Startups | Business Upturn

Rohit Sharma launches hydRo365 electrolyte brand on his birthday, says 75% of us are dehydrated before the day begins

Aditya Bhagchandani — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:24:57 +0000

“I’ve always believed performance starts with the basics. Hydration is one of them, and most of us are getting it wrong because water is not enough,” Rohit wrote on Instagram, announcing the launch to his millions of followers. The post revealed a striking statistic at the heart of the brand’s founding proposition — 75% of people are dehydrated before their day even begins — and positioned hydRo365 as the everyday solution to a problem most Indians do not realise they have.

The brand, whose Instagram handle @hydro365.official went live on Wednesday, is built around electrolytes designed for every part of the day — not just for athletes or post-workout recovery, but for anyone looking to perform at their best consistently. “Simple, effective, made for everyone who wants to give their 100% everyday,” Rohit wrote, deliberately broadening the brand’s appeal beyond the sporting community to the mass consumer market.

The name hydRo365 embeds Rohit’s widely recognised nickname “Ro” within the word “hydro,” while the 365 signals the brand’s year-round relevance — a timely proposition as India battles increasingly severe summers and growing awareness of heat stress and electrolyte depletion. The launch on April 30, at the peak of the Indian summer, gives the brand immediate seasonal urgency and natural consumer relevance.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXvr1Lzqjou/

Rohit Sharma, who turns 38 today, holds the record for the highest individual score in One Day Internationals and led India to the ICC T20 World Cup title in 2024. With hydRo365, he joins a growing cohort of elite Indian athletes — including Virat Kohli with One8 and MS Dhoni with various ventures — who have stepped beyond endorsement deals into direct brand ownership in the health and wellness space.

Further details on hydRo365’s product range, pricing, and retail availability are expected to follow the Instagram launch.

Mumbai’s Adsmagnify Enters Version 2.0 With AI Upgrades and Expanded Academy as It Targets Stronger Client Delivery in 2026

News Desk — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:27:55 +0000

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 09: Adsmagnify, a performance marketing agency and academy based in Churchgate, Mumbai, is undergoing a structural upgrade in 2026. The firm is renovating its office, integrating advanced AI capabilities into its agency operations, and expanding its training vertical, Adsmagnify Academy. The company is calling this its 2.0 phase.

The move signals a shift from organic growth to deliberate infrastructure building, as the agency positions itself for higher-volume client delivery and stronger talent production.

What Is Changing

Business partners Vinay Hankare and Aloke Bajpai are leading the transition. The two are upgrading the agency’s internal AI systems to improve campaign execution, data analysis, and reporting across client accounts. The office renovation is part of a broader effort to build an environment aligned with that operational scale.

Adsmagnify Academy, the training arm of the business, is being expanded alongside the agency upgrade. The stated goal for 2026 is direct: deliver better results for existing clients, help more businesses grow revenue, and graduate capable performance marketers through the academy.

Track Record and Current Scale

Adsmagnify has been operating as a digital marketing agency since 2016. Over that period, it has managed more than ₹50 crore in total ad spend and claims $51 million in cumulative revenue generated for clients.

The agency currently works with 300-plus brands across travel, real estate, retail, and education. Documented results from its published case studies include a 17.16x ROAS for a travel brand on ₹1.3 lakh in Meta ad spend, a 400% sales surge for an apparel brand through Facebook Ads, and a 7x ROAS increase for a D2C brand over eight months. Average lead growth for B2B and SaaS clients is reported at 127%.

The Academy: A Focused Bet on Performance Marketing Talent

Adsmagnify Academy occupies a specific position in Mumbai’s marketing education space. It is currently the only academy in Mumbai that focuses exclusively on performance marketing, as distinct from broader digital marketing courses that cover platforms superficially across multiple disciplines.

The curriculum covers Meta Ads, Google Ads, SEO, and campaign strategy at a practitioner level. More notably, the academy offers internships that place students inside the agency itself. Graduates leave with hands-on experience running real client campaigns, not just platform certifications or theoretical knowledge. That distinction matters in a job market where employers increasingly separate candidates who have managed actual ad spend from those who have only completed coursework.

The internship model also gives Adsmagnify a structured pipeline of trained talent, which addresses one of the more persistent operational challenges for growing agencies.

The Market It Is Operating In

Mumbai is India’s most competitive market for digital marketing services. The city hosts hundreds of agencies ranging from boutique performance shops to large integrated networks. Demand from SMEs, D2C brands, and real estate developers for measurable, ROI-linked marketing has grown sharply since 2021, accelerated by deeper paid media adoption across categories.

As a performance marketing agency in Mumbai, Adsmagnify competes on case-study-backed results rather than brand scale or agency size. Its dual model, combining a client-serving agency with a practitioner training academy, is a structure that several mid-size Indian agencies are beginning to explore, though few have formalized both under one brand with the depth of specialization Adsmagnify is building toward.

What This Signals

The 2.0 upgrade reflects a pattern emerging across mid-market Indian digital agencies. As ad platform complexity increases and AI tools become table stakes, agencies that build proprietary systems and internal talent pipelines are likely to separate from those running on manual processes and generalist teams.

For Adsmagnify, combining AI-enhanced delivery, a renovated operational base, and a performance-only academy with real internship exposure is a bet on consistency and depth rather than episodic client wins. The academy creates a secondary revenue stream while simultaneously solving the talent problem from within.

Whether the AI integration translates into measurable improvements in client outcomes, and whether the academy model scales beyond Mumbai, remains to be demonstrated. The results Adsmagnify produces through 2026 will be the real test of the 2.0 thesis.

Santosh Khute Launches CodeStory Labs —  A New-Age Full-Service Digital Agency Built to Transform Brands in the Digital Era

News Desk — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:59:09 +0000

The platform delivers end-to-end digital solutions — from brand building, SaaS products, and technology development to social media management and performance-driven Meta Ads lead generation — for businesses across India, the UAE, and global markets.

Santosh Khute, digital entrepreneur and brand strategist, today announced the official launch of CodeStory Labs, a next-generation full-service digital agency built to be the single most powerful growth partner for brands navigating today’s digital world. CodeStory Labs is built on a simple but powerful belief: every brand has a story worth telling — and every story deserves the right technology, strategy, and creativity to be heard at scale.

“Businesses today should not have to work with ten different agencies to build one brand. CodeStory Labs is built to handle everything — your brand, your product, your social media, your marketing, and your leads — all in one place, with one committed team,” said Santosh Khute, Founder, CodeStory Labs.

Services: Built for the Full Spectrum of Digital Growth

CodeStory Labs covers the full spectrum of what a modern brand needs to grow — across three powerful pillars: creative and marketing services, technology and product development, and SaaS solutions. Whether a business is launching from scratch or scaling to the next level, the agency delivers the strategy, execution, and technology to make it happen.

On the creative and marketing side, CodeStory Labs offers website design and development, mobile app development, graphic design, video editing and production, influencer marketing, branding, brand strategy, and digital marketing spanning SEO, paid advertising, and content strategy. The agency builds brands that are not just visually compelling but strategically positioned for long-term growth.

Social Media Management: Full-Funnel Presence, Built to Engage

Social media is no longer just a presence — it is a brand’s most direct line to its audience, and CodeStory Labs treats it with exactly that level of seriousness. The agency offers end-to-end social media management across all major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, and emerging channels. This spans platform strategy and content calendaring, original short-form and long-form content creation, reel scripting and production, copywriting and caption strategy, community management and audience engagement, hashtag and growth strategy, analytics and monthly performance reporting, and paid social integration.

Every social media retainer is built around the brand’s tone, audience, and business goals — not templates. The team creates content that builds communities, drives engagement, and consistently moves audiences from awareness to action. For brands in competitive verticals such as forex, fintech, Web3, and e-learning, CodeStory Labs brings specialist knowledge to craft content that educates, converts, and retains.

Technology, SaaS & Innovation

On the technology side, CodeStory Labs delivers AI-driven automation, FinTech solutions, Web3 and blockchain development, cloud infrastructure and DevOps, e-commerce platforms, and industry-specific digital products for education, healthcare, and real estate. A key differentiator is the agency’s growing SaaS practice — building subscription-based software products and platforms for clients who want to productise their offering, automate operations, or launch a digital product business. From ideation and architecture to development, deployment, and post-launch iteration, CodeStory Labs handles the complete SaaS product lifecycle. All solutions are engineered to be scalable, secure, and future-proof — built to grow alongside the businesses they power.

Vision: One Partner. Every Digital Need.

CodeStory Labs is built for brands that are serious about their digital future — businesses that want a long-term partner, not just a service provider. With the agility of a startup and the quality standards of an enterprise, the agency serves clients across India, the UAE, and international markets, with particular depth in financial services, Web3, event marketing, and digital education. The vision is clear: when technology and creativity come together without compromise, brands achieve extraordinary things — and that is exactly what CodeStory Labs is here to deliver.

About the Founder

Santosh Khute is a digital entrepreneur, brand builder, and technology strategist based in Pune, India, with a strong presence in the UAE. With extensive experience across forex trading, Web3, digital education, and large-scale event marketing, Santosh brings a rare cross-disciplinary expertise spanning creative direction, social media strategy, performance advertising, SaaS development, and full-stack technology — making CodeStory Labs a genuinely differentiated agency built from real-world execution and deep industry knowledge.

Connect with Santosh Khute at www.santoshkhute.com
or visit www.codestorylabs.com to get started today.
Email: admin@codestorylabs.com

Government launches Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with Rs 10,000 crore corpus to boost deep tech, manufacturing and early stage startups

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:53:34 +0000

The Central Government has approved the establishment of Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a total corpus of Rs 10,000 crore to mobilise venture capital for India’s startup ecosystem, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade notified in the Gazette of India on April 13, 2026, with the scheme coming into force immediately and commitments to Alternative Investment Funds spread over the 16th and 17th Finance Commission cycles.

The scheme, formally named Startup India FoF 2.0, is an expanded and restructured successor to the Fund of Funds for Startups launched in 2016 under the original Startup India Action Plan. While the broad structure of contributing to the corpus of SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds for investment in equity and equity-linked instruments of government-recognised startups remains the same, the 2.0 version introduces a significantly more targeted segmented approach, operational flexibilities tailored to capital-intensive sectors, and a strengthened governance architecture.

The four-segment framework

The defining structural innovation in FoF 2.0 is a four-segment approach that directs capital to distinct categories of startups rather than treating the ecosystem as a single undifferentiated pool. Segment 1 covers AIFs supporting deep tech startups — those engaged in developing novel solutions to complex problems that involve longer research and development cycles and higher costs. Segment 2 covers smaller AIFs and micro venture capital funds focused on early growth stage startups that are in the initial phases of developing a technology, product, or service. Segment 3 covers AIFs supporting technology-driven innovative manufacturing startups from champion sectors under the Make in India initiative. Segment 4 covers sector and stage agnostic AIFs that support startups across all categories without a specific focus constraint.

The segmentation reflects a deliberate policy judgement that India’s startup ecosystem has matured beyond the point where a single undifferentiated fund of funds structure is optimal. Deep tech and manufacturing startups have fundamentally different capital requirements, investment timelines, and risk profiles compared to software and services startups — they require larger initial capital, have longer gestation periods before revenue, and are less attractive to private venture capital on purely commercial grounds. By carving out dedicated segments with tailored operational flexibilities, the government is explicitly directing public capital toward the categories where market failure is most pronounced.

Operational flexibilities

The scheme introduces several structural improvements over FoF 1.0. AIFs with larger corpuses will be supported to increase capital availability for deep tech and manufacturing segments. Longer duration AIFs will be supported to match the extended research and development timelines of deep tech startups. The scheme will contribute a higher proportion of corpus for deep tech and manufacturing segments where private capital is limited. The investment multiplier — the minimum amount an AIF must invest in startups as a multiple of the amount committed under the scheme — will be moderated to encourage a larger number of AIFs to participate.

Up to 5% of returns generated by the scheme will be earmarked for ecosystem development activities including awareness programmes, workshops, capacity building, mentorship, plug-and-play shared facilities, and regulatory support — a provision that recognises that capital alone is insufficient to build a startup ecosystem and that institutional infrastructure around founders matters as much as funding.

Implementation and governance

The Small Industries Development Bank of India, which was the implementing agency for FoF 1.0, will continue in that role for FoF 2.0, with one or more additional domestic implementing agencies to be selected to build capacity across institutions. AIFs will submit proposals to implementing agencies, which will conduct due diligence before a Venture Capital Investment Committee constituted by DPIIT — including industry representatives, subject matter experts, and implementing agency representatives — considers proposals for recommendation. Only AIFs managed by experienced professionals with proven track records will be considered.

Governance will be overseen by an Empowered Committee chaired by the Secretary of DPIIT, with representatives from relevant ministries and departments, the National Startup Advisory Council, and special invitees from the startup ecosystem. The committee will have powers to amend the scheme notification and operational guidelines within the broad parameters approved by the Cabinet.

Returns from the scheme, net of the 5% ecosystem development allocation, will be deposited back to the Consolidated Fund of India — ensuring that public capital deployed through FoF 2.0 is treated as a revolving investment rather than a grant, with successful exits recycling capital back to the government for future deployment.

The Rs 10,000 crore corpus represents a significant expansion from the Rs 10,000 crore that was announced under FoF 1.0, which had deployed approximately Rs 7,500 crore by the end of FY25 across over 100 AIFs that in turn invested in more than 1,000 startups. FoF 2.0’s expanded scope, segmented approach, and longer time horizon spanning two Finance Commission cycles signal that the government intends the scheme to be a permanent structural feature of India’s venture capital landscape rather than a time-limited intervention.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the official Gazette of India notification dated April 13, 2026 issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Business Unturn is not responsible for any investment decisions made based on this article.

boAt co-founder Aman Gupta raises Rs 100 crore funding for OFF/BEAT

Eva Linoj — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:51:36 +0000

Aman Gupta, co-founder of consumer electronics brand boAt and a judge on Shark Tank India, has announced that his new venture OFF/BEAT has raised ₹100 crore in seed funding, led by Bessemer Venture Partners.

Gupta made the announcement on X, stating that the decision to raise capital was driven not by financial necessity but by the strategic value the investor brings. He cited Bessemer’s global portfolio, which includes companies such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva, and LinkedIn, as a key factor in the decision. The round was led by Bessemer partners Anant and Vishal.

Gupta noted that he was looking for partners who could help leverage technology and artificial intelligence, describing that as the direction in which the venture is oriented.

