Jio Appoints Sidharth Kedia, Former CEO of NODWIN Gaming, To Lead Gaming Vertical

OVERVIEW Kedia left Nazara-backed NODWIN Gaming in October of last year, and in June she became the head of JioGames and senior vice president. Kedia has worked for Reliance Group twice. In order to promote its cloud gaming platform, Jio last year signed a 10-year strategic relationship with the French company Gamestream, whose partners include Ubisoft.Sidharth Kedia, a former NODWIN Gaming CEO, has joined Reliance Jio's JioGames gaming platform as its leader.Kedia left Nazara-backed NODWIN Gaming in October of last year, and in June she became the head of JioGames and senior vice president."I had joined RIL's media division in 2015." Jio was nearing the end of its development. I was asked by the chairman's office to oversee the PMO for the Jio "friends and family" launch in December 2015. Looking back, I'm incredibly proud to have been a part of this historic project, Kedia posted on LinkedIn."After ten years, I'm thrilled to be welcomed back into the RIL family and given the chance to grow Jiogames and create the massive gaming empire that India has been waiting for," he continued.It is important to remember that he left Reliance following his initial term there in 2019 and joined NODWIN Gaming, while listed gaming behemoth Nazara purchased the majority of the former in 2018. During his tenure, NODWIN Gaming expanded to become one of the top esports organizations in the nation, branching out into genres other than only competitions. Given the appointment, JioGames may now actively promote its fresh initiatives in the market. Jio's gaming section, led by Mukesh Ambani, intends to cater to both game producers and players.  

Shares of Mamaearth Parent Honasa Fall 4% Following Significant Block Deal

SUMMARY: After closing at INR 457.70 last time, the shares opened at INR 440.60 per. The price of the shares at 10:00 AM on Tuesday was INR 441.35. Exchange data shows that 66.2 lakh shares, or 2% of the equity, were exchanged in a block deal.After 66.20 lakh shares, valued at Rs 439 each, were swapped in a block deal for Rs 291 crore, the shares of Honasa Consumer, the company that owns Mamaearth, fell 4%. Both Fireside Ventures and Sofina Ventures, who both own sizeable investments in Honasa Consumer, were probably the sellers in the purchase, which amounted to a 2% ownership. Tuesday saw a 4% decline in the value of Honasa Consumer's shares, which operates Mamaearth, following a block transaction involving the transfer of 66.20 lakh shares. A total of Rs 291 crore was transacted in this deal, which was completed at an average price of Rs 439 per share. It is the same as owning 2% of Honasa Consumer, Mamaearth's parent company.According to media sources, Sofina Ventures and Fireside Ventures were most likely the sellers in this deal. According to the most recent holdings data, Sofina Ventures owned 6.16% of Honasa Consumer's shares, while Fireside Ventures Investment Fund held 5.28% of the firm.  

