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Exclusive: Defense startup NewSpace to raise Rs 115 Cr debt

EntrackrEntrackr · 3m ago
Exclusive: Defense startup NewSpace to raise Rs 115 Cr debt
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Exclusive: Defense startup NewSpace to raise Rs 115 Cr debt Defense startup NewSpace is set to raise Rs 115 crore ($13.3 million) in debt funding led by Lend Lease Company India Ltd, angel investor Ahmed Nalwala, ARA Investment with the participation of 35 other investors. The board at Newspace passed a resolution to approve the issue of 115 compulsory convertible debentures at a face value of Rs 1,00,00,000 each to raise the above-mentioned amount, according to its regulatory filing filed with RoC. Lend Lease will lead the round with an investment of Rs 13 crore, followed by angel investor Ahmed Nalwala and ARA Investment, who will invest Rs 10 crore each. NK Trust and Weil Investments will contribute Rs 7 crore and Rs 5 crore, respectively, while Gauri Khan Family Trust will join with Rs 2 crore. The remaining amount will be covered by 32 other investors, including several angel investors. The company will utilize the proceeds from this funding for general operating and working capital requirements, as well as capital expenditure to support business expansion, the filing added. Founded in 2019, NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) is an Indian aerospace and defense company that develops advanced unmanned systems and persistent drones. These are used for military and civilian purposes like surveillance, communication, and logistics. NRT works with various government agencies, including the Ministry of Defence, the NDRF, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, while also exploring civil logistics. The company also offers specific drone models such as the BELUGA, NIMBUS, MACKEREL, and NIMBUS-SCOPE. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, the dronetech company has so far raised over $80 million, from investors including Volrado Venture Partners, Pavestone, QRG Investments, and others. For the fiscal year ended March 2024, the Bengaluru-based startup’s revenue declined sharply to Rs 96.25 lakh from Rs 103 crore in FY23. The company also reported a loss of Rs 62 crore during the period, compared to a profit in the previous year.

Swiggy gets shareholder nod to raise Rs 10,000 Cr via QIP

EntrackrEntrackr · 12d ago
Swiggy gets shareholder nod to raise Rs 10,000 Cr via QIP
Medial

Swiggy gets shareholder nod to raise Rs 10,000 Cr via QIP Food and quick commerce major Swiggy has secured shareholder approval to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore via a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), opening the door to one of the largest equity raises by an internet-era company in India. The special resolution was passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on December 8, after the board had cleared the proposal on November 7. According to the stock exchange filing, 99.47% of votes cast were in favour of the plan. With this approval in place, the issuance can proceed as soon as this week. The Rs 10,000 crore infusion will be used to bolster Swiggy’s capital base and accelerate growth across its core food delivery business and its quick-commerce arm Instamart. With competition heating up in the instant-grocery segment, from the likes of Blinkit and Zepto, Swiggy needs a substantial war chest for warehousing, dark stores, logistics, and customer acquisition. At the current trading price, the fresh issue could result in over 10% equity dilution for existing shareholders. This marks Swiggy’s first major capital raise since its IPO in November 2024, when it raised roughly Rs 4,500 crore. Recently, Swiggy reported that its losses widened 74% year-on-year to Rs 1,092 crore in Q2 FY26, while Instamart’s revenue doubled during the same period. The company’s operating revenue surged 23% to Rs 3,760 crore in the quarter, driven by higher order frequency and quick-commerce traction. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru-based company also exited Rapido, securing Rs 2,399.5 crore and yielding over a 2.5X return on its investment made less than four years ago. With market conditions and investor demand permitting, the QIP could be launched imminently. If successful, it would provide Swiggy with the financial leverage needed to accelerate scale in both food delivery and quick commerce, though the dilution may also test the patience of existing retail investors.

