Freshly Brewed Strategies: From Cult.fit’s New CEO to Singularity’s Strong Investment Pour

Apple faces criticism for alleged discriminatory cashback offers, while a major mobile retailer boycotts OnePlus over unresolved issues. Meanwhile, Apple's ambitious move to shift half its supply chain to India promises to create 5 lakh jobs. DeHaat launches a new agrifood brand, Cult.fit undergoes a leadership reshuffle, and Pappaya Cloud teams up with Lenovo ISG for global server deployment. Singularity Growth fuels innovation by investing in several promising startups, adding to the vibrant fundraising landscape of India's startup ecosystem.

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What Matters

“Dugna Lagaan Dena Padega”: Apple India Draws Flak For ‘Discriminatory’ Cashback Offers On iPhone 15 Models

Apple's cashback offers on iPhone 15 models in India are stirring up controversy. Retailers claim these deals favor big players, leaving smaller businesses out in the cold. Navneet Pathak, from the retailer's body AMIRA, isn't mincing words, having penned a letter to Apple addressing the alleged discriminatory practices.

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“Sarasar Nainsaafi”: Mobile Retailer’s Body To Stop Sale Of OnePlus Products Over ‘Unresolved Concerns’

OnePlus products are facing a boycott from mobile retailers due to lingering grievances. Issues like footing the bill for exclusive promotions and unresolved reimbursement claims have prompted over 3000 outlets to pull the plug on OnePlus devices.

This move signals a significant setback for OnePlus, leaving consumers and tech enthusiasts waiting to see how the company will address these concerns.

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India Shining: Apple Moving Half Of Supply Chain From China To India, To Employ 5 Lakh People In 3 Years

Apple is making big moves, shifting half of its supply chain from China to India, with plans to employ 5 lakh people in three years. This shift aligns with Apple's strategy to increase local value addition and reduce dependency on Chinese vendors.

With plans for residential facilities for workers, Apple seems committed to replicating its successful industrial housing models from China and Vietnam in the Indian market.

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“DeHaat Ka Jalwa”: Peak XV Backed DeHaat Launches Agrifood Consumer Brand

Peak XV-backed DeHaat is branching out, introducing it’s agrifood consumer brand, Honest Farms, across multiple retail platforms. This move follows DeHaat's acquisition of Freshtrop Fruits' export business, marking a significant expansion beyond its core agricultural services for farmers.

With offerings ranging from high-quality inputs to market linkages, DeHaat is poised to make waves in the agrifood sector with its new consumer-focused venture.

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“Khelo Dimaag Se”: MS Dhoni joins hands with Kedar Jadhav founded Explosive Whey

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One Step at a Time: Reshuffle At Cult.fit; Naresh Krishnaswamy Elevated As CEO, Mukesh Bansal Becomes Chairman

Cult.fit is shaking things up with Naresh Krishnaswamy stepping into the CEO role, while Mukesh Bansal transitions to Chairman. Although Krishnaswamy has been at the helm since October, the formal announcement was delayed.

With recent funding and layoffs, this reshuffle signals a pivotal moment for the fitness startup as it navigates new leadership and strategic changes.

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“Hum Dono Hain Alag Alag, Hum Dono Hain Juda Juda”: Pappaya Cloud partners with Lenovo ISG to deploy 5000 servers globally

Pappaya Cloud and Lenovo ISG are teaming up to shake up the cloud services landscape, deploying 5000 servers globally, with over half of them landing right here in India.

This collaboration melds Pappaya's top-notch cloud services with Lenovo's robust infrastructure, promising a game-changer for enterprises, startups, and more, with expansion plans set to further boost their server fleet in the coming years.

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“Hud Hud Dabangg”: Singularity Growth Invests In Lohum, Akshayakalpa, 3 Other Companies From Second Fund

Singularity Growth is having its Dabangg moment right now, with investments totaling INR 400 Cr in five companies, including Lohum and Akshayakalpa, from its second fund. Alongside Classic Legend, Qucev, and Edville DC, these investments signal the PE firm's strategic focus on diverse sectors, cementing its position as a key player in India's investment landscape.

With its second fund set at a hefty INR 2,000 Cr, Singularity Growth is poised for further impactful investments in the coming years.

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Fundraising and Financials

1. IIT Kanpur startup Simactricals, known for its wireless charging system for EVs, secures INR 75 lakh funding through SanchiConnect pre-seed cohort program.

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2. Garden of Joy, a landscaping startup, secures Rs 84 lakh in seed funding, with Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) leading the investment round. The capital injection will fuel the company's expansion plans across Bengaluru and five additional cities.

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3. Age Care Labs secures INR 10.16 Cr ($1.2 Mn) from security firm SIS Limited to enhance its offerings in geriatric care. With SIS Limited acquiring nearly 4% stake, this strategic funding round propels Age Care Labs towards expanding its impact in elder care services.

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