Traveltech Startup 30 Sundays Raises ₹61 Cr To Expand AI-Powered Holiday Planning

Source: Startup

Traveltech Startup 30 Sundays Raises ₹61 Cr To Expand AI-Powered Holiday Planning

Business • via Startup • Anjali Jain

AI-native traveltech startup 30 Sundays has raised ₹61 crore ($6.7 million) in a Series A round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The Gurugram-based company will use the funds to enhance its AI capabilities, expand its engineering team, and enter new international markets including Georgia and the Philippines. The platform offers AI-driven, end-to-end holiday planning for outbound Indian travelers, currently achieving a ₹200 crore annualized gross booking value.

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CD sales are making an unexpected comeback amid a retro tech boom

Startups

The Recording Industry Association of America reports a significant resurgence in CD sales during the first half of 2026, with revenue rising 58.6% to $171.1 million. This growth, alongside a 17.7% increase in vinyl revenue, reflects a broader Gen Z trend toward "dumb" technology and physical media to avoid digital distractions. Total physical media revenue jumped 25.9% to $731.5 million, reversing a previous decline in CD consumption.

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Krafton doubles down on India with another $250M bet beyond gaming

Startups

"South Korean gaming giant Krafton plans to invest an additional $250 million in India over the next three to four years, bringing its total commitment to over $500 million. The company aims to expand beyond gaming into AI, robotics, and deep tech. This move follows a meeting between Krafton's chairman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reinforcing India's role as a key market for the publisher.".

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Google’s Gemini Spark can now manage your Google Photos library

Startups

Google is integrating its AI agent, Gemini Spark, with Google Photos, allowing users to edit images, curate albums, and create calendar appointments from photos. This feature will roll out over the coming weeks to eligible Gemini AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S. While Google aims to automate tedious library management, some critics argue these incremental updates lack revolutionary impact amidst intense AI industry competition.

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Inside Urban Company’s Marketplace Model: What It Earns From Every Booking

Business

Urban Company reported Q1 FY27 revenue of ₹528 crore and a net loss of ₹92 crore, despite its core India consumer-services business crossing ₹1,000 crore in quarterly NTV. While the core marketplace remains profitable, the company is investing heavily in InstaHelp, its on-demand home-help venture, which recorded a ₹132 crore loss. Management views InstaHelp as a long-term strategy for frequency and cross-selling over immediate profitability.

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'Eye in sky': ISRO launches advanced earth observation satellite for 'strategic data'

Startups

ISRO successfully launched the EOS-05 satellite using a GSLV rocket, marking India's first imaging satellite in geo-orbit. Weighing 2,367 kg, it is the heaviest payload ever carried by a GSLV. Positioned 36,000 km above Earth, the satellite will provide real-time imagery to support agriculture, disaster management, and strategic national activities. This successful mission from Sriharikota represents a significant milestone for India's space program and its industrial partners.

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Innoviti Slashes FY26 Loss By 57% To ₹26.7 Cr, Revenue Dips By 17%

Business

"Bessemer Venture Partners-backed digital payments startup Innoviti reduced its net loss by over 57% to ₹26.7 Cr in FY26, despite a 16.7% revenue decline to ₹118.9 Cr. The company achieved this by cutting total expenses by nearly 28% to ₹148.9 Cr. Innoviti, which recently received RBI payment aggregator authorization, expects to turn EBITDA positive in FY27 and continues to plan for a future public market debut.".

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Less than 24 hours to apply for your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Side Event

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is inviting applications to host Side Events during the conference from October 10–16 in San Francisco. Interested brands can organize meetups, panels, or workshops to connect with over 10,000 tech leaders, investors, and founders. Approved hosts receive official visibility and ticket discounts for their networks. Applications close tonight at midnight PT, with all logistics and costs remaining the responsibility of the host.

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[Weekly funding roundup Aug 29-Sept 4] Marginal dip in fund inflow

Startups

Indian startup funding declined to $196 million across 24 deals in the first week of September, down from $245 million previously. While pre-Series A deals were most frequent, they contributed little value. Late-stage funding was bolstered by Ultrahuman's $70 million raise. Despite a lack of large AI-driven deals, investments spanned healthtech, fintech, and EV sectors, including significant rounds for Yuma Energy and Nextgen Finance.

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US military disabled ad tracking on troops’ devices following reports of targeted attacks

Startups

"The U.S. Department of Defense has disabled advertising tracking on government-issued phones and computers across all military branches to protect service members from location-based threats. This move aims to prevent hostile governments from purchasing location data from brokers to target troops. While Senator Ron Wyden praised the step, he warned that personal devices remain a vulnerability, even as U.S. intelligence agencies continue purchasing similar data.".

