Meet The 20 Startups Selected For Google Play Accelerator India

Source: inc42

Meet The 20 Startups Selected For Google Play Accelerator India

Business

Google has selected 20 Indian startups for the 2026 cohort of its Google Play Accelerator India programme. This third iteration of the equity-free, three-month initiative supports founders across sectors including edtech, healthtech, and gaming. Selected companies will receive hands-on guidance in AI integration, app quality, security, growth, and monetisation to help them build scalable, trusted products for both domestic and global markets.

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Hackers steal over $130 million by exploiting bug in offline hardware wallets

Startups

Hackers have stolen approximately $130 million from Coldcard hardware wallets, which are designed for secure offline storage. Security researchers discovered a vulnerability in Coinkite's seed phrase generation code from 2021, allowing attackers to predict and brute-force secret keys. This flaw bypassed the security of "cold" storage. Coinkite has since advised users to update their devices and migrate to new seed phrases to protect their assets.

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Spotify adds Merlin to its AI music remix and covers effort

Startups

Spotify is introducing a new AI tool allowing fans to create covers and remixes of music with artist consent. Partnering with Universal Music Group and Merlin, the platform aims to support real artists through credit and compensation. This paid add-on differentiates Spotify from generative AI startups by focusing on legal, artist-approved content. A research preview will soon be available to a limited group of users.

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Texas halts new data centers as governor calls for audits

Startups

Texas is seeing a surge in data center proposals, with ERCOT's interconnection queue reaching 474 gigawatts, mostly driven by these facilities. To prevent grid overload and rising electricity prices, Governor Greg Abbott now requires all new data center projects to undergo audits by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT. These mandatory reviews will assess power and water demand, marking a shift toward stricter state regulation.

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Walmart completes its acquisition of TV advertising company Vibe.co

Startups

Walmart has finalized its $1.4 billion acquisition of Vibe.co, a self-service streaming TV advertising platform, integrating it into Walmart Connect. This move allows small and medium-sized brands to launch streaming campaigns more easily, expanding Walmart's connected TV advertising capabilities. This acquisition follows Walmart's $2.3 billion purchase of Vizio in 2024, as the retailer continues to strengthen its advertising business and enhance customer reach across commerce journeys.

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Elon Musk spends half his time talking robots and AI on Tesla earnings calls

Startups

Elon Musk is shifting Tesla's identity from a car manufacturer to an AI and robotics company. Analysis of earnings calls reveals Musk now spends nearly 50% of his time discussing artificial intelligence, robotaxis, and Full Self-Driving software, a significant increase from previous years. This pivot occurs as Tesla's core automotive growth slows, though other executives remain more focused on traditional car production than Musk.

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Host a Side Event during TechCrunch Founder Summit Week in Boston

Startups

TechCrunch is inviting organizers to host side events during Founder Summit Week in Boston from November 1-7, surrounding the main summit on November 4. These in-person gatherings, ranging from workshops to mixers, offer brands visibility to over 1,100 founders and investors. Listed for free on the official agenda and app, events must be Boston-based and age-restricted. Interested hosts should apply now to connect with the startup community.

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Omspace is building a reusable rocket in Ahmedabad for small satellite launches

Startups

Ahmedabad-based startup Omspace Rocket and Exploration aims to capture the small satellite launch market with its reusable Infinity-One rocket. Featuring India's first electric-pump-fed engine and a mobile launch platform, the company targets rapid deployment for nano-satellites. While raising Rs 25 crore in pre-seed funding, Omspace currently generates revenue through its Youngspace educational programme, as it has yet to achieve an orbital flight or secure public contracts.

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AgMove Robotics builds small farm rovers to spray between crop rows

Startups

Pune-based AgMove Robotics, founded in 2023 by Bhushan Darekar, has developed the Farm Guardian Rover to address labor shortages and chemical exposure in Indian vineyards. This multi-utility, autonomous machine uses RTK positioning and electrostatic spraying for precision crop management. Designed for small holdings and gender-neutral operation, the bootstrapped company targets progressive farmers and rental models to ensure timely agricultural operations and reduce pesticide waste.

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Meine Electric is building fast-charging iron-air batteries to store solar power overnight

Startups

Chennai-based MEINE Electric is developing affordable iron-air batteries to solve long-duration energy storage challenges for solar grids. Unlike lithium-ion, their "Fast Charge Long Discharge" technology charges in six to eight hours and discharges over eighteen, a claim validated by Customized Energy Solutions. Having raised Rs 6.7 crore in pre-seed funding, the startup targets utilities and heavy industry to stabilize renewable energy output across global markets.

