Omnichannel jewelry startup Giva has raised Rs 255 crore in an extended Series B round.  Early backers A91 Partners and India Quotient partially exited, realizing significant returns.  Funds will b...

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- Omnichannel jewelry startup **Giva** has raised **Rs 255 crore** in an extended Series B round.
- Early backers **A91 Partners** and **India Quotient** partially exited, realizing significant returns.
- Funds will be used to expand Giva's offline presence, which includes around **150 physical stores** nationwide.
- Giva's revenue grew by **96.4%** in FY23, reaching Rs 165 crore, while losses widened to Rs 45 crore.
- The company competes with brands like **Melorra, Bluestone, CaratLane**, and others.

Source: [Entrackr](https://entrackr.com/2024/10/giva-raises-rs-255-cr-a91-and-india-quotient-get-exit-worth-rs-166-cr/)

Giva Raises Rs 255 Cr in Extended Series B, A91 and India Quotient Partially Exit

Journalist

Giva Raises Rs 255 Cr in Extended Series B, A91 and India Quotient Partially Exit- Grapevine

Welcome to Indian Startups's Private Community

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/10/meesho-an-indian-social-commerce-with-150m-transacting-users-secures-275m-in-new-funding/ 

In current climate, great to see they’re able to raise! Folks at Meesho, some questions: 

- does anyone know if this is a down round?
- how’s the climate inside Meesho? Appraisals, hiring etc 
- are all employees allowed to sell in the secondary?

Meesho raises funding

Software Engineer

- Lenskart, the popular online eyewear retailer, has secured nearly $20 million in funding, led by co-founders Peyush and Neha Bansal, along with CJT Investments and TR Capital.
- The board approved the issuance of 695,875 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) at Rs 2,300 each, raising Rs 160 crore ($19.12 million).
- Peyush Bansal invested Rs 70.70 crore, Neha Bansal Rs 70.39 crore, while other co-founders Amit Choudhary and Sumeet Kapahi contributed Rs 9.60 crore and Rs 9.35 crore, respectively.
- This funding follows a $200 million secondary deal where Temasek and Fidelity Management & Research Company acquired shares, valuing Lenskart at over $5 billion.
- Lenskart plans to expand its network of 2,500 stores, with 60% of its revenue coming from India, and aims to leverage its strong financial performance and growth potential in international markets. 

 Source: Business Outreach

Lenskart Raises Nearly $20M Led by Peyush and Neha Bansal

- Aye Finance, a microlending platform, has raised Rs 250 crore ($30 million) in a Series G round led by Singapore's ABC Impact.
- British International Investment, which led Aye's Series F round, also participated in this round.
- This investment is the first from ABC Impact's Fund II, boosting the firm's assets under management to over $850 million.
- Aye Finance now operates in 398 locations across 22 states in India, offering loans to micro and small enterprises.
- The company reported a 67% increase in revenue to Rs 1072 crore for FY24, with profits tripling to Rs 161 crore. 

 Source: [Entrackr](https://entrackr.com/2024/09/aye-finance-raises-30-mn-in-series-g-round/)

Aye Finance raises $30 Mn in Series G round

Any feedback on GIVA? Is it really popular?

Project Manager

Let's ignore what's wrong with startups, keep this an optimistic thread. Which startups make you excited about their future? 
The ones that have cracked product, GTM, model, or something else.

Name the best Indian startups :)

One for the believers: Which startups in India do you feel are going to make it really big? 🚀

Product Manager

Corporate Strategist

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

Absolutely sad to see the state of the startups, most of them.
I am a founder myself, and this is a post with equal disappointment with myself as much as it is for anyone else who relates.
Look at all these companies that have raised shit tons of capital, and now make a fraction of money that has been invested in them.
The raised money is spent on outsized, non business sense making acquisition costs, only to keep repeating it till the tap runs dry.
Then when all stakeholders get bored, the service quality plummets, the employees are fired and whole sectors are admonished as being bad.

But, my question is, which sector where large sums of money was invested in early days have come out with flying colours. Fucking nothing !
Edtech, proptech, agritech, ecommerce etc. etc. etc. kuch bhi nahi. 

Is there any sector where a startup which has raised in the 100s of millions in the first 5 years have actually built a sustainable business at any scale ?
Then scaling down, isse acha, scale slowly.
The worst part of this whole drama, is pushing the innovation wheel backward and destroying customer sentiment.

Isse acha, raise less money inititally, build slowly, and only scale when the market is ready. Artifical growth makes no sense, unless you have a treasure chest that shall never run out.
Even in that case, spend the money on assets and not on random acquisition costs, direct or indirect.

As founders, let's do better, nahi ?

Rant or is it ?

Founder

What an absolute shit show
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/fraud-threats-sexual-harassment-zilingos-ankiti-bose-files-fir-against-co-founder-ex-coo-12706929.html

Zilingo CEO files FIR against COO & CTO

Zilingo is already defunct. A once billion dollar startup that is now literally 0. 
One of the major startup scams. Investors just kept lapping up the GMV growth.

And now when everything is over, co-founders filing FIRs against themselves.
Disappointing.

My only appeal to everyone: please call out if you're at a startup that's doing similar stuff. A lot of careers can get saved...

The timing of Zeptos fundraise is significant given the slump in investments into growth- and late-stage startups on the one hand and the correction being witnessed in the quick commerce segment on the other.

Unicorn drought ends as Zepto raises $200 million at $1.4 billion valuation

Zepto becomes India's 1st 2023 unicorn

Everything kept aside, it’s genuinely awe-inspiring that they’ve been able to do this in a market with close to zero interest in consumer internet plays, and most models failing  
  
 There’s definitely something about the way they executed. And many good things are said within the ecosystem about Aadit as a founder!

