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Exclusive: Seekho set to raise $25 Mn, hits $4 Mn monthly revenue

EntrackrEntrackr · 3m ago
Exclusive: Seekho set to raise $25 Mn, hits $4 Mn monthly revenue
Medial

Exclusive: Seekho set to raise $25 Mn, hits $4 Mn monthly revenue Established in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho is a platform that helps individuals build skills and knowledge through short-term courses. Learning-focused over the top (OTT) platform Seekho is raising another round to the tune of $25-30 million, sources aware of the development told Entrackr. The Bengaluru-based startup scooped up $8 million back in December 2024. “Bessemer is in late-stage talks to lead a $25–30 million round in Seekho OTT, with participation from existing investors such as Lightspeed and Elevation,” one of the sources said. “The investment discussions follow the company’s strong performance in user engagement and revenue growth.” Established in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho is a platform that helps individuals build skills and knowledge through short-term courses. It prepares users for careers in areas such as parenting, stock trading, Instagram growth, and education. The platform targets tier-II cities and beyond, delivering content through short, episodic videos lasting two to five minutes. So far, Seekho has raised $11 million across two rounds from Lightspeed, Elevation, PointOne Capital, Sprout Investment, AngelList, Succeed and several angel investors such as Gaurav Munjal, Anupam Mittal, Alok Mittal, Harsh Daga, Abhinav Daga, Hemant Goteti and Zishaan Hayath. “Seekho is currently generating an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $45-50 million, with monthly revenues in the range of $4-4.5 million (Rs 35–40 crore),” said another source. The person added that the company is expected to be valued at around $120–130 million post-money. The person added that the company is expected to be valued at around $120–130 million post-money. To be sure, the terms and contours of the deal could change at the last moment. Queries sent to Seekho, Bessemer, Lightspeed and Elevation did not elicit response until publication of the story. For the fiscal year ending in March 2024, five-year-old Seekho registered Rs 11.5 crore in revenue with Rs 4.6 crore losses. Investor interest in Seekho is evident as the company continues to show swift growth with deep markets — tier II, III, and even tier I cities — still to tap. The platform’s short video format is resonating well with Gen Z audiences, who prefer engaging with videos over traditional reading materials. Seekho appears to have found a strong product-market fit with a large market to serve. Its growth also highlights the presence of white spaces in the edtech sector, which has otherwise been going through a difficult and boring phase.

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Exclusive: Seekho app set to raise $8-10 Mn from Lightspeed and Elevation

EntrackrEntrackr · 9m ago
Exclusive: Seekho app set to raise $8-10 Mn from Lightspeed and Elevation
Medial

Learning-focused OTT platform Seekho is in the advanced stages of raising up to $10 million in a new funding round, according to sources familiar with the matter. This marks a consecutive round of funding for the Bengaluru-based company within a span of less than 18 months. “Seekho is looking to raise $8-10 million in Series A round, with Lightspeed and Elevation leading the investment,” said a source on condition of anonymity. It raised $3 million from Elevation and other investors in March of last year. Launched in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho helps people gain new skills and knowledge. It offers a variety of courses to prepare learners for jobs in different fields including parenting, share market, Instagram, and education, among others. Designed for tier II and beyond, its educational content includes concise 2-5 minute videos. These videos are structured in episodic series, providing valuable insights without overwhelming the audience. Seekho offers monthly and weekly subscription plans. “The terms of the deal have been finalized, and if nothing goes wrong at the last moment, the transaction will be executed soon,” said another source who wished to remain anonymous. “Seekho will be valued at around $45 million as two investors are looking to acquire 20% of the company.” Elevation Capital’s confidence in the three-year-old startup Seekho is evident from its decision to co-lead the new round. According to the VC firm, around 30% of Seekho users have opted for annual plans, suggesting that the platform’s popularity is not just a fleeting trend. Queries sent to Seekho, Elevation and Lightspeed did not elicit an immediate response. We’ll update the post in case they do. As per startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Elevation Capital acquired nearly 24% stake in the company after Series A round. All three co-founders have 16.65% stake each.

