Top Trending StartUps News & Highlights

India Receives Its Second Space Port, Excitement for Rocket Startups

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for India's second launch site, Kulasekharapatnam, which is situated in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. This will significantly advance the nation's spacefaring endeavors. The new launch pad has the small rocket community in India, including ISRO and startups, giddy with anticipation for more efficient small rocket launches.Up until now, all rockets used to launch satellites into orbit were launched from the nation's single spaceport, which was located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. To date, India has launched 95 rockets from Sriharikota, 80 of which have been declared successful. Renamed the Satish Dhawan Space Center, it began modestly in 1971 with the launch of a sounding rocket, the RH-125. The center is currently getting ready for India's human spaceflight project, Gaganyaan, to launch. Satish Dhawan Space Center has a distinct advantage—it is one of the world's southernmost rocket ports—but it also has a major disadvantage. The land mass of Sri Lanka presents a safety concern for rockets launching in polar or southerly directions because it keeps rocket debris from landing on foreign soil.In order to lessen this, ISRO has traditionally carried out a unique manoeuvre referred to as the "dogleg maneuver" in order to avoid Sri Lanka when conducting direct southward launches. Although there is a penalty for this maneuver, it can be tolerated for larger rockets with sufficient fuel, such as PSLV, GSLV, and LVM-3. But the advantages of using Sriharikota as the preferred launch site become clear as India gains proficiency in the launch of smaller rockets, such as the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms. According to an ISRO rocket specialist, it becomes almost impossible to launch small rockets from Sriharikota in polar or southern trajectories with payloads weighing between 500 and 700 kg. As a result, Kulasekharapatnam has been chosen as the second launch site to address these issues because of its expanding small rocket market.  

Published 28 Feb 2024 05:29 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.

 

Top Print Advertisers from July to September 23, 23: TAM AdEx, SBS Biotech, Maruti Suzuki, and Kia

In 2023, Top10VPN calculated the worldwide economic impact of shutdowns, which included 79,238 hours of government-mandated internet outages, to be $9.01 billion. This indicates that India was responsible for approximately 6.5% of the total economic damage caused by internet outages worldwide.The cost of these disruptions—which included significant ISP throttling, internet blackouts, and shutdowns of social media—was estimated using a variety of metrics from the US Census, the World Bank, the ITU, and Eurostat.In India, internet outages are not unusual. India experienced 92 internet shutdown occurrences in 2023, and just a few days into 2024, the nation has already recorded another internet outage, according to SFLC.in's internet shutdown tracker. Furthermore, the Center has a history of taking action against particular websites and pressuring social media companies to remove content at their request. Authorities have disagreed with digital rights advocates over shutdowns, despite citing grounds including putting an end to rumors and misinformation.Since many users rely on online services for information and business, internet disruptions come at a high cost since they reduce trade, which has an economic impact.  

Pre-Series A Funding of Rs 10 Crore is Secured by Settl for Co-Living Expansion

In a pre-series A investment round, investors including Gruhas, We Founder Circle, Inflection Point Ventures, and others have contributed Rs. 10 crore to the proptech startup Settl. Settl., which was founded in 2020, intends to use the money for technology advancement, staff growth, and working capital.With 60+ locations across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram, and Chennai, Settl. is a co-living operator that offers 4000 beds, mostly for working people, for rental fees between Rs 12,500 and Rs 18,000 per bed.To date, the portal that lets users look for and rent completely furnished rooms, flats, or communal living spaces has raised a total of Rs 15 crore.Another IIT Madras initiative aims to support 100 businesses by 2024. By 2024, 100 companies from a variety of industries will be supported by the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC), the institute's central hub for fostering, advising, and supervising diverse innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives."We at IIT Madras take tremendous satisfaction in the fact that we innovate a lot more. In 2024, we also want to launch 100 start-ups. A number of intriguing innovations are also emerging from IIT Madras-incubated start-ups, including Mindgrove Tech, AgniKul Cosmos, and Hyperloop start-up The ePlane Company. These startups will produce goods that are extremely important to the country." remarked Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras.  

A diagnostics business is getting ready to launch a blood testing product in Austin and San Antonio.

Babson Diagnostics has successfully obtained important FDA clearance for its blood testing products following years of cooperation and trials. Listen to the most recent episode of Texas Business Minds to hear about the startup's history, its funding efforts, and the Texas towns it plans to debut in this year, including San Antonio.A diagnostic firm is getting ready to launch a blood testing product in Austin and San Antonio. Babson Diagnostics has successfully obtained important FDA clearance for its blood testing products following years of cooperation and trials. The creator of Babson Diagnostics is getting ready to introduce a cutting-edge blood test device. The founder, COO, and chairman of Austin-based Babson Diagnostics, a blood testing firm, is Eric Olson. He was recently a guest on the Texas Business Minds podcast.

How HRtech Startup Erekrut Is Revolutionizing Employers Hiring and Employee Job Search Processes

Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, hiring has been erratic. The alternatives available to recruiters have changed over time, ranging from totally remote, tech-driven interviews to in-person meetings brought on by the present back-to-office demands. Job seekers have also witnessed seismic shifts, with tech giants facing broad cuts and the "Great Resignation" giving way to enormous layoffs. Nevertheless, it's still difficult to get qualified applicants through the door, even in this unstable labor market. As a result, businesses and recruiting managers seek to create a talent pipeline that is both efficient and affordable, as well as future-proof recruitment. There are numerous elements to a successful talent hunt, such as finding the ideal candidate, creating a memorable application process, and providing individualized growth plans. Additionally, hiring must be quick and scalable in order to avoid losing out on top talent, income, and credibility for the business. To keep ahead of the curve, nothing really works better than quickly identifying the top candidates for open positions and automating processes. However, in 2019 Amity University fashion student Ajay Goyal witnessed the other side of the story while working as a volunteer for the university's campus-to-corporate program. It was obvious at the time that traditional hiring would need to be fixed because of its drawn-out processes, slow candidate responses, and general impersonal approach that failed to draw in or accommodate outstanding talent. Ajay, being one to let things slide, went to his father, Dr. Ravinder Goyal, who was a professional with almost thirty years of expertise in vocational training and placement.   

