Author: sushree

A Bengaluru-based Swiggy Instamart user set a new record by tipping delivery partners a total of Rs 68,600 in 2025, the highest by any single customer in India, according to Swiggy’s annual report, How India Instamarted 2025.

The tipping trend reflects the platform’s growing penetration in the quick-commerce space, with Bengaluru emerging as Instamart’s “tipping capital” for the year.

Following Bengaluru, Chennai recorded the second-highest tipping amount, with users contributing a collective Rs 59,505 in tips.

Swiggy noted that while tipping is traditionally linked with restaurants and ride-hailing, it is gradually gaining traction in quick commerce.

Customers appear to increasingly value the effort delivery partners put in, particularly for late-night orders, festival-season surges, and navigating congested urban routes.

In 2025, tipping volumes not only grew but also became an indicator of evolving consumer behavior and the strengthening bond between users and delivery partners.

The annual report also highlights the different purchasing beheavior of customers and shows the emerging tier 2 cities quick-commerce purchasng growth.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has picked up a minority stake in Hyderabad-based Suntek Energy Systems Pvt Ltd, which operates under the brand TRUZON Solar.

 As per filings with the Registrar of Companies, Tendulkar acquired 1.8 lakh equity shares worth ₹3.6 crore, translating into an estimated 2% ownership in the solar EPC firm.

The strategic investment is expected to support Suntek Energy’s geographic expansion and participation in larger institutional and utility-scale solar projects.

The company is preparing to scale operations beyond its existing markets as demand accelerates across India’s renewable energy landscape, particularly in rooftop and ground-mounted solar installations.

Founded in 2008 by Sri Ch. Bhavani Suresh, Suntek Energy is headquartered in Hyderabad and has built a strong presence across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

The company focuses on solar engineering, procurement, and construction services across residential, commercial, industrial, and utility segments.

The company has completed over 15,000 solar projects, delivering nearly 400 MW of installations, and reported ₹63 crore in revenue for FY24, with a sharp year-on-year growth.

Suntek also operates a manufacturing facility in IDA Jeedimetla, Hyderabad, and offers a diversified portfolio including rooftop solar systems, solar water pumps, and PM-KUSUM projects.

Global athletic footwear and apparel brand New Balance has announced Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor as its first Indian brand ambassador. 

The association is positioned around enhancing the brand’s visibility across fashion, lifestyle, and fitness, while building deeper resonance with Indian consumers. 

Through this collaboration, New Balance aims to deepen consumer engagement and expand its cultural relevance in India, one of its fastest-growing markets within the MEAI region.  

The partnership is expected to blend performance-driven sportswear with contemporary style, appealing to a younger, fashion-conscious audience that values individuality and self-expression. 

New Balance is a US-based sportswear company known for its emphasis on innovation, craftsmanship, and individuality. The brand has steadily expanded its global presence over the decades, with India emerging as a key strategic market in recent years. 

Commenting on the association, Janhvi Kapoor said she resonates strongly with the brand’s focus on authenticity and self-belief, adding that New Balance allows her to express confidence through both fashion and fitness. 

Radeshwer Davar, Country Manager, India at New Balance, noted that the partnership reflects shared values and creativity, while Stuart Henwood, Senior Director, MEAI, highlighted that Kapoor’s energy and entrepreneurial spirit align closely with the brand’s long-term vision for India.  

Actor and entrepreneur Karan Wahi has joined Mumbai-based Knack Beverages as an investor and brand ambassador.

With this association, Knack Beverages aims to accelerate brand visibility and expand adoption of its clean-label beverage portfolio, targeting consumers seeking natural, functional, and better-for-you drink options across everyday wellness, kids’ nutrition, and sports hydration.

Founded in 2023 by Rounaq Sodhi, Knack Beverages focuses on all-natural, freshly brewed drinks positioned as healthier alternatives to traditional sugary and carbonated beverages. The founding team brings prior experience from global beverage brands such as Red Bull, shaping Knack’s product and category strategy.

