A naukri.com initiative
Startup News
Inc42
2d
216
Image Credit: Inc42
Alternative MBA Startup Stoa Shuts Operations
- Bengaluru-based alternative MBA startup, Stoa, has announced the shutdown of its operations after four years.
- The decision was made due to a decline in online learning after the pandemic and the startup's reluctance to go offline.
- Stoa had earlier launched an AI-based enterprise agent platform called Zeus but its current status is uncertain.
- The startup had reported revenue of INR 15.9 Cr in FY23 and had raised $1.5 Mn in seed funding.
Read Full Article
13 Likes
Medium
2d
311
Image Credit: Medium
Commercializing AI: Bridging the Market Readiness Gap
- The potential impact was enormous — delays in major infrastructure projects cost millions, and early prediction saves time and money.
- The infrastructure sector appeared perfect for AI disruption. Eight out of ten executives expressed strong interest in AI adoption. Yet only a minority were ready for implementation.
- Readiness is multi-dimensional. It’s not enough to have executive buy-in or technical capability. Success requires alignment across user readiness (time and ability to engage), organizational readiness (processes and data practices), and industry readiness (standardization and digital maturity).
- Success in AI commercialization often comes from starting simple and narrow. Create immediate value, then build toward sophistication.
- In AI commercialization, you must sequence carefully: deliver value first, then gradually increase the ask for user investment.
- The AI we used was relatively simple — mainly focused on listing localization and management.
- Understanding user readiness, organizational readiness, and industry readiness determines your optimal approach.
- Success in AI commercialization requires understanding not just what’s technically possible, but how readiness and time-to-value intersect to create windows of opportunity.
- Success requires both sophisticated technology and the wisdom to know when and how to deploy it.
- My expertise lies in navigating complex global product ecosystems while leveraging AI to simplify user experiences and drive explosive growth.
Read Full Article
18 Likes
Hackernoon
2d
248
Image Credit: Hackernoon
Achieving Product-Market Fit: How the Startups Did It
- Product managers are entrepreneurs who launch startups by pitching their business plans to internal stakeholders, building teams and launching products to customers using lean startup methodology.
- The lean startup approach involves evaluating the problem customers have with a prototype and iterating with measured data from the feedback loop, using minimum resources.
- To achieve the right product-market fit and create a rock-solid product strategy, you have to define, validate and iterate the problem definition by understanding the problem space, a sense of urgency, existing solutions in the market that have attempted to solve the problem, and its context.
- In the problem definition, it is essential to identify the core audience who will be using your product and being honest about sizing the market.
- The core value proposition is a single statement articulating what value you promise to the customer, and it is essential to continuously evaluate and test it before building your MVP.
- Product quality, technology, user experience, price, go-to-market model and customer-service are just a handful of factors that you can think of and choose to base your differentiation upon.
- Defining metrics to measure the product's success needs to be done as early as possible to evaluate progress objectively.
- Uber is an excellent example where there was instant product-market fit because they used GPS-enabled mobile apps to match drivers with riders, providing a reliable, real-time way to find and book a ride.
- A successful product identifies and tests the product-market fit hypothesis from the get-go and throughout the process of building the MVP, which differentiates success stories from the failures.
- As Albert Einstein said, 'If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it'.
Read Full Article
14 Likes
Yourstory
2d
323
Image Credit: Yourstory
Cash-rich SoftBank eyes more AI bets for strategic growth
- SoftBank Group is doubling down on artificial intelligence investments.
- SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 committed $500 million to OpenAI, focusing on generative AI.
- The company seeks transformative AI-driven companies with product-market fit and sustainable business models.
- SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 portfolio has seen positive returns with IPOs from companies like Ola Electric and FirstCry.
Read Full Article
19 Likes
Eu-Startups
2d
185
Barcelona-based Impress secures over €110 million to expand orthodontic services across Europe
- Barcelona-based orthodontic chain Impress has raised over €110 million in funding to expand its services across Europe.
- The funding round was led by Trinity Capital Inc., CareCapital, LBO France, and TA Ventures.
- Impress plans to open new clinics, enter new markets, and make high-quality orthodontic care more accessible to a broader patient base.
- The recent acquisition of DrSmile has helped Impress expand its operations in key European markets.
Read Full Article
11 Likes
Startupreporter
2d
67
Image Credit: Startupreporter
Malvan Tadka: Savor the most exquisite aroma of Maharashtra
- Malvan Tadka specializes in authentic Malvani cuisine with a focus on seafood.
- The restaurant also offers multi-cuisine options along with local and imported seafood.
- Malvan Tadka has expanded to 15 locations and plans to open new outlets in Mumbai and Pune.
- The founder aims to bring authentic Malvani food to people across India and establish the brand in commercial spaces.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
Startupreporter
2d
205
Image Credit: Startupreporter
Annapurna Finance Recognized for Leadership in Client Protection and Financial Literacy
- Annapurna Finance Pvt. Ltd. (AFPL) has been recognized for its transformative role in enhancing the financial resilience of underserved communities.
- AFPL is acknowledged as one of the top-performing Financial Service Providers (FSPs) in Asia, with a strong focus on client protection and financial literacy.
- Annapurna's clients reported significant income growth and improved quality of life, with a high percentage expressing enhanced ability to make financial decisions.
