Nageen Kommu

Exciting Developments in the Indian Budget 2024 for the Startup Ecosystem! 🚀 The Indian Budget 2024 has unveiled several groundbreaking measures that reflect a strong commitment to economic stability, growth, and innovation. Here’s a quick overview of the key highlights: ✅️ ₹5000 Crore Innovation Fund: A substantial new fund has been introduced to support innovative startups and extend tax benefits, providing a significant boost to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. ✅️ ₹1000 Crore Venture Capital Fund for Space Economy: The establishment of this fund demonstrates India’s forward-looking vision and positions the country as a leader in the emerging space sector. ✅️ Angel Tax Abolished: The removal of angel tax is a major step forward, eliminating a significant barrier for startups and investors. ✅️ Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Reduced to 12.5%: The new rate of 12.5% on long-term capital gains will enhance investment attractiveness and encourage more funding into startups. These measures are set to invigorate the startup landscape, drive innovation, and support long-term growth. As an entrepreneur and angel investor, I’m excited about the opportunities these initiatives will unlock for the startup ecosystem! For a deeper dive into these developments and their implications, check out my views in a detailed article in the Economic Times https://lnkd.in/g_znAT9r #IndianBudget2024 #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #EconomicGrowth #SpaceEconomy #VentureCapital #AngelTax #CapitalGains #Faad Aditya Arora Dr.Dinesh Singh Harshika Paliwal Shivani Khare Neha Mourya Vatsal Lunawat Abhilash Gupta Samarth Gupta Sanyam Jain

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CredFlow founder Kunal Aggarwal achieved a major milestone by securing $3.7 million in pre-Series B funding from Inflexor Ventures. This strategic investment brings CredFlow’s total funding to over $13 million, following $9.2 million raised in earlier rounds. Read about how CredFlow is revolutionizing SME's finances: https://lnkd.in/ebv7N7m3 #CredFlow #Funding #Investment #EntrepreneurshipStudio

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As an investor its fascinating to watch founders tackle a complex market, nail a sticky value proposition and figure out global GTM. When we met Shashank Bijapur Madhav Bhagat and Rohith Salim a couple of years back it was still early. In a short while Spotdraft has changed the way mid-market businesses leverage AI to make contract management more efficient and intelligent. The company has seen strong market pull by scaling to 400+ customers, 120% NRR, 85%+ gross margin while doubling revenue in each of the past three years. Here is their journey straight from the founders. SpotDraft Arkam Ventures

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Today marks an incredible milestone for us at Inflexor Ventures as we proudly announce the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 ₹350 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝. This isn't just a number—it's a symbol of our steadfast commitment to empowering founders who are ready to amplify their proven potential and take their vision to new heights. In my journey from being an entrepreneur to a VC, I've witnessed firsthand the critical juncture where vision meets opportunity. The Opportunities Fund is designed to be that bridge—supporting visionary founders who have already proven their potential and are ready to scale further and faster. To all the founders who trust us with their stories and growth, thank you for your resilience and ambition. You inspire us daily to be more than just investors; you motivate us to be partners who champion your vision and share in the challenges and triumphs of building something extraordinary. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to HDFC AMC Select AIF FoF I scheme and our other valued limited partners for their trust and belief in our mission. Your support fuels our drive to not just invest in ventures but to become true partners in the journey, championing innovation and resilience every step of the way. I also want to acknowledge my colleagues, whose dedication and expertise drive us forward, and the wider ecosystem that plays an essential role in making ventures thrive. This milestone wouldn’t be possible without each of you contributing to this vibrant network of progress. To the entrepreneurs who dare to dream, build, and inspire: your determination is why we do what we do. We are honored to walk alongside you in navigating the exhilarating journey of scale and impact. Here's to nurturing more stories of growth and innovation as we embark on this exciting chapter together. Venkat Vallabhaneni, Jatin Desai, Pratip Mazumdar, Murali Krishna Gunturu, Harsha Mundhada, Parmi Doshi, Aishwarya Kulkarni, Pratik Ahuja, Kirti Chaturvedi, Akhil Nehru, Minal Sequeira, CA Vijay Sundar A N https://lnkd.in/gJUHBZk6 #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #OpportunitiesFund #Innovation #Gratitude

