Abhinav Rajput

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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Raised $26,000,000 with just an idea Lyskraft India Pvt Ltd - the latest kid in the block! So, Mukesh Bansal is back with another startup this time with Mohit Gupta, the former CEO of Zomato's food delivery arm. In July of last year, there were reports about Bansal and Gupta raising funds for a new venture. As per TechCrunch, both of them pitched a range of ideas to potential backers like a female-focused counterpart to Manyavar and "Infosys 2.0" a presumed upgrade to a multinational IT services and consulting firm. Now finally... The news is out and we know what they are building, Lyskraft: initially a women's only marketplace for premium brands mostly focusing on Gen-Z shoppers. Recently we have seen giant e-commerce platforms launching dedicated portals to attract GenZ shoppers, like SPOYL launched by Flipkart within its app, FWD by Myntra, also we are seeing the growth of new-age startups working in this space like Virgio(Mukesh Bansal is an investor in it), Newme(recently raised $4,500,000), Absolute Brands, Snitch, Styched and many more As per Inc42's Report, India's fashion and apparel sector is projected to reach a mouth-watering $112 Billion by 2030, which will be over a quarter of the country's $400 Billion e-commerce market!! Let's be honest, anyone will want a piece of this market. As we are already aware of how crowded this space is, let's see how Lyskraft differentiates itself from others. Mohit Gupts and Mukesh Bansal, in this crowded space building a community around your product, building digital IPs, and creating experiences through videos are the ways to elevate your brand to the next level. I the founder of Elevate would love to connect and assist Lyskraft in building a community, digital IPs and help create experiences through videos, if that sounds like something that interests you would love to connect and discuss!! sources of information : TechCrunch article 2021 - https://bit.ly/49UwkLI Inc42 article - https://bit.ly/3w0SDlb #mukeshbansal #myntra #fashion #startups #venturecapital #fundingwinter #norevenue #cultfit #community #communitymarketing #socialmediamarketing #india

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Business Model: On the week Swiggy debuted on Stock Exchanges, another food delivery company was sold for mere pennies... Grubhub which was valued at $7.5Bn in 2020 was sold for $700 Mn... It was beaten in competition by DoorDash and UberEats.. My understanding is that platform business are generally winner take it all markets... There is no (value) runner-up in this business in the long run.. #Startups #Businessmodels #markets #swiggy #doordash #ubereats #grubhub

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Does improving your GMAT score feel like an insurmountable challenge? Imagine going from 490 to 685! Meet Kartik, who did just that, achieving a stellar 685 on the GMAT Focus Edition, placing him in the 97th percentile. Through unwavering diligence and strategic approach, Kartik transformed his performance in Verbal from the 43rd percentile to an impressive 98th percentile and improved to the 96th percentile in Data Insight. 1. 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Starting with a 43rd percentile in Verbal, Kartik soared to the 98th percentile. How? Kartik honed the skills of pre-thinking in CR and reading strategies in RC. The video lessons in the course and Scholaranium helped him master Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. He says, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺. 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮’𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺, 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.” 2. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭: From a 21st percentile to the 81st, Kartik’s quant journey was transformative. Despite a math background, he struggled initially. Learning the process skills taught in the course and focused practice on the cementing quizzes made all the difference. 3. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲: A section that initially seemed daunting turned into Kartik’s strength, taking him from the 56th to the 96th percentile in just 40 days. By learning the art of reading tables and interpreting data correctly, Kartik could efficiently break down complex information and draw accurate conclusions. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘋𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦,” he says. 4. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Kartik’s success wasn’t just about learning concepts but also strategic preparation. He meticulously analysed his mistakes, managed his time effectively, and maintained a positive mindset throughout his journey. If you’re facing similar challenges, don’t miss Kartik’s inspiring story! Learn how strategic preparation and the right resources can transform your GMAT journey. Watch Kartik's Journey Here: https://lnkd.in/gTcDVqwr Follow Payal Tandon and Rajat Sadana for more stories and strategies that will help you ace the GMAT! Rajat, Abhinav, Atul, Shubham, Rida, Prakriti, Sanchari, Abhishek, Rashmi, Abha, Satish, Manas, Dhruv #GMAT #GMATPreparation #GMATSuccess #eGMAT #TestPreparation #SuccessStory #MBA #BusinessSchool #StudySmart #AchieveYourGoals

