Vaave, an alumni engagement and networking platform, has raised Rs 6.6 crore in its first significant external funding round. The round was led by Aditya Vuchi (VCMint) and Raj Narayanam (RAN Ventures, founder & executive chairman of Zaggle) . Bootstrapped to Seed-Funded Initially bootstrapped and minimally backed by friends and a few angel investors, this funding marks Vaave’s transition into a new growth phase with institutional support. What’s Next for the Funds The proceeds will be used to: Business Model & Reach Founded by Paresh Masade, along with Yasaswy Peesapati and Jaipal Reddy, Vaave offers subscription-based SaaS solutions to educational…
Author: Aman Atulya
One 97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of Paytm, has announced a series of strategic moves following its board meeting on August 25. The fintech major approved fresh capital infusions, an acquisition, and an internal restructuring, while formally exiting the real-money gaming space. Capital Infusion into Subsidiaries The board cleared investments of up to Rs 300 crore in Paytm Money and Rs 155 crore in Paytm Services through rights issues. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries, and the fresh infusion will not alter the existing shareholding structure. Foster Networks Acquisition The company also approved the 100% acquisition of Foster Payment Networks…
Hexafun, a sustainability-driven lifestyle accessories brand, has raised Rs 4.5 crore in seed funding from early-stage investor Prajay Advisors. The capital will be deployed to expand retail presence, strengthen marketing efforts, and launch new product lines. Brand & Vision Founded in 2021 by Harshit Singhal and Manali Sanghvi, Hexafun reimagines everyday essentials—handkerchiefs, socks, stoles, shoe bags, luggage covers, and gift boxes—into expressive, culture-rich, and eco-friendly designs. All products are crafted from 100% sustainable materials, reflecting the brand’s commitment to conscious fashion. Targeting Gen Z and urban millennials, Hexafun combines playful designs, inclusivity, gender-neutral fashion, and affordability. Its direct-to-consumer model operates…
Eternal Capital, the early-stage venture capital fund founded by former BharatPe COO Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl, has officially rebranded as Sadev Ventures. The change aligns the fund’s identity with its family office name, reflecting its core values and long-term vision. Fund Snapshot Vision Behind the Rebrand Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl explained: “As our vision goes deeper into India’s entrepreneurial fabric while simultaneously tapping financial, social, and intellectual capital across borders, it’s the right time to scale under an identity that resonates with our stakeholders. This shift moves us beyond a ‘capital-only’ approach and reinforces our commitment to enabling ventures that can become…
Eternal Ltd, formerly known as Zomato, has been served three GST orders for the period between July 2017 and March 2020, with a combined demand exceeding ₹40 crore. Tax Snapshot: Eternal has confirmed that it will challenge the orders before the appropriate authority. “We believe that we have a strong case on merits, backed by legal opinions,” the company stated in its regulatory filing. Appeals are expected in the coming weeks. Context & Expansion: The rebrand from Zomato to Eternal Ltd in 2025 marked a strategic shift from a food delivery platform to a multi-vertical consumer internet company. The group…
The Law That Changed the GameThe Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, bans all real-money online games while encouraging e-sports and casual social gaming. This move marks a significant shift in India’s digital gaming ecosystem. Gameskraft and Dream11 Lead the Pivot Gameskraft has opted not to legally challenge the new law, stopping all real-money ‘Gameplay’ and ‘Add Cash’ services on its Rummy platforms from August 21. The company has cleared all regulatory dues and taken measures to protect employees, partners, and service providers. Dream11, India’s largest real-money gaming startup with reported revenue of Rs 9,600 crore in FY24,…
Ride-hailing startup Rapido has introduced ‘Bike Direct’, a zero-profit bike taxi facilitator in Karnataka aimed at supporting riders impacted by regulatory restrictions. The service comes after a Karnataka High Court order required ride-hailing platforms to suspend commercial bike taxi operations in the state. Funding / Initiative Snapshot The Challenge Karnataka’s High Court ruling disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of bike taxi drivers. Major platforms like Ola and Uber suspended operations, leaving riders without income and uncertain about their future. Founders & Edge Founded by Aravind Sanka, Rapido has consistently focused on technology-driven solutions for last-mile urban mobility. The company’s ability…
Quick commerce platform Peeko has raised $3.2 million in a funding round led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from angel investors including Maninder Gulati, Kunal Bahl & Rohit Bansal (Titan Capital), Abhishek Goyal, Nitin Gupta, and Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures). Funding Snapshot The Challenge India’s babycare market is highly fragmented, with parents struggling to access reliable, fast delivery of essentials. Peeko, launched in 2025 by Chetan Sharma, Vivek Khetan, and Abhijit Gairola, is addressing this gap with a vertical quick commerce model tailored to babycare, promising deliveries in under 60 minutes. Currently live in 10 Bengaluru pincodes with a…
Business-to-business (B2B) food upcycling startup Wastelink has raised Rs 27 crore ($3 million) in Series A funding led by Avaana Capital, with participation from earlier backers including Indigram Labs. Funding Snapshot India generates millions of tonnes of food waste every year, much of which ends up in landfills. Wastelink, founded in 2018 by Saket Dave and Krishnan Kasturirangan, tackles this by transforming surplus and waste food from manufacturers and retailers into nutritional animal feed ingredients. Its flagship product, ECOMIX, is supplied as raw material to feed companies, bridging the gap between waste reduction and sustainable animal nutrition. Technology Edge The…
Former Mooving co-founder Tanvir Singh has announced the launch of his new venture, TrusTerra, along with co-founders Saurabh Arora, Madhu Reddy, and Chanakya Agarwal. The Delhi-based startup aims to bring trust, transparency, and standardisation to India’s fast-growing but fragmented pre-owned electric vehicle (EV) market. Funding Snapshot While TrusTerra has not disclosed funding, the company is in discussions with OEMs, banks, NBFCs, insurers, and dealer networks to validate its platform. India is projected to cross 10 million EV sales annually by 2030, yet the resale penetration of EVs remains under 2%. Buyers hesitate due to concerns around battery health and fair…