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Tsalla Aerospace builds autonomy software that flies drones without GPS

Startups

"Bengaluru-based Tsalla Aerospace is developing 'AI Pilot,' a hardware-agnostic autonomy stack designed for unmanned systems operating in GPS-denied environments. Incubated at the Indian Institute of Science, the company focuses on software that enables drones, ground vehicles, and ships to function without human intervention. Currently collaborating with the Indian Navy and Army, Tsalla Aerospace has raised $1 million and seeks $8 million more to expand its operations.".

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Agrograde builds machines that sort onions and potatoes by quality, not just size

Startups

Pune-based Agrograde, founded in 2017, develops specialized machinery to automate the grading and sorting of crops like onions and potatoes in India. By replacing inconsistent manual processes with texture-based analysis, their technology achieves 96% defect detection accuracy without damaging produce. With 130 machines deployed across 14 states, the company is now seeking pre-Series A funding to expand manufacturing and advance toward fully autonomous packhouse operations.

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7 Books that teach you how to recover from disappointment

Startups

Disappointment is an inevitable part of life, but it can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and resilience. Several influential books, including works by Pema Chödrön, Viktor Frankl, and Ryan Holiday, provide guidance on navigating setbacks. These texts emphasize that while outcomes may not match expectations, acceptance and a shift in perspective can help individuals find meaning and build strength during their most challenging transitions.

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ET Now Acquires OpiGo To Expand Its Investment Platform

Business

Times Network has acquired fintech startup OpiGo for an undisclosed amount to expand ET NOW’s investor-focused financial services. OpiGo’s platform, featuring SEBI-registered analyst recommendations and investor communities, will be integrated into ET NOW Pro. This strategic move transforms ET NOW from a business news platform into a comprehensive financial intelligence ecosystem, reflecting a broader Indian market trend toward subscription-led advisory and compliance-first investing tools.

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Home décor and furnishings marketplace Vaaree raises Rs 65 Cr in Series A funding

Startups

"Bengaluru-based home décor marketplace Vaaree has raised Rs 65 crore in a Series A funding round led by Hero Enterprise and Cap Alpha Ventures. The company will utilize the capital to expand its fulfillment network for faster deliveries and enhance VibeCheck, its AI-powered home styling and product discovery platform. Vaaree aims to streamline the shopping experience for its curated catalog of over 150,000 home furnishings products.".

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Apple says more ex-employees may have taken confidential data to OpenAI

Startups

Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction against OpenAI to prevent the development of products using its stolen trade secrets. The iPhone maker alleges that multiple former employees, including senior engineers, misappropriated proprietary information. Apple is requesting expedited discovery from OpenAI and Jony Ive's startup, io. OpenAI has denied these accusations, claiming the requests are based on false information and that they have no interest in Apple's secrets.

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Spotify now has over 300M subscribers

Startups

Spotify has surpassed 300 million subscribers and 777 million monthly active users, with quarterly revenue rising 14% to €4.8 billion. Despite price increases and backlash over AI-generated music, the platform continues to grow. Spotify is diversifying its content and heavily investing in AI, launching tools for personalized podcasts, conversational assistants, and remixing capabilities, while implementing artist verification systems to address user concerns regarding synthetic audio.

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Nykaa net profit soars over 3X, revenue up 29% in Q1

Startups

Nykaa reported a strong first quarter for FY27, with net profit surging over threefold to Rs 79.76 crore and revenue rising 29% to Rs 2,782 crore. While the beauty segment remains the primary profit driver, the fashion segment saw 48% growth despite ongoing losses. Additionally, Nykaa is acquiring a 51% stake in skincare brand Aminu for Rs 32 crore and expanding its AI-driven consumer experiences.

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NCPCR to probe Meta over child abuse ads on Instagram

Startups

"The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is launching a formal inquiry into Meta after advertisements linked to child sexual exploitative material appeared on Instagram in India. Following a BBC Eye investigation, the commission aims to determine how these ads bypassed Meta's review systems. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is investigating, testing whether platforms face higher liability for paid advertisements than user-generated content.".

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India moves to give its instant payments network a business model

Startups

India is introducing legislation to potentially overhaul its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) business model by allowing merchant fees on certain transactions. Since 2020, a zero-merchant-discount-rate policy has driven adoption, but rising infrastructure costs have made this unsustainable for banks and fintechs. While consumer payments remain free, targeting high-value transactions could generate significant revenue, supporting further innovation and global expansion for the ubiquitous payments network.

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