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He is the Leader behind a ₹167 Cr success! Amarjit Singh Batra is the managing director of Spotify India and has led several other large platforms like eBay, Olx and is now shaping one of the world’s largest music markets. A very interesting that we discussed was that if you have recognised that you are on the wrong journey then instead of switching it's always better to get back and start from scratch. We also talked about-  → How India consumes music  → The changes in the Indian economy  → What do international markets really offer → How you can become successful as an artist  → Split for a company to focus on music in India His journey from being a corporate leader to leading Spotify's expansion across India, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East can tell you so much about the music industry. You never know how his experiences can teach you something new about entrepreneurship and the constantly changing consumer landscape. (Link in the comments below) #entrepreneurship #musicindustry

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Thank you Madhur Jain for this insightful post and deliberating on why one should choose GMAT over CAT (or time both together) In such trying times where the best institutions of the country have reported 25-35% (of top IITs and many MBA graduates) from our country not placed either. Circling back to how to become indispensable- you find ways to not get lost in an over populated pool and mindless competition resulting in not so impressive ROI 🤷‍♀️🤷 When one mentally prepares to compete against 3,30,000 students (CAT 2023) and its not his/her day by chance- very fair chances that the candidate loses a whole year once again gearing up for just 1 day of test in Nov the following year- the time lost once again becomes the opportunity cost What happens to the rest? Especially my Indian Male Engineers in the pool- does it get any easier⁉️ Be smart, if you’re putting in the efforts direct it in a direction which makes sense and yields you the best results ONLY Our students from developing nations (and beyond) have the potential to shoot for the stars, they just need to channelise their energy in the right direction at the right time ✨ You needn’t compete with a few hundred thousands to boost your ego, compete with the whole world instead if thats your kick (CAT 3,30,000 against GMAT 35,000 in 23) Choose GMAT> CAT or time both together- don’t lose a year ✊✊ Be slightly easy on yourself - Choose smart work over hard work 🛑 #diversity #GMAT #CAT

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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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Heres a piece on " 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧" and thanks to ET Edge Insights for the coverage . As one of the key sector focus at GrowthCap Ventures, we believe in the transformative power of deep tech to reshape industries and create a better future and #makeinIndia . Venture capital is not just about funding; it's about nurturing groundbreaking ideas, providing strategic support, and building a network of resources that empower visionary founders to turn their dreams into reality. Read more @ https://lnkd.in/dDzcbZAS Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) TiE TiE Mumbai #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Innovation #Startups #TechRevolution #Entrepreneurship #TechStartups #FutureTech #Investment

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Popular dating apps such as Bumble and Tinder spend an average of ₹150 to acquire one female user. At flutrr our CAC per active female user is just ₹13. How did we achieve this? We tapped into the latent demand in an underserved market — women from Tier 2 and 3 cities in India who are seeking a safe alternative to casual dating and arranged marriages. Our brand positioning focuses on enabling long-term, meaningful relationships, resonates deeply with this demographic and caters to this need. All our ad assets are in local languages and portray the happiness of being in a loving, stable relationship – tapping into the emotions and values that matter to this target market. Plus, having The Times Of India as an investor has also amplified our credibility. The formula for a successful dating app is simple: when the number of female users grows, matches increase, male users engage more, and thus, the revenue climbs. Everything moves north. #customeracquisition #datingapp #startup #branding

