Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<keyword id="19913963" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-startups" source="keywords">Indian startups</keyword> have experienced a remarkable surge in funding during the first eight months of 2024, with a significant increase of 53.1% compared to the same period in 2023, according to a report by <keyword id="19910824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GlobalData" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="GlobalData" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="GlobalData">GlobalData</keyword>. From January to August 2024, Indian startups secured $7.5 billion in <keyword id="19913965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="venture-capital" source="keywords">venture capital</keyword> funding, a sharp rise from the $4.9 billion raised during the same timeframe in the previous year. The report highlighted that not only did the total funding amount grow, but the average deal size also increased. A total of 780 venture capital deals were completed between January and August 2024, compared to 742 deals in the same period in 2023. These deals contributed to the $7.5 billion raised this year, marking a 5.1% rise in deal volume alongside the impressive 53.1% growth in funding value. GlobalData's report emphasised India's growing prominence in the Asia-Pacific region as a major hub for venture capital investments, ranking second only to China. Globally, India secured a spot among the top five countries in terms of both the number of venture capital deals and the total funding value. "The marked increase in venture funding value highlights the burgeoning investor confidence in India's <keyword id="19930407" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="startup-ecosystem" source="keywords">startup ecosystem</keyword>,” explains Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData. "India's performance signals a promising landscape in the <keyword id="20948843" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="VC-funding" source="keywords">VC funding</keyword> market". From a global perspective, India accounted for 7.3% of the total venture capital deals between January and August 2024, with a 4.6% share of the total funding value. Additionally, India saw a notable increase in high-value VC deals, with several investments exceeding $100 million. Some of the standout funding rounds this year included <keyword id="12437554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zepto" source="Orion">Zepto</keyword>, which raised $665 million and $340 million in two separate rounds, Meesho's $300 million round, <keyword id="20201450" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pharmeasy" source="keywords">PharmEasy</keyword> securing $216 million, OYO raising $173.5 million, and Radiance receiving $150 million. These impressive funding rounds underscore the continued momentum and strength of India’s startup ecosystem in 2024, setting the stage for further growth and innovation in the coming years. (With inputs from ANI)

Indian startup finance ecosystem still going strong, report shows over 50% growth in VC funding over last year

Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Tuesday announced abolishing <keyword id="20279287" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="angel-tax" source="keywords">angel tax</keyword> for all classes of investors in <keyword id="19945815" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups" source="keywords">startups</keyword>. In her Budget speech, she also announced various changes with respect to tax rates for e-commerce players and certain financial instruments in the context of long-term capital gains. "First of all, to bolster the Indian startup eco-system, boost the entrepreneurial spirit and support innovation, I propose to <keyword id="20469312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="abolish" source="keywords">abolish</keyword> the so-called angel tax for all classes of investors," she said. The removal of the angel tax is expected to be a boost for startups as it will help in promoting a more conducive environment for them. Sitharaman also proposed to thoroughly simplify the I-T provisions for reopening and reassessment to reduce uncertainty and disputes. "An assessment hereinafter can be reopened beyond three years from the end of the assessment year only if the escaped income is Rs 50 lakh or more, up to a maximum period of five years from the end of the assessment year. "Even in search cases, a time limit of six years before the year of search, as against the existing time limit of ten years, is proposed. This will reduce tax-uncertainty and disputes," she said. Further, she said long-term gains on financial and non-financial assets will attract a tax rate of 12.5 per cent while the TDS rate will be reduced to 0.1 per cent from 1 per cent for e-commerce operators. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-25-changes-to-tax-slabs-increased-standard-deduction-and-other-changes-to-direct-taxation/articleshow/111951205.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-25-changes-to-tax-slabs-increased-standard-deduction-and-other-changes-to-direct-taxation/articleshow/111951205.cms" target="_blank">Budget 2024-25 – Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank">Budget 2024 Live Updates: FM Sitharaman announces comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act 1961</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: How will this budget impact you?</a>

