SEBI To Police Finfluencers, OYO Opens In Dubai, Ather Energy Teams Up With TATA IIS and more

Peak XV's Shailendra Singh joins USISPF to drive international collaborations. Meanwhile, SEBI gears up to regulate unregistered finfluencers, and Temasek, JP Morgan, and Warburg Pincus sell CarTrade shares. OYO expands its luxury portfolio with a debut in Dubai, while Infibeam partners with EDII to boost AI adoption. Ather Energy teams up with TATA IIS for EV innovation, and Karthik Gurumurthy shifts gears after returning investor funds.

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What Matters

“Party Badal Liya Saala”: Peak XV MD Shailendra Singh Joins USISPF's Board To Foster

Peak XV MD Shailendra Singh has joined the USISPF board, aiming to boost global collaboration and innovation for Peak XV Partners. He joins notable leaders like WestBridge Capital's Sumir Chadha and KKR India's Gaurav Trehan.

The USISPF bridges business and governmental gaps between India and the US, and supports cross-border startups through 'Startup Connect.'

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“Ye Kathin Drishya Hai”: SEBI To Vote On Regulating Unregistered Finfluencers

SEBI is set to vote on regulating unregistered finfluencers, aiming to curb their revenue models and influence on investments.

Proposed rules might bar SEBI-regulated entities from engaging with these financial influencers. The concern is their mass appeal, which can significantly sway investment decisions.

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“Janmo Ke Saathi”: Temasek, JP Morgan, Warburg Pincus Offload CarTrade Shares Worth

Temasek, JP Morgan, and Warburg Pincus offloaded CarTrade shares worth crores, with Highdell Investment selling 40.65 lakh shares for INR 336.8 Cr and MacRitchie Investments offloading 20.32 lakh shares for INR 168.2 Cr.

Major buyers included Societe Generale, Verition, and Goldman Sachs. Despite the heavy trading, CarTrade shares closed 2.33% lower at INR 836.95 on the BSE.

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“Mauja Hi Mauja”: OYO Opens Maiden Luxury Hotel In Dubai To Bolster Its Premium Portfolio

OYO has opened its first luxury hotel in Dubai under the brand 'Palette,' aiming to attract the growing number of Indian tourists. This launch is part of OYO's strategy to expand its premium property portfolio.

Recently, OYO withdrew its draft red herring prospectus from SEBI and is nearing finalization of refinancing plans for its Term Loan B.

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“Future Is Here”: Infibeam Partners EDII To Fuel AI Adoption For Enterprises

Infibeam has partnered with EDII to develop AI software solutions for startups, MSMEs, and EDII beneficiaries, enhancing their business opportunities. The collaboration will roll out three key programs: Start-up Accelerator, AI Implementation, and MSME Support.

Additionally, EDII plans to establish a dedicated unit in Gujarat’s GIFT City to boost activities under their MoU with Infibeam.

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“Safalta Ki Seedhi”: IPO-Bound Ather Energy Joins Hands With TATA IIS TO Help Build EV

IPO-bound Ather Energy has partnered with TATA IIS to supply vehicles, motors, batteries, and hardware for EV labs.

Founded by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain in 2013, Ather is a key player in India's electric two-wheeler market. TATA IIS, a vocational training institution, will use these resources to boost skill development in the EV sector.

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“Mujhe Baksh Do”: Karthik Gurumurthy Returns Money To Investors, Stalls Offline Venture Plan

Karthik Gurumurthy has returned the capital raised from investors, including Matrix Partners India, stalling his offline retail venture plans. Despite this, he's already crafting a new startup.

Gurumurthy had initially secured $3 million for his venture, backed by Matrix Partners India and several angel investors.

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1. Dairy brand Sid's Farm raised $10 Mn in Series A funding from Omnivore and Narotam Sekhsaria's family office, just a week after appointing Sunil Potturi as CTO. The funds will fuel manufacturing, team building, and expansion in Hyderabad and Bengaluru for the Telangana-based startup.

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2. Women-focused neobanking startup LXME has secured seed funding to bolster brand-building, user acquisition, and enhance its technology and product stack. Founded in 2021, the Mumbai-based startup aims to empower middle-income women to better manage their finances.

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3. B2B apparel procurement startup ZYOD has secured $18 million in Series A funding led by RTP Global. The investment will fuel technological advancements, talent acquisition, and global expansion across more than 40 countries.

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4. Cloudphysician has raised $10.5 million in funding led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Elevar Equity and Panthera Peak. The investment will strengthen its AI-powered full-stack platform, accelerate growth, and support expansion efforts across the US.

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5. Two Brothers Organic Farm, a consumer organic grocery brand, has raised Rs 58.25 crore in its Series A funding round led by Rainmatter, Zerodha's investment initiative, with a major capital infusion of Rs 50 crore. The round also included participation from Raju Chekuri.

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6. Rocketlane, a B2B SaaS platform, has secured $24 million in a Series B funding round led by 8VC, with participation from Matrix Partners India and Nexus Venture Partners. The funding will drive Rocketlane's AI roadmap to enhance client project delivery.

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7. D2C fashion startup LetsDressUp has secured Pre Series A funding from GVFL and existing investor Titan Capital. Founded in 2019 by Drishti Anand and Aditya Balani, LetsDressUp plans to enhance production, scale its AI design technology, and expand its team with the new capital.

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