AI Sports Tech StepOut Funding: FundTQ Advises Rainmatter-Led Round

StepOut, an AI-driven sports technology platform redefining football analytics and talent development, has successfully closed its recent funding round led by Rainmatter by Zerodha, with participation from SucSEED Ventures, Misfits Capital, and Marwah Sports Pvt. Ltd. FundTQ acted as the exclusive deal advisor to StepOut, supporting the company across the entire business fundraising process. StepOut is building a data-first football ecosystem using artificial intelligence to enable smarter performance analysis, talent identification, and scouting solutions for academies, clubs, coaches, and athletes. By combining deep football domain knowledge with scalable technology. The platform addresses a critical gap in objective decision-making within grassroots and professional football. The successful fundraise marks a key milestone in StepOut’s growth journey. The newly raised capital will be utilized to strengthen its AI and analytics engine, expand product offerings, scale operations, and build deeper relationships across football academies and leagues. The round also reflects strong investor confidence in StepOut’s fundamentals, market opportunity, and long-term vision—underpinned by disciplined financial planning and robust business valuation frameworks.

During the transaction, FundTQ worked closely with the StepOut founding team on multiple aspects of the raise. Including refining the equity narrative, preparing investor-ready pitch deck templates, validating financial models, and engaging with aligned strategic and institutional investors. The focus remained on building long-term value rather than short-term capital, ensuring the right fit between founders and investors.

The participation of Rainmatter by Zerodha brings strategic depth to StepOut’s cap table. Offering not just capital but also long-term guidance in building scalable, technology-led businesses. The investor consortium is expected to support StepOut. It accelerates product innovation and expands its footprint within India’s rapidly growing sports tech ecosystem.

Stepout Funding Round

Reflecting on the engagement, the FundTQ team shared that their early interactions with StepOut stood out due to the founders’ clarity of purpose, execution discipline, and strong understanding of both technology and the football landscape.

“StepOut represents the next generation of sports technology platforms—deeply analytical, mission-driven, and scalable. Working with founders who are open to feedback, data-oriented, and focused on long-term impact makes the fundraising journey highly collaborative. We are excited to have partnered with StepOut and look forward to seeing the platform transform football analytics and talent development.”

This transaction reinforces the idea that effective fundraising goes beyond capital infusion. It is about trust, alignment, execution quality, and founders who consistently show up to build enduring businesses. With a strong investor base and a clear growth roadmap. StepOut is well-positioned for its next phase of scale and impact.

About FundTQ

Founded in 2016, FundTQ is a full-service investment banking firm providing a wide range of investment banking services, including M&A advisory, VC/PE syndication, tax advisory, due diligence, and strategic capital raising. The firm follows a founder-first approach, focusing on seamless execution, long-term value creation, and outcome-driven advisory.

Recognized among the Top 10 Investment Banks, FundTQ has advised startups and MSMEs across their lifecycle. From early-stage business fundraising to growth capital, strategic investments, and acquisitions. Backed by deep industry expertise, strong investor relationships, and structured use of financial modeling. Business valuation software frameworks. FundTQ continues to be a trusted partner in high-impact transactions across sectors.

Some deals are transactions. Some are journeys.
This one was both. FundTQ Advises on Emami Acquisition of Axiom Ayurveda

FundTQ Investment Advisory is proud to have acted as the exclusive deal advisor to Axiom Ayurveda on Emami’s acquisition of a 73.5% majority stake in the brand — one of the most significant Ayurveda M&A transactions in recent years, and one of the most personally meaningful mandates the FundTQ team has been part of.

About Axiom Ayurveda

Axiom Ayurveda is a purpose-driven Ayurvedic brand that has built genuine consumer trust over the years through science-backed formulations, authentic positioning, and a deep commitment to the wellness category. The brand’s growth story is not just one of revenue — it is one of conviction, consistency, and category leadership in a space that demands both authenticity and agility.

About the Transaction

FMCG major Emami Limited — one of India’s most respected consumer goods companies with a strong legacy in health and wellness — acquired a 73.5% majority stake in Axiom Ayurveda, signalling a strong strategic bet on the premium Ayurveda segment.

For Emami, this acquisition represents a meaningful addition to its wellness portfolio. For Axiom Ayurveda, it marks the beginning of a new chapter — one backed by institutional strength, distribution muscle, and the kind of long-term support that allows a brand to truly scale.