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Despite 536 million monthly active WhatsApp users in India, why’d WhatsApp Pay fail? Recently, at the inaugural WhatsApp Business Summit, WhatsApp Pay was angled as more of a feature to enable WhatsApp business accounts to make payments, rather than as a FinTech looking to compete with the likes of PhonePe, Google Pay, etc. Thus, with WhatsApp Pay seemingly waving the white flag and downsizing its ambitions, it’s interesting to explore why it might have fallen short. After all, of the 659 million Indians who carry a smartphone, 81% are monthly active users (MAUs) of WhatsApp, making it by far the largest social messaging platform in the country. It’s not just the large download base of WhatsApp that’s impressive, but also its high rate of engagement, with the typical user spending 45 minutes on it daily and sending 50 messages over that period on average. Yet, Meta-backed WhatsApp Pay doesn’t command even a 1% market share in India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) landscape, languishing in 7th place by market share, behind the likes of Walmart-backed PhonePe, Alphabet Inc./Google-backed Google Pay, Paytm, CRED , Amazon’s Amazon Pay India, and FamPay. So, despite having a captive customer base, why can’t WhatsApp convert its messaging users into payment users? First and foremost is the regulatory tussle that Meta found itself in, when India put its foot down concerning data localisation, putting WhatsApp Pay in a fix and delaying its launch. While UPI as a concept was rolled out all the way back in 2016, by the time WhatsApp Pay was finally permitted to launch and went live, it was already November 2020. Not only did it miss out on early-mover advantage though, as the permission it received came with a ceiling of no more than 20 million users, which naturally hobbled its growth. While that may appear to be game over right then and there, things did improve. In 12 months’ time (November 2021) WhatsApp Pay hit the 20 million ceiling, with the regulator, National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI), relaxing that limit to 40 million. A few more months later and it touched that mark in April 2022, with the NCPI now allowing it to aim for 100 million. As such, clearly the NCPI’s capping, which had been flexible, was not the only cause behind WhatsApp Pay’s underperformance. In fact, just a couple of months down the line, in June 2022, WhatsApp Pay saw explosive month-over-month growth in its transaction count, of 561%. At face value, you might think that this would be the inflection point, whereafter WhatsApp Pay rises to become an arch rival to the likes of PhonePe and Google Pay, but no. The very next month, in July 2022, its transaction count contracted back down by 74%. Why these wild fluctuations?… Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gKPHRQcU

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Mar ’22: I first tried Zepto when I ordered a Rs. 20 Lay’s chips packet to my Delhi apartment. The delivery agent got paid Rs. 50 for my order, which left me puzzled about how quick commerce companies could achieve positive unit economics and optimise logistics and dark store costs. Cut to today, qCommerce has taken over my entire share of wallet, and eCommerce apps have mostly faded from my phone. India is likely the only market globally where building for convenience for a large population is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. In just the past month, vertical eCommerce players like Nykaa and Myntra have moved towards quick delivery, while horizontal qCommerce players have branched into new categories like fashion, food, and BPC. Sep ’23: Zepto partners with USPA to launch key SKUs Sep ’23: Myntra offers 4 hour delivery in parts of Bengaluru and NCR Oct ’24: Nykaa pilots 10 mins delivery in Mumbai Oct ’24: BlinkIt announces ‘Cafe’ for quick snacks and 10 mins returns for apparel Why are these categories interesting? Fashion: UBS reports apparel as the largest adjacent category for qCommerce GMV growth. Potential models include dark store inventory with limited SKUs or omnichannel with higher variety but more operational complexity. Food: Quick delivery of food items (especially staples like samosas, maggi, etc.) seems logical and existing infrastructure of dark stores and cloud kitchens could be leveraged. BPC: Cosmetics and BPC products today drive over 30% of qCommerce GMV and offer strong profitability with 18-20% margins. Incumbents are doubling down, while new players are keen to expand their share. Will new vertical qCommerce platforms get established? Is there a right to win of a new approach over incumbents? While there are many unanswered questions about how this space will evolve, it’s a thrilling time for the industry. If you’re building in this space, reach out to us at Elevation Capital – we’d love to chat!

