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Global VC firm <keyword id="48032" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="blackstone" source="Orion">Blackstone</keyword> on Monday reached a definitive agreement to sell its stake in the Kerala-based software-as-a-service (<keyword id="6395918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SaaS" source="Orion">SaaS</keyword>) provider <keyword id="95627" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ibs-software" source="Orion">IBS Software</keyword> to global private equity firm Apax for $450 million. Following the transaction, Apax will partner closely with <keyword id="128946" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ibs" source="Orion">IBS</keyword> Software's Founder and Executive Chairman, V.K. Mathews, who will remain the majority shareholder. Founded in 1997, IBS Software provides next-generation SaaS solutions that power the most mission-critical operations at the world's leading aviation, tour and cruise, hospitality, and logistics companies. Backed by a team of 4000 professionals across the world with more than 25 years of deep domain expertise, IBS Software's scalable, cloud-native platform and demonstrated market leadership position it to define the future of mission-critical technology for the travel industry. "This investment is an endorsement of our strategy and our commitment and contribution to the industry, and we have a shared vision with Apax for the future of the business. We're grateful to the Blackstone team for their invaluable support over the years and we look forward to an exciting and fulfilling journey ahead with Apax," said Mathews of IBS Software. The transaction is expected to close by the end of Q2 2023. Blackstone acquired about 40 per cent stake in IBS Software, from <keyword id="6375561" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="general-atlantic" source="Orion">General Atlantic</keyword>, in 2015 for $170 million. "Having closely monitored the travel software sector over the last several years, IBS Software stood out to us as uniquely positioned in the industry, offering a next-gen software suite that we believe is truly unrivalled," said Jason Wright, Partner, Apax. Amit Dixit, Head of Asia Private Equity, Blackstone added that they are happy to have played an important role in IBS Software's transformation to a SaaS company with global leadership in travel and logistics. "IBS is already one of the largest enterprise SaaS companies out of India. Value creation at IBS Software demonstrates our business-building approach to investing and reinforces our conviction in Technology as a sectoral theme," Dixit added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/lowest-scores-in-ipl-history-rajasthan-royals-joins-the-list-with-59-runs/slidelist/100249661.cms">Lowest scores in IPL history – Rajasthan Royals joins the list with 59 runs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/8-things-that-google-bard-can-do-but-chatgpt-cannot/articleshow/100187360.cms">8 things that Google Bard can do, but ChatGPT cannot</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/how-to-track-and-block-your-lost-smartphones-using-the-sanchar-saathi-portal/articleshow/100242116.cms">How to track and block your lost smartphones using the Sanchar Saathi portal</a>