VinFast, A Rival To Tesla, Is Likely To Construct An EV Battery Plant In India

The test-prep startup Unacademy reported that, despite constant layoffs at the company, its losses in FY23 decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. In FY23, employee-related expenses decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.The test-prep startup Unacademy reported that, despite constant layoffs at the company, its losses in FY23 decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. In FY23, employee-related expenses decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.In what was a difficult year for the startup environment, many modern businesses, like Myntra, ZestMoney, and Curefoods, reported stronger revenues for FY23, but their losses also increased.Revenue at Myntra rises to Rs 4,375 crore: The apparel retailer Myntra, which is owned by Flipkart, reported a 25% increase in operating revenue to Rs 4,375 crore in FY23, despite a 31% increase in losses to Rs 782 crore. The online fashion platform's largest expense, amounting to Rs 1,758 crore, was spent on advertising and promotional activities, representing a 35% increase over the previous year.Unacademy reduces losses to Rs 1,678 crore, or 41%: Unacademy, a startup providing test preparation, reported that its losses in FY23, which included several layoffs at the company, decreased by 41% to Rs 1,678 crore. The Bengaluru-based firm saw a 26% increase in sales to Rs 907 crore during the year, while costs associated with payroll decreased by 28% to Rs 1,281 crore.ZestMoney reports a loss of Rs 412 crore. ZestMoney, a troubled startup that has been searching for a buyer, declared a net loss of Rs 412.4 crore for the fiscal year 2023. On the other hand, while total expenses increased by 21% to Rs 662.2 crore, overall revenue for the buy-now-pay-later platform increased by 72% to Rs 250 crore.    

In 2023, India Lost A Hefty $584 Mn Due to Internet Shutdowns

VinFast, an electric vehicle manufacturer located in Vietnam and considered a competitor of Tesla and BYD in China, is expected to establish its first manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, India. Batteries intended for electric vehicles will be produced at the company's new plant in Thoothukudi, according to Reuters, which cited people with direct knowledge of the situation.According to one of the persons who spoke with Reuters, "Several VinFast officials have visited Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu to check out sites." There were rumors in September that VinFast had started employing people in India for back-office, sales, and legal positions. But it's unclear how much VinFast would invest and when it will start operating in Tamil Nadu.The corporation is looking into ways to enter the Indian market with electric automobiles and scooters.In 2023, internet outages cost India $585.4 million in lost revenue, according to a report published by UK-based review website Top10VPN. According to the survey, 59.1 million Indians were affected by 7,812 hours of internet blackouts and 144 hours of social media shutdowns that the nation experienced throughout the year.  

Prerna Korla becomes a Director of Communications for Asia Pacific at Mastercard.

Prerna Korla is a new Director of Communications for Asia Pacific at Mastercard. With over 15 years of significant experience, Prerna is a communication and PR specialist who has worked with leading Indian and international B2B and B2C brands. Prerna spent more than two years as Manager, Senior Communications at Microsoft before joining Mastercard.She was the Uber South Asia and India Consumer Communications Lead. Prerna has also collaborated with a number of PR companies, such as Edelman and MSL Group India. Prerna Korla has been appointed by Mastercard India as the director of communications for Asia Pacific. She leaves Microsoft after working there for two years as a senior communications manager. Korla updated her LinkedIn post on this development. Korla was the head of customer communications for a brief period of time at Uber before.  

Rajat Diwakar is appointed CEO of iD Fresh Foods India.

Rajat Diwakar has been named CEO of iD Fresh Food's India division, the business announced on Friday. Diwakar worked as the Managing Director of Marico Bangladesh Limited before being hired by iD Fresh Foods. Additionally, he has over 20 years of experience leading FMCG companies.Leader of iD Fresh India, Rajat Diwakar Delhi, New: iD Fresh Food, a ready-to-cook packaged food firm, strengthened its leadership team on a national and international level on Friday by appointing industry veteran Rajat Diwaker as the India CEO and PC Musthafa as the Global CEO.Today, iD Fresh Food announced the appointment of Rajat Diwaker, a seasoned industry veteran, as the CEO for India. Rajat is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience in the FMCG sector. He was the Managing Director of Marico Bangladesh Limited in his previous position. Additionally, he serves as a director on the board of Bangladesh's Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).In addition to continuing to lead the board of directors, PC Musthafa, who founded iD Fresh and served in that capacity for almost 20 years, now assumes the position of global CEO. Musthafa will be in charge of iD Fresh's worldwide market innovations, as well as international expansions, strategic acquisitions, the development of food-tech capabilities, and organizational culture inspiration.iD Fresh plans to designate specific Business Heads and CEOs for every international market as part of its expansion strategy. In actuality, the business is currently employing a US CEO. At present, more than one-third originates from sources outside of India. In 2024, the company intends to increase its presence in the current markets while branching out into new ones like Singapore and Australia.The global CEO of iD Fresh Food, PC Musthafa, commented on the most recent development, saying, "iD Fresh's journey has been incredibly rewarding so far, and we continue to make tremendous strides." I'm happy to have Rajat Diwaker join the iD Fresh team. I have no doubt that in the years to follow, we will accomplish greater things and win over more hearts under his capable and visionary leadership. And because of the unwavering support from customers that we have accumulated over the years, I am excited to lead the brand into new international markets as we set off on new experiences.  

