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  • Tickle Your Art Secures ₹21.3 Lakh Deal on Shark Tank India S4

    Tickle Your Art Secures ₹21.3 Lakh Deal on Shark Tank India S4

    Pune-based design brand Tickle Your Art made a memorable appearance on Shark Tank India Season 4 finale, in a Divyang special episode featuring Jeet Adani as a special mentor.

    Founded by Shweta Runwal, the brand is a purpose-driven social enterprise that collaborates with artists born with intellectual disabilities to create unique lifestyle products, including stationery, tableware, jewelry, and apparel.

    The founder sought ₹21.3 lakh for 7% equity, valuing the brand at ₹3.04 crore. When asked about the significance of this number, Dhriti’s mother explained that 21.3 represents Down syndrome.

    Sharks Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta were deeply moved by their interaction with Dhriti and her sister. “It’s not a disease, it’s a condition,” Dhriti told them.

    Also Read:

    Ecoil Secures ₹1 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India Season 4

    Ecoil Secures ₹1 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India Season 4

    Her mother showcased a range of their products, including notebooks and other stationery.

    Namita Thapar received a jewelry piece and learned that the brand had earned ₹20 lakh in the past year, with ₹10 lakh in profits. “We’ve been profitable from day one,” Dhriti’s mother shared.

    An emotional Anupam praised Dhriti’s unique perspective, recalling how she and her sister replaced the concept of an “evil eye” with a “bright eye,” a simple yet profound idea. “In just five minutes, I realized how differently these kids think. It blew my mind,” he said. Touched by their journey, he offered Dhriti’s mother exactly what she had asked for, saying, “This has been an eye-opener. I’ll invest under your terms.”

    During the pitch, sharks Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal joined hands to invest in the company. While Namita Thapar offered to connect her with the founders of Palmonas, a jewelry brand she had previously invested in. Guest shark Srikanth Bolla chose not to invest but offered a donation.

    After the pitch, Jeet Adani further supported the initiative by offering ₹20 lakh as a grant.

  • Speech Therapy Startup Iyaso Raises $500K Pre-Seed Funding

    Speech Therapy Startup Iyaso Raises $500K Pre-Seed Funding

    Iyaso, a speech therapy startup, has raised $500,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Malpani Ventures, with additional support from angel investors.

    The funds will be used to develop AI-powered digital therapeutics aimed at transforming speech and communication therapy worldwide.

    Founded in 2023 by Viraj Kulkarni, the Pune-based company offers AI-driven solutions designed to help people overcome stuttering.

    Its platform provides structured, personalized interventions, guiding users through speech therapy techniques and helping them build confidence in real-world communication.

    Also Read: Snitch Expands to Kerala with First Store at Lulu Mall

    Iyaso’s flagship product, Eloquent for Stuttering, has already made an impact, with over 20,000 users across 150 countries since its launch in July 2024.

    Early results show a 53% reduction in stuttering severity and a 34% boost in communication confidence, with most users experiencing significant improvements.

    With over 400 million people worldwide struggling with speech and language disorders, Iyaso aims to make therapy more effective, engaging, and accessible using AI-powered solutions.

  • Menswear Brand Snitch Expands to Kerala with First Store at Lulu Mall

    Menswear Brand Snitch Expands to Kerala with First Store at Lulu Mall

    Men’s fast-fashion brand Snitch has entered the Kerala market with the opening of its first store in the state at Lulu Mall, Thiruvananthapuram.

    The 2,000 sq. ft. store marks the brand’s 47th outlet across India, further strengthening its offline presence.

    Founded in 2020 by Siddharth Dungarwal, Snitch offers a range of men’s fashion, including clothing, shoes, bags, perfumes, and sunglasses.

    While the brand has a strong online presence through platforms like Myntra, Amazon India, Ajio, and its own website, this expansion aligns with its goal to establish 100 stores across India by the end of FY 2025.

    Also Read: My Pahadi Dukan Raises Pre-Seed Funding from IPV

    Expressing excitement about the launch, Dungarwal highlighted Kerala’s vibrant fashion culture and the brand’s commitment to providing stylish and affordable menswear.