Blackstone sells stake worth $450 mn in Indian firm IBS Software to Apax

<ul><li>The Indian <keyword id="10600982" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="B2B-SaaS" source="Orion">B2B SaaS</keyword> industry continues to have a bullish outlook for 2023 despite global headwinds. </li><li>Four out of 10 Indian B2B SaaS CXOs are targeting over 100% ARR growth. </li><li>The majority of such companies are from AI, HCM, Fintech and CRM/CDP SaaS segments.</li></ul>Unmoved by recessionary trends of the past year, the Indian B2B SaaS industry continues to have a bullish outlook for 2023, says a report by Ernst &amp; Young in partnership with Upekkha Value SaaS Accelerator. It states that Indian SaaS growth is highly capital-efficient by default, across stages. Eight out of 10 Indian <keyword id="6756963" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SaaS-companies" source="Orion">SaaS companies</keyword> have a burn multiple of under 1.5x. Globally, a burn multiple of less than 2-3x is a good state for growth stage — companies with $1 million to $100 million Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). “Indian B2B SaaS is about 2x capital efficient compared to its global counterparts. This places them well, when the capital ask shifts from ‘growth at all costs’ to ‘profitable growth’,” says Kamalanand Nithianandan, partner, Business Consulting, EY India. The growth outlook is balanced by financial and operational prudence, reflecting strong focus on building and scaling capital efficient businesses, says the report titled ‘Bellwethers of Indian SaaS’. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Targeting ultra &amp; hyper growth" comment="subhead2" text="Targeting ultra &amp; hyper growth">Targeting ultra &amp; hyper growth</cmsannotation> Insights from the survey reveal that four out of 10 Indian B2B SaaS CXOs are targeting over 100% ARR growth (ultra-growth). A majority, eight out of 10 CXOs, are targeting above 50% ARR growth (hyper-growth) in 2023, as per the survey conducted by EY India and Upekkha. The majority of companies tagreting ultra-growth are from AI, HCM (human capital management) fintech, customer resource management (CRM) and customer data platform (CDP) segments. The funding scenario for Indian SaaS companies is also expected to remain bullish. The report highlights that with expected economic recovery in the second half of 2023 and availability of dry powder within the SaaS focused Indian VC/PE ecosystem, funding activity is expected to gain traction. “This presents an opportunity for Indian SaaS companies with demonstrated profitability to raise capital at favourable terms and double down on growth,” the report says. Alternative funding instruments, such as convertible notes, were emphasized against the backdrop of access to equity funding due to rising inflation rates. According to the report, 60% of company CXOs reported product innovation, pricing changes and partner-led expansion as their top strategic priorities. Top challenge inhibiting growth was ‘delay in customer closure cycle’ for 51% CXOs, whereas sales inefficiency came next for over 41% CXOs. Hiring and retention continue to be a key challenge, but CXOs also emphasize on adopting reskilling and training strategies to mitigate the talent shortage risk. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/stock-price-run-up-in-paytm-nykaa-zomato-pb-fintech-delhivery-could-see-large-shareholders-cashing-out-bofa/articleshow/98274102.cms">Stock price run up in Paytm, Nykaa, Zomato, PB Fintech &amp; Delhivery could see large shareholders cashing out - BofA</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/vr-app-allows-users-to-revisit-memories-previously-recorded-on-their-smartphones/articleshow/98275527.cms">This app is straight out of Black Mirror — it lets you capture and revisit memories in virtual reality</a>

Indian B2B SaaS companies are 2x more capital efficient than global peers: EY report

Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) company <keyword id="4621694" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="freshworks" source="Orion">Freshworks</keyword> has laid off nearly 90 employees, or 2 per cent of its total workforce, citing rough global conditions behind the move. The company's Founder and CEO Girish Mathrubootham told employees in an email that this is not a company-wide layoff but "a structural change". "In all the changes we undertook we have deployed and retained the majority of our teammates, however a few around 2 per cent of 5,200 people or approximately 90 employees for whom we do not have a readily available open position," Mathrubootham wrote in the email. The CEO said that Freshworks will help impacted employees by providing them healthcare coverage and outplacement services. "While we have reported a strong quarter, we are not immune to this slower economy. While new businesses picked up, expansion slowed down even as we reduced our growth forecasts and headcount needs," he wrote. Freshworks joins a growing list of tech companies that have laid off employees amid global macro-economic conditions. The Nasdaq-listed firm was valued at $12.2 billion after it opened 21 per cent above the initial offering price of $36 apiece in September last year. Mathrubootham, in interviews with media outlets, highlighted that the IPO created a lot of wealth for its employees as more than 500 of its employees turned crorepatis (millionaires). He further added that about 70, of these 500 employees, are under the age of 30. The company was valued at $3.5 billion when it raised $150 million funding from investors like <keyword id="122716" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sequoia-capital" source="Orion">Sequoia Capital</keyword>, CapitalG and Accel in November 2019. Founded by Mathrubootham and <keyword id="2167964" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shan-krishnasamy" source="Orion">Shan Krishnasamy</keyword> as Freshdesk in Chennai in 2010, the company started its journey as a helpdesk software for customer support. It decided to rebrand itself to Freshworks in June 2017 to incorporate the company's growing software suite. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/honda-to-hike-vehicle-prices-by-up-to-30000-from-jan/articleshow/96271533.cms">Honda to hike vehicle prices by up to ₹30,000 from Jan</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/be-prepared-for-export-tariff-walls-by-nations-undergoing-green-transition-fm-nirmala-sitharaman/articleshow/96270382.cms">Be prepared for export tariff walls by nations undergoing green transition: FM Nirmala Sitharaman</a>

