Author: Shashank Prakash

CEO Mehrotra says, ‘The future looks bright’ Follow UsIndia-origin CEO-led Grammarly has raised $1 billion in non-dilutive financing from existing investor General Catalyst, marking one of the largest late-stage capital infusions in the AI productivity space this year. The funding comes months after Grammarly acquired Coda, a collaborative document platform, expanding its reach beyond writing assistance into enterprise productivity and workflow tools. The latest round was backed by General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund, which focuses on go-to-market growth.Grammarly said the fresh capital will be used to scale sales and marketing and pursue strategic acquisitions. With over 40 million daily users and more than $700…

KiranaPro, a quick commerce platform integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has acquired augmented reality startup Likeo in an all-stock transaction valued at $1 million. The move is aimed at enhancing BLACK, KiranaPro’s fashion-focused app built for Gen Z shoppers, with virtual try-on capabilities across categories including apparel, jewellery and eyewear.The acquisition brings Likeo’s visual computing and AI-led trial room experience into the BLACK app interface, making it the first in India to offer integrated, AI-powered virtual fittings. The feature is expected to roll out to users in phases over the coming weeks, beginning with early access…

The IndiaAI Mission, under the ministry of electronics and information technology, on Thursday announced that 10 homegrown AI startups have been selected for the IndiaAI Startups Global Initiative, an international acceleration programme in partnership with startup incubator Station F, Paris and business school HEC Paris.The partnership between the IndiaAI Mission, Station F and HEC Paris opens up a new chapter in India’s “innovation diplomacy”, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, union minister for electronics and IT.“India’s AI ecosystem is now on the…Source linkRead More-Stay tuned — StartupByDoc will be bringing you exclusive updates 

FSN E-Commerce Ventures, the parent of Nykaa, posted a sharp improvement in profit and operating performance in the fourth quarter and full year ended March 2025, supported by robust growth across its beauty verticals, improved margins, and a continued shift toward owned and premium brands.The Mumbai-based company reported a 110% increase in net profit in the March quarter to Rs 19 crore, while revenue from operations grew 24% year-on-year to Rs 2,062 crore. For the full fiscal year, net profit rose 81% to Rs 72 crore, with annual revenue climbing 24% to Rs 7,950 crore.Nykaa’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,…

Shahmir Khan & Chirag Thakker Join Forces for Stealth Fintech RevolutionIn a groundbreaking move set to shake up both the entertainment and fintech industries, television sensation Shahmir Khan has joined forces with startup strategist and Alpha Seed Network founder Chirag Thakker to launch one of the most confidential and potentially disruptive ventures of the year.While the startup’s product remains cloaked in secrecy, insiders confirm that it’s a digital-first fintech platform aimed at transforming how Indians engage with financial assets — possibly a major play in the emerging digital wealth and asset democratization space.From Fame to Fintech: Why This Partnership MattersThis…

Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola Electric reported a net loss of Rs 870 crore for the quarter ended March 2025, more than double the Rs 416 crore loss it posted a year earlier, as India’s largest electric two-wheeler maker grappled with weakening demand, inventory shifts and execution bottlenecks.Revenue from operations plunged 62% year-on-year to Rs 611 crore in Q4 FY25, down from Rs 1,598 crore in the same period last year. Vehicle registrations fell 52% year-on-year to 56,760 units during the quarter, while internal delivery estimates were lower still, at 51,375 units, suggesting a buildup in unsold inventory. The company’s auto segment EBITDA margin collapsed…

AI Just Replaced HR: IBM Cuts 8,000 Jobs — But India’s Startup Scene Is on FireMay 30, 2025 | By StartupByDoc TeamIn the past 24 hours, the global corporate world was shaken to its core, while India’s startup ecosystem surged ahead with bold moves and billion-dollar ambitions.IBM has laid off 8,000 employees, hitting HR departments the hardest. Why? AI is taking over. Recruitment, onboarding, and internal communications — all being automated at scale. What was once “the future” is now here — and it’s displacing white-collar workers fast.But while global giants restructure, Indian startups are thriving. Razorpay has returned home.…

Written by a fellow dreamer at StartupByDocAs a writer, I’ve had the privilege of documenting many journeys — but some stories stay with you long after the words are written. Spandana’s story is one of them. A story of courage, clarity, and quiet determination. A story that many young Indians dreaming of studying abroad will deeply connect with.The Beginning of a DreamSpandana comes from a solid finance background in India. After working at Wells Fargo, she chose to step out of her comfort zone and pursue a Master’s in Management at NEOMA Business School in France. Like many students who…

GydeXP, an AI-powered experiential travel platform, has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed funding round from Rukam Sitara, an Indian early-stage venture capital fund. The round values the startup at Rs 15 crore.Built with a vision of connecting travellers with local guides to ensure authentic personalised and safe adventures, GydeXP is tackling three deep-rooted travel challenges fragmented planning, superficial connections, and post-trip memory loss. The platform integrates cutting-edge AI (branded as Travel Studio), creator-led trip curation, and seamless memory capture into a single app experience.Purpose of fundraisingThe startup will use the raised funds to enhance its AI-driven product capabilities,…

In a significant funding development for India’s booming D2C fashion sector, Bengaluru-based menswear brand Snitch has raised approximately ₹278.93 Cr (~$33 Mn) in a Series B round. The fundraise is led by 360 Asset Management Fund, with continued support from existing investors IvyCap Ventures and SWC Global.The capital infusion was confirmed via a recent MCA filing, which revealed that Snitch’s board passed a special resolution on May 27, 2025, to issue 1,755 Series B CCPS (Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares). Each share carries a face value of ₹10 and a hefty premium of ₹15.89 Lakh per share, allocated through a preferential…