OFF/BEAT was announced by Gupta on March 3, 2026, shortly after he transitioned to a non-executive director role on boAt’s board as part of a broader leadership restructuring at the company. Gaurav Nayyar was appointed chief executive officer of boAt in September 2025, while co-founder Sameer Mehta moved to the role of executive director focused on strategy.

Specific details about OFF/BEAT’s business model and sector focus have not been publicly disclosed.

Aman Gupta is the co-founder of boAt, India’s leading audio and wearables brand operated by Imagine Marketing. He previously served as the company’s chief marketing officer and has invested in over 100 startups through his appearances on Shark Tank India.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available market data.

‘Bharat Pays for Value’ — Anupam Mittal debunks ‘Bharat Doesn’t Pay’ myth

Savita Uppar — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:58:10 +0000

Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and a well-known venture investor, has taken aim at one of India’s most common startup excuses: that “Bharat doesn’t pay.” In a direct LinkedIn post, Mittal described this narrative as lazy and costly. He argued that founders often use it to hide poor unit economics or a lack of real product-market fit.

Drawing from his own experience with Shaadi.com, Makaan.com, and Mauj, Mittal was clear: Bharat pays, but only for real value at a fair price. To support his argument, Mittal highlighted Abhishek Kejriwal and his team at Primetrace, the company behind the community network Kutumb. After a strong launch, Kutumb went quiet for a long time, leading many in the ecosystem to assume the worst. They were mistaken. While the headlines faded, the business continued to grow.

Primetrace has quietly developed into a high-yield operation, now running at a reported ₹200 crore EBITDA run-rate—no vanity metrics, no hype cycles, just disciplined execution at scale. Mittal views this as a sign of a larger shift in Indian tech since 2021. The market has moved decisively from growth-or-profit to growth-and-profit. Indian users, he argues, are more willing to spend their money, but only for smart, well-priced solutions. His conclusion was clear: the so-called “Bharat struggle” is usually not a market issue. More often, it stems from a lack of insight and imagination on the founder’s part.

Emerging Entrepreneurs Making a Strong Impact Across Industries

News Desk — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:15:07 +0000

Somdatta Acharyya, Founder & Director, ThinkTag Advertising
Somdatta Acharyya is a seasoned marketing and brand strategy leader with over two decades of experience in advertising, brand management, brand consulting and marcom. She is the Founder-Director of ThinkTag Advertising, a creative agency based in Mumbai that focuses on BFSI, Healthcare and Real Estate ad campaigns, and end-to-end brand communication, across traditional media, digital marketing, social media marketing and BTL.
Somdatta, along with her business partner, Anisha Bonsor, also works as a GTM (go-to-market) expert for Start-ups and PE or VC-funded companies across SE Asia. They have been architects behind several launches, seeing the product life-cycle of the brand through from launch, to its growth and sustenance stages. The objective is to create differentiated brands through strategic insights and creative excellence.
Somdatta started her career, post-MBA from SCMHRD, in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors, gaining valuable experience in brand and product management before launching ThinkTag in 2009. Known for her strategic vision and client-centric approach, Somdatta has successfully led brand initiatives across industries, helping businesses grow and thrive.

Prashant Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO, Credere®Global Services LLP
Prashant Sharma is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and global growth strategist driving cross-border innovation in technology, trade, and consumer businesses. As Co-Founder and CEO of Credere®Global Services LLP, he enables strategic partnerships between global manufacturers and India’s rapidly expanding consumer and industrial markets. Recognizing his true calling, Prashant embarked on his entrepreneurial odyssey, co-founding several successful businesses. His ventures are a testament to his prowess in forging effective client connections, driving business growth, and deploying cutting-edge marketing techniques. Prashant’s expertise extends beyond traditional markets, as he has successfully scaled his businesses in the burgeoning digital landscape. His ability to adapt and innovate in ever-evolving markets sets him apart. His ventures—EcoShieldChem, Credere Global Services, and PureNutriBliss—reflect a disciplined focus on scalability, sustainability, and long-term value creation. He is now strategically expanding his business operations into Dubai and Australia, strengthening his international footprint and building scalable growth platforms across both markets.
With a Bachelor of Commerce and dual MBAs in Information Systems, Finance, and Entrepreneurship, Prashant blends financial rigor with digital execution. A recipient of the Indian Achievers’ Award and India 500 CEO Award, he actively mentors founders and champions purpose-driven, high-impact entrepreneurship.
Feel free to reach out at prashant.businessventures@gmail.com

Reshma Sathe, Director, Green Habitat Consultants
Reshma Sathe is the Director of Green Habitat Consultants, with over 21 years of experience in landscape design, execution, and project management. She leads a team of creative landscape architects delivering end-to-end solutions across residential, commercial, industrial, and urban projects. Her work has been widely acknowledged for enhancing the quality of life of its users. The richness of detailing and the simplicity of spaces are what differentiate her designs. Her portfolio includes landmark developments such as Insignia, BKC; Neoliv Grand Forest, Khalapur; Shahu Maharaj School, Rabale; Novozymes South Asia, Patalganga; Merck Life Sciences, Rasayni; Jio Gardens; and RCP, Jamnagar, along with projects across Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Nagpur. Reshma brings strong global collaboration experience, having worked with international architects and vendors. A Master of Landscape Architecture and a trained architect, she is deeply committed to sustainability, creating landscapes that are functional, aesthetically refined, and aligned with natural ecosystems to enhance human well-being and environmental value.

Ankur Maheshwary, Founder & Director, Masti Zone
An engineering graduate from Delhi College of Engineering (DTU) and an MBA from ESADE, Spain, Ankur blends technical acumen with a love for gaming. Under his leadership, Masti Zone has launched over 30 centers nationwide, with 100+ outlets in the pipeline. The brand offers immersive experiences, including VR, motion cinema, bowling, trampolines, laser games, and snow parks. Ankur heads R&D at Masti Zone’s Gwalior-based manufacturing hub—the largest in the industry. As Chairman of IAAPI, he champions innovation, youth leadership, and industry growth, positioning Masti Zone for a promising IPO and global expansion.

Manish Tewari, CEO, Trusys.ai
Manish Tewari is a serial entrepreneur and technology innovator with a deep passion for coding and solving real-world problems. An IIT Varanasi alumnus, Manish co-founded Trusys.ai, a cutting-edge platform developing robust solutions that ensure AI is safe, transparent, and compliant for enterprise use. He also co-founded Spydra Technologies, leading blockchain innovations in asset tokenization and on-chain workflows.
Earlier in his entrepreneurial journey, Manish co-founded Koovs.com in 2009, an e-commerce platform that disrupted the Indian market, raising over $20M and listing on the UK Stock Exchange with a $100M valuation by 2013. In 2014, he co-founded POKKT Mobile Ads, pioneering mobile app monetization and digital advertising, securing $10M in funding. Driven by impact, in 2019, he launched Piggy Ride, a child-focused transportation platform that expanded to over 15 countries with $3M in funding.

Jalpesh Dungrani, Founder, DUNGRANI & D’BLUE COFFEE
Jalpesh Dungrani is the founder of DUNGRANI, a contemporary ethnic wear brand redefining how traditional fashion is experienced by the modern generation. Operating under its parent company, VARNEY FABRICS, Dungrani was built on a clear entrepreneurial vision to make thoughtfully designed, high-quality ethnic wear accessible, relevant, and effortless. By designing and manufacturing in-house, the brand ensures creative control, quality consistency, and price accessibility across its sarees, co-ord sets, dresses, and ethnic collections.
DUNGRANI’s fresh perspective on Indian silhouettes has earned it features in leading publications like Grazia and ELLE, reflecting its growing influence in the fashion space.
Recognizing the need to reimagine retail, Jalpesh also conceptualized ‘द’ SPACE, Surat’s first saree store + café experience, with D’BLUE COFFEE as its lifestyle extension. Together, they create a space where fashion, comfort, and community coexist seamlessly.
Through innovation in design and retail, Jalpesh is building DUNGRANI into a modern lifestyle ecosystem rooted in culture and creativity.

Vikas Narnolia, Tanushree Narnolia & Ayushi Murarka, Co-Founders, Myra Utsav
At Myra Utsav, entrepreneurship is driven by a deep understanding of bridal aspirations and legacy design. Founded in Surat by Co-founders – Vikas Narnolia, Tanushree Narnolia and Ayushi Murarka, the brand has grown over nine years into Surat’s most preferred natural diamond and polki jewellery house.
Specialising in heirloom bridal jewellery, Myra Utsav creates pieces for brides who value tradition, permanence, and statement craftsmanship. Each design blends natural diamonds and polki with meticulous detailing, ensuring every jewel carries the depth of heritage while reflecting modern individuality.
Built on ethical sourcing, precision manufacturing, and personalised bridal consultations, the brand has carved a distinct position in a competitive luxury market. From bespoke wedding masterpieces to refined diamond essentials, Myra Utsav continues to evolve while staying rooted in authenticity.
Featured in Grazia India and The Times of India , the brand stands as a testament to visionary leadership and a commitment to excellence in fine jewellery craftsmanship.

Harshit Puram & Parikshit Linga, Founder, Okno Modhomes
Finding a home today often means accepting delays, cost overruns, and timelines that stretch endlessly. For many buyers, waiting years for completion has become the norm rather than the exception.
Harshit Puram and Parikshit Linga built Okno Modhomes to challenge that reality.
As co-founders, they are focused on modular home construction, offering a model that rethinks both speed and experience. Their promise is strikingly simple yet industry-disruptive: fully realized, design-led homes delivered in just 120 days.
Okno Modhomes stands on three core ideas:
• Modular construction that drastically reduces build timelines
• Contemporary, premium designs that feel intentional and bespoke
• Sustainable practices integrated into the building process
For the founders, modular housing is not merely about efficiency. “We saw an opportunity to change how people perceive prefab living,” they explain. “A faster home does not have to feel like a compromise.” Their journey has been shaped by disciplined growth and continuous refinement rather than rapid expansion.
Their philosophy remains clear:
• Focus deeply
• Improve relentlessly
• Deliver tangible value
Through Okno Modhomes, Harshit and Parikshit are helping reshape expectations in modern housing, proving that speed, design, and quality can confidently coexist.

Taarini Tainwala, Founder, Mon Âme
Dessert preferences are changing. Consumers are more experimental, more quality-conscious, yet finding truly indulgent, vegetarian French pâtisserie remains surprisingly rare in many Indian cities.Taarini recognized this gap early. At just 18, she made a decision few aspiring entrepreneurs take so decisively. She paused the conventional route, took a gap year, trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London, and returned with a clear vision for what Hyderabad’s dessert landscape was missing. Five years ago, during the lockdown, Mon Âme was born. A cloud pâtisserie rooted in authenticity and craft.
The brand’s foundation rests on:
– Vegetarian French desserts with uncompromised technique
– A strong emphasis on quality and consistency
– Offerings spanning retail, celebrations and corporate clientele
For Taarini, the ambition extended beyond simply selling desserts. “I wanted Mon Âme to feel personal,” she shares. “Not mass-produced, not trend-driven.”
What began as a focused, passion-led venture has steadily grown into a trusted name catering to weddings, bulk orders, corporate events and curated gifting. A recent partnership with Foodstories marks another milestone in the brand’s journey.
Her approach remains disciplined:
– Listen closely to customers
– Refine continuously
– Let quality drive growth
Five years in, Mon Âme reflects a philosophy rarely rushed. The journey is just beginning, with deeper roots and broader horizons ahead.

Umang Saraogi, Founder & Director, E-WENT Electric Vehicles
Umang Saraogi is a visionary entrepreneur and the Founder & Director of E-WENT Electric Vehicles, the flagship brand of Saraogi E Ventures Pvt. Ltd., pioneering affordable and reliable electric two-wheelers for India’s mobility transformation. With a MBA from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business and a strong foundation in international trade and finance, Umang blends a global perspective with an Indian purpose. Under his leadership, E-WENT focuses on engineering excellence, durable design, and accessible EV solutions built for real-world conditions. His mission—to bridge innovation and affordability—drives the brand’s rapid growth and inspires its commitment to sustainable transportation nationwide.

Shrikant Pandore, Co-Founder & CEO, Clearlcaim
Shrikant is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Clearlcaim. With a strong vision and strategic acumen, Shrikant has been instrumental in steering the company towards its goals. His leadership style fosters innovation and encourages team collaboration. Shrikant’s commitment to excellence and his passion for the industry have been key factors in the company’s success. His responsibilities include setting the company’s overall strategic direction, making major corporate decisions, and managing the overall operations and resources of the company. Shrikant’s dedication and leadership continue to drive the company’s growth and success.

Saif Ahmad Khan, Founder & CEO, LEDSAK AI
Saif Ahmad Khan is the Founder and CEO of LEDSAK AI, an AI-powered SaaS CRM platform designed to simplify and streamline sales operations for modern businesses. An alumnus of IIM Nagpur, Saif brings together strong business acumen and hands-on expertise in SaaS product development, sales system design, and AI-driven automation. Through LEDSAK AI, he aims to eliminate inefficiencies in lead management by enabling smarter tracking, prioritization, and follow-ups using artificial intelligence. His vision focuses on empowering sales teams to build stronger relationships, reduce manual effort, and drive consistent growth. Under his leadership, LEDSAK AI has emerged as an affordable, scalable, and results-driven CRM solution for startups and growing enterprises.

From Looms to Algorithms: How a Surat Founder is Democratizing India’s Job Market

News Desk — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:18:10 +0000

Each year, over 2 crore Indian aspirants miss out on government job deadlines. The tragedy isn’t a lack of qualification; it is a lack of information. Yaman, a Surat-based entrepreneur who pivoted from textile manufacturing to technology, is rewriting this narrative with KarmSakha.

Bridging the ‘Bharat’ Gap

In a startup ecosystem often dominated by IIT alumni and metropolitan tech hubs, Yaman’s journey stands apart. His entrepreneurial roots run deep in Gujarat’s textile industry. It was on the manufacturing floor that he identified a critical disparity: talent is distributed equally, but opportunity is not.

“A weaver in Surat works just as hard as a banker in Mumbai. The difference lies in access to information,” says Yaman. “This reality hits hardest for job seekers in small towns. Talent is everywhere; access is the bottleneck.”

This observation birthed KarmSakha.com—an AI-powered platform engineered specifically to level the playing field for job seekers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 India.

The Discovery Crisis

India’s government job (Sarkari Naukri) ecosystem is massive but fragmented. Opportunities are buried across thousands of disconnected portals—from the UPSC and SSC to state PSCs, Railway Boards, and niche departmental websites.

