India Tech Report: Daily Morning Brief Podcast By Hari Arakali cover art

India Tech Report: Daily Morning Brief

India Tech Report: Daily Morning Brief

By: Hari Arakali
Listen for free

About this listen

 A podcast dedicated to chronicling the growth of India's deep tech and climate tech ecosystems, bringing you news headlines every week day.© 2025 Hari Arakali Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • The Climate on Monday: Green Climate Fund’s record mandate, Crosstown’s innovative hydrogen retrofit, and more

    The Climate on Monday: Green Climate Fund’s record mandate, Crosstown’s innovative hydrogen retrofit, and more
    Jul 7 2025
    Green Climate Fund approves record $1.2 billion for climate projects in developing nationsThe Green Climate Fund has approved a record $1.2 billion for 17 new climate projects, mainly in Asia and Africa, to help vulnerable nations adapt to and mitigate climate change, Reuters reports. The investments include $227 million for green bond markets and $200 million for green finance in India. UN development summit endorses innovative taxes and finance tools to boost global climate fundingAt a UN conference in Spain last week, 192 countries adopted the “Sevilla Commitment,” backing new climate finance tools such as taxes on the super-rich, levies on polluting transport, and debt swaps, Climate Home News reports. UK launches first onshore wind strategy to double capacity and create 45,000 jobs by 2030The UK government has unveiled its first-ever onshore wind strategy, aiming to nearly double capacity to 27–29 GW by 2030 and create up to 45,000 skilled jobs, according to a statement from the UK’s department of energy security and net zero. Global EV and battery investment surges, but China’s overcapacity and policy shifts challenge industryGlobal investment in electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries is booming, with China leading in manufacturing and sales due to strong state support and a vast domestic market, according to a recent report from the Rhodium Group.Europe is rapidly adopting EVs, relying heavily on imports, especially from China, while the US faces uncertainty as potential policy rollbacks threaten its growing domestic industry. Crosstown raises $3.8 million to retrofit Europe’s gas turbines for hydrogenSwiss startup Crosstown has secured CHF 3 million ($3.8 million) in seed funding to scale its patented H2R Burner technology, which enables existing gas turbines to run on 100 percent hydrogen or mixed renewable fuels. New Climate Tech Readiness Index ranks industries on real-world climate technology adoptionClimate Insider has launched the Climate Technology Readiness Index, assessing how prepared emissions-intensive industries — like oil & gas, chemicals, and power — are to actually adopt and scale climate technologies, the climate tech industry media and market intelligence provider said in a recent post.AI-powered robots replace farm hands and herbicides, offering sustainable weeding solutionsAigen, a US startup, has developed a solar-powered, AI-driven robot that autonomously removes weeds from fields, addressing labour shortages and herbicide resistance, according to an AFP report that was picked up by the Economic Times.Other headlinesTether has partnered South American agribusiness Adecoagro to launch a renewable energy-powered Bitcoin mining project in Brazil, using Adecoagro’s surplus clean energy to stabilize revenue and gain exposure to Bitcoin’s value. AB Science has received FDA and EMA approval to begin a confirmatory Phase 3 trial of masitinib for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, using biomarker-driven patient selection for those most likely to benefit. Israeli quantum startup QEDMA has raised $26 million in Series A funding, with IBM joining as a new investor, to develop software that reduces errors in quantum computing and advances practical quantum advantage. Japanese eVTOL manufacturer SkyDrive has secured ¥8.3 billion ($58.9 million) in pre-Series D funding from major investors including Suzuki and railway companies to accelerate certification and infrastructure for its air mobility solutions. AST SpaceMobile has secured an additional $100 million in non-dilutive equipment financing to support its accelerated manufacturing and network deployment for space-based cellular broadband.MaxVolt Energy has acquired land in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, to establish a lithium-ion battery recycling facility with a projected annual capacity of 5,200 metric tons, supporting India’s clean energy and circular economy goals. Lamark Biotech, an Indian biopharma startup, raised ₹6.5 crore in a pre-Series A round led by IAN Group to advance its thermostable insulin program and expand its biologics platform. Zoho Corp has expanded its R&D presence by opening a new campus in Kottarakkara, Kerala, and acquired local startup Asimov Robotics to boost its robotics and automation capabilities. Fractal Analytics is preparing to file draft papers by mid-August for a $500 million IPO on the Mumbai Stock Exchange, aiming for a $3.5 billion valuation and further expansion of its AI-powered data solutions business.Also listen to:India Tech Report: In Conversation Subscribe to my newsletter:India Tech Report
    Show more Show less
    8 mins
  • The Climate on Monday: Green Climate Fund’s record mandate, Crosstown’s innovative hydrogen retrofit, and more

