Singapore-headquartered angel investment platform ThinKuvate has announced the first close of its India fund at INR 250 million. The investment comes within four months of the formal launch of the ThinKuvate India Fund — I.

The firm has made investments in four startups – Rosh.ai, Zippee, Pantherun, and NymbleUp.

Rosh.ai was founded in 2021 by Roshy John and Rajaram Moorthy. It specialises in autonomous vehicle technology, providing solutions for the automotive, seaport, and mining industries. The company has raised $1 million in Pre-Series A led by EV2 Ventures, with participation from Caret Capital and ThinKuvate.

Zippee was founded by Madhav Kasturia in 2021 and offers same-day delivery for more than 100 (D2C) brands. Zippee is scaling its operations in metro cities and expanding its brand partnership.

Founded in 2019 by Srinivas Shekar, Pantherun is a cybersecurity company specialising in advanced data protection solutions. The company has raised a bridge round led by QuickHeal Family Office and SIDBI Ventures, with participation from 8X, PiperSerica, and ThinKuvate.

NymbleUp.ai was founded in 2019 by Yogesh Bhatt & Manish Thakur. It has secured pre-series A  led by Chandigarh Angels, IVY Cap, and ThinKuvate. It provides AI-driven predictive workforce management solutions for QSRs and retail chains; forecasting demand across all sales channels at 15-minute intervals. 

ThinKuvate plans to invest in early-stage startups from seed to Series A, focusing on companies leveraging technology at the forefront.

Ghanshyam Ahuja, Managing Partner, ThinKuvate said, “We have been investing in Indian startups and saw the potential growth opportunities. That led us to launch an India-focused fund, we have reached the first milestone in little over 100 days. This validates our thesis on the next-gen innovations taking place in India, which have a global appeal.”

ThinKuvate continues to raise its target corpus, the fund plans to invest in 30 – 40 startups with an average investment size of INR 15 million to INR 40 million. The fund has also attracted top tier general partners globally, to manage the deal flow, due diligence, and overall portfolio management. More than 50 percent of investors in the fund are NRIs from various countries, top of them being Singapore, Australia, the USA, the UK, and Indonesia.

Mayank Jain, CEO, ThinKuvate, says, “We have built capabilities within our team to provide support and help to startups scale faster. The profile of limited partners, who are working professionals with senior roles in large corporates, would be a huge differentiator for the companies we back. Our vast network will not only bring in quality capital but provide access to the founders to accelerate their growth journey post funding from ThinKuvate. As we continue to raise the target corpus, we have already built a healthy deal flow and we are confident that with this fund, we will be able to build a strong portfolio and generate stellar returns for our investors.”

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German technology company Elektrobit is set to showcase innovations focused on creating the ‘right-sized’ software-defined vehicle (SDV) at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The company will address the industry challenge of balancing innovation, scalability and affordability as vehicle complexity and development costs rise.

The demonstrations, located at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall, will provide insights into strategies for reducing SDV development complexity and accelerating the process of bringing next-generation vehicles to market.

Elektrobit will feature several technologies designed to streamline SDV creation and performance:

• Linux for Safety Systems: The EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications will be demonstrated with a safety-certifiable cockpit by Telechips. This exhibit shows how open-source innovation and functional safety can be combined for real-time performance in Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS).
• Automated Integration: A platform highlighting API-based extensions across Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery/Continuous Testing (CI/CD/CT) workflows. It uses intelligent tooling, including AI-assisted automation, to automate configuration, scripting and test case creation for faster, higher-quality software delivery.
• SDV Cockpit Solutions: Solutions range from virtual low-code design tools to a modular, safety-certified automotive Operating System (OS) and ready-to-integrate hardware platforms, all designed to accelerate the creation of vehicle experiences.
• Smart EV Platform: A modular software and hardware platform co-developed with Foxconn aims to bring SDVs to market faster and more cost-effectively. It delivers the core vehicle control units and software platform without supplier lock-in.

Maria Anhalt, CEO of Elektrobit, will participate in the CES 2026 conference program. She is scheduled to speak on the Smart Rides panel on 8 January 2026.

The panel, which includes participants from Magna International and TomTom, will cover how SDVs are transforming safety and personalisation, using data to protect drivers and deliver tailored driving experiences.

Key members of the Elektrobit executive team, including Chief Commercial Officer Christoph Herzig and Head of Strategic Business Development Dr. Siegfried Dirr, will also attend the event.

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Star Engineers India and ConnectM Technology Solutions have formed a joint venture, StarConnectM, to design, develop, manufacture and scale intelligent connected vehicle products for Automotive OEMs. The new entity aims to bridge the gap between software innovation and large-scale automotive production.

The partnership will combine Star Engineers’ manufacturing excellence, process reliability and quality assurance with ConnectM’s Smart Vehicle Electronics and Intelligent Mobility Solutions.  

