Page 23 - Start Ups
Valueattics Reinsurance set to become India's first private reinsurer
So long GIC Re, a public-sector entity, was the only player in the field
 "Valueattics Reinsurance set to become India's first private reinsurer")
IPO-bound Rebel Foods in talks to bring more global brands to India
The company became the master franchisee of American fast food giant Wendy's in 2023. Since then, Rebel has scaled Wendy's to 200 stores, with the latest one opening in Gurugram on Wednesday
 "IPO-bound Rebel Foods in talks to bring more global brands to India")
Fashion-tech brand Virgio aims to invest $1 mn across 16 stores under plan
On the international front, the fashion-tech brand plans to open two stores in Dubai. It is currently scouting locations and aims to begin operations by the end of 2025
 "Fashion-tech brand Virgio aims to invest $1 mn across 16 stores under plan")
Focusing to scale up business sustainably, says Ather CEO Tarun Mehta
Speaking on the sidelines of TiECon, Mehta stated that Ather's focus remains on scaling its business, as the company is bullish on expanding its market beyond South India
 "Focusing to scale up business sustainably, says Ather CEO Tarun Mehta")
Neobanking startup Zolve secures $251 million funding in equity, debt mix
The company has about 750,000 users and was launched in 2021
 "Neobanking startup Zolve secures $251 million funding in equity, debt mix")
Edtech firm Simplilearn plans to relaunch fresher upskilling vertical
The Blackstone-backed firm had shut down its study abroad and fresher upskilling verticals in 2024 as they failed to generate the expected outcomes
 "Edtech firm Simplilearn plans to relaunch fresher upskilling vertical")
Funds under PRIP scheme likely to be sanctioned by August 2025: DoP
The department had last week sought expressions of interest from interested entities for project funding under the PRIP scheme
 "Funds under PRIP scheme likely to be sanctioned by August 2025: DoP")
Family offices, corporate venture capitals clinch a bigger deal slice
These two segments, however, focused on deals under $10 million, which accounted for 60-70 per cent of total deals in 2024
 "Family offices, corporate venture capitals clinch a bigger deal slice")
Aakash Educational plans to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore in AI, digital push
New Delhi-based education provider, which started in 1988, is now ramping up its presence in smaller Indian towns, betting on the growing demand for quality coaching in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities
 "Aakash Educational plans to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore in AI, digital push")
Swish secures $14 mn in Series A funding from Hara Global and Accel
This funding will support Swish's expansion across Bengaluru, with plans to extend its quick food delivery model to more pincodes in the coming month
 "Swish secures $14 mn in Series A funding from Hara Global and Accel")
Women-led tech startups' funding drops 25% in 2024, says Tracxn report
India ranks third globally after US and UK in funding raised by women-led tech startups
 "Women-led tech startups' funding drops 25% in 2024, says Tracxn report")
Women-led technology startups struggle to overcome funding winter
Women VCs, including Jahagirdar and Chaturvedi, believe that more women investors can make the fundraising process less intimidating for women founders
 "Women-led technology startups struggle to overcome funding winter")
Razorpay enters Singapore, its 2nd international foray after Malaysia
The expansion into Singapore comes on the back of the company's focus on the South East Asian market
 "Razorpay enters Singapore, its 2nd international foray after Malaysia")
Women entrepreneurs face uphill task in startup world amid funding winter
Even as the entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to grow, the number of startups with at least one woman founder has been on the decline since at least 2020
 "Women entrepreneurs face uphill task in startup world amid funding winter")
Fintech dominates India's startup funding this year, shows Tracxn data
In terms of deal volume, consumer startups saw the highest number of funding rounds (92), ahead of high-tech (70) and retail (61)
 "Fintech dominates India's startup funding this year, shows Tracxn data")
Former Kissht founders launch debt resolution platform, secure $3.5 mn
Rezolv claims to simplify collections by centralising data and optimising workflows. It utilises AI analytics to improve recovery rates
 "Former Kissht founders launch debt resolution platform, secure $3.5 mn")
Indian startups raise $1.65 bn in February, median valuation at $83.2 mn
The February figure marks a 19.5 per cent uptick from $1.38 billion in total funding in January 2025
 "Indian startups raise $1.65 bn in February, median valuation at $83.2 mn")
US court finds Riju Ravindran, Camshaft, Think & Learn guilty of fraud
Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (Byju's) unlawfully orchestrated and benefited from a fraudulent scheme. Sham hedge fund Camshaft Capital facilitated the fraudulent scheme to defraud term loan lenders
 "US court finds Riju Ravindran, Camshaft, Think & Learn guilty of fraud")
Agri water technology startups need Rs 500-600 crore investment: Report
India has between 70-100 active AgWaterTech startups, but many risk closure due to investment hurdles, according to the report
 "Agri water technology startups need Rs 500-600 crore investment: Report")
CtrlS Datacenters mulls IPO, eyes over Rs 9,000 crore investment in Chennai
Company scouts for fresh land in Chennai for bigger centre; mulls IPO
 "CtrlS Datacenters mulls IPO, eyes over Rs 9,000 crore investment in Chennai")