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Celebrating One Year at Elev8 Venture Partners! What started as humble beginnings at co-working spaces like Axilor and WeWork, has finally culminated into our second home at Elev8 VP. Exactly one year ago, we inaugurated our new office on 12th Main in Indiranagar, marking a significant milestone in our journey. Initially, I was hesitant about large offices or high rentals, especially on the high street. However, thanks to Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Anuj Golecha, and Gaurav Jain, Anil G Jain, we took the plunge. We secured an office space that was more than I initially thought we could afford. Today, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions for Elev8 Venture Partners. In the world of venture capital, office location and décor surprisingly play a crucial role, especially for a first-time fund. It's not about extravagance or lavish spending but about creating a welcoming, professional environment. Our beautifully done office, complete with lush plants, has greatly contributed to building a positive external perception. This perception & vibe, is our reality. Home is not built by bricks but by memories. Over the past year, we've made incredible strides. Our investments in IDfy and Astrotalk have been pivotal, marking the beginning of our journey to support high-quality tech companies at the growth stage. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without my incredible team, whose dedication and hard work have turned our office into a second home. Here’s to many more years of growth, innovation, and impactful investments. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey with Elev8 Venture Partners. #Elev8VP #Anniversary #VentureCapital #Investment #TechStartups #GrowthStage #Teamwork #Innovation #Success Divy Chopda, Ashwini Khemka, Aman Ahmed, Abhisekh Shah, Parth Doshi, Mayank Jajoo, Komal Vichoor, Zaveria Mohammad, Mitali Rai, Eric (Jung Ho) Yoo, Donghyun Kim

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Meet Ankur Bansal, a Senior Product Consultant at BlueStacks, who is not just a community member but also a 1% Club Commando. He has seen his stock market portfolio rise by 67% in 4 years. In an interview with the team, Ankur shares some simple but interesting insights from his investing journey till now. Here’s his full story - https://lnkd.in/dwCn4z-c #stockmarket #investing #community #financialplanning

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Slowdown in VC funding could slow late-stage investment activity. In addition, the continued strength of public equity markets makes IPOs more attractive for profitable late-stage companies. Good to speak with Ayanti Bera at Financial Express (India) cc: QED Investors #startupfunding #startups #fintech #QEDInvestorsforfintech

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The Mumbai Founder's Meetup is almost here, and we're bringing you exclusive insights to dominate the Fintech market. If you’re a B2B founder who wants to get access to practical tactics & frameworks for a winning Fintech GTM strategy, from seasoned Fintech founders who've scaled successfully, then this meet-up is for you! Here's what you can expect: 11 AM: Scaling Fintech - The Enterprise Play with Suvendu Prusty 12 PM: The SMB Play for Fintech with Manish Aggarwal 1 PM: ️ Lunch & Mixer (Network with fellow founders & GTM leaders!) #Fintech #Mumbai #foundersmeetup #b2bsaas #ScalingFintech

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CHANNELIAM FUNDING TRACKER RECENT UPDATES: 1. #Wealthtech startup Dezerv raises $32 Mn in Series B 2. GOAT Brand Labs raises $21 Mn in debt and equity 3. Felicity Games raises $700K from DeVC, Nandan Reddy, Kunal Shah and others 4. Qarmatek Services Private Limited raises $1 Mn in pre-Series A round 5. Centriti raises Rs 6 crore in funding round led by Emergent Ventures India 6. Prosus Group to lead $100 million funding in BlueStone 7. #Recycling startup Ricron Panels bags Series A funding from Boon Sustainability, Others

