Author: Shashank Prakash

Wealthtech platform Syfe has raised $80 million in its Series C funding round to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The latest investment includes $53 million in a new C2 tranche and adds to the $27 million raised earlier in August 2024 during its C1 round. This brings Syfe’s total funding to $132 million. The new round was led by two UK-based family offices and supported by existing investors Unbound and Valar Ventures. The company did not reveal the exact valuation but confirmed it has increased significantly. This funding comes shortly after Syfe’s acquisition of Selfwealth, one of Australia’s…

In a city that never stops building, a new kind of founder-investor experience is making itsmark.Founders x Investors Connect, happening this Sunday, 8th June at NMIMS, Vile Parle(W), Mumbai, is more than just another startup meet-up. It’s a sharp, focused, high-energyevening crafted to spark real conversations and real connections — between those buildingthe future and those backing it.The event brings together a handpicked group of founders with investors from India’sleading VC, PE, and banking networks — all in one room, all with purpose. What to Expect:This isn’t a panel-heavy, pitch-deck-watching, buzzword-buzzing kind of evening. It’saction-first and founder-focused.30-Second Founder IntroductionsEvery selected…

KiranaPro, a rising startup in the quick commerce space, has been hit by a big cyberattack that completely wiped out its servers and deleted sensitive customer data. The startup, which lets people order groceries from local kirana shops through a voice-based app, was preparing for major expansion — but now, it’s dealing with a serious tech crisis. The cyberattack happened between May 24 and 25. Hackers managed to break into KiranaPro’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) and GitHub accounts. All their virtual machines (used to run the app and backend systems) were deleted. Even the app code and user data —…

Lendingkart Finance, the NBFC arm of the Lendingkart Group backed by Singapore’s Temasek, has reported a major loss of ₹288 crore for FY25. This marks a sharp drop from the ₹60 crore profit the company made in the previous year. The main reason behind the loss was a big increase in loan defaults and lower income from lending. Its total pre-tax loss stood at ₹396 crore, and its interest income fell by 20% to ₹812 crore. On top of that, fee income also dropped by 57.5%, and overall expenses shot up by nearly 18.5%. In January 2024, Lendingkart had raised…

In a major push for India’s regional sports scene, Atlanture Sports, co-founded by television personality Rannvijay Singha and entrepreneur Shubham Choudhary, has raised ₹21 crore in strategic funding from Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd (HMVL), part of the HT Media Group. The investment, executed through HT AdVentures, began with ₹10.5 crore already disbursed. The funds are set to elevate Real Kabaddi League (RKL)—Atlanture’s flagship property—into a high-impact, nationwide, and international sports platform. What sets Atlanture apart?Unlike conventional sports businesses, Atlanture Sports is building an integrated sports ecosystem. From Pay & Play arenas, league operations, and athlete management to certified sports education…

In a move that’s reigniting confidence in India’s edtech space, Virohan, a healthcare-focussed skilling platform, is reportedly in the final stages of raising ₹60–70 crore ($7–8 million) from global venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP). This fresh investment will value Virohan at around $70–80 million, as the company is said to be diluting approximately 10% of its equity. While neither BVP nor Virohan has officially confirmed the deal, reliable sources indicate it’s nearly closed. Founded by Kunaal Dudeja, Nalin Saluja, and Archit Jayaswal, Virohan provides skill development and certification courses for healthcare professionals, especially in allied health roles —…

ewellery Lab-grown diamond jewellery brand True Diamond has raised ₹26 crore in a pre-Series A funding round. The round was led by India Quotient, with participation from existing investors Titan Capital Winners Fund and Huddle Ventures. Founded in early 2024 by Darayus Mehta and Parin Shah, the startup focuses on offering high-quality, sustainable diamond jewellery. Their products include rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, mangalsutras, and even men’s collections. The brand claims to have over 5,000 designs in its collection and a 1.7x customer repeat rate, indicating strong customer satisfaction. Parin Shah, co-founder of True Diamond, shared, “We never wanted to…

In a heartfelt message, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal recently addressed the emotional challenges faced by young entrepreneurs. Drawing from his own journey, Agarwal emphasized the solitude and pressure inherent in the early stages of building a business. He likened this phase to “living in a pressure cooker,” where each decision can significantly impact the trajectory of one’s dream. Agarwal highlighted that while entrepreneurs may appear surrounded by a bustling world, the reality is often one of isolation. He noted that many around them might not fully grasp their vision, not out of indifference, but because they haven’t experienced the act…

In a world chasing instant success and viral trends, Lopamudra or Lopa, as many know her, is walking a different path. Her journey is built not on hype, but on heart, not on noise, but on intention. Angels N Brats: Where Kids Play and Parents RechargeLopa’s entrepreneurial journey began with Angels N Brats, a unique space she launched in Gurgaon three years ago — a dream nurtured over the course of six years. More than just a kids’ play area, Angels N Brats is a thoughtfully designed experience for families. Children get a safe, fun space to play, while parents…

In a major development, South Korean auto giants Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation have completely exited Ola Electric, selling their combined stake for ₹690 crore through block deals on Tuesday. This move comes as a strategic shift after more than five years of investment in the Indian electric vehicle (EV) startup. According to stock exchange data, Hyundai sold its 2.47% stake in Ola Electric for ₹552 crore, while Kia offloaded its 0.62% holding for ₹137 crore. The two companies had initially invested $300 million in Ola Electric back in 2019 to support the EV revolution in India. Citigroup Global Markets…