Namma Yatri and Bengaluru City Police collaborate to introduce a program for female drivers.

App for automatic booking Mahila Shakti, an initiative by Namma Yatri, aims to increase the number of female drivers. The Bengaluru City Police and this initiative were partners in its launch.This curriculum provides a thorough one-month training course covering safe driving, traffic rules, maintenance of vehicles, and practical driving. It also helps women launch their own automobile enterprises.After the ladies finish the program, Namma Yatri helps them own low-interest cars through financial institutions and provides them with electric cars for a small daily rent.On January 5, 2024, the Namma Yatri app company launched Mahila Shakti in Bengaluru. In partnership with Bengaluru police and non-governmental organizations, ride-booking service Namma Yatri announced plans to hire 1,000 women drivers over the next six months.Bengaluru: In partnership with the Bengaluru City Police, Parihar, and the Dr. B R Ambedkar Health and Education Foundation, Namma Yatri, the city's community-focused ride-booking app, has introduced the Mahila Shakti program, which is aimed at empowering women drivers. The goal of this program is to enable women from a variety of backgrounds to become skilled electric vehicle drivers. A thorough one-month training course including practical driving, traffic rules, safety, and car maintenance is provided by the Mahila Shakti program. It also helps women launch their own automobile enterprises. The initiative, which targets women between the ages of 25 and 45, opens doors to increased income, financial independence, and flexible work schedules. Following the free training, Namma Yatri helps women obtain low-interest car loans from financial institutions and gives them access to electric cars for a little daily fee."We are thrilled to launch this program, in line with our mission for women's empowerment," said Parihar's leader, Smt. Rani Shetty. It is encouraging to see more women taking up driving, as this makes Bengaluru a safer and more welcoming city. Juspay's Chief Product Officer, Magizhan Selvan, discussed the advancements, saying, "Since August 2023, we have been empowering women drivers in partnership with NGOs like Shishu Mandir." We take great pride in the 50 female drivers we employ, who between them have driven 55,000 kilometers, served 11,000 clients, and earned a total of Rs. 12 lakhs. By June 2024, we want to have 1000 women driving. Lead trainer Nagalakshmi S P talked about her own experience, saying, "Being an auto driver was a turning point to support my family." Taking the lead on this project makes me very happy.A ground-breaking program that promotes women's economic empowerment and questions established gender conventions is the Mahila Shakti Electric Auto Program. With its EV technology and user-friendly software, it makes the acceptance of driving as a career easier. Due to increased freedom and higher pay, participants evaluated driving automobiles as more favourable than traditional career options like housekeeping or shopkeeping. Women who are interested in participating in the program can reach Namma Yatri at 080-69724800 or 8618963188 via WhatsApp.  

The largest cruise ship in the world sets sail, raising concerns about methane emissions

New York: The largest cruise ship in the world is scheduled to set sail for the first time on Saturday, but environmental organizations fear that the ship, which will be powered by liquefied natural gas, as well as future enormous cruise ships, will leak toxic methane into the atmosphere.Taking advantage of the rising popularity of cruises, Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas, with a capacity of 8,000 passengers across 20 decks, sets sail from Miami.   Although LNG burns more cleanly than conventional marine fuel and carries a higher risk of methane emissions, the ship is designed to run on LNG. Because of its short-term negative effects, environmental groups claim that methane leakage from ship engines poses an intolerable risk to the climate.   "It's a step in the wrong direction," declared Bryan Comer, the head of the Marine Program at the environmental policy think tank, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)."We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil," he stated. Methane has warming effects that are 80 times worse over 20 years than those of carbon dioxide, so reducing emissions is essential to slowing the rise in global temperatures.   Industry experts claim that low-pressure, dual-fuel engines found in cruise ships such as Icon of the Seas cause "methane slip," or the release of methane into the atmosphere during combustion. Although they are too tall to fit in a cruise ship, two additional engines that are used on bulk carriers or container ships produce less methane.   According to Royal Caribbean, the new ship is 24% more carbon-efficient than what the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the global regulator of shipping, requires.   The majority of the world's shipping fleet runs on very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO), which produces more greenhouse emissions than LNG, according to Steve Esau, chief operating officer of Sea-LNG, an industry advocacy group.   It is "important to make sure that all the natural gas is converted to energy," according to Juha Kytola, director of R&D and Engineering at Wartsila, the company that created the engines on cruise ships. Cruise engines use natural gas to generate power in a cylinder.   He added that Wartsila's natural gas engine technology emits 90% less methane than it did twenty to thirty years ago. What is not converted can escape during the combustion process and into the atmosphere, he said. According to research conducted in 2024 and supported by the ICCT and other partners, the average methane slip in cruise ship engines is estimated to be 6.4%. Methane slip is assumed by the IMO to be 3.5%.   "Methane is coming under more scrutiny," stated Anna Barford, a nonprofit organization's Canada shipping campaigner, pointing out that the IMO stated last summer that addressing methane emissions is part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   Sixty-three percent of the 54 ships scheduled for delivery between January 2024 and December 2028 are anticipated to run on LNG, as reported by the Cruise Line International Association. Approximately six percent of the 300 cruise ships in operation today run on LNG.   Modern cruise ships are being built to run on LNG, conventional marine gas oil, or bio-LNG, which is an alternative that makes up very little of the fuel used in the United States.   According to Nick Rose, vice president of environmental, social, and governance at Royal Caribbean, the company will switch up its fuel mix as the market changes.          

