Recovery-tech platform Owners ID raises pre-seed funding led by Crucifer Investments

Owners ID, a platform for tracking and recovering lost and found items, has secured an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by micro-VC firm Crucifer Investments, signaling interest in the asset recovery technology space. The company will use the capital to enhance its product development, expand its user base, and scale its technological infrastructure.

MedGenome acquires majority stake in diagnostics provider Siddhi Diagnostics

Genetics testing company MedGenome has acquired a majority stake in Bengaluru-based diagnostics provider Siddhi Diagnostics. The move, supported by private equity backer LeapFrog, aims to expand MedGenome's direct-to-consumer offerings and strengthen its regional footprint. This transaction signals ongoing consolidation in the Indian diagnostics market, where established players are acquiring smaller firms to achieve scale and service diversification.

D2C brand Country Delight secures venture debt from Alteria Capital for expansion

Direct-to-consumer essentials brand Country Delight has raised venture debt from Alteria Capital. The new capital infusion will reportedly be used to support the company's working capital needs and fuel further geographic expansion. This transaction showcases a strategic use of debt financing by a late-stage startup to extend its operational runway without significant equity dilution.

Advent International invests $150M for minority stake in potato processor Iscon Balaji Foods

Global private equity firm Advent International will invest $150 million for a significant minority stake in frozen potato producer Iscon Balaji Foods (IBF). The investment is part of a larger $215 million round that also saw participation from 360 ONE. Capital will be used to expand production capacity, deepen farmer supply chains, and grow IBF's footprint in domestic and international QSR supply markets.

Blackstone to invest $5 billion for majority stake in new Google AI cloud venture.

Blackstone is reportedly investing $5 billion in equity for a majority stake in a new US-based artificial intelligence cloud company formed with Alphabet's Google. The joint venture will be led by Google executive Benjamin Treynor Sloss and utilize Google's specialized hardware, including its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). This transaction establishes a heavily capitalized new entity to compete for AI-driven computing demand, signaling a major strategic push by both firms into the AI infrastructure market.