Entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath and Future Group founder Kishore Biyani have jointly launched The Foundery, a residential business launchpad designed to identify, build, and scale early-stage Indian startups within 90 days. Positioned as a co-founder factory, the initiative aims to move ideas from concept to investible businesses through intensive execution-led programmes. The Foundery operates as a 90-day residential cohort-based programme, blending elements of a school, accelerator, and venture studio. Unlike traditional startup accelerators that rely heavily on classroom-style learning, the model places a strong emphasis on hands-on execution, rapid experimentation, and real-world problem solving. Participants work closely with experienced…
Author: Adarsh Kumar
Dugar Finance, an impact-focused secured MSME lending NBFC, has raised $18 million (around ₹160 crore) in a debt funding round led by Swiss-based investor Symbiotics. The round also saw participation from several Indian financial institutions, including Union Bank of India, Karur Vysya Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, and STCI Finance, among others. Symbiotics contributed $5.5 million as part of the transaction. This marks the company’s second fundraise involving Symbiotics in 2025. Earlier in June, Dugar Finance had raised $3 million in debt through the $75 million Green Basket Bond issued by Symbiotics Investments. Focus on MSME Lending and…
Motilal Oswal Alternates has invested $72 million in Sensa Core Medical Instrumentation, a Hyderabad-based medical devices company focused on developing indigenous healthcare technology. The investment underscores growing private equity interest in India’s domestic medical devices manufacturing ecosystem amid rising import dependence. Founded in 2006 by Dr. Ravi Kumar Meruva, Sensa Core is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of specialised in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices. The company claims its products are used across more than 40,000 hospitals and diagnostic laboratories in India, with exports spanning over 78 countries. Expanding Product Portfolio and Manufacturing Capacity Sensa Core’s product portfolio includes…
Apple supplier Foxconn has carried out an unprecedented workforce expansion at its upcoming iPhone manufacturing facility near Bengaluru, hiring nearly 30,000 employees within nine months of starting operations. The rapid scale-up is being seen as one of the fastest hiring drives ever recorded at a single manufacturing site in India. The factory, located in Devanahalli, spans close to 300 acres and has quickly emerged as a major employment centre. Notably, around 80% of the workforce comprises women, largely in the 19–24 age group, many of whom are entering formal employment for the first time. The scale of hiring has also…
Indian Railways has hiked passenger fares for the second time in FY26, as the Ministry of Railways looks to strengthen its revenue base while keeping the impact on travellers limited. Officials termed the move “modest and calibrated”, aimed at addressing rising costs without significantly burdening passengers. The latest fare revision is expected to generate additional revenue of around ₹600 crore during FY26, the ministry said. Based on current passenger volumes, the annualised revenue impact could have reached nearly ₹2,400 crore, indicating the scale of earnings potential from incremental fare adjustments. Fare Hike Effective December 26 The revised fares will come…
Tesla, SpaceX and xAI CEO Elon Musk has further cemented his position as the world’s richest person after a US court reinstated his massive Tesla stock compensation plan, sharply boosting his net worth and bringing him closer to becoming the world’s first trillionaire. Elon Musk’s net worth has surged to nearly $750 billion after the Delaware Supreme Court in the US restored his 2018 Tesla pay package, reversing an earlier court ruling that had scrapped the deal. According to Forbes’ billionaires list, the reinstatement of Musk’s Tesla stock options currently valued at around $139 billion has significantly increased his overall…
Test preparation platform Unacademy has revised its ESOP policy for exited employees, allowing them to exercise their vested stock options within 30 days of exit, a significant change from the earlier policy that permitted a much longer exercise window. According to an official communication sent to former employees, the company’s board has approved a one-time 30-day exercise window from the effective date of the revised plan. Ex-employees can exercise all vested options earned during their tenure, subject to applicable taxation. However, the company cautioned that exercising ESOPs would trigger immediate tax liability under Indian tax laws, even though the shares…
Beverage major Parle Agro reported a sharp surge in profitability in FY25, with consolidated net profit rising more than sixfold to ₹115.38 crore, compared to ₹17.3 crore in the previous fiscal year, according to financial data accessed via Tofler. The company’s revenue from operations grew 5% year-on-year to ₹3,284.13 crore, driven by steady demand across its flagship beverage brands including Frooti, Appy, SMOODH and Bailley. Total income for the year stood at ₹3,370.14 crore, marking a similar annual growth. The strong profit expansion came despite modest top-line growth, aided by tighter cost controls and lower advertising spends. Advertising and promotional…
Fortis Healthcare has strengthened its presence in Bengaluru with the acquisition of People Tree Hospital, a 125-bed facility located in Yeshwanthpur, for ₹430 crore. The transaction was executed through the purchase of 100% equity in TMI Healthcare, which owns and operates the hospital. As part of the deal, Fortis will acquire the hospital infrastructure, underlying land, and an additional 0.8-acre adjacent land parcel from a third party. The healthcare major also announced plans to invest an additional ₹410 crore over the next three years, taking the total investment to ₹840 crore, to significantly scale operations. Following the expansion, People Tree…
Bengaluru-based visual telematics startup Cautio is set to acquire Bytes, an AI-powered two wheeler safety technology startup backed by Nikhil Kamath’s WTFund. The deal will be a 100% acquisition, with Cautio buying out Bytes entirely. Sources said the transaction has been finalised and is expected to close within the next two to three weeks, subject to customary approvals. Financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed. Founded to build AI-driven Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for two-wheelers, Bytes focuses on improving rider safety through computer vision, real-time alerts, and predictive risk detection. The startup gained early traction after receiving non-dilutive backing…