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Startups refund investors in ethical move after shutdown and failed pivot

EntrackrEntrackr · 9m ago
Startups refund investors in ethical move after shutdown and failed pivot
Medial

The shutdown of SaaS startup Toplyne took many by surprise, as the San Francisco and Bengaluru-based company became one of the few from the well-funded segment to halt operations. Having raised over $17 million from investors like Tiger Global and Peak XV, the firm also garnered attention for its commitment to return the remaining capital to investors, highlighting the importance of ethical practices in the startup landscape. Not just Toplyne, but a bunch of startups that shut down or pivoted have returned capital to their investors after struggling to establish a sustainable revenue model. They also encountered challenges such as funding shortages, adverse market conditions, and cash flow issues. According to data from TheKredible, as many as 8 Indian startups have refunded investors after either ceasing operations or unsuccessful pivots as of October 12. This accounts for 50% of all shutdowns and pivots that have occurred in the current calendar year. Paras Chopra-led Nintee was the first to announce its shutdown and return capital to investors in April this year. It was backed by Peak XV and angels like Kunal Shah. Following this, several other startups joined the trend, including edtech firm Bluelearn and trading platform Investmint, as well as offline firm Convenio, launched by former Swiggy senior vice president Karthik Gurumurthy. Most recently, agritech startup Greenikk also announced that it would refund investors after ceasing operations. It’s worth noting that Gurumurthy had raised $3 million from Matrix Partners and others in stealth mode. Earlier this year, two fashion tech companies—Fashinza and Virgio—opted to return capital to their investors after struggling to find traction with their original business models. Virgio, led by former Myntra CEO Amar Nagaram, raised over $37 million from investors including Prosus Ventures, Alpha Wave Partners, and Accel Partners before its pivot. Fashinza, the highest-funded company on the list, secured $150 million in equity and working capital from notable backers such as Mars Growth Capital, Liquidity Group, Accel, Prosus, WestBridge, and Elevation Capital. In the current debate about the market savvy of Bengaluru startups compared to those in Delhi NCR, it’s interesting to observe that five startups on this exclusive list originate from Bengaluru, whereas only two are from NCR. Between 2022 and 2023, several startups, including Frontrow, Udayy, ConnectedH, and Anar, had returned capital to their investors after shutting down operations for various reasons. The return of capital should not be as big a deal as made out, but catches attention simply because of the times we live in. When fund raising is treated as a massive success in itself, returning those (or whatever remains) funds is certainly a call a founder would make after much agonising normally. Or after burning through most of those funds in trying to pivot, than accept failure. While strong founder ethics and a long term view on the reputational impact is one factor, we believe it is also increasingly a function of how closely investors work with them. And yes, while it will never be as acceptable as many would like, failure is a lot less damaging to future prospects for a founder today than even a decade back. Many investors today, as they work with younger founders especially, keep a very close eye on the day to day running of the business and metrics, giving them a much more deeper understanding of business direction. Thus, where a thesis has failed completely, decisions on shut downs are being taken faster now. Finally, in the rarefied world of fund raising, where access to the right networks matter, as more startups have been funded, we can see longer memory for the performance of the deal sourcing people as well. It would be no surprise if many of these have played an instrumental role in ensuring a return of funds to a VC where they hope to do more work in the future.

BluSmart drivers face uncertainty amid company troubles, founder issues

EntrackrEntrackr · 2m ago
BluSmart drivers face uncertainty amid company troubles, founder issues
Medial

