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  • Amazon Fresh grocery service expands to 170+ cities across India

    Amazon Fresh grocery service expands to 170+ cities across India

    Amazon India has significantly expanded its grocery delivery service, Amazon Fresh, now reaching over 170 cities across the country.

    Previously available in 130 locations, the service now includes tier-II and tier-III cities such as Gorakhpur, Chittoor, Ambala, and Vijayawada, making fresh groceries more accessible to millions of consumers.

    This expansion comes as Amazon Fresh reports 50% year-on-year growth in the second half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, solidifying its position as one of Amazon’s fastest-growing categories.

    Launched in November 2021, Amazon Fresh offers a wide selection of fresh and dry groceries, including dairy, frozen foods, personal care, and pet supplies. With competitive pricing and two-hour doorstep delivery, the service ensures convenience for customers.

    Also Read: Fintech Platform OneStack Raises $2M in Series A Funding

    To maintain freshness, sellers source produce from over 11,000 farmers, and all products undergo a rigorous 4-step quality check before reaching consumers.

    “Our expansion to 170+ cities allows Amazon Fresh to extend its reach into India’s tier-II and tier-III cities, offering consumers high-quality groceries at competitive prices, delivered conveniently to their doorstep,” said Srikant Sree Ram, Director of Amazon Fresh India.

    With this expansion, Amazon Fresh aims to transform online grocery shopping in smaller cities, offering great savings, exclusive deals from sellers and bank partners, and seamless home delivery.

  • Fintech Platform OneStack Raises $2M in Series A Funding

    Fintech Platform OneStack Raises $2M in Series A Funding

    Fintech platform OneStack has raised $2 million in its Series A funding round, with plans to secure an additional $1 million.

    The round was led by Pentathlon Ventures, with participation from Yatra Angel Network and continued backing from 100Unicorns and Venture Catalysts.

    The fresh capital will be used to scale technology solutions that drive financial inclusion and digital transformation in underserved markets.

    Founded by Amit Kapoor and Vishal Gupta, OneStack provides end-to-end banking solutions, including Core Banking, Mobile Banking, NPCI UPI Switch, and BBPS Switch, enabling regional and rural banks to modernize operations and enhance services.

    Functioning as both a Technical Service Provider (TSP) and Application Service Provider (ASP), the platform offers a unified technology stack to streamline banking processes.

    With over 200 cooperative banks onboarded, OneStack claims a 20% market share in North and West India and supports seven out of 34 State Cooperative Banks, serving 35 crore Indians and six crore MSMEs through its infrastructure.

    Also Read: Fintech firm POP collaborates with Samantha Prabhu’s fashion brand Saaki

    The company’s UPI Switch and BBPS Switch empower partner banks to issue branded UPI IDs and process Bharat BillPay transactions independently, reducing reliance on third-party platforms.

    Since its last funding round, OneStack has also deployed over 6,000 Soundboxes in 14 regional languages, further strengthening its digital payment capabilities.

  • Fintech firm POP collaborates with Samantha Prabhu’s fashion brand Saaki

    Fintech firm POP collaborates with Samantha Prabhu’s fashion brand Saaki

    Fintech platform POP has announced an exclusive partnership with Saaki, the contemporary fashion brand co-founded by Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Sushruthi Krishna.

    This collaboration enables POP users to shop Saaki’s exclusive collections using POPcoins, the platform’s native digital reward currency.

    Founded in 2020, Saaki has established itself as a leading contemporary fashion brand for women.

    Through this partnership, the brand aims to expand its customer base and make its collections more accessible.

    Also Read: Indian Government to Launch “Sahkar Taxi” as Alternative to Ola, Uber

    POP, a payments-to-commerce platform founded by Bhargav Errangi, operates similarly to PhonePe and Google Pay, but sets itself apart with POPcoins, which can be redeemed for products across categories like fashion, beauty, electronics, personal care, and home goods within the POPclub app.

    “POP aims to be the choice platform for modern Indian customers, and Saaki 2.0 embodies a fresh vision to offer empowering, fuss-free outfits for women. Through Samantha’s vision for Saaki, we aim to connect with a larger Indian women’s audience,” said Bhargav Errangi, Founder of POP.

    “Saaki has always been more than just a fashion label for me. It’s about creating a space where women can feel confident, bold, and unstoppable. With Saaki 2.0, our designs are not only getting smart, easy, and on-the-go friendly —we’re deepening our commitment and support to the women who break their moulds,” shared Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Co-founder, Saaki.