Ecom Express DRHP: Partners Group to sell stake worth Rs 931 Cr

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Ecom Express DRHP: Partners Group to sell stake worth Rs 931 Cr
Medial

Logistics firm Ecom Express has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an initial public offering (IPO). The DRHP has come just after days of an Entrackr report about the firm’s board giving a nod for the IPO. The firm has proposed to raise RS 2,600 crore in IPO, through a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 1,284.5 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to Rs 1,315.5 crore worth equity shares. Partners Group will be offloading shares worth up to Rs 931 crore, while Warburg Pincus and BII (formerly CDC Group) will sell shares worth Rs 211 crore and Rs 137 crore, respectively, during the offer for sale. As per the time of filing, Partners Group is the largest stakeholder with 49.76% followed by Warburg Pincus and BII (British International Investment ) which hold 27.13% and 10.03%, respectively. As per the DRHP, IIFL Securities Limited, Axis Capital, Kotak Investment, and UBS Securities India are the book-running lead managers of the issue. This is the second attempt by the 13 year-old-firm for public listing. In February 2022, it approved a fundraise of up to Rs 4,860 crore via a public issue of shares. However, the firm put a hold on its IPO plan then. Meanwhile, Ecom Express is also raising Rs 1,424 crore (approximately $172 million) from existing investors via right issue. Since its inception, it has scooped up more than $250 million through equity and debt. Ecom Express provides logistics services in over 2,700 towns and 27,000 pin codes in India. The firm delivered 514 million shipments in 2024 while its competitor Delhivery did 740 million during the same period. Importantly, out of 514 million shipments handled in FY24, Tier 2 cities accounted for 81.79% of the shipments while Metro and Tier 1 cities were at 10.52% and 7.69% respectively. The logistics firm reported flat revenue in the last fiscal year, but the firm managed to cut costs drastically. It posted a modest 2.1% increase in its revenue to Rs 2,609 crore in FY24 as compared to Rs 2,554 crore in FY23. Its losses shrank by 40% to Rs 256 crore in the same period.

Ecom Express’ revenue goes past Rs 2,500 Cr in FY23; losses surge 4X

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Ecom Express’ revenue goes past Rs 2,500 Cr in FY23; losses surge 4X
Medial

E-commerce-focused logistics company Ecom Express has managed 20% year-on-year growth during the fiscal year ended March 2023. However, the company’s losses skyrocketed four-fold as its shipping and employee benefits costs rose sharply in the same period. Ecom Express’ revenue from operations increased by 21.9% to Rs 2,548 crore in FY23 from Rs 2,090 crore in FY22, its consolidated financial statements filed with the Registrar of Companies show. Twelve-year-old Ecom Express is an e-commerce focused logistics solution provider. Income from its courier services formed 90% of the revenue. This income grew 17.5% in FY23 whereas the remaining collections minted from warehousing services. The company also made Rs 34 crore from interest on deposits and current investments tallying its overall income to Rs 2,582 crore in FY23. See TheKredible for the detailed revenue breakup Expenses Breakdown Total ₹ 2,185 Cr Total ₹ 2,856 Cr ”https://thekredible.com/company/ecom-express/financials” View Full Data To access complete data, visit”https://thekredible.com/company/ecom-express/financials” Cost of materials consumed Cost of materials consumed Employee benefit Employee benefit Rent and repairs Rent and repairs Legal professional Legal professional Safety security Safety security Others To check complete Expense Breakdown visit thekredible.com View full data Caveat: We have not included the cost of impairment loss on non-financial assets during the fiscal year ending March 2023. The increased shipping cost and employee benefits made Ecom Express bleed heavily, shooting its losses up by 4X to Rs 375 crore in FY23 from Rs 91 crore in FY22. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin stood at -21% and -5.2% respectively. On a unit level, it spent Rs 1.12 to earn a rupee in FY23. FY22-FY23 FY22 FY23 EBITDA Margin 4% -5.2% Expense/₹ of Op Revenue ₹1.05 ₹1.12 ROCE -4% -21% The Warburg Pincus-backed company has raised over Rs 2,000 crore ($240 million) to date. According to the data intelligence platform, TheKredible, Warburg Pincus was the largest external stakeholder with 48.26% followed by Partners Ground and CDC Group. Ecom Express was all set to float its initial public offering (IPO) in early 2022 as it approved a fundraise through a public issue of shares. However, it postponed listing plans in October 2022 and dialed up existing investors to raise $39 million during the same period. Built on a promise of wringing out more efficiencies with use of technology and other steps, the worsening of margins seems to be a one off, as the firm will look to a more balanced output in FY24. It has done well to carve out a share for itself in the logistics space, and the only crimp on the horizon seems to be the deceleration seen in e-commerce sales itself. That will hurt Ecom Express, seeing how deeply the firm is focused on the segment. A year of single digit growth, even with lower profits is not something it will want at this stage, and that might actually force more streamlining than it bargained for.

