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B2B Fashion Platform Zyod Raises $18 Million in Funding

Zyod, a B2B fashion marketplace, has successfully raised $18 million in funding through a combination of equity and debt. The equity funding round was led by RTP Global, with participation from existing investor Lightspeed Venture. On the debt side, the funding came from Stride Ventures, Trifecta Capital, and Alteria Capital.

The funding will primarily be used to accelerate Zyod’s international expansion efforts. Currently operating in 18 countries, Zyod aims to expand its presence to over 40 countries by the end of the fiscal year. Key markets include the US, UK, Middle East Asia, and Japan.

Zyod intends to strengthen its technological capabilities to optimize supply chain operations, predict production gaps, and adapt to design trends more effectively. The company emphasizes leveraging technology across its production processes, from modular design approaches to factory-level operations optimization.

Founded by Ankit Jaipuria and Ritesh Khandelwal, Zyod collaborates closely with apparel brands throughout the design and manufacturing phases, aiming to reduce inventory wastage and improve supply chain efficiency. The firm employs approximately 100 professionals across various roles and is poised to expand its sales teams internationally.

With a current annualized revenue run-rate in the “double-digit million dollar” range, Zyod is targeting significant revenue growth for FY25. The company anticipates that 80% of its business will originate from international markets in the coming years, with an evolving client mix shifting from larger enterprises to smaller, longtail clients over time.

Bluestone Secures Rs 100 Crore Debt Funding from Neo Markets Ahead of IPO

Bluestone, a Bengaluru-based omnichannel retailer specializing in jewellery, has successfully raised Rs 100 crore in debt funding from Neo Markets. This strategic funding round comes as Bluestone prepares for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO), aiming to strengthen its financial position.

Established in 2011 by Gaurav Singh Kushwaha, Bluestone has carved out a substantial presence in the jewellery market, operating through both its website and a widespread network of over 190 offline stores across 75 cities.

According to regulatory filings sourced from the Registrar of Companies, Bluestone’s board passed a special resolution to issue 10,000 debentures priced at Rs 1,00,000 each, facilitating the raise of Rs 100 crore.

The timing of this funding is pivotal as Bluestone is actively seeking to secure $100 million in a pre-IPO funding round. This round will involve a combination of primary and secondary sources, potentially offering significant returns for early investors.

Bluestone has accumulated approximately $190 million in total funding to date, including a noteworthy $66 million raised last September, with participation from investors like Ranjan Pai.

Accel emerges as the largest stakeholder in Bluestone, holding a 21.2% stake, followed by Kalari Capital with a 12.35% stake.

Financially, Bluestone has demonstrated robust revenue growth, achieving a 65% year-on-year increase, with revenues reaching Rs 787 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2023. Concurrently, the company reduced its losses significantly by 87%, amounting to Rs 167 crore during the same period.

As Bluestone continues to expand its market footprint and enhance operational efficiencies, the recent debt funding from Neo Markets is expected to fortify its position in preparation for its imminent IPO, reflecting its ambitions for sustained growth and market leadership in the jewellery retail sector.

CheQ Secures $2.2 Million in Extended Seed Round to Enhance Credit Card Bill Payment Platform

CheQ, a Bengaluru-based fintech startup specializing in credit card bill payment management, has successfully raised an additional Rs 18.5 crore (approximately $2.2 million) in its extended seed funding round.

Founded in 2022 by Aditya Soni, CheQ offers a streamlined platform that simplifies credit product management for consumers, enabling them to conveniently handle credit card bills and EMIs within a unified interface. Since its inception, CheQ has raised over $17 million in funding, including a notable $10 million seed round led by Venture Highway and 3one4 Capital in June 2022.

Major investors included Lloyd Dizon and Zenaida Dizon Balajadia, each contributing Rs 4.16 crore, alongside Sherpalo LLC, the venture of Ram Shriram, with Rs 8.32 crore. Hitesh Gupta and Amit Lakhotia also participated with investments of Rs 10 lakhs and Rs 25 lakhs, respectively.

Post this funding round, CheQ’s valuation has been estimated at approximately Rs 460 crore or $55.4 million (post-money valuation), according to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible.

Despite operating in a pre-revenue phase, CheQ reported revenues of Rs 2 crore for the fiscal year ending March 2023, with corresponding losses amounting to Rs 19.4 crore during the same period.

CheQ faces competition from established fintech players like CRED, a unicorn that has secured approximately $1 billion in funding and was last valued at $6.4 billion. According to TheKredible, CRED posted revenues of Rs 1,400 crore with losses of Rs 1,347 crore in FY23, underscoring the competitive landscape in the credit management sector.

The recent funding injection is expected to bolster CheQ’s market position and enhance its capabilities in serving a growing base of consumers seeking efficient credit management solutions.

Sun Pharma Completes Merger with Taro Pharmaceuticals for $43 per Share

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has successfully finalized the merger of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Limited with its subsidiary, acquiring all outstanding ordinary shares of Taro for $43 per share in cash. This move effectively transitions Taro into a private company wholly owned by Sun Pharma.

Sun Pharma, based in Mumbai, has been the majority shareholder of Taro since 2010. The merger transaction includes the acquisition of 8,086,818 shares, representing 21.52 percent of Taro’s outstanding shares, at a cost of Rs 2,891.76 crore.

Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun Pharma, expressed satisfaction with the completion of the merger process, noting its significance in leveraging synergies and enhancing capabilities across both organizations. He emphasized the strategic alignment and the potential for a stronger future together.

The $43 per share acquisition price represents a 48 percent premium over Taro’s closing price of $28.97 per share on May 25, 2023, the day before Sun Pharma initially proposed the merger.

Following the merger, Sun Pharma aims to integrate Taro’s strengths and resources into its own operations, aiming for enhanced growth and profitability in the pharmaceutical sector.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 2,654.58 crore for the fourth quarter ended March, marking a significant increase from Rs 1,984.47 crore in the same period the previous fiscal year.

Infibeam Avenues Teams Up with EDII to Boost AI Adoption for Enterprises and Startups

Infibeam Avenues, a prominent Indian fintech company, has embarked on a strategic partnership with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in Ahmedabad to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) among enterprises, startups, and MSMEs across India.

Established in 1983, EDII is a prestigious autonomous institution dedicated to entrepreneurship education, research, and startup incubation. Sponsored by leading financial institutions such as IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, and the Government of Gujarat, EDII focuses on fostering growth, innovation, and institution building within the MSME sector.

Infibeam’s AI Initiatives

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Infibeam Avenues Ltd and EDII, Infibeam has introduced its advanced video AI Developer Platform, ‘THEIA,’ at EDII’s Gandhinagar campus. This platform equips students and entrepreneurs with essential tools to develop AI-driven products, thereby enhancing business efficiency and capabilities. Additionally, Infibeam has deployed its newly launched AI facility management solution, ‘AI Facility Manager,’ at the EDII campus.

Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General of EDII, emphasized the transformative potential of integrating advanced AI technologies into entrepreneurial education. He highlighted that this collaboration will empower aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage AI for sustainable business growth and excellence in a digital-first era.

Vishal Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director of Infibeam Avenues Ltd, expressed confidence that embracing digitalization and AI is pivotal for the future of entrepreneurship. He emphasized that this collaboration will equip entrepreneurs with the necessary digital tools and solutions to thrive in the evolving business landscape.

By leveraging AI innovation through collaborative efforts with EDII, Infibeam Avenues aims to pave the way for a future where AI-powered technologies drive sustainable growth and operational excellence across Indian enterprises and startups.

Zendesk Launches Venture Fund to Support AI Customer Service Startups

Zendesk, a leading provider of customer service software, has announced the launch of Zendesk Ventures, a corporate venture capital initiative aimed at investing in artificial intelligence startups.

This new venture arm will focus on supporting startups that develop AI technologies compatible with Zendesk’s customer service platform, starting from the seed stage and beyond.

Ben Barclay, Zendesk’s Senior Vice-President of Strategy, Corporate Development, and Transformation, emphasized the importance of AI in transforming customer and employee service experiences.

Zendesk Ventures aims not only to invest in promising AI startups but also to integrate their innovations into Zendesk Marketplace, enhancing the capabilities of Zendesk’s application platform.

While the exact size of the fund has not been disclosed, CEO Tom Eggemeier indicated to Axios that it will be funded with tens of millions of dollars from Zendesk’s balance sheet. The fund will typically invest between $500,000 to $1 million per deal, primarily focusing on seed-stage investments, with consideration for Series A rounds as well.

At its launch, Zendesk Ventures has already established a portfolio that includes Zuper, a provider of field service management software, and Observe.AI, which specializes in conversational intelligence platforms for call centers. Notably, Observe.AI has raised over $210 million as of 2022.

Recent additions to Zendesk Ventures’ portfolio include PolyAI, which develops tools enabling Zendesk users to manage tasks through voice commands, such as order tracking and delivery updates. Another addition is UnitQ, offering an AI platform that analyzes real-time customer interactions and feedback.

Zendesk Ventures underscores Zendesk’s commitment to advancing AI-driven solutions in customer service, fostering innovation within its ecosystem while enhancing the capabilities available to its global customer base.

From Amazon Engineer to Billionaire: The Journey of Instacart Co-Founder Apoorva Mehta

Apoorva Mehta‘s path to becoming a billionaire was marked by determination and resilience, culminating in the success of Instacart, the online grocery delivery startup that recently went public with a market value of $8.8 billion.

As Instacart’s largest individual shareholder, Mehta’s net worth has soared to $1.1 billion following the sale of 700,000 shares of the company he co-founded in San Francisco in 2012. His career began at Amazon in logistics as a supply-chain engineer, but his desire to become an entrepreneur led him to quit his job and move to San Francisco without a clear plan.

Reflecting on his early struggles, Mehta recalled trying his hand at various startups from advertising for gaming companies to creating a social network for lawyers, all met with disappointment. It was a personal inconvenience, the lack of groceries, that sparked the idea for Instacart in 2012, as he observed a gap in the online delivery market that excluded groceries.

Instacart initially faced challenges, including a missed deadline to apply for Y Combinator, a prestigious startup accelerator. However, Mehta’s resourcefulness earned him a spot by personally delivering a six-pack of beer to Y Combinator’s headquarters using his fledgling app.

With Y Combinator’s support, Instacart secured $2.3 million in venture capital funding and rapidly expanded beyond San Francisco. Today, Instacart operates in over 14,000 cities across North America, partnering with major chains like Kroger and Costco to deliver groceries from more than 80,000 stores.

Before going public, Instacart reported delivering over 900 million orders containing 20 billion items, underscoring its significant impact on the online grocery market. Mehta stepped down as CEO in the previous year but remains a pivotal figure as the company’s executive chairman.

Apoorva Mehta’s journey from a determined engineer to a billionaire entrepreneur exemplifies perseverance and innovation in the tech startup world, cementing his legacy with Instacart’s transformative success in revolutionizing grocery shopping through digital convenience.

Meta Launches Meta AI Across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook in India

Meta, the social media giant, has initiated the rollout of its artificial intelligence assistant, Meta AI, to users in India. Unlike standalone AI apps like ChatGPT, Meta AI integrates seamlessly across platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, offering functionalities in English.

Meta AI is designed to handle a wide range of tasks such as drafting emails, summarizing texts, and translations. It enables users to generate text and images, create animations, and engage directly with the AI through chat interactions.

Additionally, Meta AI leverages real-time information from Google and Microsoft’s Bing, enhancing its utility as a versatile tool for users.

The deployment of Meta AI in India is being phased, with the initial rollout targeting specific regions. Although Meta announced the availability of the AI starting today, its complete availability across all regions in India may take time to materialize, as indicated on the Meta AI website.