Analyst

The Startup that you had an offer from but did not join, and then it went big? (Let's take a word from VCs, how they like to use anti portfolio lists on their sites - cos they got an opportunity to enter but missed)

What's your anti-startup

Growth Manager

- InMobi, backed by SoftBank, has raised $100 million in debt financing to enhance its AI capabilities and fund AI-focused acquisitions.
- The financing was led by MARS Growth Capital, a joint venture between MUFG and Liquidity Group.
- CEO Naveen Tewari emphasized AI's role in revolutionizing ad engagement and outcomes for consumers, advertisers, and publishers.
- InMobi operates two core businesses: InMobi Advertising and Glance, an AI-powered content discovery platform.
- Glance, with over 300 million users, aims to expand globally, supported by investments from Jio Platforms, Google, and Mithril Capital. 

 Source: [Moneycontrol](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/inmobi-secures-100-million-debt-to-fund-its-ai-efforts-acquisitions-12819183.html)

InMobi Secures $100 Million Debt to Fuel AI Ambitions and Acquisitions

In a landmark deal, Silicon Valley powerhouse General Catalyst has acquired Venture Highway, a seed-stage investment firm with a track record of backing winners like Meesho and Mobile Premier League.

The Deal:
- Rare instance of consolidation in the Indian VC market
- VH to be rebranded as General Catalyst India
- GC plans to invest $500 million to $1 billion in India over the next three years
- Acquisition driven by desire to build strong local team and tap into local LP network

But the move also raises important questions. Will this trigger a wave of consolidation in the Indian VC market? Will other global firms follow suit and snap up local players to gain a foothold in the country? And how will this influx of foreign capital shape the trajectory of India's startup ecosystem?

As the dust settles on this landmark deal, one thing is clear: India's startup scene is entering a new era, one where local innovation and global capital are increasingly intertwined.  Always long on India 🇮🇳

Image Credits: The Arc

General Catalyst's Venture Highway Acquisition: A Strategic Play for India 🇮🇳

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/mensa-brands-fires-200-employees-as-business-shows-signs-of-slowdown-10699211.html

Mensa brands fires 200 employees

The launch comes as more consumers have turned to health & wellness products & regimes after the pandemic

Former Zomato exec Gaurav Gupta launches startup

Remember Gaurav Gupta? He just launched a new startup

VC here. Doing this for fun.
Don't take all views seriously.

Comment a startup's name, I'll share if it's promising or whatever I know

Folks are calling out Upcred.ai for non-sensical JD. I was surprised to learn it’s a Cred (invested)company 😂

LinkedIn e-lafda

Goldman Sachs has set a price target of INR 2,800 on MapmyIndia's stock, implying an upside of almost 40% from its close on Wednesday.

Here's why this matters:

1/ Riding the Digital Wave: MapmyIndia isn't just mapping streets; it's mapping India's digital transformation. From smart cities to autonomous vehicles, the company is at the intersection of critical growth sectors.

2/ The Numbers Tell a Story:
- 35% YoY revenue jump to INR 379.4 Cr
- 25% profit growth to INR 134.3 Cr
- Projected 38% revenue CAGR (FY24-FY27)
These aren't just figures; they're proof of a scalable, profitable model in a sector where growth often comes at the cost of profitability.

3/ Beyond Navigation: MapmyIndia's expansion into telematics and government digitization signals a pivot from being a map provider to becoming a critical digital infrastructure player.

4/ The 40% Upside Question: Goldman's target implies MapmyIndia is significantly undervalued. Is the market missing something, or is Goldman overly optimistic?

5/ The Bigger Picture: MapmyIndia's success could be a bellwether for India's broader tech ecosystem, showcasing the potential for homegrown companies to dominate in niche, high-growth sectors.

🍇 for Thought: Goldman Sachs' bullish outlook on MapmyIndia challenges the notion of Google Maps' invincibility in the geospatial landscape. Despite Google's global dominance, MapmyIndia's projected growth suggests there's significant value in localized, specialized mapping solutions, especially in sectors like automotive and government. This highlights the potential for homegrown tech companies to carve out lucrative niches in markets traditionally dominated by global giants. However, MapmyIndia's ability to sustain its growth and fend off competition from both local and international players will be crucial in determining whether it can truly rival Google's influence in India's digital mapping ecosystem. 🗺️🇮🇳

Image Credits: Inc42

Goldman Sachs Sees 40% Upside In MapmyIndia; Stock Hits 20% Upper Circuit

I know this might be a one off, but even if they are close to profitable/break even quarters, this can become a strong business

Big if true, given Meesho’s scale

I dont trust a single words come out of the CXO’s mouth in case of startups. All bullshiting and hyping

Engineering Manager

Hey Everyone,

I'm Vaibhav Vardhan, Co-Founder & CEO at Inc42. We are India’s #1 startup media & intelligence platform that informs, educates and empowers startup leaders & operators through our incisive reporting and industry-leading executive programs like FounderX.

I'd love to chat with you folks about my journey in building Inc42, why we’ve built FounderX and more!

Ask Me Anything :)
I’ll be back at 5PM and answer all your questions!

I'm Vaibhav Vardhan, Co-Founder & CEO of Inc42. Ask me anything!

Welcome to Product Managers's Private Community

Want to know the CTC range to expect with the following experience:

- Total Experience - 9 years (6 years as full stack developer in startups and 3 years as product manager)

- Designation - Senior Product Manager

- Companies - Series A/B/C startups in India


As the current market conditions are changing very quickly, need help from the Grapviners.

Giva Raises Rs 255 Cr in Extended Series B, A91 and India Quotient Partially Exit

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