Ritesh Kumar

BizDateUp has taken part in Swiggy's pre-IPO round via an off-market secondary deal, attracting attention from multiple high-profile investors.   BizDateUp, known for supporting startups, saw considerable growth in FY 2023-24, having funded over 25 startups and raised a $10 million fund. With an average return of 3.5X, the company continues to expand its influence in the startup ecosystem. This move aligns with their focus on high-potential sectors like food delivery, which is evolving with tech innovations. #BizDateUp #Swiggy #Investment #FoodDelivery #StartupEcosystem #TechInnovation #IndianStartups #PreIPO #Startup77

Jiffy Daily... your go-to newsletter for daily news bytes from the World of Startups! Two Point O Capital Care.fi Qure.ai Unacademy EaseMyTrip.com PhonePe MudhalVC Drone Destination DeHaat InCred Financial Services Omnivore Wint Wealth Caspian Kae Capital #startupnews #indianstartups #startup #vcfunding #startupfunding #funding #startupnews #yourtribe #fundingnews

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AppsForBharat Secures $18M Series B Funding to Expand Devotional Tech Platform! AppsForBharat, the company behind India's devotional app Sri Mandir, has raised $18 million in a Series B funding round led by Nandan Nilekani’s Fundamentum. This funding round also saw participation from Susquehanna Asia VC and existing investors like Elevation Capital, Peak XV Partners, and Mirae Asset Global Investments VC. The funds will be used to expand Sri Mandir’s operations across India and internationally. The company plans to onboard new temples, launch additional services, and build a tech stack that can digitize the devotional ecosystem. Prashant Sachan, founder of AppsForBharat and IIT Bombay alum, shared that the platform currently has over 50 temples, and the goal is to increase this ten-fold in the next 12 to 18 months. The app allows users to book poojas, access a library of spiritual content, and consult astrologers and priests. Since its launch in 2020, AppsForBharat has seen impressive growth. Over the past year, 5 lakh devotees have completed 27 lakh pujas through the Sri Mandir app, which has been downloaded over 30 million times. The devotional sector in India is estimated to be a $50 billion market, and the company believes 15% of this market will be digitized within the next 4-5 years. Ashish Kumar, co-founder of Fundamentum, stated that AppsForBharat is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this growing market. Notably, E-Cell IIT Bombay alums, Prateek Jajodia, Prerna Chhaparwal, and Atharwa Gade, have been a part of AppsForBharat's journey, contributing to its growth and success. In the coming years, the company aims to introduce spiritual tourism, facilitate Darshan ticket bookings, and offer Prasad delivery services. They also plan to expand into key international markets like the USA, UK, and Canada, while making the app available in five new regional languages. #fundingnews #appsforbharat #srotechnology #digitaltransformation #devotionalplatform #smandir #seriesbfunding #spiritualtechnology #templeservices #indianstartups #ecell #iitbombay

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Enterprise tech startup Clueso (YC W23) has raised $1.4 Mn (about Rs 11.6 Cr) in its seed funding round, led by f7 Ventures. The round also saw participation from existing backer Y Combinator. Clueso leverages generative AI (GenAI) to help companies create instructional videos and documentation for employee training and customers. Clueso claims that its AI auto-removes fumbling and rewrites the transcript to cover the same content 60% of the time and replaces the audio track with a “professional, natural-sounding AI voiceover”. Besides, it also creates a written article for every video with screenshots and GIFs. Clueso was also selected in the winter cohort of Y Combinator’s early-stage startup accelerator program in April 2023. With its participation in the three-month-long initiative, the startup netted an investment of $500K. The fundraise comes at a time when the Indian GenAI market is heating up in terms of investments. Founders: Akash Anand, Prajwal Prakash, and Neel Balar Follow Rise & Shine for daily startup updates. Stay informed, stay ahead ➡️ www.riseshine.in #enterprisetech #genai #seedfunding #ycombinator #startup #iitm Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