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🚀 Breaking Ground with VC Grid: India's Venture Odyssey! 🚀 Thrilled to unveil VC Grid, a paradigm shift in venture syndication crafted exclusively for the visionary minds of family offices & UHNIs. With a formidable war chest of Rs 900 crore, VC Grid embarks on a mission to empower 100-120 startups over the next triennium, spanning diverse realms from agritech to financial frontiers, seeding each venture with an infusion ranging from INR 4-16 crore. Powered by the backing of esteemed Indian family offices, entrepreneurs, and UHNIs, VC Grid's helm is steered by Vansh Oberoi, a dynamic VC professional in early-stage investments with an illustrious six-year journey at Venture Catalysts alongside Sidhi Dalmia, former Goldman Sachs executive, captaining our venture towards new horizons. Already carving its mark, VC Grid has infused INR 40 crore into five trailblazing ventures, catalyzing an unprecedented INR 100 crore in follow-on funding. Notable among these are Autocracy Machinery Pvt Ltd, KisanKonnect Safe Foods and Ideal Insurance. But VC Grid isn't just about capital infusion; it's a beacon of collaborative innovation, fostering a nexus of expertise and domestic capital. Our mandate? Backing ventures grounded in research, profitability, and ESG principles, with an eye on delivering over 30% IRR. Join us on this exhilarating venture odyssey as we redefine the contours of India's startup landscape, one disruptive idea at a time! Venture Catalysts++ | India's 1st Multi-Stage VC, 9Unicorns, Anuj Golecha, Anil G Jain, Gaurav Jain, Vansh Oberoi, Sidhi Dalmia, Shreeyesh Chandgothia #VentureCatalysts #AngelInvestor #VC #IndianStartups #StartupFunding #SyndicateFund #FamilyOffices #IndianStartups #ESGInvesting https://lnkd.in/de65Wk9p

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Pleasure speaking at MSME Growth Summit last week at The Club, Andheri West, Mumbai Few of the key insights on how to make your business/start-up investable: 1. Solve a real problem: Your start-up should address a genuine pain point or fulfill a significant market need. Investors are more likely to back startups with a clear value proposition and market potential. 2. Have a strong team: Investors often invest in the team as much as the idea. Assemble a talented, experienced, and cohesive team with complementary skill sets and a proven track record. 3. Develop a scalable business model: Demonstrate a clear path to revenue generation and profitability. Your business model should be scalable, allowing for significant growth with minimal incremental costs. 4. Show traction and validation: Investors prefer start-ups that have gained early traction, such as a minimum viable product, pilot customers, or partnerships. Validation from industry experts or customers can boost your credibility. 5. Have a competitive edge: Differentiate your start-up from competitors through unique technology, intellectual property, or a novel approach to solving the problem. 6. Present a clear go-to-market strategy: Outline your target market, customer acquisition channels, and marketing plans. Investors want to see a well-thought-out strategy for reaching and converting customers. 7. Demonstrate financial viability: Provide detailed financial projections, including revenue forecasts, burn rate, and funding requirements. Be prepared to explain your assumptions and how you plan to use investor funds. 8. Be coachable and transparent: Investors appreciate founders who are open to feedback, willing to learn, and transparent about challenges. Foster trust by regularly communicating progress, setbacks, and pivots. 9. Have a compelling pitch: Craft a concise, engaging pitch that highlights your start-up's unique value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential. Practice your pitch and be prepared to answer tough questions. 10. Build a strong network: Attend industry events, join start-up communities, and seek mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and investors. A strong network can lead to valuable introductions, partnerships, and funding opportunities. #capsavvy #cap70angels #startup #startupinvestment #startupfunding