    The Climate on Monday: Green Climate Fund’s record mandate, Crosstown’s innovative hydrogen retrofit, and more
    Jul 7 2025
    Green Climate Fund approves record $1.2 billion for climate projects in developing nationsThe Green Climate Fund has approved a record $1.2 billion for 17 new climate projects, mainly in Asia and Africa, to help vulnerable nations adapt to and mitigate climate change, Reuters reports. The investments include $227 million for green bond markets and $200 million for green finance in India. UN development summit endorses innovative taxes and finance tools to boost global climate fundingAt a UN conference in Spain last week, 192 countries adopted the “Sevilla Commitment,” backing new climate finance tools such as taxes on the super-rich, levies on polluting transport, and debt swaps, Climate Home News reports. UK launches first onshore wind strategy to double capacity and create 45,000 jobs by 2030The UK government has unveiled its first-ever onshore wind strategy, aiming to nearly double capacity to 27–29 GW by 2030 and create up to 45,000 skilled jobs, according to a statement from the UK’s department of energy security and net zero. Global EV and battery investment surges, but China’s overcapacity and policy shifts challenge industryGlobal investment in electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries is booming, with China leading in manufacturing and sales due to strong state support and a vast domestic market, according to a recent report from the Rhodium Group.Europe is rapidly adopting EVs, relying heavily on imports, especially from China, while the US faces uncertainty as potential policy rollbacks threaten its growing domestic industry. Crosstown raises $3.8 million to retrofit Europe’s gas turbines for hydrogenSwiss startup Crosstown has secured CHF 3 million ($3.8 million) in seed funding to scale its patented H2R Burner technology, which enables existing gas turbines to run on 100 percent hydrogen or mixed renewable fuels. New Climate Tech Readiness Index ranks industries on real-world climate technology adoptionClimate Insider has launched the Climate Technology Readiness Index, assessing how prepared emissions-intensive industries — like oil & gas, chemicals, and power — are to actually adopt and scale climate technologies, the climate tech industry media and market intelligence provider said in a recent post.AI-powered robots replace farm hands and herbicides, offering sustainable weeding solutionsAigen, a US startup, has developed a solar-powered, AI-driven robot that autonomously removes weeds from fields, addressing labour shortages and herbicide resistance, according to an AFP report that was picked up by the Economic Times.Other headlinesTether has partnered South American agribusiness Adecoagro to launch a renewable energy-powered Bitcoin mining project in Brazil, using Adecoagro’s surplus clean energy to stabilize revenue and gain exposure to Bitcoin’s value. AB Science has received FDA and EMA approval to begin a confirmatory Phase 3 trial of masitinib for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, using biomarker-driven patient selection for those most likely to benefit. Israeli quantum startup QEDMA has raised $26 million in Series A funding, with IBM joining as a new investor, to develop software that reduces errors in quantum computing and advances practical quantum advantage. Japanese eVTOL manufacturer SkyDrive has secured ¥8.3 billion ($58.9 million) in pre-Series D funding from major investors including Suzuki and railway companies to accelerate certification and infrastructure for its air mobility solutions. AST SpaceMobile has secured an additional $100 million in non-dilutive equipment financing to support its accelerated manufacturing and network deployment for space-based cellular broadband.MaxVolt Energy has acquired land in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, to establish a lithium-ion battery recycling facility with a projected annual capacity of 5,200 metric tons, supporting India’s clean energy and circular economy goals. Lamark Biotech, an Indian biopharma startup, raised ₹6.5 crore in a pre-Series A round led by IAN Group to advance its thermostable insulin program and expand its biologics platform. Zoho Corp has expanded its R&D presence by opening a new campus in Kottarakkara, Kerala, and acquired local startup Asimov Robotics to boost its robotics and automation capabilities. Fractal Analytics is preparing to file draft papers by mid-August for a $500 million IPO on the Mumbai Stock Exchange, aiming for a $3.5 billion valuation and further expansion of its AI-powered data solutions business.Also listen to:India Tech Report: In Conversation Subscribe to my newsletter:India Tech Report
    Show more Show less
    8 mins
  • Khosla, Eclipse fund Genesis AI’s vision for robotics foundation model, Climeworks hits $1 bln, and more

