Top Trending StartUps News & Highlights


KiranaPro Purchases Likeo To Support Its Gen Z Fashion App Users' Virtual Trial Room Experience
KiranaPro wants to give its clients an immersive trial room experience by integrating Likeo's products with its online fashion marketplace BLACK. On May 16, 2025, the fast commerce platform debuted its fashion marketplace, which is accessible on the Google Playstore. Saurav Kumar, the creator and CEO of Likeo, will join KiranaPro to spearhead BLACK's advancement in AI and visual computing.KiranaPro is a quick commerce platform.In an all-stock transaction, KiranaPro Datalabs_in-article-icon acquired Likeo, an AI-powered platform that specializes in virtual try-on technology powered by its augmented reality tech stack. The agreed upon price was $1 million (INR 8.55 crore). Through this acquisition, Kerala-based KiranaPro hopes to give its clients an immersive trial room experience by fusing Likeo's products with its online fashion marketplace BLACK. Products from the clothing, jewelry, and eyewear categories will be able to use the function. On May 16, 2025, KiranaPro released its fashion marketplace, which is accessible on the Google Play Store.
Published 31 May 2025 07:45 PM


BlackBuck Reports Q4 Tax Credit Profit of INR 280 Cr
BlackBuck would have reported a profit of roughly INR 35.1 Cr in Q4 FY25 if the tax credit of INR 245 Cr had been excluded. In Q4 of FY25, operating revenue increased by 30.6% to INR 121.8 Cr from INR 93.2 Cr in the same period the previous year. BlackBuck reported a net loss of just INR 8.6 Cr for the entire fiscal year FY25, with the assistance of an INR 244.6 Cr tax credit.BlackBuck BlackBuck Datalabs_in-article-icon, a logistics company, reported a consolidated net profit of INR 280.1 Cr in Q4 FY25, compared to a net loss of INR 90.8 Cr in the same quarter last year. In the prior quarter, the company posted a net loss of INR 48 Cr. However, a tax credit of INR 245 Cr was one of the main drivers of the earnings in Q4. Without it, BlackBuck would have reported a profit for the reviewed quarter at roughly INR 35.1 Cr. In Q4 of FY25, BlackBuck's operating revenue increased by 30.6% to INR 121.8 Cr from INR 93.2 Cr in the same period the previous year. It increased 6.9% sequentially from INR 113.9 Cr.
Published 27 May 2025 08:58 PM


Operations at Zepto Cafe Are Halted in Several Cities
Zepto Cafe, the company's rapid meal delivery division, has temporarily ceased operations in a number of minor cities, primarily in northern India. Over 400 workers have been impacted by the 44 eateries that have suspended operations. By the conclusion of the upcoming quarter, the business now anticipates starting up again in these areas.Platform for rapid trade According to persons familiar with the situation, Zepto has suspended operations of its 10-minute food delivery vertical, Zepto Cafe, in a number of locations, including Delhi, Agra, Chandigarh, Mohali, Amritsar, and Meerut, because of supply chain problems, ETtech reported. This will affect how 44 Zepto Cafe locations operate.Platform for rapid trade Zepto has suspended Zepto Cafe, its 10-minute meal delivery service, in several North Indian towns. The company has temporarily halted the services because of supply chain problems, according to a report by Economic Times. According to the article, 44 Zepto Cafe locations in the area will be impacted by the company's decision. About 700 gig workers have been impacted by the company's decision to stop providing the service. According to the Economic Times, Zepto Cafe's services were suspended in April of this year because the company was unable to meet quality standards due to the spike in demand. Zepto Cafe received greater demand than anticipated, hence the decision was made to halt operations in these cities. Meeting the volumes without sacrificing quality proved challenging, the individual with knowledge of the situation told ET.
Published 23 May 2025 08:14 PM

