Page 248 - Start Ups
Mapme lets you do a lot more than Google Maps
Israeli start-up Mapme has raised $1 million in seed funding so far, reports Tech in Asia
 "Mapme lets you do a lot more than Google Maps")
Ola partners Indifi to provide driver partners with easier loan access
Drivers on the Ola platform will get personal loans sanctioned to them in three days
 "Ola partners Indifi to provide driver partners with easier loan access")
Chinese travel site Ctrip nabs another $1 billion from Priceline and other investors
Priceline and an equity firm have each agreed to invest $500 million in Ctrip via convertible bonds, totalling $1 billion, reports Tech in Asia
 "Chinese travel site Ctrip nabs another $1 billion from Priceline and other investors")
MIT's 'social robot' Jibo gets $16 million funding to charm Asia
Silicon Valley-based Fenox Venture Capital led the $16 million series A extension round for Jibo, reports Tech in Asia
Sudhir Menon, Atul Hegde float a $50-mn start-up fund
Rainmaker Ventures targets to mentor 10-12 early stage start-ups in first year
 "Sudhir Menon, Atul Hegde float a $50-mn start-up fund")
US Govt's OPIC commits $200 million in LeapFrog Investments
Largest commitment in history to any impact fund manager
 "US Govt's OPIC commits $200 million in LeapFrog Investments")
UrbanClap to get funding from Ratan Tata
UrbanClap has said it is looking to become the Amazon for services
 "UrbanClap to get funding from Ratan Tata")
Mumbai-based Customer360 acquired by US-based Interactive Intelligence
The acquisition of Customer360 by the Nasdaq-listed Interactive Intelligence provides validation for Indian start-ups targeting global markets, reports Tech in Asia
Anand Mahindra invests in LocalCircles
To be part of the citizen engagement platform's advisory board
 "Anand Mahindra invests in LocalCircles")
Indiegogo to help Chinese start-ups crack the US
Indiegogo is battling Kickstarter for blockbuster gadgets from Chinese start-ups, reports Tech in Asia
Baidu's driverless car hits the streets in Beijing
The car is a modified BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo that Baidu is now testing on public roads, reports Tech in Asia
 "Baidu's driverless car hits the streets in Beijing")
eureQa secures $600,000 from Sashi Reddi, Gabriel Investments
eureQa provides an easy-to-use test automation platform catering to the mobile, social and cloud-based application space
 "eureQa secures $600,000 from Sashi Reddi, Gabriel Investments")
IDG Ventures Sudhir Sethi, Pepsico's Praveen Someswar invest in Stay Simple resorts
Stay Simple currently owns, manages and operates about 500 rooms in16 resorts in 12 popular tourist destinations across India
 "IDG Ventures Sudhir Sethi, Pepsico's Praveen Someswar invest in Stay Simple resorts")
Paynear Solutions raises $2.5 million in pre-Series A round
This investment is part of the $10 million that Paynear is planning to raise in a Series-A round in the first quarter of the next financial year
 "Paynear Solutions raises $2.5 million in pre-Series A round")
Zomato adds in-app chat feature
Although the chat feature is still in the beta stage, its response rate is swift and smooth, finds Tech in Asia
 "Zomato adds in-app chat feature")
Delhi-based digital analytics startup PropheSee raises Rs 3.3 cr
In the next six months company plans to take the platform live globally
Johnson Electric to expand Chennai facility
Company to invest $200 mn in three countries including India
 "Johnson Electric to expand Chennai facility")
Mayank Kumar: Lessons in starting up
Mayank Kumar, founder of UpGrad, writes that common business school learnings may not be best suited for entrepreneurship
Microsoft to incubate 500 start-ups in 5 years
Most of these start-ups are working on Internet of Things (IoT) or are independent software vendors
 "Microsoft to incubate 500 start-ups in 5 years")
Aye Finance raises Rs 20 crore from Accion and SAIF Partners
Investors include Accion and SAIF Partners; funds to help provide MSMEs with expanded access to financing
 "Aye Finance raises Rs 20 crore from Accion and SAIF Partners")