StarConnectM’s focus includes connected vehicle architecture, software-defined vehicle platforms and next-generation mobility electronics.

The joint venture offers an end-to-end capability for OEMs from concept to production, integrating IoT intelligence, embedded electronics & software and scalable manufacturing.

Divya Ramraika, Managing Director, Star Engineers, said, “StarConnectM marks a milestone in our journey toward intelligent mobility. With ConnectM’s technology and Star’s manufacturing strength, we are creating scalable, reliable and connected solutions that redefine the end-user experience.”

Girish Subramanya, Managing Director, ConnectM, said, “This joint venture eliminates the traditional gap between innovation and manufacturing. Automotive OEMs today need partners who can deliver technology architectures for connected, software-defined vehicles and also scale them seamlessly into production.  StarConnectM stands exactly at that intersection, creating an ecosystem where technology and manufacturing co-exist as one integrated value chain.”

The JV will initially focus on the Indian market, with a roadmap for select global market expansion.

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Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions and Exponent Energy have formed a strategic alliance to launch 15-minute rapid charging solution for electric three-wheelers (e-3W), covering both the L5 and L3 categories.

This solution targets e-rickshaws and e-cargo carts, aiming to improve operational efficiency for last-mile mobility operators.

The partnership will see integration of Exponent Energy’s proprietary full-stack platform — which includes battery technology, a charging network and intelligent software—enabled Kinetic Green vehicles to achieve a 15-minute full charge.

This rapid charging is expected to extend daily operating hours by up to 30 percent. As per the understanding, Kinetic Green’s popular L3 models, including the Safar Smart, Safar Shakti, and Super DX will now feature this rapid charging technology.

The L5N Safar Jumbo loader and the upcoming L5M passenger variant will also utilise the 15-minute charging to allow for faster turnaround times, translating to more trips and higher earnings for operators.

The joint solution is backed by an industry-leading 3,000-cycle warranty. The digital platform will also provide features such as real-time state of charge tracking and predictive maintenance alerts.

To support Kinetic Green customers, Exponent Energy’s existing network of over 160 charging stations across four cities will be made available to the e-3W fleet. The infrastructure is planned to expand rapidly into major metros and tier II, III cities over the next 12 months.

Dr. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO, Kinetic Green, said, “This partnership marks a defining moment for India’s electric three-wheeler sector. By bringing the country’s first 15-minute full charge solution to e rickshaws and cargo carts – the backbone of India’s urban last mile mobility - we are empowering owner operators, small & large fleet operators to achieve unprecedented uptime and efficiency. Our customer-centric approach drove this exclusive strategic partnership for our L3 e3W category offer our customers the best cost of ownership. This partnership accelerates our mission to democratise green mobility, making sustainable transportation accessible and affordable for all while propelling the development of India's EV infrastructure.”

Arun Vinayak, CEO and Co-Founder of Exponent Energy, said, “At Exponent Energy, our mission is to make EVs the easiest choice – and that means solving real problems for real operators. This collaboration allows us to embed our rapid charging platform into the entire portfolio of e3Ws in India – spanning both L5 and L3 segment – delivering unparalleled speed, reliability and scalability to operators and creating a blueprint for the future of electric transport.”

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BorgWarner is significantly expanding its partnership with Great Wall Motor by securing two new electrified propulsion projects, building upon two previously announced dual inverter programmes. These new initiatives are scheduled to enter mass production in 2026. A cornerstone of this collaboration is BorgWarner's advanced dual inverter technology, which utilises a highly integrated design. This single unit can simultaneously control and drive two motors, offering superior packaging flexibility and easier installation for vehicle manufacturers.

The technology's sophistication is underscored by its use of a power module with double-sided cooling and the latest Viper power switches. This configuration can reduce thermal resistance by as much as 50 percent compared to conventional single-sided cooling, leading to a substantial increase in power density. Furthermore, the design allows different semiconductor dies to be packaged within identically sized modules, ensuring compliance with China's stringent CLTC efficiency standards. The system also incorporates adaptive battery voltage regulation, which broadens the motor's high-efficiency operating range to improve overall performance.

Emphasising flexibility, BorgWarner employs a platform-based design that adapts to various hybrid vehicle architectures. For the newly awarded projects, the HEV version of the dual inverter integrates a DC/DC converter and offers an optional voltage boost module. In contrast, the PHEV variant is designed without these components. This modular strategy provides manufacturers with critical adaptability, enabling faster product development cycles while simultaneously reducing both design and production costs.

Dr Stefan Demmerle, Vice President of BorgWarner Inc. and President and General Manager, PowerDrive Systems, said, “BorgWarner’s technical expertise in electrification and dual inverter products has earned Great Wall Motor’s continued confidence. The extension of this collaboration not only reflects recognition of our products and technologies but also underscores our strong commitment to supporting our customers’ new energy strategies. We will remain dedicated to accelerating their electrified vehicle portfolio.”

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