startup – Scoopearth: Leading platform for startups & business news https://www.scoopearth.com Embrace the World of Start-ups, Technology, Business, Finance and Economy Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:49:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.scoopearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-sc-96x96.png startup – Scoopearth: Leading platform for startups & business news https://www.scoopearth.com 32 32 Every Aspiring Entrepreneur Should Know these 10 things Before Starting a Business https://www.scoopearth.com/every-aspiring-entrepreneur-should-know-these-10-things-before-starting-a-business/ Sat, 11 Jan 2025 11:09:45 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347792 Opening a new business is one of the most exciting and challenging career options. This journey is filled with various risks and uncertainty which comes with opportunities to innovate, solve problems, and create valuable solutions. Every aspiring entrepreneur needs the right knowledge and mindset before starting this journey.

Every business owner faces pressure from investors, sleepless nights, and anxiety and no amount of training can prepare you for it. As an entrepreneur, you need to learn from your mistakes and use failure as a ladder towards success. Entrepreneurs should ensure they have enough funding to run their businesses while investing in future growth.

Every company needs funding to advance in its journey and invest in equipment, product development, technology, and other resources to expand its services. Below are the things that every entrepreneur needs to know to secure funding and unlock their business’s full potential. A well-crafted document outlining the startup’s vision, detailed market analysis, mission, growth strategy, and more are needed for a business success. Let’s take a look into these ten important things for entrepreneurs.

Understand your target audience

Before starting a business, conduct market research and define your vision. You should know your potential customers, target market, and their preferences or problems. An entrepreneur must analyze market trends and competitors while understanding the demand for a new service or product. A comprehensive market understanding enables you to run the business effectively and provide solutions that meet your audience’s needs. Tools like surveys and industry reports can provide valuable insights.

Create a strong business plan and understand your funding needs

A business plan is not just a blueprint for your whole entrepreneurial journey but also a guide that prepares you to face future challenges. A clear understanding of the business plan allows you to calculate and raise funds more precisely. A well-crafted business plan that composes the startup’s vision, organizational structure, growth strategy, and detailed market analysis is the most important factor for fundraising.

The business plan should also include financial projections and marketing strategies. This helps entrepreneurs attract investors and secure funds. Knowing your funding requirements before approaching investors for funds is a must. Entrepreneurs or business owners should analyze how much funds they need to strengthen their startup.  The transparency gives investors a sense of trust and relief.

To determine how much capital you need to secure, start by evaluating the business’s finances, estimating operational expenses, and identifying flaws and potential gaps in the business model. While calculating for funds you should understand that to grow the company you must invest in product development, marketing, legal, or team expansion.

Analyze which funding source is better for your startup

Any startup needs funding to develop its services. This funding will enable you to strengthen your business and offer innovative solutions. So, understanding cash flow management, profit margins, and operational and other expenses is very important. You have various options like venture capital, angel investors, or bank loans to secure funds. Many entrepreneurs opt for financial advisors during this time.

While some traditional options like bank loans can provide loans, it can be risky for certain startups. Every startup requires different funding sources depending on the stage of development.

Venture Capital

Venture funding requires business owners to prove themselves by meeting VC firm’s high expectations. This deal follows cash injections, strategic guidance, and strong industrial connections. This investment is difficult to raise as VC firms invest only in promising startups with high growth potential.

Crowdfunding

When businesses try to raise a small amount of money from a huge group of people who believe in the company’s potential, we call it crowdfunding. While this is one of the most effective methods to secure funding, the brand must convey its message, strategic marketing, and business model.

Bootstrapping

This is a self-funding method through personal savings and by lending money from relatives or friends. Reports show only about 40 percent of startups become profitable under this funding. As the revenue is unpredictable, the employees might not get paid consistently. If you aim for this method, you must have enough money to take risks.

Angel Investors

Angel investors are wealthy individuals who do not expect much return. They usually invest due to emotional reasons. Some HNIs provide capital in exchange for convertible debt or equity. Before agreeing, you should first make sure to ask clearly how much ownership these angel investors want in the startup.

Build a strong team

Any business can be strong with a strong team behind it. As an entrepreneur, you start your journey alone but with increased demand and growth, you need a team for the perfect execution of ideas. Building a skilled team is the most important step for a startup’s success. This includes hiring experienced and knowledgeable talent, experts, and coaches. However, attracting top talent to a new business is not an easy task, particularly when the income you can provide is limited.

Try to find professionals with the same interests as you. Entrepreneurs must communicate a compelling vision while providing incentives beyond monetary compensation, such as opportunities for personal growth or equity share in the startup. The startup’s success rate increases with the right team. Once you get your team you need to divide roles and responsibilities. Creating a healthy working environment that meets collaboration, productivity, and innovation is equally important.

Maintain good relations with investors

Even after securing the funds, building good and strong relations with investors is very important if you want to stay in the industry. As an entrepreneur, you should keep your investors updated on progress, new products, challenges, and goals achieved through various meetings and reports. You need to maintain a detailed report of where you are using the money they are investing.

Transparent communication is a key to gaining investor’s trust and securing future funding from them. Investors are often experienced in this field and can provide strategic guidance to tackle challenges. They can also help you develop strong connections in the industry.

Importance of networking

Networking is one of the strongest tools to help you strengthen your position. Building relationships with industry experts, investors, clients, and mentors is important. The more connections you have the more opportunities and resources you will get. Now the question arises how can you build connections? The answer is simple, you need to attend industry events, seminars, business forums, or connect to other entrepreneurs through social media platforms like Linkedin.

