Issue #105- India’s Most Funded Sectors in Q3 2024

In this issue, we dive into the top-funded startup sectors in India’s ecosystem and take a closer look at the stage-wise outlook for Q3 2024. One exciting trend is the surge in healthcare deals, which jumped from 62 in 2023 to 178 in 2024, showing significant growth.

Looking at the stage-wise breakdown, the seed stage recorded the highest number of deals, while late-stage funding saw the fewest. Interestingly, healthcare emerged as one of the top five most funded sectors at the seed stage, indicating strong early-stage interest in the sector. Bangalore maintained its position as the leading startup hub, closing the most funding deals in 2024. 

​​Investor activity is on the rise, with over 600 investors participating in startup funding deals during Q3 2024—the highest quarterly participation since 2022.

Want to know who the most active Indian investors are? Join our community!

We brought together an inspiring group of women from diverse backgrounds—different ages , race, and profession—united by a shared passion for innovation in women’s health. The energy in the room was remarkable. From founders and investors to researchers and private equity professionals, everyone contributed something unique to the discussion.

Where should we host next ?

Pinky Patel Founder, Myri Health

Myrihealth Selected Among 100 Innovation Companies Advancing to Entrepreneurship World Cup Global Finals.

• Primus Senior Living has raised $20 million in seed funding. The funding will be used to develop a comprehensive eldercare platform that offers a wide range of services, including healthcare, wellness, lifestyle, and social engagement—all delivered in the comfort of the elder’s home.
• Millet-based snack brand Troo Good  raised $9 million in a funding round led by Puro Wellness, along with participation from existing investors, Oaks Asset Management and V Ocean Investments.

• Monument Therapeutics, a Manchester, UK-based precision neuroscience company, received a £1M equity investment from the Forster Foundation.
• Shift Biosciences, a Cambridge, UK-based biotech company using generative AI models for aging processes, raised $16M in Seed funding.
• Basecamp Research, a London, UK-based AI company dedicated to solving challenges in the life sciences by exploring beyond known biology, raised $60M in Series B funding.
• Purespring Therapeutics, a London, UK-based gene therapy company focused on enhancing the treatment of kidney diseases, raised $105M in Series B funding.
• Booster Therapeutics, a Berlin, Germany-based biotechnology company developing a new class of proteasome activator medicines, raised $15M in Seed funding.
• Teal Health, a woman-led company on a mission to get all women and people with a cervix in the US screened for cervical cancer, has been awarded a $1.68 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct to Phase II Grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

• People living with HIV who need a kidney can rest assured that outcomes are similar whether their kidney donor was also HIV-positive or not, a new study finds.
• Some men might have damaged sperm that will increase the risk of pregnancy complications and health problems in newborns, a new study finds.DNA defects in sperm can double the risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure. These defects also increase the risk of premature birth, the researchers added.
• Women typically are urged to start receiving regular mammograms at age 40, but some might need to start even sooner, experts say. Specific risk factors that increase risk of early breast cancer might prompt young women to consider getting screened earlier, said Dr. Michele Blackwood, director of breast surgery and women’s oncologic health at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute.
• A new poll has exposed a widespread lack of awareness and education for young women about using menstruation products. It shows that two fifths of the British women questioned were never taught about how to use menstruation products before starting their period; with only 28 per cent being taught by their school and just four in 10 by family.
• Obesity is a more powerful driver of breast cancer than previously thought, a new study suggests.About 40% of hormone-positive breast cancers in postmenopausal women might be linked to excess body fat, researchers reported Oct. 15 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
• Overweight and obese women have a higher risk of hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors than women with a standard BMI, according to an analysis of the ANCORS-YW STUDY. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions that address socioeconomic determinants of health to reduce the cardiovascular risk burden in young Middle Eastern women.
• A treatment for hot flashes developed by global pharma firm Bayer has had its new drug application accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The investigational compound elinzanetant is designed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS, also known as hot flashes) associated with menopause.
• Promising findings by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions could lead to the development of a non-invasive stool test and a new therapy for endometriosis. The study appeared in the journal Med.
• Gene therapy could help obese kids avoid health problems associated with excess weight, including arthritis, a new, preliminary study in mice suggests. The gene therapy prompts cells to convert inflammation-causing omega-6 fatty acids into beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, researchers reported Oct. 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
• A child’s risk of asthma can be cut by nearly half if their mother regularly works out while expecting, a new study says. Exercising three or more times a week while pregnant reduces a child’s risk of asthma by about 46%, researchers reported Oct. 9 in the journal Med.
• Endometriosis could be linked to the health of a woman’s microbiome, a new study says. The discovery might help lead to an early test for the painful condition, and possible new treatments.

• Sirona Hygiene was acquired by The Good Glamm Group in an all-cash deal of INR 450 Crores.
• Newmi was selected for the Acceleration Phase of the Yash Entrepreneurs Program powered by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, USAID.
• Myri Health has launched advanced features for AI-driven care, specifically designed for pregnancy and postpartum support.

• Hello Cake, a  sexual health and wellness brand, announces the acquisition of Trigg Laboratories, Inc., a pioneer in the personal lubricants category. The acquisition establishes Hello Cake as a vertically integrated sexual health company, poised to increase profitability, drive growth, accelerate IP ownership, and fuel product innovation.
• Aunt Flow, the creator of proprietary, free-vend tampon and pad dispensers, announces the launch of its new sanitary disposal system. This complete system will improve the public restroom experience by providing easy and safe disposal of sanitary and incontinence products, solving pain points for menstruators as well as facility operators and staff.
• Hologic, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Gynesonics, Inc, a privately held medical device company focused on the development of minimally invasive solutions for women’s health for approximately $350 million.
• Indian skincare market, Mumbai-based health-tech platform Skin Beyond Borders (SkinBB) launched its pioneering Skincare Metaverse skinbb.com. This innovative digital ecosystem seamlessly integrates cutting-edge AI technology with clinical knowledge, creating a unique synergy between consumers, clinicians, and industry partners.
• Micro Labs, Karnataka’s pharma major has acquired Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited (Swipha), a leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria. This marks its efforts to further bolster its presence in Nigeria and across Africa.

• National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) announced Mental Health Santhe 3.0. The event is aimed at raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, dismantling stigma, and fostering a culture of open dialogue.
• Indian Stroke Association (ISA) has launched Mission Brain Attack, an initiative aimed at enhancing the awareness, education, and training of healthcare professionals in stroke prevention, immediate treatment, and rehabilitation. The campaign “Each One Teach One” addresses the alarming rise in stroke cases across India, emphasizing the urgent need for specialized training and resources to improve stroke care nationwide.

📳 – Casual Reads: 

• A Boozy Night Out Could Upset Your Heart’s Rhythm – Binge drinking at a party or club could feel great when the music’s beating, but it’s your heart beat that might pay the price.
• Learn Another Language to Boost Your Brain’s ‘Efficiency’– Bilingual people have more active and flexible brains, a new study has discovered.

See you next Friday, friends 👋
Navneet

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