Exclusive: Avanse Names New Independent Director and Strengthens Board Before IPO
Focused on education loans Rakesh Bhatt, the former COO of Bajaj Finserv, has been named as an independent director of NBFC Avanse Financial Services in advance of the company's INR 3,500 Cr initial public offering (IPO).According to Avanse's regulatory report, "it was proposed to onboard one more independent director in order to further strengthen the board, given the growth trajectory."Avanse has delayed to submit its red herring prospectus (RHP) more than six months after receiving SEBI's approval for its first public offering (IPO). A number of fintech companies are preparing for a public offering in the near future, and the new-age tech IPO season is well underway. Razorpay and PhonePe became public companies in April prior to their listing in India.has named Rakesh Bhatt, a former COO of Bajaj Finserv, as an independent director of the business in advance of its INR 3,500 Cr IPO.
Published 22 May 2025 04:21 PM


StartUps
StartUps are the backbone of any country and in any Industry as these are the new ventures which entrepreneurs establish and then contribute to the nation growth and progress. The stratups will then grow and become unicorns and create thousands of employments in different sector boosting the economy and take it to the next level.


Mahadev Betting Case: ED Raids Locations Associated With Nishant Pitti of EaseMyTrip
OVERVIEW The ED conducted nationwide raids at multiple sites connected to Nishant Pitti, cofounder and promoter of EaseMyTrip. The agency's continuing money laundering investigation into the Mahadev online betting and gambling app case includes the searches. The ED has previously claimed that its investigation into the Mahadev betting case exposed the involvement of a number of prominent Chhattisgarh politicians, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.As part of its ongoing money laundering probe into the Mahadev online betting and gaming app case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is reportedly conducting raids nationally at multiple sites connected to Nishant Pitti, cofounder and promoter of online travel aggregator EaseMyTrip. According to CNBC TV-18, which cited sources, the raids are presently taking place in 15 different places in India, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Indore, Jaipur, Chennai, and Sambalpur. According to the ED's inquiry, Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal operated the Mahadev app, which let users to place real-time bets on sports like tennis, football, and cricket. The ED previously claimed that the creators of the Mahadev app had paid Bhupesh Baghel, the former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, almost INR 508 crore. Baghel, however, denied these claims, calling them attempts to damage his reputation.


Discussing Raising $150–180 Million, Ropes in Avendus: Report
MoEngage is a customer engagement platform.According to reports, MoEngage Datalabs_in-article-icon wants to fund $150–180 million through a combination of primary and secondary transactions. The Goldman Sachs-backed business is in talks with both new and existing backers for the next fundraise, which will value it between $800 and 850 million, according to a Mint article that cited people with knowledge of the situation.The report further added that the company has also roped in Mumbai-based investment banking and asset management firm Avendus Capital to help with the mission. MoEngage has been contacted by Inc42 to provide feedback on the development. The response will be used to update the story. The business intends to use the additional funding to grow its marketing activities in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Additionally, it seeks to penetrate more recent markets including Australia and Latin America. There may also be acquisitions planned to expand current offerings. Nearly a year has passed since it was revealed that Goldman Sachs intended to purchase shares of some of the company's original investors for between $30 and $35 million through a secondary deal. MoEngage is a SaaS-based corporate tech platform that was founded in 2014 by Raviteja Dodda and Yashwanth Kumar. It gives product managers and marketers statistics and insights to help them better understand their customers. It enables users to analyze consumer behavior and interact with them through individualized email, mobile, and web interactions.The firm secured its last Series E fundraising round of $77 Mn co-led by Goldman Sachs and B Capital Group back in 2022. Among its other investors are companies like Z47, Multiples Alternate Asset Management, Eight Roads Ventures, and Steadview Capital. Flipkart, BigBasket, and Airtel are just a few of its clients, and it says it serves over 1,000 customers. The development also occurs at a time when the business is considering moving its headquarters to India and considering listing on Indian stock exchanges. On the other hand, its rival CleverTap is also in the midst of transferring its base to India and just finalized the acquisition of rehook.ai in an undisclosed transaction.


