Author: Umamaheswari

Hair Originals, the innovative direct-to-consumer (D2C) hair extension startup, has successfully raised $5 million in Series A funding, co-led by Anicut Growth Fund and 12 Flags Consumer Holdings. The round also saw participation from Lenskart cofounder Peyush Bansal, bringing the company’s total funding to $7.2 million and highlighting Tamil Nadu’s growing prominence in India’s beauty tech landscape. Founded by IIT graduate Jitendra Sharma and Piyush Wadhwani, Hair Originals has distinguished itself in the premium hair extension market through its innovative try-at-home service model and in-house manufacturing capabilities. The Chennai-headquartered company has demonstrated impressive growth, partnering with over 1,400 salons nationwide…

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In a significant achievement for India’s entrepreneurship development efforts, the Stand-Up India Scheme has sanctioned more than ₹40,700 crore to over 1.80 lakh beneficiaries across the country in its seven-year journey. The scheme, which was launched on April 5, 2016, has recently been extended until 2025, marking a continued commitment to fostering entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. The initiative, particularly impactful in Tamil Nadu’s vibrant startup ecosystem, has emerged as a crucial enabler for entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women looking to establish their first greenfield ventures. The program’s success in Tamil Nadu has contributed significantly…

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In a strategic move to expand its international presence, leading Indian fintech company Paytm has announced its entry into the Brazilian market through a $1 million investment in Seven Technology LLC, the Delaware-based parent company of Brazilian embedded finance startup Dinie. The deal, executed through Paytm Cloud Technologies Limited, will give the company a 25% stake in Seven Technology, marking a significant milestone in Paytm’s global expansion strategy. The investment, expected to be completed within 45 days, represents Paytm’s first major foray into Latin America’s burgeoning fintech ecosystem. This strategic decision aligns with the company’s broader vision to replicate its…

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In a significant development for Tamil Nadu’s burgeoning SaaS landscape, Unicommerce, a leading retail and ecommerce enablement software provider, has reported a remarkable 62% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit for Q3 FY25. The company’s impressive financial performance, marked by a net profit of Rs 6.29 crore, highlights the growing strength of the state’s technology sector.The Chennai-headquartered company’s strong quarterly results demonstrate the increasing adoption of ecommerce enablement solutions across India, with total revenue from customer contracts reaching Rs 32.74 crore, a 26.1% increase from the previous year. This growth comes at a time when Tamil Nadu is cementing its…

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In a significant move that could reshape the quick commerce sector, Zepto has announced the rollout of a 10-minute returns and exchange service across multiple product categories. The development marks a crucial evolution in the quick commerce space, where reverse logistics has traditionally been a complex challenge. According to the company’s recent LinkedIn announcement, the service will initially cover high-value categories including electronics, apparel, toys, sports equipment, and kitchenware. Customers can now initiate returns or exchanges within category-specific windows ranging from 1 to 7 days, depending on the product type. This strategic expansion comes just months after Zomato’s Blinkit launched…

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Chennai-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) GrowXCD Finance has secured INR 50 crore in fresh funding from venture capital firm Lok Capital and UC Impower, strengthening its position in the MSME lending sector. The investment, split between Lok Capital (INR 20 crore) and UC Impower (INR 30 crore), marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory since its founding in 2022.This latest funding round has increased Lok Capital’s total investment in GrowXCD Finance to INR 70 crore, demonstrating strong investor confidence in the NBFC’s business model and growth potential. The fresh capital injection has boosted GrowXCD’s net worth to INR…

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In a major boost to Tamil Nadu’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, study abroad platform Leap has successfully raised $65 million in Series E funding, led by UK-based Apis Partners through its Growth Markets Fund III and Global Growth Fund III. The latest funding round, which includes both primary and secondary equity components, also saw participation from existing investors Owl Ventures, Jungle Ventures, and Peak XV Partners. The investment marks a significant milestone for the Chennai-headquartered company, which has now raised over $200 million in total equity since its inception in 2019. This latest funding round demonstrates the continued investor confidence in…

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In a significant development for Tamil Nadu’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, Chennai-based Atomicwork has secured $25 million in Series A funding to transform enterprise IT service management through its innovative agentic AI platform. The funding round was led by Khosla Ventures and Z47, with participation from Battery Ventures, Blume Ventures, and Peak XV Partners.Breaking New Ground in ITSMFounded by Vijay Rayapati, Atomicwork is pioneering a new approach to IT service management (ITSM) that leverages artificial intelligence to streamline operations and reduce costs. The company’s platform combines an enterprise knowledge graph with agentic AI to automate routine IT tasks, enabling teams to…

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In a significant development for India’s geospatial technology sector, CE Info Systems (MapmyIndia) has reported a 4% year-over-year increase in consolidated net profit, reaching INR 32.32 crore for Q3 FY25. The company’s performance highlights the growing demand for digital mapping solutions across enterprise and consumer segments, while also marking a strategic shift in its business approach.The Chennai-headquartered company’s revenue from operations witnessed a robust 24% growth, climbing to INR 114.54 crore from INR 92.02 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. This growth was primarily driven by its Consumer Tech and Enterprise Digital Transformation (C&E) segment, which saw a remarkable…

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In what could herald the first unicorn creation of 2025, Bengaluru-based fintech company Juspay is in advanced discussions to raise approximately $100 million in fresh funding. Multiple sources familiar with the matter reveal that the SoftBank-backed payment solutions provider is engaging with prominent investors including Warburg Pincus, Kedaara Capital, and Norwest Venture Partners, potentially valuing the company at $1 billion.The funding talks, being facilitated by investment bank Avendus Capital, represent a significant markup from Juspay’s previous valuation of around $400 million (₹3,500 crore). This development comes at a crucial time when many Indian startups are grappling with valuation challenges in…

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