For an aspirant in Rajkot or Raipur, staying updated requires checking dozens of websites daily. A single missed notification can cost them a year of preparation. Furthermore, the digital divide is exacerbated by language. Most incumbent platforms operate exclusively in English or Hindi, alienating millions of regional language speakers.

“The current system is designed for those with time, high-speed internet, and English proficiency,” Yaman notes. “That design excludes the majority of India.”

How KarmSakha Changes the Game

KarmSakha adopts a “tech-for-access” approach. The platform aggregates notifications from over 10,000 sources, creating a unified destination for government job alerts. However, aggregation is merely the foundation.

KarmSakha differentiates itself through features built for the real user:

AI-Driven Matching: The platform intelligently matches candidates to jobs based on education, location, and preferences, filtering out irrelevant noise.

Hyper-Local Accessibility: Recognizing India’s linguistic diversity, the platform supports eight regional languages, ensuring a Tamil or Gujarati speaker navigates the interface as intuitively as an English speaker.

WhatsApp Integration: Alerts are delivered via WhatsApp, reaching users on the app they already use most frequently, eliminating the learning curve.

Career Tools: An integrated AI resume builder and mock interview simulations help candidates transition from “applicant” to “hire-ready.”

Building from Surat, for the World

Yaman made the strategic decision to keep KarmSakha’s HQ in Surat rather than relocating to a tech hub like Bengaluru.

“When you build from a Tier-2 city, your users are your neighbors,” he explains. “You witness their struggles firsthand. You cannot ignore the ground reality when it is right outside your door.”

This proximity drives product decisions, prioritizing high utility for users with older smartphones and varying levels of digital literacy.

The Vision: No Opportunity Left Behind

While no single platform can solve unemployment entirely, KarmSakha is solving the information asymmetry that exacerbates it.

“Right now, lakhs of jobs go unfilled while lakhs of candidates remain unemployed—simply because they never connected,” Yaman concludes. “KarmSakha exists to close that gap.”

As part of a rising wave of startups building distinct solutions for Bharat, KarmSakha offers a powerful promise to the young graduate in a small town: No opportunity will slip by unnoticed.

Indian-Owned Cleaning Startups Reshaping Australia’s Facility Management Market

News Desk — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:38:29 +0000

Australia’s facility management (FM) and commercial cleaning sector is witnessing a significant transformation driven by a rising wave of Indian-owned startups. Across major cities such as Melbourne, Vic, and Perth, Indian entrepreneurs are emerging as key players, introducing new operational models, technology-backed processes, and a customer-centric culture that is reshaping the competitive landscape.

Over the past decade, Australia’s cleaning and FM industry has grown steadily, supported by rising demand in healthcare, commercial offices, education, hospitality, and logistics. However, the sector continues to face labour shortages, cost pressures, and rapid expectations for technology adoption. Indian-origin founders ,many of whom arrived as international students or skilled migrants ,are bridging these gaps with agile business structures, diversified service portfolios, and an emphasis on quality-driven operations.

A growing number of Indian-owned companies are leveraging their experience in India’s highly competitive facility management environment, where cost efficiency, scale, and service standardisation are critical. This background has helped them introduce streamlined SOPs, multi-skill workforce training, and digital tools for scheduling, attendance tracking, and quality audits. Melbourne has emerged as a particularly strong hub, with Indian-led companies catering to office complexes, retail chains, medical office cleaning services, and residential developments.

The trend is being driven by founders with IT and operations backgrounds who are combining cleaning services with technology-enabled reporting dashboards, real-time communication apps, and automated invoicing systems. This integration has allowed clients—especially property managers and multi-site businesses—to gain better visibility into cleaning performance and compliance. Meanwhile, in Brisbane, companies with Indian leadership are gaining momentum in industrial cleaning, construction cleaning, and strata maintenance, sectors that require specialised skills and workforce reliability.

A notable strength of these Indian-owned startups is their workforce development approach. Many founders prioritise fair employment practices and structured training programs for new migrants and international students, creating pathways for stable income and professional growth. By fostering diverse, motivated teams, these companies are improving retention—a long-standing challenge in the Australian cleaning industry.

Sustainability is another area where Indian entrepreneurs are making their mark. Several companies are adopting eco-friendly cleaning supplies, microfibre-based tools, and chemical-reduction processes inspired by practices used in India’s green FM sector. These steps align strongly with Australia’s increasing emphasis on environmentally responsible operations.

Industry experts note that the rise of Indian-owned FM businesses reflects broader shifts in Australia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. With the Indian diaspora now one of the fastest-growing communities in the country, more professionals are transitioning into business ownership and contributing to essential service industries. Their adaptability, process orientation, and strong work ethic have positioned them as valuable contributors to Australia’s cleaning and FM market.

As the demand for reliable, technology-ready cleaning partners continues to grow, Indian-owned startups are expected to play an even larger role in shaping service quality, innovation, and workforce standards across the country. Their rise marks a new chapter in Australia’s facility management landscape one defined by diversity, digital adoption, and forward-looking leadership.

US-based VideoDB acquires Chennai’s AI software testing startup Devzery to strengthen developer-focused video infrastructure

News Desk — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 04:50:44 +0000

San Francisco-headquartered AI-native video infrastructure platform VideoDB has announced the acquisition of Chennai-based Devzery, an AI-powered software testing startup that specialises in codeless regression testing workflows. The move marks VideoDB’s first strategic acquisition and reflects its growing commitment to enhancing developer experience and product reliability across AI-driven video use cases.

Founded in 2021, Devzery built a unique AI agent that automates API regression testing by integrating directly into CI/CD pipelines—eliminating the need for teams to write or maintain test code. The platform has already seen adoption by companies like Cimpress, Shopflo, and Zeda.io, and had earlier raised $125,000 in funding from Upekkha to accelerate growth.

Commenting on the acquisition, Hemnaa Subburaj, Co-founder of Devzery, said, “We didn’t build Devzery to get acquired. We built it because backend testing is broken for fast-moving product teams. Devzery’s focus on AI-driven, codeless regression testing fits naturally with VideoDB’s mission to make video programmable and searchable in real time. As one team, we can now deliver reliable, intelligent tooling across video and backend infrastructure.”

Founded in 2023, VideoDB is building a “video-as-data” stack that allows developers to treat video like programmable data—enabling querying of live streams, automated tagging, and the creation of AI-integrated video products. With Devzery’s integration, VideoDB aims to offer enterprise-grade, developer-first tooling for video-heavy applications across surveillance, model training, and real-time editing.

Ashutosh Trivedi, Co-founder of VideoDB, said, “We think of VideoDB as the video layer of AWS—abstracted, reliable, developer-first. Devzery shares that same DNA. This acquisition helps us strengthen our infrastructure and gives our customers greater confidence to ship faster and scale automation across video and APIs.”

VideoDB is supported by early-stage angels and operators in AI and developer infrastructure. As part of the deal, Devzery’s founders will join the VideoDB team, with its product continuing to operate under the VideoDB umbrella to expand its footprint in the U.S. market.

How Employee Stock Options Are Changing the Startup Pay Game

News Desk — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:13:01 +0000

Employee stock options are no longer just a Silicon Valley perk. These days, they’ve become a standard tool for startups across the world, which includes India’s booming tech scene. When startups can’t always afford to match the salaries of established giants, they use stock options to give employees a tangible stake in the company’s success. It’s ownership with upside potential, and for many, it’s a bet worth taking.

A Slice of the Startup Cake

Stock options give employees the right to buy company shares at a set price, often lower than market value. If the company grows, that strike price can turn into a major payday. It’s a simple equation: if the startup thrives, so do its early believers. For startups, this setup solves two problems. First, it attracts skilled workers who might otherwise be lured by higher pay at larger firms.

Second, it keeps them around. Most employee stock option plans (ESOPs) have vesting schedules that reward long-term commitment. In most cases, a four-year plan with a one-year cliff is common. This means employees must stay a year before earning any options and continue to earn them gradually over the next three years. Startups often call this “sweat equity”, as team members put in time and effort before they can cash in. It turns work into investment and employees into stakeholders.

The U.S. Model: ISOs vs NSOs

In the United States, stock options are generally classified into two categories: Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) and Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs). Both give employees the right to buy shares, but they’re taxed differently.

Learning how stock options are taxed in the U.S. helps explain why understanding equity compensation is so critical. ISOs are typically offered to top executives and enjoy special tax treatment. If certain holding conditions are met, profits are taxed as long-term capital gains rather than ordinary income.

On the other hand, NSOs are available to more employees. However, they are taxed as regular income when exercised since the discount (the spread) is viewed as part of the worker’s compensation.

This can be a complicated process, which is why the IRS provides detailed guidance on the taxation of ESOs. Employees must also remember that simply exercising options can trigger a tax event. This happens even before any sale of shares occurs.

As a startup founder, you need to learn about tax rules for U.S. stock exchange so that you know what taxes apply to private company shares. Doing this will also help you learn how they differ from public market rules.

The Indian Parallel

In India, startups have adopted ESOPs as a critical part of compensation packages. However, taxation remains a sore spot. In most cases, employees are often taxed twice. The first time is when they exercise the option and the second time when they sell the shares. Double taxation can reduce the financial benefit. This is usually the case when startups remain private for years before a liquidity event like an IPO or acquisition.

Endnote

Stock options aren’t a guaranteed windfall, but they’ve reshaped how startups compensate and motivate employees. They turn a job into a partnership and success into something shared.

Jefferies maintains buy on IDFC First Bank, sees 16% upside as MFI stress eases and slippages moderate

News Desk — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:13:36 +0000

Jefferies has maintained a Buy rating on IDFC First Bank with a target price of ₹82, indicating a potential upside of approximately 16% from the current market price of ₹70.63.

The bank reported a Q1FY26 profit of ₹4.6 billion, which came in slightly below Jefferies’ estimates due to higher credit costs. However, the brokerage highlighted three key positives from the result:

The special mention accounts (SMA) book of the microfinance segment almost halved quarter-on-quarter, which could lead to lower slippages and credit costs going forward.
Other lending segments witnessed slightly higher slippages.
A slower reduction in savings bank interest rates is likely to delay the expected margin expansion.

Disclaimer: This article is based on Jefferies’ brokerage report and does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Cybersecurity Becomes Top Priority for Small Businesses

Riddhima Jain — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:15:28 +0000

As India’s digital economy expands, a new report released on World MSME Day indicates that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are increasingly prioritizing cybersecurity and cloud investments to enhance operational efficiency. The ‘Ready for Next MSME Growth Insights Study 2025’, published by Vi Business, highlights a steady uptick in the country’s Digital Maturity Index (DMI) — rising from 56.6 in 2023 to 58.0 in 2025.

The study shows that 76% of MSMEs plan to ramp up investment in cybersecurity, while over 72% intend to boost cloud spending. However, the report also underscores that only 12% of MSMEs have achieved full digital maturity, indicating that despite high awareness, the adoption of digital tools remains uneven.

South Indian states lead in digital transformation, with Telangana topping the DMI chart at 71.2, followed by Kerala (63.7) and Maharashtra (59.2). Sector-wise, Financial Services has the highest digital maturity, followed by Transportation and Retail.

Participation in Vi Business’s ‘Ready for Next’ digital maturity assessment platform has grown significantly, with over 2 lakh MSMEs across 15,000 pin codes engaging in the program over the last three years. The platform has been certified by Cyber Media Research as the country’s largest digital advisory initiative for MSMEs.

The study highlights a shift from “digital curiosity to digital commitment,” said Arvind Nevatia, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Vodafone Idea Ltd. He noted that MSMEs are now seeing technology as a “growth enabler” rather than a cost or utility.

Interestingly, women entrepreneurs are narrowing the digital gap, showing strong participation in cloud and security adoption in sectors like IT and education. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs aged 40–60 reported the highest digital maturity (DMI: 64.0), debunking the perception that digital leadership is confined to younger founders.

Despite these positive trends, the study identifies financial capacity as a key barrier to deeper digital adoption. Larger MSMEs, particularly those with turnovers above ₹50 crore, report significantly greater maturity than smaller or newer businesses, many of whom continue to adopt digital tools in a phased manner.

The findings reflect both optimism and ongoing challenges in India’s path toward digitalizing its MSME backbone. While intent is clearly rising, a combination of financial support and digital advisory will be crucial to translating this momentum into widespread transformation.

Avatar startup AvatarOS secures $7M to develop lifelike digital personas

Prakriti Mitra — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:35:17 +0000

AvatarOS Raises $7M to Revolutionize Digital Personas

AvatarOS, an AI-driven startup specializing in lifelike digital avatars, has successfully closed a $7 million funding round to enhance its cutting-edge avatar technology. The startup aims to create hyper-realistic virtual personas that can be used across gaming, virtual meetings, social media, and the metaverse.

Funding and Expansion Plans

The investment round was led by XYZ Ventures, with participation from several angel investors and AI-focused funds. The fresh capital will be used to:

Enhance AI-powered avatar creation for more lifelike facial expressions and body movements.
Expand R&D efforts to improve avatar interaction in virtual environments.
Develop new applications for sectors like entertainment, education, and remote work.

What Makes AvatarOS Unique?

Unlike traditional avatars, AvatarOS leverages deep learning and generative AI to create digital personas that can mimic human emotions, speech, and gestures in real time. Its technology is being positioned as a breakthrough for immersive digital interactions.

The Future of AI-Generated Avatars

As the demand for virtual identities grows, AvatarOS is set to play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of digital presence. With applications spanning from gaming and social media to the metaverse, the startup is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-powered digital evolution.

Saudi fashion startup Aya secures $1.6 Million in funding round

Prakriti Mitra — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:07:09 +0000

Aya Raises $1.6M to Expand in Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Market

Saudi Arabia’s fashion-tech scene continues to grow as Aya, a digital-first fashion startup, has successfully secured $1.6 million in a fresh funding round. The investment will enable the brand to expand its product range, enhance e-commerce capabilities, and scale operations across the region.

Strategic Expansion & Growth Plans

Aya, which focuses on modern, sustainable, and culturally inspired designs, plans to utilize the funding to:

Strengthen its online presence by improving its e-commerce platform.
Expand production capacity to meet rising demand for its products.
Enhance brand positioning within Saudi Arabia and other Gulf markets.

Saudi Arabia’s Booming Fashion Sector

The funding comes amid a surge in Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry, driven by the government’s Vision 2030 initiative, which promotes local brands, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Aya aims to leverage this momentum to establish itself as a leading fashion brand in the region.