Funding for NOTO Bags to Increase Offline Presence Backed by John Abraham
LetsVenture and the JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation participated in the investment round, which was led by Inflection Point Ventures. Among other things, the business intends to use the funds to grow in Tier I and II cities, promote product innovation, and boost brand recognition by expanding its offline presence. The firm raised INR 4 Cr in its pre-Series A round before this fundraising round.In a funding round headed by the Equentis Angel Fund and included Jito, IPV, and others, the ice cream company Noto has raised ₹21 crore. Deeper market penetration, offline store openings, and product expansion will all be aided by the funding. Noto provides vegan, sugar-free, and low-calorie treats. February 20, India -- The D2C ice cream company NOTO, which is supported by actor John Abraham, has raised INR 15 Cr (about $1.7 million) in an investment round headed by Inflection Point Ventures. LetsVenture and the JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation also participated in the round. The business stated in a statement that it will use the funds to, among other things, expand offline to raise brand recognition, promote product innovation, and expand in Tier I and II cities. NOTO is a low-calorie ice cream company that was founded in 2019 by Varun and Ashni Sheth, a husband and wife team. According to the firm, their ice creams are low in sugar and high in protein.


Ankur Capital and Others Give INR 25 Cr to Nanotechnology Startup Vimano
Additionally, eight unknown investors participated in the round, a company spokeswoman told Inc42. Vimano intends to use the additional funding to accelerate its energy transformation, launch energy ecosystem pilot projects, and grow its workforce. The startup faces competition from firms like Log9 Materials, ION Energy, and Gegadyne Energy, among others, in the cleantech industry.Vimano Secures INR 25 Crore in Ankur Capital-Led Seed Round With the new funding, Vimano will be able to continue pilot initiatives with partners in the energy industry. Additionally, it will help with employment initiatives and the development of scalable production capacity for its in-house membranes.Vimano, a business focused on nanotechnology and innovative materials, has raised INR 25 crore in its seed round, which was headed by Ankur Capital. This is the first investment made by Ankur Capital from its recently established third fund. With Vimano's membranes acting as essential backbones for redox flow batteries, electrolyzers for the creation of green hydrogen, and PEM fuel cells, the money will help the company fulfill its aim to power the energy transformation.The high cost of creating green hydrogen and the dearth of affordable long-duration energy storage (LDES) options are two of the major technological challenges that still exist even though the global energy transition is well underway and driven by the steadily declining cost of solar energy. These disparities are significant barriers to the transition to a grid powered entirely by renewable energy sources and the decarbonization of heavy manufacturing sectors.Vimano was established in 2019 by materials scientists Dr. Nagesh Kini (CTO) and Murari Ramkumar (CEO), who believed that innovative materials may usher in a new era of energy storage. The development of membranes that drastically reduce the cost of electrolyzers—which are utilized in the production of green hydrogen and other LDES systems—has been made possible by its tunable ion-conductive membrane platform. The major challenge of improving membrane performance and conductivity while preserving high efficiency, minimal crossover, and extended life has been resolved by Vimano during the course of the last five years of study.


Before the IPO, Groww Founders Give Up Their Differential Voting Rights
SUMMARY: Groww cofounders Harsh Jain, Lalit Keshre, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal will also lose their differential voting rights as a result of the deal. The amount of bonus CCPs given to Groww's investors was unclear, even if they were given to current backers at no additional expense. This almost immediately follows rumors that Groww plans to submit its DRHP for a $1 billion initial public offering (IPO) to SEBI by April or May of this year. All current equity shareholders, including Peak XV, Ribbit Capital, YC Holdings, Tiger Global, and others, will get bonus compulsorily converted preference shares as part of the proposed deal, which also eliminates the founders' unequal voting rights.Groww, also known as Billionbrains Garage Ventures Private Limited, has undergone a major restructure that has been approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The decision authorizes the issuing of bonus compulsorily convertible preference shares to all current Groww equity owners and permits some shareholders to obtain additional voting rights.


