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Aryaman Gupta

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Quick home-services startup Pronto in talks to raise $25 million at $100 million valuation

BUSINESS

Quick home-services startup Pronto in talks to raise $25 million at $100 million valuation

A potential $25 million round, from Epiq Capital, Glade Brook Capital, General Catalyst and Bain Capital, comes as 10–15 minute home-services startups race to scale amid intensifying competition and rising investor interest

Angel investments in Indian startups fall 44% in 2025 as regulatory overhaul thins participation

BUSINESS

Angel investments in Indian startups fall 44% in 2025 as regulatory overhaul thins participation

Angel deal activity fell sharply in the second half of the year as higher entry thresholds and compliance changes have reduced participation and reshaped how early-stage rounds are getting done, stakeholders told Moneycontrol

Haircare brand Moxie raises $15 million in Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners

BUSINESS

Haircare brand Moxie raises $15 million in Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners

Fresh capital will be used to deepen R&D, expand product innovation and build offline and omnichannel distribution capabilities, co-founder Nikita Khanna told Moneycontrol.

About 50% of Licious’ Rs 100-crore monthly sales now comes from rapid delivery arm Flash

BUSINESS

About 50% of Licious’ Rs 100-crore monthly sales now comes from rapid delivery arm Flash

The November milestone follows a recovery in transacting users and repeat demand, with faster deliveries and reduced competitive intensity helping the company return to sustained growth, sources told Moneycontrol.

Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto now hold over Rs 40,000 crore in cash as quick commerce race heats up

STARTUP

Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto now hold over Rs 40,000 crore in cash as quick commerce race heats up

A Moneycontrol analysis shows that the three firms have burned nearly Rs 9,000 crore over the past year. Amazon joined the capital-raise party with an expanded $35 billion cheque for India as it doubles down on cloud, commerce and AI investments in the region.

We’ll build something differentiated at scale — and then make money: Amazon India head Samir Kumar on profitability

STARTUP

We’ll build something differentiated at scale — and then make money: Amazon India head Samir Kumar on profitability

Samir Kumar told Moneycontrol that Amazon’s edge in India will come from vast selection delivered at multiple speed points.

Amazon does not coordinate timing with competitors: India head Samir Kumar on $35 billion investment after Microsoft’s $17.5 billion commitment

BUSINESS

Amazon does not coordinate timing with competitors: India head Samir Kumar on $35 billion investment after Microsoft’s $17.5 billion commitment

Kumar tells Moneycontrol that the e-commerce major is acting on its long-term roadmap, even as back-to-back global tech investment announcements put the spotlight on capital flows into India

Amazon to invest $35 billion more in India by 2030 as it scales jobs, exports, AI capabilities

TECHNOLOGY

Amazon to invest $35 billion more in India by 2030 as it scales jobs, exports, AI capabilities

This investment will focus on business expansion as well as three strategic pillars: AI-driven digitisation, export growth and job creation.

Dr. Paws raises Rs 29.3 cr from Chiratae Ventures, others to scale vet clinic network

BUSINESS

Dr. Paws raises Rs 29.3 cr from Chiratae Ventures, others to scale vet clinic network

The Bengaluru-based chain plans to deploy the fresh capital to deepen its physical footprint, add at-home veterinary services and strengthen its leadership and technology stack, co-founder Udit Gadkary told Moneycontrol.

Meesho’s logistics arm Valmo surpasses Delhivery in Q2 e-commerce order volumes

BUSINESS

Meesho’s logistics arm Valmo surpasses Delhivery in Q2 e-commerce order volumes

According to Meesho’s red herring prospectus (RHP), the company shipped 1.08 billion orders in the six months ended September 30, 2025, of which 695.42 million were delivered through Valmo, representing about 65 percent of total volumes.

Oyo parent Prism calls for an EGM to consider raising Rs 6,650 crore via IPO

BUSINESS

Oyo parent Prism calls for an EGM to consider raising Rs 6,650 crore via IPO

Prism has sought sweeping shareholder approvals to restructure its capital, overhaul its governance framework and authorise a large fresh issue, signalling its most serious push yet to revive Oyo’s long-delayed listing plans.

Quick-commerce scale-up hasn’t slowed Meesho; India still cares more about price than speed: CEO Vidit Aatrey

STARTUP

Quick-commerce scale-up hasn’t slowed Meesho; India still cares more about price than speed: CEO Vidit Aatrey

Aatrey, in an interview with Moneycontrol, said emerging markets consistently reward affordability-led ecommerce models, adding that Meesho’s momentum has strengthened even as rapid-delivery players expand across categories.