India's Semiconductor Hub May Eventually Become Bengaluru-Mysuru Kant, Amitabh

OVERVIEW According to Kant, the geographic belt is the most practical location for semiconductor manufacturing facilities because it provides a consistent supply of materials and electricity. He continued by saying that the current union government's main priority for the next five years will be to train young people in cutting-edge technological fields. According to Inc42, by 2030, the rapidly expanding Indian semiconductor market is expected to surpass $150 billion.The Bengaluru-Mysuru belt of Karnataka, according to former CEO of NITI Aayog and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, provides the "best" ecosystem in India for semiconductor design and manufacture.Speaking on Thursday, June 6, at the India Global Innovation Connect event in Bengaluru, Kant stated that the region is the most practical place to build semiconductor fabrication facilities because it has a consistent supply of minerals and electricity."In India, the Bengaluru-Mysore belt of Karnataka has the best ecology (for semiconductor production) of any place. This requires minerals, water, and a consistent supply of energy, all of which are present in the area. Therefore, the belt might be the ideal location to advance both production and become the global hub for design, Kant continued. The former CEO of NITI Aayog stated that Bengaluru and Hyderabad already accounted for around 30–35% of India's current semiconductor design, and that the region could potentially design semiconductors for businesses worldwide.In response to a query concerning the planned location of the nation's first tech park centered around quantum computing, Kant stated that Karnataka was "no better place" to create a center for the cutting edge technology. According to Kant, the present union government's main priority for the ensuing five years will be equipping young people with skills in cutting-edge technology."This current government's primary focus for the next five years will be fully on apprenticeship and skill development. It won't just focus on the information technology industry; it will also address the creation of new jobs in developing fields, Kant continued.Additionally, he stated that more upskilling startups were required to assist in educating aspiring engineers in fields with great demand and developing technology. "More engineers are needed to help create the next generation of Indian enterprises. We need at least two million engineers with expertise in cutting-edge fields like data analytics and artificial intelligence for that. In order to close the supply gap, engineering colleges' curricula must be reorganized, realigned, and reoriented toward contemporary demands. Kant continued, "And this needs to be done rapidly.With initiatives like the INR 6,000 Cr India's Quantum Computing Mission and the INR 76,000 Cr Production-Linked-Incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductor manufacturing, the Center hopes to capitalize on emerging technologies to drive the nation's product economy, advance the next stage of innovation, and support the startup ecosystem. The Tata Group recently announced the establishment of a semiconductor ATMP (a mix of assembly, testing, marking, and packaging) unit in Assam, at an estimated cost of INR 27K Cr, in response to these scandals.  

DroneAcharya's Operating Revenue Soars 90%, Net Profit Doubles To 6.2 Cr in FY24

SUMMARY DroneAcharya's operating revenue climbed from INR 18.56 Cr in FY23 to INR 35.19 Cr in FY24, an almost 90% rise. The firm ascribed this rise to the business's constant and steady expansion as a drone solution supplier and drone-focused training institution. The startup's overall revenue increased to INR 37.35 Cr in FY24 from INR 19.13 Cr the previous year, including other revenues.In the fiscal year 2023–24 (FY24), the drone startup DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations, based in Pune, declared a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of INR 6.2 Cr, over two times higher than the INR 3.42 Cr recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year.Operating revenue for DroneAcharya climbed by about 90% from INR 18.56 Cr in FY23 to INR 35.19 Cr in FY24. The company's continuous and consistent growth as a drone solution provider and drone-centric training organization was credited by the startup for this increase.DroneAcharya, established in 2017 by Prateek Srivastava, provides a range of drone solutions for data processing, multi-sensor drone surveys, and pilot training, among other uses. Last year, the business ventured into the production of drones. In July 2023, it entered into a commercial production, assembly, and export agreement for drones and related goods with Gridbots Technologies, a robotics business based in Gujarat.The startup's overall revenue increased from INR 19.13 Cr to INR 37.35 Cr in FY24 when other income was factored in."At the moment, DroneAcharya is the top and most innovative DGCA-certified drone pilot training provider in India for the private sector. The company added in a statement that it has also made great progress in securing several international drone service projects, valuable industrial relationships with drone manufacturers, investments in drone-related businesses, and acquisitions of value-adding enterprises in India and throughout the world. DroneAcharya operated two DGCA-certified drone pilot training facilities in Pune and Gujarat up till last year. The corporation added two more new centers at IIT Ropar in Punjab and Jaipur in FY24, doubling the number. "The introduction of our line of type-certified agricultural spraying drones will be our first rollout for FY25. We are also steadily advancing internationally, emerging as one of India's foremostNoteworthy is the fact that DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations received an order earlier this year from the Adani Group to offer drone pilot training certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Additionally, it obtained a contract in January from the Indian Army to supply advanced drone training and capacity building at the Mechanized Army Courses Group in Ahmednagar. It entered into an agreement with Vimaan Aerospace in February to supply drones, as well as services and training linked to drones.  

