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Startup News
Yourstory
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Acquired and Expired: Inside India's Most Notorious Startup Failures
- Snapdeal's acquisition of Freecharge in 2015 proved to be a strategic mistake, leading to cash burn from Freecharge due to Snapdeal's miscalculated user demographics and its over-reliance on marketing and promotional offers.
- BYJU's acquisition of WhiteHat Jr in 2020 exposed the pitfalls of acquiring companies during temporary booms while underestimating the risks of high customer acquisition and poor financial models.
- Zomato's $50 million acquisition of UrbanSpoon in 2015 failed as Zomato failed to adequately address emerging competition and shifted its focus to food delivery rather than expanding its restaurant discovery services globally.
- Ola's bid to capture India's food delivery market through its acquisition of Foodpanda India in 2017 and subsequent investment of INR 400 crores failed due to intense competition from established players Swiggy and Zomato, escalating delivery costs, and fierce price wars.
- Quikr's 2015 acquisition of CommonFloor, one of India's largest online real estate mergers, highlights the complexities of integrating specialised services into generalised platforms and the need to understand user expectations and retain key leadership and operational expertise.
- These acquisitions show the importance of understanding target user compatibility, operational sustainability and scalability in mergers and acquisitions, evaluating competitive dynamics and resource allocation when venturing into new business verticals and highlighting the dangers of mundanely hasty and unfocused diversification.
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Startupreporter
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Neisa Kolakhe Crowned Mrs. Femme International 2024 at Mrs. India Inc Season 5 Grand Finale
- Neisa Kolakhe crowned Mrs. Femme International 2024 at Mrs. India Inc Season 5 Grand Finale.
- Mrs. Femme International is a global pageant empowering married women from diverse backgrounds.
- Neisa Kolakhe aims to represent India on an international level and inspire others.
- The panel of judges included prominent figures from the pageant and empowerment community.
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Startupreporter
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Stand Out This Diwali with a Unique VIP Phone Number from VIP Number Shop
- VIP Number Shop offers a range of exclusive VIP number patterns tailored to diverse tastes and preferences.
- VIP numbers signify individuality and add a professional and memorable touch to any business or personal brand.
- Customers can browse options on the VIP Number Shop website and connect with the team via WhatsApp to secure their chosen number.
- VIP Number Shop aims to make VIP numbers accessible to all by offering affordable and personalized prices.
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Eu-Startups
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Berlin-based Plato secures €6 million aiming to transform the wholesale industry with AI
- Plato, an AI-powered ERP automation platform for wholesale distributors, has raised €6 million in pre-seed funding.
- The funding round was led by Cherry Ventures, with support from the German government and tech industry leaders.
- Plato's platform integrates with existing ERP systems, using AI to enhance sales and operational workflows.
- The funding will be used to expand Plato's team and scale its product across multiple large customers.
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Eu-Startups
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Lisbon-based Faber announces the launch of a new €60 million fund aiming to seed the future with deep tech
- Lisbon-based venture capital firm, Faber, has launched a new €60 million fund called Faber Tech III.
- The fund, with an initial closing of €31 million, is focused on early-stage deep tech startups in Southern Europe.
- Faber aims to bridge the gap in specialized seed capital in the region and support transformative startups in sectors like AI, robotics, and next-gen computing.
- The fund's first investments will be in companies from Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands working on advanced technologies like photonic chips and synthetic biology.
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ISN
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Swiggy executive receives 'unconventional' physical job application, says 'It genuinely caught my attention'
- Saptarshi Prakash, AVP of Design at Swiggy, received an unconventional physical job application.
- The job application was sent through traditional mail and included a concept to enhance user experience.
- Prakash appreciated the applicant's effort and mentioned that Swiggy didn't have a suitable role at the time.
- The post on LinkedIn received positive responses and the applicant expressed gratitude for the attention.
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Medium
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The Top 5 Tech Trends Every Startup Should Know
- Intelligent automation is transforming startups by streamlining processes and driving innovation and growth.
- Sustainability is a necessity, and startups have an opportunity to lead the charge and build customer loyalty through eco-friendly practices.
- Cloud solutions enable flexible operations and remote collaboration, enhancing productivity.
- Blockchain technology provides transparency and trust, allowing startups to build strong relationships with clients.
- Extended Reality (XR) technologies, such as VR and AR, can enhance customer engagement and brand loyalty.
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Medium
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The Entrepreneur’s Playbook: 10 Essential Strategies for Building a Successful Business
- Validating the product or idea before launching the product for mass is essential for building a successful business. Surveys, feedback, developing MVPs, and competitor research are some ways to validate the idea.