Future Outlook

With this new investment, Aya is set to compete with established players while capitalizing on the region’s growing demand for premium and culturally relevant fashion. The startup is also exploring potential collaborations and international expansion opportunities in the near future.

Start-Ups to Stay Away From

News Desk — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 04:09:05 +0000

Starting a brand-new business is often an exciting leap into the unknown. The idea of being your own boss, making a real impact, or simply doing something you’re passionate about can be incredibly motivating. But before you dive into your next venture, it’s vital to think carefully about whether your chosen industry has a bright future or is already on a downward slide. The world can change in surprising ways, and certain industries get left behind when newer, more efficient alternatives take over.

The trick is to look at trends and try to glimpse a few steps ahead. Technology, in particular, has made some long-standing business models obsolete. Large overheads, tough competition, or a dwindling customer base can all add up to an uphill battle. Below, we’ll explore five industries that, for one reason or another, might not be the smartest choice for a start-up these days.

Traditional Travel Agencies

There was a time when travel agencies were the one-stop shop for all your holiday needs. You’d pop in to chat with a helpful advisor, leaf through a glossy brochure, and pick out your dream getaway. Now, many people prefer to research and book everything themselves online. Flights, hotels, and package deals are often cheaper when sourced through comparison sites, which also let you read real customer reviews and check availability in real time.

This shift in consumer behaviour has led to countless high-street travel agencies closing their doors. Large chains and online booking platforms dominate, leaving smaller start-ups to compete on price, service, or niche offerings just to stand out. While there’s still a small market for bespoke luxury trips and group bookings (like destination weddings), you’ll need a unique edge to avoid being overshadowed by internet-based competition. For those thinking of going it alone as a travel agent, bear in mind that the overheads of a physical store, combined with the huge online competition, may be a recipe for disappointment.

Physical Casino Venues

For decades, physical casinos offered a sparkly, theatrical experience for anyone hoping to try their luck at the roulette wheel or slot machines. The idea of dressing up for a lively night out drew in crowds, and many people saw it as a stylish form of entertainment. However, online casinos have changed the landscape dramatically. Gamblers now have instant access to a vast selection of virtual slot games, poker rooms, and betting opportunities, all from the comfort of their own homes.

These online platforms usually operate around the clock, giving players the freedom to drop in whenever they fancy, without any travel or dress code hassles. On top of that, operating costs for physical venues can be enormous—staff wages, rent, utilities, and strict regulations quickly eat away at profits. New casinos online have none of those problems. While some grand casinos might still hold a nostalgic appeal or attract tourists, smaller start-up casinos could find it exceptionally tough to compete with the convenience and diversity of online gambling options.

Traditional Newsstands and Local Print Newspapers

The sound of a newspaper hitting the doormat in the morning was once a daily ritual. Newsstands dotted busy streets, selling everything from local papers to weekly magazines. Now, however, people tend to get their headlines via phones, tablets, and social media. Instant updates are available around the clock, and print circulation is in steady decline. Even major newspapers have struggled, migrating their content online to keep up with reader demand.

For someone looking to launch a local newspaper or newsstand, the hurdles can be tremendous. Printing costs, distribution, and the constant chase to stay current make this a tricky path. Also, there’s less patience these days for waiting until the next day’s edition for fresh information. Many readers want continuous news updates, which a daily or weekly publication can’t match. If you love journalism and reporting, you might be better off focusing on an online news blog or social media channels where costs are lower, and you can respond to events as they happen.

Physical Music Retail

Music lovers once flocked to dedicated shops to browse record or CD collections, discovering new tunes by flicking through album sleeves. The social aspect was part of the draw—chatting with staff who knew their stuff, listening to samples at listening stations, and taking home a cherished physical copy. But the explosion of streaming services has made that nostalgia less appealing for many everyday buyers, who can find almost any track at a moment’s notice without leaving the sofa.

While vinyl has enjoyed a modest resurgence among enthusiasts, the majority of listeners simply prefer the convenience of digital platforms. Operating a physical music store now often feels like stepping back in time. With rent, staff wages, and supply chain issues, it’s not easy to make enough profit to stay afloat. There’s certainly a small niche for collectors and serious audiophiles, but starting from scratch in this sector could be more of a passion project than a viable business with wide commercial appeal.

Independent Taxi Dispatch Offices

Before ride-sharing apps sprang onto the scene, a local taxi office was a lifeline for people needing a lift home from a night out or a ride to the airport. A quick call, a scribbled address, and you’d be on your way. Nowadays, travellers are used to tapping an app that immediately identifies their location, tracks the driver’s approach, and provides digital payment options. This convenience, combined with transparent fares and driver ratings, has revolutionised the taxi industry.

Starting your own taxi dispatch office comes with overheads like phone lines, radio systems, staffing, and the constant challenge of recruiting drivers in a market that’s increasingly drawn to app-based ride-sharing. Even if you develop your own app, you’ll be up against well-known international platforms. Unless you’re catering to an underserved niche—like non-smartphone users in a small town—it’s tough to beat the ease and reliability that big ride-sharing firms have come to represent.

Looking Forward to More Promising Paths

Anyone dreaming of launching a start-up faces a long and challenging road, but careful planning and a keen eye on the future go a long way. While sentimentality can draw us to the businesses we grew up with, it’s good to remember that the market doesn’t always share that fondness. It’s far better to channel your passion into something that’s likely to flourish in our increasingly tech-focused world.

Disclaimer: Gambling carries significant financial risks, is potentially addictive, and may violate laws in your area. Please gamble responsibly within your means, and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations before proceeding. This content is for informational purposes only.

Zepto Café hits 100,000 daily orders; CEO Aadit Palicha says it’s closing in on a $100M annualized GMV run-rate

Aditya Bhagchandani — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:02 +0000

Mumbai-based Zepto Café, the food and beverage division of quick-commerce startup Zepto, has achieved a major milestone of 100,000 orders per day. According to co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha, the platform is on track for a $100M annualized GMV run rate with a ~50% steady-state gross margin—already reaching 10% of the scale of leading QSR chains in India.

CEO Aadit Palicha on Linkedin stated –

Zepto Café has hit 100,000 orders per day. That’s closing in on a $100M Annualized GMV run-rate with a ~50% steady-state gross margin (already 10%+ of the scale of some of the top QSR chains in the country). It has not been easy to get this business off the ground – the execution is highly complex and there were multiple do-or-die challenges along the way (many of which are still work in progress). Still, our team stuck to its guns because the customer love and long-term compounding retention we were seeing was worth it. Miles to go before we sleep, but I believe this is the beginning of a revolution in India’s QSR industry.

Scandalous Foods Joins Zepto Café for Instant Dessert Delivery

In an expansion of its offerings, Zepto Café has partnered with Mumbai-based sweet innovation brand Scandalous Foods, allowing customers to order premium mithais and desserts for delivery within 10 minutes.

“Mithais have always been a staple of Indian celebrations and everyday indulgence, and with Zepto Café, we are ensuring they reach customers at the right moment—fresh, fast, and irresistible,” said Sanket S, Co-Founder of Scandalous Foods, in a press release.

The partnership will initially roll out across Mumbai, Bengaluru, NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and soon Kolkata. Zepto will also introduce exclusive discounts on these products throughout the year.

Founded in August 2022 by Sanket and Pravesh Amin, Scandalous Foods specializes in single-serve, long-shelf-life sweets and currently operates in the B2B segment. The company aims to expand into B2C and B2B2C markets in the near future.

With Zepto Café’s rapid growth and strategic partnerships, it is well on its way to revolutionizing India’s QSR industry.

SustVest raises $1.7 million in Pre-Series A funding led by Inflection Point Ventures and Antler

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:19:40 +0000

Gurugram-based sustainable investment platform SustVest has secured $1.7 million in a Pre-Series A funding round, a mix of equity and debt, led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) and Antler, with participation from WEH Ventures, Venture Catalysts, Soonicorn Ventures, FAAD Network, and others. The funds will support key business growth initiatives, including acquiring solar projects, marketing efforts for its regulated platform launch, and strengthening operations.

About SustVest:

SustVest, India’s first regulated platform for sustainable investments, specializes in renewable energy. It allows investors to achieve 12-14% XIRR returns through fractional ownership in solar projects, promoting democratized access to renewable energy investments. The platform has already managed ₹43 crore in assets, enabling 9.3 MW of solar installations, distributing ₹5.7 crore in energy income, and reducing carbon emissions by 94 lakh kilograms.

Vision and Market Potential:

Co-founded by Hardik Bhatia (CEO) and Devansh Shah (CTO), both BITS Pilani graduates, SustVest aims to bridge the gap between investors and renewable energy projects. Bhatia emphasized how the platform democratizes high-entry investments in renewable energy, making it accessible to all. According to IPV’s Co-Founder, Ankur Mittal, the initiative reduces entry barriers for smaller investors and contributes to the growth of clean energy in India.

SustVest serves a broad portfolio of clients, including prominent names like Lodha Group, Hitachi, and Mahle Group, and has projects across Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh. With India’s rooftop solar market presenting a $405.63 billion opportunity, SustVest is poised for significant growth.

About Inflection Point Ventures:

IPV, a leading angel investing platform, has invested over ₹800 crore across 260+ startups. It brings together a vast network of CXOs and HNIs to support early-stage businesses with financial and experiential resources, enabling startups to scale effectively.

By leveraging its unique platform, SustVest continues to position itself as a key player in India’s renewable energy sector, driving accessibility, sustainability, and impactful investments.

EQT Partners withdraws Theobroma acquisition bid; ChrysCapital remains sole bidder: Report

Aditya Bhagchandani — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 04:32:05 +0000

EQT Partners has officially withdrawn its proposal to acquire Theobroma, according to ET Now sources. With this development, ChrysCapital is now the only contender left in the race to buy the popular bakery chain.

Theobroma’s Journey:

Theobroma, founded by sisters Kainaz Messman Harchandrai and Tina Messman Wykes in 2004, started as a modest one-room bakery and has since grown into a national chain with 225 outlets across India. The chain is renowned for its premium baked goods and loyal customer base.

The Founding Story:
Kainaz Messman, a pastry chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu, envisioned Theobroma after a back injury ended her tenure at Oberoi Udaivilas. The sisters drew on their baking expertise and family support, with an initial capital of ₹1.5 crore from their father.
Potential Landmark Sale:
Theobroma’s acquisition could mark India’s largest cash exit in the food services sector. This milestone would be a testament to the entrepreneurial vision of the Messman sisters, who turned a home-grown bakery into a household name.

Current Status:

While EQT Partners’ exit narrows the field, ChrysCapital’s bid holds promise for the bakery chain’s continued growth and potential expansion. Further updates on the acquisition are awaited.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information.

Social Hardware raises Rs 3.2 crore in seed round to expand teleoperated robotic systems for hazardous industries

News Desk — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:10:17 +0000

Social Hardware, a Bengaluru-based inclusive innovation startup, has raised INR 3.2 crore in a seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with participation from Ivyleague Ventures and Soonicorn Ventures. The funds will be utilized to support key growth initiatives, including expanding their R&D facility, enhancing manufacturing capabilities, and building a strong marketing and sales team.

Social Hardware specializes in teleoperated robotic systems, focusing on industries like manufacturing, infrastructure, defense, and aerospace, providing innovative solutions that enhance safety in hazardous operations. The company, co-founded by Abhit Kumar, Cameron Norris, and Raghavendran Arunachalam, aims to revolutionize how industries manage dangerous environments by using teleoperated robots controlled remotely, reducing human exposure to risks while maintaining operational efficiency.

The funds raised will help the company scale its operations, including tripling its production capacity from 12 to 36 units by FY 2025-26, with a projected revenue capacity of ₹24.76 crore.

As the global teleoperation and robotics market is expected to grow to USD 22.5 billion by 2026, Social Hardware is well-positioned to play a leading role in the expanding demand for safer, remote-controlled solutions across critical sectors like defense, aerospace, and industrial applications.

The Secret Behind TeaMax Cafe’s Rapid Expansion Across India

News Desk — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 06:46:22 +0000

TeaMax Cafe has quickly emerged as a formidable player in India’s tea cafe industry, witnessing remarkable growth with over 750 outlets spread across 27 states. This rapid expansion has raised eyebrows in the competitive food and beverage market, leaving many to wonder: what is the secret behind TeaMax Cafe’s success?

Founded by Vikas Singh, a graduate of Ivey Business School, TeaMax Cafe was designed with a clear vision: to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with an affordable and profitable business opportunity. The brand’s meteoric rise can be attributed to a combination of strategic franchise planning, customer-focused offerings, and a strong commitment to quality.

An Affordable Franchise Model

One of the most compelling factors behind TeaMax Cafe’s rapid expansion is its highly accessible franchise model. Unlike many competitors that require significant upfront investments, TeaMax Cafe offers a complete setup package for just INR 3.69 lakh. This package includes all necessary cafe kitchen equipment, staff training, marketing support, and even FSSAI registration. This low entry barrier has made it possible for a broad range of entrepreneurs, from first-time business owners to seasoned investors, to join the TeaMax network.

The brand’s franchise model is not only affordable but also designed to deliver quick returns. TeaMax Cafe franchises boast high gross profit margins, typically ranging from 50% to 60%, with a return on investment (ROI) expected within 8 to 12 months. This attractive financial proposition has fueled the brand’s rapid adoption across both urban centers and smaller towns.

Customer-Centric Strategy

TeaMax Cafe’s success is also deeply rooted in its customer-centric approach. The brand has made a concerted effort to understand and cater to the preferences of its target audience, which includes young professionals, students, and tea lovers. By offering a diverse menu of customizable tea options, alongside a selection of snacks and light meals, TeaMax Cafe has struck a chord with its patrons.

Quality is at the heart of TeaMax Cafe’s offerings. The brand uses premium ingredients and maintains a transparent pricing model, ensuring customers receive excellent value for their money. This commitment to quality and transparency has helped TeaMax build a loyal customer base and a strong reputation in the market.

Leveraging Innovation and Technology

Innovation has played a key role in TeaMax Cafe’s operational efficiency and market reach. The brand has implemented a state-of-the-art cafe management system that simplifies daily operations for franchisees. This system includes features such as inventory management, sales tracking, and customer relationship management, enabling franchisees to run their outlets smoothly and effectively.

Moreover, TeaMax Cafe has effectively harnessed the power of digital marketing. The brand’s active engagement on social media platforms, coupled with strategic influencer partnerships, has significantly boosted its visibility. This digital-savvy approach has not only attracted a growing customer base but also prospective franchisees interested in a business model that aligns with modern marketing trends.

