Startup Ecosystem

EaseMyTrip launches investment arm to back growth-ready, profitable firms

Online travel tech platform EaseMyTrip.com on Monday announced the launch of a strategic investment arm, EMT Invest, to accelerate growth-ready profitable businesses across diverse high-growth sectors. EMT Invest will focus on companies that have a proven track record of profitability with a minimum Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs 5 crore or more, EaseMyTrip.com said in a statement. With this initiative, EaseMyTrip seeks to partner with ventures that are ready to scale and are looking for capital, digital ecosystem leverage, and strategic brand support. "With EMT Invest, we are expanding our ecosystem to support ambitious, growth-oriented businesses in reaching their full potential. "Our aim is to empower founders to scale efficiently while maintaining their entrepreneurial independence. EMT Invest is about building lasting value and enabling the next generation of business leaders to achieve transformative success," EaseMyTrip Founder and Chairman Nishant Pitti said.

Govt clears revised credit guarantee scheme for startups, max cover ₹20 cr

The government on Thursday approved a revised Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), under which the maximum guarantee cover per borrower has been doubled to Rs 20 crore. The broad objective of CGSS is to provide guarantee up to a specified limit against credit instruments extended by member institutions to finance eligible startups. This scheme would help provide the much needed collateral-free debt funding to startups, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) said in a notification. This notification supersedes the earlier notification dated October 6, 2022 on the scheme and comes into effect from May 8. "Maximum guarantee cover per borrower shall not exceed Rs 20 crore," it said. It was earlier Rs 10 crore. Member institutions include a financial intermediary (banks, FIs, NBFCs, AIFs) engaged in lending/investing and conforming to the eligibility criteria duly approved under the scheme. To further catalyse entrepreneurship by providing enhanced

InfoEdge earns 36% gross IRR on startup investments since 2007

InfoEdge's startup portfolio has yielded a 36 per cent gross IRR since 2007, led by Zomato and Policybazaar; total FMV of investments has reached Rs 36,855.4 crore

Magma raises $5 million Series A led by Capria to scale B2B solutions

The company has been operationally profitable since inception and is currently growing at a Rs 250 crore revenue run rate

EaseMyTrip's Rikant Pittie enters startup debate, pens Linkedin post

Pittie took to his LinkedIn timeline to share insights into the company's evolution from a bootstrapped startup to a global travel tech leader

Startup Mahakumbh: What funding numbers say about Indian startups

In the hottest sector of AI, where most global VC funding is going currently, the country's record has not been anything to write home about

Startup Mahakumbh: 'India's rural, agri-tech startups lagging behind'

Industry experts said that to boost startups in the agri-tech space, there is a need for collaboration between different players in the ecosystem

Why Indian startups are stuck in delivery while China races ahead in deep tech

India's startups excel in food delivery and e-commerce, but lag behind China's in deep tech, AI, and EVs. As global rivals scale up, India faces key innovation hurdles

Indian startups should aim for global prominence, says Piyush Goyal

Startup Mahakumbh 2.0: Minister urges startups to re-evaluate their purpose, true value

Towns, small cities contribute nearly 35% of Uttar Pradesh's total startups

UP - with more than 14,000 startups - is among India's leading startup ecosystems

India to see $600 bn in investments over next 3 yrs for startups: Experts

India can expect over USD 600 billion in alternative investments in next three years to fuel the startup ecosystem, according to experts. This influx of capital is anticipated to foster innovation, support entrepreneurship, and create an enabling environment for new ventures to thrive, they said at the launch of Centre for Financial Markets (CFM) by IMT in Mumbai last week. India's startup ecosystem is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating that over USD 600 billion in private equity and venture capital (PE/VC) investments will flow into the country over the next three years, Atish Chattopadhyay, Director of IMT Ghaziabad said in a statement. This figure represents 13 per cent of the estimated USD 4.7 trillion required (including government investments, corporate retention, PE/VC funding, corporate debt, initial public offerings (IPOs), and other sources) to achieve a USD 5 trillion economy by FY2027, he added. As investors recognize the immense potential of Ind

Tharoor takes a U-turn: Slams Kerala's startup woes, calls for more MSMEs

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor shared his displeasure about the state's startup ecosystem whose growth is continuing to decline

Simple Energy unveils upgraded electric scooter, seeks aggressive expansion

Bengaluru-based EV startup says its product is India's longest-range electric scooter

Prashanth Prakash awarded Padma Shri for transforming startup ecosystem

As a founding partner of venture capital firm Accel India, Prakash has been instrumental in nurturing some of India's most iconic startups, including Flipkart, Swiggy, BookMyShow

Indian startups to boost hiring by 20-30% in 2025 as funding improves

Indian startups are set to ramp up hiring by 20-30 per cent in 2025 as funding improves, reversing a prolonged slowdown. Layoffs dropped 46 per cent YoY in 2024, signalling sector recovery

Startups positioning India for exponential economic growth: Zupee CEO Malhi

Startups in India are revolutionising experiences, and positioning the nation for exponential economic growth, Dilsher Malhi, founder and CEO of online gaming platform Zupee, said on Monday. Speaking at the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) 2024, Malhi said startups are adding value to society's experiences and redefining how people experience education, healthcare, travel, and entertainment. "India has become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem and we believe this has happened mainly because of the endless possibilities that arise from a credible digital public infrastructure consisting of UPI and Aadhaar, and the penetration of mobile phones across the country. Now with the Bharat 6G vision, the semiconductor mission and the AI mission, startups are positioning India for an exponential economic growth," he said. Speaking on the concept of "gamification" in addressing real-world challenges, Malhi described how startups are evolving from merely providing solutions for .

AI is enabling startups across sectors in India: RTP Global's Nishit Garg

RTP Global's Nishit Garg discusses India's evolving startup ecosystem, AI's role as an enabler, and the firm's investment focus on climate, EV, SaaS, and fintech amid improving market conditions

BS Samriddhi: UP linking startups with big industries to bolster economy

Move aimed at making the state a trillion-dollar economy in 4-5 years, says panel

60% of unicorn founders in India are first time founders, says study

29% founder took two attempts to build their first Unicorn

One startup per district: Digital portal BHASKAR launched to push growth

Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched the BHASKAR portal to connect startups, investors, and service providers, a move aimed at pushing the Centre's efforts to promote the startup sector