TestClear THC Detox Products Review 2024

"Every day, life becomes harder, more demanding, and more stressful. Work in the industry is ""relentless,"" involving long hours, a great deal of responsibility, daily stress, and a constant need for efficiency improvements.  But is this really possible for a human being?  Hence, it is not a coincidence that statistics show a rise in drug use worldwide, which improves efficiency and concentration while lowering work-related stress.  Given these facts, there is an obvious rise in the use of illegal substances, but there is also a marked increase in drug and other illegal substance testing (which is required by employers).Large corporations, which are all multinational corporations, have now implemented this new security measure for both new hires and current staff (on a regular basis).  The majority of drugs that are tested for in a drug test that an employer typically requires is marijuana, but there are many more illegal substances that can be found.  With these new products, the pharmaceutical industry has once again offered the answer, making them effective for both ""cheating"" drug tests and instantaneous detoxification of the user's body.  One of the most cutting-edge and reputable businesses in this space, TestClear provides a comprehensive range of products (TestClear THC Detox Products) so you can choose the one that best suits your needs."How does TestClear operate and is it "Right" for me? TestClear is a company that has created an advanced and effective line of detox products to help those who need to "cheat" a drug test.   Speaking of "detoxification" we are not talking about gradual and time-consuming detoxification.   With TestClear (any of the options offered with the TestClear THC Detox product line) you have rapid and immediate detoxification of the organism, so that you can come out "clean" in a possible test.   However, as the drug detection test is not done in only one way, TestClear has created different products so that you can "fool" the test (whether it's a urine, hair, saliva test, etc.).  

In the United States, Yellow.ai uses 30% of the worlds generative AI bots.

According to Yellow.ai cofounder and chief executive Raghu Ravinutala, India Inc. is adopting GenAI as a chance to boost revenues, generate business leads, and provide sales help, while markets like the US are mostly employing them for customer care in an effort to minimize expenses.In India, generative artificial intelligence is becoming more widely used for customer engagement.For example, the conversational AI startup Yellow.ai had roughly 30% of its 120 GenAI bots deployed for enterprises globally this fiscal year in India.Take Your Tech Game to the Next Level with High-Value Skill Courses: Course Website: IIM Kozhikode, IIMK Advanced Data Science for Managers Product Management at Indian School of Business (ISB) Visit..According to Yellow.ai cofounder and chief executive Raghu Ravinutala, India Inc. is adopting GenAI as a chance to boost revenues, generate business leads, and provide sales help, while markets like the US are mostly employing them for customer care in an effort to minimize expenses.Yellow.ai was established in Bengaluru in 2016 and is supported by a number of investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures, Westbridge Capital, and Sapphire Ventures. According to Tracxn, it has raised over $102 million in fundraising thus far.Using the GenAI chatbot of the San Mateo, California-based startup, Bajaj Auto Finance has produced over 100 leads for its clients, while Ravinutala mentioned that a major non-banking lender received over 400 applications for auto loans. Using the GenAI assistant, a well-known two-wheeler manufacturer sold motorcycles worth approximately Rs 1 crore on the first day of sales, while a well-known financial institution obtained prospective clients or sales leads valued at approximately $100 million. According to Ravinutala, Yellow.ai plans to go public in the US by 2026 or 2027, when the market is anticipated to bounce back from the present cyclical slowdown. This year, the company hopes to earn a profit.In terms of platform ARR (annual recurring revenue), Q4 (the quarter that ended in January) is the biggest quarter we have ever had for India, and the country is also leading in terms of the adoption of GenAI on the Yellow.ai platform, according to Ravinutala.The business anticipates a more than 60% growth in the Indian market the next year, with $20–30 million in revenue from the country and a $60–70 million run rate for worldwide revenue overall. Its current global sales run rate is $30–40 million, with an annual growth rate of 60–70%. It anticipates quadruple sales in FY25.Adobe's research indicates that the majority of Indian companies are reducing their marketing and customer experience budgets; of those, 42% have already done so, and 37% want to do so in the upcoming year. In these domains, nearly 60% intend to use GenAI. Growth potential for Yellow.ai have been created by the global macroeconomic slump combined with companies' growing eagerness to use GenAI. Customers are searching for ways to save expenses, and our main selling point is that we can reduce costs and provide better customer service by replacing.According to Ravinutala, the company has also been able to proceed with a methodical approach to hiring and personnel strength thanks to automation and efficiencies from GenAI. In early 2023, the corporation made around 13% of its personnel reductions. Approximately 570 of its 680 employees are based in India. "We don't see this (employee strength) going to 1,000–2,000 over the next few years," stated Ravinutala.  

Byjus losses for FY22 soar to Rs 8,245 crore.