WinZo announces selection of 18 gaming startups to represent India at Gamescom Latam

The games that are included come in a variety of categories and genres, such as chess, racing, physics-based challenges, cricket, riddles, and racing games. Eighteen gaming businesses have been chosen by the vernacular skill gaming platform WinZO and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade's (DPIIT) Startup India to represent India at Gamescom Latam, one of the biggest games exhibitions in the world.
Games from a variety of categories and genres are included on the list, such as chess, racing, physics-based challenges, cricket, riddles, and racing games. According to the organization, these businesses are based in both bigger cities like Nashik and smaller ones like Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR. The titles that have been chosen include the cross-platform game Gods Of Cricket, the role-playing game Tanhaji The Maratha Warrior, the first-person survival horror game Kamla: Indian Exorcism, the narrative-driven 3D action-adventure game Unsung Empire: The Cholas, and the action role-playing game Frontier Paladin. The list also includes Kurukshetra: Ascension, an epic strategic card warfare game, Mr. Racer, a racing game for cars, Spook-A-Boo, an arcade game, and My Dream House, a casual Match3D+Decor game.  Other games include the real-time chess game Tale of Honor, the shooter game Laser Tanks, the tile-matching game Timmy's Toy Rush, the puzzle game DetectiveIQ, the cricket game Bharat Cricket Premier League, the adventure game Mumbai Gullies, the hypercasual action game Elemental Escape, and the simulation game Tea Garden Simulator, which allows users to build and run their own tea empire. WinZO stated that a panel of seasoned industry professionals, including Suresh K Reddy, the Indian ambassador to Brazil, and Rohit Kumar Singh, the former secretary of the Indian government, chose the games from a pool of more than 100 technology and gaming businesses and technological institutes. (Fundação Getulio Vargas' São Paulo School of Business Administration) were also part of the panel. "India is positioned to lead the way in technical innovation because to its foundation of cutting-edge inventions and dedication to developing domestic talent. In a statement, Singh stated, "WinZO exemplifies this trajectory, harnessing the power of Indian creativity and technology to impact the global stage significantly." India's entry into LATAM, propelled by the export of technology and intellectual property, opens up new opportunities for our technology entrepreneurs, according to Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT. Developers who participate in this program pursue their goals and help India become a global leader in technology exports."

By issuing bonds, Navi Finserv, owned by Sachin Bansal, raises INR 150 Cr.

SUMMARY: The investors include Rishad Kairus Dadachanji, Pervin Kairus Dadachanji, and Kairus Shavak Dadachanji, the chairman of the Dadachanji Group, who have contributed INR 110 Cr. This occurs months after the loan startup declared its intention to use NCDs to raise INR 600 Cr. Cofounded in 2012 by Sachin Bansal and Ankit Agarwal, Navi Finserv specializes in lending products such as home, auto, and personal loans.Navi Finserv, a fintech unicorn run by Sachin Bansal, reportedly obtained INR 150 Cr through the issuing of bonds from six individual investors, following the company's announcement months earlier of aspirations to fund up to INR 600 Cr through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs).An hour ago  

INR 21.6 Cr From Lightspeed To Pivot To Beauty Consultations For EkAneks Foxy Bags

SUMMARY: EkAnek passed a special resolution allocating 31,638 CCPS at a cost of INR 6,827.4 per to Lightspeed India, amounting to INR 21.6 Cr in total. Also, the business increased the number of stock options in its ESOP pool by 7,520, to 29,657. Foxy is an online store that was established in 2018 and offers a large selection of cosmetics, grooming, and beauty products.INR 21.6 Cr from Lightspeed to Pivot to Beauty Consultations for EkAnek's Foxy Bags. Parent company EkAnek of the beauty e-commerce platform Foxy has secured INR 21.6 Cr ($2.5 Mn) in a strategic financing round led by current investor Lightspeed India.  

