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Startup News
Startup Story
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Apple Reportedly Eyes Perplexity AI to Bolster Siri and Search Capabilities
- Apple is reportedly considering acquiring or partnering with Perplexity AI, a startup in the conversational AI and real-time web search space.
- The move is aimed at enhancing Siri and reducing Apple's reliance on Google for search.
- Discussions are led by Apple's M&A head Adrian Perica and involve input from senior leaders like Eddy Cue.
- Perplexity AI, founded by Aravind Srinivas, specializes in generative AI with chatbot interfaces and real-time search results.
- Apple sees the acquisition as a means to modernize Siri's capabilities and potentially introduce an AI-powered native search engine.
- Two options are being considered: a full acquisition or a strategic partnership integrating Perplexity's tools into Apple's platforms.
- Apple's traditionally secretive AI efforts indicate a significant shift towards openness and standalone AI initiatives.
- This move comes amidst heightened competition from tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta in the AI sector.
- Apple's interest in Perplexity aligns with its pursuit of top AI talent and strategic partnerships.
- The potential deal gains significance due to Apple's revenue from Google as the default search engine on Safari.
- The partnership with Perplexity could offer Apple an alternative if regulatory pressures impact its Google search deal.
- Apple's focus on generative AI and intelligent search reflects a push towards enhancing core services and competing in the AI space.
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Startup Story
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GoKwik Secures $13 Million in Growth Round to Accelerate Global Expansion and AI-led Innovation
- GoKwik, India’s eCommerce enablement platform, secures $13 million in a growth round led by RTP Global.
- Funding also includes participation from Z47, Peak XV Partners, and Think Investments, bringing total capital to $68 million.
- Capital to drive global expansion and AI-driven innovation in GoKwik's commerce stack.
- GoKwik, founded by Chirag Taneja, Vivek Bajpai, and Ankush Talwar, enables over $2 billion in GMV annually.
- Company shows 100% year-on-year growth with AI integral to its operations.
- GoKwik solutions like KwikCheckout, KwikEngage, KwikPass, Return Prime cater to various eCommerce challenges.
- Products compatible with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Salesforce, and custom sites.
- RTP Global's Galina Chifina praises GoKwik team's understanding of AI in eCommerce.
- KwikEngage, GoKwik's WhatsApp-enabled tool, gains traction globally, especially in the UK.
- Z47's Rajat Agarwal lauds GoKwik's AI-centric approach in eCommerce enablement.
- GoKwik aims to become foundational growth infrastructure for D2C brands by enhancing shopper touchpoints.
- GoKwik processes millions of transactions daily for brands like Mamaearth, Man Matters, and Shoppers Stop.
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Insider
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Meet 19 startups in social networking, dating, and AI that investors have their eyes on
- Venture capitalists are showing interest in social startups leveraging AI and human connection for growth.
- AI-focused consumer tech startups are in the spotlight as investors hunt for new opportunities.
- Startups like Midjourney, Tolan, and Sitch are attracting attention for their AI capabilities.
- The trend of incorporating AI in consumer pitches is increasingly common among startup founders.
- Apart from AI, VCs are also keen on startups building dedicated communities in various niches.
- Smaller, niche-oriented platforms are gaining popularity among users seeking more personalized experiences.
- Investors are eyeing new AI startups with social elements, niche social networks, and platforms enabling real-life connections.
- Notable startups include Swsh, blending AI and social interaction for event photo sharing, and Status simulating a social media experience with AI characters.
- Other startups like Bible Chat, Doji, Gigi, Lore, and Series are also drawing interest for their innovative approaches.
- Companies like Cosmos, Mansa, Margins, Perfectly Imperfect, Spillt, Beli, Kndrd, Partiful, and Pie are making waves in their respective niches.
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Startup Story
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Truliv Secures Strategic Investment from The Times Group at INR 356.5 Cr Valuation
- Chennai-based coliving startup Truliv secures strategic equity partnership with The Times Group at a valuation of INR 356.50 crore.
- Funds from the investment will be used to expand into new cities, enhance the tech-driven property management platform, and enter hospitality segments like holiday homes and retirement living.
- Truliv aims to achieve an annual revenue of INR 200 crore within the next three years.
- Founded in 2019, Truliv currently operates mainly in Chennai and offers premium coliving spaces with modern hospitality services.
- The startup reported significant growth, doubling revenue to INR 31.63 crore in FY25 with a net profit of INR 22 lakh.
