Amit Gupta

Listen to my Co founder and CTO, Varun talking about our journey and natural evolution to where we are today.

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Absolutely Thrilled to announce a game-changing partnership between Statiq and Cube Stop, a pivotal division of Cube Highways , India’s largest institutional investor and operator of toll roads! 🚗 🛣 With this partnership, Statiq will set up multiple state-of-the-art fast charging stations for #electriccars, #ebusses & #etrucks across Cube stop locations that offers best-in-class F&B, Hygienic restrooms and Convenience Retail facilities. Our shared vision for transforming the travel landscape aligns perfectly with CubeStop’s commitment to delivering unparalleled convenience and comfort to highway travelers and transporters across India. At Statiq, we've always strived to redefine industry standards, and this collaboration marks a monumental step forward in achieving that goal. By joining forces with CubeStop, we're poised to revolutionize the travel experience, offering a comprehensive array of essential services seamlessly integrated into India’s vast network of highways and transportation routes. #StatiqxCubestop #ElectricVehicle #Sustainability #InfrastructureDevelopment #charginginfrastructure #reliablecharging #EV #NetZero #GreenEnergy #EVChargingStation #RenewableEnergy #Statiq #StayCharged Shell Y Combinator Akshit Bansal  https://lnkd.in/eVFWe-bm

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🌟 Bajaj's First CNG Bike Set to Transform Indian Market: A Milestone in Sustainable Transportation Bajaj Auto is making history with the launch of the world’s first CNG bike on July 5, 2024! This groundbreaking vehicle, set to be unveiled in Pune by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, is poised to revolutionize the Indian two-wheeler market with its dual-fuel capability and significant cost savings. Key Features: Dual-Fuel Capability: Effortlessly switch between petrol and CNG. Cost Efficiency: Projected to cut running costs by half, ideal for budget-conscious consumers. Market Reach: Plans to export to six countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, and Tanzania. Environmental Benefits: CNG is a cleaner alternative to diesel and petrol. Government Support: The expansion of the CNG network by the Indian government ensures easy access. Explore More: Dive into the details of Bajaj’s innovative CNG bike, its market strategy, and environmental impact in our latest blog post. Read and share to stay informed! https://lnkd.in/essX3wUE #BajajAuto #CNGbike #SustainableTransportation #Innovation #CostSavings

Bajaj Auto Ltd HAS LAUNCHED WORLD'S 1ST CNG BIKE. Opinions? The launch of the Bajaj Freedom 125, the world’s first CNG motorcycle, aims to capitalize on these earlier learnings. With a competitive pricing strategy starting at ₹95k and features designed for urban commuting, this model is positioned to attract a broad audience. The bike builds on the successful attributes of previous CNG models, promising lower running costs and reduced emissions, which could make it a game-changer in the commuter motorcycle segment. Would love to see how this turns out! What do you think?

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In India , EV industry is going through some massive changes. we're partners with four leading EV brands (not necessarily the top sellers), and we've been keeping a close eye on trends. One thing we have noticed is that many OEMs are facing similar challenges, especially those outside the top four brands. As per my interaction with 100s of customers , the majority are looking for range at affordable price. OEMs can learn from success of Atomberg Technologies , they have designed products which are beautiful and much cheaper than other well known brands . One of the biggest hurdles we've faced is that many people come from IC industry background, where the primary goal is to push for primary sales. However, the EV sector is still in its early stages, and we can't simply apply the same strategies. There seems to be a lack of focus on ensuring the sustainability of our partnerships. Without a focused effort to address these fundamental issues, we're seeing a trend of many dealerships closing down. This not only affects short-term profits but also has long-term consequences for brand reputation and customer trust. It's time for OEMs to shift their approach. Instead of developing products in isolation and then testing them in the market, we need to start by listening to our customers.

