India, Sept. 1 -- August turned out to be yet another eventful month for the Indian startup ecosystem. The month marked multiple mega rounds, including River Mobility's $120 Mn infusion and Navi's $100 Mn maiden institutional fundraise. AstroTalk also joined the unicorn club, becoming India's 133rd unicorn.

August also underscored the growing investor interest in AI and advanced hardware, with both sectors featuring prominently across the funding activity. Overall, Indian startups raised $857.4 Mn last month, as funding activity remained concentrated around growth and early stage bets.

Beyond funding, August also saw IPO activity gather pace, with startups increasingly moving towards public markets. Atomberg filed its DRHP and Shiprocke...