- Truliv had previously secured $2 million in seed funding and $1.5 million in pre-seed funding from various investors.
- The company plans to expand operations to Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad.
- The coliving sector in India is gaining investor interest due to evolving lifestyle choices and urban migration, with Truliv competing with players like Stanza Living and Zolo Stays.
- The Indian coliving sector is projected to grow from INR 4,000 crore in 2025 to INR 20,000 crore by 2030.
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ISN
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Shark Tank India-featured ice popsicle brand Skippi raises $1.4 million in funding
- Skippi, an ice popsicle brand featured on Shark Tank India, raises $1.4 million in funding from Dubai-based family offices and angel investors.
- The pre-Series A funding round amounts to Rs 12 crore, with Rs 10 crore from the family offices and the rest from angel investors.
- Purpose of funding includes enhancing brand visibility, working capital, product development, and leadership team strength.
- Part of the funds will support international expansion, particularly targeting the Middle East for growth.
- Founded in 2021 by Ravi and Anuja Kabra, Skippi has a wide retail presence in India, available in over 20,000 outlets and various online platforms.
- Initially known for preservative-free ice pops, Skippi has expanded its product range to include snacks like Crazy Corn, Cornsticks, and Cream Rolls.
- Prior funding rounds include a bridge round this year led by Hyderabad Angels Network and Venture Catalysts.
- Skippi had earlier secured about Rs 1 crore on Shark Tank India Season 1 from all investors on the panel in exchange for a 15% equity stake.
- Ravi Kabra, CEO of Skippi, expresses gratitude for the investment, focusing on brand building, new product development, and team expansion.
- Raman Sharma from Bestvantage Investments sees Skippi's potential in the Indian market against global competitors, aiming to reach a wider audience.
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Nonprofithub
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10 Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Participate in DAF Day 2025
- Consider participating in DAF Day 2025 to leverage donor advised funds (DAFs) and boost your nonprofit's funding.
- DAF Day is a national day of giving aimed at activating the potential of DAFs among supporters, taking place on October 9, 2025.
- Reasons to join DAF Day include the potential for donors to give double, the underutilization of DAFs, and the success of last year's event.
- Participation in DAF Day is free and offers ready-made campaigns and resources to educate donors about DAFs.
- Encourage DAF giving, engage supporters, and utilize social media to amplify your fundraising efforts.
- Gain free DAF training for your team, empower donors with easy DAF giving options, and kickstart your overall DAF strategy.
- Get verified, download the marketing toolkit, sign up for training, and spread the word to prepare for DAF Day success.
- Author Mitch Stein, from Chariot, emphasizes the importance of leveraging DAFs and shares his background in nonprofit technology and fundraising.
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Economic Times
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Healthcare startup Abridge tops $5 billion valuation
- Healthcare startup Abridge raises $300 million at a $5.3 billion valuation led by Andreessen Horowitz and Khosla Ventures.
- The funding round aims to improve revenue cycles and enhance communication between clinicians and billing teams.
- AI-focused startups have gained significant interest from VC firms with substantial funding rounds and high valuations.
- Search startup Glean valued at $7.2 billion in a recent financing round led by Wellington Management.
- Andreessen Horowitz is focusing on AI investments and plans to raise a substantial fund to tap into global interest in U.S. AI companies.
- Abridge, founded in 2018, automates clinical notes and medical conversations for doctors using AI.
- David George, A16z's general partner, highlighted Abridge's role in addressing rising healthcare costs and burdens on clinicians and patients.
- Abridge partners with over 150 enterprise health systems in the U.S.
- The latest funding follows a $250 million raise earlier this year, with investor Elad Gil, known for backing fintech firm Stripe and IVP, co-leading.
- Abridge's valuation increased from $850 million last year to $5.3 billion in the recent funding round.
- The platform expanded to cover inpatient care and streamline outpatient orders.
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Inc42
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Crisis-Hit BluSmart’s App Breaks Down
- BluSmart, an EV ride-hailing startup, has faced app issues after suspending cab booking services in April.
- The app is crashing on both Android and iOS with a 'something went wrong!' message.
- BluSmart didn't officially terminate its 800 employees after suspending operations, leaving them in limbo for salaries.
- The app shutdown may be linked to the departure of the software team due to lack of work and pending salaries.
- More than 10,000 drivers lost their jobs due to the abrupt suspension of operations by BluSmart.