Indian startups have advanced significantly during the past five to ten years: Co-founder of Urban Company

NEW DELHI: Over the past five to ten years, Indian companies have made significant progress thanks to the government's Startup India program and other efforts.In the last five to ten years, Indian startups have made significant progress. The co-founder of an urban company"When I started 10 years back, we were a small ecosystem and the country had only one unicorn," Bhal said to IANS during a conversation. We are a today'sIn the last five to ten years, Indian startups have made significant progress. The co-founder of an urban company. In terms of unicorn count, the Indian Startup Ecosystem ranks third globally as of May 2024, with a total valuation of $349.67 billion.Speaking at the 'Vishesh Sampark Abhiyan', the co-founder said that the Startup India initiative helped "us brainstorm for hours and create a highly c https://www.dtnext.in/indian-startups-have-come-a-long-way-in-the-last-5-to-10-yrs-urban-company-co-founderThe co-founder claimed during the "Vishesh Sampark Abhiyan" that the Startup India program enabled "us think for hours and design a highly powerful  

MeitY Secretary Indias AI Regulations Won Stop Innovation

OVERVIEW According to S Krishnan, the government would prepare the legislation for artificial intelligence using the same methodology used to draft the DPDP Act. According to the MeitY secretary, India may have an advantage over other countries by enacting AI legislation later since it may examine and absorb the lessons from the mistakes made by others. The proposed AI legal framework is expected to be published by July of this year, according to statements made earlier this year by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the minister of state for MeitY.Artificial intelligence (AI) would be regulated by the Center so as not to inhibit innovation in the field, according to S Krishnan, secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).Before being made available to users on the Indian internet, all large-language models (LLMs), software that uses generative AI, artificial intelligence (AI) models, and algorithms that are being tested, in beta testing, or unreliable in any other way are required to obtain the "explicit permission of the government of India."On March 1, the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) released a late-night advisory—a first for the entire world. It requested that all platforms make sure that their use of AI, generative AI, LLMs, or any other kind of algorithm "does not permit any bias or discrimination or threaten the integrity of the electoral process."Friday's advise, though not legally obligatory, is "signalling that this is the future of regulation," according to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the union minister of state for electronics and information technology. "We are requesting that you (the AI platforms) abide by it as an advisory today."  

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Zomatos Latest Feature Now Enables Users To Make Healthier Decisions

SUMMARY: Using this new function, customers can be gently persuaded to select healthier options, preventing them from subsequently regretting their decision. Additionally, the company increased its platform cost to INR 5 per order last month from INR 4 previously. Zomato also revealed its fourth consecutive profitable quarter earlier in May.Zomato, the foodtech behemoth, has launched a new feature that will assist its consumers in choosing healthier options. This comes only a few days after the company extended its priority delivery services to Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pune.By using this new tool, customers can be gently encouraged to choose healthier options when placing their orders, helping them to avoid regretting their decisions later.Deepinder Goyal, the CEO and founder of Zomato, made the news on X."We just released a new function on Zomato – gently assisting our users in making healthier choices,” the post stated. First off, we've started recommending roti in place of naans."We just released a new function on Zomato – gently assisting our users in making healthier choices,” the post stated. First off, we've started recommending roti in place of naans."We have received tremendously favorable feedback for this functionality, and we are seeing a 7% attach rate for these recommendations. We intend to expand this soon to include additional meals and categories. For instance, when you add a dessert to your basket, we may suggest lower-calorie dessert options if you are in the mood for one," it stated.Zomato is also getting ready to add more meals and categories to this functionality. For example, when a user adds dessert to their cart, they may be shown alternatives with fewer calories if they are craving it. In addition, the company increased its platform fee from INR 4 to INR 5 each order last month. Zomato also revealed its fourth consecutive profitable quarter earlier in May. In the quarter that concluded on March 31 of the financial year 2023–24 (FY24), the company's consolidated profit after tax increased by 26.8% to INR 175 Cr from INR 138 Cr in the previous quarter. From INR 3,288 Cr in Q3 FY24 to INR 3,562 Cr during the quarter, operating revenue increased by more than 8%. On a quarterly basis, Zomato observed a decrease in the GOV of their meal delivery service. During the quarter under review, its GOV decreased from INR 8,486 Cr to INR 8,439 Cr. Yet, GOV increased 28% year over year.  

