Entrepreneurship Studio

Navigating startup funding without sacrificing equity can be challenging, but grants offer a valuable solution. In our latest blog, we dive deep into non-dilutive funding options for Indian startups, covering: ✅ Benefits and drawbacks of grants 🔎 How to find and qualify for the right opportunities 📋 A comprehensive list of available government and private grants Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this guide can help you unlock essential resources to fuel your entrepreneurial journey!

TedTech Private Limited Traders, founded in 2019 in Vasai, Mumbai, by Nikunj singh, Devesh Rawat, Sunil Vishwakarma, and Amit Singh, has disrupted the LED decor market: 1️⃣ Initially selling LED lights online, the team noticed customers adding oil and ghee to LED diyas, inspiring the Water Sensor Diya, which activates with water. 2️⃣ TedTech’s product line includes patented items like the 3D Reflection Water Sensor Diya, LED Lotus Reflection Diya, Panchmukhi Water Diya, and Triangular LED Touch Light Wall Panels. 3️⃣ TedTech’s mission is to make smart lighting accessible to Indian households with high-quality, affordable products. 4️⃣ By designing and manufacturing in India, TedTech supports the national economy while ensuring quality standards. 5️⃣ The company emphasizes innovation, quality, and affordability in its growth journey as a leader in LED home decor. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #TedTech

Arya.ag, a Noida-based grain commerce platform, received a $19.8 million debt facility guarantee from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC): 1️⃣ The funds are directed towards AryaTech, Arya.ag’s agri-commerce subsidiary, to expand its reach and connect farmers and farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) with buyers. 2️⃣ This development follows Arya.ag’s recent Rs 242.36 crore ($29.2 million) funding, led by Asia Impact and Quona Capital. 3️⃣ Arya.ag provides a complete service from warehousing to financing and market access, aimed at reducing agricultural waste and securing payments. 4️⃣ DFC Vice President James Polan highlighted that this funding supports DFC’s mission to promote economic development in underserved Indian regions. 5️⃣ Arya.ag operates in 60% of India’s districts, with a network of over 12,000 warehouses, leveraging IoT, computer vision, and blockchain to manage inventory. 6️⃣ Annually, Arya.ag stores $3 billion worth of grain and has disbursed over $1.5 billion in loans to smallholder farmers. 7️⃣ Co-founder and CEO Prasanna Rao emphasized the importance of DFC’s support, which he views as a key milestone in transforming India’s grain commerce ecosystem. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #AryaAg

Tata Group to launch Neu Flash, an ultra-fast delivery service in metro areas: 1️⃣ Neu Flash to offer groceries (via bigbasket.com), electronics (via Croma), and fashion (via TATA CLIQ). 2️⃣ Tata’s entry follows competitors like Flipkart and Reliance Retail in the quick commerce market. 3️⃣ Current market leaders, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, hold over 85% market share. Tata’s approach emphasizes targeted rollouts and conservative incentives. 4️⃣ 1mg offers 10-minute delivery for select medications; Croma stores may support future deliveries. 5️⃣ BigBasket’s BB Now employs tiered fees, while Blinkit and Swiggy offer free or reduced-fee delivery. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #NeuFlash #Tata

COOX, a home services booking platform, raised $125,000 in Seed funding led by Inflection Point Ventures: 1️⃣ Funds will support expansion to 40 cities, increased marketing, and AI integration to enhance technology and streamline operations. 2️⃣ Founded by Akshat Gupta (CEO), Abhishek Gupta (CMO), and Rajat Johri(CTO), COOX has served over 5 lakh customers since 2019. 3️⃣ Services include professional chefs, domestic cooks, bartenders, event decoration, and more for house parties, weddings, and corporate events. 4️⃣ COOX currently operates in 20 cities, offering on-demand services and a monthly subscription for domestic cooks. 5️⃣ With over 3,000 trained professionals, COOX aims to modernize home services and create jobs for gig workers in hospitality. 6️⃣ The Indian food services market is projected to reach $125 billion by 2030, with significant growth potential in the organized tech-driven service segment. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #COOX