Roughly Rs 3,800 crore, or over half of Byju's losses, have come from stressed assets like Whitehat Jr. and Osmo, two significant purchases the company made. However, the persistent concern over the $1.2 billion term loan has been noted by Byju's auditor BDO, who has stated that a "material uncertainty exists."Weeks after presenting its audited FY22 financials to investors during an annual general meeting in December, parent company of troubled edtech startup Byju, Think & Learn, finally submitted them with the registrar of companies (RoC).For FY22, the business had operating revenue of Rs 5,014 crore, but losses increased to Rs 8,245 crore. Byju's entire income, according to the company's regulatory filings, was about Rs 5,300 crore. Byju's operating revenue increased by 119% in FY22, but losses increased by 80% over the same time period.Improve Your Technological Proficiency with High-Value Skill Courses: IIM Lucknow's IIML Executive Programme in FinTech, Banking, and Applied Risk Management Product Management Professional Certificate from Indian School of BusinessRoughly Rs 3,800 crore, or over half of the losses, have come from highly leveraged assets like Whitehat Jr. and Osmo, two significant purchases the company made."We are pleased that our total revenue has increased by 2.2 times, but we also recognize that 45% of the losses are attributable to our underperforming companies, such as Osmo and Whitehat Jr. We have improved our operating financial circumstances through a number of initiatives, according to a statement from Byju's CFO, Nitin Golani. "While other businesses continue to grow, these businesses were significantly scaled down to cut losses in the following years. "However, the persistent concern over the $1.2 billion term loan has been noted by Byju's auditor BDO, who has stated that a "material uncertainty exists." It did, however, add that the company's management is currently working to get the capital needed to pay off its debts to lenders by selling off assets. "Therefore, (management) has faith in the Company's ability to survive into the future. Furthermore, the management believes it is unlikely that the TLB loan will be granted based on a legal opinion."We are pleased that our total revenue has increased by 2.2 times, but we also recognize that 45% of the losses are attributable to our underperforming companies, such as Osmo and Whitehat Jr. We have improved our operating financial circumstances through a number of initiatives, according to a statement from Byju's CFO, Nitin Golani. "While other businesses continue to grow, these businesses were significantly scaled down to cut losses in the following years."However, the persistent concern over the $1.2 billion term loan has been noted by Byju's auditor BDO, who has stated that a "material uncertainty exists." It did, however, add that the company's management is currently working to get the capital needed to pay off its debts to lenders by selling off assets. "Therefore, (management) has faith in the Company's ability to survive into the future. Furthermore, the management believes it is unlikely that the TLB loan will be granted based on a legal opinion.  

AI Will Have a Transformative Impact on Software Development in 2024

Another unpleasant hallmark of 2023 is its reputation for human error in costly security breaches. Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report declared that the human element is prominent in 74% of all breaches.Mistakes such as privilege misuse, accidental data exposure, and falling victim to social engineering attacks stem from various human factors and the critical consequences of the compromise of secrets, lamented Ev Kontsevoy, CEO & co-founder at Teleport, developer of the Teleport open infrastructure access platform.This prevalence of issues has resulted in organizations embracing biometric hardware and identity verification. But attackers, rather than solely fixating on stealing passwords, are now actively seeking a range of secrets embedded within an organization’s infrastructure, including browser cookies, private keys, API keys, and session tokens, he offered.“To keep up with the pace of threats, organizations will recognize they must move to fully secretless authentication in 2024 to secure the wider spectrum of sensitive access points still vulnerable to threats,” Kontsevoy told TechNewsWorld. He predicted that the widespread adoption of secretless access in the coming year will create immunity to human error and significantly hamper threat actors’ operations. Kontsevoy pulls no punches in describing the changing events software developers will have to execute. A significant change will involve a historic shift in how companies approach network security. Gone will be the IT-centric strategy of dedicated security teams. “We’ll see the role of security teams shifting to those of consultants and auditors, with engineering teams responsible for choosing vendors and implementing security protocols,” he added. “Cybersecurity teams will be responsible for policy and ensuring that workflows and systems meet security requirements.”According to Yoav Abrahami, chief architect and head of Velo at website building platform company Wix, we are in the midst of a massive information revolution sparked by OpenAI, and artificial intelligence tools will continue to augment other developer integrations, he shared.These will include innovations in DevOps, data mining, and project management. Core web vitals will become more critical, forcing developers to put more emphasis on it, he observed.“Developers are shifting from their local workstation to a cloud workstation. Those who make the leap will stay ahead of the curve,” he told TechNewsWorld.Parallels exist between AI and low-code use cases and adoptions. AI is helping organizations and individuals to analyze, interpret, and manage massive data sets, create initial drafts of content, find answers to questions, and read medical images such as X-rays, according to Digibee CTO Peter Kreslins.Legacy systems will become much less in existence in 2024. They can be described simply as systems that are in place and working. “That is a reasonable but perhaps too charitable description. The reality is that legacy software is a substantial barrier to innovation and change,” Kreslins said.The capability of modern integration platforms to integrate legacy systems with current systems enables organizations to continue using legacy systems that perform well as part of their modern IT stack if they prefer.    

Edtech Eruditus considers an IPO as it joins the line of Indian firms doing reverse flips.

According to persons with knowledge, the edtech unicorn Eruditus intends to relocate its headquarters from Singapore to India. It will become the next in a long line of foreign-domiciled firms planning a homecoming. Now let's get started:SoftBank-backed comeback child In preparation for a flip back to India, Eruditus is in talks with several law firms and two of the Big Four firms. The decision is related to its intentions for this possible IPO, considering that markets are valuing profitable companies at multiples of their earnings. Eruditus, a company devoted to higher education, is worth $3.2 billion.Drawing a straight line: Indian startups with foreign holding corporations are in different stages of returning to India from places like Singapore and the US. The plans of digital payments company Razorpay to "reverse flip" from the US to India were originally covered by us in May of last year. Together with e-commerce firms Udaan and Meesho, other fintechs including Groww and Pine Labs have also entered the list. Fintech companies are primarily concerned with regulatory matters; nonetheless, some are relocating their registered firms in order to go local public.Numbers game: With revenue of Rs 3,322 crore ($400 million) for the fiscal year 2023, Eruditus is currently the second-largest edtech in India. The business, which reports from July to June, saw a 75% increase in full-year revenue over the prior year.Byju's, the front-runner, has not yet released its audited FY23 financial statements. According to people with knowledge, the troubled company has made over Rs 5,000 crore in sales but has lost more than Rs 8,200 crore. They stated that although it has not yet submitted its FY22 profits to the Registrar of Companies, it has given the investor access to the financials.Overview. Unicorn Edtech Eruditus plans to "reverse flip," or move their domicile from Singapore to India. Pine Labs, Udaan, Razorpay, and Groww are just a few of the Indian online companies that Eruditus is joining. Eruditus is assessing going public on the local stock exchanges.As of fiscal 2023, Eruditus has amassed revenue of Rs 3,322 crore ($400 million), making it the second largest edtech company in India. The business, which reports from July to June, saw a 75% increase in full-year revenue over the prior year.Byju's, the front-runner, has not yet released its audited FY23 financial statements. According to people with knowledge, the troubled company has made over Rs 5,000 crore in sales but has lost more than Rs 8,200 crore. They stated that although it has not yet submitted its FY22 profits to the Registrar of Companies, it has given the investor access to the financials.  