BorderPlus, Mayank Kumar's first acquisition with a German company
SUMMARY: BorderPlus, a talent mobility startup founded by Mayank Kumar of upGrad, has made its first acquisition, purchasing German healthcare recruitment company Onea Care, just days after receiving its first round of funding. Kumar stated that the buyout will aid in growing the startup's activities in the nation, albeit without disclosing the deal's financial details. In a statement, BorderPlus stated that as part of its mergers and acquisitions (M&As) strategy, it intends to put aside $10 million (INR 85.5 crore) to strengthen its position in regions such as Germany and India.UpGrad cofounder Mayank Kumar's talent mobility business BorderPlusBorderPlus Datalabs_in-article-icon has made its first acquisition, purchasing German healthcare recruitment firm Onea Care, only days after receiving its first round of funding. Kumar stated that the buyout will aid in growing the startup's activities in the nation, albeit without disclosing the deal's financial details. As part of its mergers and acquisitions (M&As) strategy, BorderPlus stated in a statement that it intends to put aside $10 million (INR 85.5 crore) to strengthen its position in markets such as Germany and India. In order to streamline its operations, including employment, language training, and the smooth integration of healthcare experts, the business also hopes to power its digital first solutions.BorderPlus is a talent mobility platform that provides Indian blue-collar workers with worldwide employment prospects. It was launched last year by Kumar and Ayush Mathur, the former head of European operations for OYO. The company began by giving Indian nurses employment possibilities in German healthcare facilities.Owl Ventures led the startup's initial $7 million investment round in February, with involvement from angel investors such as Ritesh Agarwal, the creator of OYO, and Binny Bansal, the founder of Flipkart. In October of last year, Kumar left his position as managing director of upGrad to start his business.Owl Ventures led the startup's initial $7 million investment round in February, with involvement from angel investors such as Ritesh Agarwal, the creator of OYO, and Binny Bansal, the founder of Flipkart. In October of last year, Kumar left his position as managing director of upGrad to start his business.


In 2025, Foxconn plans to increase its production of iPhones in India.
Foxconn is eyeing doubling iPhone production to 25-30 Mn units from last year’s 12-13 Mn at its India facilities in the ongoing calendar year The manufacturer is betting on its Bengaluru unit to add to the production push Foxconn’s bid to deepen its India presence is in-line with Apple’s plans to produce its products in India, as the Tim Cook-led company looks to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependence on ChinaThe firm has spent the last three to four months conducting limited testing activities at its new Bengaluru location, according to an ET article. According to a source who spoke to the journal, the tests are being carried out to see if the facility can manufacture Apple's flagship product on a large scale without compromising quality standards."The company assembled roughly 12 million iPhones in India last year. However, they have set much greater goals in keeping with Apple's drive to increase their footprint in India, especially since their Bengaluru plant is soon to be built," the person continued. In 2023, the Taiwanese electronics company purchased a 300-acre property close to Bengaluru airport. The project's establishment has been funded by INR 25,000 Cr from the firm. When finished, the facility would be able to produce 20 million smartphones a year, making it Foxconn's largest operation in India and the second largest globally. The state government will give Foxconn an incentive of INR 6,970 Cr for its Bengaluru facility under the state's Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) policy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced earlier this month.It is important to note that throughout the past few months, the Taiwanese corporation has been aggressively expanding in the nation. According to a report last week, the corporation and its joint venture partner HCL are negotiating the establishment of an outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) facility in the state of Uttar Pradesh with Taiwanese construction engineering firm CTCI and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).Additionally, it is rumored to be in talks with the Tamil Nadu government to establish a battery manufacturing facility on roughly 200 acres of state property.


"INR 22,919 Cr PLI Scheme for Electronic Components Approved by the Cabinet "
To increase the nation's independence in the electronics supply chain, the union cabinet today authorized the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, which will cost INR 22,919 Cr. The plan intends to draw in INR 59,350 Cr in investment, which will produce INR 4,56,500 Cr and create 91,600 new direct jobs in addition to numerous indirect jobs. The program has a six-year duration with a one-year gestation period. With an investment of INR 22,919 Cr, the union cabinet today authorized the eagerly anticipated production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for non-semiconductor electronics components, aiming to increase India's independence in the electronics supply chain.On Friday, March 28, 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared that a plan to manufacture non-semiconductor electronics components had been authorized by the Union Cabinet. The total cost of the production-linked incentive program will be ₹22,919 crore. The production of electronics has grown at an unprecedented rate.