Karan Wahi is backing Knack’s expanding portfolio, including CoolPop, a prebiotic-infused drink designed for children and daily consumption, and Knack Pro Sports, an affordable hydration and recovery beverage formulated with electrolytes, BCAAs, and multivitamins. He highlighted the brand’s clean ingredients, product differentiation, and market relevance as key reasons for his involvement.

Knack Beverages operates through multiple sub-brands, including Knack Iced Tea, CoolPop, Knack Pro Sports, and Botanicals by Knack, which offers mixers and sparkling beverages such as tonic water and ginger ale.

Based in Mumbai, the company distributes its products via its website, major e-commerce platforms, and select retail partners, and reported revenue of approximately ₹40.3 lakh in FY24.

Bengaluru-based fintech startup Prosperr.io has raised $4 million in a seed funding round led by Jungle Ventures, with participation from Yatra Angel Network, Sadev Ventures, and other strategic investors.

This fresh infusion will accelerate the company’s growth as it strengthens its AI-driven tax and compliance platform for both enterprises and salaried individuals.

The funding will be utilized to enhance the startup’s automation capabilities, develop new features for enterprise tax management and employee reimbursements, and expand its B2B operations.

The company is also exploring growth into adjacent areas such as wealth management and smarter financial planning solutions.

Prosperr.io was founded in 2022 by Manas Gond (CEO) and Dev Kumar (CPTO & Co-founder) with a vision to simplify tax planning, compliance, and reimbursements using AI and automation. Since its inception, the company has aimed to bridge gaps in tax management for both individuals and organizations, ensuring seamless operations and improved financial efficiency.

The platform provides two primary solutions: an AI-led subscription service for salaried users that delivers continuous tax advisory, planning, and compliance support, and enterprise tools that automate employee allowances, reimbursements, and tax benefits.

The startup claims significant adoption in both segments, driven by reduced manual processes, compliance accuracy, and better financial outcomes for users.

With this round, the startup has raised a total of $5.55 million in funding.

Nikhil Kamath and Kishore Biyani have unveiled The Foundery, a new residential venture-building platform aimed at helping founders turn raw ideas into early-stage companies within a 90-day structured programme.

The initiative is positioned as an execution-first startup lab that supports hands-on company creation rather than conventional classroom-based learning.

Designed as a co-founder-led venture studio, The Foundery brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, operators, and domain specialists to collaboratively identify problems, test market demand, and build scalable products. Participants work in an immersive, on-campus environment, engaging directly with investors and industry experts throughout the programme.

Founders involved in creating new ventures can hold up to 25% ownership, with select teams eligible for seed funding of up to ₹4 crore upon meeting predefined performance benchmarks. Beyond capital, startups continue to receive strategic guidance after the programme concludes.

The platform is open to first-time founders, early-stage entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to transition into entrepreneurship. Selection focuses on execution capability, independent thinking, creativity, and resilience, with candidates assessed through multiple stages rather than traditional pitch-based evaluations.

The Foundery is supported by a mentor network that includes Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Kunal Bahl, Mithun Sacheti, Varun Berry, Rama Bijapurkar, and Aakrit Vaish. Each cohort culminates in a demo showcase for a curated investor audience, alongside a parallel “School of Life” track centred on founder decision-making, mindset, and long-term resilience.

Operating as a campus-based residential programme, The Foundery plans to host multiple cohorts every year as it builds a long-term pipeline of early-stage startups in India.

Bengaluru-based D2C nutrition startup Supply6 has onboarded Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Kriti Sanon as its brand ambassador and investor.

The association comes as Supply6 looks to strengthen its connection with urban, health-conscious consumers. The brand is focusing on everyday wellness habits such as hydration, balanced nutrition, and long-term consistency rather than short-term fitness trends.

Founded in 2019 by Vaibhav Bhandari and Rahul Jacob, Supply6 builds science-backed nutrition products aimed at addressing daily dietary gaps. Its portfolio includes an all-in-one daily nutrition drink, zero-sugar electrolyte mixes, protein wafers, and meal replacement options designed for simple integration into busy lifestyles.