    The brand aims to grow by 300% in the next 2-3 years and will launch more exclusive collections on POP in the coming months.

  • Indian Government to Launch “Sahkar Taxi” as Alternative to Ola, Uber

    Indian Government to Launch “Sahkar Taxi” as Alternative to Ola, Uber

    The Indian government is set to introduce Sahkar Taxi, a cooperative-based ride-hailing service offering an alternative to platforms like Ola and Uber.

    Announced in Parliament by Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the launch on Wednesday, the initiative aims to register two-wheeler taxis, rickshaws, and four-wheeler taxis, ensuring drivers retain 100% of their earnings rather than sharing profits with large corporations.

    This move places the government in direct competition with private aggregators, including Uber, Ola, Rapido, and BluSmart.

    Aligned with the ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ vision, Sahkar Taxi has been in development for over three years to create a more equitable ride-hailing ecosystem.

    The launch follows allegations of discriminatory pricing by Ola and Uber, with reports suggesting fare variations based on device type.

    Also Read : Mila Beauté raises $2.16M in Pre-Series A Funding Led by Rukam Capital

    The CCPA has issued notices to both companies, prompting further investigations into pricing policies across industries.

    With transparent pricing, fair earnings for drivers, and competitive fares for commuters, Sahkar Taxi aims to reshape the ride-hailing industry with a cooperative, driver-first approach.

    Similar models already exist in states like West Bengal, where the Yatri Sathi service, launched by the Mamata Banerjee-led government, has expanded beyond Kolkata to cities such as Siliguri, Asansol, and Durgapur.

    In Karnataka, the Namma Yatri app follows a driver-first model, allowing operators to retain full earnings while offering affordable transport solutions.

  • OSSO Raises $250K Pre-Seed Funding to Advance Orthopaedic Care

    OSSO Raises $250K Pre-Seed Funding to Advance Orthopaedic Care

    Health startup OSSO, specializing in orthopaedics, has raised $250,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Blume Ventures Founders Fund.

    The round also saw participation from prominent investors, including Sahil Jindal (MD, DS Jindal Group), Akash Gupta (Founder, Zypp Electric), Varun Sheth and Zaheer Adenwala (Founders, Ketto), Brijraj Bhuptani (Founder, SPRY), and Umesh Agarwal from the Haldiram’s Family Office. Additionally, senior partners from Big 4 firms, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders contributed to the round.

    The newly acquired funds will be directed towards expanding operations, strengthening technological capabilities, and enhancing patient care services.

    Founded by Kunal Kishore Dhawan and Avani Shukla, OSSO integrates orthopaedics, regenerative medicine, physiotherapy, and sports injury treatments under one roof.

    The Gurugram based company aims to provide cutting-edge healthcare solutions, ensuring efficient recovery and a seamless patient experience.

    Also Read: Mila Beauté raises $2.16M in Pre-Series A Funding Led by Rukam Capital

    Expressing gratitude for the support, an OSSO spokesperson stated in a LinkedIn post,

    “We are excited to have the backing of such experienced investors who believe in our vision. This funding will help us move closer to our goal of transforming orthopaedic care.”

  • Mila Beauté raises $2.16M in Pre-Series A Funding Led by Rukam Capital

    Mila Beauté raises $2.16M in Pre-Series A Funding Led by Rukam Capital

    Homegrown cosmetics brand Mila Beauté has raised $2.16 million (approximately ₹18 crore) in a pre-Series A funding round led by Rukam Capital, valuing the company at ₹303 crore ($35.3 million).

    The fresh capital will be utilized to expand operations, drive research and development, and introduce new product innovations. The company also aims to strengthen its market presence and scale its operations.

    Founded by Saahil Nayar, Sachin Chadha, and Keshav Chadha, Mila Beauté offers a diverse range of beauty products, including lipsticks, foundation, and eyeliners.

    The brand focuses on high-quality, skincare-infused makeup free from harmful chemicals.

    Currently, Mila Beauté reports an annual revenue of $7.23 million and is targeting 2x growth over the next 12–18 months.

    Also Read: Meesho Reports 1.3 billion Orders in First Nine Months of FY25, Eyes IPO

    The brand is available at over 10,000 retail counters across India, with plans to double its footprint by the end of the year.

  • Meesho Reports 1.3 billion Orders in First Nine Months of FY25, Eyes IPO

    Meesho Reports 1.3 billion Orders in First Nine Months of FY25, Eyes IPO

    E-commerce platform Meesho has released its first annual report, showcasing robust growth driven by technology and AI advancements.

