Page 6 - Udisha Srivastav

West Asia conflict tightens the tap on India's startup funding options

Escalating tensions in West Asia have made investors more cautious, dragging India's startup funding 43% lower since March

Flipkart beauty category grows 50% as non-metro cities drive demand

Non-metro cities account for more than half of demand on Flipkart's Beauty and Personal Care segment, while Gen Z consumers drive nearly 60 per cent of purchases

Beauty emerges as top customer acquisition category on Amazon India

Beauty has become Amazon India's biggest customer acquisition engine, fuelled by rising demand from non-metro consumers

Policy needed to check foreign tech dominance, says People Group founder

The Shaadi.com founder says India must strengthen digital sovereignty, curb Big Tech dominance and create a policy environment that supports homegrown innovation

BigBasket targets a profitable turn in 12-15 months, says Hari Menon

As Hari Menon steps down as CEO, BigBasket shifts focus from market share to profitability, targeting break-even within 12-15 months

BigBasket CEO Hari Menon steps down; Amazon veteran Amit Nanda takes charge

BigBasket co-founder Hari Menon will continue on the board and mentor the leadership team, while former Amazon executive Amit Nanda leads the company's next growth phase

Flipkart Minutes reports fourfold jump in summer essentials demand

The quick-commerce platform saw strong growth in seasonal categories during March-May, driven by demand for personal-care products, beverages and mangoes

Venture capital firm YourNest marks final close of ₹400 crore fund

Over 30 per cent of the fund's investors comprise existing family offices and high net worth individuals (HNIs) who had invested in the early stage VC's earlier funds, and incoming investors

AI startup Squadstack doubling down on large enterprises: Founder

The AI SaaS startup plans to expand its enterprise customer base in India while exploring opportunities in Southeast Asia and the MENA region

Nestle, KFC, Flipkart get FSSAI notice over allegations of 'hygiene lapses'

The food regulator has sought responses from the companies after taking cognisance of social media complaints alleging contamination and hygiene lapses

IndiaAI Mission-backed startup Avataar launches indigenous video AI model

The IndiaAI Mission-backed startup said Varya can generate video at a fraction of the cost of global models while better capturing Indian contexts and cultural diversity

Ethereal Machines raises $28.5 mn in Series B round led by Avataar Ventures

The Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup will use the capital to expand precision manufacturing capacity, build a mega factory and strengthen its presence in global aerospace and defence markets

Defence, space-tech startups move beyond metros for testing, manufacturing

As defence and space-tech ventures move from design to deployment, many are expanding testing, manufacturing and training operations into smaller cities to access land, airspace and lower costs

Hoola Health raises $5 million led by Peak XV's Surge to fuel expansion

The health-tech startup plans to use the funds to expand its clinic network, strengthen technology capabilities and scale its integrated paediatric care model

Zepto DRHP reveals ₹577-crore secondary share sale ahead of IPO launch

The IPO filing shows Motilal Oswal acquired shares from existing investors in August 2025, while promoter holdings remain concentrated through family trusts

ED summoned Zepto's Aadit Palicha, Kaivalya Vohra over FEMA compliance

Zepto's updated IPO papers show founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra received ED summons under FEMA, with the company also flagging regulatory risks to investors

Zepto closes in on Blinkit in scale but profitability remains elusive

Zepto's IPO filing shows the company has emerged as Blinkit's closest challenger in quick commerce, although heavy investments in expansion continue to weigh on profitability

No significant business outcome from AI despite heavy spend: Survey

Despite growing investment in AI-enabled sales training, organisations struggle to link adoption with business outcomes, according to an upGrad Enterprise survey

Zepto files updated DRHP, plans to raise ₹8,010 crore via fresh issue

Zepto has filed its updated draft papers with Sebi for a proposed ₹10,000 crore IPO, with the proceeds earmarked for expansion, technology investments and business growth

Teachers raise questions about their changing role at PhysicsWallah

As PhysicsWallah scales rapidly, some mentors say academic roles are increasingly tied to student retention and renewals, a claim the company disputes