    Khosla, Eclipse fund Genesis AI’s vision for robotics foundation model, Climeworks hits $1 bln, and more
    Jul 3 2025

    Amazon deploys one million robots, launches AI to boost warehouse efficiency

    Amazon has surpassed the deployment of one million industrial robots, marking a major automation milestone as its latest system began operations in a Japanese fulfillment center, the Association for Advancing Automation reports.


    Amazon also introduced DeepFleet, a generative AI model designed to optimize robot coordination across more than 300 global facilities, improving travel efficiency by 10 percent. More than 700,000 employees have been retrained to work alongside robots, reflecting Amazon’s ongoing integration of advanced robotics and AI into its operations.

    Genesis AI emerges from stealth with $105 million to build universal robotics AI platform

    Genesis AI, a global physical AI research lab, has launched with $105 million in seed funding co-led by Eclipse Ventures and Khosla Ventures, the Canadian venture said in a press release.

    The company aims to develop a universal robotics foundation model and a horizontal platform for general-purpose physical AI, using a proprietary physics simulation engine to generate high-quality synthetic data.

    Catalio Capital closes $400 million fourth fund to back innovative healthcare startups

    Catalio Capital Management has closed its fourth venture fund, Catalio Nexus Fund IV, with over $400 million in commitments from global institutional investors, the New York firm said in a press release. The fund will support breakthrough biomedical technology companies, including 16 early investments such as PinkDx and Superluminal Medicines.

    Flexible zinc–ion batteries with new hydrogel electrolyte maintain stable voltage even when bent

    Researchers at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a flexible aqueous zinc–ion battery using a novel hydrogel electrolyte made from urea and zinc acetate, Tech Xplore reports.

    The battery’s hydrogel can stretch up to 557% and withstand significant compression, maintaining stable voltage even when bent to 180°. This innovation addresses durability and leakage issues, making the battery ideal for portable and wearable devices while remaining cost-effective and eco-friendly.

    Indian scientists develop lanthanum-doped silver niobate for next-generation supercapacitors

    A team led by Dr. Kavita Pandey at Bengaluru’s Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, in collaboration with Aligarh Muslim University, has engineered a lanthanum-doped silver niobate material that dramatically boosts supercapacitor performance, according to a press release from India’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

    The innovation delivers 118 percent energy retention and 100 percent coulombic efficiency, which is a measure of total charge extracted from an electrochemical device during discharge versus the total charge put in during charging.

    Climeworks raises $162 million to expand direct air capture tech for carbon removal

    Climeworks has raised $162 million in equity funding, bringing its total raised to more than $1 billion, according to a press release from the Swiss venture. This is the most for any pure-play carbon removal venture, Tech Funding News notes.


    The investment, led by BigPoint Holding and Partners Group, will accelerate Climeworks’ rollout of its Generation 3 direct air capture technology and global expansion. Climeworks aims to capture 1 billion tons of CO₂ by 2050, positioning itself as a leader in permanent, verifiable carbon removal solutions.

    Also listen to:
    India Tech Report: In Conversation

    Newsletter:
    India Tech Report
    Show more Show less
    6 mins
No reviews yet