A daily newsletter summarizing interesting Indian startups and recent activity both in India & globally.
INTERESTING STARTUPS
CosineLabs (2016, Bangalore), gesture and voice controller hub for smart homes. Founders are ex- Goldman Sachs and Wow Labz. Local comparable is Amie (2017, Kochi). Global comparables are Brilliant (2015, San Mateo, $21M) and 51Ohh (2014, Xian, $1.6M).
INDIA INTERESTING NEWS
Paisabazaar (2009, Gurgaon), online loan comparison platform, raises $30.8M in funding from EtechAces. Link
EarlySalary (2015, Pune), NBFC linked lending platform for consumer loans, raises $15.4M in series B round of funding from Eight Road Ventures, with participation from DHFL, IDG and Ashok Aggarwal. Link
True Elements (2015, Pune), manufacturer of health snacks and supplements, raises $788k in pre-Series A round of funding led by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. Link
Buttercups (2011, Bangalore), online private label lingerie brand, raises an undisclosed amount in funding from Rajan Anandan and others. Link
FinREQ (Mumbai), online lending platform, raises an undisclosed amount in funding from Bennett, Coleman & Co Limited. Link
NIIT (2004, Noida), IT solutions provider, acquires Eagle International (1988, Rochester), technical education service provider, for $8.1M. Link
Yatra (2006, Delhi), online travel search engine and bookings platform, launches self-booking platform for SMEs. Link
GLOBAL ROUNDUP
WP Engine (2010, Austin), managed WordPress platform, raises $250M in PE round of funding from Silver Lake Partners. Link
Wealthfront (2008, Palo Alto), automated investment service provider, raises $75M in Series E round of funding led by Tiger Global, with participation from Benchmark Capital, Greylock Partners, Index Ventures, Social Capital, Spark Capital and others. Link
Beautycounter (2013, Santa Monica), line of beauty products provider, raises $65M in funding led by Mousse Partners and earlier investor TPG Growth. Link
MoneyLion (2013, NYC), online personal finance management service provider, raises $42M in Series B round of funding led by Edison Partners, with participation from FinTech Collective, Grupo SURA, Greenspring Associates and Danhua Capital. Link
AImotive (2014, Budapest), AI-based self-driving technology solution provider, raises $38M in Series C round of funding from B Capital Group and Prime Ventures, with participation from Cisco Investments, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Inventure, Draper Associates, and Day One Capital. Link
NextCapital (1997, Chicago), platform for digital financial advice, raises $30M in Series C round of funding led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from Manulife Financial, Transamerica Ventures, Vermont Seed Capital Fund and Route 66 Ventures. Link