Venture Catalysts $200 million fund, 9Unicorns, rebrands itself

New Delhi: Rebranding as 100Unicorns, 9Unicorns, a division of the multi-stage investment platform Venture Catalysts Group, has opened its second accelerator fund, targeting $200 million to invest in 200 national businesses.According to Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, managing director of Venture Catalysts Group and co-founder of 100Unicorns, the company intends to announce its first closure by November with the goal of pooling 30–50% of the total fund size.According to Sharma, 100Unicorns would provide early-stage enterprises with initial investments between $250,000 and $1 million in exchange for a 5–10% share. There may be additional opportunities for investments up to $3 million in subsequent rounds.Increasing the need The establishment of the new fund reflects the increasing need for early-stage capital in India, where investors have continued to support nascent businesses in spite of the financial winter. Tracxn data indicates that pre-seed, seed, and Series A funding saw significant growth in 2022 and 2023.Sharma emphasized that between 2015 and 2022, financing for the Indian startup sector increased fifteen times. "In the next ten years, I firmly believe that India will become the 'Startup Nation,' producing the greatest number of unicorns, entrepreneurs, and jobs created by startups."Startups with a $1 billion or higher valuation are considered unicorns. Based on information provided by the company, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Tracxn show that, with over 110,000 new enterprises operating nationwide, India currently has the third-largest startup ecosystem globally. There are 111 unicorns in the nation, and their aggregate worth is $350 billion. About 80–85% of the cash for the second fund would be invested in India; the remaining portion will be financed by partners in the US, West Asia, Southeast Asia, and African markets. According to Sharma, there are over 77,000 startups on the African continent, which is still a profitable region.  

Ankush Aggarwal Returns To Ola Cabs Ride-Hailing Business Amid Restructuring

Ankush Aggarwal, brother of Ola Cabs founder Bhavish Aggarwal, has rejoined the ride-hailing company following a period with Ola Electric amid organizational changes at Ola Cabs.Ankush Aggarwal is a member of the "CXO team," as the top executive group is internally called.This action follows the resignation of Hemant Bakshi, the company's CEO, a few months after he joined the startup.Bakshi quit his job a month ago. Even though he left Hindustan Unilever to join Ola Cabs in September 2023, the firm announced his appointment in January of this year.According to ET, Aggarwal will have a variety of duties at Ola Cabs, similar to what he did at the manufacturer of electric vehicles. He is also scheduled to take up the position of CEO of Ola Financial Services.He was Ola Electric's chief business officer.Ola has been contacted by Inc42 to provide feedback on the development. The response will determine how the story is updated. It is important to remember that Ola Cabs and Ola Financial Services are separate entities from Ola Electric Mobility, which was established by Bhavish Aggarwal, and are under the ownership of ANI Technologies.In addition to Ankush Aggarwal, whose loan startup Avail Finance was purchased by ANI Technologies in 2022, other executives on the CXO team include Sidharth Shakdher, chief business officer, and Kartik Gupta, chief financial officer. Gupta and Shakdher have both worked with Ola Cabs for a short time—less than 1.5 years.According to the article, Bhavish Aggarwal is likely to take the lead in the business following these modifications and is reportedly focused on making a profit. The current management at the company will collaborate with Bhavish Aggarwal, who is basically back reviewing the daily statistics of the ride-hailing service, an insider told ET. In India, Ola Cabs, which was established in 2010, is a competitor of Uber and BluSmart. The business has let go of workers in two rounds of layoffs in the previous two years prior to Bakshi's resignation. It let go of 200 workers from Ola Cabs, Ola Electric, and Ola Financial Services in January of last year. From INR 1,522.3 Cr in the prior fiscal year to INR 772.2 Cr in FY23, ANI Technologies' consolidated net loss almost halved. From INR 1,970.4 Cr in FY22 to INR 2,799.3 Cr in FY23, operating revenue increased by 42%. Ola Cabs recently stated that, in contrast to an EBITDA loss of INR 66 Cr in the same period last year, its India mobility division broke even with "segment-adjusted" EBITDA of over INR 250 Cr in FY23. The    

