The Indian government has initiated an investigation into allegations that major e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon are charging an arbitrary ₹100 platform fee to customers, drawing sharp criticism and a promise of strict action from the Centre. What Sparked the Probe Hundreds of consumers have taken to social media complaining about hidden or “baseless” fees added at checkout—particularly during sales. In one cited case, a buyer was shown additional charges including a platform fee of ₹99, a payment handling fee, and a “protect promise” charge.Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi termed the practice a “dark pattern”, explaining that…
Author: Aman Atulya
How a village boy from Tamil Nadu built a global SaaS empire without a single rupee of venture capital. At a time when most tech founders chase funding and valuations, Sridhar Vembu chose simplicity, substance, and self-reliance. The founder of Zoho Corporation has proven that a world-class tech company can rise from rural India powered by local talent and unwavering conviction. Early Life and Education Born in 1968 in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, Vembu grew up in a modest middle-class family where education was seen as the only route to success. He excelled in academics, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering…
Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE – ODI has sold 1.08 crore shares in foodtech company Eternal, in a block deal valued at around ₹355.3 crore. The shares were sold at ₹329 apiece, representing about 0.11% of Eternal’s equity. The buyer was BoFA Securities Europe SA, which acquired the shares in the secondary market. This transaction marks Goldman Sachs’ third recent stake sale in Eternal. Earlier this month, it sold 8.2 crore shares worth ₹266.9 crore, and prior to that, 9.52 lakh shares for ₹31.6 crore. Goldman Sachs seems to be booking profits as Eternal’s stock has seen substantial gains. Over…
Omnichannel eyewear retailer Lenskart has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its initial public offering (IPO), marking a major milestone in its growth journey. The approval comes two months after the company filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) in July 2025. IPO Structure The offering will include a fresh issue of ₹2,150 crore, along with an Offer for Sale (OFS) of up to 13.2 crore shares by existing investors. The OFS will be led by marquee stakeholders including SoftBank, Temasek, Schroders Capital, Premji Invest, Kedaara Capital, and Alpha Wave. SoftBank, Lenskart’s largest…
BVG India, a provider of integrated facility management services, has filed its draft IPO papers with SEBI, aiming to raise ₹300 crore through a fresh issue. Existing shareholders will also offer 2.85 crore shares via Offer for Sale (OFS) as part of the public offering. Under the proposed structure, ₹250 crore of the fresh issue proceeds will be allocated toward repayment of debt, while the remaining portion will serve general corporate purposes. BVG India operates across three verticals—Integrated Facility Management (IFM), Emergency Response Services (ERS), and Environment & Sustainability Services (ESS)—serving clients in sectors such as industrial, commercial, healthcare, education,…
India’s drive to deepen its electronics supply chain has struck a strong chord. The Centre has received investment commitments of Rs 1.15 lakh crore from electronics parts manufacturers under its newly launched Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). The scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2025, carries a total outlay of Rs 22,919 crore over six years. It aims to boost domestic value addition by incentivising production of components such as display modules, camera sub-assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA), and passive components like resistors and capacitors. According to Union IT & Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the proposal inflow…
The Hurun India Rich List 2025 has revealed the country’s wealthiest individuals, with Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani once again at the top, followed by Adani Group’s Gautam Adani. Together, the two magnates account for a significant portion of India’s corporate wealth, underlining the dominance of energy, infrastructure, and technology in shaping fortunes. Ambani leads the list with an estimated net worth of ₹9.55 lakh crore, thanks to Reliance’s strong foothold across energy, telecom, retail, and new investments in green hydrogen. Adani, despite facing regulatory challenges, remains close behind with ₹8.14 lakh crore, driven by infrastructure and renewable energy expansion. A…
As workplaces grow increasingly hybrid and fast-paced, teams often struggle to turn ideas into action. Studies show that over 60% of Gen X and Millennials collaborate better through visuals like diagrams, charts, and videos rather than words alone. Enter Vani by Zoho, an intelligent visual collaboration platform designed to help teams visualize, collaborate, and execute ideas seamlessly. Visualize: Making Ideas Tangible Vani provides tools like infinite whiteboards, mind maps, flowcharts, sticky notes, and frames that turn abstract concepts into clear, shareable visuals. Teams can organize ideas into Spaces and Zones, creating a structured yet flexible environment for brainstorming, planning, and…
Luxury watch retailer Art of Time has raised Rs 175 crore in a fresh funding round led by CaratLane founder Mithun Sacheti, Jaipur Gems CEO Siddhartha Sacheti, Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham, and Plutus Wealth Management. With this round, the company’s total funding since inception has reached Rs 200 crore. The round comprised 70% primary infusion and 30% secondary sale, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company’s growth strategy. Growth Plans The capital will fuel retail expansion, technology adoption, and category diversification. Currently, 85% of sales come from offline stores, while online contributes 15%. Art of Time now aims to double…
Zomato’s parent company Eternal has rolled out a significant round of employee stock options (ESOPs), granting 64.13 lakh equity shares under its multiple stock option plans. The approval came from the company’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee, covering the Foodie Bay ESOP Plan 2014, Zomato ESOP Plan 2021, and the latest Zomato ESOP Plan 2024. At Eternal’s current market price of Rs 330 per share, the new ESOP allocation is valued at nearly Rs 211 crore, making it one of the company’s largest employee rewards in recent quarters. This follows an earlier grant of 10.13 lakh ESOPs worth about Rs 33…