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New fleet operators in India are trying to differentiate from the incubents Uber / Ola, by having an all electric fleet. Sooorya EV is getting good enquiries from fleet operators - #ridehailing #ridesharing #employeetransport #taxis #shuttleservices… “For the last decade, Uber and Ola have controlled over 70% of the Indian online ride-hailing market. But in the past two years, startups and platforms such as BluSmart, InDrive, Rapido, Namma Yatri, Red Taxi, and Snap E Cabs have tried to wrestle the duopoly and grab market share. While we have written about how BluSmart has scaled up in the past, US-headquartered InDrive is looking to become the second large global player to make inroads in India after Uber. In fact, Uber is already looking to customise its offerings in sync with what InDrive offers. Founded in 2012 in Yakutsk, Russia, InDrive incorporated in the US in 2018, after divesting the Russia business completely. Today the app has a presence in over 749 cities across 46 countries. In 2022 and 2023, it was the second most downloaded ride-hailing app worldwide based on Google Play and App Store data. The high number of downloads can be attributed to the high demand among consumers for alternatives to the ‘Uber + Ola’ duopoly in ride-hailing. At least that is the case in India where a number of platforms have emerged post the pandemic. Part of this wave, InDrive made its India entry in 2022 and has since expanded to 12 Indian cities including Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow and Ludhiana. What makes InDrive so compelling is its peer-to-peer, fair-price setting model, where passengers and drivers negotiate fares among themselves. It offers ride-hailing, intercity, freight, and delivery services in India, just like many of its competitors, but it is the pricing model which has become a key moat.” “Like Ola, Uber, BluSmart and other players, InDrive also plans to go green soon in India. Mazumder believes that the company will enter the space once charging is not as big a problem as it is today. At the moment, InDrive is looking at ways to solve the charging infrastructure problem and plans to have a significant EV build-up in the near future. But for now, the big question is: does InDrive India have enough fuel in its tank to outpace BluSmart, Rapido and others in the race against Uber India and Ola?” Read more in this Inc42 Media article by Suprita Anupam #electricvehicles #ev #evstartup #india #climatetech #climatefund #climateinvesting

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Next steps in India Mobility are continuing to show progress - one of the top investments that continues to show IndiaFirst #ProudInvestor #ProudVC #IndiaFirst #BestLPs

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At ProRider (Delivery Jobwala), we're on a mission to revolutionize the delivery job market by connecting skilled riders with top companies. Today, we're thrilled to announce our latest milestone: an association with Delhivery, India's largest fully integrated logistics provider, as we expand our reach across major metros and beyond. A Partnership Built on Vision 👉 Delhivery isn't just any logistics company. Since its inception in 2011, the team has fulfilled over 2 billion orders, established a nationwide presence, and built a network that services over 18,600 pin codes. With 24 automated sort centers, 94 gateways, and a robust team of over 57,000 people, Delhivery is truly the backbone of commerce in India. And now, ProRider is proud to be a part of this journey. Our collaboration with Delhivery underscores a shared commitment: to create opportunities for riders across India while supporting the quick commerce sector's growing needs. By joining forces, we aim to bring forth the best talent, ensuring that every delivery is seamless, every rider is empowered, and every journey is a step towards growth. What This Means for Our Riders 👉 For the riders associated with ProRider, this partnership opens up new doors. Delhivery's extensive operations across every state in India mean that our riders will now have access to opportunities in even the most remote corners of the country. Whether it's in bustling metros or emerging markets, ProRider's network will ensure that skilled riders are mobilized where they are needed the most. But this partnership isn't just about numbers; it's about making a difference. It's about offering riders a chance to be part of a system that values quality, innovation, and growth. With ProRider (Delivery Jobwala)'s commitment to optimizing rider income, career advancement, and providing ancillary services like microloans, our collaboration with Delhivery will further strengthen our rider community. Stay tuned as ProRider continues to break new ground, connect skilled riders with leading companies, and redefine what it means to be part of the delivery ecosystem in India. For those seeking services or more details, feel free to reach out to Neehar R or Aishaa K. We're here to help you navigate the future of delivery, one rider at a time... #Delhivery #logistic #lastmiledelivery #rider #ProRider

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Given the changing paradigms in technology and media, we know that the next 10 years will look nothing like the last 10 years. Thanks to The Economic Times for capturing our interactive media thesis for the years ahead. As we crystal ball gaze into the future, there has been no better time to invest in India. In the last few years, we have seen the market mature across key vectors - propensity to pay, quality of talent, capital inflows, and exits. This represents meaningful upside for founders and investors in this space over the coming decade. With the incredible shifts in tech, media and gaming, there are some exciting times ahead! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/gTfYa3Kw

