Here’s a wrap of the highest startup tales at present (February 24).
Flipkart to deploy over 25,000 EVs in provide chain
Walmart-owned Flipkart plans to deploy greater than 25,000 electrical automobiles (EVs) in its provide chain to fully transition to electrical mobility by 2030. The firm has partnered with key gamers together with Hero Electric, Mahindra Electric and Piaggio to acquire electrical automobiles(EVs) by logistics companions for particular automobiles to be deployed for its first and last-mile supply fleet throughout the nation.
This is consistent with Flipkart’s public dedication to transition to EVs throughout its metropolis logistics fleet and assist arrange charging infrastructure round supply hubs and workplaces to fast-track the adoption of such automobiles in India, a press release mentioned. In August final 12 months, Flipkart had mentioned it should transition fully to the utilization of EVs by 2030 as a part of its sustainability efforts and had introduced becoming a member of the Climate Group’s world electrical mobility initiative, EV100.
Flipkart has already began piloting and deploying 2-wheeler and 3-wheeler EVs in a number of places for supply throughout the nation, together with in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati and Pune, amongst others. Flipkart’s electrical fleet will embrace 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, and 4-wheeler automobiles designed and assembled in India, serving to enhance native innovation and the economic system, the assertion mentioned. The firm mentioned it should additionally place necessities in service contracts, set up charging infrastructure near its 1,400 provide chain amenities, conduct consciousness programmes, and encourage supply executives to make use of EVs.
Retail tech startup Arzooo raises $6 million from Trifecta Capital
Retail-tech startup, Arzooo has secured $6 million from Trifecta Capital. The startup will leverage funds for market enlargement and scaling its logistics and operational capabilities. The enterprise claims its B2B enterprise witnessed robust progress by the pandemic and the corporate is aiming to hit $500 million gross sales run price this 12 months. Arzooo at the moment operates throughout South, North and Eastern India will now be scaling its operations in Mumbai, remainder of Maharashtra and Gujarat quickly.
The startup will even channelise funds to ramp up its provide chain infrastructure with know-how and operational capabilities to extend its attain throughout the nation to serve over 50,000 retail shops that it plans to work with and enhance the velocity of supply, service expertise and operational effectivity.
Early studying platform Kutuki raises a seed spherical of Rs 16 crore
Early studying platform Kutuki has raised Rs 16 crore ($2.2million) in a Seed spherical which was led by Omidyar Network India. AET and current angel buyers Better Capital, First Cheque and Abhishek Nag additionally participated. Kutuki will use the funds for increasing the content material library to cowl all main Indian languages, create a extra immersive studying expertise for kids and to increase their attain, particularly in tier-2 cities and past.
Kutuki, based by Bharath Bevinahally and Sneha Sundaram was launched in 2019. Their interactive studying app is constructed on a proprietary story and rhyme primarily based curriculum specializing in language (together with phonics and foundational literacy), numeracy, life abilities, STEM, and normal data. The platform at the moment gives content material in 4 Indian languages, in addition to English – Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Marathi and is broadly used throughout India and abroad. In October 2020, Kutuki launched reside lessons for Phonics and Maths to robust optimistic suggestions from mother and father throughout the nation.
Space startup Pixxel delays launch of satellite tv for pc on PSLV C51 mission resulting from software program points
Satellite imagery agency Pixxel introduced a delay within the launch of its satellite tv for pc on the PSLV C51 mission, scheduled for February 28, because it re-evaluates software program and “tests it rigorously.” The PSLV-C51 is the 53rd mission of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle program. Having Pixxel’s satellite aboard the mission would have marked India’s first commercial satellite launch into orbit.
In a statement posted on Twitter on February 23, Pixxel said, “Due to certain software issues that surfaced during the final satellite testing, we have decided not to proceed with our launch on the PSLV C51 mission scheduled for the 28th of this month.”
The company noted that rushing the launch did not make sense “given the time and effort that has gone into making the satellite” and whereas they don’t have “complete confidence at this time.” “We have thus decided to push our launch by a few weeks, re-evaluate the satellite software, and test it rigorously over the next few weeks as we look for the next closest launch opportunity,” the assertion mentioned.
The firm thanked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), and public sector firm NewSpace India (NSIL) for his or her “immense support” of their undertaking. “From making testing facilities available to our satellite to providing support over the entire launch campaign, the help has been very encouraging to see. We wish the PSLV C51 mission the absolute best as it takes off on February 28, 2021, albeit without us,”” the corporate added. “We’ll keep you posted as we gear up for the launch,” the statement said.
Agritech startup DeHaat acquires Farm Guide
Agritech startup DeHaat has acquired FarmGuide, a business-to-business (B2B) Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, according to the Mint. While the size of the deal was not disclosed, co-founder and CEO Shashank Kumar said Farm Guide’s spatial technology and data science platform would be integrated with DeHaat’s existing digital tech and physical platform to build a full stack platform for farmers and agri-businesses in India.