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Mass products or limited-quality product?🤔 That’s the question Saumya Kabra founder of Confetti Gifts , posed to Mohit Yadav (founder Minimalist ) during our Elevate Cohort 1. Want to learn from the best D2C founders? Fill out the form in comments to join us for Cohort 2. Take your business to the next level! 💼✨ #letsElevate #D2CInsider

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Software integration startup UnifyApps has raised $11 Mn (Rs 91.5 Cr) in a seed funding round led by Elevation Capital, along with participation from a host of founders and angel investors. The startup has raised funding to develop a unified integration platform that enables enterprises to create custom applications 10x faster, automate workflows, and sync data between applications in real time. 🚀 Join the startup revolution! Follow StartupTrak for the latest and hottest startup news, inspiring stories, and game-changing innovations! 💯❤️🔥 . . #UnifyApps #SeedFunding #TechStartup #SoftwareIntegration #ElevationCapital #StartupFunding #InnovativeTech #CustomApplications #WorkflowAutomation #DataSync #TechInnovation #EnterpriseSolutions #RealTimeIntegration #TechInvestors #StartupGrowth #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation #VentureCapital #TechEcosystem #InnovationInTech #StartupNews #StartupTrak

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💥 30-July | HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM INDIA 📰 ⏺ Rapido has become the latest unicorn after raising $120 million from WestBridge Capital, valuing the company at $1 billion. This makes Rapido the third unicorn of the year, joining Perfios and Krutrim AI. ⏺ New rules by the Consumer Affairs Ministry will halt liquor companies from using glassware, cards, and CDs to indirectly promote alcohol, requiring proof of genuine market presence to protect children and young people. ⏺ Public sector banks collected ₹8,500 crore in minimum balance penalties over five years. Despite SBI ceasing such penalties post-FY20, the amount increased by 34%. Penalty mechanisms vary across banks and account types. ⏺ Ola receives legal notice from MapMyIndia over allegations of copying data to build Ola Maps, reported Forbes India. CE Info Systems, parent company of MapMyIndia, claims data theft, while Ola Electric denies the allegations, asserting the integrity of its practices. ⏺ The share of direct ecommerce in India’s online retail market has grown to 10-15% from 2-3% in five years. D2C brands are focusing on their own sites to avoid marketplace commissions, improve profitability, and gain better consumer insights. #daybreakpost #OnePostToKeepYouInformed Read the complete Newsletter on the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/d2B7sQDi

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Key Insights from Meet X Jaipur ➡️ Underserved Markets: Tier 2 founders have a deep understanding of India’s middle-income 'Bharat' market, spotting niche opportunities missed by Tier 1 startups ➡️ Cost Efficiency: Operating from Tier 2 cities means lower costs for rent, salaries, and overhead, boosting startup efficiency ➡️ Local Insight: Tier 2 founders understand regional consumer behaviour and preferences, enabling them to create products tailored to local needs ➡️ Bootstrapping Skills: Limited funding access forces Tier 2 founders to master bootstrapping, ensuring financial discipline and sustainable growth Kulmani Rana Anchal Suryavanshi Preksha Razdan Ridhi Khurana Vatsal Sarawgi Rohit Rawat Hardik Vaibhav

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Enterprise SaaS startup Everstage has raised $30 Mn (around INR 252 Cr) in a Series B funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures. The round also saw participation from existing investors — Elevation Capital and 3one4 Capital. The Chennai-based startup plans to use the fresh funds for product innovation and improving its in-house services for enhanced customer experience, said Siva Rajamani, cofounder and CEO of Everstage. Additionally, Everstage has also announced an INR 5 Cr employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) buyback programme to reward its early employees. While Everstage has 200 staffers on its payroll, it’s unclear how many of them would benefit from the ESOP buyback scheme. Founded in 2020 by Rajamani, a former Freshworks executive, and Vivek Suriyamoorthy, Everstage offers a platform that enables enterprises, and their sales teams, to keep track of how much they’re earning in commission. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/3NtqnMR #news #saas #funding

