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Centricity, Trisu, GameEon and Dharaksha raise early-stage funding

VCCircleVCCircle · 11m ago
Centricity, Trisu, GameEon and Dharaksha raise early-stage funding
Medial

Wealthtech management company Centricity raised $20 million in a seed funding round led by Lightspeed, bringing its valuation to $125 million. The funding will be used to expand operations and double the tech development team. Biotech-driven R&D startup Dharaksha Ecosolutions secured $3 million in a seed funding round led by Avaana Capital to expand production capabilities and strengthen its presence in the sustainable packaging industry. Mumbai-based game development studio GameEon Studios raised $1 million to develop new games for PC and consoles. Vermeil jewelry brand Trisu raised an undisclosed amount in its pre-seed funding round to enhance customer acquisition and drive product innovation.

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Avaana Capital leads Seed round in Dharaksha Ecosolutions

EntrackrEntrackr · 11m ago
Avaana Capital leads Seed round in Dharaksha Ecosolutions
Medial

Biotech-driven R & D start-up Dharaksha Ecosolutions has raised Rs 24.8 crore (about $2.95 million) in a Seed funding round led by Avaana Capital. Dharaksha had previously raised $522K led by LetsVenture and others. It was also featured on Shark Tank India Season 3, where it secured an all-shark deal. The proceeds will be utilized to expand its production capabilities, intensify R&D practice and strengthen market presence, Dharaksha Ecosolutions said in a press release. Co-founded in 2020 by Anand Bodh and Arpit Dhupar, Dharaksha Ecosolutions replaces conventional plastic and petroleum-based packaging with sustainable alternatives made from agricultural waste. It utilizes agricultural waste as feedstock to develop mycelium-based packaging materials that are fully biodegradable. The Delhi-based company aims to create a sustainable alternative to non-biodegradable materials, completing a circular ecosystem by returning nutrients to the soil through composting. Dharaksha claims that it is also working on alternatives for plastic films, which too will be made from extracts generated by mushrooms in the submerged growth stage. These films are waterproof and biodegradable, offering a sustainable replacement for conventional plastic films. Both the MDF board alternative and the plastic films are currently at the lab stage and will undergo third-party testing and market validation. Dharaksha plans to commercially launch these products by next October.

Game development studio GameEon raises $1 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 11m ago
Game development studio GameEon raises $1 Mn
Medial

Game development studio GameEon has secured $1 million in its latest funding round co-led by SucSEED Indovation Fund, ICE VC, IAN, CD EQUIFINANCE, Nexus Global Opportunities Fund, Vivek Goel, Patni Family, and Tal64 GameEon had earlier raised $500K for product prototyping and market testing, conducting trials in 12 countries and gathering insights from over 5,000 gamers globally. The fresh funds will be used to accelerate the creation of AA and AAA games for PC and console and launch the early chapters of Mumbai Gullies, GameEon said in a press release. Co-founded in 2013 by Nikhil Malankar and Kaustubh Jadhav, GameEon specializes in creating PC, console, and mobile games and provides immersive storytelling and culturally rich experiences. According to the Mumbai-based company, it has developed games like Kites Mumbai and Box cricket. The company is also developing Special Ops – a 3D shooting game in HD with high-level graphics. The platform is also working on the game Mumbai Gullies inspired by GTA Vice City which will combine game development with deeply rooted cultural storytelling. The market research says that the global gaming industry continues to grow rapidly and is expected to hit $300 billion by 2026.

Funding and acquisitions in Indian startup this week [09 - 14 Sep]

EntrackrEntrackr · 10m ago
Funding and acquisitions in Indian startup this week [09 - 14 Sep]
Medial

