A daily newsletter summarizing interesting Indian startups and recent activity both in India & globally.
INTERESTING STARTUPS
LokaVidhya (2016, Mumbai), video based P2P knowledge sharing application for farmers and artisans. Founder is ex-Hungama Digital Media, and is an alumni of IIT Bombay. Local comparable is Mobile Harvest (2012, Delhi). Global comparable is GrowDiaries (2015, California).
INDIA INTERESTING NEWS
Creator’s Gurukul (2017, Gurgaon), managed co-working space provider, raises an undisclosed amount in funding from Rajit Nanda CIO of ACWA Power Dubai, Rohit Nanda, Smarak Bhuyan and Sashwat Brahma. Link
XPrep (2015, Delhi), mobile application for tutors to engage with parents and students, raises an undisclosed amount of funding from Netherland based venture fund Rising Stars. Link
TBS Planet (2016, Bangalore), creator of comic books and graphic novels, raises an undisclosed amount in angel round of funding from a group of angel investors, including Startup Buddy founder Amit Singal and HuHuba Comics Reader founder Rohit Prakash. Link
Amazon (1994, Seattle), international e-commerce website, sets up imaging studio BLINK in Gurgaon. Link
Google (1998, Mountain View), multinational technology company with focus on internet based products and services, plans to launch payment app ‘Tez’ in India. Link
Lodha Group (2002, Mumbai), developer of real estate projects, and Zone Startups India launch Palava Accelerator. Link
SoftBank founder’s brother Taizo Son in partnership with GSF accelerator and indo-Japan business consultancy, launches agri-food tech accelerator Gastrotope in India. Link
GLOBAL ROUNDUP
Braavo Capital (2016, Canada), integrated financing platform for mobile app businesses, raises $70M in debt and equity round of funding led by Mark 2 Capital, including participation from angel investors and family offices. Link
StoreDot (2012, Herzliya), developer of fast charging bio-organic batteries, raises $60M in Series C round of funding led by Daimler’s Trucks division with participation from existing investors Samsung Ventures and Roman Abramovich. Link
MycoTechnology (2014, Aurora), food processing technology platform for filtering compounds, raises $35M in Series B round of funding led by S2G Capital with co-leads Bunge Ventures Ltd., and Emerson Collective and others. Link
Federated Wireless (2013, Arlington), SaaS based spectrum efficiency solutions provider, raises $42M in Series B round of funding led by Charter Communications, American Tower Corporation, ARRIS International plc and GIC. Link
Digital Marketing Institute (2008, Dublin), provider of certified courses on digital marketing, raises $31M in funding from Spectrum Equity. Link
Sixgill (2007, Los Angles), provider of sensor agnostic device management & monitoring solutions for IoT applications, raises $27.9M in Series B round of funding led by an affiliate of DRW Venture Capital and Mobile Financial Partners of Alexandria and VA. Link
KeyMe (2012, NYC), cloud-based locksmith services provider, raises $25M in Series D round of funding led by Comcast Ventures, Battery Ventures, Benefit Street Partners, Questmark Partners, Riverpark Funds, 7-Eleven, and White Star Capital. Link
Abris Capital Partners (2007, Warsaw), venture capital firm, closes third Central and Eastern Europe mid-market fund, at $594M. Link