With its expansion to 170 cities, Amazon Fresh
More than 170 cities and towns now offer Amazon Fresh, the grocery service offered by Amazon India. Amazon Fresh is expanding into tier-II and tier-III areas, which include Gorakhpur, Chittoor, Ambala, and Vijayawada, after previously operating in just 130 cities. The expansion takes place at the same time that Amazon Fresh's second half of 2024 saw a 50% year-over-year (Y-o-Y) increase over the second half of the previous year. Amazon has extended its grocery service, Amazon Fresh, to over 170 cities and towns in India amid the fierce competition for quick delivery.More than 170 towns and localities nationwide now have access to Amazon Fresh, the full-basket grocery service offered by Amazon India. Amazon Fresh's expansion aligns with its 50% year-over-year (Y-o-Y) growth in the second half of 2024 compared to the second half of 2023.Fruits, vegetables, dairy products (such as milk and bread), frozen goods, cosmetics, personal care items, baby care necessities, and pet supplies are all available on Amazon Fresh."Customers value our service and want Amazon Fresh to expand to their cities," stated Srikant Sree Ram, director of Amazon Fresh India, in an interview.


The government lowers import taxes on essential EV battery components.
The government has eliminated import taxes on a number of products and raw materials needed in the production of mobile phones and EV batteries. The Center is taking action to mitigate the effects of reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, which are scheduled to go into force on April 2. India would be exempt from import duties on 35 products required to build EV batteries and 28 items used to manufacture mobile phones, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The government has eliminated import taxes on a number of products and raw materials needed in the production of EV batteries and cell phones, which will further stimulate the production of electric vehicles in India.Import taxes on EV and phone battery components are eliminated by the government. In an effort to support domestic manufacturing, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, that import taxes would be eliminated on 28 products used in the production of mobile phone batteries and 35 capital goods used in the production of EV batteries.


Shiprocket, bound for the IPO, delivers to Bengaluru the same day.
SUMMARY At the moment, cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad offer Shiprocket's same-day delivery service. The company hopes to expedite deliveries to micro, medium, and small businesses with this move. Additionally, Shiprocket plans to go public in the next fiscal year. It became a publicly traded corporation in January and changed its name to "Shiprocket Limited."Currently, cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad can use Shiprocket's same-day delivery service. The company hopes to expedite deliveries to micro, medium, and small businesses with this move. Additionally, Shiprocket plans to go public in the next fiscal year. It became a publicly traded corporation in January and changed its name to "Shiprocket Limited."Logistics unicorn shiprocketshiprocket Datalabs_in-article-icon has now extended its same-day delivery service into Bengaluru as instant delivery is becoming more popular in India due to rising customer demand for quicker shipping and pressure from competitors for e-commerce companies to provide such services.


Promotion of Betting Apps: Vijay Devarakonda, Rana Daggubati, and Others Face FIR
OVERVIEW Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, and Vijay Devarakonda are among the people named in the Cyberabad police's FIR. Prakash Raj and Rana Daggubati are accused of using pop-up advertisements to promote Junglee Rummy, which is owned by the Flutter Entertainment Group. According to the Center, it issued directives earlier this week to restrict 1,298 gambling websites and apps between 2022 and 2024.According to reports, 25 people—including Tollywood actors and social media influencers—have been charged for promoting unlawful gaming, betting, and casino apps by Telangana's Cyberabad police.Police books in Telangana 25 Tollywood stars: On Wednesday, the Cyberabad police in Telangana arrested 25 individuals, including social media influencers and Tollywood stars, for allegedly encouraging unlawful gaming, betting, and casino apps that resulted in financial losses for the general population. Actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal are among the 25 people listed in the FIR.Prakash Raj and Rana Daggubati, identified as accused 1 and accused 2, are accused of using pop-up advertisements to advertise Junglee Rummy. According to the authorities, Vijay Devarakonda is suspected of using pop-up advertisements to promote A23 Rummy, Manchu Lakshmi Yolo247, Praneetha Fairplay Live, and Nidhi Agarwal Jeet Win."This is just the beginning of that investigation," Commissioner of Police Avinash Mohanty told IndianExpress.com. We'll look at what these applications are, who uses them, where they come from, and other details. We shall proceed based on the case's merits and the available facts.


