Infrastructure – Scoopearth : Startup Story | Startup News | Trending Business News | Latest Tech News https://www.scoopearth.com Embrace the World of Start-ups, Technology, Business, Finance and Economy Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:25:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.scoopearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-sc-32x32.png Infrastructure – Scoopearth : Startup Story | Startup News | Trending Business News | Latest Tech News https://www.scoopearth.com 32 32 SaaS marketplace Now Purchase secured $6 million from Info Edge Ventures in its equity and debt round https://www.scoopearth.com/saas-marketplace-now-purchase-secured-6-million-from-info-edge-ventures-in-its-equity-and-debt-round/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:30:52 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344784 Now Purchase is a SaaS-based procurement platform for metal infrastructure. The startup has raised 6 million USD during its equity and debt funding round from Info Edge Ventures. The funding round saw participation from several investors including Orios Ventures partners, VC Grid, 100 unicorns, and angel investors such as Ankur Warikoo, Real Ispat Group, and Kedar Lele. Entrackr reported. UC Inclusive and Capsave Finance also participated in this funding round. 

The company plans to use these fresh proceeds to scale its operations, launch new solutions for the metal manufacturing sector, expand its services, and develop its market presence. The software startup provides multiple products including electrical, power tools, and industrial bearings. Now Purchase procures raw materials through its metal cloud platform and recycling services to benefit metal manufacturers.

The company intends to use some of the new funds for a network of scrap processing centers and to launch private labels. The SaaS firm aims to help the metal manufacturing industry using artificial intelligence and metacloud as foundational operating systems. The startup has raised around 2.69 million USD across multiple funding rounds since its inception, including $2.4 million raised during its seed funding round from Orios Venture Partners.

The company uses advanced technologies to provide users with a WhatsApp bot to provide detailed prices and stock in real-time. The Now purchase team also offers on-ground services and quality assurance. The SaaS platform optimizes the metal manufacturing process.

This investment will enable the startup to improve its platform capability and introduce new solutions. The cutting-edge technology enhances the personalized feed and elevates the unique strengths of the manufacturing process. The Metacloud platform acts as an operating system to improve efficiency and transparency in metal production and melting process.

The startup claims to have served over 250 factories across the metal supply chain including major corporations such as Brakes India, and Titagarh Rail Systems. Before, this round the company was valued at $10 million. The startup will use some of this investment to enhance its resources, advance its technologies, innovate its services, and improve its platform to offer the best procurement solutions.

This funding will enable the startup to provide software solutions globally. The development came just after the metal procurement ecosystem saw increased investor interest. The company faces competition from companies like OfBusiness and MetalBook.

Conclusion :

The SaaS startup Now Purchase secured 6 million USD in its ongoing equity and debt funding round from Info Edge Ventures with the participation of VC Grid, 100 unicorns, and other angel investors. The startup intends to use fresh capital to scale its operations, expand its offerings, development of private labels, launch new services, and develop a market presence.

The company procures raw materials through scrap recycling services. The Metacloud SaaS platform acts as a foundational operating system for metal manufacturing. The platform allows metal manufacturers to enhance the transparency and efficiency of metal melting and production processes. The startup competes with other platforms in the same market segment including OfBusiness. 

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iBUS Nets INR 280 Cr From World Bank Group’s IFC To Expand Its Digital Infra Play In Overseas Market https://www.scoopearth.com/ibus-nets-inr-280-cr-from-world-bank-groups-ifc-to-expand-its-digital-infra-play-in-overseas-market/ Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:40:46 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344752 International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has invested INR 280 crore ($34 million) in Bengaluru-based digital infrastructure solutions provider, iBUS. This strategic investment will assist iBUS in improving its core service, and digital infrastructure and marketing its products across the international market. 

Image Solutions: iBUS  

Funding Details

The funding round is significant to iBUS as it is a blended capital comprising equity and debt. The investment from IFC also offers funding for business development, and experience and connections essential for iBUS when entering new markets. As a result of the transaction, IFC has invested in the form of equity stakes although in a non-controlling manner. This investment comes from a fresh round of funding from the NIIF which bought a 52% stake in iBUS for INR 1,658 crore ($200 million) this year. The latest funding round also saw early investors such as Morgan Stanley and high-net individual investors leaving with their returns ranging between 20-45%.

Vision of iBUS

iBUS was founded in 2013. iBUS mainly focuses on in-building telecom network solutions and Wi-Fi managed services. iBus is positioned as a market leader in the digital infrastructure business, providing highly effective solutions that improve connectivity and network performance inside buildings. The services of iBUS play a significant role in avoiding communication breakdown in densely populated areas such as offices, malls, and apartment buildings.

The chief business officer of iBUS, Subash Vasudevan said, “With this strategic investment, our focus will be on international expansion. The fund will be equally distributed between organic and inorganic expansion.” 