The brand recently launched its Protein Wafer Bar, positioned as a clean-label snack with no maida, no added sugar, and 10 grams of protein. Supply6 is also expanding its presence beyond India, with plans to scale in international markets such as the United States.

The development follows Supply6’s recent seed funding round of ₹9.1 crore led by Zeropearl VC, with participation from other investors. The company had earlier brought on former South African cricketer AB de Villiers as both an investor and brand ambassador.

Commenting on the partnership, co-founder Vaibhav Bhandari said Kriti’s transition from consumer to partner reflects the brand’s core philosophy and will help Supply6 reach a wider base with a credible and relatable wellness message.

Kriti Sanon said her decision to join was driven by the brand’s focus on practical, everyday nutrition that fits naturally into daily routines, aligning with her personal approach to health.

Deep-tech biotechnology startup Elmentoz Research has raised $4 million in a seed funding round from a group of Indian and Norwegian angel investors.

The funding marks a key step in the company’s plans to scale sustainable and precision-led solutions for animal nutrition.

The fresh capital will be used to expand Elmentoz’s cGMP-certified smart protein manufacturing facility and scale its flagship product lines, ELGROW and ELTIDE.

The Bhubaneswar based company also plans to advance its antimicrobial peptide (AMP) technology, strengthen global research partnerships, and grow its research, manufacturing, and commercial teams.

Founded in December 2022 by Jayashankar Das and Padmaja Mohanty, Elmentoz Research focuses on precision animal health nutrition and smart feed solutions for poultry, aquaculture, and pet food industries. The startup operates out of Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar and combines genomics, proteomics, automation, and cGMP manufacturing to develop functional proteins and antibiotic-free feed alternatives.

As part of its expansion, Elmentoz is setting up India’s largest Black Soldier Fly (BSF)-based smart protein facility in Bhubaneswar. The plant, scheduled to go live in January 2026, will process up to 2,000 metric tonnes of industrial byproducts per month using proprietary automation technology, supporting sustainable feed production at scale.

Commenting on the development, Founder and CEO Jayashankar Das said the company aims to move beyond food security toward nutritional security by replacing antibiotic growth promoters with functional, research-driven feed solutions.

Co-founder and CTO Padmaja Mohanty added that the funding will help deepen research efforts and scale sustainable protein solutions for the next decade of animal nutrition.

Shark Tank India is introducing a special Campus Edition for its upcoming Season 5, inviting college students and young founders across India to apply and pitch their startup ideas on the national stage.

As part of this new initiative, Pratham Mittal, Founder of Masters’ Union and Tetr, has joined the judging panel as a Shark for the upcoming season. The Campus Special aims to spotlight student-led startups and early-stage ideas emerging from colleges and universities across the country.

Announcing his entry into Shark Tank India, Mittal shared that while joining the show was exciting, it also prompted deeper reflection on how he could add meaningful value. He noted that real-world startup investments typically unfold over longer timelines and involve more extensive evaluation than what is seen on television.

Mittal described Shark Tank India as a powerful public platform that introduces students, families, and early-stage entrepreneurs to the realities of building companies including risk-taking, trade-offs, uncertainty, and long-term decision-making. He emphasized that his role on the show will focus on bringing realism, context, and long-term thinking to conversations around entrepreneurship and funding.

He also invited founders and viewers to share what they would like to see more of on the show, adding that his preparation for the season has already begun. Mittal expressed particular enthusiasm about meeting college entrepreneurs working on early-stage ideas, aligning closely with the vision of the Campus Special.

In addition to Mittal’s inclusion, Varun Alagh, Mohit Yadav, and Kanika Tekriwal will also join Shark Tank India Season 5 as new judges.

Shark Tank India Season 5 will feature a renewed lineup of Sharks and continue its mission of highlighting early-stage entrepreneurship across India, with a special focus on student founders through the Campus Special.