The new network or connection will provide you with a new guide and a mentor is valuable for any new entrepreneur. Learning how to lead your business from someone who already crossed that phase can provide you with better guidance while preventing you from making the same mistakes as them. Developing a strong network opens the door for new collaboration and partnership opportunities.

Marketing and sales

Any product or service can’t reach its target audience until you promote it.  Effective marketing strategies are another important thing you need to know. An entrepreneur should know how digital marketing works. This includes search engine optimization, email campaigns, content marketing, and email advertisements. You should interact and reach your audience regularly while building a strong online presence.

Once you reach your target audience, you need to master sales techniques. This includes knowing how to sell your service, pitch your product, and address customer objections. A strong marketing strategy can boost revenue and grow the company. This is why mastering selling and marketing techniques is very important.

Develop a healthy mindset

Being an entrepreneur is a very difficult path, it is filled with immense pressure, risks, and a lot of effort. Creating a healthy mindset helps you go through this challenging face without losing focus. There are times when entrepreneurs need to make a difficult decision. Sometimes you can fall into self-doubt, affecting decision-making skills and making it difficult to make decisions. This is why you need to take care of your mental health.

You should learn from failure and transform it into opportunities while staying committed to your goal. Practicing a healthy mindset and maintaining a positive outlook while seeking support from your network can help you develop a sense of relief. Patience and adaptability are two pillars in the life of any entrepreneur.

Legal and regulatory compliance

Any business should meet legal and regulatory requirements. This includes obtaining a necessary license and registering your business. Regulatory hurdles can be a huge barrier for startups in highly regulated industries like IT, healthcare, finance, or AI. Entrepreneurs should have permits, meet health regulations, and ensure safety compliance. The business should follow the local, national, and international laws.

Entrepreneurs must familiarize themselves with local laws and other government agencies to ensure they meet all standards before launching the business. This whole procedure requires a thorough understanding of legal requirements and potential gaps. Understanding these laws will help avoid costly delays while ensuring a successful business launch.

An entrepreneur must consult a legal professional to help the business run within the law. Several startups get caught because of issues related to tax obligations, business registration, or regional laws. This is why it is advised to seek expert legal advice early on to help startups avoid costly mistakes. Being ready beforehand also develops credibility and investor’s trust.

Learn from customer reviews

We all know that any business becomes successful because of satisfied customers. The company’s image depends on customer satisfaction. Good customer service and seamless user experience are the top priority for any company. You need to learn from customer feedback and address their concerns. These reviews allow you to find flaws and advance your platform or services.

Solving problems and helping them with their requirements helps you build a strong and loyal customer base. These positive reviews help you reach more people. The digital era depends on online reviews and this can affect the business’s reputation easily.

Conclusion:

Starting a business is challenging, especially if you are new to this field without networking. This makes securing funding very difficult. The aspiring entrepreneur can succeed in the competitive market by understanding the target audience, crafting a solid business plan, and market reach, managing finances, and focusing on areas like networking, securing funding, and building a strong team. Maintaining good relations with investors and practicing a healthy mindset with continuous learning will further help the business owner strive toward growth.

]]> Snack brand, Beyond Snack secured $8.3 million in its series A funding round from 12 Flag Group https://www.scoopearth.com/snack-brand-beyond-snack-secured-8-3-million-in-its-series-a-funding-round-from-12-flag-group/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:24:12 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347744 Beyond Snack is a Banana chips brand that has secured 8.3 million USD from a consumer business-focused fund, 12 Flag Group in its ongoing series A round. The funding round saw the participation from other investors including Japanese VC firm Enrission India Capital, NAB Ventures, and Faad Network. The company plans to use these fresh proceeds to scale its operations, expand its network, improve production capability, and develop its market presence.

The startup intends to use some of this investment to strengthen its supply chain infrastructure. Beyond Snack is an internet-first brand that provides plant-based products to produce banana chips. The startup uses no artificial flavor or coloring while manufacturing chip flavors like cream, onion, salted, and pepper. The startup claims to offer snacks free of unsaturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. The new fund will enable the startup to expand into new areas.

The company has secured over 5.01 million USD across multiple funding rounds since its inception. This includes $3.5 million raised in its pre-series A funding round from the NAB VENTURES Fund. The startup has a post-money allotment valuation of 22.3 million USD. Before this round, the existing investor NAB VENTURES held the largest institutional stake in the firm. NAB VENTURES participated in this funding round to increase its stake in Beyond Snack.

Beyond Snacks provides its services in around 12 countries and plans to expand in the international markets. The firm claims to have already expanded its global footprint this year. The company aims to use some of this fund to improve its platform and expand its services while developing its presence in the market. The company also raised 810k USD in a funding round led by Enrission India Capital. The startup has around 11 institutional investors including Luckbox and Enrission India Capital.

The Kerala-based snack brand intends to use this amount to scale up its in-house infrastructure and improve its distribution network. The development came just after the snack sector saw increased investor interest. This investment shows investors’ trust in Beyond Snack’s market potential and business model. Beyond Snack faces competition from other banana-chip or snack-manufacturing brands such as SnacksDabba, Crizpo, and TrulyKerala.