Exclusive: Former Accel and GoTo executives raising funds for prediction market startup Agara

EntrackrEntrackr · 5d ago
Exclusive: Former Accel and GoTo executives raising funds for prediction market startup Agara
Medial

Exclusive: Former Accel and GoTo executives raising funds for prediction market startup Agara Prediction markets startup Agara is in talks to raise over $7 million in a new funding round, according to sources aware of the discussions. “Accel will invest in the round,” said one person familiar with the matter, adding that discussions are ongoing and terms could still change. “The company is seeking a post-money valuation of around $25 million.” Founded by Nikhil Ramesh and Manasjoti Saloi, Agara is building an opinion sharing and prediction markets platform that allows users to earn money by predicting outcomes of future events. The platform is expected to enable participation across categories such as sports, entertainment, politics, weather, culture, technology, and crypto. The founders bring experience across AI and large scale consumer products. Ramesh previously worked as an AI Resident at Accel between March and November 2025. Saloi earlier served as vice president of product management at GoTo Group for over six years, where he led products across transport, consumer logistics, GoShop, Kilat, and GoCorp, and also managed grocery and other consumer offerings. Sources said the company plans to primarily focus on Southeast Asia, while building a platform designed for broader global participation. The platform is also expected to support features including local and contextual markets, along with formats such as parlays and leverage. Responding to Entrackr’s queries, Ramesh said that the facts are incorrect. Accel did not respond to queries sent last week. The development comes amid tighter regulatory scrutiny in India’s real money gaming and opinion trading space. In August, several platforms including Probo, Gameskraft, MPL, My11Circle, and Zupee shut down their real money operations in India following regulatory action. Globally, opinion trading and prediction market platforms have gained traction in markets with clearer regulatory frameworks. Companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket have seen growing adoption for event-based trading, while other platforms have experimented with market-driven models to capture collective sentiment around future outcomes.

FarEye narrows losses by 63% amidst modest growth in FY24

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
FarEye narrows losses by 63% amidst modest growth in FY24
Medial

FarEye narrows losses by 63% amidst modest growth in FY24 FarEye recorded only modest double-digit year-on-year growth in operating revenues for the fiscal year ending March 2024. However, it significantly reduced its losses, cutting them by nearly two-thirds during the same period. FarEye’s revenue from operations rose by 13% to Rs 157 crore in FY24 from Rs 139 crore in FY23, according to its consolidated financial statements recently filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). This marks a sharp slowdown from the 40% year-on-year growth the Tiger Global-backed company reported in FY23. FarEye provides software solutions to manage large logistics platforms’ supply chain and delivery across manufacturing, e-commerce et al. The sale of logistics services was the sole source of revenue for the company. The cost structure saw a dramatic reset as employee benefit expenses fell 39% to Rs 153 crore in FY24. Information technology expenses decreased by 6% to Rs 46 crore, while legal charges and advertising expenses shrank by 43% and 60% to Rs 23 crore and Rs 8 crore, respectively. Other overheads also contracted by 22% to Rs 39 crore in FY24. Overall, FarEye’s total expenses dropped by 34% to Rs 269 crore in FY24, from Rs 410 crore in the previous fiscal year. The stringent cost controls helped the company to bring down its losses by 63% to Rs 89 crore in FY24, a sharp improvement from Rs 243 crore loss in FY23. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin improved to -26.82% and -45.83% respectively. On a unit basis, FarEye spent Rs 1.71 to earn a rupee of revenue in FY24, a huge improvement from Rs 2.95 in FY23. The Noida-based firm’s current assets stood at Rs 372 crore, out of which Rs 305 crore are in cash and bank balance. According to TheKredible, FarEye has raised a total of approx $152 million of funding till date, having TCV, Fundamentum, Eight Roads Ventures and Elevation Capital as its lead investors. The company’s co-founders Kushal Nahata and Gautam Kumar together own 13% of the company. An underperformer by any stretch, FarEye’s struggles will worry investors who invested on the promise of opportunities in the booming logistics sector. With its focus on last mile solutions, FarEye has picked a particularly promising niche to target, with over 30% of costs linked to the last mile delivery. However, costs have been consistently high due to a global footprint, and sales have simply not grown as fast as it would have wished. How FY25 goes, considering global disruptions in markets and consequently, with FarEye’s clients both present and potential, is anyone’s guess. We wouldn’t be expecting a sharp change in trajectory anytime soon therefore. With adequate cash balances, the firm certainly has no reason to stress, but another ordinary year will mean it has not really made a worthwhile impact even after a dozen years in the market. That will affect the possibility of further backing as well as valuations in no small way. FarEye needs to see the risks getting closer.