Sidhi Dalmia, a former executive at Goldman Sachs, joins VCats Syndicate Fund as a founding partner and co-leader.

Sidhi Dalmia, a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, has joined Mumbai-based Venture Catalysts as a founding partner and co-lead for their recently formed syndicate fund, VC Grid.In addition to Goldman Sachs, Dalmia has several executive roles at The Chesapeake Group, Bennett, Coleman & Co., Sumedha Fiscal Services, and Srei Group.She has worked in a number of major cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and New York.According to the venture capital firm, Dalmia has played a pivotal role in propelling the establishment of VC Grid in recent months and solidifying its value proposition in the investment landscape.According to the company statement, she has coordinated fundraising efforts across a variety of industries, including technology, retail, FMCG, logistics, distressed assets, and infrastructure. She has also negotiated cross-border M&A transactions, facilitated venture capital investments, and given strategic advice to startups."She combines her financial acumen and leadership skills with a wealth of experience and knowledge in venture capital, early-stage investments, and creating sustainable enterprises. As we want to increase the value for family offices, legacy companies, and entrepreneurs, we are excited to collaborate with her," stated Apoorva Ranjan Sharna, managing director and founder of Venture Catalysts++.Family offices, corporate VCs, and U-HNIs make up the VC Grid network, which is dedicated to funding high-alpha projects from seed to Series A, with an investment range of $500K to $1.5M. Apart from providing financial support, the community also hopes to provide entrepreneurs with market access and commercial prospects by utilizing the combined knowledge and assets of its member investors. Venture Catalysts plans to conclude investment for VC Grid later this year with a total corpus of INR 900 Cr (about $110 Mn), according to a report published earlier this month by Inc42. Sources said at the time that the syndicate planned to bring the total number of limited partners to 100 by year's end, with 32 family offices already on board.  

Where in the United States can you see the northern lights this weekend?

Here you may find the most recent news updates and breaking stories from India and around the globe.This weekend, a strong geomagnetic storm that reached Earth might provide residents as far south as Alabama and Northern California with a display of the northern lights, according to officials. People in more expansive parts of the map may be able to see the aurora borealis if the weather is right.The storm could produce an amazing light show in the night sky, but it has prompted government forecasters to warn of possible interruptions to satellite operations, the electricity grid, and communications networks."The aurora is really the gift from space weather, if you happen to be in an area where it's dark and cloud free and relatively unpolluted by light," Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, told reporters on Friday morning.Friday night's map of the northern lights The center's map indicates that Friday night, the aurora could be visible over a large portion of the northern United States. The map's red line indicates the aurora forecast's southern range.For the best chance of seeing the northern lights, locals should evacuate the city, according to the National Weather Service's St. Louis office. On social media, the office posted, "Get away from city lights into a dark, rural surrounding and look north." "Aside from some clouds associated with a passing front, much of the time looks mostly clear."On its website, the forecast center states that one does not have to be right underneath the aurora to see it. Rather, it may be seen from a distance of up to 620 miles.When asked if there was any prospect of a nocturnal spectacle in the San Francisco Bay Area, the weather service office expressed less optimism. The office said, "Probably not, but I'll still look up while walking my dog."  