Conclusion:

Beyond Snack is a Kerala-based internet-first brand offering snacks. The startup raised fresh capital of 8.3 million USD from the consumer business-focused fund, 12 Flags Group. The funding round saw the participation from the firm’s new and existing investors including NAB Ventures, Faad Network, and Japanese VC firm Enrission India Capital. Beyond Snack competes with other startups like Crizpo.

The company plans to use this amount to expand its services, scale its operations, and improve supply chain infrastructure. The startup also secured 3.5 million USD from the NAB Venture Fund in its pre-series A funding round in 2023. Earlier this year, the firm also raised 810k USD from Enrission India Capital in its ongoing seed round. The development came just after the snack industries saw increased public interest.

]]> EV Ride-hailing platform, Blusmart Mobility to raise $50 million in its series B funding round https://www.scoopearth.com/ev-ride-hailing-platform-blusmart-mobility-to-raise-50-million-in-its-series-b-funding-round/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:58:00 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347740 Blusmart Mobility is an online platform for ride-hailing services that announced its plan to secure Rs 425 crore in its new series B from its existing and new investors. The funding round is part of its ongoing funding and marks the second fundraising in the last six months. The startup provides various ride-hailing solutions and EV charging operators.

The company plans to use these fresh proceeds to scale its operations, enhance its performance capability, expand its network, and develop its market presence. The board has approved a resolution to allot 17,70,833 series B CCPS at an issue price of Rs 2,400 per share to raise $50 million. The company offers a fleet of electric vehicles that allows users to book rides.

The startup provides an online platform that uses advanced technologies to help users rent vehicles and connect with drivers. Blusmart secured Rs 61 crore from 26 angel investors and expects to complete this round by raising the remaining amount. The company aims to expand its services across Bandra, Goregaon, and Bandra Kurla Complex. Blusmart Mobility is an online ride-hailing platform that allows users to book rides by providing location, user details, and payment details.

The development came just after the company secured 24 million USD in its pre-series B funding round responsAbility with the participation of Sumant Sinha and other investors. The startup claims to have completed 22 million rides with around 5,800 charging stations, and 8,500 EVs. The company currently operates in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Delhi. This investment shows the investor’s trust in Blusmart Mobility’s market potential and business model.

The ride-hailing service provider reported a huge increase in its revenue to Rs 390 crore in FY23. The firm is yet to post the official financial result for FY24. The company has raised around $142 million across multiple funding rounds, including $5 million secured from responsibility and other investors during its Series A funding round. Blusmart receives investments from BP Ventures, Lightsource BP, and others.

The Mumbai-based EV firm is expected to have a post-money allotment valuation of Rs 3,050 crore. The EV firm offers scheduled pick-up and drop services using its electric vehicles. The new investment will enable the company to strengthen its network. Blusmart Mobility faces competition from other ride-hailing platforms such as Evera Cabs, and Malbork.

Conclusion:

Blusmart Mobility is an app-based ride-hailing service provider that plans to raise 50 million USD in its new series B funding round. The fundraising is expected to have participation from the firm’s new and existing investors. The startup plans to use this fresh capital to scale its operations, improve its services, and expand its network.

The development came after the firm secured $24 million from its existing investor in its pre-series B round. The board passed a resolution to raise Rs 425 crore by issuing 17,70,8333 series B CCPS at an issue price of Rs 2,400 each. Blusmart competes with companies like Evera Cabs. This marks the second funding round in the last six months.  

]]> Bakery brand Bankingo reported a revenue of Rs 209 crore with a 715.4 percent increase in its loss in FY24 https://www.scoopearth.com/bakery-brand-bankingo-reported-a-revenue-of-rs-209-crore-with-a-715-4-percent-increase-in-its-loss-in-fy24/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:44:42 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347730 Bakingo is an online bakery brand for cake and pastries that announced a 43.2 percent increase in operational revenue to Rs 208.7 crore in FY24. The startup provides a variety of cake flavors and styles. The firm also offers parties, photos, and special cakes in different themes. The sale of these products is the company’s major and only source of revenue.

The company has secured over 16 million USD across one funding round. The firm raised this amount during its maiden funding round from Faering Capital and other investors at a valuation of Rs 571 crore. The startup offers its services for occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, and other celebrations. The startup provides Gourmet cakes, Jar cakes, and cheese cakes with over 100 SKUs.

The Gurugram-based bakery brand allows users to buy cakes and desserts via both online and offline mediums. The online platform uses advanced technologies to provide a seamless customer experience. The cost of product procurement increased by 43 percent and crossed Rs 90 crore in FY24. This cost accounted for 42.2 percent of overall expenditure. The advertising expenses increased by 38 percent to Rs 27.7 crore in FY24. However, Rs 26.2 crore from the total expenditure goes to the platform commission expenses.

The firm’s total expenditure increased by 46.1 percent to Rs 213.8 crore in FY24. The startup reported a 715.4 percent increase in its losses of Rs 5.3 crore in the same duration. Meanwhile, the employee benefits saw a 40 percent increase to Rs 31.6 crore for this fiscal year. This increase in advertising, promotional, employee benefits, and procurement costs increased the total expenses and losses. The company aims to control its losses by reducing operating expenses and employee benefits.

The startup plans to enhance its brand presence and quality perception while increasing its distribution network. Bakingo posted a total current asset of Rs 96.5 crore in FY24.  The EBITDA margin became negative and stood at -0.98 percent in FY24 while the ROCE was around -6.05 percent in the same period. Bakingo faces competition from other companies in the same market segment such as The Baker’s Dozen, CakeZone, and Crème Castle.

Conclusion:

The bakery brand Bakingo announced a 43.2 percent increase in its revenue from operations to Rs 208.7 crore in FY24. This online platform offers multi-flavored cakes including Chocolate, Vanilla, and Butterscotch. The sale of these products is the firm’s primary source of revenue. The net loss also increased by 715.4 percent to Rs 5.3 crore in FY24. The startup posted total current assets worth Rs 96.5 crore for this financial year.

The cost of procurement was the highest expense for this year and stood at Rs 90 crore. While the employee benefits crossed Rs 31.6 crore in FY24. The firm’s total expenditure grew by 46.1 percent and crossed Rs 213.8 crore in the same duration. The company plans to control its operating and employee expenses to minimize its loss. The company has secured over 16 million USD from one funding to date.

]]> The Sharks of India and how they transformed the Indian Startup ecosystem https://www.scoopearth.com/the-sharks-of-india-and-how-they-transformed-the-indian-startup-ecosystem/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:32:59 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347724 India has always been known as a ground for innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Over the last few years, Indian startups found a fitting platform to raise funds through the popular reality television series Shark Tank India. This is an Indian version of the American Show Shark Tank. The show refers to entrepreneurs as sharks and brings together some of India’s most successful entrepreneurs to invest in promising startups.

This article provides a detailed explanation of these sharks and what they bring to the table. We will see their contributions and the effects of their participation in India’s startup ecosystem. The program caught the public interest through its perfect mix of innovation and investment. Shark Tank India is known for its inspiring stories and motivation for entrepreneurship. Season 4 was set to premiere on January 6th, Monday to Friday at 8 PM.

What is Shark Tank India ?

Shark Tank India is a Hindi-language reality show, where entrepreneurs give business presentations to a panel of investors. After watching these presentations, the sharks decide whether to invest in their companies. The first episode and season 1 of Shark Tank India aired on 20th December 2021.

The increased interest and hype from the general public made it a successful idea and the program came back with season 2 on 2nd January 2023. Season 3 featured six investors including Zomato’s founder and Oyo Room’s CEO. The first episode of season 3 was launched on 22nd January 2024. The Shark Tank India Season 4 followed the successful launch of previous seasons.

The panel of investors known as “sharks” are self-made multi-millionaires. They judge the product and business concept before deciding whether to invest their money to help them reach a bigger market. These sharks help the startups both by offering financial capital and mentorship. This season the show will be hosted by stand-up comedian Ashish Solanki and social media influencer Sahiba Bali.

Shark Tank India effects on the Indian startup ecosystem

Shark Tank India completely changed people’s perspective about entrepreneurs. The reality show marked a cultural shift in how business owners were perceived in the country. Instead of the common venture capital meetups, the concept of bringing unique ideas became mainstream. The sharks with impressive portfolios and experience played an important role in making this succeed. Every episode showcased unique strategic minds, industry insights, and negotiation skills while inspiring millions of entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams.

Who are the Sharks in Shark Tank India 4?

Sharks referred to the group of investors who achieved remarkable success and names in their respective fields. They sit in the panel and judge the entrepreneurs according to their key points. These angel investors then invest in the business to help the startups pursue their ideas and make them into reality.

The sharks for the new season include:

Kunal Bahl

Kunal Bahl is one of the two new sharks who will join the popular judge panel for this season. As the co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital, Kunal Bahl is known for his sharp business ideas and approach. His journey from being the founder of Snapdeal to Titan Capital highlights his experience in this field. His expertise in investments adds value to the startups he backs.

Viraj Bahl

Viraj Bahl is another new shark to join the cast of Shark Tank India for season four. Viraj is the founder and managing director of Veeba Consumer Products. He made his name in the Indian industry through his innovative approach to dealing with product development and business acumen. Everyone is eager to see how Bahl will use his risk-taking, and strategic vision skills in the program.

Namita Thapar

Namita Thapar, the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals is known for bringing a unique perspective to the table. Her experience and knowledge in the healthcare market help her provide strategic guidance to health-tech and wellness startups with financial backing. The way she approaches problems and solves them has made her a favorite among entrepreneurs seeking mentorship.

Aman Gupta

CMO and Co-founder of boAt, Aman Gupta made his return for the new season of Shark Tank India. Aman Gupta is a well-known name in the Indian Consumer electric market. He established his name in the industry by creating relatable and youth-centric brands. Apart from being seen as a good mentor, he is also one of the best investors with his strategic vision and deep understanding of the market he helped startups to succeed and capture India’s middle-class market.

Varun Dua

The founder of ACKO, Varun Dua has made various strategic investments to help startups. The investment in Dezerv, BNC, and Kuvera highlights his entrepreneurial skills. Dua is often praised for his better business processes and efficient product management skills. He is an angel investor who invests his money in promising startups in exchange for equity in the firm.

Vineeta Singh

The CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics, Vineeta Singh established her position in India’s beauty and personal care industry. She has been one of the permanent judges in the show since the first episode. Vineeta is known for her strategic investments and sharp business acumen. Apart from being a good investor, she has expertise in brand building, marketing, and scaling consumer-facing businesses.

Peyush Bansal

As the founder of Lenskart, Peyush Bansal transformed the eyewear industry in India. Bansal’s expertise lies in e-commerce, supply chain management, and consumer behavior. His successful track record in investments makes him an invaluable investor for startups in the retail sector. He has a keen eye for promising businesses and his reputation for supporting entrepreneurs with long investments and getting immediate profits makes him one of the best sharks in the show.