BluSmart suspended its operations in April in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru, asking its 10,000 driver-partners to return their vehicles. The move has left several drivers scrambling to find new sources of income. Rajesh [name changed], a 35-year-old man in Gurugram, secured a driving job with a heavily VC-funded electric vehicle cab hailing company which once aimed to take on the duopoly of Ola Cabs and Uber in India. An average income of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per month, Rajesh admits, was not much for his family but managed to pay bills. Though, Rajesh, who also is a father of two young children, put in 10 hours to 12 hours daily - to reach the estimated monthly income. With his company now pausing the services, Rajesh has no source of earning, and does not know how he will pay his kids’ education fees. "... Now, I don’t know how I’ll manage. I missed my kids' school fees this month. My family depends on me, and I’ve never felt so helpless,” a visibly stressed Rajesh told Entrackr. One of the things that is agonising Rajesh the most is the deceptive way his employer pushed them out. “On Wednesday (April 16th), we [drivers] received a message saying the car needed to be submitted to the hub for a breakdown. We thought it was just a minor technical issue. When we got there, they told us it was a failure and we’d be informed later. But there was no word from the company after that. We just had to go home. We were left in complete shock," says Rajesh as his voice strains, reliving the fateful moment. Rajesh says he was among the first lot of employees, when the company had just 50 cars. Like many others, he too bought the company’s promise of stability. “Now, it feels like we’ve been left out to dry,” he said. “I’m considering working with Uber or Ola… I’m looking for something else, maybe a different field altogether. But BluSmart was my livelihood, and I’d go back in a heartbeat if they reopened. It was my only source of income,” he added. Rajesh’s story resonates with another thousands of drivers who are now scrambling to find new sources of income after BluSmart’s sudden suspension of its services. Entrackr has reached out to BluSmart seeking responses on how they plan to compensate the affected drivers. In case they respond, we will incorporate their inputs. Staging the protest On May 4, a group of BluSmart drivers raised their grievances at Jantar Mantar, a historic site for protests. They pressed for demands for alternative income avenues as well as called for crucial policy reforms to prevent similar abrupt dismissals. Additionally, they also sought a government intervention. Tajinder Singh, president of Parivahan Morcha Athavale and also among those spearheading the protest, told Entrackr that women drivers of BluSmart were among those bearing the brunt the most as other taxi companies refused to recruit them. He further said that some drivers were working on a per day basis as and when required but asserted that this was not a long-term solution. “We are demanding compensation for affected BluSmart drivers. We have also sought government intervention so that the drivers can continue to earn their livelihood,” Singh said. Singh also claimed that hundreds of BluSmart employees working at charging hubs were affected by the company’s sudden suspension of its services. A business model that promised to be different than rivals Even as ‘sustainability’ remained the headline grabber, BluSmart also deployed a rather different business model compared to rivals Ola Cabs and Uber. The company used a full-stack B2C model wherein they owned and managed the vehicles whereas Ola and Uber work with independent drivers. The model allowed BluSmart to have a better control on the quality of cars, maintenance, and subsequently better customer service. For drivers, the company offered a fixed salary along with incentives. An assured income was a big factor why a lot of drivers showed interest in joining BluSmart. Ola and Uber, on the other hand, operated on a familiar commission-based system, also common with several gig working-reliant service providers. Singh also highlighted this stark difference between BluSmart and its rivals. He said that the job of driver was to pick and drop the passenger and earn a regular income (per day payout and incentives). They needed to work 10 hours to 12 hours a day. Other things like maintenance and documentation was taken care of by the company, giving drivers a more relaxed environment to operate. Blusmart has raised over $180 million to date, including its $50 million series B round in January this year. Though, it received only Rs 61 crore out of $50 million. That said, a heavily-funded BluSmart juggernaut appeared unstoppable, until it did. Earlier this year, reports emerged that BluSmart delayed salary payments to cash crunch. It had also shut down operations in Dubai and also saw an exodus of top management employees, including CEO, CBO, and CTO. A month later, SEBI published findings of its probe into Gensol Engineering, BluSmart’s partner and EV lessor. The SEBI order highlighted misuse of funds, and also barred promoters Anmol and Puneet Singh Jaggi from accessing the securities market and holding key positions in Gensol Engineering. What next for BluSmart drivers BluSmart drivers facing joblessness due to the shutdown can go for legal remedy and urgently demand clearance of any unpaid dues and better severance compensation, if not given already. The legal course, which may take a relatively long time, may also help them investigate if BluSmart violated the contract by sudden halting of their services and returning vehicles. Moreover, they can also seek intervention from regulatory boards. Singh, however, did not appear enthusiastic about taking the legal course. “Companies like these make such contracts that they keep them protected in such incidents and don’t have to own any responsibility towards people working so hard for them,” he said [loosely translated from Hindi]. As far as the future of the company goes, it’s hard to predict considering the massive VC money riding on the company. Despite the major dent in public image and also several legal troubles, it’s likely that the company may stay afloat with a rather new management and new board - a few known steps troubled companies often take to course correct. It’s worth noting that quality of drivers and cabs were the top highlight of the platform, and if it resumes, it should continue with that. With the ongoing protests and lack of communication between drivers and management, it seems unlikely that the company will enjoy the same level of trust from its network drivers.