Zomato Notices An Increase In Sovereign Fund Stakes From Singapore And Kuwait

Large sovereign investors from Kuwait and Singapore increased their interests in the listed foodtech startup Zomato at a time when unicorn makers Tiger Global and SoftBank had completely exited the market.Kuwait Investment Authority reportedly purchased 88 million shares in the September quarter and then added an additional 6.7 million shares in the December quarter, increasing its interests, according to an ET report. Conversely, during the December quarter, Temasek, the national fund of Singapore, purchased 95 million shares in the business. Temasek already had 169 million shares through its investment subsidiary.The nation's mutual funds have increased their holdings in Zomato by twofold in addition to the sovereign funds. Mutual funds held a 12.34% interest in the company as of December 2023, about twice as much as they had owned 5.72% of the same time the previous year. As was previously said, it's interesting to note that these changes happened at the same time as institutional investors SoftBank and Tiger Global were pulling out of Zomato.Tiger Global sold 12.24 Cr shares, or 1.44% of the foodtech behemoth Zomato, in open market transactions in August of last year.According to the BSE's bulk deal data, Tiger Global's investment vehicle Internet Fund III Pte Ltd sold the shares in several tranches at an average price of INR 91.01 Cr. The venture capitalist received INR 1,123.84 Cr. in total for the shares that were sold. The prominent French bank Societe Generale purchased the majority of these shares. The other buyers of the offloaded shares were BNP Paribas Arbitrage, Axis Mutual Fund, Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore, Societe Generale, and Kotak's midcap fund.By the end of June 2023, Tiger Global's Internet Fund III owned 1.44% of Zomato. Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank exited the foodtech behemoth situated in Delhi-NCR just last month when it sold 9.35 Cr of Zomato shares in an INR 1,127 Cr block sale.Among the buyers of these shares were Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore, Invesco, ICICI Prudential Insurance, Goldman Sachs (Singapore), and Kadensa Capital.In a block transaction worth INR 621.6 Cr earlier this month, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund sold 4.5 Cr shares of Zomato for INR 138.15 apiece. The company's stock fell 3% as a result of this block transaction. On January 20, 2023, at the closing bell, Zomato's shares traded for INR 130.10.  

JUMPSTART 2024 IS LAUNCHED BY WEWORK LABS TO SUPPORT EARLY-STAGE START-UPS

WeWork India's investment and acceleration division, through its Growth Campus initiative, would give entrepreneurs discounted access to workspaces, a chance to network with founders, investors, and mentors, and the chance to apply for $200,000 in pre-seed money through investments.WEWORK LABS, THE investment and acceleration division of WeWork India, launched Jumpstart 2024 on Saturday. The program's objectives are to assist early-stage start-ups by introducing them to mentors and the investor community, giving them access to workspaces at a discounted rate, and providing them with a $200,000 seed investment in capital.vStartups and entrepreneurs can get discounted access to workplaces worldwide through WeWork Labs' Growth Campus program. They can also grow their businesses by interacting with mentors, investors, and founders, and they can receive up to $200,000 in pre-seed funding through investments.The arm's goals are to support fledgling companies with idea and product validation, early customer acquisition, market expansion, recruiting, mentorship, and funding.For instance, WeWork will work with founders and carry out the product idea validation using its mentor community within its vast network, explained Arvind Radhakrishnan, associate director and head of WeWork Labs, WeWork India.For example, according to WeWork India's associate director and head of WeWork Labs Arvind Radhakrishnan, WeWork would collaborate with founders and use its extensive network of mentors to validate product ideas."We'll streamline the entire product testing process so that the founder sets up their product for testing in a single conference room. After that, they fill out a brief form with information and leave knowing if their product is useful or not. Would anyone purchase it? "What else should I include in the product roadmap to improve its usefulness?" "And what would the cost be to the people?" Thus, that saves a ton of time, he remarked.Access to WeWork Labs' tech stack, which will aid companies in expanding their operations into new markets, will also be made available through the Growth Campus program. "We identified 13 business building domains for our partner stack, starting from fundamentals like Cloud, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and even Mental Health," stated Radhakrishnan. WeWork Labs began identifying leaders in these industries with startup-friendly services that address problems with the least amount of friction, he continued. Among the partners are Google, IBM, and AWS. The investment and acceleration division has developed a thesis to identify viable startups and has chosen the consumer services and retail, fintech, healthcare, construction and property tech, and SaaS as their focal areas for further development.WeWork Labs now offers 330 businesses subsidized offices, and by the end of the next year, it hopes to have increased that number to 1,000. WeWork India established its investment and acceleration division in 2018 in an effort to support early-stage companies by providing them with subsidized workspaces and carefully selected founder communities. This was done because the real estate provider was drawing a lot of small-sized teams and enterprises. WeWork Labs did not, however, decide to begin providing financial support for the entrepreneurs until 2023. You are capable of doing all of things, but capital is the kind of fuel that is required. The goal of startups is to turn a profit. WeWork Labs provided funding for our modest start in 2023 after several variations on how to approach this, according to Radhakrishnan."Rather than adding something to the offerings, I think what I want to focus on is being able to deliver it at scale," he said in response to a question about future offerings WeWork Labs wants to add to the program. In addition, he stated that he would like to see the mentorship community grow, enter new markets, serve micromarkets, and switch to larger checks.  

