High-profile entrepreneurs launch $85 million fund to back Indian SaaS startups Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 28, 20210 Four high-profile Indian entrepreneurs who are among those who kickstarted India’s SaaS journey, building and helping startups scale and win customers globally and also backed about 100 such firms, are ready for their next phase of participation in the country’s startup ecosystem. The group — Girish Mathrubootham of Freshworks, Manav Garg
Indian automobile marketplace Droom valued at $1.2 billion in $200 million pre-IPO funding Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 28, 20210 An online marketplace for automobiles has become the latest Indian startup to attain the coveted unicorn status. Gurgaon-headquartered Droom said on Wednesday it has raised $200 million in what it described as a pre-IPO growth funding round. The new investment valued the seven-year-old startup at $1.2 billion, up from about $500
Tencent’s WeChat suspends new user registration in China to comply with ‘relevant laws and regulations’ Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 27, 20210 Tencent’s WeChat said on Tuesday it is temporarily suspending registration of new users in China as it works to comply with “relevant laws and regulations,” the latest Chinese firm to face regulatory scrutiny in the world’s largest internet market. In a social media post, Tencent said it is “upgrading” its security
Food delivery firm Zomato surges 65% in key India debut Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 23, 20210 Shares in Zomato, a Gurgaon-based food delivery company and first of India’s consumer tech startups to go public, closed up 64.7% in its debut day of trading in Mumbai, delivering a key insight into the appetite investors have for the world’s second largest internet market’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. Zomato’s shares traded
India’s BlackBuck valued at $1 billion in $67 million fundraise Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 22, 20210 India’s trucking system has a big inefficiency problem that continues to drag the economy. BlackBuck, one of the handful of logistics startups that is trying to overhaul this system, has just attained the unicorn status after securing new funds. Tribe Capital, IFC Emerging Asia Fund and VEF led the $67 million
YouTube acquires Indian social commerce startup Simsim Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 20, 20210 YouTube has acquired social commerce startup Simsim, the Google-owned firm said on Tuesday. Neither of the firms disclosed the terms of the deal, but two people with knowledge of the matter told TechCrunch the Indian startup was valued at over $70 million. Simsim chief executive didn’t respond to a query
India’s GlobalBees raises $150 million to build Thrasio-like house of brands Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 19, 20210 The universe of Indian firms attempting to replicate Thrasio’s success in the world’s second largest internet market just got bigger. Three-month-old GlobalBees said on Monday it has raised $150 million in a Series A financing round led by FirstCry. Lightspeed Venture Partners also invested in the new financing round, which is
Blackstone acquires majority stake in Simplilearn for $250 million Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 19, 20210 Blackstone is acquiring a majority stake in Bangalore and San Francisco-headquartered edtech startup Simplilearn for $250 million. Simplilearn operates an eponymous online bootcamp to help people learn data science, AI, machine learning, cloud computing and other skills that are in demand in the market. The startup has partnerships with several universities and
Lenskart valued at $2.5 billion following $220 million investment from Temasek and Falcon Edge Capital Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 19, 20210 Temasek and Falcon Edge Capital have led a $220 million investment in Indian omni-channel eyewear retailer Lenskart, valuing the Bangalore-based startup at $2.5 billion. The new investment, which includes primary and secondary transactions, is part of a new round Lenskart unveiled a month ago when it raised $95 million from global
Zoom buys cloud call center firm Five9 for $14.7 billion Tech and Gaming Blog Technology by Manish Singh - July 19, 20210 Zoom is taking advantage of the impressive rise in its stock price in the past year to make its first major acquisition. The popular video conferencing firm, which was valued at about $9 billion at its IPO two years ago, said Sunday evening it has agreed a deal to buy