Exclusive: Ex-ShareChat CXO Shashank Shekhar’s new startup to raise $4 Mn led by Peak XV

EntrackrEntrackr · 3d ago
Exclusive: Ex-ShareChat CXO Shashank Shekhar’s new startup to raise $4 Mn led by Peak XV
Medial

Exclusive: Ex-ShareChat CXO Shashank Shekhar’s new startup to raise $4 Mn led by Peak XV Shashank Shekhar, a former head of content strategy and operations at ShareChat, is raising $4 million for his new startup focused on AI-led learning, according to two sources familiar with the development. “Peak XV Partners is leading the round with participation from a few early-stage institutional and angel investors,” said one of the sources requesting anonymity. “Shekhar has been quietly building this for the last few months and has early prototypes in place.” According to sources, the startup is currently in stealth and is expected to go live later this year. While details remain limited, its model draws similarities to Seekho, a career-focused learning platform. Entrackr recently reported that Seekho is in talks to raise $25-30 million. Shekhar was Head of Content at ShareChat between December 2016 and May 2018. He then co-founded the hyperlocal information platform Circle Internet, which was acquired by ShareChat in August 2020. Following the acquisition, he served as Head of Content Strategy and Operations at the Google-backed company until his resignation in March this year. “The round is expected to close in the coming weeks. The startup is likely to use the capital to expand its AI and product team, continue development and prepare for an initial rollout,” said another source. The startup’s name could not be confirmed. Queries sent to Shekhar and Peak XV did not elicit a response until the time of publication. While Shekhar’s startup will be the first direct rival to Seekho, platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram offer indirect competition through creator-led educational content aimed at the same audience.

Exclusive: Shadowfax kicks off Series F round at $712 Mn valuation

EntrackrEntrackr · 5m ago
Exclusive: Shadowfax kicks off Series F round at $712 Mn valuation
Medial

Exclusive: Shadowfax kicks off Series F round at $712 Mn valuation Logistics firm Shadowfax has secured Rs 34.2 crore (around $4 million) in its Series F round. The development has come nearly 11 months after raising $100 million in its last funding round. The board at Shadowfax has passed a special resolution to allot 5773 Series F compulsory cumulative preference shares at an issue price of Rs 59,320 each to raise Rs 34.2 crore or $4 million, its regulatory filing accessed from the Registrar of Companies shows. Mirae Asset invested Rs 17.4 crore, while Nokia Growth Partners contributed Rs 16.79 crore in the round. Shadowfax is reportedly aiming to raise $50 million, with this investment being part of a larger raise. According to Entrackr’s estimates, the Flipkart-backed company has been valued at around Rs 5,981 crore or $712 million post-allotment. The valuation might change with the flow of more funds. Shadowfax provides services to a vast network of customers with industry-leading Turnaround Time (TAT) at competitive prices. It boasts a unique crowdsourcing network comprising 125,000 monthly active delivery partners and 3.5 million registered users. The Bengaluru-based company has raised over $200 million to date. According to the startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Eight Road Ventures is the largest external stakeholder followed by Flipkart, Newquest Asia and Nokia Growth Partners. Shadowfax reportedly plans to raise Rs 2500-3000 Cr IPO in the second half of the ongoing calendar year and the company also tapped JM Financial, Morgan Stanley and ICICI Securities as the lead bankers for the initial public offering. Shadowfax has reported a 33.2% year-on-year growth to Rs 1,415 crore during the previous fiscal year ended March 2024. Moreover, the company has managed to reduce its losses significantly by 91.7% to Rs 11.8 crore from Rs 142.6 crore in FY23. In terms of competition, Delhivery, a publicly listed company, reported Rs 8,594 crore in revenue for FY24. Ecom Express posted Rs 2,609 crore in revenue for FY24 and has secured board approval for a Rs 2,600 crore IPO. Other key competitors for Shadowfax include XpressBees, Shiprocket, and Blue Dart.