- Understanding the audience is crucial; startups have failed because they did not understand whom they were serving or how their product met any particular need. Competitor analysis, creating customer personas, and social listening can help in understanding the audience better.
- A robust business model with strong fundamentals is the cornerstone of any successful business. A unique value proposition, revenue streams, and scalability are some of the essential ingredients of a strong business model.
- Financial management is crucial for sustainability and profitability. Cash flow management, budgeting and forecasting, and break-even analysis are some of the critical financial essentials for entrepreneurs.
- Marketing, branding, and loyal customers are crucial for the success of any business. Content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing are some of the ways to gain loyal customers and enhance brand awareness.
- Establishing the right company culture can enhance productivity as well as attract and retain good talent. Open two-way communication, recognition, and reward are some of the ways to establish the right company culture.
- Leveraging technology to run and scale the business can reduce operational costs and increase customer satisfaction. CRM software, automation tools, and data analytics are some of the tech tools for entrepreneurs.
- Networking and building strategic partnerships can open up new markets, customers, and resources. Attending industry events, joining online communities, and building mutually beneficial relationships are some of the networking tips for entrepreneurs.
- Agile business helps to keep the business adaptable to changes and innovative. Continuous learning, encouraging experimentation, and pivoting are some of the ways to remain agile in the business.
- Building resilience and learning from failures is crucial for long-term success. Maintaining perspective and self-care are some of the resilience tips for entrepreneurs.
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StartupDaily
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Breakthrough Victoria post $3 million loss
- The controversial Victoria-based venture capital fund, Breakthrough Victoria, has reported a $3m loss in its third year of operation.
- Breakthrough Victoria has faced sustained criticism concerning its modest investments and high operating costs. In its 2023 annual report total costs amounted to $22m with only $73.7m invested that year. The fund made a $58.7m profit.
- There was also criticism from supporters of the Australian start-up industry such as Adir Schifmann, the chair of ASX-Listed Catapult Group, and Matt Rockman, co-founder of Seek. Shifman demanded the fund be shut down.
- The 2024 report reveals a $360m reduction in funding in the Victorian budget this year and a reduced focus on direct investment. Despite this, investment related expenses as a percentage of assets under management reportedly nearly halved to 3.1% compared to 6% in 2023.
- Breakthrough Victoria reported investing $191.5m in 21 opportunities out of more than 500 in the financial year 2024.
- The organisation spent $52m of public money on getting two US firms, World View and Liquid Instruments, to set up offices in Melbourne.
- World View designs and manufactures stratospheric balloons for sensing, weather monitoring and communication, which can stay airborne for up to 45 days. It is also working on space tourism. The creation of World View during the recent investment round, held in 2024, was widely criticised as unrealistic.
- Breakthrough Victoria also made deep tech investments, such as lactose-free milkmaker Eden Brew and medtech start-up Navi.
- Breakthrough Victoria said its net assets rose by $172m to $536.1m by the end of June this year. Among the investments yet to be completed are those in Millibeam, a Sydney 5G chipset start-up.
- Treasurer Tim Pallas, who is Breakthrough Victoria's sole shareholder, has been criticised for not releasing details of the fund's finances.
- Labor Opposition Industry and Innovation Spokesperson Bridget Vallence says Breakthrough Victoria is in financial disarray. The CEO and five board members have quit.
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StartupDaily
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Breakthrough Victoria posts $3 million loss
- The Victorian government’s $2bn venture capital fund, Breakthrough Victoria posted a $3m loss during its third year of operation. The loss was lower than expected for an investment firm that is in the early stages of its evolution, according to its annual report. The funding body cut costs after its operating grant funding ceased, which included dozens of staff and an annual wages bill of nearly $10m. Breakthrough Victoria suffered criticism for its costs and investments earlier this year, and this led to directors leaving.
- In total, the fund has made $350m worth of investments across 44 investments to date, the majority of which have been to tech companies or as co-investments with university platforms. Breakthrough Victoria spent $52m getting two US companies to Melbourne, which included $37m for stratospheric balloon company World View. The company manufactures balloons for weather monitoring and can stay airborne for up to 45 days. The opposition has suggested taxpayers’ money has been gambled, with Breakthrough Victoria in financial disarray.
- Breakthrough Victoria attracted attention in 2023 when annual report revealed total costs of $22m and just $73.7m invested. There were calls to shut it down from those including Adir Shiffman, chair of ASX-listed Catapult Group, and Seek cofounder Matt Rockman. Shiffman described it as suspiciously political, poorly conceived, using the wrong KPIs, with an overly broad and unclear mandate, poor governance and a lack of useful reporting.