    The company claims to be the first horizontal e-commerce platform in India to achieve profitability in FY24, generating ₹197 crore in free cash flow.

    Meanwhile, its adjusted losses (excluding employee stock-based compensation) reduced by 97% to ₹53 crore.

    As of December 2024, Meesho recorded 187 million annual transacting users, covering nearly 13% of India’s population.

    Between April and December 2024, the platform processed 1.3 billion orders, maintaining its position as the most downloaded shopping app for the fourth consecutive year.

    Also Read: Nabhdrishti Aerospace raises $3 mn in funding led by Accel

    Meesho’s tech infrastructure is also scaling rapidly, handling 67 trillion features daily and processing up to 500,000 user requests per second at peak times.

    Its logistics arm, Valmo, now fulfills over 50% of daily orders, spanning 15,000 pin codes and creating 85,000 jobs. With a 0% commission model, Meesho currently supports 400,000 sellers, making online selling more accessible for small businesses.

    In February 2023, Meesho launched Valmo as a logistics marketplace, allowing micro-entrepreneurs to become delivery partners and service their local areas.

    Looking ahead, Meesho is preparing for an IPO later this year, targeting a $1 billion fundraise at a $10 billion valuation. JP Morgan is expected to be part of the IPO syndicate.

  • Nabhdrishti Aerospace raises $3 mn in funding led by Accel

    Nabhdrishti Aerospace raises $3 mn in funding led by Accel

    Bengaluru-based aerospace startup Nabhdrishti Aerospace has raised $3 million (around ₹25 crore) in a funding round led by Accel, with support from IIMA Ventures and existing investors.

    The fresh fund will be used to advance the development and testing of its engine prototypes and hire new talent.

    Founded in 2023 by Rohit Chouhan, Arjun Srivatsa, and Antanu Sadhu, the company is focused on creating small gas turbines for hybrid urban air mobility, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and decentralized power generation.

    Nabhdrishti’s engines are designed to serve dual purposes — providing propulsion and power. They can be used in various sectors, including hospitals, heavy vehicles, manufacturing units, light aircraft, helicopters, and hybrid electric flights.

    Also Read: Indian Govt. Announces ₹1,000 Cr Fund to Boost Space Startups

    The startup is also exploring sustainable fuel solutions, including green hydrogen, to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on imported aerospace technology.

    With plans to expand its engineering, production, and customer support teams, Nabhdrishti aims to grow its workforce significantly by the end of the year.

    This funding marks a significant step toward achieving its goal of delivering innovative, eco-friendly propulsion systems for the future of aviation.

  • Indian Govt. Announces ₹1,000 Cr Fund to Boost Space Startups

    Indian Govt. Announces ₹1,000 Cr Fund to Boost Space Startups

    The Indian government has announced a ₹1,000 crore funding initiative to support space sector startups.

    Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that the scheme will accelerate the growth of the sector in the coming years.

    Approved by the Union Cabinet in October last year, the fund will be managed by SIDBI Venture Capital to provide risk capital and help startups scale globally.

    The deployment plan includes ₹150 crore for 2025-26, followed by ₹250 crore annually for the next three years, and ₹100 crore in 2029-30.

    Also Read: Antithesis raises ₹5 cr in pre-seed round

    Jitendra Singh highlighted the significant rise in the Department of Space’s budget, which increased by 138% from ₹5,615 crore to ₹13,416 crore.

    The Indian Space Policy, introduced in April 2023, aims to strengthen the domestic space economy by encouraging private sector involvement, fostering R&D, and granting access to public infrastructure and expertise.

  • Beauty and personal care brand Antithesis raises ₹5 cr in pre-seed round

    Beauty and personal care brand Antithesis raises ₹5 cr in pre-seed round

    Beauty and personal care brand Antithesis has raised ₹5 crore (around $582K) in a pre-seed funding round, with participation from Rukam Capital and V3 Ventures.

    The funds will be used to drive the company’s growth as a digital-first beauty brand, focusing on product innovation, expanding market reach, and strengthening distribution channels.

    Founded by Aparna Saxena, Antithesis approaches beauty products like tech innovations, evolving continuously based on consumer feedback and emerging trends.

    Rukam Capital, known for backing consumer-focused brands, has previously supported companies like Beco, Sleepy Owl, and Yoho.

    V3 Ventures, backed by Verlinvest, has invested in startups like Kuku FM, Go Zero, and Deconstruct.

    Also Read: GreenFortune Raises $4.5 Million in Pre-Series A Round

    This latest funding is expected to accelerate Antithesis’ presence in the competitive personal care market.