Nationwide Growth and Future Prospects

TeaMax Cafe’s expansion strategy has been nothing short of ambitious. In a short span of time, the brand has established a presence in both metropolitan areas and smaller towns across India. This widespread growth underscores the effectiveness of TeaMax Cafe’s business model and its appeal to a diverse market.

Looking ahead, TeaMax Cafe shows no signs of slowing down. The brand has set its sights on further expansion, aiming to reach 1,000 outlets by the end of the next fiscal year. With a particular focus on penetrating Tier II and III cities, TeaMax Cafe is poised to continue its upward trajectory, offering more opportunities for entrepreneurs and setting new benchmarks in the tea cafe industry.

In conclusion, TeaMax Cafe’s rapid expansion across India can be attributed to its affordable and profitable franchise model, a strong customer-centric strategy, and the innovative use of technology. As the brand continues to grow, it is redefining the cafe landscape in India, making it an exciting player to watch in the coming years.

Tilaknagar Industries approves ₹8.03 crore investment in beverage company Bartisans

News Desk — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:18:03 +0000

Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. (NSE: TI) announced an investment of ₹8.03 crore in Round the Cocktails Private Limited, also known as Bartisans, a ‘ready to pour’ beverage company specializing in non-alcoholic mixers for cocktails and mocktails. The investment was approved during the Finance Committee meeting held on September 19, 2024.

As part of the investment, Tilaknagar Industries will subscribe to 2,352 Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) and 1 equity share, amounting to 13.52% of Bartisans’ share capital, for ₹3 crore. Additionally, the company will purchase 163 equity shares and 3,781 CCPS from existing shareholders, increasing its stake to 22.65% for ₹5.03 crore. In total, Tilaknagar Industries will own 36.17% of Bartisans on a fully diluted basis.

Bartisans, founded in 2021, is a growing player in the cocktail mixer market, offering 17 unique flavors. The company reported sales of ₹3.5 crore for FY23-24. This investment aligns with Tilaknagar’s goal to tap into India’s burgeoning cocktail culture and explore synergies with its existing portfolio of brandy and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by November 15, 2024.

Skydo raises $5 million in pre-Series A round led by Elevation Capital

Aditya Bhagchandani — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 06:20:37 +0000

Skydo, a Bengaluru-based cross-border payments startup, has secured $5 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Elevation Capital. This investment marks another significant milestone for the company as it continues to expand its services for enterprises, MSMEs, and freelancers.

Key Highlights

Funding Round: The $5 million pre-Series A round was led by Elevation Capital, which had previously invested in Skydo during its seed round in 2022. At that time, Skydo raised $5.2 million, also led by Elevation Capital.
Company Growth: Co-founder Movin Jain announced that Skydo has experienced a 10x growth over the past year. He emphasized that the company aims to empower exporters and enterprises to operate globally without the hassle of chasing payments or managing compliance. Skydo’s goal is to process $750 million by 2025.
Founders and Vision: Skydo was founded in 2022 by Srivatsan Sridhar, former head of business at OLA, and Movin Jain, former head of payments product at PhonePe. The company focuses on providing seamless international payment solutions for businesses, helping them navigate the complexities of cross-border transactions.

Future Plans

Skydo is currently awaiting approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a cross-border payment aggregator (PA-CB) license. This approval will further enhance Skydo’s ability to facilitate international payments and expand its reach in the global market.

Union Budget 2024: What is Angel Tax? Know more about the law abolished

Aditya Bhagchandani — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 09:18:40 +0000

On July 23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the abolition of the “angel tax” in the Budget 2024, bringing significant relief to startups and their investors. Here’s a look at the history of the angel tax and its implications for the startup ecosystem.

What is Angel Tax?

Angel Tax, formally known as Section 56 (2) (viib) of the Income Tax Act, was a tax imposed on funds raised by startups from angel investors that exceeded the fair market value of the company. For instance, if a startup with a fair market value of Rs 1 crore raised Rs 1.5 crore from angel investors, the excess Rs 50 lakh was subject to tax. The tax rate was around 31 percent, as tax authorities considered the premium paid by investors as income.

Origins of the Angel Tax

The angel tax was introduced in the 2012 Union Budget by then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The main aim was to prevent money laundering through investments in startups and to catch bogus firms.

Issues Faced by Startups

Many startups found the angel tax excessively burdensome and unfair. They argued that assessing the fair market value of a startup was impractical, with Assessing Officers often using the discounted cash flow method, which seemed to favor tax authorities. Startups reported receiving tax notices for investments raised 3-4 years earlier, with some tax and late payment fees exceeding the original funding amount. In 2019, a survey by LocalCircles showed that over 73 percent of startups raising capital between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore received angel tax notices.

Impact on Domestic and Foreign Investors

Initially, the angel tax applied only to investments made by resident investors but was later extended to foreign investments. Although the 2019 Union Budget provided some relief by exempting Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-registered startups, it wasn’t a blanket exemption. Only startups certified by the Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB), a group of bureaucrats assessing innovation, qualified for the exemption. Out of 84,000 DPIIT-registered startups, less than 1 percent were IMB-certified.

The removal of the angel tax is expected to foster a more supportive environment for startups, encouraging investment and innovation without the looming threat of unfair tax burdens. This change reflects a significant step towards making India a more attractive destination for both domestic and international investors.

India Inflection Opportunity Fund invests Rs 500 million in Noida-based Nurture Well Foods

Markets Desk — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:59:13 +0000

Noida-based Nurture Well Foods Private Limited confirmed the closure of the private placement round, with India Inflection Opportunity Fund (IIOF) investing Rs 500 million in the company.

Nurture Well specializes in manufacturing and selling of multi-category premium cookies and biscuits such as butter-rich cookies, centre-filled products, and more. The Company supplies its products through retail outlets and also online through different e-tailing portals. It has a strong distribution network of 150+ Business Partners covering North Indian states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh. The Company’s biscuits are also sold in international markets such as UAE, Kuwait, Somalia, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Seychelles.

The Company has a State-of-the-art manufacturing unit in Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPPIP), Alwar District (Rajasthan), with total installed capacity of approx. 32,200 MTPA. Further, the Company has overseas subsidiary catering to global markets. The Company has manufacturing tie-ups in Malaysia inorder to seize the benefits of raw material availability and smooth global supply chain.

Nurture Well demonstrates a strong and solid financial foundation, Nurture Well has an approximate top line of Rs 2,750 Mn growing at CAGR of 47% over Fiscal 2021 to 2024. The Company had robust return ratios of Return on Equity of 28% and Return on Capital Employed of 24% with Fixed Asset Turnover of 3.8x.

POP Raises $2.4 Mn Seed Funding from India Quotient and Others to launch its UPI Play

News Desk — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:15:06 +0000

POP, a Bengaluru-based startup, has announced that it has closed a $2.4 million seed funding round led by India Quotient and a few prominent angel investors recently.

The Bengaluru-based startup also announced that it had received approval as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to offer UPI payments via its POPclub app.

The company, in partnership with financial firms such as Yes Bank and Juspay, has built its UPI stack. The funding will help expedite the implementation of various initiatives, including the POP UPI service that will enable users to earn POPcoins, a shopping currency already used by 200+ online merchants, with every UPI transaction made through the POPclub app.

These POPcoins can be used to buy a wide range of products from all major direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands in categories such as beauty, personal care, electronics, fashion, and home goods- all housed within the POPclub app.

Bhargav Errangi, Founder of POP, said, “POP’s goal is to become the most sought-after go-to platform for payments and shopping for digitally active young Indians. As consumer behaviours evolve, we aim to provide innovative app experiences tailored to their interests in daily consumption.”

Unlike other UPI players, POP emphasises a 2% value back (via POPcoins) for every UPI transaction. “POPcoins-led rewards offer a predictable and consistent reward promise compared to the luck-based and gamified models of other UPI apps. These POPcoins can be effectively used to purchase over 100,000 SKUs our target audience consumes. Our ambition is to position POPcoins as the shopping currency for purchasing the new-age products/services that resonate with evolving new-age Indian consumer’s preferences,” said Errangi, who has a track record of scaling Flipkart Supercoins in his previous role.

POP joins prominent players like Google Pay, PhonePe, WhatsApp, CRED, and Paytm as a third-party app authorised to provide UPI payments. Marketed as ‘Designed to reward,’ the POPclub UPI application is now rolled out with attractive launch offers and is now available to download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

BharatX acquires healthcare finance startup Zenifi

Aditya Bhagchandani — Wed, 29 May 2024 18:16:00 +0000

Y Combinator-backed fintech startup BharatX has acquired Zenifi, a healthcare finance startup known for offering zero-cost and low-cost EMI solutions.

With this acquisition, Padam Kataria, the co-founder and CEO of Zenifi, will join BharatX as the head of business for healthcare.

Zenifi, founded in 2023 by Padam Kataria, Harshit Shrivastava, and Rajendra Kulkarni, has been providing affordable EMI options to help healthcare providers improve conversion rates. The company has partnered with multiple hospitals and aggregators, generating an annual demand worth over Rs. 1.2 crore.

The acquisition will enable Zenifi to leverage BharatX’s existing lending platform for better economic outcomes. It will also allow BharatX to enter the healthcare sector, expanding its reach.

BharatX, which supports financing options for over 125 brands in a white-labeled manner, has grown 33 times in the past five quarters and raised over $4.7 million. The startup has disbursed credit to more than 200,000 users.

Mehul Jindal, Co-founder CEO, BharatX says, “Healthcare sector in India faces a significant challenge when it comes to paying for medical services. This becomes a problem especially during emergencies. India continues to spend the largest amount for accessing healthcare through their own pockets, making availing medical facilities an expensive proposition. We have been working with Zenifi that is addressing this problem head-on by providing realistic and affordable solutions. This acquisition will allow BharatX to go deeper into the healthcare vertical where currently no fintech or traditional players are able to disburse credit instantly, which is critical in emergency healthcare.”

Padam Kataria, CEO, Zenifi, says, “Joining forces with BharatX is a good opportunity for Zenifi. We have firsthand experience of making medical lending easy and accessible and with BharatX’s well-established credit as a service, the synergies between the two companies will ensure that we can accelerate the speed with which we capture the market. Our goal is to offer easy credit solutions to millions of Indians who are currently left with no choice but to pay OOP for medical situations.”

Mumbai and Bengaluru among global startup cities: Check Top 10 cities across globe in 2024

Adnan Nasir — Tue, 28 May 2024 18:26:32 +0000

In recent years, the global startup scene has witnessed a remarkable innovation and expansion, attracting increased attention from investors across the world. The surge in the activity has led to startups in various countries raising significant funding and achieving multi- billion dollar valuation. Cities around the globe are now actively vying to position themselves as leading startup hubs.

Times of India recently shared the latest rankings for the global Venture Capital ecosystem as per PitchBook. While India’s Mumbai and Bengaluru have made to the Top 50 – with 32nd and 34th position, respectively -, here we shall look at Top 10.

1. San Francisco, USA

San Francisco, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, has garnered global recognition as a beacon of innovation, nurturing a multitude of influential startups that have left indelible marks across various sectors. Trailblazing companies such as Airbnb, Uber, Slack, Stripe, and OpenAI have revolutionized their respective industries, propelling them to the forefront of their domains.

2. New York City, USA

New York City pulsates with a vibrant energy, serving as a bustling hub for startups spanning diverse sectors like media, advertising, fintech, and e-commerce. This dynamic metropolis has given birth to pioneering companies such as WeWork, redefining office spaces, and Peloton, leading the charge in fitness technology, among others.

3. Beijing, China

Beijing, China’s technology epicenter, fosters a thriving ecosystem for startups specializing in e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and social media. This dynamic environment has birthed leading companies like ByteDance and JD.com, which have emerged as industry titans.

4. Shanghai, China

Shanghai thrives as a startup hub, fueled by its dynamic entrepreneurial landscape and technological advancements. The city plays host to notable startups such as Pinduoduo, an innovative e-commerce platform, and NIO, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, both testament to its innovative spirit.

5. Los Angeles, USA

Los Angeles, renowned for its entertainment sector, is emerging as a tech startup hub in its own right. Home to companies like Snap Inc. and SpaceX, it fosters innovation in media and entertainment technology, with firms like Hulu and Riot Games at the forefront of this transformation.

6. Boston, USA

Boston, revered for its academic prowess with institutions like MIT and Harvard, drives innovation in biotech, healthcare, and robotics. Companies like Moderna and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, products of Boston’s research ecosystem, lead the charge in medical innovation.

7. London, United Kingdom

London, a leading financial and tech hub globally, hosts startups like Revolut and TransferWise, revolutionizing the finance sector, and Deliveroo in food delivery. Health tech innovation thrives here with companies like Babylon Health at the vanguard.

8. Shenzhen, China

Shenzhen, dubbed China’s Silicon Valley, is a major player in the country’s startup landscape. Notable companies like DJI, known for drones, and Tencent, a leader in social media and gaming, hail from here. Huawei, a telecom giant, also calls Shenzhen home.

9. Seoul, South Korea

Seoul stands as a top tech and innovation hub in South Korea, with flourishing sectors in e-commerce, gaming, and beauty tech led by pioneering companies like Coupang and Naver. Additionally, the city’s biotechnology sector thrives with companies like Seegene leading in molecular diagnostics.

10. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, renowned for its rich traditions, has emerged as a dynamic tech and innovation hub, boasting a thriving startup scene in robotics, AI, and e-commerce. Leading startups like Mercari, Japan’s premier marketplace app, and Preferred Networks, a significant player in artificial intelligence, call Tokyo home.

Delhivery rolls out fully women-led hub in Rajasthan to promote women empowerment

Markets Desk — Wed, 01 May 2024 10:27:40 +0000

Logistics service provider Delhivery has rolled out a 100% women-led hub in Sikar, Rajasthan. The entire operations of this Sikar hub will be managed by an all-female staff. The announcement comes in for promoting greater enrollment and empowerment of women in the logistics industry and also advancing overall diversity within the company. The company had earlier successfully scaled women’s participation at its gateways in Tauru (Haryana), Bhiwandi (Mumbai), and other locations in India. Women already constitute 66% of the total workforce at the processing center in Tauru. Many more such all-women hubs are in the pipeline, the company said in a release today.

