Hero Vired Welcomes Prakhar Kasar, SaveDesk Picks Up 90% Stake In Fairexpay, MapmyIndia Accuses Ola Of Data Theft and more

Hero Vired has tapped Prakhar Kasar from MakeMyTrip to steer its growth, while SaveDesk makes a bold move by acquiring a 90% stake in Fairexpay to turbocharge its fintech offerings. Tensions brew as MapmyIndia accuses Ola of pilfering data to fuel its new maps, and DTDC takes flight with Skye Air Mobility to launch drone deliveries.

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What Matters

“Touch The Sky”: DTDC Partners Skye Air Mobility For Drone Delivery Of Parcels

DTDC has teamed up with Skye Air Mobility to launch drone parcel deliveries, with the inaugural flight covering 7.5 km from Bilaspur to Gurugram Sector 92 in just 3-4 minutes. Following this successful launch, DTDC plans to roll out drone delivery services across other key locations in India.

This move comes as DTDC's main competitor, Blue Dart, also began drone deliveries last month, partnering with Skye Air.

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“Swag Se Karenge Sabka Swagat”: Hero Vired Ropes In MakeMyTrip Executive Prakhar Kasar As CEO

Hero Vired has appointed Prakhar Kasar, former executive at MakeMyTrip, as its new CEO, aiming to bolster its presence in the competitive online education market. Founded in 2021, Hero Vired provides certification programs in tech and business, striving to stand out amid established edtech giants.

This leadership change comes at a challenging time for the sector, with a sharp 88% year-over-year drop in investments, highlighting the daunting road ahead for edtech firms in India.

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“Hukumat Ki Jung”: SaveDesk Picks Up 90% Stake In Fairexpay To Strengthen Its Fintech

SaveDesk has acquired a 90% stake in Fairexpay, marking a strategic move to expand its reach in the cross-border remittance and fund collection market. With Fairexpay’s advanced technology and expertise, SaveDesk aims to cut operational costs by 3-5%.

Founded in 2015, SaveDesk specializes in cross-border payment solutions, enhancing international money transfer services.

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“Sala, Mera Maal Churake”: MapmyIndia Accuses Ola Of Data Theft To Build Ola Maps

MapmyIndia has accused Ola of data theft, alleging the ride-hailing giant used its licensed product to build Ola Maps. The geotech startup claims Ola co-mingled and reverse-engineered its data, disputing Ola's assertion that its navigation platform was developed solely with open map technology.

This legal clash follows Ola's recent transition from Google Maps to its own in-house system, Ola Maps.

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1. Sportstech platform KheloMore has secured $2 million to launch cricket academies and expand its AI-powered coaching and venue booking services across new cities. This investment aims to make sports more accessible throughout India.

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2. Moxie Beauty has raised INR 17.3 Cr from Fireside Ventures and notable angel investors, including former Unilever CMO Samir Singh. The funds will be used for product innovation, expanding distribution channels, and hiring new talent.

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3. Sportstech startup Game Theory has enlisted India's chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, former squash player Saurav Ghosal, and table tennis veteran Sharath Kamal as investors. The funds will be used to elevate athletes from foundational skills to elite competitive levels using advanced technologies.

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4. Dhan's parent company, Raise Financial Services, aims for unicorn status with a $100 million fund, potentially boosting its valuation to between $1.2 and $1.5 billion. This follows a profitable FY23, with Dhan competing against major players like Zerodha, Groww, and Angel One.

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5. Gruner Renewable Energy has secured USD 60 million to expand its presence in the green energy sector, aiming to establish new compressed biogas (CBG) plants nationwide. This investment will bolster the company's efforts to advance sustainable energy solutions.

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6. EV startup Simple Energy has raised $20 million in Series A funding from prominent family offices, including the Haran, Velumani, Vasavi, and Desai family offices. The funds will be used to scale production of its flagship models, Simple One and Simple Dot One.

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7. BluPine Energy has secured $28.6 million in debt finance from a banking consortium led by Tata Capital for its 75 MWp solar project in Chhattisgarh. The project, in partnership with APL Apollo Building Products, will supply power to India's largest structural steel tubes manufacturer.

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8. ToyStack.ai has raised $325,000 in a pre-seed round from angel investors like D. Devaraj of SDU LLP and Asit Shetty of Aveda Ventures. The platform aims to simplify cloud deployment for developers and tech teams.

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