Page 8 - Start Ups

Quick commerce major Zepto raises $450 mn; valuation soars to $7 bn

The funding comes nearly a year after its USD 350 million funding round in November last year, which valued the firm at USD 5 billion

Snabbit shifts corporate headquarters to Bengaluru, expands leadership

The company has plans to double its workforce by 2025-26

A new playbook: Startups go vertical in India's quick commerce race

Investors say that specialised vertical players can offer better availability and domain-specific expertise

Beyond KYC: Lenders turn to 'alternative' data to assess risk, detect fraud

Risk assessment firms are using data available publicly or obtained through user consent but is not available through credit bureaus to detect mule accounts, syndicates, and risky borrowers

Biopeak bets bespoke longevity plans can go beyond bold-and-beautiful set

The company uses AI and cellular diagnostics to optimise performance for professionals by going to the root causes of poor health, with individually-targeted programmes starting at ₹40,000

HouseEazy raises ₹150 cr in Series B round from investors to grow business

In a statement on Tuesday, the company said it has raised this amount in a Series B funding round led by Accel, with participation from existing investors Chiratae Ventures and Antler

Myntra adds 2 million new shoppers as non-metros power festive sale

Ethnic wear, beauty, and sportswear drive growth as smaller cities account for 70% of orders during Myntra's Big Fashion Festival, reflecting strong festive sentiment

EcoEx raises $4 million to expand waste-tech and clean solutions

EcoEx's $4 million seed funding from Dovetail Global Fund and others will fuel tech upgrades, expansion, and ESG-aligned waste management solutions across India

Fintech firm Kiwi launches interest-backed EMI on UPI with cashback option

Fintech Kiwi introduces interest-backed EMI on UPI, offering cashback on interest across tenures, as it expands credit access and targets one million credit cards

Startups get a makeover, rename parent firms to signal scale, IPO readiness

The latest to join this rebranding wave is Oravel Stays Limited, the parent company of OYO, which earlier this month unveiled a new corporate identity - PRISM

Raptee.HV to begin EV motorcycle production and supply in November

Raptee.HV will start commercial production of its high-voltage T30 motorcycle by November with 8,000 advance orders, securing TDB funding to boost India's EV two-wheeler market

As battleground tactics shift, startup Unmannd bets on autonomous drones

Company develops AI-powered platforms as recent conflicts expose vulnerabilities of traditional defence systems to drone swarms

GVK Group scion Keshav Reddy bets big on AI-powered call assistant

GVK Group scion Keshav Reddy's start-up Equal has launched Equal AI, a call assistant platform that answers, transcribes and filters calls, with one million DAU targeted by 2026

Space startup Agnikul unveils plans to build fully-resusable rockets

Agnikul carried out its maiden sub-orbital test flight of its 3D-printed rocket, Agnibaan SOrTeD, last year and plans to carry out its orbital launch soon

CMF, Optiemus to invest $100 million in India JV; to create 1.8K jobs

CMF and Optiemus Infracom will invest $100 million in a JV that makes India the base for operations, R&D and manufacturing, creating 1,800 jobs and a global export hub

Gullak raises $7.5 million Series A to expand reach, strengthen brand

The fresh capital will be used to strengthen brand presence and marketing, expand reach across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and deepen partnerships with India's largest jewellers

Zomato Hyperpure leases 2.5 lakh sq ft of warehousing space in Bhiwandi

Zomato Hyperpure is a business-to-business (B2B) platform providing kitchen solutions, set up by the restaurant aggregator Zomato

Amwoodo raises $4 mn in Pre-Series A round; Adventz among key investors

Kolkata-based Amwoodo to use fresh funds to boost manufacturing, D2C platform, launch eco-friendly brands, and support bamboo-growing communities

PhonePe posts 40% revenue surge, turns free cash flow positive ahead of IPO

Fintech firm crosses Rs 7,000 crore in revenue as adjusted EBITDA and PAT soar; diversification into lending and broking fuels growth momentum

upGrad eyes more university tie-ups in Asia as US campuses lose appeal

UpGrad earns revenue by enrolling students in online programs and helping them transition to overseas campuses to complete their degrees