Cellarim Labs has secured ₹6 crore in a seed funding round led by 3i Partners to expand its cell-free biomanufacturing platform for high-purity beauty and personal-care ingredients. The capital will help the Bengaluru-based startup scale production, improve R&D, and bring sustainable alternatives to traditional cosmetic ingredient supply chains, aiming to meet growing demand in the beauty sector.

DataLane, a New York City based company specialising in identity graph services for local businesses, has raised $22.5 million in a Series A round led by Amplify Partners. With total funding now at $27 million, the company will invest in product development, AI and engineering talent, and go-to-market expansion to strengthen accurate, real-time business identity data solutions.

Processor performance is emerging as the key driver of smartphone growth in India as users upgrade to premium devices, a Techarc report said. The study found that chip performance now accounts for nearly 70% of perceived user experience in flagship phones, overtaking camera and battery preferences amid rising demand for gaming, AI and multitasking.

Tesla is facing renewed regulatory pressure in California after a ruling found its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving marketing misleading, risking temporary sales restrictions. Despite the threat, investors remain focused on Tesla robotaxi ambitions, pushing the stock toward fresh record highs even as analysts stay cautious.

Decode Age has secured ₹14.48 crore in Pre-Series A funding to advance its work in longevity science and gut microbiome research. The round was led by angel investors and early-stage backers. The capital will support Decode Age’s efforts to develop age-related health solutions, expand scientific studies, and build tools to improve long-term wellness and personalised interventions.

Ford has terminated a $6.5 billion battery supply deal with LG Energy Solutions as it scales back its electric vehicle ambitions. The automaker is pivoting toward gas and hybrid vehicles, expanding US production and jobs, while retail investors remain divided on the strategy shift.

The FIIs, as per Wednesday's data, were net sellers in the equity segment, while they were net buyers in the debt segment, according to data released by the NSDL. In the equity segment, the gross buying was ₹11,580.20 crore against gross selling of ₹13,005.16 crore. Thus, FIIs stood as net sellers of ₹1,424.96 crore in equities.

India's fertilizer loading on the railways increased 11.7 per cent this year till November 30 to 17,168 rakes. During the same period last year, its fertilizer loaded touched 15,369 rakes. As per officials, Indian Railways has given priority to fertilizer and food grain trains. This has ensured uninterrupted supply to states across the country.

US stock futures edged higher early Wednesday as investors shifted focus from soft jobs data to a packed slate of Federal Reserve speakers. Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 futures rose about 0.1%. Retail sentiment stayed bullish on SPY and neutral on QQQ, with traders active in high-volatility stocks.

The IDFC FIRST Private and Hurun India report shows India’s top 200 self-made entrepreneurs’ companies are valued at ₹42 lakh crore ($469 billion) in 2025, up 15% from last year. Billion-dollar firms rose to 128, adding 22 new companies. The list features 102 new founders, 53 new companies, and five firms worth over ₹1 lakh crore.