Indian SaaS firm Freshworks lays off 90 employees

<ul><li>Some of these companies include Hippo Video founded by ex <keyword id="265415" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zoho" source="Orion">Zoho</keyword> employees and Niki founded by former Innovaccer employees.</li><li><keyword id="4621694" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="freshworks" source="Orion">Freshworks</keyword> and <keyword id="2760306" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chargebee" source="Orion">Chargebee</keyword> are also founded by former employees of Sridhar Vembu-led Zoho Corporation.</li><li><keyword id="4360787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-saas-companies" source="Orion">Indian SaaS companies</keyword> — both old and new — have created over 62,000 jobs in India in 2021 so far.</li></ul>Over 500 former employees of India’s top fifteen software-as-service (SaaS) companies — like Zoho, Freshworks and others — have founded their own companies, a recent report by Bain &amp; Company revealed. The report noted that these 500 employees have created more than 5,000 employment opportunities. Some of these companies include Hippo Video, SurveySparrow, Facilio founded by ex Zoho employees, Slintel founded by former Eightfold employees and Niki founded by former Innovaccer employees. Freshworks and Chargebee are also founded by former employees of Sridhar Vembu-led Zoho Corporation. Collectively, Zoho has contributed nearly 133 entrepreneurs to the Indian startup ecosystem. <div type="image" title="Zoho, Freshworks and top Indian SaaS companies have given 500 entrepreneurs to the Indian Startup ecosystem" msid="88145268" hostid="261"></div> The report further suggests, “50% of founders, new companies, and resulting job opportunities are coming from emerging <keyword id="9700532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-saas" source="Orion">Indian SaaS</keyword> companies.” The Indian SaaS report of 2021 further highlighted that the Indian SaaS companies — both old and new — have so far created over 62,000 jobs in India this year alone. These job opportunities are spread across professionals skilled in cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning, product management and advanced analytics like data engineers, data scientists and more. <div type="image" title="Zoho, Freshworks and top Indian SaaS companies have given 500 entrepreneurs to the Indian Startup ecosystem" msid="88145301" hostid="261"></div> Indian SaaS companies are poised to reach $30 billion in revenue, capturing 8% to 9% share of the global SaaS market by 2025, the report by Bain &amp; Company added. Meanwhile, a report by investment firm Chiratae Ventures and consulting firm Zinnov released in June noted that the Indian SaaS segment has the potential to clock a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/amazon-twitter-hyundai-and-dominos-are-buying-indian-software-fuelling-a-75-billion-dream-chased-by-top-vcs-like-sequoia-and-tiger-global/articleshow/85646116.cms">total turnover of $75 billion by 2025</a>. The Bain &amp; Company report also noted that the investment in this space is expected to reach $4.5 billion in 2021. “While the overall growth in funding has been driven by an increase in deal volume across stages, there has been notable growth in the volume of deals larger than $50 million, as investors give a clear vote of confidence in the potential of Indian SaaS companies to achieve substantial future growth,” Arpan Sheth, who is a partner and leader at Bain &amp; Company’s Global Vector Solution Group, said. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/indigo-stock-gains-as-a-plea-to-shut-down-spicejet-has-been-admitted/articleshow/88138734.cms" style="">Indigo stock gains as a plea to shut down SpiceJet has been admitted</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/zoho-is-selling-its-video-calling-app-in-as-many-ways-as-possible/articleshow/88137006.cms" style="">Zoho is selling its video calling app in as many ways as possible</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/these-are-the-states-with-confirmed-cases-of-omicron-covid-19-strain-in-india/slidelist/88138240.cms" style="">Omicron in India — Maharashtra and Rajasthan have recorded 19 positive cases so far</a>