Previously launched in over 12 countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, Meta AI has garnered attention for its comprehensive set of features aimed at enhancing user interaction and productivity.

Users in India can expect Meta AI to facilitate interactions within personal and group chats on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. The AI assistant offers personalized recommendations, answers queries, and assists in content creation tasks like generating visual aesthetics and mood boards using AI-generated content.

Meta AI’s integration into the search functionalities of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger allows users to access its capabilities conveniently while browsing through their social feeds.

In comparison to other AI assistants like Google’s Gemini, which recently launched its mobile app in India supporting multiple Indian languages, Meta AI focuses on enhancing user engagement through a unified experience across its platforms in English.

EUSUSO Denmark and REnergy Dynamics Partner for India’s Green Energy Advancement

EUSUSO Denmark and REnergy Dynamics (RED) have forged a strategic collaboration aimed at bolstering methane yield and accelerating Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production in India, leveraging advanced Danish technology and expertise in bioenergy.

Under the framework of the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, the two entities have entered into a letter of intent to introduce state-of-the-art CBG plants in India. Central to this initiative is the adoption of the patented CELLEBRIQ™ pre-treatment system, developed by Danish innovators to optimize the anaerobic digestion process.

The CELLEBRIQ™ system is designed to process agricultural residues, such as paddy straw, reducing volume by up to 85% while enhancing methane yield by 16-18%.

Dr. Torben A. Bonde, founder of Biofuel Technology and Kinetic Biofuel, holds the patent for the CELLEBRIQ™ technology, which will be introduced to India through EUSUSO’s joint venture with RED.

Kushagra Nandan, Co-Founder and MD of RED, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing EUSUSO’s role in delivering sustainable technology solutions. Lars Rosgaard, CEO of EUSUSO, highlighted the significance of importing Danish technologies to meet the demands of India’s burgeoning bioenergy market.

Varun Karad, Co-Founder and CEO of RED, emphasized that the joint venture aims to introduce cutting-edge technologies for efficient processing of crop residues, marking a transformative step towards enhancing CBG production and sustainability practices in India.

This partnership is poised to reshape the landscape of CBG production in India, drawing on European expertise to propel advancements in the bio-gas sector and contribute to sustainable energy solutions.

BMW Motorrad Set to Launch First Electric Vehicle in India: The CE 04 Scooter

BMW Motorrad is gearing up to introduce its first electric two-wheeler in India with the launch of the CE 04 electric scooter on July 24. Vikram Pahwah has been the President and CEO of BMW Group India. Initially showcased in December 2022, the CE 04 marks BMW’s foray into the zero-emission segment in the Indian market.

The CE 04 is powered by an 8.9 kWh battery pack, providing a claimed range of 130 km on a single charge. Its electric motor delivers a peak output of 31 kW, enabling acceleration from 0 to 50 km/h in just 2.6 seconds and achieving a top speed of 120 km/h. Charging the scooter takes approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes with a regular charger.

Featuring a tubular steel frame and equipped with a 35mm telescopic fork at the front and a preload adjustable monoshock at the rear, the CE 04 rides on 15-inch wheels fitted with 120-section and 160-section tires at the front and rear respectively. The seat height is set at 780mm, extendable to 800mm with an optional comfort seat, while the scooter weighs 179 kg with standard equipment.

The CE 04 incorporates modern technology including three ride modes, traction control, ABS, and a TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity for navigation and other functionalities. Its design is futuristic with distinctive styling cues and unconventional bodywork, reflecting BMW’s innovative approach to electric mobility.

While BMW Motorrad India has not disclosed pricing details yet, speculations suggest it could be priced significantly higher than the C 400 GT, which was launched at Rs 11.20 lakh (ex-showroom India).

The launch of the CE 04 underscores BMW’s commitment to expanding its electric vehicle portfolio globally, catering to the growing demand for sustainable mobility solutions in India’s urban landscape.