Ola’s Sorrows, Karnataka's Startup Programs, Cashfree's PPI License

slice’s Merger, Tata’s Neu, First Cheque's Pre-Seed Plan

Zomato’s New Feature, Swiggy's IPO, RBI's Warning

Plus, Govt. teams up with Meta, ED cracks down, Telegram rejects monitoring, Swiggy's new pilot, and fundraising updates for Healthyify, The Paan Legacy, Hemptyful, and Polr.Care

(Saturday Deep Dive) - Emergence of D2C Startups in India

India’s Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) market is transforming brand-customer relationships by cutting out traditional middlemen. In this first part (of two part series), we explore the rise of D2C brands, which have capitalized on the country’s digital growth. We’ll examine key drivers behind this shift, the challenges brands face—such as high marketing costs and scaling—and why investors are strategically backing this evolving business model.

Blinkit's EMI and Seller Hub, Uber Expansion, NPCI Crackdown

Plus, Swiggy's 'hygiene' initiative, Disney+Hotstar head departs, Ola exec to drive growth at Paytm, Indian Govt.'s new space fund, and fundraising updates for NG Earsafe and OLOID

Centre Wants X Crackdown, Darwinbox’s Celebration, DroneAcharya's EU deal

Govt. urges X to crackdown on hoaxes, Shiprocket revenue milestone, DroneAcharya's EU deal, SC decides against Bjyus and BCCI, Zomato fee hike, Darwinbox's overseas bonanza, and fundraising updates for Transition VC, Avaana, Udaan and Tollbit

OYO Expands, Blinkit’s Surge, Zomato’s Strategic Maneuvers

OYO is making a move into the corporate travel sector, Blinkit has more than doubled its Q2 FY25 revenue, Zomato is stepping into the kitchen appliance space, and Zouk's fundraise

Prosus Anticipates Surge, Ola Faces Setback, Navi Pulls Back On Bond Sale

Plus PhonePe's 158X transactions, GalaxEye's SpaceX partnership, Freo's insurance license, Deepinder Goyal's new health venture, Origin's expansion, and fundraising updates for Advance Mobility, Stellapps Technologies, and Uravu

Paytm Expands ESOP Pool, STPI Supports Startups, and Fullerton’s Stake In Lendingkart

Plus Karnataka To Impose Transaction Fee On Aggregator Platforms, Dubai Court Upholds Ruling Against Honasa, PayU Defers IPO Plans and ID Fresh Food turned profitable in FY24

(Saturday Deep Dive) - GoMechanic’s Misreporting Scandal

From a promising disruptor in India’s car repair industry to a cautionary tale of financial misreporting, GoMechanic’s journey exposes the risks of unchecked growth and governance failures. What started as a revolutionary idea ultimately collapsed under the weight of its own ambition.

Zomato Eyes QIP Funds, Tetr Launches Fund, slice Raises ₹71 Cr

Plus non-Indian investors reduce stake in Paytm, Zodius exits OfBusiness, Zepto raising $100mn, promotions at TVS Capital, and fundraising updates for AGNIT Semiconductors and WROGN

BharatPe's Revenue Surge, Ola's Customer Woes, IndiGo Gets SEBI Nod

Plus, Temasek's Rebel Foods bet, Paisabazaar's offline expansion, upGrad founder's new venture, Aakash shuts down digital, and fundraising updates for Neuron7, Everstage, and Primus Senior Living