Seekho app raises $8 Mn in Series A led by Lightspeed

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
Seekho app raises $8 Mn in Series A led by Lightspeed
Medial

Learning-focused OTT platform Seekho has raised $8 million in its Series A round, with Lightspeed leading the investment, according to a LinkedIn post by the company’s founder and CEO, Rohit Choudhary. The round also saw participation from Elevation Capital. Previously, the Bengaluru-based startup raised $3 million from Elevation and other investors in March of last year. Entrackr exclusively reported about the deal in September. “This is a testament to the trust our users, team, and investors place in us as we build India's go-to short video platform for Lifelong Learning,” said Choudhary via Linkedin post. While the company did not provide many details about the round, it was expected to be valued at around $45 million. Founded in 2020 by Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho helps individuals acquire new skills and knowledge. The platform offers a variety of courses to prepare learners for careers in fields such as parenting, the stock market, Instagram, and education, among others. Targeting audiences in tier-II cities and beyond, Seekho delivers educational content through short 2-5 minute videos in episodic series. The platform provides flexible subscription plans, with weekly and monthly options starting at Rs 149. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Elevation Capital acquired nearly a 24% stake in the company after the pre-Series A round. All three co-founders held 16.65% stake each as of that round. As per Entrackr's sources, Seekho is expected to dilute 20% of its equity in the Series A financing round.

Exclusive: AstroTalk raises $9.5 Mn at a valuation of $300 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Exclusive: AstroTalk raises $9.5 Mn at a valuation of $300 Mn
Medial

Online astrology platform AstroTalk has raised Rs 78.3 crore or $9.5 million in an extension of its Series A round from existing investors Left Lane Capital and Elev8 Capital. The board at AstroTalk has passed a special resolution to issue 5,067 compulsory Convertible preference shares to raise Rs 78.3 crore or $9.5 million, its regulatory filing accessed from the RoC shows. Left Lane Capital pumped Rs 58.3 crore while Elev8 Capital participated with Rs 20 crore. This seems to be the tranche of a larger round. AstroTalk is reportedly in talks to raise $30 million. As per TheKredible’s estimates, the company has been valued at around Rs 2,478 crore or $300 million post-money which is a 33.3% increase from its last round. The valuation will go up with the flow of funds. AstroTalk has raised Rs 172 crore to date including Rs 166 crore or $20 million in its Series A round in February. Entrackr was the first to report the development. AstroTalk is a platform to consult astrologers via the internet, call, and chat and claims to have 13,000 astrologers, tarot readers, numerologists, and Vastu experts. The platform lets users connect with the aforementioned experts for future predictions related to marriage, love life, career, and health among others. Left Lane Capital baked firm had demonstrated strong financial performance in FY23 as its revenue grew 146% to Rs 283 crore. At the same time, AstroTalk’s profits spiked 41.7% to Rs 8.5 crore. As per the current average revenue run rate, the company is projected to end FY24 with Rs 650 crore in revenue and Rs 100 crore in profit. The company is yet to file its audited financial results for FY24. As per data compiled by TheKredible, astro and spiritual tech startups have raised around $25 million in the past 12 months. The notable names include Ustav App, DevDham, InstaAstro, AstroTalk, Vama, and Melooha also raised decent funding during the period. SriMandir’s parent company AppsForBharat is also in talks to raise $15 million in a new round. Entrackr exclusively reported the development last month.

Exclusive: Electric mobility startup Matter raises $10 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Exclusive: Electric mobility startup Matter raises $10 Mn
Medial

Electric mobility startup Matter has raised Rs 82.6 crore (approximately $10 million) in a new round. This is the maiden round of equity funding for the Ahmedabad-based e-bike manufacturer. The board at Matter has issued 1,12,837 CCPS at an issue price of Rs 7,320 each to raise Rs 82.6 crore (approximately $10 million), its regulatory filing accessed from the Registrar of Companies shows. Japan Airlines & Translink Fund invested Rs 25 crore while Info Edge backed Capital 2B Fund poured in Rs 10.8 crore. Helena Special Investments Fund and Abhay P Shah, on behalf of Miracle Carriers are likely to participate in the fundraising. As per TheKredible estimates, the company has been valued at around Rs 1,690 crore or $204 million post-allotment. The e-bike manufacturer was reportedly in talks to raise $200 million to expand its operations, distribution and factory setup. Matter launched its maiden bike in early 2023 and began its pre-orders in May 2023. A year-old firm was in the pre-revenue stage during the fiscal year ended March 2023 while the losses for the firm stood at Rs 25 crore in the same period. It’s yet to file its annual results for FY24. Matter positions itself as a premium brand and this could be evident from its price-range which starts from Rs 1.7 lakh. Unlike Ola Electric and Ather, Matter is not targeting a mass audience and doesn’t compete with the two and other traditional manufacturers. In the e-bike segment, Matter competes with Bharat Forge-backed Tork Motors, TVS-backed Ultraviolette and RattanIndia Enterprises controlled Revolt. Tork Motors raised $6 million from Maxis Capital in January this year whereas Ultraviolette has been reportedly in talks to raise a larger round to the tune of $100 million. Ola Electric, which currently manufactures electric scooters, is also planning to enter the e-bike segment by FY26.

