Author: Shashank Prakash

From EVs to fintech and AI-powered platforms, Indian startups raised over $450 million in just one week. GreenLine Mobility tops the list with a $275M round. Explore the top deals, trends, and future of Indian innovation. India’s Startup Ecosystem is on Fire In a powerful show of resilience and innovation, Indian startups raised over $450 million between April 07 and April 12, 2025, marking a significant jump from the previous week’s $349 million. This surge underscores India’s emergence as a global startup hub, with investments pouring into sectors like electric vehicles (EVs), fintech, D2C, AI, and wellness. The biggest winner?…

It didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a wheelchair. When Ganesh Sonawane, an engineer at Arcatron Mobility, was designing a custom wheelchair for a Paralympic athlete, he wasn’t planning to build a ₹200 Cr business. But what that moment sparked was a deep insight into a massive gap in India’s wellness and mobility space. Comfort, dignity, and design thinking were missing from mobility products. This realisation led to the birth of Frido — a brand that now stands tall as a D2C force in India’s ergonomic and wellness category. The Origin Story: Empathy > Strategy Most startups are…

As we move through 2025, the startup ecosystem in India remains volatile, with many companies still grappling with funding shortages, cost-cutting measures, and layoffs. While the common employee is dealing with uncertainty in the workplace, the situation for startup founders is often strikingly different. In fact, some Indian startup founders in 2024 saw jaw-dropping salaries that raise serious questions about the ethics of these paychecks. While their companies struggle with profitability and workforce downsizing, these founders are cashing in on massive salaries, leaving employees and stakeholders questioning the true focus of leadership. In this article, we’re diving deep into the…

Wealthtech platform Smallcase has secured $50 million in its Series D funding round, further solidifying its position in India’s rapidly evolving investment technology space. The round was led by Elev8 Ventures and included high-profile participants like State Street Global Advisors, Faering Capital, Rummytime Technologies, and Niveshaay AIF. The funding mix comprised both primary and secondary transactions, with a focus on strengthening the platform’s innovation, partnerships, and user experience. Primary Capital Breakdown: Rs 247 Cr Raised Regulatory filings accessed by Entrackr reveal that Smallcase raised Rs 247 crore (~$29 million) in primary capital by issuing:• 3,890 Series D1• 1,644 Series D2…at…

At the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025, Saurabh Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Archian Foods, challenges the prevailing startup focus on India’s 15 crore taxpayers, highlighting the untapped potential of the broader 100 crore consumer market. Rethinking India’s Consumer Demographics During the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 held in New Delhi, Saurabh Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Archian Foods—makers of the popular beverage Lahori Zeera—addressed a critical oversight in the Indian startup ecosystem. He pointed out that many entrepreneurs concentrate their efforts on the approximately 15 crore individuals who file income tax returns, thereby overlooking a vast segment of about…

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah is strategically expanding into the UPSC coaching segment through targeted acquisitions, aiming to diversify its offerings and solidify its market presence. PhysicsWallah’s Expansion into UPSC Coaching PhysicsWallah, renowned for its dominance in JEE and NEET coaching, is now setting its sights on the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) test preparation market. This strategic move involves evaluating potential acquisitions to establish a robust foothold in this highly competitive segment. ​ Targeted Acquisitions: Strengthening Market Position To accelerate its entry into the UPSC coaching domain, PhysicsWallah is reportedly assessing several established institutes for acquisition, including:​ These potential acquisitions align…

Flippa Revolutionizes Startup Exits for Indian Entrepreneurs Navigating the complexities of startup exits in India, Flippa emerges as a transformative platform, connecting founders with a global network of buyers for efficient and profitable transitions. The Startup Exit Conundrum in India Securing a successful exit has long been a formidable challenge for Indian startup founders. Traditional avenues, such as IPOs or large-scale mergers, often involve protracted processes laden with regulatory hurdles and financial complexities. This has left many entrepreneurs in search of alternative strategies to realize the value of their ventures.​ Flippa: A Global Marketplace Transforming Exits Enter Flippa, a leading…

New Delhi, India – In a bold endorsement of Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent critique of India’s startup culture, boAt co-founder and Shark Tank India investor Aman Gupta has publicly thrown his weight behind the idea that Indian startups must now pivot from surface-level innovation to deep-tech development. Gupta’s remarks come at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is experiencing both a funding crunch and a policy-level awakening. The serial entrepreneur and D2C pioneer stated that shallow, copycat models are no longer enough to take India to the global stage. Instead, he called on the country’s entrepreneurs to build “world-class…

New Delhi, India – The Indian startup ecosystem witnessed a rare and fiery political-business clash this week as BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal publicly rebuked Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha for his recent online defense of Indian startups. The sharp rebuttal followed Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s strong critique of questionable practices by some startup founders, sparking a chain reaction that’s ignited nationwide debate. The Spark: Goyal’s Hard-Hitting Startup Commentary At a high-level industry event, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal didn’t mince words while pointing out troubling trends in India’s booming startup sector. From inflated valuations to excessive foreign dependency, and even subtle hints…

In the face of adversity, some people crumble, while others build legacies. Vikkas Kumar Jha belongs to the latter. When the world was shutting down during COVID-19, he saw an opportunity—not just to rebuild his own life but to uplift others. Today, he is the founder of Brand Kettle, a powerhouse delivering ultra-luxury interiors to top brands like Reliance, Aditya Birla, and Marks & Spencer. But his journey was anything but easy. The Turning Point: A Bus Terminal Epiphany The story of Brand Kettle began at the Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. Vikkas Kumar Jha, like countless others, had…