KaroStartup

Meet Nikil Viswanathan, the 35-year-old co-founder of Alchemy, a company valued at an impressive Rs 83,000 crore. Born into a family of dreamers, Nikhil’s entrepreneurial journey was inspired by his parents, Balu and Usha Viswanathan. They left their stable jobs in India—a doctor and an accountant respectively—and moved to the US to pursue new opportunities. Despite the challenges, they started their own tech consulting firm, Starnik, laying the foundation for a family of innovators. Nikhil studied Computer Science at Stanford University, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. He interned at top tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, gaining invaluable experience. Before founding Alchemy, he co-created a social app called Down To Lunch, which became the number one app on the Apple App Store. In 2020, Nikhil and his co-founder Joe Lau launched Alchemy, a blockchain platform that powers thousands of blockchain-based companies globally. In just 18 months, Alchemy reached a valuation of $10.2 billion (Rs 83,000 crore), making it one of the fastest-growing companies in history. Today, Nikhil holds a 26% stake in Alchemy, with a personal net worth of Rs 14,752 crore ($1.8 billion). Nikhil’s story is not just about success; it’s about family values, resilience, and the courage to dream big. His parents still run their company, Starnik, while his sister, Tara Viswanathan, is the founder of Rupa Health, valued at Rs 650–950 crore. Together, the Viswanathan family is a true example of a family of entrepreneurs. 🚨Opportunity Alert! We are looking for founders and startups based in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai for our podcast! 🔗Link in Bio. DM us now to connect #Entrepreneur #NikhilViswanathan #Alchemy #Blockchain #StartupSuccess #StanfordAlumni #TechInnovator #FamilyOfEntrepreneurs #Rs83000Crore #Inspiration #DreamBig #SuccessStory #IndianEntrepreneur #GlobalLeader #BusinessGrowth

BillDesk is an online payment gateway company founded by Srinivasu MN, Ajay Kaushal and Karthik Ganapathy in 2000, based in Mumbai. The 3 founders left their secure jobs in an accounting firm in the USA to fulfill their dream of becoming entrepreneurs. The company is one of the oldest payment gateways in India. It enables customers to make online payments in a safe and secure manner. When they came back to India they saw the long lines of people waiting to pay bills at energy and phone services. They decided to change this and create a one-stop place to make all payments. BillDesk works on a B2B model and works like an intermediary, linking banks with utilities and retailers to transact payments. Its revenue sources are, PINS and e-top up subscriptions and transaction processing fees. However, people here were reluctant to accept a new way to pay online. It took them 3 years to convince Bharat Sanchar Nigam, a major player to agree. Today, BillDesk does 4 billion transactions per year and had over ₹10 trillion in payment volume in FY23. Its operating revenue is ₹2443 crores and the company posts a profit of ₹150 crores. 🚨Opportunity Alert! at Karo Startup are always on the lookout for founders and changemakers in our society. If you’re based in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, or Mumbai, join us for our podcast and share your story. 🔗 Link in Bio. DM us now to connect. #BillDesk #IndianEntrepreneurs #StartupSuccess #FinTechIndia #OnlinePayments #DigitalTransformation #EntrepreneurialJourney #MadeInIndia

Following the onboarding of ten major e-commerce platforms, including Uber, Zomato, and Blinkit, over 70,000 gig workers have registered on the e-Shram portal. This move allows them to access social security schemes aimed at supporting platform workers. As of February 19, 2025, a total of 70,306 gig workers across 36 states and Union Territories have signed up for the portal. The surge in registrations comes amid the government’s plans to introduce a pension scheme that would require platform aggregators to contribute 2% of each worker’s earnings. The initiative is part of broader efforts to provide financial security and welfare benefits to gig and platform-based workers in India. Read more: thekarostartup.com #eShramPortal #GigWorkers #SocialSecuritySchemes #EcommercePlatforms #Uber #Zomato #Blinkit #PlatformWorkers #PensionScheme #FinancialSecurity #WelfareBenefits #IndianGovernment #LaborReforms #GigEconomy