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🚀 Big News from OYO! 🚀 Exciting developments from OYO as the Ritesh Agarwal-led traveltech giant is reportedly in the advanced stages of raising approximately Rs 1,000 crore (around $120 million) in funding. This significant investment comes from the family offices of prominent Indian corporate executives and stock market experts, including: Anand Jain: Corporate strategy advisor and former senior executive at Reliance Industries Ramesh and Rajeev Juneja: Promoters of Mankind Pharma Utpal Sheth: Close associate of the late market expert Rakesh Jhunjhunwala 🔍 Valuation Insights: The funding round will value OYO at about $2.5 billion. This is a notable decrease from its peak valuation of $9 billion in 2021, marking a 72% drop. 📅 Upcoming EGM: OYO will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Tuesday to approve the fundraise, following an increase in its authorized share capital. 💼 Negotiations with Khazanah Nasional: In addition to this, OYO is in the final stages of talks with Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The discussions are focused on securing certain rights before finalizing the deal, with an expected raise of Rs 250-300 crore from Khazanah, supplemented by domestic investors. 📈 Profit Milestone: In a recent announcement, Ritesh Agarwal revealed that OYO has achieved its first full-year net profit in its 12-year history, recording a profit after tax of nearly Rs 100 crore in FY 2023-24. This is a remarkable turnaround from the Rs 1,286.5 crore loss in the previous fiscal year. 📊 Growth Projections: Gross Booking Value: Projected at $1.8 billion for FY25, up from $1.2 billion in FY24 Revenue Forecast: $957 million for FY25, compared to $657 million in FY24 🌍 Strategic Focus: OYO continues to focus on key markets including India, Europe, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with 95% of its storefronts in these growth regions. The company is also expanding in the Nordics, Southeast Asia, the US, and the UK, adding around 5,000 hotels and 6,000 homes globally in FY24. 📅 Emerging Travel Trends: OYO is poised to capitalize on emerging travel trends such as premiumization, spiritual travel, business travel, conferences, and destination weddings to drive further growth. Kudos to the OYO team for these impressive strides and looking forward to seeing their continued success! 🎉🌟 #OYO #FundingNews #TravelTech #BusinessGrowth #Profitability #Expansion

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Founder blows up $22bn edtech startup to zero. 0️⃣ Founder runs away and hides in Dubai. 🛩 👻 Founder blames investors. 😯 In this situation, what words other than f*%k come to your mind? 👇 👇 👇 I present to you Loot and Thug - today’s Indian origin words that are commonly used in the English language. This is the 4th weekly edition of such words. Please repost and share with your friends if you like this. Words from the last 3 weeks are at the bottom of this post. LOOT: The term loot is primarily derived from the Hindi word lūṭ, which means "booty" or "spoils of war." The Hindi term can be traced back to the Sanskrit words loptra meaning "booty" or luṇṭ which translates to "to rob" or "plunder". Loot can be used as a noun as in booty (not that booty), or as a verb to carry off or take something. The adoption of this word into English occurred when India was a British colony. The earliest recorded use of loot in English dates back to 1802, when it was defined in a military context as an "Indian term for plunder or pillage." By the 1920s, its figurative meaning had developed further within American English. An example of its use in modern slang is “stash the loot.” THUG: Originates from the Hindi word ṭhag meaning "swindler, thief, cheat" and is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word sthaga meaning "cunning, fraudulent." The first use of the term goes back to the 14th century and referred to a gang or network of criminals operating around India’s main roads. The first recorded English use was in 1810 to refer to members of the Thuggee gang. Like loot the adoption of this word occurred when India was a British colony. In modern usage it typically refers to a violent criminal or bully. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the UK used it to describe everyone from unruly football fans to people involved in race riots. The word thug actually rebounded in American popular culture, thanks in part to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It has also been adopted in hip-hop culture since the 1990s, sometimes with more positive connotations of resilience, like by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. But it continues to retain strong negative connotations as well outside of its original cultural context and use PLEASE REPOST AND SHARE with friends if you enjoyed reading this. Last week we covered Musk and Juggernaut. In previous weeks we have talked about Orange, Candy, Khaki, Shampoo, Jungle and Pepper... all words of Indian origin commonly used in the English language. You can find the previous posts on my timeline. In closing, did the edtech founder do something wrong? Until the courts decide, he is innocent until proven otherwise. CAN YOU GUESS WHO IS THIS FOUNDER?