Zeta Introduces Credit As-A-Service Product for Banks Integrated with UPI

Zeta, a unicorn in banking technology, has launched a digital credit-as-a-service solution for banks. The product leverages the network to expedite the issuing of credit in India and is based on NPCI's credit line on UPI scheme.The company expects transaction volumes on this scheme to exceed $1 Tn by 2030 and aims to capture 50% of this market opportunity with its solution, helping banks create and launch credit products quickly."Credit Line on UPI has hit a home run for banks by completely changing the discovery, access, and cost mechanics of retail lending," stated Ramki Gaddipati, CEO APAC & Global CTO, Zeta.According to Gaddipati, the cost of Zeta's new offering would change based on the particular services that each bank needs."We saw UPI volumes put a strain on core banking systems," he continued. We expect comparable Credit Line volumes on UPI in the near future, necessitating a populace-wide banking infrastructure that can handle hundreds of millions of credit accounts.Zeta, which was founded in 2015 by Gaddipati and Bhavin Turakhia, provides financial institutions with an omni-stack platform for managing fraud and risk, processing and issuing debit and credit cards, and lending. Zeta's cloud-native, next-generation core banking and payments platform powers its extensive services and technology stack, which enables banks to manage digital credit operations from originations to collections. This is known as its digital credit-as-a-service offering. Pre-integrated technologies to speed up launch procedures, packaged services to improve operational effectiveness, and a variety of product blueprints, including EMI loans, merchant loans, and agricultural loans, will also be included in the offering. It will also provide regulatory reporting, compliance, and operations capabilities in addition to process consulting support for integrating Credit Line on UPI with current bank systems.In contrast to a loss of INR 20.7 Cr in FY22, the company declared a profit after tax (PAT) of INR 21.94 Cr in the fiscal year 2022–2023 (FY23). The fintech unicorn based in Bengaluru had an increase in income from operations of about 33% to INR 816.20 Cr in FY23, up from INR 615.05 Cr in FY22. Zeta became a unicorn in May 2021 after raising $340 million in total capital with a $250 million funding round headed by Masayoshi Son's SoftBank. Among its supporters are well-known companies like Mastercard, Sodexo, and Softbank Vision Fund.  

Talks of SoftBank Increasing Its Investment in Software Portfolio Company Icertis

SoftBank is once again making inroads into the Indian startup scene. The global giant is in early talks to increase its investment in Icertis, a company that now manages its software portfolio.According to ET, Pune-based Icertis is presently seeking to raise $150 million (about INR 1,252 crore) through the sale of secondary shares; as part of this transaction, SoftBank may expand its participation.It is important to note that with this new round of funding, SoftBank is not the only investor looking to extend their position in Icertis. Existing investors in the business are also thinking about increasing their stake. This action is being taken as some of the company's original investors look to leave the 15-year-old business.Valuation concerns play a major role in the talks between SoftBank and Icertis.As part of a bigger fundraising round, SoftBank's Vision Fund is completing preparations to invest in the e-commerce platform Meesho. This comeback comes after SoftBank and Tiger Global abstained from transactions for more than a year.Established in 2009 by Monish Darda and Samir Bodas, Icertis focuses on the corporate IT industry. Businesses all around the world may manage, buy, sell, and corporate enterprise contracts with the aid of its product, Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI).It was previously reported that SoftBank was getting ready to resume investing in Indian businesses following a roughly 18-month hiatus. The Japanese investment company, which had previously taken a wait-and-watch approach, is now aggressively seeking to support cutting-edge businesses and expand its holdings in the Indian market.SoftBank will keep investing, especially in growth-stage companies, as it often does so with over $100 million each round.As of December 2023, SoftBank India's investment portfolio across Vision Funds I and II had a fair value of around $14 billion, an increase of 9%.  

