Page 18 - Unicorn Companies
US funds lower valuation of Indian unicorns Paytm, Ola due to Covid: Report
The funds, T Rowe Price and Vanguard, hold about 1% in both companies; while Paytm's valuation has taken a 26% hit, Ola's has suffered a 50% drop
 "US funds lower valuation of Indian unicorns Paytm, Ola due to Covid: Report")
Former Tesla CIO Jay Vijayan's start-up Tekion joins unicorn club
The company raised $150 million at a valuation of over $1 billion in a round led by Advent International
 "Former Tesla CIO Jay Vijayan's start-up Tekion joins unicorn club")
Unicorn tag just a pit stop, hungry for many more laps: Razorpay co-founder
By end of FY21, the firm expects two new streams to contribute to 35% of its overall revenue, with a 100% increase in its count of partner businesses
 "Unicorn tag just a pit stop, hungry for many more laps: Razorpay co-founder")
Six Indian startups that beat the pandemic to become unicorns this year
Three unicorns have emerged in fintech space and one each in software, edtech and beauty space. A unicorn is a privately held startup that is valued at $1 billion or more
 "Six Indian startups that beat the pandemic to become unicorns this year")
Indian unicorns diversifying to newer biz segments ahead of mega-IPO plans
A slew of Indian firms, including Flipkart, Byju's and Zomato, is building a path to profitability and diversifying into newer business segments ahead of mega-IPO plans
 "Indian unicorns diversifying to newer biz segments ahead of mega-IPO plans")
Unacademy turns into unicorn after SoftBank-led funding round
Valuation jumps 3-fold in last six months to $1.45 billion; becomes the second unicorn in edtech space after Byju's
 "Unacademy turns into unicorn after SoftBank-led funding round")
Unacademy is like the Netflix for live education: CEO Gaurav Munjal
In an interview with Samreen Ahmad and Bibhu Ranjan Mishra, Gaurav Munjal of Unacademy says the Covid-19 pandemic may have shortened the time the company has taken to achieve $1.45 billion valuation
 "Unacademy is like the Netflix for live education: CEO Gaurav Munjal")
India-China spat starting to impact domestic unicorns, Chinese investors
Experts said Chinese investments in Indian unicorns including Paytm, Byju's, Ola, BigBasket, Dream11, and Swiggy may drop sharply through investors such as Alibaba, Tencent and Xiaomi
 "India-China spat starting to impact domestic unicorns, Chinese investors")
Sequoia top backer of Indian unicorns with 8 bets, China's Tencent 11th
Venture capital fund Sequoia Capital India is the top backer of unicorns, or firms which have attained a valuation of over USD 1 billion, a report said on Wednesday.
 "Sequoia top backer of Indian unicorns with 8 bets, China's Tencent 11th")
India is home to 21 unicorns, collectively valued at $73.2 billion
Eleven of these are backed by three Chinese investors
 "India is home to 21 unicorns, collectively valued at $73.2 billion")
Before change in FDI rules, Chinese invested millions in Indian tech firms
Between January and April 2020, Chinese companies and US hedge funds raised their stakes in Byju's, Paytm and many other billion-dollar Indian technology companies
 "Before change in FDI rules, Chinese invested millions in Indian tech firms")
Byju Raveendran, Zomato's Gaurav Gupta on WEF's Young Global Leaders list
Raveendran launched Byju's learning app in 2015, calls himself a teacher by choice and an entrepreneur by chance. Gupta's Zomato has been a pioneering food technology start-up.
 "Byju Raveendran, Zomato's Gaurav Gupta on WEF's Young Global Leaders list")
From Swiggy to Ola, Indian star unicorns' valuations hit speed bump
Profitability has been the biggest challenge for unicorns. Swiggy reported 500 per cent jump in losses for financial year FY19 at Rs 2,346 crore against FY18, according to data platform Tofler.
 "From Swiggy to Ola, Indian star unicorns' valuations hit speed bump")
Quikr no longer a unicorn, Swedish investor pares valuation by 45%
Scandinavian firm refers to exaggerated revenue resulting from fraudulent transactions that rocked the company
 "Quikr no longer a unicorn, Swedish investor pares valuation by 45%")
The rise (and rise) of the family office
Unicorns are toppling older industrialists who have got quashed under debt and distracted diversifications
 "The rise (and rise) of the family office")
Indian start-ups raised a record $14.5 bn in 1185 funding rounds this year
The decade has seen an impressive 25x growth in terms of the total funding raised by the startups.
 "Indian start-ups raised a record $14.5 bn in 1185 funding rounds this year")
Indian startups raise a record $14.5 bn in 2019, 459 Series A rounds held
Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank made massive investments in the Indian startups, biggest funding round
 "Indian startups raise a record $14.5 bn in 2019, 459 Series A rounds held")
Bengaluru firms claimed 45% of all investments in Indian startups in 10 yrs
The city, which has seen its startups raising $31 bn in the past decade, is home to 44% of India's unicorns and 43 per cent of 'soonicorns'
 "Bengaluru firms claimed 45% of all investments in Indian startups in 10 yrs")
Data protection startup Druva crosses $100 mn in annual recurring revenue
This June, the company had raised $130 million to become a 'unicorn'
 "Data protection startup Druva crosses $100 mn in annual recurring revenue")
Seven new unicorns added in first eight months of 2019, 50 more waiting
Nasscom annual start-up report also says that more number or early and mid-stage firms are now raising funds as compared to earlier time