MC Interview | Meesho still works with a startup attitude; Not benchmarking against any other player: Cofounder and CEO Vidit Aatrey

STARTUP

MC Interview | Meesho still works with a startup attitude; Not benchmarking against any other player: Cofounder and CEO Vidit Aatrey

After a decade of pivots, disciplined execution and sustained cash-flow strength, Meesho’s leadership says the company is entering public markets from a position of clarity and confidence, adding that it will continue prioritising long-term growth, affordability and customer focus over external benchmarks.

IPO-bound startups race to turn profitable ahead of listing as investors turn more selective

STARTUP

IPO-bound startups race to turn profitable ahead of listing as investors turn more selective

Several companies have tightened costs ahead of filing, with many leaning on tax credits, one-time gains and accounting boosts to present cleaner earnings as public-market scrutiny intensifies.

3one4 Capital books 90 percent and 65 percent IRR exits from KukuFM and Raise

STARTUP

3one4 Capital books 90 percent and 65 percent IRR exits from KukuFM and Raise

The venture firm has secured two significant liquidity events across its consumer-internet and fintech bets, driven by sharp valuation upticks, faster revenue expansion and improved unit economics at both companies.

Swiggy's H1 FY26 losses surge 109% to $178 million on heavy quick-commerce spend, finds key investor Prosus

STARTUP

Swiggy's H1 FY26 losses surge 109% to $178 million on heavy quick-commerce spend, finds key investor Prosus

Despite the rising losses, Prosus – which owns 25 percent of Swiggy – said Despite the rising losses, Prosus – which owns 25 percent of Swiggy – reported strong demand trends for the January–June 2025 period. Swiggy’s customer base grew 35 percent year-on-year to 21.6 million, and gross order value (GOV) rose 43 percent on the back of food-delivery expansion and formats like Bolt

Prosus H1FY26 results: India revenue rises to $397 million as PayU nears break-even, losses narrow

STARTUP

Prosus H1FY26 results: India revenue rises to $397 million as PayU nears break-even, losses narrow

Prosus expanded its India exposure during the period with a $67-million infusion into ride-hailing platform Rapido and a $222-million purchase of a 16.2% stake in travel aggregator Ixigo, deepening its position across mobility and online travel.

VCs pocket gains of over $1.7 bn through IPOs so far this year; still sit on holdings worth over $10 bn

STARTUP

VCs pocket gains of over $1.7 bn through IPOs so far this year; still sit on holdings worth over $10 bn

The seven IPOs so far have together created over Rs 1 lakh crore in investor value this year, split between heavy OFS cash-outs and the much larger block of unsold holdings across the cohort’s biggest tech listings.

Walmart Q3: IPO-bound PhonePe's ESOP revaluation wipes $700 mn off international operating income

BUSINESS

Walmart Q3: IPO-bound PhonePe's ESOP revaluation wipes $700 mn off international operating income

Non-cash charge tied to IPO-bound fintech dragged down reported profitability even as sales, e-commerce momentum and adjusted earnings remained strong.

New-age tech firms now account for 2.49% of India’s total stock market capitalisation, nearly double from 2021

STARTUP

New-age tech firms now account for 2.49% of India’s total stock market capitalisation, nearly double from 2021

A surge of large tech IPOs, deeper institutional appetite and stronger operating performance have pushed India’s digital economy further into the public markets — marking the clearest shift yet in how investors are pricing tech-led businesses

Quick services startup Pronto relocates from Gurugram to Bengaluru to tap tech talent

STARTUP

Quick services startup Pronto relocates from Gurugram to Bengaluru to tap tech talent

The relocation has been completed in recent weeks and involves moving tech, product and data-science teams to Bengaluru, while customer-support and certain operations functions remain in Gurugram, Moneycontrol has learnt.

Ronnie Screwvala earmarks $50 mn to back AI, deeptech, spacetech startups; says he’s looking for his 'next Lenskarts'

STARTUP

Ronnie Screwvala earmarks $50 mn to back AI, deeptech, spacetech startups; says he’s looking for his 'next Lenskarts'

In an interview with Moneycontrol, Screwvala said India’s next wave of long-cycle value creation will come from technical founders building in frontier sectors, making this the right moment for concentrated, long-horizon bets.

After Manipal Group, Ronnie Screwvala’s UpGrad submits bid for Byju’s parent; eyes Great Learning

STARTUP

After Manipal Group, Ronnie Screwvala’s UpGrad submits bid for Byju’s parent; eyes Great Learning

UpGrad’s bid is focused on higher-education assets such as Great Learning — not the K12 business, sources told Moneycontrol; the move comes as the company is also in talks to acquire Unacademy as part of a wider consolidation strategy

Jupiter’s Jitendra Gupta to double investment as fintech extends total round size to $25 million

STARTUP

Jupiter’s Jitendra Gupta to double investment as fintech extends total round size to $25 million

The round is being extended by $10-11 million just weeks after Jupiter announced a $15 million round. About half of the fresh capital will come from founder and CEO Jitendra Gupta, sources told Moneycontrol.

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