The transformative journey of used car startups in India: Report

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
The transformative journey of used car startups in India: Report
Medial

The Indian used car market is witnessing a significant transformation, driven by various factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on individual mobility preferences, increased financing options in the used car market, and reduced cash inflow for new car purchases. And perhaps most importantly now, the new and spreading norms on the scrapping of cars. This shift has led to a surge in availability, and demand for used cars, with buyers seeking alternatives to new vehicles. The market is poised for considerable growth, especially with the implementation of new emission standards and focusing on reducing diesel car production. As per a report by Motor Intelligence, the Indian used car market is expected to reach $31.62 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 15.10% to reach $63.87 billion by 2029. Among the used car companies in India, Cars24 is leading the pack with over Rs 5,500 crore in earnings. Spinny achieved the second position last year with nearly 30X growth in revenue. CarDekho, CarTrade, OLX and Droom are next on the list. The funding and valuation game The used car space has witnessed four unicorns so far including Cars24, Spinny, CarDekho, and Droom. Valuation-wise, Cars24 is on top with $3.3 billion followed by Spinny, CarDekho, and Droom. At the same time, CarTrade’s market capitalization stands at around $370 million. Notably, all of these raised their last funding in 2021. In contrast, OLX has not raised any funding for a long time. Rising scale of leading used car players Cars24’s revenue from operations marginally declined 8.9% to Rs 5,534 crore during the last fiscal year while in grabbing the second spot, Spinny’s scale jumped nearly 30X to Rs 3,261 crore. CarDekho also managed 46% growth with Rs 2,332 crore in revenue. However, the company is also involved in other operations like insurance, marketing et al. Its revenue from the sale of used cars stood at Rs 952 crore during the period. CarTrade’s sales grew 16.3% to Rs 363.7 crore in FY23 as compared to Rs 312.7 crore in FY22. OLX and Droom recorded Rs 514.92 crore and Rs 253.3 crore in revenue during FY23, respectively. For context, Cars24 makes over 90% of its revenue from the sale of cars while a small part comes from financial services. Similarly, Spinny made 95% of its revenue from the sale of cars while the remaining was from services, including commissions on car sales and financial services. Where are the used car companies spending? Cars24 spent over 80% of its expenses on the procurement of goods while Spinny and CarDekho booked 72% and 33.7%, respectively, under the same. CarDekho spent 21.7% of its cost on employee benefits and 21.1% on advertising and promotional expenses. CarTrade incurred the majority (55.9%) of its expenditure on employee benefits followed by promotional and other expenses. The red and green: Bottomline of the used car players Listed on the stock exchange, CarTrade is the only profitable company among the leading players as of FY23. The company posted Rs 40.4 crore profits in FY23 against Rs 121.3 crore in losses the previous year. On the back of rising expenses, Spinny has the highest losses, but not the worst margins. Its losses crossed the Rs 800 crore benchmark in FY23. CarDekho and Cars24 are next in line with Rs 566 crore and Rs 467.7 crore losses, respectively. Meanwhile, CarDekho’s auto business reported Rs 360 crore losses during the period. A look at Covid & Pre-Covid performance The COVID-19 pandemic impact on Cars24, CarTrade, and Droom was big enough to lead to a decline in revenue. On the other hand, CarDekho and Spinny managed to achieve positive growth, although below expectations. Consolidations in used car space The pre-owned car space also saw a bunch of consolidation as bigger brands took over smaller ones over the past five-six years. CarDekho topped the list with seven acquisitions including Revv, Carmudi, Carbiqi, Help on Wheels, ZigWheels, BuyingIQ, and