Anupam Mittal

Anupam Mittal is considered a good investor due to his experience in identifying promising startups in the Indian startup ecosystem. The founder of Shaadi.com took India’s matchmaking market by storm. His experience in digital and technical industries brings deep insights into scaling any business, especially in consumer services and technology sectors. While investing, he focuses on key factors like market timing, team, and total addressable market.

Azhar Iqubal

The CEO of Inshorts, Azhar Iqubal joined the shark tank India in season 3 and is returning to the sharks panel for season 4 as well. He also received the “BusinessWorld Young Entrepreneur Award” and the “Leaders of Asia Award”. His investments are mainly across the enterprise applications and retail sectors. Azhar is known for his strategic approach to helping startups financially. His investment portfolio includes companies like Cavaloop and QuickReply.  

Ritesh Agarwal

Oyo Room’s founder Ritesh Agarwal has invested in several companies and helped them gain profits. Agarwal invested in around 30 startups including well-known companies like Unacademy and Zingbus. Ritesh mainly makes investments across the enterprise tech, retail, and edtech sectors.

What do they bring to the table?

Financial help

The main aim of the reality show was to find interested investors who were willing to invest in the startups. The biggest contribution of the sharks is the willingness to invest in new businesses. Apart from money-related help these sharks also provide a sense of credibility and support. Securing funds from these sharks means you can also attract additional funding from other investors in the industry.

Mentorship

While investment is the main motive of sharks and reality shows, they don’t just leave the companies after investing money. These sharks provide their time and effort in the startup to help the founders run their company smoothly and gain profits. The investors also help shape and navigate these startups across domains.

Industry Expertise

Every shark or angel investor has an area of expertise in which they are specialized and the investor brings this knowledge and experience to help new startups. For example, Aman Gupta has expertise in branding and marketing which can help startups navigate across these domains easily.

Strategic Guidance

Apart from monetary investment, the shark also helps the firm refine its business model and identify market gaps. The strategic advice from investors helps them avoid common pitfalls, and financial loss while scaling efficiently. Strategic guidance helps to create more informed steps and documents to face future challenges.

Networking

The vast network of these sharks opens doors for startups. This allows the companies to secure partnerships and collaboration while reaching a huge market. Networking is the most difficult part for startups but Shark Tank India provides it to them easily. The show creates a huge network of entrepreneurs who can connect and share experiences, and tips while supporting each other.

Mental and emotional challenges faced by entrepreneurs

Doubt

Self-doubt or doubt related to business is the most common challenge you will face while creating a startup. This can come right before you think about launching a product or mid-way through your business when it does not do well. If you are thinking of becoming a business owner you need to think about how to work through this phase.

There are times when entrepreneurs need to make a difficult decision which might cause a big loss to the company. This can lead to self-doubt and affect decision-making skills, making it difficult to make decisions. This is why you need to take care of your mental health and believe in yourself at times like this.

Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is a common challenge faced by business owners. The pressure from investors to meet the deadline in a limited amount can lead to self-doubt. This fear of failing also makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to take risks. This often affects the growth and innovation of the businesses.

Failure is a part of the entrepreneur’s life; it is a stepping stone to success. Failure allows a startup to learn from its mistakes and create innovative solutions. Learning and growing is the most important part of a startup’s growth.

Stress

Stress can’t be avoided; it comes as a part of being a business owner. The pressure from business partners, investors, and other teams to meet financial demands can cause stress.  Some people might work well under pressure as they need a push from back to keep them motivated while some may feel helpless and give up.

So, how you deal with pressure depends on your personality. As an entrepreneur, you need to carry the weight of business on your shoulders, so you can’t be freed from work-related stress.

Impact of Shark Tank India on Indian Startups

Democratization of Entrepreneurship

Shark Tank India provides a strong network of startups. Traditionally, funding for startups was limited to those with established networks but Shark Tank India democratized access to funding by providing a platform for all entrepreneurs from different backgrounds to present their ideas and secure funding irrespective of their networks.

Diversity promotion

The show has participants from all over the world with varied backgrounds and religions. Through its diverse pool of participants, it promotes diversity in the startup ecosystem. The show has continuously contributed to a representative and inclusive entrepreneurial landscape in India.

Boost early-stage startups

Shark Tank India provides funding and mentorships to startups in the early stages. These startups often struggle to secure funds due to little or no network in the industry. The show provides a platform for these startups and helps them gain visibility to secure resources. This increases their chances of success.

Job creation

After the startup gets funds from sharks and gets into the eyes of the media, they experience rapid growth. The scaling up of these startups led to the creation of jobs across various sectors. These new employee opportunities also improve economic development and lessen the unemployment rates.

Empowerment of women entrepreneurs

Shark Tank India is also a platform that empowers women entrepreneurs. This platform provides a chance to secure funding by sharing their innovative ideas. Increased participation from women entrepreneurs not only promotes empowerment but also gender equality.

Inspiring Youths

The show became a source of inspiration for the youth of India. Shark Tank India encourages the younger generation to think creatively and make it a reality by taking risks while pursuing entrepreneurship as their career path. This mindset will help India in future innovation and economic development.

Cultural change

Shark Tank India showcased risk-taking and innovation as a path to success, which shifted the social attitude toward entrepreneurship. The show normalized the idea of failing through success stories which shaped the public perspective and attitude toward startups. The idea of trying again and learning from mistakes gave motivation for people to start their own businesses.

Challenges and Criticism Faced by the Shark Tank India

Shark Tank India is a widely-known reality show and often praised by industry experts but it also faced criticism. One of the few arguments was about how the show prioritizes entertainment over a practical business evaluation. Some raised suspicions that not all the deals made on the show got translated into actual investments. The high expectations and unrealistic scopes of some sharks also sparked a few controversies.

Exaggerated expectation:

The show added a bit of entertainment spice and portrayed overnight success stories showing unrealistic expectations. This angered some viewers as it showed unrealistic stories to aspiring entrepreneurs as the success of any business requires hard work, dedication, and patience, even with investors funding.

Funding being shown as the pillar to success:

Even though funding is important for any startup some people pointed out that the reality show overemphasized its importance. Shark Tank India was criticized for not highlighting that the success of any business goes beyond securing funding. Some people pointed out that the show should focus on how creating a sustainable business model is also important.

What to expect from Shark Tank India in the future?

With its growing popularity, the show is expected to leave a strong impression on its viewers. The show can be seen as a key driver for India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, encouraging India’s youth towards innovation and risk-takers. With its upcoming season, the show has the potential to propel India’s startup landscape. Shark Tank India addresses challenges, showcases diverse success stories, and promotes promising entrepreneurs. The show will catalyze innovation and help in the growth of economic development.

Conclusion:

Shark Tank India is an Indian Version of the American Show Shark Tank where entrepreneurs try to impress sharks through their unique Ideas and business presentations. Sharks are the panel of judges who invest in the startups. The reality show is already on its season 4 which was released yesterday on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

The sharks provide more than just financial investments; they help startups by offering them mentorship and strategic guidance. The investors try to shape and navigate the startup. This show aims to empower entrepreneurs while improving India’s startup ecosystem. As the show continues to inspire and influence the Indian Youths to take risks in business it also helps in economic growth. The article discussed everything you need to know about the sharks in India.

]]> D2C tea startup Vahdam reported a revenue of Rs 235 crore with a 68 percent decrease in its loss in FY24 https://www.scoopearth.com/d2c-tea-startup-vahdam-reported-a-revenue-of-rs-235-crore-with-a-68-percent-decrease-in-its-loss-in-fy24/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 08:19:59 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347687 Vahdam is an internet-first brand for tea powders that announced a 10.6 percent increase in operational revenue to Rs 225.2 crore in FY24. The startup provides various tea flavors such as herbal, lemon, and ginger tea. The company also offers drinkware, spices, and other products. These product sales account for 99 percent of the total income and are the company’s primary source of revenue.

The firm also earns its income through non-operating services which stood at Rs 10 crore in FY24. The USA market accounted for 68.5 percent of total operating revenue and increased by 12 percent to Rs 154.2 crore for this financial year. These services brought the overall revenue to Rs 235 crore in FY24. This D2C tea brand has secured over 40 million USD across multiple funding rounds since its inception, including $24 million raised during its series D funding round led by 360 One, Sixth Sense Ventures, and others.

Vahdam Teas provides premium tea and spices directly from farms to its customers. The company offers its products across the US, Europe, and Canada markets through its own websites and online marketplaces. The USA remained the largest contributor to the firm’s operating revenue followed by India, which grew by 18 percent to Rs 14.84 crore. Europe contributed Rs 37.4 crore and the remaining Rs 19.8 crore came from other countries.

The Delhi-based company claims to use caffeine-free and natural ingredients in its products, positioning it well in the global market. The startup managed to control its losses by reducing employee benefits and other expenses. The firm posted an 18.4 percent increase in its employee benefits which stood at Rs 29 crore in FY24. The cost of materials was around Rs 47 crore, while the advertising cost decreased by 18.9 percent to Rs 50 crore in the same duration. The company’s loss saw a 67.9 percent decrease and stood at Rs 17.7 crore in this financial year.

The freight and forwarding expenses declined by 7 percent and crossed Rs 68 crore while other expenses stood at Rs 58.9 crore in FY24. The startup reported current assets of Rs 142 crore in this financial year. The total expenditure decreased by 4.7 percent and crossed Rs 253 crore in FY24. The EBITDA margin stood at -4.26 percent while the ROCE was around -13.20 percent in this fiscal year. The company faces competition from tea brands such as Teabox, Jade Forest, and Brewhouse Tea.

Conclusion:

Vahdam Teas announced a 10.6 percent increase in its revenue from operations to Rs 225.2 crore in this fiscal year. The D2C startup offers premium-quality tea and spices through its online platforms. Product sales are the company’s major source of revenue. The startup posted a 68 percent decrease in its losses and crossed Rs 17.7 crore in FY24. Employee benefits stood at Rs 29 crore in the same duration. The non-operating services pushed the total revenue to Rs 235 crore in the same duration.

]]> GenAI startup Consint.AI secured Rs 5 crore from Seafund and Equanimity Ventures in its seed funding round https://www.scoopearth.com/genai-startup-consint-ai-secured-rs-5-crore-from-seafund-and-equanimity-ventures-in-its-seed-funding-round/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 07:44:52 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=347677 Consint.AI is a GenAI-based healthcare startup for risk and healthcare insurance fraud management. The startup secured Rs 5 crore in its ongoing seed funding round from Equanimity Ventures and Seafund. The Firm’s existing and new investors also participated in the round. The startup plans to use these fresh proceeds to scale its operations, improve its platform, expand its team, and expand its sales outreach while strengthening its position in the health tech market.

The Gen AI firm aims to use some of this investment to improve its research & development efforts and develop a Generative AI feature Suite for the health AI platform. Since its inception, the company has secured around 420k USD across one funding round. The firm raised this amount from Venture Garage and Equanimity Investments during its seed funding round. The startup aims to optimize healthcare claims and funds transactions.

The startup intends to use this investment to improve its offerings while expanding its operations. The company leverages advanced technologies to offer a seamless user experience and secure transactions. The firm also provides other healthcare platforms like Risk.ai, which is designed to optimize insurance transactions. Another online platform CIPHR.ai aims to enhance critical patient management. The firm plans to enhance the healthcare experience for its customers across the globe using various Gen AI technologies.

This Noida-based company wants to provide affordable and efficient healthcare solutions. The startup receives investments from Venture Garage and Equanimity Investments. Consint.AI claims to have expanded its services into the Middle East, India, and Africa in the past year. The development came just after the Gen AI ad healthcare platform received increased investor interest. Before this round, the existing investor, Equanimity Investments was the firm’s largest institutional investor.

This investment shows the investor’s trust in ConsInt AI’s market potential and business model. The startup plans to expand its customer base and strengthen its position in the Gen AI market. The development came just when the Gen AI sector caught the interest of investors in the Indian startup ecosystem. The Generative AI market is predicted to increase and reach its highest peak by the end of 2030. ConsInt AI faces competition from other healthcare platforms with Gen AI technologies such as IKS Health, Citus Tech, and Azalea Health.

CONCLUSION:

Consint AI is an online healthcare insurance fraud and risk management platform that raised Rs 5 crore in its ongoing seed funding round from the participation of Equanimity Ventures and Seafund. The company intends to use this fresh capital to improve its online platform, scale its operations, and strengthen its position in the healthtech market. The startup has secured around 420k USD across one seed funding round from Venture Garage and other investors.

This Gen AI firm aims to enhance and provide affordable healthcare solutions. The company has developed various platforms for health management services like Risk.ai and CIPHR AI. The company claims to offer its services in India, Africa, and the Middle East. Consint AI competes with other platforms like Citus Tech and IKS Health.

]]> Business Phone and CRM startup, Superfone secured $1.9 million from YourNest Venture Capital and other investors in its pre-series A funding round https://www.scoopearth.com/business-phone-and-crm-startup-superfone-secured-1-9-million-from-yournest-venture-capital-and-other-investors-in-its-pre-series-a-funding-round/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:39:40 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=346779 Superfone is an online platform offering mobile CRM that raised 1.9 million USD in its ongoing pre-series A funding round. YourNest Venture Capital led the funding round with an investment of $950,000 with the participation of other investors including Finsight Seed Fund, Ankur Capital, and angel investors. The startup plans to use these fresh proceeds to scale its customer acquisition efforts, expand its customer reach, strengthen its engineering and production team, and develop its market presence.

The company also intends to use this investment to acquire national-level telecom licenses and improve its performing capabilities. The startup offers a platform with client business mobile numbers that enables customers to connect with businesses. This application allows the teams to auto-record calls so clients can review calls when needed. Superfone also provides features like sharing business cards, locations, websites, payment links, and catalogs. The company plans to expand its network in Latin America and Southeast Asia regions.

The company uses advanced technologies to offer a seamless customer experience. The AI-powered design business phone and CRM firm aims to transform the landscape of business phone numbers by changing the traditional SIM card method to an app-based solution. The company integrates advanced tools like CRM, WhatsApp marketing, AI-based agents, and lead management in one application. This new funding round is a part of YourNest Sanchi Connect Velocity Program 2024, which is an initiative taken by Sanchi Connect and YourNest to support startups with high growth.

The company previously raised around 1.84 million USD from its existing investor Ankur Capital, Angel List, and others during its seed funding round in 2021. Before this funding round, the company’s post-money valuation was around 10.3 million USD. The company focuses on expanding its services and customer reach. The investments highlight investor’s trust in Superfone’s market potential and business model. This startup provides the best solutions to address the challenges faced by small and medium businesses.

The Bengaluru-based startup claims to have empowered more than 10 million small businesses in India and helped them to accelerate growth. The company faces competition from other platforms in the same market segment such as LeadSquared and ActiveCampaign. The development just after this sector saw increased interest from investors. Superfone mainly plans to use these fresh proceeds to streamline operations and enhance customer engagement.

Conclusion:

Superfone is an application-based business phone and CRM startup for small businesses. The firm secured 1.9 million USD in its ongoing pre-series A funding round from YourNest Venture Capital and others. YourNest led the round along with Ankur Capital, Finsight Seed Fund, and angel investors. The company intends to use this fresh capital to enhance its engineering and product teams, scale its operations, and acquire a national-level telecom license.

The startup provides an application-based platform that helps customers to connect with their businesses.  The company aims to transform business phone numbers by changing traditional SIM cards with app-based solutions that integrate advanced technologies like CRM and AI-powered agents.