Zoho, Freshworks and top Indian SaaS companies have given 500 entrepreneurs to the Indian startup ecosystem

<ul><li>Cloud-based companies operating in the Indian market are pursuing a multi-product approach. </li><li>Previously, Indian start-up founders had to move to the United States to sell their products, but the pandemic has enabled Indian companies to sell remotely to both domestic and foreign customers. </li><li>Of the 2,364 startups funded in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> in 2022, 469 were cloud and Software-as-a-Service (<keyword id="6395918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SAAS" source="Orion">SaaS</keyword>) companies.</li></ul>As much as 4.7% of all the VC dollars that went into cloud-based companies in 2022 — flowed into India. Also, 2,364 startups were funded in India during the year, and 469 of them were in the cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies, said a report by <keyword id="290936" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bessemer-venture-partners" source="Orion">Bessemer Venture Partners</keyword> (BVP). “Cloud spending in India grew nearly 22% last year, putting it nearly in line with the entire continent of Europe. Importantly, India’s growth in public cloud services spending vastly outpaces its overall growth in IT spending (2%), more so than for other geographic regions,” the report said. India currently has eleven Cloud and SaaS companies that are considered centaurs (a business that reaches $100 million of annual recurring revenue), which includes three companies that achieved centaur status last year. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Indian startups early adopters of multi-product strategy" comment="subhead2" text="Indian startups early adopters of multi-product strategy">Indian startups early adopters of multi-product strategy</cmsannotation> According to the report, cloud-based companies operating in the Indian market are pursuing a multi-product approach. Vertical SaaS firms are developing additional products that cover different stages of the customer journey, while horizontal SaaS companies are diversifying into other business segments that are related to their core offerings. The fact that the Indian cloud market is able to develop multi-product solutions rapidly is a testament to the country's skilled developer workforce and its customer base for SaaS products. Previously, Indian start-up founders had to move to the United States to sell their products, but the pandemic has enabled Indian companies to sell remotely to both domestic and foreign customers. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Indian SaaS companies are using AI to productise services" comment="subhead2" text="Indian SaaS companies are using AI to productise services">Indian SaaS companies are using AI to productise services</cmsannotation> The report finds that the Indian cloud market is also leveraging the potential of AI. “In particular, Indian SaaS companies are leveraging AI to help productise services,” says Anant Vidur Puri, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. Notably, leading cloud companies are incorporating Language and Learning Models (LLMs) in conjunction with human resources. For example, Entropik uses facial expressions and tone of voice analysis to generate user research with emotional intelligence, while Leena AI assists HR teams in creating customised virtual assistants for their respective company's needs and culture, the report said. Indian startups are also leveraging the cloud to offer services and utilise LLMs to enhance accuracy and quality. For example, Pepper Content assists content creators in improving their work and has integrated AI into its quality assurance process, which is later reviewed by employees. Similarly, Perfios helps underwriters analyse credit profiles by using AI to gather and analyse data from various databases, providing lenders with a more complete view of creditworthiness compared to traditional banking methods. In India, AI is being used to improve job performance rather than replace humans. Last year, venture capital investors invested $53 billion in cloud companies outside the US and Canada, accounting for 42% of global cloud VC investment. Additionally, cloud and SaaS deals made up almost a quarter of all venture-backed startups worldwide. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/inflows-into-equity-mfs-hit-1-year-high-in-march-on-robust-sip-and-thematic-fund-investments/articleshow/99466043.cms">Inflows into equity MFs hit 1-year high in March on robust SIP and thematic fund investments</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/xiaomi-launches-a-new-line-up-of-air-purifiers-a-tv-and-a-vacuum-mop-in-india/articleshow/99464429.cms">Xiaomi launches a new line-up of air purifiers, a TV, and a vacuum mop in India</a>

Cloud spending in India grew by nearly 22% in 2022, says Bessemer Venture Partners

