HDFC Capital Backs Earth Fund With ₹20 Crore Commitment

05 Dec 2025 CW Team

The partnership strengthens the Earth Fund’s mandate of supporting early-stage ventures that are redefining the built world and positions it as an active strategic partner, enabling start-ups with access to developer ecosystems, industry insights and real-world deployment opportunities.

Vipul Roongta, CEO of HDFC Capital, and Manish Agarwal, Associate Principal – Investments and Strategy, HDFC Capital, said: “India has a vibrant start-up ecosystem that continues to develop innovative solutions enhancing efficiencies across the built environment. HDFC Capital’s H@ART platform, established in 2019, was created to invest in, mentor, and partner with companies focused on driving such efficiencies. Our strategic partnership with Earth Fund is a natural extension of this commitment, and we are excited to work together to catalyse next-generation solutions for the Indian real estate sector.”

Nirupa Shankar, GP, Earth Fund said, “HDFC Capital’s participation reaffirms our belief that PropTech has transitioned from experimentation to essential infrastructure. HDFC Capital’s deep understanding of real estate financing and proptech combined with Earth Fund's startup ecosystem creates a powerful platform for founders building transformative solutions.”

Abhijeet Pai, GP, Earth Fund, added, “We are delighted to welcome HDFC Capital to Earth Fund and Zoiros. The built world is on the verge of a major transformation as AI, evolving consumer expectations and new health demands reshape how we design, build and live in our spaces. With HDFC Capital’s partnership, Earth Fund is further energised to back entrepreneurs reimagining infrastructure, housing and construction in smarter, sustainable and impactful ways.”

HDFC Capital has partnered with Brigade Enterprises Limited and Gruhas Proptech LLP in a strategic move to accelerate innovation across the Indian built environment. As part of the collaboration, HDFC Capital has acquired a minority stake in Zoiros Projects Private Limited and committed ₹20 crore to the Earth Fund, India’s only PropTech-focused investment platform anchored by Brigade Group and Gruhas.The partnership strengthens the Earth Fund’s mandate of supporting early-stage ventures that are redefining the built world and positions it as an active strategic partner, enabling start-ups with access to developer ecosystems, industry insights and real-world deployment opportunities.Vipul Roongta, CEO of HDFC Capital, and Manish Agarwal, Associate Principal – Investments and Strategy, HDFC Capital, said: “India has a vibrant start-up ecosystem that continues to develop innovative solutions enhancing efficiencies across the built environment. HDFC Capital’s H@ART platform, established in 2019, was created to invest in, mentor, and partner with companies focused on driving such efficiencies. Our strategic partnership with Earth Fund is a natural extension of this commitment, and we are excited to work together to catalyse next-generation solutions for the Indian real estate sector.”Nirupa Shankar, GP, Earth Fund said, “HDFC Capital’s participation reaffirms our belief that PropTech has transitioned from experimentation to essential infrastructure. HDFC Capital’s deep understanding of real estate financing and proptech combined with Earth Fund's startup ecosystem creates a powerful platform for founders building transformative solutions.”Abhijeet Pai, GP, Earth Fund, added, “We are delighted to welcome HDFC Capital to Earth Fund and Zoiros. The built world is on the verge of a major transformation as AI, evolving consumer expectations and new health demands reshape how we design, build and live in our spaces. With HDFC Capital’s partnership, Earth Fund is further energised to back entrepreneurs reimagining infrastructure, housing and construction in smarter, sustainable and impactful ways.”

Real Estate

27 Jan 2026

A Paradigm Shift

The Indian real-estate and construction sector, which employs a significant number of organised and unorganised workers in the country, has embarked on a paradigm shift in its regulatory framework from an employment law perspective. With the four Labour Codes – the Code on Wages, 2019 (Wage Code); the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (IR Code); the Code on Social Security, 2020 (SS Code) and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) – coming into effect in India from November 21, 2025, the industry is shifting away from a fragmented, contractor- driven com..

Technology

27 Jan 2026

We offer end-to-end traceability at scale

mjunction has evolved from an e-auction pioneer into a multi-vertical digital commerce platform with deep expertise in complex steel and coal supply chains. Its end-to-end, AI-led architecture focuses on price discovery, traceability, compliance and scalability, enabling transparent procurement, efficient logistics and data-driven decision-making across geographies. Vinaya Varma, MD, shares more about the company in conversation with CW.From a technology standpoint, what are the core USPs of mjunction today that differentiate it in steel and coal supply chains?mjunction has evolved b..

Infrastructure Urban

27 Jan 2026

Henkel, Rotary Recycle PoP Ganesha Idols Under Project HARMONY

Henkel India, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai – Joy of Giving and with support from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), has advanced circular sustainability through Project HARMONY by recycling Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols into community learning assets. The initiative highlights an integrated approach to environmental restoration and social impact.As part of the project, materials collected after Ganesh Visarjan 2025 at Nerul were responsibly diverted from land and water bodies and processed at an authorised recycling facility, with on-ground execution s..