Gaadi.com. Listed company CarsTrade took over Olx Auto, SAMIL, Adroit Inspection, and CarWale whereas Spinny acquired three startups – Scouto, Truebil, and HopCar – since its inception in 2015. OLX as a group acquired around 12 companies which also included global companies such as Sulit and Tokobagus. Recent Developments Delhi NCR-based Cars24 is reportedly piloting a new service that allows car owners to hire drivers on-demand on an hourly basis. The startup had launched a separate app – Autopilot Driver – a few months ago to onboard drivers for the new service. CarDekho shut down its used car retail business amid continuously losing money in the B2C model because of high burn on parking, showrooms, and manpower without any sight of profitability. User behavioural shift in the used cars segment Second-hand cars have been in fashion for eons. However, there has long been a stigma attached to owning a used car. Beyond social status and related concerns, people have had trust issues regarding sellers’ credentials, the history of cars, and so forth. The growing number of startups in this space, however, have democratized the process and have made it more accessible to common users. While increased accessibility and the shedding of stigma are commonly observed, there has been a big change in how people approach used cars. As mentioned above, the pandemic has also had a significant impact, alongside changes in policies and advancements in technology. The trend toward choosing used cars is growing stronger for several practical reasons, a Cars24 spokesperson said. “Buyers are discovering that used cars offer significant value, allowing access to higher-end models and features without the steep price of a new vehicle. The reliability of used cars has greatly improved, thanks to comprehensive inspections and refurbishments, making them a dependable choice. Additionally, the fact that new cars depreciate quickly makes pre-owned vehicles an appealing option for those looking to maximise their investment. This shift in consumer behaviour reflects a smarter, more value-conscious approach to car buying,” the spokesperson explains. The spokesperson further said that car buyers in India are ready to spend 30% (FY22 vs FY23) more on their vehicles, steering towards models with premium features and better overall quality. There is also a surge in demand for SUVs. EVs are too making their way in the used car segment. “In 2023, there was a phenomenal 5X surge in enquiries for EVs on the platform, reflecting a growing interest in alternative fuel options and a shift towards cost-efficient and eco-conscious driving,” the spokesperson said, adding that Cars24 is currently averaging 200 enquiries daily for EVs. CarDekho is also bullish on the used car segment. “Used cars will still continue to do fine as the older vehicles will migrate out of metros,” said Amit Jain, co-founder and CEO of CarDekho Group. Jain also highlighted that demand for used cars is mostly from individual users as cab drivers need a yellow plate which is expensive, making the proposition unviable for cab drivers. “Cab drivers also need CNG installations as most of the used cars are either petrol or diesel which add extra burden on them,” he added. TheKredible’s take Even as it is a huge and growing market, it is well known that making money in the market is a different ball game. Buyers have the option of direct deals with owners, free listing sites and of course, a massive unorganised market, before they approach the organised players. With the option of going with the firms floated by automakers such as Maruti Suzuki True Value and First Choice are always there in case of a purchase. Thus, beyond the obvious issue of price for both sellers and buyers, these firms have to invest in differentiators that will be valued. The high losses and lack of loyalty indicate just how little success they have had in this effort. We believe lasting success in the category will continue to demand a long-term, high-investment approach that not all the existing players will survive.

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