Govt to abolish angel tax on investments in startups

Hitting a hattrick of 6’s to dazzle the crowd hasn’t been the only cool thing <keyword id="6354832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MS-dhoni" source="Orion">MS Dhoni</keyword> has been up to of late. The Indian cricketing legend continues to make waves off the pitch in many ways, one of which involves investing in interesting and impactful <keyword id="20067715" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="start-up" source="keywords">start-up</keyword> projects. His latest venture involves an undisclosed investment in <keyword id="20656950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-cycle" source="keywords">electric cycle</keyword> manufacturer <keyword id="20835176" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EMotorad" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="EMotorad" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="EMotorad">EMotorad</keyword>. In addition to his financial backing, <keyword id="19896463" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dhoni" source="keywords">Dhoni</keyword> is set to serve as the <keyword id="21321553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="brand-endorser" source="keywords">brand endorser</keyword> for the company, further solidifying his role in shaping its future direction. Expressing his excitement for this venture, Dhoni commented: “The future is in our hands. We are in an era where innovation plays a huge role in shaping sustainable solutions, and I’m a fan of new-age companies that build these. EMotorad stands at the forefront of shaping the future of mobility, and I am thrilled to be a part of this journey!” <keyword id="20835175" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kunal-Gupta" source="keywords">Kunal Gupta</keyword>, founder and chief executive of EMotorad, expressed confidence that MS Dhoni's association with the brand will significantly boost awareness and trust in the e-biking sector. He told ET: “There is no one better and more reliable than Dhoni who resonates with what our brand stands for, an avid biker himself.” <div type="twitter" handle="e_motorad" handlename="e_motorad" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1776119471704608843"></div> This Pune-based startup now joins a growing list of startups that are part of Dhoni's diverse portfolio, which includes ventures spanning various sectors such as fitness, technology, automotive and digital solutions. As per The Economic Times, notable among his investments are Bengaluru-based fitness startup Tagda Raho, digital lending platform Khatabook, and Gurugram-based used car retailer Cars24. Founded in 2020 by Kunal Gupta, Rajib Gangopadhyay, Aditya Oza and Sumedh Battewar, EMotorad has rapidly gained traction in the Indian e-cycle market, capturing a 65% share. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships, the company aims to revolutionise transportation by offering high-quality and value-driven solutions. Back in November 2023, EMotorad demonstrated its growth potential by securing substantial funding worth Rs 164 crore in a Series B round led by Panthera Growth Partners. It has raised a total of $20 million in equity thus far. The company boasts a network of more than 350 dealers nationwide, along with over 10 experience centres. Despite its strong foundation in India, its reach spans across eight countries, demonstrating its global presence and influence. Offline dominance aside, EMotorad also leverages online platforms to reach a wider audience, including e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart. In the fiscal year ending March 2024, EMotorad reported sales of Rs 140 crore, a notable increase from Rs 115 crore the previous year. Looking ahead to FY25, the company targets sales of Rs 270 crore, with approximately Rs 130 crore stemming from domestic markets and the remainder anticipated from regions like the US and Europe. With plans underway for a new factory and the development of innovative e-cycle designs, EMotorad is poised for further expansion. By diversifying its product range, expanding its market reach, and now partnering with one of the most beloved sporting figures in the country, the company is fully committed to solidifying its position as a leader in the evolving mobility landscape. (With inputs from The Economic Times)

Dhoni goes electric: Former team India captain invests in affordable e-bike start-up EMotorad

