Medikabazaar Welcomes New CEO, Pine Lab Launches New Soundbox Device, Zomato Streamlines Corporate Food Ordering and more

Medikabazaar has welcomed a new CEO from Healthium Medtech to steer its growth, while Pine Labs is making news with its new soundbox device for merchants. Zomato is streamlining corporate food ordering with its 'Zomato for Enterprise' launch, and the Centre is scrutinizing quick commerce’s impact on traditional kirana stores. BharatPe is stepping into the consumer payments arena, and ANSR’s all-stock acquisition of hrEntries signals a boost in global talent management capabilities.

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What Matters

“Naye Yug Ki Nayi Neeti”: Medikabazaar Ropes In Former Healthium Medtech Executive As CEO

Medikabazaar, a leading B2B healthcare supply chain startup, has appointed Dinesh Lodha as its new Group CEO. With a solid background in medical technology and consumer goods, having held key positions at Healthium Medtech and TI Medical, Lodha is expected to steer the company towards international growth.

His leadership marks a strategic move as Medikabazaar sets its sights on expanding into markets like Dubai, Singapore, and China, while also planning to secure substantial funding to support these ambitious plans.

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“Dhandhe Mein Sab Mumkin Hai”: Pine Labs Launches Soundbox Device For Merchants

Pine Labs, the Delhi NCR-based fintech startup, has introduced the 'Pine Labs Mini,' a soundbox-enabled device designed for merchants. In collaboration with Visa, this new tool allows seamless acceptance of mobile and card payments across major networks like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and RuPay.

This move is set to enhance payment convenience for merchants, catering to a diverse range of customers.

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“Khaaye Hum Jee Jaan Se”: Zomato launches new service to simplify food orders for companies

Zomato has launched 'Zomato for Enterprise' (ZFE), a new service that simplifies corporate food ordering by allowing employees to bill meals directly to their employer. Announced by Deepinder Goyal on X, ZFE enables companies to manage employee food orders, set budgets, and customize ordering rules.

This move is part of Zomato's latest wave of innovations, including features like group ordering and scheduled deliveries, as the company explores new ways to enhance its offerings.

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“Janhit Mein Jaari”: Centre Steps In To Check If Quick Commerce Growth Is Hurting Kirana Stores Biz

The rapid rise of quick commerce platforms like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart has caught the Centre's attention, prompting a review of their impact on India's traditional kirana stores. Concerns have been raised over the "unchecked expansion" of these platforms potentially undermining local businesses.

As the government steps in to assess the situation, the future of kirana stores amidst the booming quick commerce sector remains uncertain.

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“Hum Bhi Hai Josh Mein”: BharatPe Ventures Into Consumer Payments Space

BharatPe has made a bold entry into the consumer payments space with its new app, offering a range of features like Scan and Pay, UPI transfers, and utility bill payments.

The app introduces UPI Lite, a convenient option for users to preload a wallet and make quick transactions up to INR 500 without needing a UPI PIN. This move signals BharatPe's ambition to broaden its footprint in the digital payments landscape, making transactions simpler and faster for everyday users.

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“Hum Saath Saath Hai”: ANSR acquires talent management platform hrEntries in all-stock deal

ANSR has acquired hrEntries, a leading Human Capital Management platform, in an all-stock deal to bolster its global talent management capabilities.

This strategic move aims to enhance ANSR's offerings with AI-powered solutions, further solidifying its position as a market leader in developing Global Capability Centers (GCCs). The acquisition reflects ANSR's commitment to leveraging innovative technologies for smarter and more efficient talent management on a global scale.

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1. Agritech startup Greenday's FMCG brand, Better Nutrition, has welcomed MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria as an investor and culinary advisor. This partnership follows closely on the heels of an investment from badminton star PV Sindhu just a month ago.

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2. ProFinTech Technologies, a deeptech financial solutions provider, has secured $1.4 million in seed funding to help mitigate challenges faced by MSMEs. The round was led by the family offices of K.I. Varaprasad Reddy and Rahul Gedupudi, aiming to empower small businesses.

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3. Laiqa Wellness, a Gurugram-based femtech startup, has secured INR 15 crore in seed funding from IvyCap Ventures. The investment will be used to expand its personalized health tech solutions, enhancing its offerings in the femtech space.

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4. Cambrian Bioworks has secured $1.45 million in seed funding from the Irani family office to advance its automated molecular diagnostics platforms. The Bengaluru-based startup, founded in 2020, aims to enhance its technology for oncology, genomics, and disease testing.

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5. Health-tech startup Sunfox Technologies has raised Rs 15 crore in a pre-Series A round led by Venture Catalysts, with additional participation from Finvolve, Universal Group, and RP Singhvi Group. The funds will support the company's growth and development in the health-tech sector.

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6. Student housing provider The Hive Hostels has raised ₹11.5 crore in a pre-IPO funding round, with notable investors including Shriram Madhav Nene, husband of Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit. The funds are set to support the company's expansion and prepare for its upcoming IPO.

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