Elon Musk has transferred ownership of X, formerly Twitter, to his artificial intelligence company, xAI, in an all-stock deal valued at $33 billion. Announcing the move on X, Musk stated that this integration would enhance both companies by combining xAI’s advanced AI capabilities with X’s vast user base. According to Musk, the transaction values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. Since both companies are privately owned, financial details of the deal remain undisclosed. Musk originally acquired Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 before rebranding it as X. He later launched xAI in 2023 with the goal of advancing artificial intelligence. Now, by merging the two, Musk envisions a future where AI-driven technologies enhance user experience, content moderation, and platform functionality. “xAI and X’s futures are intertwined,” Musk said. “Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution, and talent.” Read more: thekarostartup.com #ElonMusk #xAI #X #Twitter #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #SocialMedia #TechMerger #AllStockDeal #MuskTakesOver #FutureOfTech #AIIntegration #UserExperience #ContentModeration

Freshworks, founded by Girish Mathrubootham, Shan Krishnasamy, and Vijay Shankar in 2010, has become a global leader in the SaaS industry, redefining customer support and engagement. What began as a small startup in a 700 sqft warehouse in Chennai has now transformed into a multi-billion-dollar company, with over 50,000 customers across 120 countries. Their flagship products—Freshdesk, Freshchat, and Freshservice—have empowered businesses of all sizes to streamline their customer service operations, improve communication, and provide exceptional support. The company's journey to success wasn't without its challenges. However, the team’s vision of creating scalable, user-friendly, and affordable software solutions set them apart from competitors. Their ability to innovate continuously, paired with their relentless focus on customer satisfaction, has allowed Freshworks to expand rapidly and secure its position in the global market. Freshworks made its grand entry onto the Nasdaq in 2021, a significant milestone in its remarkable growth journey. This achievement not only cemented their place as a leader in the SaaS space but also served as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. Today, Freshworks continues to innovate, with a diverse portfolio of tools that help businesses deliver superior customer experiences. Freshworks’ story is a shining example of how persistence, innovation, and a clear vision can turn a startup idea into a global success. #Freshworks #SaaS #StartupSuccess #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #CustomerSupport #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Nasdaq #TechSuccess #MadeInIndia #GlobalBusiness #CustomerExperience #TechEntrepreneurs #VisionAndHardWork

Padhle: Disrupting Online Learning with Innovation! Meet Padhle, the game-changer in online education, founded by Atharva Puranik and PRanay Chouhan. This EdTech startup is transforming how students learn, offering accessible and high-quality educational resources like never before. From competitive exam prep to skill-building courses, Padhle is making learning easier, engaging, and effective! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gjnkA8Uz #Padhle #OnlineLearning #EdTech #EducationRevolution #FutureOfLearning #StudentSuccess #LearningMadeEasy #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #DisruptiveEdTech #Karostartup #EdTechStartup #StudySmart #EducationMatters

Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCLTech, has become the first Indian woman to enter the top 10 of the Hurun Global Rich List 2025 for women. With an estimated net worth of ₹3.5 lakh crore, she now ranks fifth among the world’s wealthiest women. Her rise follows a 47% stake transfer from her father, Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL Technologies. This transfer places her in control of Vama Sundari Investments (Vama Delhi) and HCL Corp, the promoter entities of HCL Technologies. As a result, she now oversees all strategic decisions for the $12 billion tech giant. Before the transfer, Shiv Nadar held 51% of both Vama Delhi and HCL Corp, while Roshni Nadar Malhotra owned 10.33% in both. Now, she controls voting rights over a significant stake in both HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystems. Apart from leading HCL, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is also a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which runs several premier educational institutions in India. The 2025 Hurun Global Rich List features 3,442 billionaires from 71 countries, with a 13% rise in total wealth compared to last year. Among Indian billionaires, Gautam Adani remains the second-richest in India, ranking 18th globally, while Dilip Shanghvi (Sun Pharma) and Azim Premji (Wipro) also hold top positions. Read more: thekarostartup.com #RoshniNadarMalhotra #HCLTechnologies #HurunGlobalRichList #WomenInBusiness #IndianWomen #WealthiestWomen #ShivNadar #VamaSundariInvestments #HCLCorp #TechGiants #WomenLeaders