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Over the past 15 days, I've spoken with over 60 EV owners across India, primarily four-wheeler drivers. The unanimous feedback is clear: they hesitate to take their EVs on long trips because they have to install multiple apps just to locate charging stations. Many of our customers only use their EVs for city travel, opting for fossil fuel cars on longer journeys due to lack of confidence in finding stations along their route. It's ironic that EV brands market low running costs as a primary USP, yet this benefit isn't fully realized by owners due to this infrastructure challenge. While they are willing to install apps at the station for charging and payments, they find it cumbersome to use multiple apps just to find stations. Range anxiety isn't solely about having more stations; it’s also about making them easily accessible. By interconnecting networks, you can give EV owners the confidence of having a larger number of accessible stations through fewer apps. This will encourage them to use their EVs for longer trips, bringing more traffic to your stations. As I always say, charging station owners have everything to gain and nothing to lose by opening up their networks to eMSPs. This is a win-win situation for both station owners and EV users. Within just 15 days of our launch, we've gained 200 customers, primarily through word of mouth. As an OCPI-compliant eMSP, our aim is to provide unbiased service to EV drivers. Unlike CPOs, we do not operate our own stations, ensuring we remain impartial towards our network of stations. Instead of competing, we act as traffic generators. We request access to display your stations along with their availability status. This transparency will bolster EV users' confidence to embark on longer trips, thereby increasing traffic to your stations. EVJoints #ElectricVehicle #EVCharging #ChargingStation #ElectricCar

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As the Union Budget approaches, the EV industry eagerly awaits policy announcements. We're looking forward to a clear framework for battery swapping infrastructure to make EV adoption more convenient, the introduction of FAME III with further incentives for EV buyers and manufacturers, and addressing GST disparities to level the playing field by tackling the higher GST rates on raw materials compared to final vehicles. Let’s drive towards a greener future! 🌱🔌🚀 Check out my thoughts in the article. #ElectricVehicles #Budget2024 #CleanMobility #iVooMi https://lnkd.in/dgqNu3Gm

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In my decade long stint with Sequoia India, we used to eagerly look forward to Sir Mike Moritz - erstwhile Chairman and forever Legend of the firm - showing up for India visits. And accompanying him was this cute little digital camera that he used, to record everything that he saw. Meet an interesting new company: snap. Walk into one of our portfolio company outlets: snap. We used to look forward to his compendium at the end of the trip embellished by these photos. I assumed that this habit was a hangover of his journalistic origins but went ahead and asked him anyway. He said - as backers and believers in startup founders, we have to also believe that we are watching history in the making. And we have a responsibility to not just observe but also record these moments. I think about this a lot. Culturally, we tend to be - for the most part - self-effacing. And sometimes our humility comes in the way of recording history. Many of the companies I work with do not have pictures of their origins or their first ever day at work or their first shop front. If you are a founder and you believe that you are going to make a dent in this world, then please record history as you are making it. Some day you will look back and find these pictures a fascinating record of your journey. And they will come in use when you are ringing that bell at the stock exchange. Or at an equally happy milestone. Leaving you with a much treasured pic of me with Mike, with the current Sequoia Global Head Roelof Botha in the background. Historical at least as far as I am concerned :-) #startups #Founders #HistoryInTheMaking #Investing #VentureCapital

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Zepto cap table - less than 1% ownership with each founder and 6-8% each with their UAE based family members. Looks like highly optimized tax structuring in case of a liquidity event (IPO). With this ownership, pushing nationalism narrative is a lost battle. Introduction of nationalism narrative in the internet consumer categories is typically not a good sign. Amazon is preferred because of its faster deliveries and better customer experiences, and not because of being American or Indian. Grocery + FMCG market has a fixed TAM at a local level with very minor increase y-o-y. It would be unreasonable to assume that because of economy growing or onset of quick commerce, an individual household will start consuming more fruits, cereals etc or food habits/lifestyle will change drastically in a short period. It will not. This means that the demand which earlier used to get fulfilled by Kiranas and other hypermarkets is getting shifted to QC. One doesn't need market reports/data to arrive at this conclusion. Hopefully, everyone could find a middle ground in this reality.

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