- Annapurna's additional services have helped clients build resilience against economic shocks and foster financial security and stability.
Read Full Article
12 Likes
TechCrunch
2d
181
Image Credit: TechCrunch
Conduktor looks to gatekeep ‘bad data’ out of company’s apps
- Conduktor, a platform for streaming data management, acts as a gatekeeper for data, preventing 'bad data' from polluting downstream applications.
- Conduktor allows companies to monitor data streams, share them with third parties, and enforce data masking and access controls.
- The company recently closed a $30 million Series B funding round and has tripled its annual recurring revenue in the past year.
- The funding will be used for general expansion and product development as the demand for stream processing continues to rise.
Read Full Article
10 Likes
Yourstory
2d
2.6k
Image Credit: Yourstory
Infibeam Avenues posts record Q2 revenue of Rs 1,016 Cr, profits up 16.7% YoY
- Infibeam Avenues reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue of Rs 1,016.65 crore in Q2 FY25, a 29.2% YoY increase.
- The rise in revenue was driven by an increase in digital transactions and merchant onboarding.
- The net profit after tax rose to Rs 47.47 crore, up 16.7% from Q2 FY24.
- Infibeam Avenues aims to achieve international growth and contribute 12-15% of net revenue within two years.
Read Full Article
12 Likes
Inc42
2d
3.8k
Image Credit: Inc42
Zomato’s ‘Book Now, Sell Anytime’ Feature Goes Live
- Zomato has launched its 'Book Now, Sell Anytime' feature on its app.
- Users can buy event tickets in advance and resell them on the app if they are unable to attend.
- The feature is starting with the Zomato Feeding India Concert featuring Dua Lipa on November 30 in Mumbai.
- Zomato's ticket reselling feature comes ahead of the launch of its District app.
Read Full Article
13 Likes
Yourstory
2d
6.1k
Image Credit: Yourstory
Pocket FM’s FY24 revenue rises two-fold, net loss narrows to Rs 15.7 Cr
- Bengaluru-based audio tech startup Pocket FM reports two-fold rise in FY24 revenue to Rs 260.85 crore.
- Revenue from US operations surged 278.4% to Rs 131.68 crore during the period.
- Net loss narrows to Rs 15.7 crore, down by 77.5% compared to FY23.
- Total expenses rise by 39% due to increased employee benefit expenses.
Read Full Article
31 Likes
Medium
2d
221
Image Credit: Medium
Customer As Competitive Advantage
- Focusing on customer experience and satisfaction creates a lasting competitive advantage as loyal customers keep coming back and spread positive word-of-mouth.
- Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing one, making customer loyalty a powerful asset.
- Positive word-of-mouth is incredibly powerful because people tend to trust recommendations from others over traditional advertisements.
- A customer-centric approach places the needs, preferences, and expectations of the customer at the center of every decision and strategy, leading to higher customer satisfaction rates and improved customer loyalty.
- Data analytics makes it possible to personalize products, services, and communications based on individual customer preferences.
- Actively listening to customer feedback and using it to drive continuous improvement creates a culture of improvement that benefits both the customer and the business.
- Empathy and problem-solving skills are critical for customer service, which is often the first point of contact between the customer and the company.
- Loyalty programs that offer unique value beyond just discounts can build emotional connections that make customers feel valued and appreciated beyond a monetary transaction.
- Tracking metrics such as NPS, CSAT, and retention rates can measure the effectiveness of customer-focused efforts.
- A strong commitment to customer satisfaction is more than a strategy; it’s a path to long-term success and sustainability in any industry.
Read Full Article
13 Likes
Inc42
2d
252
Image Credit: Inc42
DealShare’s FY24 Revenue Plummets 75% To INR 500 Cr
- DealShare, backed by Alpha Wave, reported a 75% drop in revenue for FY24, reaching INR 500 Cr.
- The decline in revenue was due to winding down B2B operations and scaling back operations in several states.
- Despite the decrease in expenditure, DealShare's cash and cash equivalents stood at INR 10.8 Cr at the end of FY24.
- DealShare struggled to make profits despite raising $300 Mn in funding and turning into a unicorn in the social commerce space.
Read Full Article
15 Likes
VIE Stories
2d
386
Image Credit: VIE Stories
B2B Visa Startup StampMyVisa Raises Funding from Unicorn India Ventures
- StampMyVisa, a B2B visa portal, has raised Rs 6.6 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures.
- The funding will be used to support the company's growth, enhance its AI capabilities, and introduce innovative services for managing international travel and visa procedures.
- StampMyVisa simplifies the visa application process for businesses and helps automate visa processing for corporates, travel agencies, and online travel agencies.
- The company plans to expand its product offerings, including eSIMs, travel insurance, and visa processing, and establish itself as a comprehensive international travel solution.
Read Full Article
23 Likes
Medium
2d
205
Image Credit: Medium
Profitable Investments in Underperforming Companies and Distressed Real Estate
- Investing in startups at their inception is like planting seeds in fertile soil, with the potential for growth and success.
- Underperforming companies and distressed real estate present opportunities for innovation and transformation.
- Tactical Management excels at identifying underperforming companies and developing strategies to rejuvenate them.
- Distressed real estate can be revitalized through strategic intervention, creating profitable ventures and positive impact on communities.
Read Full Article
12 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app