    In addition to its retail growth, Snitch has recently introduced a two-day delivery service, covering over 1,100 cities and 7,000 pin codes.

    The brand expects this move to drive further growth, boost customer satisfaction, and improve its net promoter score.

  • D2C Startup My Pahadi Dukan Raises Pre-Seed Funding from IPV

    D2C Startup My Pahadi Dukan Raises Pre-Seed Funding from IPV

    My Pahadi Dukan, a direct-to-consumer brand specializing in authentic Himalayan health and wellness products, has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV).

    The fresh capital will be used to expand marketing efforts, strengthen operations, enhance IT infrastructure, and manage working capital.

    Founded in 2021 by Himanshu Dua, Shubham Tandon, Rohan Sehgal, and Mohd. Anas Zubair, the brand partners with local farmers, self-help groups (SHGs), and cooperatives to bring pure, high-quality products from nine Himalayan states and Bhutan to a global customer base.

    So far, My Pahadi Dukan has delivered over 16,000 orders across 29 countries.

    The startup has gained notable recognition, receiving the HDFC Parivartan Grant through IIT Mandi Catalyst and the RKVY-RAFTAAR Grant from the Ministry of Agriculture.

    It was also acknowledged by the Bhutanese Chamber of Commerce for its contributions to promoting Himalayan products.

    Also Read: Everhope Oncology Secures $10 Mn in Seed Funding

    With its growing presence and increasing support, My Pahadi Dukan aims to further its mission of delivering authentic Himalayan goodness to consumers worldwide.

  • Everhope Oncology Secures $10 Mn in Seed Funding

    Everhope Oncology Secures $10 Mn in Seed Funding

    Everhope Oncology, a joint venture between Narayana Health, W Health Ventures, and 2070 Health, has raised $10 million in seed funding.

    The funds will be used to establish medical and surgical cancer care facilities in Delhi and Mumbai, with plans to expand to 10 cities within the next three years.

    The new centers aim to provide comprehensive cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and palliative care.

    Additionally, Everhope will offer mental health counseling, nutritional guidance, and pain management services to support patients throughout their treatment journey.

    Also Read: Swiggy Launches B2B Platform ‘Assure’ to Compete with Zomato’s Hyperpure

    Viren Shetty, Vice Chairman of Narayana Health, highlighted the need to change misconceptions around cancer care.

    “Many people avoid cancer screenings and turn to unproven treatments due to fear. We want to create a positive experience that encourages early diagnosis and effective treatment,” he said.

    With one in nine Indians projected to develop cancer in their lifetime, as per the National Cancer Registry Program, the demand for accessible and efficient cancer care is increasing.

    Everhope’s fundraising follows similar developments in the sector, with MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre recently raising $18 million, led by Elevation Capital.

  • Swiggy Launches B2B Platform ‘Assure’ to Compete with Zomato’s Hyperpure

    Swiggy Launches B2B Platform ‘Assure’ to Compete with Zomato’s Hyperpure

    Swiggy has introduced a business-to-business (B2B) platform named ‘Assure,’ aimed at providing kitchen supplies to restaurants, hotels, and caterers.

    This new venture places Swiggy in direct competition with its rival Zomato’s B2B supply arm, Hyperpure.

    Launched under the name ‘Assure’ on Google Play Store and ‘Resto Assure’ on Apple’s App Store, the platform enables businesses to source locally-sourced fresh ingredients.

    Restaurants can procure essential items like vegetables, fruits, oil, ghee, dairy products, pulses, rice, flour, canned goods, and imported items through the app.

    According to the app’s description, Assure focuses on providing locally sourced fresh ingredients. Additionally, the platform offers competitive pricing and flexible supply chain solutions for restaurants and catering services.

    Swiggy is leveraging its subsidiary, Scootsy Logistics Private Limited, to handle the deliveries.

    The platform’s terms and conditions state that Scootsy will display and price the goods, reserving the right to adjust prices without prior notice.

