Anchor Investors

Business

ESDS Software Solution, a cloud and data centre firm, raised ₹216 crore from 19 anchor investors ahead of its ₹720 crore IPO. Domestic mutual funds comprised nearly 82% of the anchor book. The IPO, priced at ₹429 per share, opens tomorrow and closes September 1. ESDS plans to use ₹576 crore for infrastructure upgrades. The company reported a consolidated net profit of ₹120.8 crore for FY26.

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Google’s new Fitbit Air brings Pokémon Sleep to your wrist

Startups

Google has announced a special-edition Fitbit Air that integrates with the Pokémon Sleep app to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary. The device tracks health metrics like heart rate and sleep quality, helping players earn in-game rewards and discover Pokémon. Available for preorder at $129, the special-edition wearable complements the standard $99 Fitbit Air, which features a slim design and an AI-powered coach for personalized wellness guidance.

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Fashion startup Atoire raises $9.5M to bring consumers luxury goods without the markup

Startups

Fashion startup Atoire has raised $9.5 million in seed funding to connect luxury manufacturers directly with consumers. By utilizing AI for trend analysis and demand forecasting, the company offers high-quality apparel and accessories at affordable prices, bypassing traditional luxury markups. With projected annualized sales exceeding $55 million, Atoire aims to provide a sustainable, high-end alternative to fast fashion while expanding its AI tools and product lines.

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Hoomanely’s building a smart feeding bowl and an AI platform to help owners spot when their pup is sick

Startups

Palo Alto startup Hoomanely has launched EverBowl, an AI-powered feeding station designed to detect early signs of illness in dogs. By monitoring eating habits, hydration, and oral motions, the system establishes a health baseline and alerts owners to abnormal changes via an app. While not a veterinary replacement, the subscription-based service aims to improve early diagnosis. The company plans to expand into wearables and other animal species.

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Google’s AI Mode can now track flight prices, help book hotels, and more

Startups

"Google is enhancing its AI Mode to act as a conversational travel agent, allowing users to plan and book trips more efficiently. New features include flight price tracking across 180 countries, hotel booking through integrated partners in the U.S., and the ability to view costs in points or miles globally. These updates move Google beyond information retrieval toward handling the actual booking process for flights and hotels.".

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Alpha Wave Ventures Exits Aye Finance Via ₹323 Cr Bulk Deals

Business

Global investment firm Alpha Wave has completely exited MSME-focused NBFC Aye Finance by selling its 7.78% stake, totaling 1.92 crore shares, for approximately ₹322.6 crore. The shares were acquired by Integrated Core Strategies (Asia) and Singularity Large Value Fund III. This move follows Alpha Wave's recent exits from Delhivery and Lenskart. Meanwhile, Aye Finance reported a 144% year-on-year net profit increase to ₹74.5 crore for Q1 FY27.

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