Exclusive: Droom India raises funds at $360 Mn valuation

EntrackrEntrackr · 4m ago
Exclusive: Droom India raises funds at $360 Mn valuation
Medial

Exclusive: Droom India raises funds at $360 Mn valuation IPO-bound used car marketplace Droom is raising Rs 25 crore (approximately $2.9 million) in a fresh funding round co-led by India Accelerator (IA), and Rameshchandra Shah. The board at Droom has passed a special resolution to issue 15,62,500 preference shares at an issue price of Rs 160 each to raise Rs 25 crore or $2.9 million, its regulatory filings sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) shows. India Accelerator and Shah both will invest Rs 5 crore each, Shirish Patel, CEO of Prudent Corporate Advisory (wealth management company) will invest Rs 3 crore and the remaining amount will be invested by other individual investors. The firm will use these proceeds for general corporate purposes, the filings said. As per Entrackr’s estimates, the Gurugram-based firm will be valued at approximately Rs 3,097 crore or $360 million post-allotment. “We deliberately kept the valuation very low for the Indian subsidiary as a strategic move to give material upside to Indians who did not have opportunity to participate in the making of Droom in the past one decade,” said Sandeep Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Droom, in response to queries about the company's valuation. “We plan to raise a bit more capital in the near term at much higher valuation both in Singapore and India…” Droom is an online marketplace for buying and selling used vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and electric vehicles. It also offers rental services. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Droom has raised approximately $330 million from investors including 57 Stars, Seven Train Ventures, Lightbox, and Beenext. Droom reported Rs 85 crore in revenue for FY24, a 66% decline from Rs 253 crore in FY23. It managed to reduce its losses by 35% to Rs 40 crore in FY24. Droom is reportedly planning to file draft papers for a Rs 1,000 crore IPO in 2027, targeting a valuation between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion.

Exclusive: Bloom Hotels to raise $9 Mn in new round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1m ago
Exclusive: Bloom Hotels to raise $9 Mn in new round
Medial

Exclusive: Bloom Hotels to raise $9 Mn in new round Delhi-based hospitality chain Bloom Hotels is set to raise Rs 77.7 crore (around $9 million) in its first funding round of 2025, with participation from Samena Capital Limited and Ikonika Holdings. Bloom Hotels' board has approved a special resolution to issue 7.77 crore compulsory convertible preference shares to raise the said amount, according to its filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). The proceeds will be used to fuel the company’s growth and expansion plans, the filing added. The hospitality company operates hotel brands such as Bloom Hotel, Bloom Hub, BloomSuites, and Bloomrooms. Currently, it has over 50 hotels across cities including Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Jaipur, and the NCR. The company has already secured around Rs 362 crore (approximately $45 million) from Samena Capital, which now holds a majority stake in the hospitality chain. Bloom Hotels is yet to file its financials for FY25. However, the company has witnessed over 5X growth in the past two years, with revenue rising from Rs 49 crore in FY22 to Rs 250 crore in FY24. It also reported a net profit of Rs 14 crore for the fiscal year ended March 2024. It competes with Treebo Hotels and FabHotels, which posted operating revenues of Rs 88.6 crore and Rs 224 crore, respectively, in FY24. It also faces competition from newer players like Salt Stayz and larger brands such as Oyo, through its Sunday Hotels.

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