- Opponents to the fund have suggested there is no need for $2bn in government money to compete with Australia’s large private venture capital industry. Supporters, however, suggest the fund is essential for science start-ups and medtech companies that would suffer without its financial backing.
- Despite recent losses, the fund’s net assets as at June 30 this year were $536.1m, an increase of $172m from the previous year. Those funds are a result of an increase in investments held worth $159.3m and $175m received in capital funding from the state government.
- Breakthrough Victoria’s investment timeline has recently been extended from 10 to 15 years, which now stretches to 2034-35. During this period the government will contribute $450m. The board has already approved $17m of investments, with more expected to be settled following the reporting period.
- While Breakthrough Victoria has attracted some controversy, it argues that it isn’t just a venture capital fund. It has also co-invested with six Victorian universities to drive commercialisation of research – an investment that is matched dollar-for-dollar by the universities.
- Breakthrough Victoria’s sole shareholder is Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas, and former Labor premier John Brumby chairs the board. Opposition industry and innovation spokesperson Bridget Vallence has suggested Breakthrough Victoria is in financial strife, although Brumby has defended the fund and suggested it goes beyond being a venture capital organisation.
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Inc42
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Image Credit: Inc42
Kenko Health Founder Blames IRDAI For Startup’s Downfall
- Kenko Health, a healthtech startup based in Mumbai, shut down operations due to a cash crunch.
- The startup's cofounder, Aniruddha Sen, blamed The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for the company's downfall.
- Sen alleged that IRDAI's actions, including a delay in granting an insurance license, led to the destruction of the company and its employees' livelihoods.
- Despite revenue growth, Kenko Health failed to secure an insurance license and eventually shut down.
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Inc42
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Image Credit: Inc42
Kenko Health Founder Blames IRDAI For Company’s Downfall
- Cofounder of Kenko Health, Aniruddha Sen, alleges that red tape at IRDAI led to the startup's downfall.
- Kenko Health was sent on a 'wild goose chase' by IRDAI for an insurance licence, resulting in the destruction of the company.
- Sen claims that IRDAI's chairman initially encouraged startups like Kenko Health to raise funds for an insurance licence, but later reversed his stance.
- Kenko Health shut down after running out of funds and failing to secure the insurance licence, despite reporting strong revenue growth.
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StartupDaily
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A ‘MUD’ MAP: how to avoid getting stuck as you shift from startup to scaleup
- The transition from startup to scaleup is a critical point in a company's growth journey.
- Scaling requires a shift from experimentation to optimization and the establishment of strong systems and processes.
- Founders often get stuck at the 'mud' stage, around $10 million in revenue or 25 employees.
- To successfully scale, founders must embrace structured growth, hire experienced leaders, and preserve the startup's values.
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Medium
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6 Fail-Proof Businesses You Need to Start Right Now (Low Risk, High Reward!)
- Statistics show that a significant number of businesses fail in their first year or within five years.
- However, businesses that fulfill essential human needs have a low failure rate.
- Food production businesses, such as growing crops or raising livestock, are in high demand as food is essential for everyone.
- Although these businesses can be labor-intensive and require a large upfront investment, they offer long-term potential for growth.
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VIE Stories
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Image Credit: VIE Stories
Best Cloud Kitchen Startups In India for 2025
- Cloud kitchens or ghost kitchens in India operate without a physical dine-in space but solely focus on online orders through food delivery apps.
- These cloud kitchen startups have gained immense popularity due to the increasing demand for convenient and quick food delivery options post-pandemic.
- Cloud kitchens have transformed the food industry in India by strategically employing technology to meet the growing demand for online food delivery.
- From Faasos to Behrouz Biryani, here are some top cloud kitchen startups in India that deliver a range of cuisines - all perfect for the year, 2025 and beyond.
- Faasos is one of the largest cloud kitchen companies in India that offers wraps with a range of flavors and fillings across 15 states in India.
- Swiggy and Zomato operate in over 580+ cities across India, and they work with thousands of restaurants to provide a wide variety of food choices to customers ording through their app.
- FreshMenu is known for its focus on variety and offers a different menu each day, including breakfast, snacks, appetizers, desserts, and dinner from around the city.
- Hoi Foods restaurant and cloud kitchen provide a variety of multi-cuisine meals for homes and offices and is known for carefully selecting the best ingredients and using spices well to make tasty dishes.
- EatFit is an internet-first restaurant that provides nutritious meals made from sustainable, fresh ingredients to health-conscious consumers.
- Box8 is a complete cloud kitchen startup that provides warm, fresh, and healthy meals made from high-quality ingredients for major cities across India.
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