    While Assure was quietly introduced in September 2023, its presence is now gaining traction as Swiggy actively recruits for its operations.

    Swiggy has been actively hiring for Assure to expand its presence.

    Also Read: Navadhan Raises INR 111 Cr to Boost Loans for Rural MSMEs

    This launch comes at a time when the company’s quick-commerce arm, Instamart, has been dealing with substantial losses due to rapid expansion and market competition.

    In Q3 FY25, Instamart contributed significantly to Swiggy’s overall loss of INR 799 Cr, with a net loss of INR 568.7 Cr.

    Despite the losses, Instamart’s revenue saw a notable growth of 114% year-on-year, reaching INR 576.50 Cr in the same period.

    The platform also expanded to 100 cities across India, adding 32 cities in 2025 alone.

    With the introduction of Assure, Swiggy is positioning itself as a comprehensive service provider in the food ecosystem, strengthening its foothold in both the consumer and business segments.

  • Navadhan Raises INR 111 Cr to Boost Loans for Rural MSMEs

    Navadhan Raises INR 111 Cr to Boost Loans for Rural MSMEs

    Navadhan, a rural-focused fintech startup, has raised INR 111 Cr ($12.8 Mn) in its Series A funding round, led by NABARD’s venture capital arm NabVentures.

    Prime Ventures co-led the round, with participation from LNB Group, Varanium NexGen Fintech Fund, Gemba Capital, Faad, VC-Grid, and Anicut.

    The initial funding target was INR 80 Cr, but the round was oversubscribed to INR 111 Cr.

    The fresh capital will be used to enhance Navadhan’s tech platform, AceN, expand its presence, and diversify its loan offerings.

    Founded in 2019 by Nitin Agrawal, Vijay Haswani, Anirudh Ramakuru, and Amit Biswal, Navadhan provides financial solutions to small businesses and microenterprises in rural areas.

    Through its AceN platform, it offers digital onboarding, underwriting, payments, and collections, while connecting borrowers to banks and NBFCs.

    The platform uses data science-powered underwriting to assess borrowers’ digital footprints and cash flow patterns.

    It claims to have access to over INR 700 Cr in debt lines from 25 financial institutions and operates across 700 pincodes in five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Odisha.

    Also Read: Google to Acquire Wiz for $32 Billion in Largest-Ever Deal

    Expressing his enthusiasm, Navadhan co-founder Nitin Agrawal said, “We are happy to find investors who share our mission of creating new wealth for rural entrepreneurs.”

    NabVentures CIO Ashish Choudhary highlighted the startup’s significant growth, noting a 12x increase over three years while maintaining strong asset quality. With the fresh funding, Navadhan aims to further its commitment to empowering rural MSMEs.

  • Google to Acquire Wiz for $32 Billion in Largest-Ever Deal

    Google to Acquire Wiz for $32 Billion in Largest-Ever Deal

    Google has signed a definitive agreement to acquire New York-based cloud security startup Wiz for $32 billion in an all-cash deal, marking its largest acquisition to date.

    Wiz will join Google Cloud, strengthening its cybersecurity capabilities. The deal is expected to close in 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

    Wiz previously walked away from a $23 billion offer in 2023, citing concerns over antitrust scrutiny and investor sentiment, instead planning for an IPO. However, with the public offering market slowing and shifting regulations, the company reconsidered.

    Founded in 2020, Wiz quickly grew, reaching $100 million in annual recurring revenue within 18 months. Its security products, including prevention, active detection, and response, have attracted major enterprises and will continue to support platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud.

    Google’s acquisition comes as cybersecurity and AI-driven threats become increasingly critical. While Wiz will integrate with Google Cloud, its products will remain available on competing platforms.

    “Google Cloud is a leader in cloud infrastructure, with deep AI expertise and a track record of industry-leading security innovation,” Google said in a release. “Bringing all this to Wiz will help make their solutions even better and more scalable, benefiting customers and partners across all major clouds.”