Wow! Momo To International Battery Company: $136 million was raised this week by Indian startups

Following the $1 billion that start-ups raised in December, just around one-fourth, or $250 million, has been raised in the first three weeks of January. The start-ups had raised $145 million and $58 million in the preceding two weeks, respectively. Up till the most recent week of January 19, 2024, 21 start-up agreements raised $136 million for startups. Once more, a small number of names dominated the start-up story in the section.There were just 21 deals this week as opposed to 25 deals the previous week. That suggests that there are a lot of middle-tier transactions that typically cost between $4 and $5 million. Due in major part to the significant money raised by start-ups in the second and third week of December 2023, the start-up funding in the most recent week was -41.9% lower than the average of the previous five weeks. This is the tale of the last six weeks' startup fund-raising.The start-up financing for the most recent week, which concluded on January 19, 2024, decreased by -12.4% week over week but significantly decreased by -41.9% when compared to the average of the previous five weeks. The start-up funding for the week really represented the second week in a row that it exceeded $100 million. The start-up funding has remained above $100 million for four of the past six weeks. Though the amount of start-up funding in the last two quarters has remained much lower year over year, it is evident that the momentum from December is carrying over into January as well. This is the tale of the week's biggest start-up fundraising deals, along with the financiers' information and the application of  Whoa! Momo receives $42 million to grow its QSR business. Leading QSR start-up brand in India, Wow! Momo, is set to get an investment of $42 million (Rs350 crore) from Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the Malaysian Sovereign Fund. A combination of primary and secondary infusions will be invested. In addition to Khazanah, Wow! Momo's departing investor, OAKS Asset, would provide Rs60 crore to the startup investment round. The company plans to use the capital round to support the quick service restaurant (QSR) brand's rapid growth and expansion. Additionally, money will be used to support R&D and distribution. In addition to its main Wow! Momo brand, other well-known brands it carries include Wow! China and Wow! Chicken.$35 million is secured by International Battery Company (IBC) for its aspirations to expand into India. In Karnataka, India, IBC intends to establish a green battery manufacturing factory for electric vehicles. The $35 million (Rs 291 crore) in finance is meant to extend its plans for manufacturing in India. RTP Global led the fundraising round, which also included Beenext, Veda VC, and other influential international investors with bases in the US and South Korea. IBC is a supplier of rechargeable batteries to its clients in the small mobility industry. Its unit is expected to begin production in 2025. The $35 million investment is a part of RTP Global's Pre-Series-A capital round, in which Beenext, Veda VC, and a few other key US and Korean investors also participated.FinAGG raises $11 million to improve MSMEs' access to finance In its most recent funding round, which was headed by Blue Orchard and Tata Capital, FinAGG raised $11 million (Rs 91.40 crore). The money received will be put toward growing and enhancing FinAGG's offline and online presence. The money will also be used to promote product innovation and expand the company's worldwide reach. By the way, distributors, retailers, and MSMEs involved in a brand's upstream and downstream supply chain can apply for credit solutions from FinAGG. In addition to Blue Orchard and Tata Capital, the fundraising round also involved participation from SIDBI and Prime Venture Partners. Prime is a current FinAGG investor.$6 million is raised by Alt Mobility to expand the EV Asset Management Platform. In 2021, Dev Arora, Anuj Gupta, Manas Arora, Harsh Goyal, and Jayant Gupta launched Alt Mobility. In a Pre-Series-A financing round, it has raised $6 million (Rs50 crore). Shell Ventures, Eurazeo, EV2 Ventures, and Twynam led the funding round. With its asset management platform, Alt Mobility facilitates fast EV fleet management for third parties.   

Groyyo Secures $5.4 Mn To Power MSMEs With Manufacturing Solutions

OVERVIEW - Established in July 2021, Groyyo provides manufacturing MSMEs in the fashion and leisure sectors with a centralised platform that enables them to grow and improve their business endeavours.The money will be utilised to strengthen Groyyo's cash reserves and support its strategic goals of revolutionising the manufacturing industry. Groyyo, a business-to-business manufacturing and supply chain enablement startup, has raised INR 40 Cr ($5.4 Mn) from Lighthouse Canton and Trifecta Capital as part of its debt fundraising round. business, which is based in Delhi NCR, plans to use the additional funding to increase its financial reserves and scale up its manufacturing-related strategic projects. Groyyo, which was founded in July 2021 by Subin Mitra, Pratik Tiwari, and Ridam Upadhyay, provides manufacturing micro, small, and medium-sized firms (MSMEs) in the fashion and lifestyle sectors with a centralised platform, enabling them to grow and improve their commercial endeavours. "The additional capital infusion will enable us to collaborate with a wider range of SMEs and support them in expanding their operations worldwide," stated Mitra. He continued by saying that the investment will help the business achieve its objective of enabling South Asian SMEs to expand internationally and digitalize their shop floor through in-house technological solutions. "This is also highly aligned with the Indian government's Made in India initiative, as we relentlessly strive to attract a growing amount of global demand to the subcontinent," he continued. Through an order management tool, the business hopes to offer entry-level technology to overlook small-scale industries in Delhi NCR. It states that it has over 360 factories working for more than 110 companies, generating a wide variety of goods in 150 different categories. Groyyo operates in India as well as the UAE, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Turkey, which increases efficiency. Additionally, the business says it has reached international stores Inditex, Next, Mango, Ross, and Burlington.In order to expand the team throughout important demand belts in the US and the EU, as well as industrial clusters in Bangladesh and India, the business raised $40 million in debt and equity in its Series A fundraising round earlier in 2022.  

