Page 4 - Startups

Chennai-based Raptee lines up its own operating system for T30 bikes

Chennai-based Raptee.HV will begin delivery of India's first high-voltage EV motorcycle, the T30, featuring its own Linux-based OS and price parity with ICE rivals

Startup Fabheads raises $10 mn to automate composite manufacturing

Accel leads Series A as Fabheads aims to modernise carbon fibre production; eyes aerospace and clean energy sectors

Best of BS Opinion: Startups get a boost, higher education needs a leg-up

From Sebi's bold moves to the crisis in higher education, sustainability in rice farming to Iran's nuclear ambitions, today's pieces touch upon key issues that policymakers must grapple with

MakeMyTrip raises $3.1 bn in APAC's biggest equity-bond deal since 2022

MakeMyTrip raises $3.1 billion via equity and convertible notes to reduce Trip.com stake below 20 per cent, marking APAC's largest concurrent offering since 2022

VC firm Speciale Invest plans launch of new fund for deep-tech investments

Deep-tech investor Speciale Invest to roll out Fund III, slightly bigger than its ₹300 crore Fund II; expects to back 5-6 startups in first year with $0.75-1 mn tickets

Zepto scales fresh supply chain, sells 22 lakh units daily in May

Zepto quadruples daily fresh produce sales to 22.1 lakh units in May by sourcing directly from farmers via 70+ hubs and using tech to optimise procurement and delivery

Startups tap technology to tackle anxiety with new tools and solutions

Other emerging tools also include virtual reality, which is being explored for exposure therapy and immersive stress reduction

We're the largest gig worker employer in the country: Rapido cofounders

We're currently in over 35 cities with taxis and aim to be present in every district headquarters, says Rapido

Liquor market: Microbreweries get a fresh fund pour to scale up biz

A microbrewery is a small-scale brewery that produces limited quantities of beer, typically upto 10 hecta litres per batch

VC firm Seafund eyes up to 25 deep-tech investments, aims for follow-up too

The investments will be made over the next two to three years as part of the firm's second fund, a Category-II AIF (alternate investment fund)

IPO-bound ed-tech firm Imarticus Learning acquires MyCaptain in ₹50 cr deal

Prior to MyCaptain, in April 2023, Imarticus Learning acquired Hero Mindmine, the training arm of Hero Group

Citykart raises Rs 538 crore in Series B round led by TPG NewQuest, A91

The funding will support Citykart's expansion across India's underserved markets or Bharat, with plans to scale operations, invest in innovation, and strengthen organisational capabilities

Razorpay, MeitY Startup Hub partner to boost India's deep-tech startups

Initiative aims to support early-stage ventures with fintech tools, mentorship and infrastructure - especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities

MCA aims to complete Gensol Engineering probe in three to five months

Authorities including NFRA and ICAI are examining Gensol's books and audit trail; SFIO probe likely if MCA finds sufficient evidence of fund diversion

IndusInd Bank signs pact with AIC STPINEXT to support startups, MSMEs

IndusInd Bank on Monday said it has signed a pact with AIC STPINEXT to provide early-stage startups and MSMEs essential financial solutions and structural support. AIC STPINEXT is a special purpose vehicle of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). "Under this collaboration, IndusInd Bank will deliver a range of tailored banking solutions to support early-stage startups associated with STPI/STPINEXT. "The Bank will offer a specialized Current Account product with no quarterly average balance requirement, making it easier for startups to manage their finances," IndusInd Bank said in a regulatory filing. Additionally, the Bank will offer support such as expert guidance, and conduct workshops around financial management including banking basics, equity infusion, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOPs), segment-based funding etc. To further support operational efficiency, the bank will offer payroll and attendance .

Next stop for BluSmart's electric vehicles could be Everest Fleet

Company plans to purchase BluSmart EVs and integrate them under Uber Green; talks underway with multiple lenders; decision based on pricing and quality

Jaggi brothers resign from Gensol Engineering board amid Sebi fund probe

SEBI had barred Anmol and Puneet Jaggi from directorial roles over fund diversion; Gensol founders submit resignations citing regulatory order

Zopper eyes expansion after raising $25 mn, IPO likely in 3-5 years: COO

Insurtech firm Zopper is currently focussed on scaling up its operations and may consider going public in the next 3 to 5 years, a top company official said. The company has recently raised USD 25 million in growth capital from investors to accelerate its expansion and invest in new-age technology. "As such, our business has a positive gross margin. But in a growth company, you keep investing the profits into future growth, which we have also been doing for many years," Zopper co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Mayank Gupta told PTI. He also said the company is not looking to break even at this stage but is instead investing every earned money towards expansion. "If we want, we can break even today, but that will mean that we stop investing in the future, and growth will become stunted," he said. The B2B insurance infrastructure company is even open to inorganic routes for expansion. "We are not actively looking at any acquisition, but keep doing a sense check of the market.

Startups get boost as govt raises credit guarantee cover to ₹20 crore

Revised CGSS raises guarantee cover to ₹20 crore and increases protection for lenders to encourage credit flow and reduce risks for innovation-led startups

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