Three startups—Live2.ai (India), NeuralGarage (India), and Creatively Squared (Singapore)—won the L'Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program for the SAPMENA region: 1️⃣ These startups will work with one of L'Oréal's 37 international brands in a commercial pilot, gaining potential exposure across 35 SAPMENA markets. 2️⃣ Winners will participate in a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and program partners. 3️⃣ Aseem Kaushik, L’Oréal India MD, highlighted India's role in driving personalized, inclusive, and sustainable beauty tech innovations. 4️⃣ Live2.ai offers interactive, shoppable video technology for Connected TV and digital platforms, enhancing brand engagement. 5️⃣ NeuralGarage uses generative AI to align lip movements in dubbed content, preserving the original cinematic experience. 6️⃣ The program, launched in May 2024, attracted hundreds of startups, culminating in a Grand Finale judged by senior executives from L'Oréaléal, Accenture, Google, Meta, and Veros Ventures. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #Events

Healthify (formerly HealthifyMe) raised $20 million as part of a $45 million equity round led by Khosla Ventures and LeapFrog Investments, with new participation from Claypond Capital: 1️⃣ The funding will drive Healthify’s U.S. expansion, where it aims to introduce its blend of AI-driven and human coaching. 2️⃣ CEO Tushar Vashisht emphasized their mission to make high-acuity health coaching widely accessible. 3️⃣ Healthify was founded by Tushar Vashisht, Sachin Shenoy, and Mathew Cherian. 4️⃣ The platform, using software, wearables, and trainers, has served over 40 million users across 300 cities in India. 5️⃣ Healthify has raised a total of $125 million, including a $75 million Series C in July 2021. 6️⃣ The company’s AI features are tailored for international markets, and it also operates a B2B wellness vertical with partnerships in diagnostics, insurance, and pharmaceuticals. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #Healthify #HealthTech

Avaana Capital closed its Climate and Sustainability Fund at $135 million, surpassing its original target of $120 million: 1️⃣ The fund focuses on early-stage startups offering technology-driven climate solutions in India to help achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. 2️⃣ Avaana will invest in sectors responsible for 90% of India's carbon emissions: energy and resource management, mobility and supply chains, and sustainable agriculture. 3️⃣ Backed by investors like the Green Climate Fund (GCF), U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and Indian entities such as SRI and SIDBI(Small Industries Development Bank of India), Avaana aims to drive innovation-led climate action. 4️⃣ The fund plans to invest Rs 10-30 crore per startup, targeting 20-25 startups, with the flexibility to scale investments based on progress. 5️⃣ Since 2018, Avaana has backed over 20 startups, including FarMart, Kazam, and Ninety One Cycles, all working on climate-conscious innovations. 6️⃣ Avaana's mission is to create scalable climate solutions that not only support India's goals but also serve as blueprints for emerging markets worldwide. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #ClimateTech #AvaanaCapital

The fintech industry is shifting as Indian startups, like Groww, reconsider global strategies and return to India: 1️⃣ Groww recently paid $159.4 million in taxes while shifting its domicile from the U.S. to India. 2️⃣ Nearly a dozen Indian startups are following suit, aiming to capitalize on India's surging IPO Central Markets and favorable regulatory environment. 3️⃣ India recorded almost 70 IPOs in the first nine months of 2024, making it a promising landscape for public offerings compared to sluggish U.S. markets. 4️⃣ Lalit Keshre, co-founder of Groww, noted the complexities of fintech infrastructure, highlighting the need for 400 engineers to ensure platform reliability. 5️⃣ The repatriation aligns with the evolving global regulatory landscape, as startups seek environments with favorable regulations for sustainable growth. 6️⃣ This trend reflects a deeper alignment between Indian startups and the country’s financial future, positioning India as a leading hub for innovation and public offerings. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #Groww #FinTech

Zomato plans to raise Rs 8,500 crore ($1B) via a QIP to strengthen its position amid growing competition: 1️⃣ Swiggy is preparing for a $1.2-$1.4B IPO, intensifying the rivalry in the food delivery market. 2️⃣ Zomato faces competition in quick commerce from Swiggy, Zepto, and Tata’s bigbasket.com. 3️⃣ CEO Deepinder Goyal emphasized the need to maintain cash reserves, as Zomato's funds dropped from Rs 14,400 crore to Rs 10,800 crore. 4️⃣ The quick commerce sector is expanding beyond groceries to products like electronics and luxury items. 5️⃣ Zomato has moved to positive cash flow since its 2021 IPO, but capital is still critical. 6️⃣ CFO Akshant Goyal said the QIP size will depend on market conditions, as service quality remains key to success. #EntrepreneurshipStudio #Funding #Zomato