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IIT Madras and CMC build AI to catch kidney disease early

Startups

IIT Madras and Christian Medical College, Vellore, have developed three AI tools to improve kidney disease detection and assessment. These tools predict chronic kidney disease risk, classify CT scans for anomalies like tumors, and provide 3D imaging for volume measurement. While currently in the development stage, these systems aim to enable early diagnosis and personalized care, potentially reducing the need for dialysis in primary-care settings.

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Feds launch investigation into Tesla’s Cybercab deployment

Startups

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into Tesla's new Cybercab after the vehicles debuted on public roads in Austin, Texas. The probe focuses on the absence of steering wheels and pedals, which generally contravene federal safety regulations. While the Department of Transportation has proposed removing these requirements for autonomous cars, Tesla self-certified the Cybercab as compliant with all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.".

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Sneaker brand Comet raises Rs 100 Cr in Series B led by Verlinvest

Startups

"Bengaluru-based sneaker brand Comet has raised Rs 100 crore in a Series B round led by Verlinvest, with support from Elevation Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. The company plans to use the capital to expand its retail presence, enhance technology, and invest in R&D for proprietary sole designs. Having seen revenue grow ninefold since its Series A, Comet aims to double its retail stores and footwear portfolio.".

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Flipkart Minutes Could Add 1,000 Dark Stores By Mid-2027: UBS

Business

Flipkart Minutes plans to add 1,000 dark stores by mid-2027, potentially doubling its network to 2,000 locations to compete with Blinkit. According to a UBS report, the service's net order value is now comparable to Blinkit's. Flipkart is also diversifying its assortment with premium groceries and expanding into Tier II and III cities as India's quick commerce market is projected to reach $40 billion by 2030.

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D2C Sneaker Brand Comet Raises ₹100 Cr To Expand Offline Presence

Business

"D2C sneaker brand Comet has raised ₹100 crore in a Series B funding round led by Verlinvest, with participation from Elevation Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, and several angel investors. The startup plans to use the capital to expand its retail footprint from 10 to 20 stores, double its footwear portfolio, and invest in research and development, including the launch of its first female-focused sneaker line.".

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Ola Electric Opens First Dealer-Led Stores, Eyes 500-Outlet Network

Business

Ola Electric is transitioning from a company-owned retail model to a dealer-operated network, launching its first stores across seven Indian states. The company aims to establish over 500 dealerships within two quarters to expand market reach and resolve long-standing after-sales service issues. Existing outlets will become product experience centres, while dealer partners manage local sales and service to reduce costs and improve customer support.

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OpenAI Rolls Out GPT-6 Astra, Its ‘Most Capable Model’ Yet

Business

OpenAI has launched GPT-6 Astra, its most capable frontier model designed for agentic AI. The model can autonomously navigate websites, interact with software, and execute complex multi-step workflows, competing with Google and Anthropic. Featuring a 1.05 million-token context window, Astra excels in coding, mathematics, and cybersecurity. It will initially roll out to select organizations before becoming available to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users.

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8 Powerful Aldous Huxley quotes on society and solitude

Startups

Aldous Huxley, renowned for Brave New World, explored human nature and the dangers of conformity. His philosophical reflections emphasize the importance of solitude, introspection, and intellectual honesty in preserving individual freedom. By championing curiosity and empathy, Huxley argued that personal growth and critical thinking are essential to resist social pressures. His enduring legacy encourages individuals to face uncomfortable truths and evolve their perspectives for meaningful societal progress.

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Medulance Raises ₹24 Cr To Expand Emergency Response Network

Business

Healthtech startup Medulance has raised ₹24 crore in a Series A funding round led by Auxano, Alkemi, and Equentis. The company plans to use the capital to expand its GPS-based emergency response network and connected ambulance services across India. Operating over 15,000 ambulances in 500 cities, Medulance utilizes 5G technology for real-time patient data sharing, aiming to reduce response times within India's fragmented healthcare market.

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Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms partners with YouTube to launch five original shows

Startups

Ekta Kapoor will lead the creative vision and own the intellectual property, while YouTube manages global distribution and monetization through advertisements and brand deals to reach viewers on connected TVs.

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Indian-origin Anil Chakravarthy to take over as Adobe CEO

Startups

Adobe has named Indian-origin executive Anil Chakravarthy as CEO, succeeding Shantanu Narayen as the software giant enters a new AI-driven phase of growth.

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