- Customers with money in BluSmart wallets are facing issues, with promised refunds delayed until July 18.
- SEBI's interim order implicated the Jaggi brothers, founders of Gensol Engineering, in misleading practices.
- The National Company Law Tribunal issued insolvency notices to BluSmart Mobility and Gensol Engineering.
- Creditors like Spectrum Trimpex, Catalyst Trusteeship, and Equentia Financial Services have claims against BluSmart.
- Despite reports of potential acquisition and investment plans, BluSmart's future remains uncertain.
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Economic Times
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Uber-backed electric bike startup Lime hires banks for US IPO, sources say
- Lime, an electric bike and scooter startup backed by Uber, has hired banks for a potential US IPO next year.
- Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase have been retained for the IPO, which could value Lime higher than its 2020 valuation of $510 million.
- The San Francisco-based startup operates in over 280 cities across nearly 30 countries, offering short-term rentals of electric bikes and scooters.
- Lime, led by former Uber executive Wayne Ting, has been eyeing the public markets for several years.
- The potential IPO comes amid a recovering market for listings, with IPOs in the U.S. raising nearly $27 billion this year, up 45% from last year.
- Lime's IPO attempt could boost confidence in both the IPO market and technology startups that have faced investor skepticism in recent years.
- In the micromobility sector, where Lime operates, many companies have struggled with regulatory challenges and high operating costs.
- Lime reported a 32% growth in net revenue to $686 million for 2024, and announced it was free cash flow positive for the second consecutive year.
- Stablecoin issuer Circle Internet recently raised over $1 billion from its IPO, signaling a positive trend in the listing market.
- Dealogic data shows IPOs in 2022 have not reached the levels seen in 2021, which had a record $177 billion raised during the same period.
- Lime's potential IPO will be a key test for the IPO market and investor confidence in technology startups.
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Medium
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From Grit to Growth: Part I —Cash Won’t Buy Culture. But It Might Start a Venture Capital War.
- Meta reportedly offered a $100 million signing bonus to senior AI employees at OpenAI.
- Altman made a quiet bet on culture over capital in response to the high signing bonus.
- The focus is on culture rather than just fitting in for AI professionals.
- The best people in AI are staying in their current roles despite tempting financial offers.
- Recruiting, retention, and team design are influenced by culture considerations.
- Startups prioritize scaling precision over headcount in their organizational structure.
- Companies are embedding People Ops directly into teams as enablers, not just administrative support.
- Legal and compliance are important, but team building is now a core responsibility within teams.
- Successful strategies focus on high-signal, trust-based networks rather than just traditional HR approaches.
- Winning in today's landscape involves building tighter networks instead of just growing bigger organizations.
- VU Talent Partners is an example of a company adopting a network-based, signal-rooted approach to team building.
- Grit and growth now depend on clarity, community, and conviction in building teams and networks.
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ISN
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Chennai-based deeptech startup Fabheads raises $10 million in funding
- Chennai-based startup Fabheads, founded by former ISRO engineers, has secured $10 million in funding in a Series A round led by Accel.
- The funding includes $2.3 million in venture debt from Trifecta Capital, bringing Fabheads' total funding to $13 million.
- The startup plans to use the funding to expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen R&D operations, and grow the engineering team to meet global demand.
- Fabheads aims to establish a new factory in Bengaluru's Aerospace Park, with 70+ advanced manufacturing machines.
- Fabheads utilizes Adaptive Tow Placement (ATP) technology, automating composite fiber placement for precise and efficient manufacturing.
- Their proprietary automation platform reduces material wastage by 20%, cuts production cycle time by 30%, and lowers manufacturing costs by up to 50%.
- The startup targets industries like aerospace, robotics, drones, shipping, and mobility, serving clients such as Tata Group, Motherson Group, and ISRO.
- Fabheads plans to expand globally, particularly in defense and clean energy sectors, leveraging its specialized composite manufacturing technology.
- Fabheads founders, Kanagaraj and Rathore, express readiness to lead innovation in composite manufacturing globally, making composites accessible across various sectors.
- Accel Partner Swaroop highlights Fabheads' role in addressing manufacturing bottlenecks in aerospace, defense, mobility, and renewable energy sectors.
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Inc42
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Mirae Asset India VC Arm CEO Ashish Dave Steps Down
- Ashish Dave, CEO of Mirae Asset Venture Investments (India), has resigned from his position after a seven-year tenure.