More BIS Raids At Amazon, Flipkart Warehouses
The two e-commerce behemoths' warehouses in two districts of Tamil Nadu have now become the target of yet another round of raids by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). BIS seized hundreds of items from Flipkart's warehouse in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvallur district, while also seizing goods valued at INR 36 lakh from Amazon's warehouse in Tiruvallur district. During operations in places including Lucknow, Gurugram, and Delhi earlier this month, the bureau confiscated "thousands of products" from Amazon and Flipkart warehouses.The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has now carried out a second round of raids at the warehouses of the two e-commerce behemoths in two districts of Tamil Nadu, following days of conducting search and seizure operations at locations connected to Amazon and Flipkart.


In Abu Dhabi's IFC, Shikhar Dhawan's venture capital firm will establish a $75 million fund.
SUMMARY: Yashaa Global Capital will fund sports technology firms in their early to growth stages that make use of data analytics, technology, and breakthroughs in fan interaction. The company is getting ready to launch its first capital call and intends to raise $75 million for its first fund. Indian startups will receive 30% of the investments. Over the next 45 to 60 days, Yashaa Global Capital will start investing $1 million to $5 million in businesses, with a particular emphasis on Asia. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has granted the Financial Services Permission (FSP) to Yashaa Global Capital, a sports-focused venture capital fund that cricket player Shikhar Dhawan cofounded.The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, Abu Dhabi's premier international financial hub, has granted the Financial Services Permission (FSP) to Yashaa Global Capital, a sports-focused venture capital fund. With this important milestone, the fund is formally established in ADGM, establishing Yashaa Global Capital as a driving force behind international investments in the quickly changing sports industry. Under the direction of General Partners Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Sirajuddin, Arif Padaria, and Dr. Victor Tay, the fund is a one-of-a-kind endeavor that blends a seasoned investing team with top athletes.Through development possibilities, strategic collaborations, and mentorship, this partnership aims to offer portfolio firms unmatched value by utilizing their vast networks and expertise in the sports ecosystem. The fund, which was formerly known as Da One worldwide Ventures, changed its name to better represent its worldwide goals and increased emphasis on wealth creation and innovation. With a $75 million corpus (including a $25 million greenshoe option), Yashaa Global Capital, with its headquarters located in Abu Dhabi, plans to invest globally in the following sectors: SportsTech, Fitness & Wellness, Esports & Gaming, MediaTech, and Leagues & Teams.


Exclusive: Yatish Talvadia, a former co-founder of Milkbasket, Introduces Anmasa, a D2C grocery brand
With over 80 SKUs in categories like whole wheat atta, wood-pressed oil, spices, and dry fruits, Anmasa began operations in 2024. The company sells cold-pressed atta, and clients may customize their whole wheat atta by selecting how much of each grain to use. The firm is currently only operating in Gurugram using an omnichannel approach, but it is gathering $1 million in pre-seed capital to expand into the Delhi NCR area. Yatish Talvadia, the former CEO and cofounder of Milkbasket, has started a new business called Anmasa, a direct-to-consumer food brand.Yatish Talvadia, the former CEO and cofounder of Milkbasket, has started a new business called Anmasa, a direct-to-consumer food brand. Together with Shailendra Upadhyay, the former creator of the grocery delivery service Veggie India, which Milkbasket purchased in 2019, Talvadia cofounded the firm.Forty-four minutes ago