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📊 From Free to Fee: UPI needs pricing to sustain innovation and growth 📊 In the past, I’ve written about how RTP A2A payments are the future of payments. But across the world, the real time payments are priced. In India it's not ✅ In India, both P2P & P2M are not charged: the cost is borne by the participating players. This isn’t to say that NPCI isn’t trying. PPI on UPI are now charged 1.1% MDR on transactions above INR 2k. Rupay Credit Cards on UPI have an MDR of 2%. Credit Lines on UPI have an MDR charge of ~1.2%, of which UPI Apps get 5bps. These are all recent developments that have come over the course of the last few years. ✅ So then the expectation would be as this scales further, pricing on savings account UPI txns will come in. And that’s the bet that all the 75+ UPI apps operating in the market are taking. That despite the small % that they stand to capture,(seeing that the top 3 apps have ~95% mkt share) the TAM is enough to operate sustainably ❓But what is the TAM? 💡💰 P2P transactions contribute to ~72-75% of total value. In Sep ‘24, out of a total of 20.6 Lac Cr transactions, P2P contributed 14.97 Lac Cr, and P2M contributed was about 5.6 Lac Cr or ~$70B. But this P2M value will not be charged: RBI does not want to charge the micro merchants (P2PM) 💡💰 Assuming that only txns above AoV 2k are non P2PM merchants, as of Aug‘24, the P2M market of transactions above 2k was ~400M transactions, and INR 3.7 Lac Cr, or ~$46B. This seems like a sizeable market: there is enough volume coming in through here to make money. And this is projected to hit $1.6T by FY30 💡💰 Pix (closest equivalent) charges 0.3% MDR for RTP. Assuming same break-up among stakeholders as cards payments, this is ~1-2 bps / UPI txn value that goes to UPI Apps. In any case, if we look at Credit Line on UPI pricing, this will not be higher than 5 bps / txn for UPI Apps  💡💰 Two models emerge: either you win based on scale, such as the Top 3 UPI Apps, which are processing more than 1 Lac Crore per month, or you win on AoV: fewer txns to reduce cost, but greater AoV, since MDR comes on txn value. Ex: Groww,~13M txns in Sep '24, but AoV of ~INR ~7k. (avg is 1.5k) But 1-2 bps is the bare minimum pricing ✅ Innovations cost money. And private players need to see profitability at some point in the future to invest more ✅ Pricing is inevitable. It will have to come in, and as UPI takes a bigger share of the retail payments landscape, a “free method such as UPI” will not encourage, but rather, discourage innovation. Because there is no incentive to bear the costs, especially when critical mass and customer adoption is achieved, and market share concentration is skewed. And my own view: pricing suddenly makes UPI Apps interesting for a lot more players, and this would probably be a step in the right direction in helping NPCI maintain a 30% market share cap on UPI transactions. To read the full deep dive, click here: https://lnkd.in/gZ8vHgpy

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The BPC industry’s growth rate in India > the growth rate in the UK + USA + Germany combined!! It’s a massive segment but, it’s getting nuanced and competitive…. 6-7 years ago, if you told me that a customer in a tier 3 city of India would know what niacinamide or hyaluronic acid is - I’d be shocked. That’s the reality today. This industry has matured more in the last decade than in the previous 60 years since independence!  With a higher degree of consumer awareness than ever and 3000+ brands, India’s BPC market will be worth over $30 Bn by 2027! 💄 This is greater than the GDP of the entire country of Mauritius 🔥 In this market - E-commerce has been the driver of growth. It has worked because of the nature of the product - low volume, high value and strong gross margin (>80%). Sales via online will dominate growth and account 1/3rd of the entire segment. I’ve said this 10s of time now - market is getting more and more competitive. A cookie cutter approach and creating something for ‘everyone’ won’t work. Winner products will now be built in niches and micro markets. Think about this: 🛒 Gen Z face acne issues & prefer affordable & result-driven products 🛒 Millennials want products with long-term efficiency 🛒 Gen X and Boomers with wrinkles & fine lines look for simpler solutions This diversity opens doors for brands to innovate and disrupt by offering specialized value! As disruptive digital native brands have emerged we’ve seen the traditional BPC players also evolve. They’ve become savvy with social media, have in-house D2C teams and even develop e-commerce marketplace exclusive SKUs! As with most spaces in India - the growth will be driven from Bharat going forward. Last year during Nykaa’s Pink Friday Sale, 57% of sales were generated from tier 2 and 3 cities! What does the future look like? My predictions: ✅Growth will continue to be rapid  ✅Winner products will be more ‘Indianized’ in terms of size, pricing and offering as Bharat will dominate growth  ✅100 Cr+ brands will be built in micro niches that you haven’t even heard of yet  ✅Customers will become more fussy  What still remains a question for me is, will Indian brands go global? 🌍 What do you think? Any other BPC trends I’ve missed? #india #beautyandpersonalcare #fmcg #brands #startup