Funding and acquisitions in Indian startup this week [17 - 22 Jun]

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Funding and acquisitions in Indian startup this week [17 - 22 Jun]
Medial

As many as 41 Indian startups raised around $906.7 million in funding this week. These deals count 10 growth-stage deals and 22 early-stage deals. Moreover, eight early-stage and one growth-stage startup kept their transaction details undisclosed. In the previous week, about 31 early and growth-stage startups cumulatively raised over $336 million in capital. [Growth-stage deals] Among the growth-stage deals, 10 startups raised $857.4 million in funding this week. Quick commerce company Zepto grabbed the limelight with its $665 million funding. Ummeed Housing Finance, which provides housing and secured small ticket business loans, followed with its $76 million funding. Microlending platform Aye Finance, craft beer maker Bira 91, and fintech firm Slice also made it to the top five with $30 million, $25 million, and $20 million fundraises, respectively. D2C men’s apparel brand WROGN, small financing company Shivalik Small Finance Bank, Dvara KGFS, Aviom Housing Finance, and Jupiter’s NBFC arm Amica Finance are next on the list. [Early-stage deals] Moreover, 22 early-stage startups secured funding worth $49.3 million during the week. AI sales operating system OrbitShift spearheaded the list followed by healthtech platform Alyve Health, agriculture machinery company Balwaan Krishi, D2C fashion brand focused on custom-made The Pant Project, and SME-focused digital lending platform Supermoney. The list of early-stage startups also includes eight startups that kept the funding amount undisclosed: TaxGenie (Regime Tax Solution), Landeed, Praan, ThriveCo, Fanisko, Nirwana.ai, Lazy Cocktails & Co, and LEO1. For more information, visit TheKredible. [City and segment-wise deals] In terms of the city-wise number of funding deals, Bengaluru-based startups led with 13 deals followed by Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. Segment-wise, fintech startups grabbed the top spot with 12 deals. E-commerce, AI, SaaS, Food & beverages, and Healthtech startups followed this list among others. [Series-wise deals] During the week, Seed funding deals led the list with 17 deals followed by 7 Series A and 5 pre-Series A deals. Debt funding also saw 4 deals followed by Series F, Series B, pre-Seed, Series E, and Series G. [Week-on-week funding trend] On a weekly basis, startup funding surged 170% to $906.7 million as compared to around $336.45 million raised during the previous week. The average funding in the last eight weeks stands at around $421 million with 29 deals per week. [Fund launches] This week saw three significant fund launches. VentureSoul Partners launched their debut fund of Rs 600 crore to invest in established startups through venture debt. Gujarat Venture Finance Limited announced the first close of their Rs 200 crore “Prarambh Fund” targeting seed-stage tech startups with investments between Rs 1 crore and Rs 3 crore. 8X Ventures achieved a first close of Rs 60 crore for their second VC fund, aiming to invest in 18-20 early-stage deeptech startups, with a potential final corpus of Rs 300 crore. [Key hirings and departures] Here’s a summary of the key hirings and departures: Flipkart: Cleartrip, Flipkart’s travel booking unit, has appointed Anuj Rathi as its new Chief Business and Growth Officer. Vidyakul: Edtech startup Vidyakul has promoted Akhil Hari Angira to Co-founder and Chief Business Officer. He will oversee strategic partnerships, business growth, and expansion into underserved areas. Paytm: Paytm roped in Rajeev Krishnamuralilal Agarwal as a new non-executive independent director, while Neeraj Arora stepped down from the same position. Agarwal brings experience from companies like U GRO Capital and Star Health, while Arora is the founder of Halloapp and previously held positions at Meta and Google. [Layoffs] Silk product B2B marketplace ReshaMandi seems to be in deep trouble. After failing to secure Series B funding, the company has reportedly laid off 80% of its workforce and is significantly scaling down operations. It’s over Rs 300 crore debt leads to legal challenges and potential insolvency. [M&A] Ananta Capital’s beauty and wellness arm, Guardian, has acquired a 55% stake in D2C personal care startup Anveya Living, with plans to increase its stake further. Anveya Living, which owns the brands ThriveCo, Curlvana, and Anveya, will use the investment to launch new products and expand globally. Meanwhile, online travel aggregator Yatra Online has agreed to buy out its partner’s stake in the joint venture Adventure and Nature Network Private Limited (ANN), which