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American denim giant Levi’s has onboarded Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh as its latest global brand ambassador, making him the first Punjabi artist to represent the iconic label.

“We are thrilled to announce Diljit Dosanjh as the newest face of Levi’s®,” shared Amisha Jain, Managing Director of Levi Strauss & Co. for South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, in a LinkedIn post on Monday.

“This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter as we continue to stay at the center of culture, teaming up with global icons who inspire and break boundaries,” Jain added.

With this partnership, Levi’s aims to leverage Dosanjh’s cross-border popularity to drive the growth of its denim range.

The singer will endorse the brand’s menswear collection, featuring new loose and relaxed fits that align with his signature fashion sense.

Sharing his excitement, Dosanjh stated, “I’ve always admired Levi’s for the way it blends heritage with modern style. Denim is more than just clothing to me—it’s a statement. Partnering with Levi’s feels like the perfect fit.”

Amisha Jain further emphasized, “Diljit Dosanjh perfectly embodies the progressive spirit of Levi’s. His phenomenal journey aligns with our brand’s spirit of empowering self-expression through music, fashion, and culture. Together, we’re set to create something truly iconic.”

Following the massive success of Dosanjh’s ‘Dil-Luminati Tour’ merchandise, Levi’s anticipates this collaboration will further boost global sales of its denim range.

In 2021, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone became Levi’s global brand ambassador, marking the first time a female celebrity represented the brand in India.

Founded in 1853, Levi Strauss & Co. is renowned for its Levi’s denim jeans. Its portfolio includes brands such as Dockers, Signature, Denizen, and Beyond Yoga.

Currently, Levi’s operates in more than 110 countries, distributing products through chain retailers, department stores, e-commerce platforms, and over 3,200 dedicated stores and shop-in-shops worldwide.

Levi’s entered the Indian market in 1994 by establishing a wholly owned subsidiary, Levi Strauss India Ltd. Today, it boasts over 400 store locations across the country, according to SaaS platform Agenty.

Mumbai-based startup Ivory made a compelling pitch on Shark Tank India Season 4, Episode 41, showcasing its innovative approach to cognitive wellness.

Founded in 2022 by Issac M. John and Rahul Krishnan, Ivory aims to transform the aging experience by enhancing brain health.

The platform specializes in the early detection of neurodegenerative risks and offers personalized solutions through neuroscience-backed assessments, interactive games, and tailored recommendations.

The founders sought ₹50 lakh in exchange for 1.25% equity, valuing the company at ₹40 crore.

During their presentation, the founders demonstrated the app’s functionality, explaining how users begin with a cognitive assessment before accessing its paid services.

The app, which is FDA-registered and developed with input from doctors and neuroscientists, provides a structured approach to maintaining and improving brain function.

 Ultimately, Namita Thapar recognized the potential of Ivory and secured a deal of ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, revising the startup’s valuation to ₹10 crore.

With this investment, Ivory is set to expand its reach and further establish itself as a leader in the cognitive wellness industry.

The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 4 featured an exciting pitch from Shreyansh and Anousha Chauhan, the founders of Beautywise, a brand specializing in advanced beauty and health-focused supplements.

With a vision to enhance skin, hair, and overall well-being through scientifically backed nutritional formulations, the entrepreneurs presented a strong case for their brand’s potential.

The founders initially sought an investment of ₹1 crore for 1.5% equity, valuing their company at ₹66.67 crore.

Vineeta Singh acknowledged the rising demand for supplements in India and praised Beautywise for capitalizing on this trend.

The founders reiterated their commitment to science-backed formulations, ensuring noticeable results in the personal care sector.

When discussing financials, they shared that they had started with ₹50 lakh in sales in FY22 and projected revenue of ₹14.5 crore by FY25.

However, Namita Thapar raised concerns about Beautywise’s weight loss claims, questioning their scientific validity.

In response, the founders cited a study involving 60 participants who experienced weight loss through regular supplement use, assuring the Sharks that their formulations adhered to clinical research and regulatory standards.

As the discussions progressed, multiple Sharks expressed interest. Ritesh Agarwal offered ₹1 crore for 2.38% equity, slightly increasing the equity share compared to the founders’ initial proposal.