<ul class="summary-list"><li>BlackRock has written off its investment in once-hot Indian tech company Byju.</li><li>The Indian education tech giant is facing legal and financial troubles.</li></ul>In another blow to education tech giant Byju's, investor BlackRock says its stake in the once-hot company is worth nothing.In 2022, the education tech company said it raised $800 million at a $22 billion valuation.BlackRock was the first investor to publicly signal the company's troubles. In a first-quarter summary for some of its funds, the asset manager valued its stake in Byju's at $0, a number that has not been previously reported. In October, BlackRock slashed its valuation of the startup to less than $1 billion, <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/11/blackrock-cuts-byjus-valuation-by-95-to-1-billion/">TechCrunch reported.</a>BlackRock invested in Byju's parent Think &amp; Learn through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/literature/first-quarter-report/fqr-retail-blackrock-science-and-technology-trust.pdf">various</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/literature/investor-education/bcat-commentary.pdf">funds</a>, all of which appear to have written off the investment in recent filings.HSBC, which is not an investor in Byju's, said in a recent research note that Dutch tech investor Prosus' stake in Byju was worth nothing. Prosus owns nearly 10% of the company and invested about $500 million in Byju's."We assign zero value to Byju's stake amid multiple legal cases and funding crunch. Previously, we valued ~10% stake in Byju's by applying 80% discount to the latest publicly disclosed valuation," the HSBC analyst wrote.The Bengaluru-based company is facing significant turmoil.Earlier this week, a group of lenders asked a US court to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against Byju's subsidiaries <a target="_blank" href="https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/byju-s-now-worth-zero-hsbc-warns-prosus-amid-legal-financial-troubles-124060700146_1.html">over a $1.2 billion loan.</a> The company also <a target="_blank" href="https://inc42.com/buzz/byjus-slashes-salaries-for-new-sales-hires-by-more-than-90/">cut the salaries</a> of new sales hires by 90% in an attempt to cut costs, local outlet Inc42 <a target="_blank" href="https://inc42.com/buzz/byjus-slashes-salaries-for-new-sales-hires-by-more-than-90/">reported</a> on Thursday.Byju's investors, including Prosus, are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/byju-s-egm-shareholders-vote-to-remove-ceo-raveendran-and-his-family-124022300919_1.html">seeking the removal of its CEO</a>, Byju Raveendran, and his family members from the board. The company's India CEO left in April, and it missed filing its 2023 financial reports.The digital and physical tutoring company was seen as a star in the Indian startup scene and even sponsored the Indian cricket team until 2023. It is backed by the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, Sequoia Capital, and Tencent, among others.Byju's first gained popularity during the pandemic for its unique approach to learning. The company faced challenges in 2022 after students began returning to schools and expensive acquisitions affected its bottom line.The company planned to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-26/star-founder-broke-down-in-tears-as-crises-engulfed-byju-s"> go public through a SPAC deal</a> in 2022, which did not ultimately pan out.Byju's and BlackRock did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that HSBC wrote about an investor's interest in Byju's. HSBC did not invest in Byju's.