Quotation Source: inc42  

Annual Growth Rate and Expansion Plans of iBUS

iBUS has a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 60-65% for the past 5 years. In the financial year 2024, iBUS had a 40% y-o-y growth and a total of around INR 256 crore in revenue. The fresh capital from IFC will go a long way in helping iBUS to implement its strategic expansion plans. The management of iBUS wants the funds to be split in half between organic investments and inorganic investments. 

Global reach and expertise of IFC

IFC has assisted iBUS in expanding its operations beyond India and now the organization is ready to grow its market share. The international contact and experience of the IFC will be assets when it comes to dealing with the intricacies of going global. Similarly, iBUS can use the connections within IFC to secure partnerships and access new clients and markets. IFC’s investment strategies, including investing in companies like iBUS, focus on promoting innovation and improving digitalization to advance economic and social integration. 

Conclusion

IFC’s INR 280 crore investment in iBUS is a major achievement for the company, given the current status of digitalization across the globe. With iBUS continuing to grow its market presence in overseas markets, the company is well-positioned to become a major force in promoting digitalization and innovation within the digital infrastructure sector. 

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GMR infra net losses double up to ₹338 crore https://www.scoopearth.com/gmr-infra-net-losses-double-up-to-%e2%82%b9338-crore/ Wed, 14 Aug 2024 08:10:56 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344023 GMR Infrastructure (Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao Airports Infrastructure Limited) has come up with its Q1 consolidated financial results for the fiscal year 2024-25 and interestingly, the company has posted a significant growth in its net loss. Net losses increased to more than double the previous year and stood at ₹337.57 crore compared to ₹167.58 crore compared to the previous quarter which is Q4-FY24. This shows a very contrary situation to the company’s problems even as it had higher revenues.

Growth Plan of GMR Infrastructure

There are current development proposals that include increasing terminal handling capacity, constructing a second runway, and erecting a new ATC. These efforts will achieve the objective of increasing the capacity for future development. The business plays a significant role in infrastructure development initiatives. In particular, current and planned capacity enhancement initiatives such as Delhi, Hyderabad, and Crete airports prove GMR’s focus on increasing physical capacity and operational capacity.

GMR plans to operate as a pure play in the airport business thereby capitalizing on the company’s skills and other infrastructure in the aviation segment. By implementing these strategies, GMR Infrastructure is aimed at achieving sustainable growth and developing infrastructure in India. 

Revenue Growth and Profit Shift

Revenue from operations recorded a healthy 19% growth and touched ₹ 2,402.20 crore for the quarter that ended on 30th June 2024. This increase was primarily attributed to the company’s airport infrastructure segment. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax depreciation, and Amortization) has increased to ₹1,016.35 crore up from ₹860.28 crore in the year-ago period. Nevertheless, there was a marginal decrease in the EBITDA margin on a year-on-year basis.

Net profit margins thus dropped from a small profit of 0.77% as seen in the prior year to deeper losses of (-14. 05%) in the most recent quarter. This shows that some tough financial challenges are awaiting GMR Infrastructure in the future. There was a merger between GMR Airports (GAL) and GMR Airports Infrastructure (GIL) in July 2024. GIL holds high ownership of airports in India and other countries of the world. For instance, passenger traffic during this period reached its highest quarterly level ever at Delhi Airport.

Recent Milestones achieved in their expansion plans

Goa airport construction is actively underway, and the ceremony is scheduled for August this year. Both Delhi and Hyderabad Airport expansion works are going on as planned. This concession meant that GMR secured the rights to manage Medan Airport situated in Indonesia. The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the Bombay High Court that awarded the concession rights of Nagpur Airport to GMR Airport. The CP3 tariff order for Hyderabad Airport was issued by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) on the 31st of August, 2021. Such accomplishments showcase the capacity of GMR to increase the airport facilities and also grow the network.

It is essential to maintain the recent activities completed by GMR Infrastructure as a significant factor in its financial results. Airports being extended further to handle more passengers include Goa, Delhi, and Hyderabad which reflects higher passenger traffic and operational income. With an increasing number of passengers utilizing these amenities, there is an improvement in the top-line sales for GMR. GMR made a breakthrough in increasing its international portfolio by acquiring the concession to operate Medan Airport in Indonesia. Sales from overseas businesses may help strengthen total corporate earnings.

This brings legal certainty and is opportune for the parties involved – Nagpur Airport’s concession rights have been confirmed by the Supreme Court. Thus, consistent operations of the Nagpur Airport help in generating Revenues. The recently issued tariff order for Hyderabad Airport by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) fixed certain predictable revenues. The existence of clear tariff guidelines is helpful to the financial forecast of GMR.

Conclusion

GMR has been managing its finances as it goes through the challenges of operating in the infrastructure industry. Several factors have remained relevant for the company’s future performance including strategic activities and airport assets. 

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