Here is a list of top funding deals that happened in Indian Startup Ecosystem this week. Check out the brief description about all of them.
SoftBank In Talks With Gurgaon Based Startup Rivigo To Invest At Least $100 Mn
The Japanese telecom and internet conglomerate, SoftBank has become the talk of the town in India. The largest investor in India’s homegrown firm, Flipkart, PayTM and Ola has again hit the road as the firm is in talks with a logistic startup, Rivigo Services to invest at least $100 million, according to ETtech report.
ETtech reports that if this investment happens, it could value the startup at nearly $1 billion, while another pegged the potential funding at $200-400 million.
Founded by McKinsey alumni Deepak Garg and Gazal Kalra in 2014, Rivigo is not only the largest buyer of trucks in India but has also launched a slew of technology products over the past year.
Fintech Startup Capital Float In Talks To Raise Rs 300 crore
Capital Float, a digital lending startup is reportedly is in advanced talks to raise around Rs 300 crore in a new funding round.
According to the media reports, Ribbit Capital, the US-based finance technology focused venture capital is in talks to lead the fresh round of funding. It is believed that existing investors SAIF Capital and Sequoia Capital will also participate in the latest round so that their stake in the company is maintained. The company plans to utilise the fresh funds for expanding its lending portfolio to consumer financing and for financing kirana stores as well. After this round, the company is expected to be valued at around Rs 1,300 crore.
Founded in 2013, the startup is based in Bengaluru with offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Swarna Pragati Raises Rs 50 Cr in Debt Funding from State Bank of India
Swarna Pragati Housing Microfinance Private Limited, India’s first housing microfinance institution, has raised Rs 50 crore in debt funding from the State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank. A pioneer in rural housing finance, Swarna Pragati helps Indians overcome traditional barriers to home ownership and improvement, ultimately increasing families’ access to better health, education, and job prospects.
To date, the company has provided over INR 1700 million in housing finance to more than 17,000 borrowers across India, including in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
The latest round of funding comes after a 2015 Series B funding round from Zephyr Peacock, Omidyar Network, Aavishkaar Ventures, and Asha Impact. The new funding from the State Bank of India will be used to grow Swarna Pragati’s loan portfolio, strengthening its presence in the rural affordable housing market.
Microfinance Institution Margdarshak Financial Raises $3M in Debt Funding
Lucknow-based microfinance institution Margdarshak Financial Services Ltd has raised Rs 20 crore ($3 million) in debt funding from Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund, which is managed by Switzerland-based impact investment manager BlueOrchard.
Margdarshak has received the money through the issuance of non-convertible debentures with a maturity of five years.
“This long-term funding will enable Margdarshak to serve more poor households in the unchartered territories of the country,” said Margdarshak managing director Rahul Mittra, in a press release.
Fin-tech Startup DigiLend Raises Funding from InCred, Fullerton
Mumbai-based fin-tech firm DigiLend Analytics & Technology Pvt Ltd has raised nearly Rs 2 crore ($311,939) from two non-banking financial services companies, filings with the Registrar of Companies show.
Mumbai-based InCred Finance and Temasek-owned Fullerton India Credit Company Ltd have made the investment, the filings indicate.
TVS Motor Invests in Online Rental Marketplace RentOnGo
Chennai-based two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company Ltd has invested Rs 1.5 crore (around $234,000) in RentOnGo, an online marketplace for renting bikes, electronics and appliances.
TVS Motor picked up a 24% stake in Bengaluru-based RentOnGo in return for the investment, it said in a stock exchange filing.
TVS Motor said the investment is part of its strategy to have a foothold in the emerging pay-by-service model targeting two-wheeler users.
BCCL Backs Sports Content Firm Sports Flashes
New Delhi-based India Sports Flashes Pvt. Ltd, which operates sports content app Sports Flashes, is raising an undisclosed amount from media conglomerate Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL), reported VCCircle.
The current round values the company at $4 million.
In March this year, the company had raised angel funding from Vineet Shrivastava, managing director of Nasdaq-listed investment solutions firm SEI India; Advitya Dewan, a seasoned angel investor; Vikas Bajaj, joint managing director at Bajaj Motors Ltd; and Amit Kharbanda, founder of digital set top box maker MyBox Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Horticulture Firm InI Farms Raises Fresh Funding
InI Farms Pvt. Ltd, which operates across the horticulture value chain and exports fruits to 21 countries, has raised fresh capital from one of its existing investors, reported VCCircle.
Japanese Payments Firm Anypay Backs Bengaluru Based Instamojo
On-demand payments and e-commerce platform, Instamojo has secured an undisclosed amount of funding in pre-series B round from Anypay, a Japanese payments firm. Existing investor, Kalaari Capital also participated in the current round.
