Page 40 - Start-ups
Startup of the year: Freshworks aims to become a $1-bn company in 5 years
Freshworks has set its sights on increasing revenue to over $1bn inthe next five years as it prepares to take advantage of the vast untapped SaaS market
 "Startup of the year: Freshworks aims to become a $1-bn company in 5 years")
Fintech start-up Khatabook acquires Biz Analyst for $10 million
Khatabook will offer its customer base of over 10 million monthly active merchants an opportunity to scale up businesses
 "Fintech start-up Khatabook acquires Biz Analyst for $10 million")
India home to 100 unicorns with a combined m-cap of $240bn: Credit Suisse
Start-ups, the note said, account for a reasonably high 6-7 per cent of new firms in India, and the ratio has risen over the past decade. India is a home to the third-largest set of unicorns globally.
 "India home to 100 unicorns with a combined m-cap of $240bn: Credit Suisse")
Urban Company, partner create open-source ESOP framework for startups
Framework aims to guide startups and other companies on structuring terms and conditions
 "Urban Company, partner create open-source ESOP framework for startups")
India's share of IPOs continues to fall relative to rest of the world
This year is set to be the third consecutive year when India's share of initial public offers (IPOs) has fallen relative to the rest of the world
 "India's share of IPOs continues to fall relative to rest of the world")
Startup A-listers buy out Chinese investor Shunwei's stake in Koo
Koo has so far raised $4.1 mn in Series A funding from existing investors Accel, Kalaari Capital, Blume Ventures and 3one4 Capital.
 "Startup A-listers buy out Chinese investor Shunwei's stake in Koo")
Urban Company to onboard over 20,000 service professionals this year
marketplace Urban Company on Sunday said it aims to onboard over 20,000 professionals on its platform this year to meet the strong growth in demand for various services post the lockdown
Tech adoption across sectors; startups helping to expand markets: Report
Startups in most sectors are helping to expand markets bringing new customers into the fold, instead of disruption of existing companies
 "Tech adoption across sectors; startups helping to expand markets: Report")
Venture debt player Trifecta Capital to set up Rs 1,500-crore fund 3
The venture debt fund launched in 2014 has so far invested in 72 companies, including nine unicorns, such as BigBasket, Rivigo, Cars24, and Urban Company
 "Venture debt player Trifecta Capital to set up Rs 1,500-crore fund 3")
On an industrial upswing: Tamil Nadu's hunger to attract mega investment
The team was instrumental in getting up the New Industrial Policy 2021, unveiled last week, targeting investments of around Rs 10 trillion by 2025
 "On an industrial upswing: Tamil Nadu's hunger to attract mega investment")
Entrepreneurship and the pandemic
Though business for majority of entrepreneurs is yet to return to pre-Covid levels, has the country's indomitable entrepreneurial spirit gotten over the Covid bump?
Start-ups in edtech, logistics, gig economy to drive jobs in 2021: Report
90% of companies surveyed say they will be hiring at the same pace as pre-Covid period
 "Start-ups in edtech, logistics, gig economy to drive jobs in 2021: Report")
Budget a booster shot for India, has ambition, resolution and innovation
It was one of the toughest times in history to announce a budget, writes Harsh Goenka.
Budget proposals for start-ups to boost 'ease of doing business'
The union government has decided to extend tax holiday claim for start-ups by one more year
 "Budget proposals for start-ups to boost 'ease of doing business'")
Carl Pei's upcoming start-up gets seed funding from Cred founder Kunal Shah
Kunal Shah, the founder of fintech company CRED, has invested in OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei's new venture. The amount invested has not been disclosed. Pei had co-founded OnePlus, which now ranks among premium smartphone companies, in 2013. He quit OnePlus in October last year to start a new venture. "Carl Pie has now received seed investment from India with Kunal Shah, founder of CRED, adding Carl's London based venture into his portfolio," a statement said. Details of Pei's new venture will be announced on January 27, it added. Pei has already raised USD 7 million (about Rs 51.4 crore) in seed financing for the new venture. "Carl is working on a new consumer electronics company that I am sure will be a disruptor in the tech industry. I am excited to be part of this journey, Kunal Shah said. Shah, who had co-founded Freecharge and is an active investor, has backed a number of startups including Udayy, Kyt, Khatabook, BharatPe, Unacademy, Razorpay and Avail Finance, among others
 "Carl Pei's upcoming start-up gets seed funding from Cred founder Kunal Shah")
Best of BS Opinion: Start-up's flights of fancy, powering mobility & more
Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day
 "Best of BS Opinion: Start-up's flights of fancy, powering mobility & more")
Start-up's flights of fancy
India's first home-grown messenger app Hike shut down and vanished from app stores on Monday
 "Start-up's flights of fancy")
Daimler India announces global competition for early-stage start-ups
Open from Dec 21 to Jan 29; initiative organised in association with Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to GOI and Invest India
 "Daimler India announces global competition for early-stage start-ups")
Sebi suggests relaxing of norms to boost listing of start-ups
The regulator has issued a consultation paper in this regard and sought suggestions from public till January 11
 "Sebi suggests relaxing of norms to boost listing of start-ups")
Edtech startup Classplus signs Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador
Edtech startup Classplus announced former Indian cricket captain, Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador and nationwide celebrity endorser
 "Edtech startup Classplus signs Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador")