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Google’s new Security Command Center Enterprise puts you at the helm of your multicloud environment, with AI SecOps to back you up

TechradarTechradar · 1y ago
Google’s new Security Command Center Enterprise puts you at the helm of your multicloud environment, with AI SecOps to back you up
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Google has announced the launch of Security Command Center Enterprise (SCC Enterprise), a cloud risk management solution that combines cloud security with enterprise security operations. The solution, supported by Mandiant threat intelligence and generative AI, offers increased visibility and accountability for security teams, allowing them to manage controls, active threats, cloud identities, and data in a single platform. SCC Enterprise also incorporates the Mandiant Hunt threat intelligence to provide access to the latest threats and prevention techniques for cloud environments. The solution is designed to simplify multi-cloud security management and includes features such as vulnerability management and cloud-specific threat detection technology.

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Cygnet aims to drive business process digital transformation through specialized offerings

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Cygnet aims to drive business process digital transformation through specialized offerings
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Cygnet is an Ahmedabad-based SaaS startup that aims to help organizations achieve business process digital transformation with its specialized offerings in compliance, digital and quality engineering, enterprise modernization, data, AI and analytics, hyper-automation, test automation, digital signature, and a myriad of other offerings. We spoke to the company founder, Niraj Hutheesing, to learn more about the startup, how it works, the growth of cloud and automation in the context of new-age AI, the future roadmap, and much more. How has the cloud and automation industry evolved with the arrival of new-age AI? How do you plan to make the transformation? The cloud and automation industry has evolved significantly with the advent of AI, enhancing capabilities in data processing, predictive analytics, and process automation. Our AI solutions excel in cloud monitoring and developing self-healing scripts, reducing Service Level Agreement (SLA) breaches through consolidated alerts. Additionally, AI-driven FinOps optimizes cloud infrastructure costs, while business process automation delivers real-time insights to operations teams. As pioneers in business prediction, we use AI to nullify data gaps, empowering businesses to enhance data-driven decision-making with accurate forecasts and strategic advantages. Do you also offer cyber security solutions? If yes, please explain them. If no, please help understand your point of view on adding a security layer to yourservices given the increasing risks. Yes, Cygnet offers comprehensive cyber security solutions under our ‘Security as a Service’ portfolio. Our approach is to implement ‘security by design’, ensuring all controls are implemented as a regular practice rather than add-on activities. Cygnet, certified on ISMS and SOC 2 Type 2, ensures overall compliance with industry standards for products and services provided. We also cater to our client’s needs in performing specific security practices, including Network Security assessment, Application Security assessment, Cloud assessment, documentation, Compliance reviews, etc., to help them achieve the required security posture. Cygnet also ensures the ‘Single Source of Truth’ concept using a data warehouse is implemented product-wide to ensure data reliability and integrity are maintained. Our approach includes compliance automation, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations. We implement infrastructure automation to maintain robust security protocols across all systems. Our applications support regulatory-required User access management modules, which ensure appropriate authentication, authorization, roles, rights, and logging are performed and stored in a secured format for future reviews. There are a bunch of companies operating in your space, with some well-established ones too. How do you stand out from the competition? With a couple of decades of robust experience in providing solutions to multiple organizations globally, Cygnet understands the need for agile deliveries and challenges occurring in a dynamic environment. The ability to adapt to changes and implement a solution or product tailored specifically for the client helps us to stand out from our competitors. Be it on critical integrations with legacy systems on the tax tech or fintech side or modernizing decade-old applications without incurring major downtimes. Cygnet is a CMMi v2 L3, SoC 2 Type 2, and ISMS-certified organization that helps us provide our clients with prompt and secure solutions. We also have a 24/7 support model for functional, process, and technical aspects to ensure client support is not hampered. With a process-driven approach, we have specific delivery teams that ensure client requirements are met in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Which are your key markets? Please explain what makes India different from other developing and developed markets? Cygnet’s key markets include India, the Middle East, America, and Europe. In India, we have a significant presence, managing one-fifth of the country’s e-invoicing traffic through our portals. India’s market is distinct due to its decentralized and distributed systems, emphasizing the importance of data integrity and integrated systems. Unlike other regions, India’s regulatory environment and digital infrastructure necessitate robust, scalable solutions tailored to diverse requirements, making it a unique and dynamic market for our product solutions. What is your roadmap for increasing your local and international footprint? Cygnet’s roadmap for increasing its local and international footprint involves leveraging its unique COSMOS Digital Transformation Framework, based on co-ideate, co-innovate, co-create, and co-evolve pillars, ensuring a collaborative and innovative environment. This strategy fosters strong client relationships and delivers tailored solutions. By partnering strategically and offering holistic service offerings for BFSI, Manufacturing, and Healthcare industries, Cygnet aims to achieve a robust global footprint. As a core thought leader in tax, compliance, and data understanding, Cygnet excels in transforming financial processes across local and global markets. Please help understand your growth trajectory in terms of users or clients or any other metric you use. And also share your future projections and measures to achieve them. Our growth trajectory has been impressive, scaling our client base and securing multi-million dollar deals across 1000+ Enterprise accounts globally. We’ve successfully retained 90%+ clients and expanded our valued clients during global economic downturns, strengthening our position as a trusted partner in driving sustained growth. Amongst all the proprietary platforms, we have more than half a lac user base globally. Wherein one of the platforms, Cygnet Tax, processes 19% of India’s E-invoicing volume. Over the past year, our product vertical grew by 45%, with a projected 50% growth this financial year. Amongst solutions provided to our clients for their Go-To-Market, we have achieved 97% client satisfaction & 65% referral-based business. Looking ahead, we plan to achieve vertical growth through cross-selling services and horizontal expansion with global e-invoicing solutions to address compliance challenges for MNCs.

POP helps D2C startups tackle customer acquisition and retention hurdles

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
POP helps D2C startups tackle customer acquisition and retention hurdles
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A group of former Flipkart employees, led by Bhargav Errangi, is working to fix a big hurdle faced by D2C startups – acquiring new customers. Through their platform POP, the Bengaluru-based startup aims to build a vast pool of customers, who are preferably ecommerce savvy and drive sales through a reward currency. Conveniently called POPcoins, the reward currency is driven by the group’s learnings with Flipkart’s popular Supercoins. We spoke to the company founder and CEO Errangi to learn how the platform works, what makes it different from the competition, and future roadmap. Here are the edited excerpts: How does the platform work? Please help simplify the process. POP intends to create a network of e-commerce users which constitutes genZ and late millennials on the back of POPcoins. Brands participating in the POP network will get access to this network and can acquire and retain customers much more efficiently than the current modes of customer acquisition. Moreover, we have a SaaS product that is already being used by 120+ D2C brands. It is a simple Shopify plug-in that can be integrated within the brand website, which enables the brand to issue POPcoins and let customers redeem POPcoins on their purchases. Apart from that, POP will be launching a D2C e-marketplace which will house 500+ D2C brands and also its own UPI handle where users can earn 2% back in POPcoins on every transaction. Both these businesses will be launched within the same app platform, which is ready to be launched in May’24 What makes your platform unique? What sets us apart is the ability to merge two distinct worlds—bottom-up loyalty solutions and top-down co-branded credit cards. POP understands that to attract anchor brands to our network, we must offer a product that they genuinely value. The co-branded credit card approach not only differentiates us from competitors but also creates a symbiotic relationship between banks, anchor brands, and POP. How is it different from the likes of MagicPin? Also, please explain your fintech features. Very different, POP is focused on the D2C market. The redemption options of POPcoins will be focused on D2C brands. Within the world of D2C, POP aims to incentivise customers who are avid shoppers of D2C brands. These are users who think beyond the mainstream brands and want to stand out of the crowd with their lifestyle choices. Whereas Magicpin is a discounted voucher platform where a user can buy vouchers of any brand- offline or online at discounted rates We will have two fintech offerings- UPI and a co-branded credit card. On every UPI transaction, a user gets 2% value back on POPcoins. On every online transaction made on our credit card, the user earns 10% value back on POPcoins Please help us understand the regulatory compliances required for your fintech features, such as co-branded cards. A ‘TPAP’ license is needed to become a UPI payments player, like PhonePe, Gpay, etc. We have obtained one recently. A partnership with a bank is required to launch a co-branded credit card. Our first partnership with a large bank will be rolling out soon. Are you planning to raise fresh funds in the near future? We have already raised a seed round last year. We have enough funds in the bank for now, and we are focusing on the launches right now. Sometime later this year, we plan to raise our series A.

RockClimber banks on authenticity and quality to tap into India’s beverage market

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
RockClimber banks on authenticity and quality to tap into India’s beverage market
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India has a massive beverage market with many established brands, though several new players, such as Bira, have also made their mark. Considering the sheer size of the market, it’s safe to say that there’s ample scope for newcomers. One such new player is RockClimber. The company creates fruit beverages and fruit spirits designed specifically for India, made from locally grown fruits like jamun, grapes, pomegranate, kiwi, mulberry, and litchi, among others. One of the company’s objectives is to help reduce fruit wastage and create a sustainable ecosystem for farmers and fruit produce. We spoke to Cofounder Hariprasad Shetty to learn more about RockClimber, what distinguishes it from the competition, and the roadmap ahead. Here are the edited excerpts: The beverage market is filled with multiple brands, including some very established ones. How do you plan to stand out from the competition? As a truly authentic fruit based beverage brand, we are committed to using high quality fruits with an experimentative approach to crafting unique fruit combinations that incorporate global flavour trends. This has allowed us to offer a very diverse range of exciting and refreshing beverages while keeping fruits at the center of everything we do. That’s what makes us stand out from the rest of the competition – we see ourselves as fruit experts and our products are fresh and engage with the evolving consumer preferences. So our focus is on delivering an uncompromising product experience. We source the finest fruits from across the country. This commitment to authenticity and quality sets us apart from many competitors who rely heavily on artificial flavors and preservatives. And the traction we have had in the last three years also points to how we have been accepted in the market. [FY 22 7 Cr, FY 23 7 Cr, FY 24 25 Cr, FY 25 60-70 Cr domestic and 30-35 outside India = 100 Cr+ target] 140 strong distributor network across 11 states. 3 million + bottles of beverages sold. 3000 tons of fruits processed sourced from a farmer base of 200,000 small scale fruit farmers producing grapes, pomegranate, pineapple, jamun, strawberry, mango etc. What is your offline and distribution strategy, usually the key to robust growth in your category? Most of the work should happen before Day Zero – the launch day. We recognized early on that a robust distribution network is the backbone of success in this business. We adopted a systematic approach to build our distribution network from the ground up. Mapping out territories and identifying potential distributors and retailers who could penetrate different markets. We only went ahead with experienced and reputable distributors who had an in-depth understanding of local market dynamics and consumer preferences. What is your strategy for online? Are you considering partnerships with any quick commerce platform? Yes, now that we have a headway in the distribution aspect and have achieved product market fit, we are now going to go aggressive on the marketing front especially online channels. What are the incentives for a farmer dealing with your platform other than the convenience of direct sale and price? Farmers are looking for a stable assured source of income every year. Timely procurement of their fruit produce, immediate payments, reduction in time to sale, and providing access to a large pool of buyers are all the benefits farmers get by working with us. We started with 500 tons of fruit procurement, and now at over 5000 tons. We aim for 10X procurement volumes in the next 2-3 years, thereby contributing to 10 times reduction in fruit loss, and hence a direct positive impact on small scale farmers livelihood and stable income generation. As we expand our facilities, we aim to recruit local talent to be part of our company and thereby directly provide employment opportunities as well. RockClimber aims to: Scale to 10,00,000 farmer base in the next 3 years Platform building for farmer outreach, communication, and forecasting Patented mobile fruit processing system Export unit in select locations for UAE and Africa markets You also mentioned entering the UAE and Africa markets. What is your roadmap for global expansion? And why particularly these two markets? We expect 30-35% revenues coming in from global markets in the near term. Particularly markets like UAE are huge on experimentation as consumers there are well traveled and have an international palette. We see a large market opportunity in the innovative – new age beverage category in this region.

Datatribe builds data driven tech products for organizations across sectors

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Datatribe builds data driven tech products for organizations across sectors
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Bengaluru-based Datatribe builds affordable and SaaS products for organizations that help them harness their own data. Its first two products are myLearn (an organizational learning platform) and Parcel (a product cycle management platform), and the company plans to release a performance management product later this fiscal year. Each of these products are Tier – iI ERP products, which founder and CEO Nikhil Chandra says are easy to deploy and provide real time tracking and analytics. We spoke to Chandra to learn more about Datatribe, what its business model is, and the roadmap ahead. Here are the edited excerpts: How did you come up with the idea of Datatribe? Datatribe came about based on our experience with taking our first two products (myLearn and Parsel) to market – for product details please see www.datatribe.co.in. While working with clients, we realized that a core problem for organizations across sectors and sizes was the inability to harness and utilize their down data that was being generated on a daily basis. This could be people-based data (like learning) or product data (like production, storage, delivery) or performance-based data (like productivity) and creates a strong need for data focused technology products. We also believe strongly that this wave of data focused technology has begun the world over and will fundamentally change the manner in which business is done. Please help understand how you generate revenues. (Explain business model). Since we are a B2B focused organisation, our revenue model is based on subscription charges from organisations. This could be a one time subscription or a recurring subscription amount depending on the product. For e.g. in myLearn we charge clients on a per enrollment/subscription basis for roll out of existing content on the platform and provide clear proving options on the platform itself. What are the key challenges in the industry that have not been addressed yet? And how do you plan to address this? The key challenge with respect to data is the lack of an easy system to access data and make it available to the right people within an organisation. This challenge can largely be addressed only by technology and current systems to do so are expensive and cumbersome to deploy (essentially large-scale ERPs). We are addressing this by providing the SME and enterprise market with affordable, SAAS based data driven products for multiple parts of their business. How are you using technology to solve challenges in the industry? Aside from being SaaS-based and easy-to-deploy, one of the key items for our products will be the enhancement provided by AI/ML tools. For e.g. in the Parsel product we have integrated an AI/ML fulfillment tool that ensures not only putaway and pick list generation but also efficient use of manpower in warehouses. Also, in myLearn we have a unique Dashboard that allows the organization to directly deploy and manage all their learning requirements while providing real time data. The Dashboard also allows an organization to track learning across SBUs, designations and teams to ensure that actionable data intelligence is available with them. How has your startup performed since inception? We have just taken both our products out of proof of concept, and this is the first year for Datatribe. During proof of concept, myLearn created learning outcomes for over 20,000 employees at multiple organizations including Hindalco Limited and the Tata group. Similarly, Parsel has between 400-500k monthly SKUs on the platform. What are your short-term and long-term goals in terms of product and business expansion and diversification? Our short-term goal is to build a pipeline of recurring revenue across our product portfolio. This has started well in this FY and we aim to be at a profitable MRR and over 4 million monthly SKUs on Parsel by H2, FY25. Our longer-term goal is to help SMEs and Enterprises become more productive and competitive using their own data along with scaling a profitable global business. Who are your nearest direct and indirect competitors? Which are the larger global players in the industry? Each of our products have specific competitors locally as well as globally. For e g. The primary competitors for myLearn are Coursera and udemy which provide organizational learning alternatives in a slightly different fashion.

Atomic Asher takes on new-age security challenges such as QR code threats

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Atomic Asher takes on new-age security challenges such as QR code threats
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Mumbai-based Atomic Asher is one of the few cybersecurity startups leveraging the latest technologies such as AI to protect common people from new-age digital threats. Founded in 2021 by Anirudh Asher, the startup offers apps like ‘QR Safety by Atomic Asher,’ which helps detect malicious QR codes and URLs. It also features a web application called’ WhatsApp Number Cleaner’, which helps users to clean up unwanted contacts for direct chatting without saving their numbers. Another offering is the ‘Anti-counterfeiting App’, which aims to assist users in distinguishing between fake and original products. We spoke to the founder and CEO Asher to learn more about the startup, how it works, and the roadmap ahead. Here are the edited excerpts: How did you come up with the idea? How do the QR safety and anti-counterfeiting platforms work? The idea was born out of identifying a critical gap in digital security with the increasing use of QR codes, increased counterfeiting of branded goods such as pharmaceuticals leading to the conceptualization of a solution to protect users and entire populations from potential threats. As far as our safety platforms go, users simply scan a QR code through the app, which then checks the code against a database of known threats and analyzes the linked URL for suspicious behavior, ensuring safe interaction. For the anti-countefeiting aspect, we have developed our own technology that takes QR technology to the next level. Please help understand how you generate revenues? Revenue is generated through a blend of premium app subscriptions, partnerships with cybersecurity firms, and tailor-made enterprise solutions, focusing on long-term value. Overall, we charge brands to help keep their customerbase safe from scams and counterfeits. What are the key challenges in the industry that have not been addressed yet? And how do you plan to address this? A major unaddressed challenge is the sophistication of digital threats. Our approach combines continuous research with technological innovation to stay ahead of threats. We also feel like there are not enough organisations focussed on building technology for the betterment of mankind and often seem to be chasing profits and get rich quick rather than doing the right thing. What are your short-term and long-term goals in terms of product and business expansion and diversification? Short-term goals include expanding our user base and refining our technology stack, while long-term objectives focus on geographical expansion and diversifying our product line to cover a broader range of security solutions. We aim to become the leading name in protecting the Indian diaspora from threats to their health, identity and digital security.

Competishun aims to help make IIT-JEE, NEET prep affordable, more accessible

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Competishun aims to help make IIT-JEE, NEET prep affordable, more accessible
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Edtech space in India is already quite cluttered with a number of startups, including several unicorns, trying to carve out their own piece of the digital classroom pie. The Indian edtech market reported a total revenue of $4.3 billion in 2022, marking a CAGR of 16.8% since 2017, according to a market study. Even as some late-stage edtech firms faced challenges post-pandemic, others like PhysicsWallah have shown promise. VCs too remain optimistic about early-stage firms. One such early-stage firm is Competishun, which competes with platforms like Vedantu and Unacademy, but with an exclusive focus on IIT-JEE and NEET prep. We spoke to the founder and CEO of Competishun Mohit Kumar Tyagi, what distinguishes it from the competition and the roadmap ahead. Here are the edited excerpts: How did you come up with the idea of Competishun? The idea for Competishun emerged from a vision to transform IIT-JEE and NEET coaching methodology by offering comprehensive and effective preparation methods to students across India. We recognized the need for accessible, high-quality training at affordable cost that could level the playing field for all students, irrespective of their financial backgrounds. Please explain how the platform works? Competishun’s platform functions by providing structured online and offlinecourses, study materials, and books for JEE (Main + Advanced) and NEET(UG) preparation. We aim to create a comfortable learning environment for students through online education at an affordable cost. Our platform offers customized online batches based on students’ needs and performance, with doubt-solving counters and 24/7 support via WhatsApp and phone. Additionally, we provide personalized attention to enrolled students through Telegram doubt sessions and live Zoom sessions, ensuring their academic success. What are the key challenges in the industry that have not been addressed yet? And how do you plan to address them? One significant challenge in the industry is the lack of personalized learning experiences and the underutilization of technology. Competishun addresses this by offering adaptive learning algorithms, personalized study plans, and utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance the learning experience. We strive to provide cost-effective, quality education to all JEE and NEET aspirants at the comfort of their homes, dispelling the myth that online education cannot yield results. Moreover, we aim to counter unethical practices by competitors in the online space, thereby instilling confidence in parents and students regarding online learning. How has your startup performed since inception? What are your short-term and long-term goals? Since its inception, Competishun has witnessed significant growth in terms of user enrollment, JEE Main and Advanced results, course completion rates, and positive feedback from students and educators. We take pride in having assisted thousands of students in achieving their academic goals. In the short term, our goals include expanding our course offerings, enhancing platform features, and strengthening our market presence. In the long term, we envision establishing hybrid study centers across the nation, thereby providing a blended learning experience to students.

CRED’s competitor CheQ secures $4.5 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
CRED’s competitor CheQ secures $4.5 Mn
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B2B credit management platform CheQ has raised Rs 35 crore or $4.2 million in its extended seed round from new and existing investors. The funding for the Bengaluru-based firm came after a gap of 18 months. The board at CheQ has passed a special resolution to issue 12,952 Seed1 cumulative convertible preference shares at an issue price of Rs 26,989 each to raise Rs 35 crore, its regulatory filing accessed from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) shows. 3one4 Capital invested Rs 12.49 crore while Venture Highway Fund and Multiply Ventures pumped in 6.24 crore and 2.08 crore, respectively. Individual investors including Lloyd Dizon Balajadia, Madhav Prakash Sehth, Vishal Gupta, and Deepk Tuli have collectively put in Rs 14.2 crore. As per filings, the company will use these funds for growth, expansion, marketing, and general corporate purposes as decided by the board. In June 2022, CheQ raised $10 million in Seed funding led by Venture Highway and 3one4 Capital. Following the fresh proceeds, 3one4 Capital holds 10.95% of the company while Venture Highway and Multiply Ventures command 11.45% and 2.49% respectively. It’s worth noting that these holdings exclude employee stock options and the firm’s cap table when we factor in the ESOP pool component. According to the startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, the company has been valued at around Rs 451 crore or $55 million (post-money) in the new funding round. Founded in 2022 by Aditya Soni, CheQ helps customers simplify the discovery and management of all credit products and allows you to pay your credit card bill, and EMI on a single platform. The startup has raised $15 million to date including its $10 million seed round led by Venture Highway and 3one4 Capital in June 2022. CheQ remained a pre-revenue stage firm with a revenue of only Rs 2 crore during the fiscal year ended March 2023. However, the losses for the three-year-old firm stood at Rs 19.4 crore in the same period. CheQ competes with fintech unicorn CRED which has secured around $1 billion to date and was valued at $6.4 billion in its last fundraise. According to the startup data intelligence platform TheKredibe, it posted Rs 1,400 crore in revenue with a loss of Rs 1,347 crore during FY23.

XOBOX aims to tackle residential last-mile delivery hurdles

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
XOBOX aims to tackle residential last-mile delivery hurdles
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Last-mile delivery hasn’t been perfect. Not that the likes of Dunzos of this world haven’t tried to address this. Recently, we saw Zomato experimenting with last-mile delivery through a unique concept of ‘walkers’ for corporate parks. Bengaluru-based XOBOX is one of the few startups that is trying to fix the last-mile delivery challenges especially for people living in urban areas. The company handles packages for residents in apartment complexes. Some of the features are securing the packages in smart lockers and dropping them to customers’ doorstep when they are back to their homes, and home delivery of essential items. We spoke to XOBOX founder and CEO Kiran Shivappa about his startup, what distinguishes it from the competition and the roadmap ahead. Here are the edited excerpts: How did you come up with this idea? I live in an apartment complex and even before the Covid deliveries were left scattered in front of the door and stray cats use to destroy especially milk packet which cause everyone to talk about it hours in community Whatsapp group, this made me think to find/adopt a solution to secure the deliveries when residents not able to receive it or may be they are not around. How does the platform work? Please help simplify the process. When we started the service, we started taking the request from residents to handle their packages and we coordinated with delivery guys to take the package, pay them if it is a COD [Cash on Delivery], and secure them in the locker until they come back, then we deliver it to their doorstep. We went one step ahead and made a contract with 3PL [Third-party logistics] and ecommerce companies to take every delivery coming to the society and our dedicated resources would hand them over to the residents, if the resident is not available then secure the package in the locker and hand it over once they come back. What are the key challenges in the industry that have not been addressed yet? And how do you plan to address them? Ecommerce companies have tried many solutions to optimize the last leg of the delivery process and achieved the Kirana model also, but they never got a chance to be inside the society exclusively and take care of the deliveries and achieve the customer delight to bring the most convenience to them in their package receiving time. We have dedicated resources inside each society to carefully handle the package and interact with residents and elderly people and become familiar to them so they feel comfortable to receive us at the doorstep at any time and feel secured as well. Industry major players tried to introduce the lockers but these lockers operate as a complete unmanned and fully automated, for this reason the adaptation was a big challenge and education was also a challenge. We adopted a 70/30 model where, way the lockers were built, operated and how people would feel easy to adopt this because the “30” percentage is the resources we introduced along with “70” percentage technology, our dedicated resource will work with all stake holders in the gated community to educate and make every one understand how to use the service. What are your short-term and long term goals in terms of product and business expansion and diversification? In the short term, we are looking to expand the service to 35 more gated communities in Bengaluru in 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2024 and then go to other cities. As far as long-term plans go, we are going to sign contracts with major ecommerce and 3PL companies to increase the volume in each society and serve the needs of elderly population in the community. We would want to reach 700-1000 gated communities and generate 150-180 cr annually.

Invest4Edu makes education planning easy for parents

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Invest4Edu makes education planning easy for parents
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Not everyone can afford to pay for high-quality education for their children. Whether it’s about studying in a premier institution in India or colleges abroad, it’s expensive. The complexities of accessing education loans have also been a significant pain point for parents. Of late, quite a few startups have begun working in this space. For instance, GradRight helps make higher education abroad accessible and affordable. Other notable names are Leap Finance and Propelled. Another startup trying to tap into this space is Invest4edu. Based in Mumbai, Invest4Edu aims to address common anxieties around the rising cost of education, college planning, and long-term payment. We spoke to the company co-founder and CEO Peeyush Agrawal to learn more about the ‘ed-fintech’ startup, how it operates, and more. Here are the edited excerpts: What are the key challenges in the industry that have not been addressed yet? And how do you plan to address them? There has been a surge of edtech and fintech companies, and all of them are doing a great job in their respective horizons, but we have found that India still lacks tech platforms offering comprehensive education financial solutions. Only partial solutions are being offered by existing Edtech and Fintech companies. There is a lack of focused unified solutions in the market, and an absence of education goal-based planning leading to insufficient funds for education. Less than 30% of parents use money for their child’s education from dedicated education savings. Inadequate planning leads to insufficient funds for education, restricting a child’s ability to achieve their real potential. Two out of three Indian parents cannot plan for retirement due to the higher education financing needs of their children. With smart AI-based tools, we want to empower parents and students to discover and plan their education goals. Early planning with mandate-based early savings and great career-building services will help Indians manage education inflation and fulfill their commitment to quality education. We are offering an array of education services to help students and parents discover ideal career paths in the increasingly changing environment. What are the key highlights of your platform? We at Invest4Edu offer an AI-based education journey, essentially a digital toolkit aiding parents in crafting career-centric education goals from nursery to university. The toolkit is aimed to simplify learning requirements, skill development, assessments, and counseling with precise expense details. There is also a free planner that ensures holistic education. Subscription plans offer services like career counseling, skill-building, and financial investment guidance for achieving goals. We also have a College cost calculator, EduAbacus, which helps deliver informed decisions on future education costs. Subscriptions or standalone services from this tech-driven platform streamline education planning for parents and students. How do you generate revenues? Invest4Ed offers a unique blend of educational and financial services to B2C and B2B2C markets. We have an annuity-based revenue model with high customer retention. The revenue is generated from commission on financial products like MF, FD, Insurance along with fees from educational solutions and subscription plans. What are your short-term and long-term goals in terms of product and business expansion and diversification? Over the next two years, our company aims to spearhead a transformative initiative in education planning that prioritizes and enhances while ensuring accessibility for a diverse student population of more than 2 Lakh students. Our long-term goal is to create 1.5 Million User Base and 0.5 Million Families Empowered In this endeavour. We will be building a $250 Million Mutual Fund AUM & Monthly SIP Book of $60 Million. We have recently expanded our core team aimed at launching our global business.

