LocalHost Raises $2.5 Mn From InVideo, RedBull India, and Others

Why It Matters

The infusion accelerates LocalHost’s ability to nurture multidisciplinary startups, strengthening the pipeline of innovative ventures for investors and the broader tech ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• $2.5M angel round led by InVideo, RedBull India.
• Funds target global expansion of founder labs and hardware.
• Labs operate in Bengaluru, Tokyo, Cluj, soon San Francisco.
• Program supports AI, robotics, multilingual media startups.
• Alumni include Maya Research, Prava Payments, Flashmates.

Pulse Analysis

The recent $2.5 million angel investment underscores a growing appetite among non‑traditional venture players to back ecosystem builders. Companies like InVideo and RedBull India are extending their reach beyond core businesses, seeing launchpads as strategic gateways to emerging technologies. By aligning with Anthropic’s AI expertise and Eros International’s media footprint, the round blends capital with domain knowledge, positioning LocalHost to attract high‑potential founders who need both funding and industry mentorship.

LocalHost’s model differentiates itself through physical founder labs that combine shared workspaces, advanced hardware, and a community fund to eliminate execution friction. Operating in Bengaluru, Tokyo and Cluj‑Napoca, the labs already host 15‑person cohorts tackling AI agents, robotics, and native‑language models. Expansion into San Francisco, Japan and France will create a truly global network, giving startups access to diverse talent pools and market insights. This hands‑on approach contrasts with purely virtual accelerators, delivering rapid prototyping capabilities that are crucial for hardware‑intensive ventures.

For the broader startup ecosystem, LocalHost’s scaling promises a richer pipeline of cross‑disciplinary companies ready for Series A funding. Early‑stage founders benefit from direct exposure to over 30 venture partners who have participated in prior cohorts, accelerating deal flow and strategic partnerships. As AI, robotics and multilingual media solutions gain traction in emerging markets, the launchpad’s focus on these verticals positions it as a catalyst for regional innovation, potentially reshaping investment patterns and competitive dynamics in the tech landscape.

LocalHost raises $2.5 Mn from InVideo, RedBull India, and others

By Gyan Vardhan · 16 Feb 2026 12:52 IST

LocalHost, a launchpad for startups, has raised $2.5 million in an angel funding round from InVideo, RedBull India, Anthropic, and Eros International to expand its global founder labs and support early‑stage startups.

The fresh funds will be used to expand infrastructure, strengthen hardware capabilities, scale operational teams across regions, and support additional early‑stage founder cohorts globally, the company said in a press release.

Co‑founded in 2023 by Kei Hayashi, Suhas Sumukh, and Hardeep Gambhir, LocalHost operates in‑person labs designed as a launchpad for young technical and creative founders building at the intersection of media, software, and hardware.

• In India, LocalHost runs a 50‑day founder lab in Bengaluru, selecting 15 founders per cohort. Participants work on projects ranging from AI agents and robotics to India‑native language models and multidisciplinary media products.

• Beyond India, LocalHost operates labs in Tokyo and Cluj‑Napoca, with expansion underway in San Francisco, alongside hardware‑focused labs planned in Japan and France. The labs provide shared workspaces, access to hardware, operational support, and a community fund designed to remove small execution barriers.

Since launching its India lab, LocalHost claims to have hosted cohorts attended by over 30 venture partners and ecosystem participants. Startups emerging from the program include Maya Research, Prava Payments, Dawn Labs, Whisperwave, Markov, and Flashmates.

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