Backpacker hostel chain The Hosteller has raised ₹150 crore (around $16 million) in a Series B funding round co-led by PROMAFT Partners and V3 Ventures, with participation from ITI Growth Opportunities Fund and Merisis Wealth Trust, along with several family offices. The Mumbai-based startup had earlier raised $5.7 million in Series A (November 2024) led by V3 Ventures, and $1 million in pre-Series A (November 2021) from FAO Ventures. The fresh capital will be used to accelerate expansion across key travel destinations, while also strengthening operational efficiencies and brand building. Founded in 2014 by Pranav Dangi, The Hosteller focuses on…
Author: Adarsh Kumar
Aliste Technologies, an energy management and IoT solutions startup, has raised ₹30 crore ($3.2 million) in a pre-Series A round led by Big Global JSC, with participation from YourNest Venture Capital and HBeon Labs. The round includes a mix of equity and debt, marking an early growth push for the startup. Aliste will use the fresh funds to strengthen research in energy focused solutions and expand distribution of its enterprise offerings. Founded in 2021 by Anant Ohri, Aakarsh Nayyar, Bhavya Kansal, Konark Gautam, and Shreyansh Jain, the company provides energy monitoring and optimisation solutions for commercial spaces. The startup currently…
The Government of India has officially notified the ₹10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds (FoF 2.0), aimed at boosting access to venture and growth capital for deep tech startups, early stage companies, and tech driven manufacturing ventures. The new fund builds on the success of the earlier Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0), launched in 2016 under the Startup India programme. Managed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), FFS 1.0 operates as an “investor for investors,” deploying capital into SEBI registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).…
AI software platform Emergent is bringing its flagship hackathon, VibeCon, to India with a high-stakes opportunity for builders. The two-day event, scheduled for April 16–17 in Bengaluru, will offer the winning team a direct interview with a partner at Y Combinator. Positioned just ahead of Y Combinator’s first in-person Startup School India on April 18, the event creates a high energy week for founders, engineers, and operators to collaborate, build, and validate ideas rapidly. VibeCon India stands out for its selective format. Unlike traditional hackathons, it follows a rigorous application process to identify high potential participants capable of turning ideas…
Digital documentation and e-signature platform Leegality reported strong growth in the fiscal year ended March 2025, crossing ₹80 crore in revenue while more than doubling its profit. The Gurugram-based company’s operating revenue rose 30.3% year-on-year to ₹81.08 crore in FY25 from ₹62.22 crore in FY24. Including ₹5.52 crore from other income, its total revenue stood at ₹86.6 crore. Leegality has scaled consistently over the past two years, growing from ₹33.5 crore in FY23 to over ₹81 crore in FY25, reflecting a 2.4X increase driven by rising adoption of digital documentation and compliance solutions. The company offers digital document logistics and…
India’s roadways infrastructure has entered a high-growth phase, driven by large-scale investments, faster execution, and a strong policy push toward building world class connectivity. Over the past decade, the country has significantly expanded its national highway network under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with total highway length crossing 1.45 lakh km. The focus has shifted from basic connectivity to high-speed, access controlled corridors that improve both efficiency and travel experience. A key driver of this transformation has been flagship programs such as Bharatmala Pariyojana and PM Gati Shakti, which aim to develop economic corridors and integrated infrastructure networks.…
Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to explore investments worth $6.5 billion across multiple sectors in the state. The proposed investments will be focused on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and other high growth areas in Maharashtra. Multi-Sector Investment Plan According to the agreement, Vingroup plans to explore opportunities across: The move marks a significant expansion of Vingroup’s India strategy after its earlier engagements in Telangana and Tamil Nadu. $5 Billion for Urban Development A major portion of the investment around $5 billion will go into developing integrated urban townships across nearly…
Food delivery and quick commerce platform Swiggy has announced key leadership changes, including the exit of co-founder Nandan Reddy and the elevation of senior executives to its board. Nandan Reddy Steps Down Nandan Reddy will step down from Swiggy’s board and exit the company to pursue independent ventures. He had most recently been leading Crew, Swiggy’s concierge app. Following his departure, the Crew business will now be overseen by Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy’s food marketplace. Board Elevations Swiggy has elevated: Both have been appointed as Executive Directors on the company’s board. Kishan has been instrumental in driving Swiggy’s business…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY27 to 6.9%, up from its earlier estimate of 6.5%, citing strong domestic demand, easing financing conditions, and lower US tariffs on Indian goods. For FY28, ADB expects India’s economy to grow even faster at 7.3%, driven by domestic reforms, trade gains, and stronger consumer spending. Growth Outlook Remains Strong According to ADB’s latest Asian Development Outlook report: ADB noted that India’s economic resilience continues despite a worsening global geopolitical environment. Key Drivers Behind Higher Growth India’s improved outlook is being supported by: ADB expects domestic reforms and…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a new security measure that could introduce a mandatory one-hour delay for UPI and IMPS fund transfers above ₹10,000, aimed at reducing rising digital payment fraud in India. What the RBI Proposal Says In its recently released discussion paper, the RBI suggested that: This means regular shopping and merchant payments should continue without interruption. Whitelisting Trusted Beneficiaries To balance convenience with security, RBI has also proposed a beneficiary whitelisting feature, allowing users to mark trusted recipients. Transfers to whitelisted accounts would bypass the cooling period. This could help frequent users avoid delays…