<ul><li>The new <keyword id="7567986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-debit" source="Orion">auto-debit</keyword> guidelines for recurring <keyword id="6359540" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payments" source="Orion">payments</keyword> kicked in from today, October 1.</li><li>“The current <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> guidelines place more friction in recurring payment,” said Upekkha’s Thiyagarajan Maruthavanan.</li><li>Industry experts believe that this move will push more SaaS companies to move overseas and chase international clients.</li></ul>The new auto-debit guidelines for<a href="https://businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/what-is-e-mandate-or-upi-autopay-and-how-to-enable-it-for-jio-hotstar-and-others/articleshow/86650600.cms?_ga=2.76036176.459036666.1632714936-227132192.1626769520"> recurring payments</a> kicked in from today, October 1, but the Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry expects this new regulation to have a much deeper impact on their businesses. Before getting into this, it is important to understand what the guidelines really say. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to do away with automatic recurring payments by adding a layer of authentication for transactions. A user will have to manually mandate such transactions every month, dropping the idea of recurring payments altogether. Now where does the <keyword id="11064864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SaaS-industry" source="Orion">SaaS industry</keyword> come into play? The <keyword id="4360787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-saas-companies" source="Orion">Indian SaaS companies</keyword> — which are poised to meet a fifth of world’s software demand and pocket a revenue of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/amazon-twitter-hyundai-and-dominos-are-buying-indian-software-fuelling-a-75-billion-dream-chased-by-top-vcs-like-sequoia-and-tiger-global/articleshow/85646116.cms">$75 million in the next four years</a> — are worried that this would lead to default or delayed payments, impacting their revenue. Suresh Sambandam, founder of work management software company Kissflow, in a conversation with Business Insider, explained that any small ticket-size SaaS companies in India — whose payments range between $5 to $500 a month — go through a credit card-enabled payments system that is recurring in nature. The latest step, which adds an additional layer of authentication, is going to introduce default in payments, a lot of paperwork and a lot of human involvement to follow up with customers on past payments. “Earlier it was a smooth transaction and now it's overcomplicated,” he added. Thiyagarajan Maruthavana, partner at Upekkha Value SaaS Accelerator, told Business Insider said, “In the last 15 years, while the global SaaS market grew manifold to $200 billion in revenue, the domestic SaaS market failed to take off due to lack of easy collection of recurring payments. Many global SaaS startups and corporations have dialled back their India market plans in the last 5 years due to this issue.” “The current RBI guidelines place more friction in recurring payment,” he further added. Both Sambandam and Thiyagarajan reiterated that this move will push more SaaS companies to go after international clients as well as headquarters. “However it does not impact the SaaS industry from India as these Indian SaaS companies had already moved away from serving the domestic market to the global market. The guidelines impact only a handful of SaaS businesses that focus on Indian customers. These companies will now be forced to move their geography focus elsewhere,” Thiyagarajan said. Ankur Bansal, co-founder of BlackSoil Capital, in a previous conversation with Business Insider, had highlighted that SaaS business margins are really high and they are even higher from customers based out of the US or Europe. This is why most SaaS companies — such as Zoho, Freshworks, Postman, MindTickle and others — usually go after clients in international markets. This, in turn, also increases their valuation in the eyes of the investors significantly. These companies, along with many others, do have a portion of their customers coming in from India as well, which is going to get impacted now. The latest move will leave Indian SaaS companies with little reason to actually operate in India. What do other experts have to say? <div type="image" title="India’s new guidelines on recurring payments sends SaaS industry in a turmoil" msid="86679002" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Anand Jain, cofounder and chief strategy officer at CleverTap&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “Recurring services don’t need the friction of executing the payment on a recurring basis — that friction makes business, especially SaaS business, tougher… The requirement for banks to provide at least 24 hour notice before a recurring payment is executed also ensures that unnecessary payments or buyers’ guilt are reduced. The only challenge I see is that this will need better help and training by financial institutions for their end users in setup. But India is getting much more savvy with these things.” — Monish Darda, cofounder and chief technology officer at Icertis, said. “These are a matter of habit, for instance, when RBI made 2FA [two-factor authentication] mandatory, we all thought that it would dent online transaction volumes. While there was some inconvenience felt initially, digital transactions (one-time password et al) have grown manifold in recent times and are set to continue to grow. In fact, the safety net provided by these checks and balances will only bring new users to the fold. Having said that, this will [be an] inconvenience [to] merchants and customers both for pre-existing debit mandates, since the card issuers will have to revalidate the mandates now.” — Shishir Mankad, managing partner and head of financial services at management consulting firm, Praxis Global Alliance said. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ritesh-agarwal-led-oyo-files-preliminary-papers-for-its-1-2-billion-ipo/articleshow/86674003.cms">Ritesh Agarwal-led OYO files preliminary papers for its $1.2 billion IPO</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/zee-entertainment-falls-nearly-3-in-trade-as-board-refuses-to-hold-egm/articleshow/86678219.cms#:~:text=to%20hold%20EGM-,Zee%20Entertainment%20falls%20nearly%203%25%20in%20trade,board%20refuses%20to%20hold%20EGM&amp;text=Zee%20Entertainment%20has%20declined%20to,board%20to%20consider%20the%20demand.&amp;text=Post%20the%20development%2C%20Zee%20Entertainment's,3%3A30%20p.m.%20on%20Friday.">Zee Entertainment falls nearly 3% in trade as board refuses to hold EGM</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/air-india-gets-a-saviour-in-tata-sons/articleshow/86675842.cms#:~:text=The%20government%20has%20reportedly%20accepted,was%20also%20among%20the%20bidders.">Tata Sons reportedly wins bid to takeover the ‘Maharaja’</a>