FundTQ’s Role in the Transaction

FundTQ’s involvement with Axiom Ayurveda spans nearly 2–3 years — long before the deal was on the table.

That is the nature of transactions at this level. They require relationship-building, patient positioning, financial narrative development, and the kind of ongoing strategic alignment that does not happen in a few months.

The FundTQ team worked alongside the Axiom Ayurveda leadership through every stage — understanding the brand’s DNA, sharpening the investor and acquirer story, identifying the right strategic fit, and navigating the full complexity of a majority stake transaction from first conversation to final close.

Reflecting on the journey, the FundTQ team shared:

“Axiom Ayurveda is a brand built on real conviction. From our very first interaction, it was clear this wasn’t just a business — it was a purpose. Transactions of this nature demand patience, precision, and complete trust between all parties. We’re grateful to have been chosen as partners on this journey and are excited about what lies ahead for the brand under Emami’s leadership.”

A Founder Who Made the Difference

No deal of this nature closes without the right person at the helm.

Rishabh Gupta stands out as one of the most remarkable founders FundTQ has had the privilege of working with. His clarity of thought, depth of understanding of his own business, and the composure with which he navigated every stage of this multi-year process was exceptional.

The kind of founder energy that makes advisors want to give their absolute best — because you know the person across the table deserves nothing less.
Working alongside him was not just professionally enriching. It was genuinely inspiring.

What This Deal Reflects

The Axiom Ayurveda–Emami transaction is a strong signal for the Indian Ayurveda and wellness category. It validates what the best founders in this space have always known — that authentic brands, built with purpose and patience, attract the right partners at the right time.

It also reflects a truth that FundTQ carries into every mandate: great outcomes don’t happen overnight. They happen because someone kept showing up, every single day — refining, aligning, and never losing sight of the end goal.

To the entire Axiom Ayurveda team — congratulations. You earned every bit of this.
To Emami — welcome as partners. The best is yet to come.
And to every founder reading this — if you are building something real, with conviction, the right outcome will find you. Stay the course.

FundTQ Investment Advisory is a leading investment banking firm advising growth-stage consumer brands on M&A, fundraising, and strategic transactions. To explore how FundTQ can support your next deal, write to us at deals@fundtq.com

Unnati Agri (Akshamala Solutions Pvt Ltd), a leading player in the Agri-Input tech space, has successfully raised a part of their Series B Round. This investment is announced as a part of the Rs. 100Cr, which they are currently raising. The amount was invested with a participation from Zephyr Peacock along with participation of some other investors. Zephyr Peacock is a Mumbai-based investor renowned for its commitment to sustainable and high-growth businesses.. This fundraise will help Unnati to further strengthen its operations through their own brands portfolio and by acquiring companies in a similar space. Currently, the Company is aggressively working on launching their own portfolio of organic products.

Unnati Agri has established itself as one of the Leading players in the agricultural landscape with its focus on agri-inputs supply with climate sustainability. The company specializes in seeds, fertilizers, and agrochemicals, with a strong focus on environmentally conscious solutions that foster long-term agricultural growth. Unnati’s products cater to the needs of farmers, ensuring high-quality, sustainable, and efficient solutions that contribute to better yields while promoting ecological balance. The AI-based platform assists in managing inventory and mentions the appropriate mix of various formulations based on crop needs.

The funds raised will be directed towards driving Unnati’s organic growth with increasing contribution of its own brand products combined with the strategic acquisitions of other agri-input companies to expand its product portfolio and market reach. The Company is now openly looking for new companies to acquire in agri-inputs category which can help Unnati grow inorganically. This combination of organic growth and acquisition strategy is expected to boost Unnati’s position in the rapidly evolving agri-tech sector and accelerate its impact in promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices.

FundTQ is acting as an exclusive advisor to this Transaction and for acquisitions of the companies by Unnati.

Commenting on this growth initiative, Aanchal Mahani, Growth Partner at FundTQ said, “Unnati Agri’s move of successful fundraise is not just a transaction; it’s a strategic investment that positions the company for a bright and sustainable future. By capitalizing on the funds generated, Unnati is poised to make a significant impact in the agritech space, while simultaneously enabling Farmers To Always Make The Right Choice. Unnati is not just a platform, however it is helping India to become self-sustainable in terms of its agri inputs rather than depending on China”

This strategic move reinforces Unnati Agri’s mission to revolutionize the agriculture sector, create value for its stakeholders, and contribute to the global movement toward climate-smart agricultural solutions. As the agri-tech industry continues to evolve, Unnati’s commitment to growth and sustainability positions it for long-term success in both the Indian and global markets.