    This move reflects Google’s evolving M&A strategy, as it historically avoided massive acquisitions. Its previous largest deal was Motorola for $12.5 billion in 2012, followed by the $5.4 billion Mandiant acquisition in 2022.

    Also Read: Broadway Secures Strategic Investment from Gruhas

    The deal also follows a federal ruling last year that Google holds a monopoly in search, adding regulatory complexity.

    Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai’s presence at President Trump’s inauguration in January suggests potential shifts in tech policy.

    Alphabet closed 2024 with $96 billion in cash but saw its stock fall 2% on Tuesday, bringing its year-to-date decline to 15%.

  • Broadway Secures Strategic Investment from Gruhas to Expand Omnichannel Retail

    Broadway Secures Strategic Investment from Gruhas to Expand Omnichannel Retail

    Mumbai-based social commerce startup Broadway has received a strategic investment from Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai’s investment firm, Gruhas, to strengthen its omnichannel retail presence. The financial details of the investment remain undisclosed.

    With this investment, the startup plans to enhance its retail infrastructure and offer brands an immersive shopping experience.Looking ahead, the company plans to expand into major cities like Mumbai, Gurugram, and Pune.

    Founded in March 2023 by Vivek Biyani, Rana Daggubati, Anuj Kejriwal, and Apurva Salarpuria, Broadway aims to facilitate a seamless transition for direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands between online and offline retail through its experiential superstores.

    Positioning itself as “A Theatre for Brands,” Broadway enables customers to engage with D2C products in an interactive retail space.

    The startup launched its first store in a Delhi mall last year, followed by a second outlet in Hyderabad, which houses products from over 200 D2C brands, including CosRX, Minimalist, The Good Bug, Cosmix, Rareism, and Mokobara.

    “This partnership will not only provide emerging brands with strategic growth opportunities but also create a more seamless transition between the online and offline retail experience. With this support, we aim to nurture innovative brands and scale their presence in a rapidly evolving consumer landscape,” said Biyani.

    Broadway’s experiential retail concept includes features such as salons, event stages, a longevity clinic, a nail bar, a pet spa, a sneaker studio, and food and beverage zones, creating an engaging shopping environment.

    Also Read: Harvested Robotics Raises Rs 5 Crore in Seed Funding

    The investment comes as the omnichannel retail model gains momentum among D2C brands like Mamaearth, Lenskart, and Pepperfry.

    Investors are also backing this shift, with Purple Style Labs recently securing $40 million to enhance its omnichannel presence.

    As per BCG, India’s retail sector is set to grow 9-10% annually, reaching $2 trillion by 2032. Broadway aims to leverage this growth to redefine D2C retail.

  • Agri tech Startup Harvested Robotics Raises Rs 5 Crore in Seed Funding

    Agri tech Startup Harvested Robotics Raises Rs 5 Crore in Seed Funding

    Harvested Robotics, a startup specializing in AI-powered laser weeding technology for tractors, has raised Rs 5 crore in a seed funding round led by Arali Ventures.

    Notable investors in the round include Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra and Country Delight co-founder Chakradhar Gade.

    The Hyderabad-based startup has raised a total of $21.8K across two funding rounds, with its most recent being a $12K grant from Kerala Startup Mission in June 2024.

    The newly acquired funds will be directed toward product development, team expansion, and pilot programs.

    Founded in 2023 by Rahul Arepaka and George Mathew, the company offers farmers a sustainable, chemical-free alternative to conventional weed control.

    Its AI-driven laser weeder, designed to be mounted on tractors, employs cameras and AI models to identify weeds, using robotic actuators and high-power lasers to eliminate them in real time.

    Also Read: Nourish You Raises ₹16 Crore in Series A Funding Round

     The innovation aims to cut farming costs, enhance crop yields, and support organic farming practices while ensuring precise weed removal without harming crops.

    Harvested Robotics integrates adaptable software and robotic hardware that can be seamlessly attached to and powered by tractors.

    By reducing the expenses and labor associated with traditional weed management methods, the startup aims to offer farmers an affordable and efficient solution.