Browsing: Industry Updates

Mahaveer Finance raised Rs 200 crore in its first venture round led by Elevation Capital. The Chennai-based NBFC plans to expand its loan book, invest in tech, and diversify into products like LAP. With 80+ branches across South India, it targets Rs 5,000 crore in assets and Rs 100 crore monthly disbursals.

Alpha Partners has expanded its footprint to the UAE with the launch of Alpha Partners FZE, enhancing its cross-border legal advisory between India and the MENA region. The move strengthens the firm’s ability to serve international clients across corporate, regulatory, and dispute resolution matters.

Dugar Finance secured a $3 million debt from Symbiotics Investments. This funding aims to boost electric vehicle and rooftop solar financing. The focus is on residential consumers, MSMEs, and housing societies. These are located in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. British International Investment supports the bond. Ramesh Dugar highlights the mission to link financial inclusion with sustainability.

Men’s ethnicwear brand Kisah Apparels has successfully raised Rs 13 crore in its latest funding round, led by Sagar Daryani of Wow Momo. With this fresh capital, the brand is set to enhance its physical retail footprint and direct-to-consumer initiatives.

According to a report by data intelligence platform Tracxn, former executives at startups who have floated their own ventures are 3x more likely to bag seed funds than others. The funding boost comes on the back of ESOP buyback-led liquidity, desire for new opportunities, return of talent from the US, and the impact of mass layoffs.

The drone startup, which is backed by former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will use the funds for scaling up production capacity from 8,000 drones per annum now to between 12,000 and 15,000 units. The funds will also help boost R&D efforts and expand its export presence to 50 countries by the year-end.

Flexiloans, an NBFC focusing on small businesses, secured Rs 375 crore in funding, led by existing investors like Fundamentum and Accion. This capital infusion, a mix of primary and secondary, will fuel its expansion into secured lending and insurance distribution. Flexiloans achieved profitability for three consecutive years, with Rs 263 crore revenue and Rs 3 crore profit in FY24.

Decentro, a fintech startup, secured Rs 30 crore in funding led by InfoEdge Ventures. The company intends to move its base from Singapore to India. This move aligns with other Indian startups returning home. Decentro aims to enhance its products and expand its enterprise adoption. They offer APIs for KYC, payments, and debt collection.

The Bengaluru-based company, which provides standardised athletic assessments for children, will use the funds to develop its proprietary AI models, expand in domestic markets, and enhance support systems for athletes.

Agritech startup GROWiT India raised $3 million in a round led by GVFL, with participation from several investors. The funds will support expansion, enhance R&D, and improve technology infrastructure. CEO Saurabh Agarwal emphasised using technology to tackle climate challenges and promote sustainable, cost-effective farming for increased yields.