]]> Foodtech startup Rebel Foods secured $210 million from Temasek and Evolvence in its series G funding round https://www.scoopearth.com/foodtech-startup-rebel-foods-secured-210-million-from-temasek-and-evolvence-in-its-series-g-funding-round/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:17:27 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=346775 Rebel Foods is a cloud kitchen startup that offers virtual networks for food businesses. The startup secured 210 million USD in its ongoing series G funding round from Temasek. This round saw the participation of the firm’s existing investors including Evolvence. This fundraising was a mix of primary and secondary share sales. The startup plans to use these fresh proceeds to scale its business, improve its platform, expand its footprint, and strengthen its presence while enhancing its brand portfolio.

The food tech firm aims to use some of this investment to expand its network in India. The company has secured around 516 million USD across multiple funding rounds since its inception, including the $13.2 million raised during its conventional debt funding round from Alteria Capital and Innoven Capital. The startup operates a chain of restaurants and manages several food brands through its virtual network. The equity round came after a three-year gap for the firm. Rebel Foods raised around 50 million USD through five tranches in the last two years.

The startup intends to use this investment to improve its offerings while expanding its customer reach. The company leverages cloud kitchen platforms and offers an operating system of culinary innovation, cooking equipment, and a robust supply chain. The firm also provides technology to manage sales and revenue for food businesses. The company operates over 450 cloud kitchens worldwide, including around 75 in Indian cities, Indonesia, the UK, and the MENA region. The startup receives investments from Peak XV, Evolvence India, Qatar Investment Authority, and Couture.

The Mumbai-based startup saw an increase in its revenue from operations to Rs 1,420 crore in FY24. The firm saw a 42 percent increase in its losses to Rs 378 crore in the same duration. The development came just after the cloud kitchen platform got approval from the Competition Commission of India. Revel Foods emerged as the largest player in the cloud kitchen and food tech sector. Before this round, the existing investor, Sequoia Capital was the firm’s largest institutional investor. This investment shows the investor’s trust in Rebel Food’s market potential and business model. Rebel Foods faces competition from other cloud kitchen platforms including Biryani By Kilo, Curefoods, Bigspoon, HOI Foods, and others.

Conclusion:

Rebel Foods is a cloud kitchen platform that raised $210 million in its ongoing series G funding round from the participation of Evolvence and Temasek. This funding round was a mix of primary and secondary share sales. The company intends to use this fresh capital to improve its online platform, expand its network, and enhance its portfolio brand. The startup has secured around 516 million USD across 21 funding rounds since its inception.

This food tech firm manages food brands and products including restaurants. The company provides services in 75 Indian cities with 450 cloud kitchens and serves customers across various locations. Rebel Foods posted a revenue of Rs 1,420 crore in FY24 and it competes with cloud kitchen platforms like Cure Foods, EatClub, and Biryani By Kilo.

]]> Indian startups raised $579.5 million this week led by Zepto, Healthkart, and Bilitz https://www.scoopearth.com/indian-startups-raised-579-5-million-this-week-led-by-zepto-healthkart-and-bilitz/ Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:35:02 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=346548 Indian startups made 18 deals from November 18th to November 23rd. The amount raised from these deals was around $579.5 million in funding this week. The total funding increased by 212 percent compared to the last week. Funding activity increased in India’s startup ecosystem this week as the number went from last week’s $185.8 million raised across 21 deals to $579.5 million across 18 deals.

The consumer service startup, Zepto topped the overall and the sectorial funding list this week. The total funding amount raised by the startups in this sector was $354 million across three deals. Zepto secured $350 million in its fresh funding round from Motilal Oswal, Taparia Family Office, and other investors. The quick commerce platform Zepto secured this amount in its funding rounds at a valuation of 5 billion USD.

The funding round saw the participation of the Cello Family Office, RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, and Sachin Tendulkar. The company provides an online grocery delivery platform. Another consumer services company, Swish secured $2 million during its seed funding round from Accel, Varun Khaitan, and other investors.

The seed funding sector saw an 85 percent increase this week as it went up from last week’s $5.9 million to this week’s $10.9 million. E-commerce startups secured the most deals and raised $158 million across five deals. Consumer services had the same number of deals and raised $354 million. The Fintech sector emerged as the second favorite of investors this week as it raised $28.7 million across two deals. Zopper led the list of fintech in funding this week. This fintech platform provides financial services and loaning options to its customers. The startup secured $25 million during its ongoing series D funding round from Elevation Capital, Blume Ventures, and Dharana Capital.

Most of these startups were from e-commerce, consumer services, logistics, and fintech sectors followed by media and entertainment, deep tech, and enterprise tech startups like Taqtics. Other major deals this week include. Logistic startup, Locad raised $9 million from Global Ventures, Antler Elevate, and Reefknot Investments during its pre-series B funding round with the participation of other investors.

The fintech firm CredFlow contributed $3.7 million in funding this week, as it raised $3.7 million in its pre-series B funding round from Inflexor Ventures. Theranautilus led the list in the deep tech sector with $1.2 million raised in its seed funding round from Pi Ventures, Abhishek Goyal, and Sparrow Ventures.

Conclusion :

18 deals were made by Indian startups from November 18th to November 23rd securing over $579.5 million in funding. Zepto secured the biggest amount of $350 million raised in its funding round it dominated the funding trend in the consumer service sector. Other notable investments include Healthkart which had the highest fundraising in the e-commerce sector with $153 million in its fresh funding round.

Most of these startups were from the e-commerce, fintech, and consumer services sectors followed by media and entertainment startups like Kratos Gaming Network which raised $10 million in its funding round. E-commerce and consumer services startups had the highest number of deals.

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