Author: Umamaheswari
Introduction:In the small town of Engandiyur, Kerala, Sumila Jayaraj lived a quiet life as a devoted homemaker and mother of twin children. With her husband working abroad in Dubai and her kids away at school, Sumila found herself with ample time on her hands. Little did she know that a chance job opportunity at a local coconut oil company would ignite an entrepreneurial spark within her and forever change the trajectory of her life. Armed with newfound passion and determination, Sumila embarked on a journey to create her own successful organic coconut products business. Through hard work, innovation, and perseverance,…
In a significant development within the Indian startup ecosystem, US-based investment firm Invesco has reduced the valuations of food delivery giant Swiggy and fintech firm Pine Labs, both of which are on the cusp of their initial public offerings (IPOs). This move underscores the evolving landscape of the Indian tech industry as companies navigate shifting market conditions and investor expectations.Introduction:According to Invesco’s latest half-yearly shareholder report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the investor has pegged Swiggy’s valuation at $12.3 billion as of April 2024, a slight decrease from its previous assessment of $12.7 billion in January.…
Introduction:Delhi-based healthtech startup HealthPresso announced the appointment of Manuj Sanduja as Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With 17 years of experience in client acquisition, product management, and cutting-edge IT solutions, Sanduja will play a pivotal role in driving HealthPresso’s innovation, digital transformation, and global growth.Founded in 2020, HealthPresso aims to revolutionize health content for healthcare professionals, making it more accessible and efficient through artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. The startup’s flagship product, HumetaTM, is an advanced AI model that automates the creation of timely, accurate, and personalized health content, eliminating tedious manual processes for practitioners.”Manuj Sanduja’s appointment as Co-Founder…
Introduction: A Dream Takes ShapeIn a quiet Mumbai office in 2008, Mithun Sacheti dreamed of revolutionizing the way Indians buy jewellery. Armed with Rs 1 crore in seed funding and an ambitious vision, the young entrepreneur embarked on a journey that would transform both his life and India’s jewellery landscape forever.Early Days: Spotting the Online OpportunitySacheti, then in his early 30s, came from a family of jewellers. He had gained valuable experience working at their well-established store, Jaipur Gems. But Sacheti saw a huge untapped opportunity in the nascent Indian e-commerce space. “Looking at the increasing time people were spending…
In the heart of India’s agrarian landscape, a quiet revolution is taking root. As the sun rises over vast fields of wheat and rice, millions of farmers are embracing a new dawn – one powered by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and a startup’s unwavering commitment to empowering those who feed the nation. This is the story of DeHaat, an agritech pioneer that’s transforming the lives of smallholder farmers across India.Founded in 2012 by alumni from top Indian technical institutes, DeHaat began with a simple yet powerful mission: to provide end-to-end solutions for the farming community. What started as a small…
Backed by Lightspeed, SoftBank, and Jeff Bezos, IIT Kanpur alums aim to create versatile and scalable AI foundation model for roboticsIntroduction:In an unprecedented development for the global robotics industry, Pittsburgh-based AI robotics startup Skild AI has raised $300 million in Series A funding, marking one of the largest rounds ever for a robotics company. The round was co-led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, SoftBank Group, and Bezos Expeditions.Founded in 2023 by IIT Kanpur graduates Abhinav Gupta and Deepak Pathak, Skild AI is developing what it calls a “scalable foundation model for robotics” – a shared, general-purpose AI brain that can enable…
Bengaluru-based startup joins growing list of generative AI companies attracting significant investment in 2024Introduction:Simplismart, a Bengaluru-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) startup, is set to raise $7 million in a new funding round led by venture capital firm Accel, with participation from existing investors. The deal, which values Simplismart at approximately $35 million, underscores the growing interest and potential of generative AI in transforming industries by automating content creation, enhancing creativity, and streamlining time-consuming processes.Founded in 2022 by Amritanshu Jain and Devansh Ghatak, Simplismart enables businesses to build scalable, production-grade AI systems and manage the development lifecycle without writing a single…
Strategic alliance aims to accelerate digital transformation for small businesses, offering tailored payment solutions and productivity tools to boost growth in India’s MSME sector.Introduction:In a significant move to support India’s burgeoning micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Vodafone Idea’s enterprise arm, Vi Business, has announced a strategic partnership with digital financial services provider PayU. This collaboration, revealed on Tuesday, is set to offer bespoke digital payment solutions and a comprehensive suite of services designed to address the growing needs of MSMEs across the country.The partnership comes at a crucial time when digital transformation has become imperative for businesses of all…
Logistics unicorn BlackBuck joins the growing list of Indian startups going public, with major investors like Accel, Tiger Global, and Flipkart set to sell shares in the offering.Introduction:In a significant move that underscores the growing maturity of India’s startup ecosystem, logistics unicorn BlackBuck has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The Bengaluru-based company, which operates a digital platform for truck operators, is looking to raise Rs 550 crore through a fresh issue of shares in its initial public offering (IPO).The IPO also includes an offer for sale (OFS) component of…
Introduction:In the bustling tech landscape of 2012 India, a young entrepreneur with a famous last name launched an ambitious messaging app. Kavin Bharti Mittal, son of telecom tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal, set out to create India’s answer to WhatsApp. Hike Messenger burst onto the scene with dreams of conquering the world’s second-largest mobile market. For a while, it seemed unstoppable – amassing millions of users, achieving unicorn status, and promising to be the super app India needed. But eight years later, Hike’s journey came to an abrupt end, leaving behind lessons on the challenges of competing in the cutthroat world…