Recognizing the brand’s potential, Kunal Shah made a higher bid of ₹2.15 crore for 5% equity.

Meanwhile, Aman Gupta, known for successfully scaling consumer brands, saw immense promise in Beautywise and proposed investing ₹1 crore for a 3% equity stake.

Confident in their valuation, the founders countered with ₹3 crore for 6% equity. They explored the possibility of a joint investment, but Aman Gupta insisted on investing independently, stating, “Main akele karunga” (I will do it alone).

After careful deliberation, the founders accepted Aman’s offer, securing a deal of ₹3 crore for 6% equity at a valuation of ₹50 crore, leveraging his expertise in consumer branding.

Bengaluru-based fertility care startup Arva Health has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by All In Capital, with participation from iSeed, Bharath Founders Fund, and Galaxy.

The funding will support the launch of Arva’s tech-enabled fertility clinics, starting with its flagship center in Whitefield, Bengaluru. The company aims to establish clinics in ten cities, including Mumbai and Delhi, by 2027.

Arva also plans to introduce men’s fertility services and build a digital platform to offer continuous fertility support.

Founded in 2022 by Dipalie Bajaj and Nidhi Panchmal, Arva provides at-home fertility testing, including specialized tests for women with PCOS and thyroid conditions.

It offers clinically-backed AMH testing to assess egg reserve levels and gain deeper insights into female fertility health.

The new Bengaluru clinic will offer fertility testing, consultations, egg freezing, and IVF treatments in a modern, judgment-free environment.

“We are not in the business of diagnosing infertility but in the business of helping people have babies. By improving access and experience, we can dramatically improve outcomes for millions of people,” said Dipalie Bajaj, co-founder and CEO of Arva Health.

Since its launch last year, Arva claims to have assisted over 4,000 women in understanding their fertility, built a community of 40,000 members, and achieved 60% month-over-month growth.

Automotive service platform GaragePlug has acquired review management platform Freshreview for an undisclosed amount, enhancing its connected operations platform with advanced reputation management capabilities.

This strategic acquisition enables seamless integration of Freshreview’s review management tools into GaragePlug’s platform, streamlining operations, marketing, and customer engagement for auto service centers.

By leveraging AI-driven solutions, GaragePlug enhances efficiency, transparency, and scalability for enterprise service networks.

Freshreview specializes in helping automotive brands convert online reviews into growth opportunities. As part of the acquisition, the company’s entire team will transition into GaragePlug’s engineering and product divisions, ensuring smooth integration and continued support for clients.

With this move, GaragePlug aims to provide auto service centers with a unified platform that integrates operations, marketing, and reputation management, ultimately improving customer satisfaction and driving revenue growth.

The deal comes amid a wave of consolidation in the Indian startup ecosystem.

Recent acquisitions include Perfios acquiring CustomerXPs (Clari5), Veranda Learning expanding into commerce education with BB Virtuals and Navkar Digital, and Head Digital Works adding online poker platform Adda52 to its portfolio.

US-based enterprise technology firm Xurrent has acquired Titan Capital-backed SaaS startup Zenduty for an undisclosed sum, aiming to strengthen its IT operations management capabilities.

Founded in 2019, Zenduty provides a comprehensive incident management platform with cross-channel alerts, on-call scheduling, and integrations with over 150 tools.

Phil Christianson, Xurrent’s Chief Product Officer (CPO), stated that the acquisition will integrate Zenduty’s technology stack into Xurrent’s platform, enhancing incident resolution and automation.

He emphasized that this move builds on brand’s previous acquisition of StatusCast, further streamlining IT incident communication and remediation.

Announcing the development, Zenduty cofounders Vishwa Krishnakumar and Ankur Rawal said, “Zenduty has officially joined Xurrent, Inc! This marks the beginning of a new chapter in our journey.”

The startup had previously raised nearly $2 million from investors including Titan Capital, GSF, Powerhouse Ventures, StartupXseed Ventures, Neon Fund, and Secure Octane Fund.

By incorporating Zenduty’s incident and alert management features, Xurrent aims to automate virtual war rooms, improve accountability, and prevent recurring incidents.

The deal is expected to deliver strong returns for Zenduty’s investors and further solidify the growing global presence of Indian SaaS startups.