Zomato Collabs With NSE, Pocket FM’s Revenues Soar, and Prosus Nets Big Returns

Zomato teams up with NSE to boost financial literacy for its delivery partners, while Pocket FM sees its revenue soar 7X, trimming its losses significantly. Swiggy’s shares climb 17% on their debut, and Zaggle posts an impressive 168% profit surge in Q2. Meanwhile, Nykaa expands its leadership with a new executive and rewards employees with ESOPs, while also pushing its fashion segment forward.

On the IPO front, BlackBuck’s offering shows strong retail interest, and Prosus nets big returns from its investment in Swiggy. In tech, Blinkit tests a larger order fleet, and Nazara partners with ONDC to launch an in-game shopping platform. The climate-tech space gets a boost from Green Frontier Capital’s INR 1,500 Cr fund, while Astrotalk’s profit jumps multifold, and CAIT raises concerns over quick commerce players violating FDI norms. Finally, Rajeev Misra steps down as co-CEO of SoftBank’s Vision Fund, leaving room for new leadership.

Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Bhalai Ka Zamana Abhi Bhi Hai”: Zomato partners with NSE to launch financial literacy drive for delivery partners

Zomato has teamed up with the NSE to bring a much-needed financial literacy drive to the lives of its delivery partners, aiming to cover budgeting, investing, and debt management for over 50,000 gig workers.

The program, available in multiple languages, seeks to empower these essential workers with tools for managing personal finances and planning for the future.

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“Cheating Karta Hai Tu”: CAIT Accuses Quick Commerce Players Of Violating FDI Norms

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has accused quick commerce giants of bending FDI norms to unfairly squeeze out competition. At a recent press conference, CAIT’s Secretary General, Praveen Khandelwal, criticized these platforms for allegedly using foreign investments to control suppliers, manage inventory directly, and engage in aggressive price-cutting tactics.

The allegations spotlight ongoing tensions between local traders and rapid-delivery platforms, as CAIT rallies against practices it claims hurt India’s small business landscape.

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“Kaddu Katega, Sab Mein Batega”: Green Frontier Capital Floats INR 1,500 Cr Climate Opportunities

Green Frontier Capital has launched a powerful new INR 1,500 Cr fund to accelerate India’s climate-tech revolution, drawing in Indian investors committed to sustainable development.

Targeting early-stage ventures from seed to Series A, this Category II AIF fund will focus on groundbreaking solutions in decarbonisation, digitisation, and other transformative technologies. With India’s low-carbon transition at its heart, the fund aims to nurture homegrown innovations that can drive real, sustainable change.

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“Ab Game Agle Level Par”: Blinkit Pilots Large Order Fleet

Blinkit is taking its services to the next level by piloting a larger order fleet in the Delhi NCR region, designed to handle bigger products like geysers, air purifiers, and even PlayStation 5s.

This new fleet could be a game-changer for quick commerce, expanding the range of items available for speedy delivery. Zomato, Blinkit's parent company, chose not to comment on the development, leaving us curious about what’s next for the platform.

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“Waah, Kya Scene Hai”: Pocket FM’s FY23 Revenue Jumps Over 7X To INR 131 Cr; Losses Shrink By 56%

Pocket FM’s FY23 numbers tell an impressive story of growth and resilience; revenue surged over sevenfold to INR 131 Cr, while net losses narrowed by a solid 56% to INR 75.7 Cr.

The platform’s push in advertising paid off, with ad revenue skyrocketing by 1,120% and microtransaction income up by 417%, underscoring listener engagement. Despite a slight increase in overall expenses, Pocket FM’s shift in ad strategy, cutting ad spend by 45%, showcases a sharper, more sustainable growth path.

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“Achha Chalta Hoon”: Rajeev Misra to step down as co-CEO of SoftBank Vision Fund

Rajeev Misra, a key architect behind SoftBank’s groundbreaking Vision Fund, is officially stepping down as co-CEO, marking the end of an era for one of venture capital's most ambitious projects.

Misra's departure leaves Alex Clavel as the fund’s sole CEO, tasked with steering the $100 billion fund's complex global portfolio. Misra’s pivotal role in launching the Vision Fund in 2017 helped shape a bold new phase in tech investing

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“Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar”: BlackBuck IPO As Issue Subscribed 24% On Day 1

BlackBuck’s IPO opened with promising momentum, reaching 24% subscription on Day 1, with the retail investor portion already subscribed at a strong 52% by late afternoon.

The logistics tech startup aims to raise up to INR 1,114.72 Cr through this public issue, buoyed by a pre-IPO anchor investment of INR 501 Cr. This early response signals solid investor interest as BlackBuck charts its course on the public markets, eyeing a new phase of growth in India's logistics sector.

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“Haash Jaan Bachi Laakho Paaye”: Swiggy Shares End First Trading Session 17% Above Issue Price

Swiggy’s public debut was a tasty one, closing its first trading session at INR 455.95 on the BSE—a solid 16.91% above its IPO price of INR 390. Opening at INR 412 on the BSE and INR 420 on the NSE, Swiggy’s stock instantly caught investor appetite, hitting a premium of up to 8% right out of the gate.

This strong debut hints at a promising market reception, as Swiggy forays into its next chapter with investor confidence on a high note.

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“There’s A Starman”: Astrotalk's FY24 Profit Jumps Multifold To INR 100 Cr

Astrotalk's FY24 profits soared to the stars, hitting INR 100 Cr—a whopping 1,080% leap from last year’s INR 8.47 Cr. This astronomical rise is powered by robust revenue growth and sharpened margins, showing the astrology platform’s staying power in the competitive market.

With results like these, Astrotalk proves that the demand for celestial guidance is more down-to-earth than ever.

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“Badhaai Ho Badhaai”: Nykaa Allots 1.80 Lakh Equity Shares Under ESOP

Nykaa has rewarded its team with 1.80 lakh equity shares under its Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP), celebrating a significant 66.3% leap in profits this quarter.

With consolidated net profit rising to INR 12.97 Cr, up from INR 7.8 Cr last year, Nykaa’s latest ESOP allocation recognizes the role its employees play in driving the company’s growth. This move not only boosts team morale but also aligns Nykaa’s success with its people.

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“Touch The Sky”: Zaggle's Q2 Profit Jumps 168% YoY To INR 20.3 Cr

Zaggle is riding high with a 168% year-on-year surge in its Q2 FY25 profits, clocking in at INR 20.3 Cr—up from INR 7.58 Cr last year.

The payments tech platform also saw a healthy 21% quarter-on-quarter growth, reflecting strong, consistent momentum. With profits soaring and the business growing, Zaggle is proving itself as a key player in the fintech space.

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“Aaiye Aapka Intezaar Tha”: Nykaa Ropes In Former Cars24 Executive As Business Head

Nykaa has tapped former Cars24 executive Abhijeet Dabas as its new Executive Vice President and Business Head for the fashion segment, signaling a strategic push to strengthen its online presence.

With a track record of driving growth, Dabas will focus on expanding Nykaa’s fashion business both in India and globally. This move comes on the heels of Nykaa's impressive 66.3% profit jump in Q2 FY25, further solidifying its position in the e-commerce market.

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“Badi Mushkil Baba Badi Mushkil”: JM Financial Initiates 'Buy' On Swiggy, Shares Jump Over 14%

Swiggy’s shares got a tasty boost after JM Financial initiated a 'Buy' rating, pushing the stock over 14% higher to INR 445.20 from its IPO issue price.

Starting the day at INR 412, the food delivery giant’s strong position in the market, backed by its duopoly structure, has analysts bullish on its steady growth and profitability. With investor confidence on the rise, Swiggy looks poised to keep delivering strong returns.

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“Hum Saath Saath Hai”: Nazara Partners ONDC To Launch In-Game Shopping Platform

Nazara Technologies has teamed up with ONDC to launch 'gCommerce,' an innovative in-game shopping platform that blends gaming and e-commerce seamlessly.

Players can now shop for products while gaming, opening up a new monetization model for the gaming industry. This collaboration aims to make in-game purchases as natural as leveling up, merging entertainment and retail in exciting new ways.

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1. Prosus has netted $2 billion from its total investment in Swiggy, including the $500 million from selling shares during Swiggy’s IPO. The firm now holds a 25% stake in the food delivery giant, which debuted at an 8% premium on the NSE.

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