Sip on StartupChai: Airbnb Targets India, Tira Expands, Google goes Swadesi and more

From former Momspresso moguls making moves with Pravis in StreamO to IvyCap Ventures' Tej Kapoor joining ICICI Venture, the buzz is real. Meanwhile, Reliance Retail's Tira spices things up in the beauty realm. Airbnb's sights set on Indian travel, and ex-BharatPe CPO Ankur Jain launches healthcare-focussed startup Jivi AI. But wait, there's more, Google's shifting gears, bringing 'core' unit jobs to Indian shores.

Grab your hot cup of today’s StartupChai and unwind with our memes.

What Matters

“Too Much Fun”: Former Momspresso Founders’ Startup Pravis Picks Up Stake In StreamO

Former Momspresso big shots are diving into the gaming scene. Pravis, their new venture, just snagged a piece of StreamO, eyeing India's booming gaming market.

With over 20,000 gamers already hooked and a massive GenZ following, this move might just hit the jackpot considering that 6 out of 10 smartphone users in India are game buffs ready to splurge.

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“Party Badal Liya”: IvyCap Ventures Managing Partner Tej Kapoor Joins ICICI Venture

Tej Kapoor, former Managing Partner at IvyCap Ventures, is making a shift to ICICI Venture, taking charge of their involvement in early and growth-stage startup funding rounds. After almost two years with IvyCap, Kapoor bids farewell to oversee new ventures.

His tenure at IvyCap saw him in key roles in companies like Celcius Logistics Solutions, Agraga, and GradRight.

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“Mai Heroine Hoon”: Reliance Retail-Owned Tira Expands Beauty Offerings With Nails Our Way Roll Out

Tira, the brainchild of Reliance Retail, is stepping up its game with the rollout of Nails Our Way. Packed with trendy collections like ‘Gel Well’ and ‘Swift Dry’, this expansion adds a splash of style to Tira's already impressive lineup.

Since its launch in April 2023, Tira has been redefining beauty retail, from makeup to fragrance, and now, nail care is joining the party.

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“Paisa Hi Paisa Hoga”: Airbnb Sees India’s Potential To Be Among Top 10 Global Markets

Looks like Airbnb's betting big on India. With Indian travelers keen on exploring both international hotspots and unique domestic getaways, the sky's the limit for Airbnb's growth here.

Get ready to unlock some hidden gems, folks, because India's on track to become one of Airbnb's top 10 global playgrounds.

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“Tum Toh Thehre Pardesi”: Google To Move Some ‘Core’ Unit Jobs To India From The US

Google's shuffling the deck, relocating some 'core' team gigs from the US to India and Mexico, part of a major restructuring move. These roles, handling the technical backbone of Google's top products, like Python development and security, are making their way to India's tech talent hub.

It's a shift worth watching, especially after last year's layoffs in India, as Google continues to shake up its global workforce.

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“New Beginnings”: Ex-BharatPe CPO Ankur Jain Launches Healthcare-Focussed Startup Jivi AI

Ankur Jain, former BharatPe bigwig, is diving into healthcare with his new baby, Jivi AI. Armed with generative AI wizardry, Jivi AI “aims to revolutionize healthcare outcomes for 8 billion folks.”

Launched in December 2023, this startup is already making waves with a team of 16 and Jain's entrepreneurial track record speaks volumes, having steered Instalocate as CEO before joining BharatPe.

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Fundraising and Financials

1. UGRO Capital is gearing up to raise INR 1,332.66 Cr via CCDs and warrants, pending shareholders' nod. This move marks a strategic step for the NBFC, aiming to bolster its financial strength and expand its lending operations.

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2. Plotline secures $2.6 Mn in seed funding from Elevation Capital to enhance app personalization for consumer brands.

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3. She Capital backs D2C homeware brand ellementry, injecting capital to fuel its growth and innovation in the home decor market.

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4. Inflection Point Ventures leads ShipEase's pre-Series A round, injecting $1 million to fuel team expansion, tech enhancement, product development, and brand building efforts.

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