India's once-hot startup Byju's was valued at $22 billion. Now, BlackRock says its investment is worth nothing.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some expat Indians are moving back home to launch companies of their own.</li><li>India's booming market size, internet growth, and post-pandemic spending is driving their decision.</li></ul>Nithin Hassan, 41, has always been fascinated with building something of his own.As a child in India, he would get in trouble for dismantling electronics around the house just so he could peek inside.In college, in true <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-to-bet-your-career-on-in-2024-2024-2">startup</a> fashion, he started working on a small business out of his parent's garage in Bengaluru, assembling computers for friends and family.It was the early 2000s and the internet was not the trove of knowledge it is today — Hassan was relying on books to learn. Finding mentorship and the right guidance was a challenge, too.Everyone around Hassan told him that going to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/resume-tips-google-software-engineer-skills-experience-careers-software-tech-2024-3">US for a master's degree</a> was the next big opportunity. So he did.Over the next 16 years, he put his startup plans on hold and worked at some of the world's biggest companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.<div type="image" title="Nithin Hassan" height="2450" width="3266" msid="113831978" hostid="261" sizebytes="215682"></div>But the pandemic felt like a turning point. And its aftermath made India look like a lab-designed business environment: It had just become the world's most populous country, the pandemic had created <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/private-consumption-continues-to-be-supported-by-pent-up-demand-finance-ministry/articleshow/99069973.cms?from=mdr">pent-up demand</a> for consumer products, and growing internet adoption made commerce more scalable, he said.So Hassan left behind about $500,000 in annual pay at Meta to move back to Bengaluru in December 2023 with his wife and two children. He has since launched two startups.Hassan is part of a group of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-moved-back-to-india-after-living-abroad-for-decade-2024-9">expat Indians moving back</a> home to venture out on their own. As such, he's also part of a decades-long trend of reverse migration back to India.The trend began in the 1990s and picked up at the turn of the century, driven by the economic collapse in 2008, said Binod Khadria, the president of Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism. Many of those who returned to India for work were largely working for multinational companies.Today, the impetus for the move often looks a bit different: It's driven by factors like unstable visa policies and economic recessions, which lead to uncertainty when it comes to jobs and duration of stay in these destinations.Many returnees find work in tech, but the finance, retail, and climate sectors also absorb a large number of expat Indians, Khadia said. And some of the returnees are heading back to India to start companies of their own.India is undergoing a startup explosion. The country reported over<a target="_blank" href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2043805"> 140,800 recognized startups</a> at the end of June — nearly 50,000 more than last year — and credited them with creating 1.6 million direct jobs.To be sure, not all of these companies will make it big — and some do still stumble, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://inc42.com/features/what-are-the-current-problems-being-faced-by-oyo/">Oyo </a>and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-hsbc-funds-byjus-startup-valuation-zero-edtech-india-raveendran-2024-6">Byju's</a>. But the chaos, where even established startups are trying and failing, makes India a fair playing field for new entrants, Hassan said.Business Insider spoke to six <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-vc-wants-see-5-traits-new-founders-fundraising-antler-2024-8">first-time founders </a>about why they have recently returned to India after spending several years, or even an adult life, abroad.<h2 id="0e4a3c47-ba19-4690-8b52-c6bfece1c81d">Fastest-growing economy</h2>The health of the economy and interest from investors are fueling the entrepreneurship boom.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-billionaire-karan-adani-plans-challenge-china-dominance-seaports-2024-8">India's economic growth</a> in 2023 — 8.2% — was the fastest of all large economies worldwide. That's led to greater purchasing power, which lets companies, including startups, sell more.India's inflation rate of about 3.5% is well below its annual wage growth of 9.6%. This makes inflation less of a challenge than it is for slower-growing peers, where consumer-focused businesses have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-jobs-report-sentiment-consumers-elections-recession-inflation-mortgage-rates-2024-9">hurt by high prices</a>.Investors are getting in on the action.From 2015 to 2021, the number of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sequoia-capital-vc-firm-split-china-india-2023-6">unique investors in India</a> nearly quadrupled, though the number is tracking much lower this year, per PitchBook."Other than a slight downturn in 2022 and 2023 due to global macroeconomic factors, VC funding has been consistently growing in India," said Ben Mathias, a managing partner at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia &amp; India.Besides funding, domestic developments have encouraged founders and VCs too, Mathias said.The Indian government's Universal Payment Interface system has spurred consumers and businesses to pay online, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bcg.com/press/2june2022-digital-payments-in-india-projected-to-reach-10-trillion-by-2026">40% of all digital payments</a> globally happen in India today, the partner said.Programs like Startup India, which provides founders benefits like tax exemption, easier compliance, and funding support, have made creating a company smoother.Devyani Parameshwar worked in the microfinance and fintech space in India in the 2010s before heading to the UK and Africa. She returned to India in 2022 to launch a financial management venture."It's changed dramatically. I remember standing in line at various ministries in Delhi trying to get meetings and then trying to get answers and it wasn't easy in the past," she said of her memories of India.Now, she can use an online platform to ask the country's central bank and banking regulator questions.It's easier than ever for foreign companies to invest in India, which means startups have a clearer exit path through acquisition — something VCs think hard about before entering new markets or writing checks.