This latest round of funding marks Anypay’s foray into the Indian internet market. Prior to this round, the company has raised $2.6 million from Kalaari Capital, Blume Ventures, 500 Startups and others in November 2014.
The latest funding will allow Instamojo to expand its suite of offerings and introduce e-commerce enabling services such as cataloging, logistics, shipping and GST compliance assistance.The company will leverage big data and introduce financial services such as lending via third-party providers in the coming months. Instamojo plans to expand its leadership team to meet these goals.
Mumbai Based Get Simpl Secures Series A Funding From Green Visor Capital, Others
Mumbai-based e-commerce startup Get Simpl Technologies has secured an undisclosed amount of funding in Series A round from the US-based fintech VC firm, Green Visor Capital LP II. Other investors like IA Venture Strategies Fund II LP, Boillot Family Trust, Russell M Byrne, The Oliver R. Grace, Jr. Millennium Trust, SF Capital Investments LP and DIA Investments LLC also participated in the round.
Co-founded by Nitya Sharma and Chaitra Chidanand, Simpl Technologies runs the online shopping app, Simpl. Talking about their team, it consists of people who’ve worked in firms like Goldman Sachs, Thomson Reuters, Mu Sigma, Housing and Publicis.
Launched in 2013, Green Visor Capital had closed its maiden fund at $50 million. In May 2016, the venture fund announced that it had raised over $51 million for its $200 second fund.
Apart from these top 10 funding deals, here are a few startups which have also secured funding for their growth and expansion:
Mars Food to Acquire Majority Stake in Asian Food Brand Tasty Bite®
KNAB Finance Advisors Pvt. Ltd, a fin-tech firm that provides unsecured working capital loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has raised a little over Rs 2.5 crore in two funding rounds
IoT Startup Detect Technologies has raised undisclosed amount of funding from IIM Ahmedabad’s CIIE, Axilor Ventures, and angel network Keiretsu Forum.
Bengaluru-based Cure Fit Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, which operates health and fitness platform cure.fit, has raised fresh capital from venture debt firm Trifecta Capital Advisors LLP and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan’s Prathithi Investment Trust.
The Parfait Co. (TPC), which has a menu of twelve flavours of French style parfait, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Mumbai Angels Network
Image Source: ShutterStock
SoftBank In Talks With Gurgaon Based Startup Rivigo To Invest At Least $100 Mn
The Japanese telecom and internet conglomerate, SoftBank has become the talk of the town in India. The largest investor in India’s homegrown firm, Flipkart, PayTM and Ola has again hit the road as the firm is in talks with a logistic startup, Rivigo Services to invest at least $100 million, according to ETtech report.
ETtech reports that if this investment happens, it could value the startup at nearly $1 billion, while another pegged the potential funding at $200-400 million.
Founded by McKinsey alumni Deepak Garg and Gazal Kalra in 2014, Rivigo is not only the largest buyer of trucks in India but has also launched a slew of technology products over the past year.
Fintech Startup Capital Float In Talks To Raise Rs 300 crore
Capital Float, a digital lending startup is reportedly is in advanced talks to raise around Rs 300 crore in a new funding round.
According to the media reports, Ribbit Capital, the US-based finance technology focused venture capital is in talks to lead the fresh round of funding. It is believed that existing investors SAIF Capital and Sequoia Capital will also participate in the latest round so that their stake in the company is maintained. The company plans to utilise the fresh funds for expanding its lending portfolio to consumer financing and for financing kirana stores as well. After this round, the company is expected to be valued at around Rs 1,300 crore.
Founded in 2013, the startup is based in Bengaluru with offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Swarna Pragati Raises Rs 50 Cr in Debt Funding from State Bank of India
Swarna Pragati Housing Microfinance Private Limited, India’s first housing microfinance institution, has raised Rs 50 crore in debt funding from the State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank. A pioneer in rural housing finance, Swarna Pragati helps Indians overcome traditional barriers to home ownership and improvement, ultimately increasing families’ access to better health, education, and job prospects.
To date, the company has provided over INR 1700 million in housing finance to more than 17,000 borrowers across India, including in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
The latest round of funding comes after a 2015 Series B funding round from Zephyr Peacock, Omidyar Network, Aavishkaar Ventures, and Asha Impact. The new funding from the State Bank of India will be used to grow Swarna Pragati’s loan portfolio, strengthening its presence in the rural affordable housing market.
Microfinance Institution Margdarshak Financial Raises $3M in Debt Funding
Lucknow-based microfinance institution Margdarshak Financial Services Ltd has raised Rs 20 crore ($3 million) in debt funding from Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund, which is managed by Switzerland-based impact investment manager BlueOrchard.
Margdarshak has received the money through the issuance of non-convertible debentures with a maturity of five years.
“This long-term funding will enable Margdarshak to serve more poor households in the unchartered territories of the country,” said Margdarshak managing director Rahul Mittra, in a press release.
Fin-tech Startup DigiLend Raises Funding from InCred, Fullerton
Mumbai-based fin-tech firm DigiLend Analytics & Technology Pvt Ltd has raised nearly Rs 2 crore ($311,939) from two non-banking financial services companies, filings with the Registrar of Companies show.
Mumbai-based InCred Finance and Temasek-owned Fullerton India Credit Company Ltd have made the investment, the filings indicate.
TVS Motor Invests in Online Rental Marketplace RentOnGo
Chennai-based two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company Ltd has invested Rs 1.5 crore (around $234,000) in RentOnGo, an online marketplace for renting bikes, electronics and appliances.
TVS Motor picked up a 24% stake in Bengaluru-based RentOnGo in return for the investment, it said in a stock exchange filing.
TVS Motor said the investment is part of its strategy to have a foothold in the emerging pay-by-service model targeting two-wheeler users.
BCCL Backs Sports Content Firm Sports Flashes
New Delhi-based India Sports Flashes Pvt. Ltd, which operates sports content app Sports Flashes, is raising an undisclosed amount from media conglomerate Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL), reported VCCircle.
The current round values the company at $4 million.
In March this year, the company had raised angel funding from Vineet Shrivastava, managing director of Nasdaq-listed investment solutions firm SEI India; Advitya Dewan, a seasoned angel investor; Vikas Bajaj, joint managing director at Bajaj Motors Ltd; and Amit Kharbanda, founder of digital set top box maker MyBox Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Horticulture Firm InI Farms Raises Fresh Funding
InI Farms Pvt. Ltd, which operates across the horticulture value chain and exports fruits to 21 countries, has raised fresh capital from one of its existing investors, reported VCCircle.
Japanese Payments Firm Anypay Backs Bengaluru Based Instamojo
On-demand payments and e-commerce platform, Instamojo has secured an undisclosed amount of funding in pre-series B round from Anypay, a Japanese payments firm. Existing investor, Kalaari Capital also participated in the current round.
This latest round of funding marks Anypay’s foray into the Indian internet market. Prior to this round, the company has raised $2.6 million from Kalaari Capital, Blume Ventures, 500 Startups and others in November 2014.
The latest funding will allow Instamojo to expand its suite of offerings and introduce e-commerce enabling services such as cataloging, logistics, shipping and GST compliance assistance.The company will leverage big data and introduce financial services such as lending via third-party providers in the coming months. Instamojo plans to expand its leadership team to meet these goals.
Mumbai Based Get Simpl Secures Series A Funding From Green Visor Capital, Others
Mumbai-based e-commerce startup Get Simpl Technologies has secured an undisclosed amount of funding in Series A round from the US-based fintech VC firm, Green Visor Capital LP II. Other investors like IA Venture Strategies Fund II LP, Boillot Family Trust, Russell M Byrne, The Oliver R. Grace, Jr. Millennium Trust, SF Capital Investments LP and DIA Investments LLC also participated in the round.
Co-founded by Nitya Sharma and Chaitra Chidanand, Simpl Technologies runs the online shopping app, Simpl. Talking about their team, it consists of people who’ve worked in firms like Goldman Sachs, Thomson Reuters, Mu Sigma, Housing and Publicis.
Launched in 2013, Green Visor Capital had closed its maiden fund at $50 million. In May 2016, the venture fund announced that it had raised over $51 million for its $200 second fund.
Apart from these top 10 funding deals, here are a few startups which have also secured funding for their growth and expansion:
Mars Food to Acquire Majority Stake in Asian Food Brand Tasty Bite®
KNAB Finance Advisors Pvt. Ltd, a fin-tech firm that provides unsecured working capital loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has raised a little over Rs 2.5 crore in two funding rounds
IoT Startup Detect Technologies has raised undisclosed amount of funding from IIM Ahmedabad’s CIIE, Axilor Ventures, and angel network Keiretsu Forum.
Bengaluru-based Cure Fit Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, which operates health and fitness platform cure.fit, has raised fresh capital from venture debt firm Trifecta Capital Advisors LLP and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan’s Prathithi Investment Trust.
The Parfait Co. (TPC), which has a menu of twelve flavours of French style parfait, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Mumbai Angels Network
Image Source: ShutterStock
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