Nikhil Kamath’s journey is not a typical success story — it’s a story of breaking rules and creating his own path. Born in Bengaluru, Nikhil was never interested in textbooks or exams. He dropped out of school early, began selling phones, and soon developed an obsession with the stock market. While most teenagers were figuring out college options, Nikhil was learning real-world trading at lightning speed. This unconventional start laid the foundation for one of India’s biggest financial revolutions. Building Zerodha: A Startup That Changed India’s Trading Culture In 2010, Nikhil and his brother Nithin founded Zerodha, a discount brokerage…
Author: Adarsh Kumar
Nexus Venture Partners has announced the close of its $700 million Fund VIII, strengthening its position as one of the most active early stage investors across India and the United States. The new fund will primarily support startups in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, consumer tech, and fintech, continuing Nexus’ strategy of backing high potential founders building globally competitive companies. This raise mirrors the firm’s previous $700 million fund in 2023, signaling consistent investor confidence. Nexus confirmed that Fund VIII will also be deployed into US only ventures, alongside its long standing focus on cross border Indian software companies. The firm…
Ritesh Agarwal, founder & CEO of OYO Rooms, turned a small-town dream into a global hospitality empire. Born in Rayagada, Odisha, he dared to think big when most were settling for the ordinary. Today, OYO is a household name across India and multiple countries. Dropping Out to Build a Vision At just 17, Ritesh moved to Delhi, dropped out of college, and identified a major problem — budget travelers couldn’t find clean, affordable, and reliable rooms. This led to the birth of Oravel Stays, which soon evolved into OYO Rooms, redefining the budget hotel industry. Overcoming Challenges & Going Global…
Agentic AI is quickly becoming the backbone of next-generation enterprise automation, and Disseqt AI is emerging as one of the leading players shaping this shift. The company has entered strategic partnerships with Tata Technologies and Infosys to help global automobile and fintech companies adopt advanced AI agents safely and at scale. Disseqt AI focuses on solving a major challenge for large enterprises: ensuring that AI systems are reliable, testable, compliant, and ready for real-world workflows. Its platform allows organisations to build, simulate, test, and monitor Agentic AI systems without the heavy operational costs that typically slow adoption. By offering industry-specific…
The initial public offering (IPO) of ecommerce unicorn Meesho continued to draw strong investor demand on Day 2, with the issue oversubscribed 5.23 times as of 14:18 IST. The Bengaluru-based social commerce platform received bids for 145.20 crore shares against 27.79 crore shares on offer, reflecting robust market confidence in the company’s business model and growth trajectory. Retail Investors Lead Aggressive Bidding Retail investors emerged as the strongest contributor in the subscription race. The retail portion was oversubscribed 7.82X, with investors bidding for 39.90 crore shares against the 5.1 crore shares reserved for them. This reflects the high brand visibility…
Credlix, the supply chain financing arm of B2B ecommerce unicorn Moglix, has acquired a majority stake in Delhi-based NBFC Vanik Finance for around ₹80 crore (approximately $8.9 million). The strategic move aims to strengthen Credlix’s position in India’s growing MSME credit ecosystem and accelerate its expansion into deeper supply chain financing services. In a statement, Moglix announced that Vanik Finance will now operate completely under the Credlix brand, enabling the platform to leverage advanced analytics, digital underwriting, and automated risk assessment frameworks. This integration is expected to speed up credit decision-making and further reduce turnaround time for MSME borrowers. Strengthening…
In one of the biggest moves in global luxury fashion this year, the Prada Group has officially acquired its Milanese rival Versace in a deal valued at 1.25 billion euros (nearly $1.4 billion). The acquisition unites two iconic but contrasting Italian fashion houses Prada’s “ugly chic” minimalism and Versace’s bold, glamorous identity under a single corporate umbrella. The deal, long anticipated by the market, is expected to revitalize Versace after years of uneven performance under U.S.based Capri Holdings, especially in the post pandemic period. In its brief confirmation, Prada said the acquisition was completed after securing all required regulatory approvals,…
In a major boost to India’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem, Haptik co-founder Aakrit Vaish and Together Fund’s former principal Pratyush Choudhury have launched Activate, a $75 million venture fund dedicated to backing early stage AI startups. The fund aims to empower founders building at the earliest stages, including those still at the ideation phase. Activate will invest between $500K and $3 million per company, reflecting the founders’ belief that India is entering a generational AI wave where early technical innovation needs strong capital and hands on mentorship. The fund has attracted a global roster of influential LPs from the…
Deepinder Goyal, the founder and CEO of Zomato, is one of India’s most remarkable entrepreneurs. His journey from a small town in Punjab to building a multi billion dollar food tech giant has inspired millions of young founders and startup dreamers. Today, Zomato is not just a food delivery company. it’s a global brand known for innovation, customer first thinking, and continuous reinvention. Early Life and the Birth of Zomato Deepinder graduated from IIT Delhi and started his career at Bain & Company. While working there, he noticed how employees struggled with physical restaurant menus during lunch hours. This simple…
Wonderchef, the premium kitchenware and home appliances brand co-founded by Ravi Saxena and celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, recorded steady financial growth in FY25 with an improvement in profitability, according to its filings with the Registrar of Companies. The company’s operating revenue rose 11% to Rs 421 crore in FY25, compared to Rs 378 crore in FY24, driven by strong omnichannel sales across retail outlets, e-commerce marketplaces, and quick-commerce platforms. Wonderchef’s broad portfolio spanning non stick cookware, pans, air fryers, chimneys, flasks, and other kitchen appliances remained its sole source of revenue. An additional Rs 2 crore in interest income pushed…