Evify brings last-mile delivery to non-metro cities with EV logistics

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Evify brings last-mile delivery to non-metro cities with EV logistics
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India’s electric vehicle market is set to be worth nearly $114 billion in 2029 with a CAGR of 66.5%, according to a report by Fortune Business Insights. The exponential growth in the EV space comes on the back of the government focus on sustainable mobility, increased VC capital infusion in the industry, and consumers’ wide embrace. Surat-based Evify is one of the relatively new startups that is looking to stand out with its strategy to focus on logistics in non-metro cities. Founded in 2021, Evify has essentially set up a facility where riders can come to their hub, pick up an EV to start deliveries, and return the vehicle at the end of the day. The company takes care of the maintenance of the vehicles. The startup currently operates in Surat and Ahmedabad, and has facilitated 11 lakh deliveries in the last one year. We spoke to the company co-founder and CEO Devrishi Arora to learn more about Evify, the idea behind the logistics EV startup, business model, and more. Here are the edited excerpts. What do you think are the key challenges in the emobility space? Since we come from a non-metro city, where the EV eco system is still at the nascent stage, there is no infrastructure available for the smooth functioning of the vehicles. There’s a scarcity of charging stations, inconveniencing EV users. Secondly, delivery riders lack awareness of EV benefits and savings. Thirdly, high initial EV costs, compounded by elevated RTO charges in states like Gujarat, and a scarcity of repair stations inflate expenses. Fourthly, concerns about EV range and charging infrastructure persist, particularly in Tier II cities with longer distances. Fifthly, limited availability of EVs and components, coupled with inadequate after-sales service, hampers adoption. Lastly, overcoming perceptions of EVs as less reliable requires client confidence, which we foster through pilot projects. How are you using technology to solve these challenges? We have also installed all the vehicles with telematics devices which helps us to geofence the vehicles, remote immobilization, study the rider driving pattern as well as idle time pattern of the riders. This has helped us to have control on our fleet as well as the riders. We have also been creating a full stack tech platform which will help us to study the rider analytics, battery analytics, BMS , IOT data, clients data, vendor data, ancillary industry data, repairs and maintenance, charging stations, etc under one single platform. How has your startup performed since inception? We started in September 2021 with just 30 vehicles and one client in Surat ie. Big Basket. Today, we have close to 500 vehicles servicing six major clients Zomato, Swiggy, Big Basket, Bluedart, Ecom Express, Flipkart in Surat and Ahmedabad. We are also launching our operations in Vadodara soon in the coming months. We have so far raised $1.3 million from GVFl and Piper Serica as the VC investors. The target is to have a fleet of 10,000 vehicles in the coming 2 years spread across 10 cities of Bharat. What are your short-term and long term goals? Our goals for the upcoming year involve expanding our presence in the four major cities of Gujarat and achieving a fleet size of 5,000 vehicles by the end of the next financial year. Additionally, we aim to establish the necessary EV ecosystem in these cities through collaborations with other EV players, fostering synergies, and raising awareness about this segment in Tier II cities. Looking ahead, our broader vision is to evolve into a green logistics service provider. This encompasses implementing green warehousing practices and facilitating first-mile, mid-mile, and last-mile deliveries using electric vehicles. Furthermore, we intend to partner with drop delivery services to offer comprehensive mid-mile delivery solutions to our clients.

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