About FundTQ

FundTQ, established in 2016, operates as an Investment Banking firm, offering a comprehensive range of services encompassing M&A, VC/PE syndication, Tax Advisory, and Due Diligence Support. The company is driven by a success-oriented approach and places a strong emphasis on the successful conclusion of each transaction in its portfolio.

FundTQ is positioned amongst the Top 10 Investment Banks, due to its profound expertise in various diversified industries and an exceptional track record in both domestic and cross-border transactions. The diverse client base that FundTQ serves stands as a testimony to its capability to support startups and MSMEs at every stage of their journey, from securing growth stage funding to facilitating substantial transactions and providing expert M&A advisory services.

In last years FundTQ closed Alofut Beverages investment by Emami, NautiNati acquisition by Aditya Birla, among others

Secret Alchemist, a new high-end perfume company, has already reached the final round of its financing, which was leading by strategic investors to drive brand growth and expansion. FundTQ was the deal advisor to the company in the whole fundraising process and advised on the transaction.

Secret Alchemist is an award-winning actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and her two co-founders, Ankita Thadani and Akash Valia, have been gradually building a niche in the high-end fragrance market. The brand is characterized by well-developed products, excellent narration, and high knowledge of the changing consumer tastes and preferences. This capital is an important milestone in the development history of the company and will aid in brand building, portfolio diversification, and team-up-scaling.

Secret Alchemist has established itself as a contemporary, design-oriented perfume company with a focus on discerning consumers with differentiated and premium scent experiences. The company has experienced good traction in a competitive market segment with a keen eye on product innovation, design, and consumer interactions. The new capital will also help the brand increase its presence in the market, not to mention the ability of the brand to sustainably scale its operations.

The capital will be deployed strategically to diversify the product lines, enhance the channels of distribution, investing in brand-based marketing campaigns, and developing a high-quality staff to help the company in the next stage of development. Secret Alchemist has the resources to speed up its progress in the high-end consumer environment with the support of its marquee investors and a long-term perspective.

Ankita Thadani and Akash Valia, Co-founders of Secret Alchemist, shared their experience of working with FundTQ and said:

“Fundraising was a highly participatory and learning experience to us as founders. The FundTQ staff collaborated with us throughout the process – including polishing our pitch, fine-tuning financials, and getting us ready to undergo various rounds of investor meetings. This was their disciplined style of approach, responsiveness and empowered investor network, which enabled us to remain focused and assured during the process. The team deserves a special mention since it is well founder-first and always takes the extra mile when necessary.”

Reflectively, the FundTQ team described that their early communications with Secret Alchemist were significant because the founders had a clear vision and good familiarity with the consumer landscape.

“Secret Alchemist is a great brand that was developed strategically and in the long term. We find it incredibly rewarding to work with founders who are deeply engaged, open to feedback, and relentlessly hardworking. We’re grateful to the founders for trusting us as partners on this journey and are excited to see the brand grow with the support of new investors.” 

Pooja Malhotra and Aanchal Mahani were also given special appreciation due to their effort, organization and implementation during the process of fundraising.

This transaction supports the school of thought that effective fundraising is not only about capital, but it is also about trust, fit, execution quality and founders who turn up to work. Secret Alchemist has a solid investor base and a distinct growth strategy that will see it reach its next stage of growth and influence within the high-end fragrance market.

About FundTQ

Founded in 2016, FundTQ is an Investment Banking company that provides a wide range of services such as M&A advisory, VC/PE syndication, tax advisory and due diligence services. The company is motivated by the success-related strategy, and the focus on smooth implementation and value generation among its customers.

Having placed it as one of the Top 10 Investment Banks, FundTQ is known to have a profound expertise in diversified industries with a good record of home and cross-border transactions. The company provides startups and MSMEs through the lifecycle such as early and growth-stage capital raising, high-value strategic investments and acquisitions.

FundTQ has advised on several marquee deals over the last few years, including Emami’s investment in Alofut Beverages, Aditya Birla Group’s acquisition of NautiNati, and many others, earning a strong reputation as a trusted partner in high-impact transactions.