New guidelines on recurring payments may send SaaS companies out of India, say experts

<ul><li><keyword id="12158984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="myhotelshop" source="Orion">Myhotelshop</keyword> provides hotels with software solutions for direct sales and distribution channels.</li><li>The acquisition will allow <keyword id="2645087" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rategain" source="Orion">RateGain</keyword> to expand its offerings and reach out to more customers.</li><li>RateGain filed its DRHP last month for an initial public offering to raise over ₹400 crore through fresh issue.</li></ul>Software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution provider RateGain Travel Technologies, which is all set to go for an initial public offering (IPO) later this year, has acquired Germany-based Myhotelshop. Myhotelshop, founded in 2012 by Ullrich Kastner, provides hotels with software solutions for direct sales and distribution channels. It offers services like reporting, bid management and campaign intelligence platform. It also provides other travel products that enable online travel agencies (OTAs) and agency clients to reach out to more customers. The acquisition will allow RateGain to expand its offerings and reach out to more customers. "The merger will help in addressing a key challenge that the industry is facing in the post-COVID world that is witnessing increased digitization. The need to become digital-first is increasingly becoming chaotic and we aim to make it simpler for hotels to manage their acquisition strategy and enable them to unlock new revenue," Bhanu Chopra, founder at RateGain, said. Founded in 2004, RateGain too offers travel and hospitality software solutions. The company filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) last month for an initial public offering (IPO). The company is looking to raise ₹400 crore through fresh issue and sell another 2.26 crore equity shares that are currently held by investor Wagner and promoters of the company. The company plans to use the proceeds from this public issue to repay debts and fund strategic investments, acquisitions and inorganic growth. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/meet-girish-mathrubootham-founder-and-ceo-of-freshworks/articleshow/86453777.cms">Girish Mathrubootham, the son of a retired bank officer who built a $13 billion company in just 10 years</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/why-jbm-auto-shares-spikes-17-in-one-trading-session/articleshow/86453353.cms">Multibagger stock JBM Auto spikes 17% in one trading session on large order for electric bus</a>

IPO-bound RateGain acquires Germany based startup to expands software solutions for hoteliers

