A daily newsletter summarizing interesting Indian startups and recent activity both in India & globally.
INTERESTING STARTUPS
Trackoneapp (2015, Bangalore), AI-enabled application for field force management. Founders are ex-CoFounder of Heptagon Technologies, ex-CoFounder of Helpr, Hubbl, MyCityWay and are alumni of PSG College of Technology. Local Comparables are Applicate (2014, Gurgaon, $1.6M) and Blue Dolph (2012, Delhi, $1.1M). Global comparables are ClickSoftware (1996, Petah Tikva) and TotalMobile (1985, Belfast).
INDIA INTERESTING NEWS
Saraf Foods (1991, Vadodara), agro processing services provider with a focus on freeze drying, raises $4.5M in Series A round of funding led by Saraf family, PEDORIA, DSG Consumer Partners, along with Danish Investment Fund and IFU. Link
Doodhwala (2015, Bangalore), app for subscription based milk delivery, raises $2.2M in Seed round of funding from Omnivore Partners. Link
Planys (2015, Chennai), remotely operated vehicle for underwater, raises $2.1M in Series A round of funding from Kris Gopalakrishnan, along with Pratithi Investment Trust, MEMG Family Office, and some HNIs including S Gopal, former director of Chemplast Sanmar. Link
Furlenco (2011, Bangalore), online furniture rental platform, raises $753k in funding from Signet Chemical Corporation. Link
Apollo Hospitals (1983, Chennai), chain of multispeciality hospital, launches seed fund for healthcare startups in India. Link
GLOBAL ROUNDUP
D-Wave Systems (1999, Burnaby), developer of quantum computers and software, raises $20M of funding from undisclosed investors. Link
Amino Payments (2017, Philadelphia), blockchain company to track online ad payments, raises $4.5M in Seed funding led by First Round Capital, with participation from You & Mr. Jones Brandtech Ventures, NYCA Investment Fund, Tessera Venture Partners, Auren Hoffman and Tod Sacerdoti.. Link
Nokia (1865, Espoo), Communication, IT, and consumer electronics company, acquires Unium (2002, Seattle), software to improve WiFi connectivity for home devices, for an undisclosed amount. Link
Frontier Strategy Group (2007, Washington D.C.), information & advisory firm for emerging markets, acquires Ducker Worldwide (1961, Troy), research and consulting firm, for an undisclosed amount. Link
SkyDeck, UC Berkeley’s startup accelerator, closes its first round of investment at $24M led by Sequoia Capital and Mayfair Ventures.. Link