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Building Trust with ESOPs: What Every Founder Must Know “Agar tum company ko trust dena chahte ho, toh uska zariya hai: ESOPs” As a founder, you're building more than just a company—you're building trust, loyalty, and a shared vision. One of the most powerful tools to foster this trust is through ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans). Imagine you’ve gathered a team that’s working day and night to bring your vision to life. How do you ensure they feel just as invested in the company’s success as you? ESOPs give your employees ownership, turning them from workers into stakeholders. This is more than just a financial perk—it creates alignment between their success and yours. When your team has a stake in the company, they think like owners, not just employees. Their commitment deepens, and so does their drive to help the company grow. However, as a founder, you can’t simply hand out shares without careful planning. Diluting your ownership too quickly or too broadly could harm your control over the company. You need to be strategic about how much equity you offer, and to whom. Vesting schedules are another crucial part of a successful ESOP plan. These schedules ensure that employees earn their shares over time, rather than all at once. This keeps them motivated to stay and contribute to the company’s long-term success while giving you more control over the timing of equity distribution. ESOPs are a valuable tool for retaining top talent and aligning your team’s vision with your own. But they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution. They require thoughtful planning, legal structure, and a strategy tailored to your company’s growth. By taking the time to implement ESOPs carefully, you’re building a foundation of trust that benefits both you and your employees, creating a legacy of shared success. For any information, please contact [email protected] at +918040245425 as soon as possible!📞 #ESOPs #EmployeeStockOptions #CompanyCulture #AccioESOPs #EmployeeBenefit #FoundersFirst #BuildingTrust #ESOP

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The Hosteller, a leading traveltech startup, has successfully raised INR 32 Cr (approx. $4 Mn) in a fresh funding round led by V Cube Ventures SA, with participation from LV Angel Fund, Unit E Consulting LLP, and several angel investors. According to regulatory filings, the board approved a special resolution to issue 10 equity shares and 64,281 Series A compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) at a premium of INR 4,977.50 each, bringing the total funding to INR 32 Cr. This new capital will fuel The Hosteller's expansion plans as they look to grow their operations. The company also proposed further fundraising through private placement and preferential issuance of equity shares and Series A CCPS. Founded in 2015 by Pranav Dangi and Sumit Mishra, The Hosteller offers affordable backpacker hostels across India, making it a popular choice among budget-conscious travelers. The travel and hospitality sector is witnessing a strong post-pandemic recovery, with nationwide hotel occupancy reaching 66.1% and an average daily rate (ADR) of INR 6,869 in 2023, the highest in a decade. In another significant move in the industry, OYO acquired Paris-based premium rental homes company Checkmyguest for INR 230 Cr ($27.4 Mn), signaling OYO’s ambitious global expansion. #TheHosteller #TravelTech #Funding #FundingAlert #FundraiserAlert #VCubeVentures #VentureCapital #AngelInvestors #BackpackerHostels #TravelIndustry #Hospitality #TourismRecovery #GlobalExpansion #AllBoutCorps

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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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Rohit Bansal, co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital, an early-stage investment firm with a diverse portfolio of over 250+ startups, including unicorns like Mamaearth, Razorpay, and Urban Company, engages in a dynamic conversation with Abhishek Singh Mint, on the latest episode of #RollinWithTheBoss. From assessing market potential and scalability to scrutinizing team dynamics and innovation, he shares invaluable insights essential for both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned investors. Catch the full conversation airing today at 8 PM on the Mint YouTube channel. #Snapdeal #TitanCapital #Startup #Investment #Entrepreneurship #RollinWithTheBoss #Mint #StartupFunding

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Razorpay's Harshil Mathur on what shapes culture: Your first few hires become your feedback loops. What you do and don’t do with that feedback defines your culture. More on scaling Razorpay soon in a chat with Peak XV MD Ishaan Mittal! #peakxvinsights #insidesurge

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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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Frustrated with being ghosted after matching? 😪 At SoulSync, we bridge the gap between matches and meaningful conversations. Join SoulSync now and experience the difference. #Download today! #matrimony #soulsync #startup #business #wedtech #indianstartups #bain #kpmg #amazon #india #startup #bootstrap #SoulSync #startups #success #entrepreneur #challenge #india #indianstartup #entrepreneurship Pratham Agrawal

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