Nasdaq-Listed Zoomcar’s India Entity Sees Loss Triple To INR 237 Cr In FY23

OVERVIEWZoomcar India reported a 221 percent surge in net loss to INR 237 crore in FY23 from INR 74 crore in the previous fiscal year. Operating revenue for Zoomcar India fell 27% from INR 94.9 Cr in FY22 to INR 69.1 Cr in FY23. Since launching on the Nasdaq on December 29, 2023, Zoomcar's shares have increased by 38%. After completing a merger of a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Zoomcar debuted on the Nasdaq last month. The net loss of its India entity increased by more than 3.2X for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2023. In the fiscal year 2022–2023 (FY23), Zoomcar India reported a net loss of INR 237 Cr, a 221% increase from the INR 74 Cr recorded in the prior fiscal year. Founded by David and Greg Moran Zoomcar is a self-driving car rental business that launched in 2013. The startup pairs together hosts and guests, who may rent a variety of cars at reasonable rates. Operating revenue for Zoomcar India fell 27% from INR 94.9 Cr in FY22 to INR 69.1 Cr in FY23. The business gets funding from subscriptions and vehicle rentals, to name a couple. Zoomcar's overall revenue, including other income, decreased 27% from INR 94.9 Cr in FY22 to INR 69.1 Cr in the year under review.  90 percent of Zoomcar's business, according to Moran, came from India in a recent interview with CNBC-TV18. The business is present in Egypt and Indonesia as well. Where Was Zoomcar Expended? Zoomcar India had a 10% decrease in spending from INR 359.1 Cr in FY22 to INR 321.8 Cr in FY23. Employee Benefit Costs: The majority of the startup's expenses were allocated to employee costs. Employee costs made up 39.5% of Zoomcar's total expenses, or INR 127.4 Cr. From INR 119 Cr in FY22, it increased by 7%. Advertising Expenses: The startup spent INR 39.5 Cr, a 37% decrease, on advertising during the year under review from FY22's INR 62.3 Cr. Additionally, it paid for incidental expenses of INR 78.4 Cr. It did not, however, include a breakdown of this expense. Following a business combination with Innovative International Acquisition Corp., a company headquartered in Cayman Islands, Zoomcar began trading on the Nasdaq on December 29. Since listing, the company's shares have increased 38%; as of last trade, they were trading at $5.11. Adarsh Menon, a senior executive at Flipkart and Hindustan Unilever, was appointed president of Zoomcar earlier this month.  

Atsuya wins the title of Genesis Innovator.

Atsuya Technologies, a deep-tech business based in Chennai, won the National business Awards 2023's Genesis Innovator category. Tuesday night in Delhi, Union Industries Minister Piyush Goyal presented the prizes.Atsuya Technologies, a deep-tech business based in Chennai, won the National business Awards 2023's Genesis Innovator category. Tuesday night in Delhi, Union Industries Minister Piyush Goyal presented the prizes. An agency of the Union government, Startup India, announces the awards each year to honour businesses working on innovative products and solutions across a range of industries.The startup redefines operational excellence in enterprises with a focus on sustainability by utilizing cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT). Atsuya Technologies stated in a press release that the company has been assisting companies across industries in making data-driven decisions, improving profitability, and promoting environmental responsibility with one integrated platform that unlocks many use cases for individual business objectives.The company went on to say that a wide range of industries, including retail, quick-commerce, oil and gas, real estate, HoReCa, and more, were using its products. The business supports 65% of the quick-commerce market and 95% of organized meat retailers in India as a technology partner. In the LPG supply chain, the company also helps to improve safety, visibility, and traceability. According to the statement, companies may reduce resource waste, easily incorporate sustainability into their operations, and move closer to reaching net-zero goals with the help of Atsuya's extensive portfolio of solutions."Deep tech and data are set to drive growth and propel us toward a net-zero economy," stated Rahul Ganapathy, CEO and cofounder of Atsuya. I firmly think that India's startup scene has the capacity to propel our country to the forefront of the world economy. I express my sincere gratitude to Startup India and the Indian government for recognizing this potential and for their steadfast assistance in fostering the expansion of entrepreneurs. Keep up with important tech and startup news. Get our daily newsletter delivered right to your inbox to stay up to date on the newest and most important tech news.Atsuya Technologies of Chennai won the National Startup Awards 2023's "Genesis Innovator" category, which is an accolade given by Startup India to up-and-coming firms nationwide. On January 16, National Startup Day, Union Industries Minister Piyush Goyal delivered the award at a ceremony in Delhi. Atsuya technology leverages cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) to transform company operations while prioritizing sustainability. According to the firm, the startup, which has been a technology partner to 95% of India's organized meat shops and 65% of the quick-commerce market, is now indispensable. The National Startup Awards honor and promote the innovations and contributions made by companies in a range of sectors.  

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