In the last one year, Delhivery has accelerated the recruitment of women in their team, with their headcount increasing by ~60% in FY24 as compared to ~15% in FY23. At Sikar, women will be responsible for all functions, including administration, operations, and security. Delhivery provides diversified opportunities for women even in non-traditional roles like driving batteryoperated pallet trucks (BOPTs), loading and unloading trucks.

List of the top sustainable startups shaping the future

Jennifer Philip — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:08:26 +0000

Climate change is a pressing global issue that continues to accelerate each year due to the detrimental impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels, methane, and carbon dioxide for energy consumption, as well as various industrial activities such as polycarbonate pollution, rapid expansion of electric power generation, deforestation for paper manufacturing, oil drilling, transportation, and other practices, contribute significantly to this environmental crisis. In response to this challenge, a growing number of sustainable startups are emerging, dedicated to mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting a more sustainable future. These startups operate on the principles of sustainability, encouraging individuals, communities, and industries to adopt eco-friendly practices and embrace a greener way of life. Let us take a look at some of the top sustainability startups.

Viva Maris GmbH

Based in Schenefeld, Germany, Viva Maris GmbH is a green startup dedicated to protecting the ocean through nutrition, education, and raising awareness about the human impact on marine ecosystems. The company creates innovative food products using the ultra-sustainable and nutrient-rich ingredient algae. By promoting algae-based nutrition, Viva Maris GmbH aims to reduce the strain on oceanic resources while providing consumers with environmentally conscious food choices.

Algenesis

Algenesis, an eco-friendly startup founded in 2016 by Dr. Stephen Mayfield and based in San Diego, California, is tackling the issue of plastic pollution with a groundbreaking solution. Utilizing their patented Soleic™ technology, Algenesis produces fully biodegradable plastic derived from algae. This renewable and high-performance material competes with traditional plastics, offering a sustainable alternative that aligns with environmental conservation efforts.

Bottle+

Bottle+, a Swiss startup, has developed a reusable water bottle that can transform flat water into sparkling water with the help of a small CO2 tank attached to the bottom of the bottle. By eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles, Bottle+ aims to reduce the production of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Smart Microfarms

Smart Microfarms, located in Richmond, California, is revolutionizing the cultivation of the highly sustainable and nutritious algae known as Spirulina. By empowering individuals and communities with accessible algae farming solutions, Smart Microfarms promotes food security, entrepreneurship, and a more sustainable food system.

Fuergy

Fuergy, a startup founded in 2018 by Branislav Safarik, Radoslav Stompf, Rastislav Kuba, and Vladimir Miskovsky, is based in Slovakia and focused on providing alternative energy sources while prioritizing a seamless and appealing transition. The company has developed a highly scalable hardware device and AI-powered software called “BrAIn” to optimize energy consumption and reduce energy costs for users. By offering innovative solutions, Fuergy aims to accelerate the mitigation of fossil fuel energy use and promote the adoption of renewable energy sources

Biome Makers

Biome Makers, founded in 2015 by Alberto Acedo and Adrián Ferrero, is an agtech and biotech startup based in Davis, California. Their mission is to restore soil health, a crucial step towards a more sustainable future. By providing detailed reporting and analytics on soil fertility, biodiversity, and overall health, Biome Makers empowers farmers with valuable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and implement impactful changes on their farms.

Aurora Solar

As the demand for sustainable energy sources continues to rise, Aurora Solar, a climate tech startup based in San Francisco, California, is at the forefront of solar energy solutions. Their innovative software enables solar energy companies to design and sell solar panel systems remotely, streamlining the process and promoting the adoption of clean energy. With the US government planning a substantial $2 trillion investment in the industry, startups like Aurora Solar are poised to drive the transition towards a more sustainable future.

Treeapp

Treeapp, a London-based app, has revolutionized the way we contribute to reforestation efforts. With just a few taps on their phone, users can plant trees across the globe, making it convenient and accessible to support environmental initiatives. In its first year alone, Treeapp facilitated the planting of 230,000 trees worldwide. By partnering with businesses and organizations that share a passion for sustainability, Treeapp offers users the opportunity to track their global impact for free while actively contributing to a greener planet.}

EcoCart

EcoCart, a San Francisco-based e-commerce startup founded in 2019 by Peter Twomey and Dane Baker, provides a unique solution for eco-conscious consumers. Their browser extension allows users to offset their carbon emissions for free from select businesses. To date, EcoCart has offset an impressive 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, saved over 8,000 trees, and helped power more than 700 homes, making a tangible impact on environmental sustainability.

Bluebird Climate

Bluebird Climate, a SaaS startup based in New York, is on a mission to empower brands worldwide to measure and improve their sustainability practices. By focusing on the consumer products industry, a significant contributor to carbon emissions, Bluebird Climate aims to decarbonize the sector. Their software provides consumer brands with the tools to produce and market products with minimal or zero carbon emissions, fostering partnerships and collaboration towards a more sustainable future.

Encamp

Encamp is a software company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated to streamlining environmental compliance and promoting sustainability within organizations. Their mission is two-fold: to increase operational efficiencies in achieving sustainability goals while simultaneously creating a positive impact on the environment. Encamp’s innovative platform enables organizations to mitigate risks and transform their environmental compliance programs through the digitization of data tracking and the unification of workflows across multiple facilities.

This article has been modified using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

10 fastest-growing tech startups and companies

Jennifer Philip — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:07:19 +0000

During the initial years of the pandemic, the technology industry experienced significant growth as companies hastened their digital transformation initiatives. Although the past two years have presented various challenges, the industry is rapidly bouncing back. Let us take a look at some of the fastest-growing tech startups and companies that are making a heavy impact on the tech landscape.

GoMechanic

GoMechanic is an online platform that simplifies car servicing for users in India. Through their website and mobile app, customers can schedule appointments, receive upfront pricing estimates, and access service records for their vehicles. GoMechanic partners with a network of authorized service centres, enabling them to service over two million cars annually across the country

Rytr

Rytr is an AI writing assistant that accelerates content creation for various purposes. By leveraging advanced language models, Rytr can generate high-quality text for blog posts, social media updates, product descriptions, and more, based on the user’s input and requirements. With Rytr, individuals and businesses can streamline their content production processes, saving time and effort while maintaining quality output

WriteSonic

WriteSonic is an AI-powered copywriting tool designed to enhance content creation for businesses and individuals. By analyzing the user’s inputs and desired outcomes, WriteSonic generates compelling and relevant content for websites, marketing campaigns, social media, and various other applications. Its user-friendly interface and customizable features enable users to optimize their content production workflow, ensuring consistent and high-quality output.

Beehiiv

Beehiiv is a rapidly growing publishing platform that empowers newsletter creators to build and monetize their email lists. Founded in 2020, Beehiiv has experienced exponential growth, with 150,000 publishers and 50 million unique readers as of 2024. The platform offers tools for creating, distributing, and monetizing newsletters through its integrated advertising network, providing a comprehensive solution for content creators seeking to expand their reach and revenue streams.

VineHealth

VineHealth is a digital health platform designed specifically for cancer patients. Through their user-friendly mobile app, patients can input their symptoms, medication information, and other relevant data. Leveraging advanced AI algorithms, VineHealth generates personalized health reports, providing patients with valuable insights into their current health status and activity. With over 10,000 downloads on the Google Play Store, VineHealth has become a trusted companion for many individuals navigating their cancer journey.

Dataships

Dataships is a data privacy compliance service that streamlines database management for organizations. Based in Dublin, Ireland, the startup has developed software that automatically ensures databases adhere to various data laws and regulations. Dataships’ innovative solution helps businesses navigate the complexities of data privacy compliance, providing peace of mind and mitigating risks associated with non-compliance. With over 70 customers already relying on their services, Dataships has established itself as a trusted partner for organizations seeking to protect sensitive information while maintaining operational efficiency.

Nuanced Health

Nuanced Health is a pioneering biotech company that incorporates biological diversity into the therapeutic drug discovery process. By accounting for variations in biological compositions, Nuanced Health enables researchers to study how drugs respond differently across individuals, paving the way for the development of personalized and targeted therapies. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize drug development, ensuring that treatments are tailored to individual needs and characteristics, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

6AM City

6AM City is a publishing technology company that offers a unique newsletter-first local news service. By aggregating, curating, and condensing information from various sources across multiple cities in the US, 6AM City delivers concise daily updates directly to subscribers’ inboxes. Funded by a $5M investment round in late 2021, the startup aims to grow by approximately 300% in 2022, expanding its reach and providing residents with convenient access to hyper-local news and information relevant to their communities.

Alaiko

Alaiko provides a comprehensive logistics-as-a-service solution that empowers online stores to automate their fulfilment processes seamlessly. By offering a combination of warehousing facilities, software, packing, and delivery services, Alaiko enables e-commerce businesses to guarantee next-day delivery and ensure accurate shipping. With over 150 online brands leveraging Alaiko’s services, the startup has established itself as a trusted partner, streamlining supply chain operations and enhancing customer satisfaction through efficient and reliable order fulfilment.

This article has been modified using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

10 thriving space startups in India

Jennifer Philip — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:05:59 +0000

India’s space technology sector experienced significant expansion, with over $205 million secured in funding through more than 30 deals from 2014 to July 2023. Let us take a look at the fast-growing space startups established in India.

Agnikul

Agnikul, established in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM, and SR Chakravarthy, achieved a significant milestone by constructing its own launchpad and mission control centre at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The space tech startup has raised a total of $40 million across seven funding rounds, with its most recent round of $26.7 million in October 2023 backed by investors like Celesta Capital, and Rocketship. VC, and Mayfield India. Agnikul has attracted backing from prominent angel investors, including Sriram Krishnan from Andreessen Horowitz, Anand Mahindra, Nithin Kamath of Zerodha, and Naval Ravikant from AngelList.

Astrogate Labs

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Astrogate Labs, founded in 2017 by Aditya Kedlaya and Nitish Singh, is at the forefront of enabling high-speed communications for small satellites. The startup is dedicated to unveiling its groundbreaking space-to-ground laser communications link. After securing undisclosed funding from Speciale Invest in 2019 and $200K from 9Unicorns Accelerator Fund in 2020, Astrogate Labs aims to address the challenge of high-speed communication in space by establishing a comprehensive chain of optical communication systems.

Bellatrix Aerospace

Bellatrix Aerospace, a space tech startup established in 2015 by Rohan M Ganapathy and Yashas Karanam, has successfully raised a total of $11.1 million in funding across four rounds, with the latest round led by ANIC-ARISE in 2022. The company’s primary focus is on the development of advanced in-space propulsion systems and rocket propulsion technologies, dedicated to making space more accessible and affordable for various applications.

Blue Sky Analytics

Founded in 2018 by siblings Abhilasha Purwar and Kshitij Purwar, Blue Sky Analytics is a geospatial data intelligence company leveraging cloud and AI to build an API-based catalogue of environmental datasets. Utilizing proprietary AI and ML models, the startup provides data analytics for various environmental indicators, including greenhouse gas emissions, climate risks (floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat), and environmental monitoring. Blue Sky Analytics’ use cases include monitoring and measuring climate risks, calculating climate VaR (value at risk), and stress testing for various warming scenarios.

Dhruva Space

Established in 2012 by Sanjay Nekkanti, Dhruva Space is a Hyderabad-based space tech startup specializing in providing integrated solutions for space-based applications by offering satellites, earth stations, and launching services as a comprehensive package. In 2021, Dhruva achieved a milestone by becoming the first Indian entity to receive an order for the design and development of space-qualified solar arrays from inception. The startup asserts itself as the sole private space technology company in India with capabilities in both satellite and launcher interfaces.

Digantara

Founded in 2018 by Anirudh Sharma, Rahul Rawat, and Tanveer Ahmed, the Bengaluru-based startup Digantara is focused on a sustainable space environment and working on developing a space debris detector. The startup aims to create an ecosystem for small satellites in India and has networked with local partners.

Digantara is creating a comprehensive infrastructure to address the challenges of space operations and effectively manage space traffic. Through its Space Mission Assurance Platform, the company aims to offer end-to-end solutions for ensuring the success and safety of space missions.

Kawa Space

Established in 2019 by Bala Menon and Kris Nair, Mumbai-based Kawa Space specializes in developing essential earth observation infrastructure. The startup has raised a total of $1.2 million in four rounds, with the latest round announced in April 2023 and led by the AWS Space Accelerator.

Pixxel

Established in 2019 by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, alumni of BITS Pilani, Bengaluru-based Pixxel is developing a constellation of high-resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites. The company aims to provide clients with AI-powered insights that facilitate real-time detection, resolution, and prediction of climate-related issues. Pixxel primarily operates in the hyperspectral imaging sphere, providing better analysis of the Earth’s surface and capturing high-resolution images for data analysis. The startup is looking to launch six commercial satellites, which will be the first set to sell data commercially.

Eon Space Labs

In 2022, Punit Badeka, Manoj Kumar Gaddam, and Sanjay Kumar established Eon Space Labs, specializing in the production of optical payloads designed for satellites, UAVs, and drones. Eon’s cutting-edge technology enables clients to capture high-resolution images while maintaining a smaller SWaP (size, weight, and power) factor. Its range of offerings includes the miniaturized optical imagery payload for CubeSats DEGA and another under-development prototype called Tuniga.

SatSure

Established in 2017 by Prateep Basu, Rashmit Singh Sukhmani, and Abhishek Raju, SatSure, a space tech startup headquartered in Bengaluru, leverages satellite data to provide ‘decision intelligence’ services to the BFSI, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors. The company aims to democratize space data accessibility for its users and provides a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that empowers financial institutions to extend on-demand credit facilities to farmers.

This article has been modified using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

Aurionpro Solutions acquires Mumbai-based BFSI startup Arta.ai

Markets Desk — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:09:21 +0000

Aurionpro Solutions on Friday announced that they have completed acquisition of Mumbai-based Banking and Insurance focusedPaaS startup, Arya.ai. With Arya.ai, Aurionpro will significantly enhance its portfolio of enterprise fintech offerings to expeditethe adoption of AI that is responsible, accurate, and auditable, aligning strongly with the rapidly evolving demands of Banks and Insurers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Aurionpro Solutions Ltd. will acquire a majority stake (67%) in Arya.ai. This acquisition will bring products and expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Intelligent Automation, PaaS, Autonomous AI Platforms, and tailored industry solutions, to complement and strengthen Aurionpro’s existing industry leading portfolio. Arya.ai Enterprise AI solutions are trusted by 100+ Banks and Insurers across Asia.

The transaction comprises acquisition of shares held by the existing shareholders and subscription of new equity capital in the company. This will be an all-cash deal. The aggregate investment including secondary acquisition and fund infusion is approximately 16.5 MN USD.

