Emami’s New Moves, Zomato, Paytm, and JFS Eye An Entry In The F&O Segment, Dunzo Fires 150 More Employees and more

Emami is set to take full ownership of The Man Company, sharpening its grooming game. Meanwhile, Zomato, Paytm, and JFS are eyeing entry into the F&O segment amidst SEBI's new rules, but Zomato's facing a hefty GST bill, adding to its woes. Dunzo’s trimming its workforce in the face of financial strains, while CoinSwitch is gearing up for a courtroom battle with WazirX over stuck funds. Infra.Market is making big moves with a $700 million IPO, and Flipkart is boosting its UP footprint with two new fulfillment centers.

Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

What Matters

“Keh Do Ye Jhoot Hai”: Dunzo Fires 150 More Employees Amid Funding Woes

Dunzo’s funding woes deepen as it cuts another 150 jobs, retaining just a core team of 50 amid its financial struggles. With losses mounting and new funding elusive, the startup is pivoting towards B2B operations to steady the ship.

Amidst these challenges, Dunzo is also navigating legal troubles and leadership changes, signaling turbulent times ahead for the once-promising delivery startup.

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“Hum Kissi Se Kam Nahi”: Emami To Acquire Remaining 46% Stake In D2C Grooming Brand The Man Company

Emami is set to go all-in with The Man Company, planning to buy out the remaining 49.6% stake for a cool INR 177.6 Cr.

With a stellar 59% jump in turnover last year, reaching INR 183 Cr, the Delhi NCR-based men's grooming startup seems to be living up to its name. From beard oils to perfumes, this 2015-founded brand is clearly making waves in the grooming world, and Emami is eager to ride the tide.

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“Waqt Rehte Badal Jaao”: Zomato, Paytm & JFS May Enter F&O Segment After SEBI’s New Entry & Exit Rules

With SEBI’s new entry and exit rules reshaping the F&O landscape, giants like Zomato, Paytm, and JFS could soon make their mark in the derivatives segment. Nuvama suggests a potential shift, with 78 new companies entering and 18 exiting the F&O market by December 2024.

The regulatory tweaks, including a threefold increase in MQSOS and a significant hike in MWPL, signal a more rigorous market environment ahead.

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“Dukh, Dard, Peeda”: Zomato’s GST Troubles As Foodtech Giant Receives Another Demand Notice

Zomato’s tax woes continue as the Delhi Sales Tax Officer has issued another GST demand notice, this time for INR 1.89 Lakh plus interest and penalties.

Faced with mounting tax demands—just days after a hefty INR 4.59 Cr notice from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal—Zomato has decided to settle the dues to avoid costly litigation. The foodtech giant seems to be caught in a storm of tax troubles across multiple states.

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“Maamla Legal Hai”: CoinSwitch To File Lawsuit Against WazirX To Recover Stuck Funds

CoinSwitch is gearing up for a legal showdown with WazirX to recover 2% of its funds trapped after WazirX’s $230 million crypto heist.

As tensions rise between the two cryptocurrency platforms, CoinSwitch’s lawsuit adds another layer of drama to the unfolding crisis. With significant sums at stake, this battle could set a precedent in the volatile world of digital currencies.

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“Hum Bhi Hai Josh Mein”: Infra.Market Lines Up 8 Investment Bankers For $700 Mn IPO

Infra.Market is gearing up for a major market debut, lining up eight investment bankers, including heavyweights like Kotak Mahindra Capital and Goldman Sachs, for its $700 million IPO.

With the potential to raise between $500 million and $700 million—possibly more, if market conditions are favorable—the 2016-founded construction marketplace is aiming to cement its position in the industry.

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“Janhit Mein Jaari”: Flipkart Expands Operations In UP With Two New Fulfilment Centres

Flipkart is ramping up its presence in Uttar Pradesh with the launch of two state-of-the-art fulfillment centers in Unnao and Varanasi. Just days after introducing its quick-delivery service ‘Minutes’, these new hubs aim to enhance delivery speeds and operational efficiency across multiple pincodes.

Alongside boosting logistics, Flipkart’s expansion is also set to create over 3,600 direct and indirect jobs, further embedding itself into the local economy.

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1. Blue Tokai has secured $35 million from Verlinvest and other investors to strengthen its offline presence and drive product innovation. With plans to expand its footprint beyond its current 80 outlets and four roasteries, the coffee startup is brewing up new growth strategies.

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2. FirstCry is set to invest over INR 100 Cr in its UAE subsidiary to enhance its operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The move comes as the company reports steady growth, with shares closing at INR 641.40, up 0.45% for the week.

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3. Agritech startup AGRIM has secured $17.3 million in Series B funding led by Asia Impact SA, with support from Kalaari Capital and other key investors. The new funds, totaling around INR 145 Cr, will fuel AGRIM’s expansion in the B2B agritech space.

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4. Zepto has raised $340 million in a follow-on financing round, boosting its valuation significantly following a $665 million pre-IPO round in June. With new and existing investors backing the quick commerce leader, the funds will help reinforce its balance sheet and support ongoing growth.

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