Shares of Mobikwik and Ola Electric plummet amid the stock market's decline.
Early Monday trading saw a 15% decline in One MobiKwik Systems' shares, the parent company of digital payments service MobiKwik, which fell to a new 52-week low of Rs 231.05. On Monday, the BSE saw a record low of Rs 46.94 for Ola Electric Mobility, a 6.69% decline.Four hours priorIn the midst of high volumes in an otherwise stable market, shares of One Mobikwik Systems (Mobikwik), Inventurus Knowledge Solutions (IKS), Ola Electric Mobility (Ola), Hexaware Technologies, and Awfis Space Solutions plummeted up to 15% on the BSE during intraday trading on Monday. In intraday trading today, nine stocks on the BSE IPO index, including IKS, Mobikwik, Ola, and Hexaware Technologies, each reached a new low. Ceigall India, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Gopal Snacks, Saraswati Saree Depot, Quality Power Electrical Equipments (QPower), and Western Carriers (India) are on the list.The BSE IPO index was down 0.6% at 12,921.79 at 10:01 AM, while the BSE Sensex was up 0.63 percent. Since hitting its 52-week high of 17,281 on September 29, 2024, the IPO index has corrected by 25%. The BSE IPO index has suffered a 22% decline, underperforming the market thus far in 2025. By contrast, the BSE Sensex experienced a 5.4% decline within the same time frame.


On March 19, FAST42 — Inc42 is scheduled to release the list of India's fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands.
OVERVIEW March 19 will see the release of the fourth edition of Inc42's eagerly awaited FAST42 list, which highlights the D2C brands in India with the quickest rates of growth. The 2025 edition of FAST42 will honor the most creative direct-to-consumer firms that have shown remarkable expansion. More than 250 applications were received for this year's event, representing companies that together brought in $400 million, raised more than $200 million, and produced more than 14,000 employment across the country. The direct-to-consumer (D2C) revolution in India is about to enter a new phase, and FAST42 2025 will highlight the companies driving this change. Inc42's FAST42 Ranking, now in its fourth edition, will be revealed on March 19 at a special event in Gurugram that brings together the brightest brains in the direct-to-consumer market. FAST42 is a comprehensive benchmark that honors creativity, resiliency, and high-impact growth, not merely a ranking.Based on revenue performance, the list identifies the 42 D2C brands with the quickest rate of growth, emphasizing those that have effectively scaled their operations, adjusted to changing consumer expectations, and overcome market obstacles. At the inaugural event, more than 100 D2C founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers will come together to celebrate these firms' success, industry insights, strategic networking, and high-value partnerships.


We are grateful to the sponsors who have made Griffin Retreat 2025 possible.
SUMMARY Inc42 hosted the first Griffin Retreat, an exclusive gathering of 75 unicorn and soonicorn founders at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, on February 22-24 The retreat featured discussions on topics such as IPOs, investor relationships, and leadership, besides closed-door sessions for sharing of experiences The event was designed to inspire and energise India's startup leaders, featuring curated experiences and was supported by partners like IndiQube, Akamai, Nitro, Playbook, Svaara and BMWWhat happens when the brightest minds in India’s startup ecosystem come together? Innovation accelerates, bold ideas take flight, and the foundation for long-term impact is laid. That’s exactly what unfolded at the first-ever Griffin Retreat, hosted by Inc42 at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, from February 22 to 24, 2025. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Taj Mahal, over 75 visionary founders — the driving forces behind $200 Bn worth of unicorns and soonicorns — gathered to discuss, collaborate, and shape the next phase of India’s startup revolution. But Griffin Retreat was about more than just conversations — it was about charting a course for India’s $1 Tn digital economy. By 2030, India is poised to be home to 200,000 startups, 350+ unicorns, and 250+ publicly listed companies, contributing nearly 10% of India’s projected $10 Tn market cap. Achieving this ambitious vision will require scaling startups into sustainable public market leaders, strengthening capital markets, and ensuring long-term value creation. Griffin Retreat served as the breeding ground for these ideas, offering founders a space to step away from daily decision-making and engage in high-value discussions on IPOs, scaling strategies, and investment landscapes.