The Delhi High Court has issued a temporary injunction against the use of the ‘Bharatpay’ trademark, ruling that it is deceptively similar to ‘BharatPe.’ Justice Amit Bansal observed that both entities operate in the digital payments space, offering UPI and other financial services. The court noted that the trademarks are phonetically identical and share visual and structural similarities, leading to potential consumer confusion. As a result, the court has restricted Bharatpay from using the name until further proceedings. This decision reinforces the importance of brand identity protection in India’s rapidly growing fintech sector. Read more: thekarostartup.com #TrademarkInfringement #BharatPe #Bharatpay #DelhiHighCourt #BrandIdentityProtection #FintechSector #DigitalPayments #UPI #FinancialServices #ConsumerConfusion #PhoneticSimilarity #VisualSimilarity

India is set to launch its first indigenous semiconductor chip, marking a major step in the country’s technological advancements. Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that five semiconductor units are currently under construction, positioning India as a growing hub for chip manufacturing. Speaking at the Times Now Summit, Vaishnaw highlighted how India’s electronics manufacturing sector, once negligible, is now among the top three export sectors. He attributed this growth to policy reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which have enabled large-scale infrastructure investments and a surge in telecom and electronics production. The government has invested ₹11 lakh crore in infrastructure, making India the world’s second-largest 5G market. Manufacturing reforms have further strengthened the sector, reversing past setbacks caused by restrictive regulations. Alongside economic reforms, the government has introduced three new laws to modernize the criminal justice system—the most significant legal change since Independence. Vaishnaw emphasized that these measures will sustain India’s economic growth at 6-8 percent in the coming years. With a ₹331 lakh crore economy and an investment rate of 31 percent, India is rapidly emerging as a global technology and manufacturing powerhouse. Investors, he urged, should act swiftly to capitalize on the growing demand and potential of India’s semiconductor and electronics industries. Read more: thekarostartup.com #IndiaTech #SemiconductorChip #MakeInIndia #AtmanirbharBharat #ElectronicsManufacturing #DigitalIndia #5GRevolution #TelecomSector #EconomicGrowth #ManufacturingReforms #InvestInIndia #TechnologyPowerhouse

In a landmark decision, India has approved its largest-ever defence deal, clearing the purchase of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Prachand from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for ₹62,000 crore. This move significantly strengthens India’s aerial combat capabilities, especially in high-altitude warfare. The deal, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, will see 90 helicopters deployed with the Indian Army and 60 with the Indian Air Force. Designed for extreme conditions, the LCH Prachand is the only attack helicopter capable of taking off and landing at altitudes ranging from 5,000 to 16,400 feet, making it ideal for operations in regions like Siachen and Eastern Ladakh. These helicopters are equipped with advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground missile systems, along with integrated data chips, enabling seamless network-centric warfare. The LCH Prachand was officially inducted into the Indian Air Force in October 2022 and is now set to play a critical role in securing India’s borders. Beyond bolstering national security, this massive deal is expected to boost domestic defence production and generate thousands of jobs. With this purchase, the Defence Ministry’s total contracts signed this financial year have surpassed ₹2.09 lakh crore, marking a major push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Read more: thekarostartup.com #IndianDefence #LCHPrachand #LightCombatHelicopters #DefenceDeal #MakeInIndia #AatmanirbharBharat #IndianAirForce #IndianArmy #DefenceManufacturing #SelfReliance #NationalSecurity #BorderSecurity #HighAltitudeWarfare