- Mirae Asset Venture Investments (India) is the VC arm of Mirae Asset Global Investments.
- Dave's responsibilities will be assumed by Mirae's Korean team until a new CEO is appointed.
- Dave joined the company in 2018 and has invested in companies such as Unacademy, Zomato, and Ola, among others.
- He is also the fund manager of Mirae's SEBI registered category II alternative investment fund.
- Mirae Asset VC invests in technology-led startups and has investments in companies like Ola Cabs and Zomato.
- Its global portfolio includes companies like Didi Chuxing, Grab, and SpaceX.
- Mirae is planning to launch an ETF focused on the EV and new-age automotive vehicle ecosystem.
- The VC firm's Indian portfolio companies Ola Cabs and Shadowfax are aiming for public listings.
- The news of Dave stepping down comes amidst a surge in startup funding led by VC and PE firms in India.
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Alleywatch
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The 9 Largest NYC Tech Startup Funding Rounds of May 2025
- Clarium, an AI software company, raised $27.0M in a Series A round for hospital automation tasks.
- Optimal Dynamics secured $40.0M in a Series C round for disrupting the logistics industry using AI and ML.
- Siro, focusing on sales team enhancement, raised $50.0M in a Series B round with its AI Coach.
- Empathy, a support system app for families dealing with loss, raised $72.0M in a Series C round.
- David, a food-tech firm, secured $75.0M in a Series A round for creating nutritious foods.
- Prepared, an emergency response platform powered by AI, raised $80.0M in a Series C round.
- Astronomer, a data orchestration platform, secured $93.0M in a Series D round using Apache Airflow.
- Stash, a personal finance app, raised $146.0M in a Series H round for banking and investing services.
- Wonder, a food delivery startup, secured $600.0M in a Venture round for truck-based restaurants.
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Dev
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From ATS to AI: Adapting Your Developer Job Hunt
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are crucial in the modern job hunt, with 98% of Fortune 500 companies using them to filter resumes.
- An ATS parses resumes using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract structured data and keywords, improving accuracy.
- These systems use ranking algorithms to match resumes to job criteria, emphasizing qualifications and removing bias.
- The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment enhances candidate matching, resume screening, and personalized recommendations.
- AI aids both job seekers and employers in finding suitable matches and optimizing the hiring process.
- Tips for developers to optimize resumes for both ATS and AI include using a simple format, incorporating relevant keywords, and testing for ATS-friendliness.
- Using standard section headings, clear context, and relevant keywords can improve resume visibility and ranking in ATS searches.
- Choosing the right file format (e.g., .docx or PDF) and refining content using testing and AI tools can enhance resume performance.
- The article emphasizes optimizing resumes for both ATS and human readability, highlighting the importance of keyword relevance and clear formatting.
- AI tools like JobCompass can assist job seekers in navigating the evolving job hunting landscape by providing personalized feedback and match scores.
- Understanding how ATS and AI influence the job search process is essential for developers to increase their chances of landing desirable opportunities.
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Startupreporter
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FLDG is Not Dead – It’s Evolving: A Founder-VC View on the New Guardrails By Appalla Saikiran, Founder & CEO, SCOPE
- The First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) model in the Indian fintech industry is evolving with tighter guardrails and increased legitimacy.
- FLDG persists despite regulatory scrutiny, now requiring explicit guarantees, proper backing, and transparent reporting.
- The model facilitates financial inclusion by allowing fintechs to share credit risk, benefiting underserved segments like micro-entrepreneurs and rural MSMEs.
- Regulations aim to formalize FLDG structures, ensuring capped guarantees, sound accounting, and lender evaluation of fintechs' financial health.
- This evolution, termed 'FLDG 2.0,' offers increased accountability, compliance, and scalability for sustainable credit provision.
- Fintechs must innovate within boundaries, developing internal credit models and collaborating with lenders to craft logical risk-sharing arrangements.
- VCs benefit from lowered compliance uncertainty and improved alignment with banking standards under the new FLDG regulations.
- The regulatory clarity fosters new VC-backed experimentation and sustainable partnerships between founders and financiers.
- FLDG's transformation from a shadowy practice to a legitimate tool signifies progress towards a sound credit infrastructure in India.
- The regulations provide a blueprint for scalable, responsible innovation in credit inclusion, strengthening the industry's mission.
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