By integrating Arya.ai’s cutting-edge AI cloud platform, with Aurionpro’s comprehensive suite of offerings, the company intends to create an industry leading Enterprise AI platform sharply focused on creating value for financial institutions globally. Leveraging Arya.ai’s expertise in AI solutions and comprehensive governance tools will greatly accelerate Aurionpro’s vision of creating the next generation of highly differentiated software that leads the industry in helping financial Institutions realize true business value from Enterprise AI.

BYJU’s CEO Arjun Mohan resigns from company, Raveendran to take over ops

Markets Desk — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 04:12:53 +0000

BYJU’s today morning (Monday, April 15) announced that their CEO Arjun Mohan has resigned from the company and will now take on an external advisory role. The company said that it has announced a major reorganization to streamline its operations and position the company for long-term success. The changes follow an extensive seven-month operational review and cost optimization exercise led by outgoing BYJU’S India CEO Arjun Mohan. Mohan will now transition to an external advisory role, lending his deep EdTech expertise to the company and its founders during this transformation phase.

“This reorganization marks the start of BYJU’S 3.0 – a leaner and more agile organization ready to quickly adapt to evolving market dynamics, especially in the realm of hyper-personalized education,” said Byju Raveendran, Founder and Group CEO of the company. “By focusing on our core strengths with three specialized business units, we will unlock new growth opportunities while continuing to focus on profitability.” “Arjun has done an outstanding job steering BYJU’S through a challenging period,” he added. “We are grateful for his leadership and look forward to his continued contributions as a strategic advisor.”

Contentstack Announces New Partnership with Google Cloud

Markets Desk — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:44:53 +0000

Contentstack, the leading Composable Digital Experience Platform (DXP) provider, today announced a new partnership with Google Cloud. This partnership expands the addressable market for composable digital experiences, providing global brands with even greater options for how they create, manage, and deliver solutions.

“We’re excited about how this new partnership will elevate digital experiences for both Contentstack and Google Cloud customers,” said Nishant Patel, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Contentstack. “Brands will get even more flexibility, scalability, and security in their content and digital strategies. They can also take direct advantage of Google Cloud’s AI models.”

Each element of the new partnership adds unique value to Contentstack and its users.

Google Cloud Hosting Support: Contentstack customers can tap into a comprehensive cloud solution platform that is secure and scalable for hosting their Contentstack data and applications, making Contentstack the first DXP provider to support all three major cloud providers worldwide.
Listing on Google Cloud Marketplace: This presence simplifies the process for Google Cloud customers to discover and procure Contentstack as part of their existing Google Cloud invoice.

Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program: Contentstack has achieved Google Cloud Partner Level for the Build engagement model and joined this trusted program to empower its customers with the latest innovative digital transformations and speed time to value through seamless integrations across technology on Google Cloud.

“Bringing Contentstack to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow the Composable Digital Experience Platform on Google Cloud’s trusted, global infrastructure,” said Dai Vu, Managing Director, Marketplace & ISV GTM Programs at Google Cloud. “Contentstack can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.”

NetApp Mentors DeepTech Startups through NetApp Excellerator

Markets Desk — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:08:36 +0000

Nasdaq-listed NetApp® the intelligent data infrastructure company, announced the graduation of five startups from the 12^th cohort of its flagship accelerator program, NetApp Excellerator at the demo day. Five data-driven deep tech startups: NEMA AI, Zeron, Chaos Genius, Kensu, and Blockfenders, pitched to investors, industry leaders, mentors, and NetApp leaders. Cohort 12 startups focused on developing cutting-edge solutions in data management, neuroscience, and AI-based consumer insights. These ventures exemplify the growing trend of enabling data orchestration and optimisation, as well as data security-focused new-age businesses.

Over the last year, Gen AI has cemented its position for its potential to automate tasks, and drive product innovation. Organisations today, including startups, require secure, high-performance access to data spread across complex hybrid and multicloud environments. At this juncture, NetApp’s approach to AI equips them with solutions that deliver management simplicity, anywhere data lives.

“Through the cohorts we have seen an increase in the number of startups that are leveraging deep tech to offer data-centric and unique business solutions. The entrepreneurs exemplify the power of collaboration and perseverance in shaping the future of technology” said Ravi Chhabria, Managing Director at NetApp India. “This cohort also marks the graduation of 18 startups mentored under NetApp ExcellerateHER – an initiative that mentors startups with women founders to help them navigate specific challenges. Congratulations to all the participating startups, we applaud the innovative spirit and transformative ideas that have emerged.”

In alignment with this focus, startups like NEMA AI, Chaos Genius, and Zeron, co-founded by women, are crucial contributors to addressing contemporary challenges. Ventures like NEMA AI have led to advancements in neuroscience and AI-based consumer insights, reshaping strategies across sectors like education, branding, and marketing. Additionally, Chaos Genius stands at the forefront of data optimisation, serving as a pivotal tool for Snowflake users and empowering organisations with valuable insights for informed decision-making. Zeron, on the other hand, plays a pivotal role in cybersecurity, offering a single point of truth for informed decision-making.

FirstConnectt revolutionizes business communication with Ceptiv.io CPaaS Platform

News Desk — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 08:54:52 +0000

FirstConnectt, a Mumbai-based communication solutions and mobile engagement company, has unveiled its latest innovation in the realm of cloud communications with the launch of its platform as a service (CPaaS) called Ceptiv.io. This groundbreaking platform is set to revolutionize the way businesses engage with their customers globally, starting with the provision of programmable SMS APIs that seamlessly integrate into applications across more than 200 countries.

Shaibaz Shaikh, Co-Founder of FirstConnectt, emphasized the evolving nature of customer interactions in a globalized digital landscape. He stated, “With the rapid proliferation of mobile applications and web-based services, customers transcend geographical boundaries. To effectively engage with this global customer base, businesses require reliable and scalable communication solutions.” Ceptiv.io addresses this need by empowering businesses and developers, regardless of their telecom expertise, to craft cutting-edge applications capable of delivering automated messages such as transaction notifications, billing information, renewals, and feedback across diverse geographic regions.

While Ceptiv.io currently focuses on inbound and outbound SMS APIs, FirstConnectt has ambitious plans to expand its service offerings to include video and omni-channel communication platforms. Shaibaz Shaikh, Co-Founder at FirstConnectt, highlighted the company’s commitment to providing an enterprise-grade platform underpinned by the latest cloud technologies, ensuring security, scalability, and a remarkable 99.995% availability. Moreover, FirstConnectt has forged partnerships with over 800 operators worldwide, fortifying the network with robust redundancy measures to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery.
In addition to SMS capabilities, FirstConnectt is poised to introduce two new services to Ceptiv.io: RCS (Rich Communication Services) communications and WhatsApp Business integration. RCS offers an enriched messaging experience, allowing businesses to engage customers with interactive features such as rich media, suggested replies, and real-time chat. Meanwhile, WhatsApp Business integration enables seamless communication between businesses and their customers via the ubiquitous messaging platform, leveraging its extensive user base and convenient interface.

With these added services, FirstConnectt solidifies its position as a frontrunner in the CPaaS arena, empowering businesses to forge meaningful connections with customers worldwide through diverse communication channels. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, FirstConnectt remains committed to driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences in the realm of mobile engagement.

For more information, please visit: https://firstconnectt.com/

The Chair House Expands Distribution Network to Offer Ergonomic Comfort Across India

News Desk — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:15:06 +0000

The Chair House, a leading designer and manufacturer of ergonomic furniture in Mumbai, has expanded its services into three new key regions: Pune, Delhi, and Bangalore. This move strengthens the company’s national presence and allows it to offer its comprehensive selection of chairs to a wider audience across India.

Founded in 2006 by Abdul Khalik and Aaminah Khan, The Chair House is dedicated to creating chairs that promote health and comfort in the workplace. The company is committed in using its premium materials, state-of-the-art equipment, and rigorous quality control procedures.

“We are thrilled to expand our reach and make our ergonomic chairs more accessible to customers across India,” said Abdul Khalik, Co-founder of The Chair House. “By partnering with prominent distributors in these new regions, we aim to provide exceptional service and ensure that everyone can find the perfect chair to meet their needs.”

Aaminah Khan, Co-founder of The Chair House, added, “Our passion lies in delivering top-notch products that address diverse office seating requirements. We deliver work comfortably and productively, and our chairs are designed to do just that.”

The Chair House offers a wide range of ergonomic chair options, including:

Executive Chairs:Designed for comfort and support during long workdays.
Study Chairs:Provide students and home office users with proper posture and support.
Bar Stools:Available in various styles and heights to suit different needs.
Chair Parts:A comprehensive selection of parts for repair and customisation.

The company also offers chair repair services to ensure long-lasting comfort and functionality.

Customer Testimonials:

“Excellent product and superb after-sale service. Especially I would appreciate Abdul – the person who with great patience and care has supported me with all the issues” – Ashish & Prabha
“Worth it.. after so many vendor meetings, finally got what I wanted. Thanks to The Chair House..With trust, they have delivered product before the lead time with great quality and looks.” – Harshal Kol
“After a lot of searching and browsing, I found the Chair house for my broken Backrest for my chair. Customer support from Chair House is excellent. The product which I received is of excellent quality and was delivered quickly. The best part is the price; no one can provide this low price with high quality. Keep the Good work, Chair house.” – Jhonty

The Chair House is committed to providing its customers with:

Assured Quality:Using premium materials and state-of-the-art equipment.
Best Customer Service:Offering expert guidance and support.
Cost-Effectiveness:Delivering value for money without compromising on quality.
Comfortability:Designing chairs that promote good posture and prevent back pain.

With its expanded distribution network and commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, The Chair House is well-positioned to become India’s leading ergonomic furniture provider.

About The Chair House

The Chair House is India’s leading designer and manufacturer of ergonomic furniture. The company offers various chairs, chair parts, and repair services to help people work comfortably and productively.

Dermatology platform Cureskin secures $20 million in series B funding

Markets Desk — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:45:55 +0000

Cureskin, an AI-driven dermatology platform that provides clinically validated skin & hair health solutions, has raised Series B funding of USD 20 million. The round was led by India’s leading digital health-focused venture capital fund, HealthQuad along with participation from existing marquee investors including JSW Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Sharrp Ventures. The latest investment brings Cureskin’s total funding to USD 26 million, further fuelling its vision to widen access to quality dermatological care in India.

India grapples with a significant shortage of access to qualified dermatologists, leaving millions without quality skin care. At the same time, there is a significant and growing demand for such a solution in India due to its young and aspirational demographic.

Cureskin is expanding the skin and hair care market by bridging this gap by leveraging AI to scale the reach of dermatologists. Through its mobile app, Cureskin has treated over 15 Lakh customers so far for various conditions such as acne, hyper-pigmentation, post-acne issues, hair loss etc, with over 80% of customers in Tier 2 and 3 regions.

“We are delighted to have earned the backing of HealthQuad alongside our existing partners”, expressed Guna Kakulapati, CEO and Co-founder of Cureskin. “This investment reaffirms the growing demand for accessible expertise and quality care to solve skin & hair problems for people in India. These funds will help further enhance our AI capabilities, accelerate our growth and expand solution offerings. We aim to provide optimal skin and hair health to millions of individuals across the country.”

Sanjay Kumar announces launch of his new venture Rassense Pvt Ltd

News Desk — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 03:50:51 +0000

Mr. Sanjay Kumar, addressing attendees at the SPiCE Merger 2024 event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, regarding gaming investments, shared his learnings concerning investments in startups. Reflecting on his investment in Gamestacy India Private Limited., which was once chosen by Google as one of only three companies in India and thirty-five globally for its accelerator program, the company failed to monetize and build a business. Mr. Kumar emphasized the importance for investors to safeguard their investments by securing voting rights that provide visibility into the business’s governance, and if they are sole investors, then to ensure they participate in driving performance.

Additionally, Mr. Kumar underscored the prudence of investing in businesses in which one had domain familiarity as a direct financial investor. Although he previously served as CEO of a tech company, Altran Technologies India, Mr. Kumar noted that the gaming industry relies more heavily on technology applications post product development than during development itself, as the intellectual property for development is not particularly complex.

Mr. Kumar then went on to announce the launch of his new venture, in a domain he has been previously engaged with, i.e., food services, Rassense Private Limited. He outlined that this entity was created by the merger of two prominent food service companies, CRCL and WeGo Infinity, a corporate catering business in Bangalore and funded by Spark Capital through its Spark Equitized Credit Solutions Fund II.

Regarding the merger, and creation of this entity, Mr. Kumar highlighted his previous failed investment experience in Gamestacy, which came in handy as this time he engaged a broader team for structuring the transaction, including firms like Ernst & Young and a reputed national law firm to ensure compliance with Indian regulatory standards. Stressing the significance of advisors, Mr. Kumar emphasized the role of good advisors in ensuring tax and regulatory compliance aligns with local laws. Kumar emphasized the importance of conducting thorough due diligence on both the entity to be acquired and even more critical on the law firm or lawyers to be engaged in the process, as the quality of advice and engagement from this ecosystem significantly impacts a good transaction outcome.

With Rassense Private Limited now emerging as India’s largest domestically owned food service company with over 3500 employees, Mr. Kumar outlined his vision for integrating gaming and technology learnings into the delivery of food service solutions. Kumar stressed the increasing need for advanced technology solutions for tracking consumption patterns, production scheduling and inventory management, and abandoning reliance on experience or staff breadth for execution. Mr. Kumar also identified the opportunity for India to lead the world in utilizing cutting-edge tools for enhancing client solutions in the food service industry.

As a groundbreaking initiative, Mr. Kumar announced the launch of the world’s first food service company credentials presentation through an AI-generated video, signifying his belief in AI’s continuing significant role in business evolution. His insights into the transformative potential of gaming and technology, from enhancing hiring processes to improving food production, garnered enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Louisa AI secures $5 million in seed funding

Markets Desk — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:13:41 +0000

Louisa AI, a groundbreaking AI-powered platform has secured $5 million in seed funding to enhance its technology designed to systematise “serendipity” in professional settings. Originating from an innovative concept at Goldman Sachs in 2018, Louisa AI has matured into a powerful tool for sales enablement and deal-making, leveraging network effects to create timely and impactful business connections.

Now operating independently, Louisa AI focuses on eliminating conflicts of interest, enabling the company to form B2B SaaS partnerships across a variety of industries. This strategic autonomy supports Louisa AI’s mission to provide unbiased and effective connections, promoting a new level of collaborative intelligence.