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As usual, Friday funnies. 1. The one thing more sought after by Brand founders, even more than VC money, is an intro to someone at Blinkit, Zepto or Swiggy (Instamart) 2. Recent raise attempts: - $3 million pre-seed for a multi-country Web3 somethingortheother. - Car washing service (2), Laundry service (8), EV 2-3-4 wheeler (6), EV based logistics, delivery+ride-hailing (3), liquor brands (3), something-AI (17) 3. Had a founder, at seed stage, push back on vesting, claiming "15 years of corporate experience", insisting on 100% upfront vesting, also claiming they're an angel investor and 'very experienced'. Laughed. Passed. 4. Watched LPs finally waking up and taking 1% of the steps needed to improve the India/SEA market. #venturecapital #vc #startups #funding #funny

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🚀 This startup Secures $225 Mn Series D Funding at $1.7 Billion Valuation, Achieving Unicorn Status 🚀 - VTEX, a multinational tech company providing a fully integrated, end-to-end commerce solution, has raised $225 million in a Series D funding round, bringing its valuation to an impressive $1.7 billion and earning it the coveted unicorn status. 🤝 Success Highlights: 1️⃣ VTEX's collaborative commerce platform, integrating digital commerce, native marketplace, and order management capabilities, has been a game-changer for Fortune 1000 companies during the pandemic, driving 98% growth in platform adoption. 2️⃣ With this new funding, VTEX aims to accelerate its growth in the U.S., European, and Asia-Pacific markets, make strategic acquisitions, hire top talent, and further innovate its platform. 3️⃣ VTEX powers over 3,000 online storefronts for global brands like AB InBev, Motorola, Sony, Walmart, and Coca-Cola, showcasing its wide-reaching impact and scalability. 👉🏻 Key Highlights: 1️⃣ Achieving the $1.7 billion valuation milestone reaffirms VTEX's leadership in the e-commerce technology space and its robust growth trajectory. 2️⃣ The Series D funding round, supported by top-tier investors like Tiger Global and SoftBank, highlights strong investor confidence in VTEX’s future and its potential to transform the global commerce landscape. 3️⃣ VTEX's continued focus on enhancing its platform and expanding its market reach underscores its commitment to driving digital commerce transformation worldwide. 👉🏻 Lessons for Startup Founders: 🔷 Embrace Innovation: VTEX's success is a testament to the power of innovation. Their unique approach to collaborative commerce has set them apart in a highly competitive market. 🔷 Adapt to Change: The pandemic has radically shifted how goods are bought and sold. VTEX's ability to rapidly adapt and meet new market demands has been key to their growth. 🔷 Focus on Growth: Strategic funding and investment in talent and technology are crucial for scaling up. VTEX’s significant milestones in funding, platform adoption, and market expansion offer valuable insights into the importance of a growth-focused strategy. 🔷 Building Trust: VTEX’s success with leading global brands highlights the importance of building trust and delivering consistent value to customers. 💬 Point of Thought: VTEX’s journey from a growing startup to a tech unicorn is a powerful reminder of what’s possible with the right mix of innovation, adaptability, and strategic growth. - For startup founders, VTEX's story is an inspiring example of how to navigate challenges and achieve remarkable success in the ever-evolving world of digital commerce. Let’s continue to drive innovation and transformation in our ventures! 🚀💡 #StartupSuccess #EcommerceInnovation #TechUnicorn #DigitalTransformation #StartupJourney #BusinessGrowth

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