Post this acquisition, DeHaat will be able to provide more customized crop advisory services to farmers based on the tagged land parcels. This is aligned with larger goal of DeHaat to maximize profit of Indian farmers through technology and end-to-end agriservices
The founding team of FarmGuide has already joined DeHaat and the core database and tech platform will be integrated with DeHaat’s full-stack technology, Kumar said. FarmGuide was started four years ago by IIT Delhi alumni Nikhil Toshniwal and Ankit Gupta. It has developed a SaaS-based platform using satellite data to detect farm boundaries and data-driven customized crop advisory services.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella bats for global regulation on privacy
Describing privacy as a human right, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said he is hoping for a global regulation on safety and privacy of data that would make sure that tech products and services are safe to use. In a virtual interactive session with Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao in BioAsia 2021, Nadella said the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe accelerated digital transformation.
“So I stay up for a world the place we do have, simply in any case we’ve meals security legal guidelines we’ve drug security legal guidelines, there shall be equally I believe guidelines and rules (on information). Hopefully there’s a world norm round,” he said replying to query on whether the security and privacy concerns can be regulated. “One factor that I’d hope for is that we do not fragment. We are in a position to whether or not on privateness or security, deliver collectively a set of worldwide guidelines that can permit all of us to each comply and be sure that we all know what we construct is secure to make use of,” Nadella said.
He said regulations are in place and initiatives such as General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) are spreading worldwide. He suggested that companies should design and build products keeping in mind the privacy of the user and no lackadaisical attitude in this regard should be tolerated.
Citing data pertaining to patients healthcare data, he said it should ultimately benefit the infirm. On the post-pandemic working conditions, he said the situation has pushed for more flexibility in terms of work sites and collaboration. “I believe collaboration, studying and well-being are essentially the issues which are going to remodel how we take into consideration work whereas giving individuals lot extra flexibility,” he mentioned.
The startup class has already proven great potential in bringing in digital enablement within the medical business and it isn’t simply benefiting any particular phase however each doable particular person within the nation throughout cities and villages, he added.
MobiKwik hires funding banks, legislation corporations to kickstart IPO course of: Report
Fintech firm MobiKwik has appointed funding banks ICICI Securities and IIFL and some legislation corporations to start engaged on its draft pink herring prospectus, based on a Mint report citing two nameless sources.
The firm can be in talks with a number of extra funding banks to rope them in for the home Initial Public Offering (IPO), one of many two individuals cited above mentioned.
Other than MobiKwik, a number of different fintech corporations together with Paytm, PhonePe are planning to go public. “The IPO will help the company raise fresh funds to continue its growth trajectory, but also provide an exit for its earlier investors. A large part of the IPO is expected to be a sale of shares by existing investors,” mentioned the second particular person cited above.
The IPO is predicted to return out in 2022. To put together for the upcoming IPO, the corporate had appointed its senior vp Chandan Joshi as one of many co-founders, in addition to Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana (Taku) in September. Chandan was additionally handed the place of CEO for its core fee enterprise.
Airtel enters promoting enterprise, launches adtech platform Airtel Ads
Bharti Airtel has launched Airtel Ads, an promoting platform, the telecom operator mentioned in a press release. Airtel Ads permits manufacturers of all sizes to curate consent-based and privateness secure campaigns, the telco mentioned. Airtel has over 320 million prospects throughout its companies – Mobile, DTH and Homes.
Airtel Ads has already delivered profitable campaigns for over 100 manufacturers throughout a number of classes – FMCG, BFSI, Digital Startups, et al. Early advertisers embrace PepsiCo, Zomato, CRED, Tata AIG, Lenskart, Apollo 247, Vehicles24, Gameskraft, Vahan, Harley Davidson.
Telegram launches new options with increased privateness and higher safety
Telegram has launched a slew of recent options to boost person chat expertise with increased degree of privateness and safety, as per the corporate assertion. The messenger introduces an Auto-delete messages characteristic for Telegram particular person chats, teams and channels.
A brand new type of Telegram Group has additionally been launched known as Broadcast Groups the place the individuals can join with a reside voice chat. Upgrading the safety degree on the platform, Telegram makes it faster and simpler for customers to report any spam content material or pretend accounts. The messenger enhances the person privateness by launching Expiring hyperlinks the place admins has the suitable to edit the period and number of makes use of.
SoftBank-backed Berkshire Grey to go public through $2.7 billion SPAC deal
SoftBank-backed robotics agency Berkshire Grey has agreed to go public by a merger with blank-check agency Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp in a deal valuing the fairness of the mixed firm at $2.7 billion, Reuters reported.
Zash acquires TikTook rival Lomotif
ZASH Global Media to accumulate an 80 % stake in Singapore-based high video-sharing social networking platform Lomotif. Upon completion of the merger between ZASH and Vinco, ZASH will grow to be a public firm and controlling shareholder of Vinco, making Lomotif one of many high world, pure play video-sharing social networking platforms to be owned by a US publicly traded firm, competing with TikTook and Kuaishou within the area, the corporate mentioned in a press release.
ZASH believes that Lomotif is likely one of the quickest rising video-sharing social networking platforms in its class during the last three years and in Latin America, Asia, Europe and West Africa, Lomotif has elevated its common month-to-month neighborhood by over 400 % on this time span, the assertion added. Historically, over 10 billion instances atomic clips (User Generated Content (UGC)) have been used to create greater than 740+ million movies on the platform since launch.