<h2 id="e5dd7b6f-a09f-4ff2-84c1-5907de96dc5e">Market ripe for the taking</h2>For Rohan Bhide, who spent most of his college and professional life <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worked-in-big-tech-before-launching-my-own-startup-engineer-2024-9">preparing to launch something of his own</a>, a trip home in 2017 while he was studying in the US was a turning point.Indian telecom giant Reliance had recently launched a cheap unlimited data plan, which spiked Indian internet adoption. India was charting among the countries with the highest online transactions."That really, really drew my attention," said Bhide, who worked at Meta after graduation. "It was my dream come true — a huge market, a huge user base, and at the same time, the ability to adopt technology was incredible."Bhide returned to India in January, leaving behind about $580,000 in total compensation at ticketing platform StubHub. He and a cofounder are working on launching a consumer tech product later this year.<div type="image" title="Rohan Bhide" height="2304" width="3072" msid="113831979" hostid="261" sizebytes="218468"></div>Most Indians grew up wanting to work at a multinational company — but that's changing, Bhide said.Freelancing, running your own business, or working for a startup is much more socially acceptable now, because people see the success of other Indian startups. The country has the third-largest number of "unicorns" — companies worth $1 billion or more — with 64, per PitchBook.<h2 id="7f423804-745b-4e04-a250-839e01663f09">Boom in entrepreneurship culture</h2>A lot has changed since Hassan first wanted to launch his hardware startup in the early 2000s.Tech hot spots like Bengaluru and Gurugram have seen a boom in entrepreneurship culture in the last few years, with meet-ups, networking mixers, and even morning walks with like-minded builders.<div type="image" title="man standing in front of mountains in USA" height="2268" width="3024" msid="113831980" hostid="261" sizebytes="141132"></div>Dhruv Anand, who left Google in the US to move back to India in 2021 to launch an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-startups-most-promising-2024-9">AI startup</a>, said that there were lots of other founders and mentors to help guide him."If you want to figure out who's the right chartered accountant to talk to, who's the right lawyer to help you draft agreements, all of that stuff is very easy," Anand said."It's been a really, really supportive community," Bhide said. There are people "telling you about their entire lives just because they want to help you and they're hoping that you pass the favor onto the next person who moves to India and wants to start their own company."<h2 id="3c8bff36-e855-4530-9b44-bcc7f36b0825">Not everything is perfect</h2>Although these founders made the decision to return to India, that doesn't mean they no longer see the benefits of operating in the US.Ruchit Garg founded an agriculture startup in Silicon Valley in 2016, with a focus on supporting farmers around the globe. In 2019, he returned to India, where his late grandfather worked as a farmer.Garg has been building in India ever since, but he says its startup ecosystem cannot yet compete with the Valley's decades of experience."The overall ecosystem was more mature back in Silicon Valley. It's still one of the best places for entrepreneurs. India isn't there yet, although it's growing pretty drastically," he said.Despite efforts to digitalize key processes, many bureaucratic challenges persist.For most founders, after living in US cities where populations are a fraction of those in Mumbai and Bangalore, congested roads and poorer air quality are also everyday annoyances.But India provides some big perks, including affordable domestic help and the appeal of building solutions for problems they witness firsthand."It's a different joy to be able to build for problems that you feel for very personally," Parameshwar, the fintech founder, said. When she worked in Africa, she needed translators. Now, she can speak with her users herself.Bhide said the general sentiment among local founders is shifting from "Build from India" to "Build for India."For some founders, being surrounded by family and the culture they grew up in was another selling point.Niranjan Vemulkar moved back to India in 2015 and later founded a digital legacy planning platform.He said that he never fully felt at home in the US, where he lived for over a decade."For us, it was the fact that we wanted to raise a family in an environment where the children would have access to the grandparents and Indian culture," Vemulkar said. "The fact that you could come back to India, start something of your own and figure things out in an ecosystem which was potentially booming for startups, was just a cherry on the cake."Are you in India and have a story to share about the tech and entrepreneurship landscape? Please reach out at shubhangigoel@insider.com

You Searched For "investments in Indian startups" and got 5 results

Indian startup finance ecosystem still going strong, report shows over 50% growth in VC funding over last year

BI India Bureau

Govt to abolish angel tax on investments in startups

PTI

Dhoni goes electric: Former team India captain invests in affordable e-bike start-up EMotorad

Kunal Kambli

India's once-hot startup Byju's was valued at $22 billion. Now, BlackRock says its investment is worth nothing.

Shubhangi Goel

Some techies are leaving cushy Silicon Valley jobs to launch startups at home in India

Shubhangi Goel,Charissa Cheong

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides