Page 28 - Startups
Conversational AI firm yellow.ai raises $78.15 mn in Series C round
The company's AI-powered bots deliver automated customer experience on over 35 chat and voice channels, across more than 100 languages, handling over a billion interactions every quarter
 "Conversational AI firm yellow.ai raises $78.15 mn in Series C round")
64% MSMEs and startups saw online sales grow over past one year: Survey
28% saw their sales grow by 100-500%, while another 23% saw a 50-100% spike in sales
 "64% MSMEs and startups saw online sales grow over past one year: Survey")
Employee health benefits startup Onsurity raises $16 mn from Quona, Nexus
The round also saw participation from healthcare entrepreneur Vivek Garipalli, the founder and CEO of Clover Healthcare
 "Employee health benefits startup Onsurity raises $16 mn from Quona, Nexus")
Youth apparel brand The Souled Store raises Rs 75 cr in Series B funding
The company, which makes apparels from pop-culture themes like superheroes, movies, and cartoons, says it aims to cross Rs 1,000 crore GMV (gross merchandise value) by 2025
 "Youth apparel brand The Souled Store raises Rs 75 cr in Series B funding")
StockGro raises $5 mn in pre-series A round, to use funds to get more users
StockGro now has leading fund managers, F&O traders, and algo traders driving their social groups, helping users learn various trading strategies
 "StockGro raises $5 mn in pre-series A round, to use funds to get more users")
Bhavin Turakhia's email startup Titan raises $30 mn, valued at $300 mn
It's the first funding raised by Titan. Along with investment from Automattic, Titan will also be able to leverage the huge presence of WordPress across the globe
 "Bhavin Turakhia's email startup Titan raises $30 mn, valued at $300 mn")
Cricket legend Virender Sehwag's brand 'VS by Sehwag' gets into e-commerce
The brand is set to acquire 5 mn customers across India in 5 years; is looking to achieve Rs 100 cr revenue via Omni-channel retail, over next 3 years
 "Cricket legend Virender Sehwag's brand 'VS by Sehwag' gets into e-commerce")
Agri-tech firm Krishify raises $2.7 mn from investors for expansion of biz
In a pre-Series A funding round, the company has raised funds led by Omidyar Network India, Ankur Capital, and existing investor Orios Ventures.
 "Agri-tech firm Krishify raises $2.7 mn from investors for expansion of biz")
Plug-and-play firm Quickshift raises $770,000 from Anicut Angel, Axilor
Quickshift is a tech fulfilment company providing solutions through a quick turnaround time. It is also an accelerator for brands in the D2C, e-commerce, B2B & retail spaces
 "Plug-and-play firm Quickshift raises $770,000 from Anicut Angel, Axilor")
Dukaan launches social commerce platform, partners with D2C brand Bewakoof
The platform, Dukaan Plus, will help merchants source best quality products from the top D2C brands and earn commissions on each sale
 "Dukaan launches social commerce platform, partners with D2C brand Bewakoof")
upGrad acquires global edtech firm KnowledgeHut for undisclosed sum
Edtech platform upGrad on Tuesday said it has acquired global firm KnowledgeHut for an undisclosed sum.
 "upGrad acquires global edtech firm KnowledgeHut for undisclosed sum")
B2B sales productivity startup Nektar.ai closes seed round of $8.1 million
$6 bn tranche of funding led by B Capital Group, 3One4 Capital and Nexus Venture Partners; Ritesh Agarwal of OYO Hotels, Deep Nishar of Softbank among clutch of angel investors
 "B2B sales productivity startup Nektar.ai closes seed round of $8.1 million")
Edtech startup Unacademy gets $440 mn funding, valuation crosses $3.44 bn
Unacademy Group's valuation has grown almost ten times in 18 months, riding on demand for online training
 "Edtech startup Unacademy gets $440 mn funding, valuation crosses $3.44 bn")
Language learning platform Instrucko raises $1 mn in pre-series A round
Firm to expand business in India and West Asia, with core focus on providing children in 3-15 age group with premium content and training by leading educationists from across the world
 "Language learning platform Instrucko raises $1 mn in pre-series A round")
Fashinza raises $20 mn as it aims to tap $800 bn global fashion mfg space
Fashinza was started to help small and medium ethical factories employing millions of workers connect with global demand and eliminate environmentally unsustainable practices like overproduction
B2B platform Apnaklub raises $3.5 mn from Sequoia Capital India's Surge
Apnaklub links kirana and general stores in the hinterland to consumer brands through its network
 "B2B platform Apnaklub raises $3.5 mn from Sequoia Capital India's Surge")
The opportunities and challenges for India's social commerce start-ups
Industry experts say there are, however, some basic hurdles that video-based commerce needs to overcome to be successful in India
 "The opportunities and challenges for India's social commerce start-ups")
SoftBank-backed Unacademy announces teacher stock options worth $40 mn
Unacademy competes with players such as Byju's, Vedantu, Simplilearn, UpGrad, Amazon Academy, and traditional education institutes
 "SoftBank-backed Unacademy announces teacher stock options worth $40 mn")
Beauty startup Nykaa seeks $4 billion valuation in IPO, says report
Company is aiming to file its draft red herring prospectus within the next few days
 "Beauty startup Nykaa seeks $4 billion valuation in IPO, says report")
Kalaari Capital firm CXXO announces $10 mn seed fund for women founders
Between January 2018 and June 2020, startups led by women founder-CEOs received only 1.43 per cent of the total capital raised in India