TiE Smashup 2024: Promoting Development and Creativity in the Startup Sector

May 7, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India: The flagship event of TiE Rajasthan, TiE Smashup, is back for its eighth iteration, giving startups a special chance to network with more than 25 institutional investors from across India. Thanks to the success of the previous year's event and the Rajasthan Government's Istart initiative, five entrepreneurs were able to get immediate cash commitments: Indeed, Madam, you succeeded in securing Rs 75L from Warmup Ventures; Boba Bhai received Rs 50L from Warmup Ventures; Ratnada Ventures awarded Strangify USD 60000; and Realtime Angel Fund gave each of Headfox Innovation Pvt Ltd. and Cellverse Pvt. Ltd. Rs 50L."Many start-ups are reaching notable milestones with their innovative ventures, supported by TiE Rajasthan." "Smash Up" has established a national brand presence today and has evolved from a Chapter event to an ecosystem partners event, providing the ideal venue for start-ups to be noticed by global venture capitalists. said TiE Rajasthan President Dr. Sheenu Jhawar.Following the Smash Up event of the previous year, Boba Bhai secured noteworthy seed capital of Rs 12.5 Cr at a valuation of Rs 50 CR. Meanwhile, the triumph of Yes Madam, My Body Affairs, and Hexpression on various seasons of Shark Tank India demonstrated their capabilities. The prestigious 500 Global Alberta Accelerator 2023 Batch-5 in Canada has selected InfraHive (Aivinya). Following their participation in SMASHUP, other startups such as The Loom Art, Doctune, Insurance Padosi, Mobirapid/Headfox, VCheck, Thela Gaadi, OLE ROOMS, Kwikfix, Avitron Aerospace, and Tempvision have also made notable progress in their respective fields. Caldor Health Technologies is one such startup.The outstanding contributions of Puneet Mittal (Chair, Startup Screening), Vikram Ahuja (Chair, On-Spot Funding), Nishant Patni (Convenor), and Sharad Bansal (Co-Convenor) are responsible for TiE SMASHUP's continued success. Registrations are now available for TiE SMASHUP 2024, the eighth edition (September 27–28), which promises to be an even more exhilarating experience after the phenomenal success of previous Smash Ups.  

Kareena is pleased to be a national ambassador for UNICEF India.

UNICEF India has named Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan as its national ambassador. Her longstanding affiliation with the organization since 2014, during which she has acted as a Celebrity Advocate, is recognized with this esteemed status.Young Advocates: Supporting a Range of Issues UNICEF India announced the appointment of Kareena along with the introduction of its inaugural class of Youth Advocates, four exceptional persons who will act as peer leaders and advocates for important issues impacting children and youth. The causes that the Youth Advocates are fighting for are: Gauranshi Sharma from Madhya Pradesh, advocating for the right to play and disability inclusion. Uttar Pradesh native Kartik Verma is an advocate for child rights and climate action. Nahid Afrin from Assam, raising awareness about mental health and early childhood development. Vinisha Umashankar from Tamil Nadu, a budding innovator and STEM pioneer.Kareena's dedication to the rights of children Kareena Kapoor Khan's commitment to the rights and wellbeing of children is demonstrated by her affiliation with UNICEF India. She has given her voice to numerous projects as a Celebrity Advocate, bringing attention to topics including child safety, nutrition, and education. As she assumes her new position as National Ambassador, Kareena is well-positioned to further up her efforts and use her powerful platform to make a significant difference in the lives of children in India and around the world.Youth Empowerment and Change-Driven UNICEF India's selection of Youth Advocates is a great step in empowering youth and recognizing their ability to effect positive change. In addition to serving as an inspiration to their peers, these advocates will help shape programs and policies that deal with the urgent issues that young people face. Kareena Kapoor Khan and the Youth Advocates will work diligently to guarantee that every child's rights are upheld and their voices are heard, forming a strong team.Children's Better Future Kareena Kapoor Khan and the Youth Advocates represent a fresh commitment to UNICEF India's great goal, which is to uphold the rights and welfare of children. The group wants to give children a better future where their rights, safety, and growth are respected and valued via their combined efforts. Kareena Kapoor Khan's impact and her passion for children's rights will surely encourage others to join the campaign as she sets off on her new adventure, causing a ripple effect that reverberates throughout the country and beyond.