During the week, 24 Indian startups raised around $228.79 million in funding. These deals count 6 growth-stage deals and 13 early-stage deals while 5 startups kept their transaction details undisclosed. During the last week, 26 early and growth-stage startups cumulatively raised $421.29 million in funding. [Growth-stage deals] Among the growth-stage deals, 6 startups raised $182.65 million in funding this week. Mobile advertising network software InMobi spearheaded a $100 million debt funding round. MSMEs-focused fintech lender FlexiLoans raised $35 million followed by, employee healthcare platform Onsurity, spiritual tech startup AppsForBharat, consumer lending platform Moneyview, and HRtech platform HROne with $21 million, $18 million, $4.65 million, and $4 million in funding, respectively. Moneyview also joined the unicorn club following the fresh capital. One growth-stage startup that did not disclose the transaction details is Transcell Biologics. [Early-stage deals] Further, 13 early-stage startups secured funding worth $46.14 million during the week. Wealthtech startup Centricity led the list followed by D2C home decor and lifestyle brand Nestasia, AI reality intelligence platform Track3D, biotech-driven material R&D startup Dharaksha Ecosolutions, and sales outreach platform Futwork among others. As many as 4 startups that did not disclose the funding amount raised are; Trisu, Leezu’s, Fitday, and Agilitas Sports. 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 8 deals followed by Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Segment-wise, E-commerce startups are on the top spot with 5 deals. Fintech, Healthtech, Cleantech, HRtech, Adtech, and AI startups followed this list among others. [Series-wise deals] During the week, seed funding deals are on top, with 9 deals followed by 4 Series A, 3 pre-seed, 2 pre-Series A, 2 Series B, 1 debt deal, and more. [Week-on-week funding trend] On a weekly basis, startup funding slipped 45.7% to $228.79 million as compared to around $421.29 million raised during the previous week. The average funding in the last eight weeks stands at around $331.70 million with 26 deals per week. [Fund launches] Three new funds launched this week to invest in startups. Playbook Partners has raised over $130 million for its growth capital fund. Proparco has invested $5 million in Omnivore’s third fund focused on agritech and climate sustainability. Arka Investment Advisory Services has launched its second alternative investment fund, focusing on real estate opportunities in India. [Key hirings and departures] Sudharshan Sharma, formerly with Google, joined CarDekho as a CBO for the auto business. Meanwhile, Cleartrip’s CBO Prahlad Krishnamurthi, and the CFOs of InCred (Vivek Bansal) and TAC Infosec (Vishal Jain) resigned from their respective companies. [Mergers and Acquisitions] Nazara Technologies, a prominent gaming company, made two major acquisitions. This includes a controlling stake in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of PokerBaazi, for a substantial sum of Rs 982 crore ($100 million) and a 15.86% stake in Stan, a blockchain-based e-sports fan engagement startup, for $2.2 million. GoKwik, an e-commerce enabler, acquired Return Prime, a global returns management app. Additionally, Moneyview, a digital lender, acquired Jify.co, an early salary/on-demand salary service provider. Yudiz Solutions, a listed blockchain and IT development startup expanded its offerings by acquiring a majority stake in ABCM App, a Mumbai-based digital payment solutions company. The acquisition was valued at Rs 6.14 crore. [Shutdown] InsurStaq.ai, a Delhi NCR-based startup developing generative AI solutions for the insurance industry, has shut down its operations. Despite a year of development and collaboration with insurance professionals, the company faced challenges that ultimately led to this decision. This news comes amidst a period of growth for the generative AI sector in India. Visit TheKredible to see series-wise deals along with amount breakup, complete details of fund launches, and more insights. [New launches and partnerships] IBV and FedTech unveil Indo-US launchpad to boost Indian startups D2C Insider launches Cohort-3 for early-stage D2C brands Zomato launches developer platform for PoS partners [Potential Deals] Slice set to raise over $35 Mn in funding via convertible debt Finova Capital to raise Rs 800 Cr funding Flipkart’s Super.money plans to raise external funds [Financial results this week] Virat Kohli-backed WROGN’s revenue dips 29% in FY24 Purplle hits Rs 700 Cr revenue in FY24, trims losses by 46% NPCI posts Rs 2,876 Cr revenue and Rs 1,134 Cr profits in FY24 [News flash this week] Peak XV, others divest stake worth Rs 1,600 Cr in MamaEarth’s parent Govt. exempts overseas startups from NCLT clearance for reverse flipping Kotak downgrades Nykaa to ‘Sell’, cuts fair value amid concerns Ather files DRHP to raise Rs 3,100 Cr via IPO; Hero MotoCorp won’t sell shares Swiggy to raise Rs 5,000 Cr via fresh issue, to file DRHP soon MobiKwik Xtra suspends ‘anytime withdrawals’; draws flak from users Aditya Birla Finance accuses BYJU’S resolution professional over alleged fraud Delhivery accuses Ecom Express of misinformation in DRHP Pravin Jadhav-led Dhan storms into top 10 stock broking apps Accel announces fourth cohort of the pre-seed investment program, Atoms Pixxel becomes the first Indian space startup to secure a NASA contract DroneAcharya share surges 20% on BSE, hits upper-circuit After Bengaluru, Flipkart Minutes goes live in Gurugram Ather Energy to manufacture electric motorcycle [Conclusion] The weekly funding shrank around 46% to $228.79 million this week. Meanwhile, three startup-focused funds launched this week namely Playbook Partners, Omnivore, and Arka. Peak XV, Stellaris Ventures, Sofina Ventures, and Fireside Ventures collectively sold shares worth Rs 1,600 crore in Honasa Consumer Limited, the parent company of MamaEarth. Kotak Institutional Equities downgraded Nykaa, a leading beauty and fashion e-commerce company, citing concerns about rising fulfillment costs and potential margin pressure. This highlights the challenges faced by e-commerce companies in maintaining profitability amidst increasing competition and operational complexities. Ather Energy, an electric two-wheeler firm, filed its DRHP for an IPO, marking the second such listing in the EV sector. Swiggy, a food delivery and quick commerce company, also planning to file the DRHP soon and is set to raise Rs 5,000 crore via a fresh issue. MobiKwik’s Xtra investors faced withdrawal issues due to changes in the withdrawal policy by its lending partner Lendbox. This was triggered by recent RBI regulations on P2P lending. MobiKwik clarified that withdrawals will be made on a monthly basis and assured customers of receiving their principal and interest.

Executive assistants, high salaries, and other ways early-stage founders will trigger a seed VC | TechCrunch

TechCrunchTechCrunch · 7m ago
Executive assistants, high salaries, and other ways early-stage founders will trigger a seed VC | TechCrunch
Medial

Jenny Fielding, co-founder of Everywhere Ventures and former Techstars managing director, sparked a conversation about the appropriateness of early-stage founders having executive assistants (EAs) to help them schedule. Some suggested using AI executive assistants, while others defended the need for human assistance. Fielding's point was that founders should focus on building a product rather than excessive spending. Seed investors, like Fielding, believe founders should spend their cash as they see fit, but early-stage VCs will still evaluate their cash management when it's time to raise the next round. Fielding also mentioned that certain titles and high salaries at early-stage startups can raise red flags for VCs.

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