Debate Rekindled Over Gig Work ConditionsZomato chief executive officer Deepinder Goyal’s defence of the company’s gig work model has drawn fresh criticism from the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Association (TGPWA), intensifying the debate over pay structures, benefits and working conditions in India’s rapidly expanding quick commerce sector. Goyal’s Claims on Pay and FlexibilityIn a recent post on X, Goyal outlined a five-point explanation of how delivery partners earn on Zomato and Blinkit. He said delivery partners earned an average of ₹102 per hour in 2025, excluding tips, reflecting a 10.9 percent year-on-year increase. Goyal highlighted that partners choose their…
Author: Aman Atulya
A Startup Born From a Trust Gap At a time when India’s packaged food industry is flooded with over-processing, synthetic additives, and opaque labels, consumer trust in everyday food is quietly eroding. Convenience has come at the cost of purity. Frissly was born to challenge this status quo with a simple but uncompromising belief “ Purity Beyond Homemade .” The startup set out to prove that packaged food can be as clean, transparent, and trustworthy as food made in one’s own kitchen, without shortcuts, chemicals, or hidden compromises. Research-Led Foundations for Scalable Clean Food Over the past two years, Frissly…
Fresh ESOP AllocationOne 97 Communications, the parent entity of Paytm, has approved the grant of 1,23,908 stock options to eligible employees under its ESOP Scheme 2019, according to a stock exchange filing. Based on the company’s last traded share price of ₹1,340, the newly granted options are valued at approximately ₹16.6 crore. Equity-Based Compensation StrategyThe ESOP issuance forms part of One 97 Communications’ broader employee incentive framework. Stock-based compensation continues to be used as a retention and motivation tool as the company stabilises its core operations following regulatory and business restructuring over the past year. RBI Nod for Payments ArmThe…
Mirae Asset Venture India, the private investing arm of South Korea’s Mirae Asset Financial Group, has appointed Puneet Kumar as its chief executive officer. Kumar succeeds Ashish Dave, who exited the firm in mid-2025. In his new role, Kumar will lead Mirae Asset’s venture capital and private investing platform in India. The firm said he will focus on refining investment strategy, strengthening collaboration with Mirae Asset’s global venture teams, and deepening engagement with founders and co-investors in the Indian market. Mirae Asset Venture India invests across sectors including technology platforms, consumer businesses, artificial intelligence and deep technology. Its India portfolio…
Price Cuts Announced Across MarketsAdani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL), the city gas joint venture between the Adani Group and France’s TotalEnergies, has announced reductions in compressed natural gas (CNG) and domestic piped natural gas (PNG) prices across several regions. The company said prices have been cut by up to ₹4, offering relief to households and vehicle owners. Impact of PNGRB Tariff ReformThe price revision follows a major reform by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), which rationalised gas transportation tariffs. Effective January 1, 2026, the regulator reduced the number of transportation zones from three to two and introduced…
Board Approval and Deal StructureDelhi NCR-based meat delivery startup Zappfresh has approved the acquisition of a 51 percent stake in Avyom Foodtech Private Limited through a capital infusion of ₹7.5 crore via private placement. The transaction is expected to be completed within a period of three to nine months, subject to customary conditions. Strategic RationaleZappfresh said the acquisition will enable its entry into the ready food solutions segment, including ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook categories. The move also supports the company’s plans to expand into overseas export markets, adding a new growth lever beyond its core fresh meat delivery business. Capital Deployment…
Senior Management Exit DisclosedOla Electric Mobility has disclosed the resignation of Vishal Chaturvedi, Business Head for cell operations and a designated senior management personnel. In a regulatory filing to stock exchanges, the Bhavish Aggarwal-led electric vehicle maker said Chaturvedi stepped down with effect from the close of business hours on December 31, 2025. Regulatory Filing and ComplianceThe disclosure was made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015, along with a November 2024 SEBI circular governing senior management disclosures. Ola Electric also attached a copy of Chaturvedi’s resignation letter to the filing. Reason…
Record-Breaking New Year’s EveFood delivery and quick commerce platforms Zomato and Blinkit delivered more than 75 lakh orders on New Year’s Eve, marking the highest single-day order volume ever recorded by the platforms. The milestone was achieved despite calls for a nationwide strike by sections of gig worker unions. Operations Remain UnaffectedIn a post on X, Deepinder Goyal, founder and chief executive officer of Eternal, which owns Zomato and Blinkit, said operations were not disrupted by the strike calls that had circulated in the days leading up to December 31. He added that support from local law enforcement agencies helped…
Funding AnnouncementAgritech firm Arya.ag has raised ₹725 crore, or about $80.3 million, in a Series D funding round led by GEF Capital Partners. The investment follows earlier reports indicating that GEF Capital was in advanced discussions to lead a large round in the company. Recent Capital RaisesOver the past year, Arya.ag has closed multiple fundraises. In July 2025, the company raised $29 million in an equity round. Separately, its agri-commerce arm, Aryatech, secured a $19.8 million commitment from the US International Development Finance Corporation to guarantee a debt facility, strengthening its access to structured financing. Use of ProceedsThe company said…
Debt Funding DetailsMeat and seafood delivery startup FreshToHome is raising ₹75 crore, or about $8.5 million, through a debt funding round led by Trifecta Venture. According to filings sourced from the Registrar of Companies, the company’s board has approved the issuance of 750 non-convertible debentures at a face value of ₹10 lakh each to Trifecta Venture. Use of ProceedsFreshToHome said the funds raised through the NCD issuance will be used to meet working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes. The debt infusion comes at a time when consumer internet startups are increasingly turning to structured debt to support operations…