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    Startups

    Startups, considered as disruptive forces in the business circles, are companies that are independently started by entrepreneurs. Unlike legacy businesses or franchises, startups focus on innovation, uniqueness of product or service and creating a new market for them. Leaders of startups often aim at providing the market or consumers with something which they need, or fulfilling a requirement which has not been effectively addressed by the legacy businesses. As startups succeed, they are quick to draw the attention of business sharks. They also begin generating lucrative valuations, and, in several cases, move towards an initial public offering (IPO) to raise a massive return on their investments. India, over the past few years, is considered to be emerging as a hub of startups. According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 42 startups turned into 'unicorns' - companies with over USD 1 billion valuation - in 2021. The prime minister had also announced that January 16 would be annually celebrated as 'Startup Day', and noted that the growing number of startups in the country are the 'hallmark of self-reliant, self-confident India'. While startups are distinguished in terms of their offerings and focus on innovation, their structure is largely similar to any other company. They are, normally, led by a chief executive officer (CEO) who is considered as the face of the startup. More

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    • Sarvam AI $250 million funding round: Bessemer Venture Partners joins while Accel opts out

      The Sarvam deal is being done by Bessemer’s US team. Their San Francisco-based Partner, Sameer Dholakia, is engaging with the company, which is being valued at $1.5 billion post-money, as first reported by Moneycontrol on March 24.

    • Eloelo’s pitch deck reveals micro-drama boom: $230 million ARR, 27 million monthly users log 2 billion minutes amid funding talks

      Riding on the micro-drama wave, the Eloelo group has also tapped investment bank Avendus to raise over $50 million in a fresh funding round, sources told Moneycontrol.

    • Nazara Tech to raise Rs 500 crore for its global expansion efforts

      Nazara's financing comes on heels of announcing the purchase of Spain-based gaming studio Bluetile and rewards-driven gaming platform BestPlay for $100.3 million, its largest acquisition to date.

    • MS Dhoni invests in AI-led storytelling platform Kuku

      Bengaluru-based Kuku operates a range of storytelling apps including Kuku TV (microdramas), Kuku FM (audio storytelling), and Guru (edutainment).

    • Metasports ropes in Manoj Kadarla as head of marketing to accelerate its global push

      Manoj Kadarla will lead Metasports marketing function across its current and upcoming portfolio, overseeing user acquisition, brand, partnerships, and social channels

    • Many varied ways ARR is measured nowadays but cash collections are indisputable: Vinod Khosla backs AI portfolio company Emergent

      Emergent had collected $8.3 million in actual cash revenues in March, CEO Mukund Jha told Moneycontrol, translating to an annualised revenue run rate (ARR) of $99.6 million. Those figures were in line with Emergent’s February announcement of reaching $100 million in ARR.

    • Indian fintechs yet to fully realise potential of AI, says QED’s Sandeep Patil

      AI is a 'great equaliser' and a universal tool, enabling companies to jump ahead and scale without needing a traditional evolution curve, says Patil

    • Amazon-backed gadget reseller Cashify picks ICICI Securities, JM Financial and Nomura as bankers for IPO

      Cashify is looking to raise Rs 1,500-1,800 crore in total. The mix of primary capital and OFS will be decided at a later stage, sources told Moneycontrol

    • Greenoaks in talks to invest in Indian AI data centre startup Kluisz's $25 million round

      This will be Greenoaks' second deep-tech bet in India in a span of about three months or so. Moneycontrol reported in December 2025 the US-based investor was discussing an investment in Airbound's $30 million round.

    • ‘EU Inc.’ plan seeks to spur startups to rival US, China

      The linchpin of the European Commission’s proposal is a set of measures to allow firms to incorporate once under a single EU-wide regime and operate seamlessly across the 27-member bloc.

    • Fintech lenders' bad loans decline across digital portfolios as they tighten underwriting

      Indian digital lenders pivot from aggressive growth and distribution to disciplined underwriting, and collections have stabilised non-performing assets after years of high defaults.

    • PhonePe pauses IPO process citing geopolitical conflicts and market volatility

      The US-Israel war on Iran has spooked the global markets and the $1.3-billion IPO needed a lot more liquidity than the current market offers, said a source aware of the developments

    • Startup IPO reality check: 8 of 15 listings from 2025 now trade below issue price

      Market volatility triggered by the Iran war, aggressive IPO pricing and tighter scrutiny of financial performance have pushed most of last year’s venture-backed listings below their issue price

    • From CIA to CEO, spies step out of the shadows and into the boardroom

      Trump’s dissatisfaction with the cumbersome bureaucracies and slow delivery times at established defense companies opens the door to shift more of that funding to startups

    • West Asia tensions weigh on startup IPO plans, late-stage companies brace for reduced valuations

      GCC-based sovereign wealth funds have invested $9 billion in Indian firms over five years, accounting for about 8% of total ecosystem funding, across 30 rounds, data accessed by Moneycontrol showed.

    • Startup hiring to rise 8-15% in FY26 as AI talent demand surges

      Recruitment firms told Moneycontrol that growth-stage startups are stepping up hiring across AI, product and engineering roles, while quick commerce and fintech also contribute to demand.

    • FirstClub in talks to raise $50 million from Peak XV, Sofina and others doubling valuation in under six months

      The company is being valued at around $250 million more than double from $120 million just six months ago, showing businesses with a layer of quick commerce continue to be a favourite among investors, sources told Moneycontrol

    • Goat Brand Labs puts Pepe innerwear business up for sale; XYXX and Damensch also feel the squeeze

      Several players, from established brands like Jockey to new-age startups, are grappling with a tepid retail environment amid muted consumer demand in the category, industry stakeholders tell Moneycontrol

    • Video game industry body GDAI appoints Shruti Verma as CEO

      Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn has joined the GDAI board. Former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting secretary Apurva Chandra has also appointed board adviser

    • Deepinder Goyal raises $54 million for his wearables startup Temple at $190 million valuation

      Moneycontrol was first to report Temple was raising around $55 million from Steadview Capital, Vy Capital, Info Edge, Peak XV Partners and early employees of the company.

    • Supertails claims to have lost all inventory stored in a Bengaluru warehouse as fire engulfs facility 

      The incident has disrupted supplies and even prompted the company to pause an ongoing sale event. It is assessing the extent of the damage and initiating recovery measures, as per Supertails' claims

    • Semiconductor startup Tattvam AI raises $1.7 million from Seedcamp, others

      The round comes at a time when deep tech funding in India is entering a more active funding phase, as reported by Moneycontrol

    • Digital gold savings startup Jar searched by Karnataka CID over potential violations

      Jar is being searched at a time when digital gold, as a category, is gaining popularity among both customers and investors, as reported by Moneycontrol.

    • Livspace churn continues: CBO Lalit Mittal quits after 1,000 layoffs, co-founder exit

      Mittal's exit follows days after Moneycontrol exclusively reported Livspace India CEO Saurabh Jain had also quit the company. Jain and Mittal worked together closely on multiple projects.

    • Dream11 parent ropes in ex-Zynga executive Arpith Kanade as Dream Cricket head of studio

      Arpith Kanade will lead Dream Cricket's expansion into international markets while shaping and executing the title's goal to become the world’s largest social cricket game

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