The platform’s inception was inspired by a serendipitous encounter experienced by Founder Rohan Doctor at Goldman Sachs, leading to the realisation that such fortuitous moments could be systematised through AI. This vision has evolved into Louisa AI, a platform that not only prompts deals but also fosters collaborative intelligence within and between companies.

The seed funding round attracted support from Oxford University’s investment arms, a number of early-stage venture capitalists such as Palm Drive VC, Evolution VC, Nucleus VC and Gaingels and finally, ex-Goldman Sachs partners, colleagues, clients, friends and family offices, all of whom have seen the team execute on this innovative concept and trust in Doctor’s ability to scale the business globally.

Proptech Firm Reloy surpasses Rs 1,200 crore in referral sales in CY23

Markets Desk — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:07:31 +0000

Reloy, a homeowner loyalty and referral platform for builders, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Rs 1,200 Crores in referral sales in the calendar year 2023. This remarkable achievement underscores Reloy’s commitment to fostering trust and nurturing enduring relationships with its clients and partners.

Reloy is a unique, RERA-compliant, business model because it is built on revenues from homeowners’ love for real estate builders. Referral sales can only originate from happy homeowners, incentivizing builders to treat their homeowners better.

The platform manages close to 1.5 Lakh apartments coming up for possession, valued at Rs. 1.30 Lakh Cr+. Its clientele includes national partnerships with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Godrej Properties, DLF, M3M, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, Kolte Patil, Embassy Residential, Mahindra Lifespaces, K Raheja Corp, Brigade, Piramal, Rohan Builders, L&T Realty, Arvind Smartspaces, Smartworld, JP Infra, BPTP, Purti Realty to name a few.

“We are thrilled to have achieved this milestone, which reflects the trust and confidence that our clients and partners place in us. Our focus on developing innovative customer loyalty programs has resonated well with the market, driving our success in referral sales,” said Akhil Saraf, Founder & CEO of Reloy.

Central to Reloy’s success is its extensive network of 30,000 channel partners, carefully selected for their commitment to excellence. These partners play a vital role in Reloy’s growth strategy, contributing to its outreach and influence in the real estate sector.

In addition to its quantitative achievements, Reloy is distinguished by its focus on crafting unparalleled experiences for homeowners. Through curated events, exclusive deals, and a seamless moving-in experience, Reloy ensures that each customer’s journey is exceptional from start to finish.

Reloy’s impact in the market has positioned it as the preferred partner for renowned developers across the country. As a trailblazer in the Proptech landscape, Reloy continues to redefine the standards of excellence through its innovative solutions and customer-centric approach.

Proptech Crib invests $1 million in Crib Plus

Markets Desk — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 06:51:49 +0000

Crib, a property management app founded by Sunny Garg, Shaifali Jain, and Archit Chauhan in 2021, has unveiled its latest product, Crib Plus, a pro version of their current tool.

Crib made an investment exceeding $1 million to develop Crib Plus. The new version will cater specifically to the needs of large-scale student housing and co-living brands. This strategic move comes as these segments are poised for exponential growth in the coming years. According to last estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s residential rental market surpasses USD 20 billion, with urban areas accounting for 68% of this figure, equating to USD 13.5 billion.

A December 2021 report by Colliers revealed that India’s co-living market is on track to double by 2024. Additionally, a study conducted by Colliers India in June 2023 projected exponential growth in the student housing sector, driven by an anticipated influx of students reaching 31 million by 2036. The study underscored a significant gap between the existing supply of student beds (7.5 million) and the burgeoning demand, indicating substantial potential for growth in this sector.

Crib’s investment in Crib Plus underscores its commitment to addressing the evolving needs of the real estate market, particularly in the dynamic landscape of student housing and co-living.

Crib’s mobile app is currently used by over 1000 landlords managing 2500+ properties managing over 1,50,000 beds and a rental of 2500+ crores.

With the current suite of mobile apps, Crib helps landlords streamline their operations & finances. Whether it’s sending rent reminders, collecting online payments or signing agreements digitally, everything can be done via the Crib app. Crib Plus offers unparalleled advantages to student housing and co-living operators. Its cost is significantly lower, and can bring down the current cost of management by as much 25%. Moreover, users stand to benefit from the collective product intelligence embedded within Crib Plus, ensuring optimal functionality and user experience.

‘We realised that the enterprise customer managing over 1000+ tenants have a more comprehensive expectation from their property management tool like Detailed Financial Reporting, Business Analytics, sophisticated workflows like Asset Management, Visitor/Parcel Management, Expense Management along with personalised customisations & integrations. We are building Crib plus to satisfy these.’ said Shaifali Jain, Co-Founder & CPO, Crib

The new-age Co-Living & Student Housing Companies are heavily investing in their brands. They want to put their brand ahead whether it is on the building front or the mobile app. With Crib Plus, we’ll be able to provide them exactly what they need!” said Sunny Garg, Co-Founder & CEO, Crib

Crib has raised over 2M$ till date from investors like Rebright Partners, We Founder Circle and 50+ renowned founders and tech operators like Vijay Shekhar Sharma (PayTM), Kunal Shah (Cred), Ghazal Alagh (Mamaearth), Ramakant Sharma (Livspace), Sandeep Aggarwal (Droom, ShopClues), Ravi Bhushan (BrightChamps, Housing), Ankur Aggarwal (Dunzo).

Pet-care startup Supertails raises Rs 125 crore in Series B funding round

Aditya Bhagchandani — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 07:39:34 +0000

Pet-care startup Supertails has secured Rs 125 crore in its Series B funding round led by RPSG Capital Ventures. Existing investors like Fireside Ventures, Saama Capital, DSG Consumer Partners, and Sauce VC also participated in the funding.

The company, backed by Deepika Padukone, plans to utilize the capital to initiate offline operations, enhance its technological infrastructure, and expand its healthcare services, including Supertails Pharmacy. This funding injection arrives as Supertails diversifies into private labels, offering pet food and other products under its own brand name for the past nine months.

This marks Supertails’ largest funding round yet, with previous investments totaling Rs 90 crore from institutional investors and notable angels such as Kunal Shah from Cred and Varun Alagh from Mamaearth since its inception in June 2021.

Abhishek Goenka, Managing Partner at RPSG Capital Ventures, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the significant potential of India’s pet care industry as the country’s pet population grows steadily, driven by factors like nuclear families and urban lifestyles.

Founded by Varun Sadana, Aman Tekriwal, and Vineet Khanna, Supertails initially focused on educating pet owners before expanding into various pet care segments, including food, accessories, vet consultations, behavior training, and a pet pharmacy.

“With this recent round of funding, we envision building an even more organized and easily accessible ecosystem, tailored to the diverse and evolving needs of Indian pet parents,” the company’s founders stated in a joint statement.

AI startup Perplexity, backed by Jeff Bezos, challenges Google in Search

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:52:02 +0000

Founded by IITian Aravind Srinivas, AI startup Perplexity is making significant strides in the artificial intelligence industry, positioning itself as a formidable challenger to the dominance of Google. Notably, billionaire Jeff Bezos has recently invested in Perplexity, although the exact amount of the investment remains undisclosed.

Earlier this year, Perplexity raised approximately $74 million in a funding round, with notable investors including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Shopify. Co-founded by CEO Aravind Srinivas along with Johnny Ho and Denis Yarats, Perplexity has been gaining traction since its inception in August 2022.

Aravind Srinivas, an IIT Madras graduate with a dual degree in electrical engineering, pursued his PhD in computer science at the University of California. With a background that includes internships at OpenAI, DeepMind, and Google, Srinivas ventured into entrepreneurship after serving as a Research Scientist at Sam Altman’s AI firm.

Perplexity, valued at $520 million, is revolutionizing online information search through artificial intelligence. Described as an “answer engine,” Perplexity offers users a platform to ask any question and receive direct text responses, eliminating the need for traditional website links.

Using OpenAI’s GPT technology, Perplexity functions as a chatbot-style search engine, drawing data from online sources to provide comprehensive responses. Unlike conventional search engines, Perplexity aims to directly answer users’ queries, enhancing the search experience.

Aravind Srinivas emphasized Perplexity’s commitment to providing the best search experience, contrasting it with Google’s reliance on click-based revenue. With 10 million monthly users and significant growth in website visits, Perplexity is rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional search engines.

In an official statement, Perplexity announced a successful Series B funding round, raising $73.6 million from prominent tech investors. With support from venture capital firms and industry visionaries, Perplexity is poised to continue its expansion and innovation in the AI space.

Amber raises $21 Million led by Gaja Capital for global expansion

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:44:01 +0000

Global student housing solutions provider Amber has secured $21 million in its maiden external funding round led by Gaja Capital. Lighthouse Canton and Stride Ventures also participated in the round.

According to a press release by Amber, the fresh capital will be utilized for global expansion and to enhance its offerings for property managers and students.

Founded in 2017 by Saurabh Goel and Madhur Gujar, Amber simplifies the housing process for students worldwide by providing verified listings and an integrated booking experience with virtual property tours and expert assistance.

Amber claims to offer students from more than 50 countries a booking experience in over 250 cities around the world. Currently, it lists one million beds on its platform and operates in seven countries: the UK, the US, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Germany, and Spain.

The company has also developed an AI-based dynamic pricing engine and dashboard tools to help property managers streamline operations and maximize revenue.

Initially, Amber raised angel funding from investors such as Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal, Khatabook’s Ravish Naresh, and former FreeCharge co-founder Sandeep Tandon. Some of these investors have reportedly exited the firm.

In 2022, Amber achieved a gross bookings value (GBV) of $600 million, with operational revenue soaring to $15 million and a post-tax profit of $6 million. The company projected to surpass $1.2 billion in GBV for its partners in 2023.

Amber competes with several Indian brands in the student housing sector, including University Living, Your Space, Good Host Spaces, and Homversity.

Astrotalk secures $20 million in Series A funding for global expansion

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:40:29 +0000

Astrotalk, a spiritual tech startup, has successfully raised $20 million in its Series A funding round from New York-based venture capital firm Left Lane Capital.

The company plans to utilize the funds for strategic acquisitions to expand into international markets, solidify new business verticals, and hire senior leaders, according to an announcement made on February 12.

Founder and CEO of Astrotalk, Puneet Gupta, stated, “The company is eyeing expansion across the US, Canada, UK, and Middle East. One-on-one consultations stand to be approximately 95 percent of our revenue with about 20 percent of the revenues coming from outside of India.”

“Our aim is to take India’s ancient Vedic sciences across the globe, and our partnership with Left Lane marks the beginning of this journey,” Gupta added.

In addition to international expansion, the company plans to further develop its “devotion offerings” and expand and localize operations in South India, which presents a significant market opportunity.

Established in 2017 by Gupta and Anmol Jain, Astrotalk connects consumers to astrologers for horoscope readings, birth chart analysis, live prayers, and more. The platform boasts over 15,000 active astrologers and has served more than four crore users to date.

Left Lane Capital CEO and Managing Partner Harley Miller expressed confidence in Astrotalk’s capabilities, stating, “Astrotalk grew, in a bootstrapped fashion, to becoming the local market leader for digital astrology practice in India. We are highly confident in their abilities to achieve similar success on a global playing field.”

With the new funding, Astrotalk plans to build a leadership team to head new business verticals and is actively hiring. The employee headcount, currently at 200, is expected to significantly increase.

Moreover, Astrotalk, which has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in place, is planning an ESOP buyback to create wealth for its employees.

Union Education Minister launches IIT-Bhubaneswar’s 100-Cube start-up initiative

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 07:01:14 +0000

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled an ambitious initiative by IIT-Bhubaneswar aimed at nurturing 100 startups, each with a valuation of Rs 100 crore, by 2036. The program, named the Research and Entrepreneurship Park, will offer crucial resources, mentorship, seed capital, and access to potential investors.

During the launch event, Pradhan emphasized the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth of Odisha and the nation, expressing confidence that the 100-Cube Start-up Initiative would shape the future entrepreneurship landscape. He urged entrepreneurs to invest in Odisha-related startups and called upon higher education institutions from the region to join the mission.

The Research and Entrepreneurship Park is poised for significant expansion, quadrupling its current area to about 80,000 square feet in the next two years, supported by a budget of Rs 130 crore.

As part of the initiative, IIT Bhubaneswar inked MoUs with 15 companies to foster strategic collaborations. Additionally, the Union Minister inaugurated a 1500-seater auditorium and laid the foundation for infrastructure projects worth Rs. 450 crores.

RP Singh, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Bhubaneswar, emphasized the importance of innovation and research in leveraging science and technology for societal advancement, expressing confidence in IIT Bhubaneswar’s leading role in achieving the initiative’s objectives.

Mumbai startup funding hits 3-year low amid extended winter

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 06:58:31 +0000

As per the latest report from Inc42 on Indian Tech Startup Funding 2023, Mumbai, India’s third-highest funded startup hub, witnessed a significant decline in overall funding, plunging to a three-year low amidst the extended funding winter of 2023.

Startup funding in Mumbai nosedived by 62% year-on-year (YoY), plummeting to $1.5 billion in 2023 from $5.5 billion in 2022. This stark drop brought the total funding raised by Mumbai startups in line with figures from 2019, hovering around $1.2 billion. The number of deals also experienced a downturn, slipping from 249 in 2022 to 160 in 2023.

The decline mirrors the broader funding trend across the Indian startup ecosystem, which hit a seven-year low despite securing just over $10 billion in the previous year.

In 2023, Mumbai saw two significant deals. Zepto, a quick-commerce unicorn, secured $231.25 million across two deals, while B2B digital lending startup Mintifi raised $110 million as part of its Series D funding round led by Premji Invest.

It’s noteworthy that Zepto made headlines in August by raising $200 million in its Series E funding round at a valuation of $1.4 billion, marking the first unicorn of 2023.

Bengaluru and Delhi NCR emerged as the other major hubs, with Bengaluru startups raising $4.2 billion across 249 deals and Delhi NCR securing $2.7 billion across 243 deals.

E-commerce, fintech, and enterprise tech remained the top-funded sectors in Mumbai in 2023. The ecommerce sector garnered $330 million, while fintech startups raised $345.8 million, and enterprise tech startups secured $172.5 million.

The Maharashtra government is actively supporting the startup ecosystem, with initiatives aimed at fostering sustainability and innovation. These efforts include revising the state’s startup policy launched in 2018 and creating dedicated startup zones with comprehensive facilities to elevate Maharashtra’s status as a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.