Zoho founder explains India's software boom in the last 24 months

<ul><li>Freshworks became the first Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) firm to get listed on a US exchange by raising $13 billion on its debut day.</li><li>The IPO created 500 crorepatis in India, 70 of them are under the age of 30.</li><li>There are many more reasons why the startup industry is cheering for the <keyword id="11167545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="freshworks-ipo" source="Orion">Freshworks IPO</keyword>.</li></ul>Apparently, the startup world can’t keep calm because not everyday does an Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) firm get listed on a US exchange by raising $13 billion dollars on its debut day. Icing on the cake is that the Freshworks IPO has also created a whole lot of wealth for its employees. 500 crorepatis (millionaires) in India, 70 of them are under the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/freshworks-ipo-500-crorepatis-12-billion-market-cap-and-more-that-emerged-from-indias-first-saas-listing-at-nasdaq/articleshow/86445614.cms">age of 30</a>. Interestingly, Girish Mathrubootham, co-founder and chief executive officer of Freshworks, who is a big fan of Rajinikanth, names the opening ceremony event on Nasdaq as ‘Project Superstar’ in tribute to the famous Indian actor. There are many more reasons why the startup industry is cheering for the Freshworks IPO launch. Here are a few reactions from the India Inc: Freshworks IPO is a ‘snowball moment’ for India’s SaaS industry "An IPO is one more feather in Freshwork and Girish's hat! I strong believe they would build a long standing institution. The most gratifying part is to see the wealth created for their team, and energy they have helped propel in the India SAAS ecosystem - installing confidence in founders /to-be founders that great companies can be built from scratch. This is a snowball moment for India SAAS, and I am excited that we at Speciale are live and investing in this vibrant and growing startup ecosystem,” — Vishesh Rajaram, founder and managing partner of Speciale Invest This startup accelerator feels this is a Neeraj Chopra moment for the industry "Salesforce was the first SaaS IPO in the world in 2004. It served as a big inflection point for the entire SaaS Industry and which today, after 15 years, has an enterprise value of $2 trillion dollars. Freshworks - as the first Indian SaaS company to go IPO - acts as a similar inspiration to a growing number of SaaS startups from India. Every Indian SaaS founder is cherishing this moment just like the nation celebrated Neeraj Chopra winning Gold at the Olympics,” — Prasanna Krishnamoorthy, partner at Upekkha Value SaaS Accelerator Now the important question is who will achieve this feat next? "Successful listing of Freshworks on NASDAQ is a “Eureka” moment for the B2B SaaS sector in India which will inspire many upcoming start-ups to spread Indian product software across the globe. This feat by Freshworks showcases the potential for Indian SaaS start-ups to build globally disruptive technology product companies. It also showcases an immense amount of talent and the passion for entrepreneurship &amp; execution the Freshworks team embodies, and we (as in the Indian startup ecosystem) are eager to find out who will achieve this feat next,” — Ankur Bansal, cofounder and director at BlackSoil “Every SaaS founder in India would have a story or two about how they got inspired by Girish and the Freshworks story. Freshworks IPO makes the story they believed and got inspired by all the more real and their aspirations all the more possible. To the next 10 Indian SaaS IPOs!,” — Mayank Agarwal, cofounder at SendX “Freshworks has paved the path for future SaaS Companies that are building from India and selling globally. This is just a start of what we can see in the upcoming decade where a ton of Indian SaaS Companies will be going public. As Girish had mentioned yesterday that he feels like winning an Olympic medal, it is equivalent or more and motivates the next generation of SaaS Founders to build and go public,” — Harshit Agarwal, chief executive officer at Appknox SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/freshworks-ipo-500-crorepatis-12-billion-market-cap-and-more-that-emerged-from-indias-first-saas-listing-at-nasdaq/articleshow/86445614.cms">Freshworks IPO — 500 crorepatis, $12 billion market cap and more that emerged from India’s first SaaS listing at Nasdaq</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/voltas-havells-india-and-blue-star-stocks-have-gained-10-24-on-hopes-of-strong-demand-this-festive-season/articleshow/86448471.cms">Air conditioner brands Voltas, Blue Star, Havells rally ahead of festive season</a>

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Zoho founder explains India's software boom in the last 24 months

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