operates in adventure tourism. Yatra Online will increase its stake in ANN from 50% to 99%, making ANN a subsidiary of Yatra Online. [Potential deals] The Indian startup scene is buzzing with potential deals. Here’s a glimpse of what’s brewing: AI-powered comic creation platform Dashtoon, with offices in India, is in late-stage talks to raise $10-12 million from a mix of new and existing investors. HealthTech startup HealthPresso is aiming to secure $1 million in pre-Series A funding, capitalizing on strong investor interest in its AI engine and distribution network. B2B SaaS platform Whatfix is on the verge of a $100-150 million funding round led by Warburg Pincus. Edtech giant Unacademy is reportedly in discussions for a historic merger with K12 Techno, the operator behind Orchids International Schools. This potential 50/50 merger could be the first major consolidation in the edtech space, which has faced a funding slowdown in recent years. Notably, Unacademy previously invested in Orchid Schools and both companies share an investor. Logistics firm Ecom Express is also reportedly in advanced talks with existing investors Warburg Pincus, CDC Group, and Partners Group to raise Rs 350-400 crore. The discussions are nearing completion, and this funding round could elevate Ecom Express’s valuation to over $1 billion, potentially making it the latest entrant to India’s unicorn club. Visit TheKredible to see series-wise deals along with amount breakup, complete details of fund launches, and more insights. [New launches] Bellavita co-founder Aakash Anand launches new venture, Unikon.ai Pocket FM partners with ElevenLabs to convert scripts into audio [Financial results this week] Awfis nears Rs 900 Cr income in FY24; losses contract 62% [News flash this week] Ola Electric gets SEBI nod for $660 Mn IPO Financial Intelligence Unit imposes Rs 18.82 Cr penalty on Binance VC firms General Catalyst and Venture Highway merge to focus on India CCI approves WeWork Inc exit from Indian co-working space Ixigo’s market cap spikes nearly 80% from the pre-IPO round Zomato, Paytm confirm acquisition talks for movie, ticketing business Flipkart-backed Blackbuck converts into a public company Peak XV tops the chart of Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2024 Delhivery, Xpressbees looking to enter quick commerce space: Report OYO gets approval from shareholders to raise Rs 417 Cr: Report [Conclusion] The weekly funding surged around 170% to $906 million this week, majorly followed by the mega funding deal of Zepto worth $665 million. A bunch of financing companies also contributed significantly. The week saw three startup-focused fund launches by VCs namely VentureSoul Partners, GVFL, and 8X Ventures. Additionally, the week saw a layoff as Reshamandi laid off around 80% of its employees. Six months after filing a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), Ola Electric has received approval for its initial public offering (IPO) from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The company, which filed the DRHP in December 2023, aims to raise Rs 5,500 crore ($660 million) through the public listing. Ixigo made a remarkable debut on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday, opening at a 48.5% premium above its issue price. Initially priced at Rs 93, Ixigo’s shares listed at Rs 138.5 on the NSE, while on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the shares opened at Rs 135, according to data from both exchanges. Later, the price touched Rs 194.38. Zomato and Paytm are in talks for Zomato to acquire Paytm’s movies and ticketing business. This deal is estimated to be around Rs 1,600-1,750 crore ($190-210 million). While no final decision has been made yet, Zomato says this potential acquisition aligns with their plan to focus on their core businesses and expand their “going-out” offerings. OYO got the green light from shareholders to raise Rs 416.85 crore by issuing preference shares. The funds will come from InCred Wealth by purchasing 14.37 crore Series G preference shares at Rs 29 each. Additionally, in a move to capitalize on the booming quick commerce market, logistics players Delhivery and Xpressbees are expanding their services beyond traditional e-commerce deliveries. Delhivery is now managing larger warehouses for Swiggy Instamart, which fulfills orders for quick commerce deliveries through a network of smaller, localized stores. Xpressbees is also exploring entry into this space, reportedly in talks with several players. This shift in focus highlights the growing importance of quick commerce deliveries and the potential logistics companies see in this rapidly developing market.

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