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At Pod Invest, we aim to enable 20 startups to get funded in the upcoming quarter with an average cheque size of $100,000, primarily targeting pre-seed and seed stages in India. The sectors we see getting attention: 1. Gen AI 2. Medtech 3. Healthtech 4. Consumer Tech 5. Niche D2C 6. Spacetech 7. Fintech 8. Deeptech 9. Clean Energy 10. EV Do reach out to me with your pitch decks If you know someone looking to raise funds, do tag them in the comments. Vittal Ramakrishna Neelendra Nath Naman Pandey Samson Mathew Likhita Chepa

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Zintlr, a B2B SaaS platform specializing in sales intelligence and prospecting, has raised Rs 7.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Om Jain and other investors, including JIIF and Vimal Shah. The startup plans to use the raised capital to scale its team, drive market expansion, and innovate to build new product verticals in intelligence. Read the full story here: 👇 https://lnkd.in/d6VVdgez #b2b #saas #funding #investors #startup #technology #ai #indianstartupnews

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Exciting news from Con10T Labs! We’re thrilled to announce that we are the ‘Meme Partner’ at the upcoming Wolf Den Investors Summit hosted by Venture Wolf. The summit will take place at the Mukesh Patel Auditorium, Mumbai on the 22nd of June. 🗓️ This is an event you won’t want to miss! The summit will bring together the brightest minds in investment, with over 1000+ startups and MSMEs, including 350+ of the country’s most renowned investors. 🚀 But that’s not all! At the summit, I’ll be raising funds for Con10T Labs. We believe we’re on the cusp of becoming the next big thing in the consumer space, and we’re excited to share our journey with you. 💼 Don’t miss out on this golden opportunity to network, learn, and grow. Get your tickets today and join us in shaping the future of business ttps://lnkd.in/e_QGS4fu See you at the summit! 🤝 Devang Raja NAVANITA KRISHNAN R Aakash Bahudhanam #WolfDenInvestorsSummit #Con10TLabs #VentureCapital #Startups #Investment

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With the rise of family offices in India, I see A LOT of activity in the WealthTech space. What is WealthTech? My thoughts on the space... https://lnkd.in/dmJPVDM6

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Buying gold / silver coins on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trithiya come under low frequency - low complexity purchase category. It is a seasonal product bought generally during specific occasions. Zepto Blinkit Swiggy lapped up this opportunity and started selling this with the benefit of quick delivery. No wonder the sales picked up quite well. I wonder how much would it have impacted the sales of larger eComm players. Sales trends from swiggy is already out. I am sure the trend will be similar for Zepto - Aadit Palicha and Blinkit - Albinder Dhindsa I detailed out this approach and more in my notes - https://lnkd.in/gBmvVKy2

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ZEPIC, Inc., a SaaS-based customer experience firm, has secured $2.1 million (INR 17.5 crore) in pre-seed #capital from Neon Fund and other angel investors who hold prominent positions at Apple, Chargebee, Freshworks, Microsoft, and Zoho. Neon Fund had offered $500K to the round. ZEPIC intends to expand its market presence in the US and other regions and strengthen its AI offerings with the #additional funding. Out-of-the-box connectors and no-code philosophy throughout ZEPIC will allow for rapid integration with existing #customer management tools to present the best possible 360 degree view of the customer. ZEPIC, which was cofounded in 2023 by Sunil Kumar Somarajan Pillai, Bharathi Kannan Ravikumar, Naveen Venkat, and Sreelesh Pillai, assists companies in providing excellent customer experiences across #channels and platforms. Siddhartha Ahluwalia To share your startup story write us on - [email protected] #zepic #neon #startup #funding

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