Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (December 12, 2024)

Funding News

Superfone bags $1.9M in pre-Series A round 

Superfone, an all-in-one business phone and CRM app for SMBs, secured $1.9 million in its pre-Series A funding round led by YourNest Venture Capital, which invested $950,000.

The round also saw participation from Ankur Capital, Finsight Seed Fund, and a consortium of angel investors, the company said.

It added that the funding comes as a part of YourNest-SanchiConnect Velocity Program 2024, an accelerator initiative by YourNest and SanchiConnect.

The raised capital will be deployed strategically to acquire national-level telecom licences, furthering Superfone’s mission to become a Pan-India MVNO. Additionally, the company plans to strengthen its engineering and product teams with key senior hires and scale its customer acquisition efforts to maximise its reach and impact.

Other News

Equinix appoints Cyrus Adaggra as president of Asia-Pacific

Digital infrastructure company Equinix has appointed four-year Equinix veteran Cyrus Adaggra as the president of Asia-Pacific (APAC).

In his new role, Adaggra, who will be based in Sydney, Australia, will report directly to Chief Business Officer Jon Lin. He will be responsible for the management, strategy and growth plan for the company in the APAC region, Equinix said in a statement.

"Cyrus’ contributions in Asia-Pacific have been pivotal to our ability to grow and expand into new markets across Asia. He is an exceptional leader in advancing regional growth, forging strong government partnerships, and strengthening our presence in the region. I am confident that Cyrus, as President of APAC, will continue to drive Equinix’s success and expansion in this fast-growing region," said Lin.

"The digital landscape across Asia is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, fuelled by the increasing adoption of digital technologies and the rise of digital economies. With our exceptional APAC team, we will deliver unparalleled service to accelerate our customers' digital transformation journeys and drive innovation across the region," said Adaggra.

National Skill Development Corporation partners with Juspay

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with payments technology provider Juspay Technologies. The MoU comes with a plan to enhance payment infrastructure and solutions for skill development initiatives across India.

The MoU was signed by Shreshtha Gupta, CTO NSDC, and Ishan Sharma, Head, Business at Juspay, in the presence of Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International; Rajesh Swaika, CFO NSDC; and Malyada Goverdhan, Head - B2G Partnerships, Juspay.

Juspay is set to provide a robust and scalable payment orchestration platform tailored to the needs of NSDC. It will also enable seamless transactions across various payment modes like UPI, credit/debit cards, wallets, and net banking, according to a statement.

"By leveraging the unique payment solutions, we aim to streamline the financial processes for our stakeholders, making skill development more accessible and efficient. This collaboration will empower millions of learners and training providers, ensuring that our initiatives are not only impactful but also sustainable in the long run," said Tiwari.

TransUnion CIBIL elevates Bhavesh Jain to managing director and CEO

Insights and information company TransUnion CIBIL has appointed Bhavesh Jain as managing director and CEO. Jain, who was the chief revenue officer at TransUnion CIBIL, will take over from Rajesh Kumar, who recently resigned after a five-year tenure.

"TransUnion CIBIL works constantly to provide solutions that empower consumers and businesses. In an increasingly digital world, we want to strengthen trust between the two so they can achieve great things. I’m excited to be leading such a talented team and to be able to continue to build on the great work we have already done in the market for the benefit of all," said Jain.

"Bhavesh is an accomplished leader with a passion for helping India’s economy continue to grow. He is focused on TransUnion CIBIL’s vital role in driving sustainable access to credit for millions of people and commercial entities to advance financial inclusion and ease of doing business," said Todd Skinner, President, TransUnion International.

super.money appoints kaushik mukherjee as CTO

Credit-first UPI platform super.money has appointed Kaushik Mukherjee as its chief technology officer (CTO).

Mukherjee brings to the table two decades of experience and expertise in technical architecture, system performance, and the development of intelligent, scalable systems. He is set to lead the team to drive innovation and scalability, enhance customer experience, and maintain competitive edge, the company said in a statement.

Mukherjee has earlier worked with Flipkart, Yahoo!, Ola, and Udaan. He also founded Raptorise, a SaaS company funded by Udaan.

"With his entrepreneurial approach and experience, Kaushik will help super.money deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. Together, we will double down on our mission to redefine how users engage with financial services, making banking products more accessible and rewarding," said Prakash Sikaria, Founder & CEO, super.money.

Astroyogi appoints Aditya Verma as Chief Growth Officer

Astrotech platform Astroyogi appointed Aditya Bhushan Verma as Chief Growth Officer.

"His strong technical background, combined with his proven track record in scaling businesses and driving customer-centric growth, makes him the ideal person to lead Astroyogi’s global expansion efforts," said Aditya Kapoor, COO, Astroyogi.

The digital astrology platform which was founded in 2001 by Meena Kapoor, pivoted in 2016 to an App First engagement platform.

Verma, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, previously co-founded PrepBytes, a coding learning platform that aimed to help college students bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands.

Protean enables ecommerce experience on OTT platform

Protean eGov Technologies Limited integrated an ONDC-compliant ecommerce feature on Waves—an OTT platform launched by Prasar Bharati. The ONDC-compliant buyer application, powered by Protean, will enable Waves users to browse and buy products across categories live on the ONDC network while enjoying their favourite movies or TV shows, the company said.

The company claimed that it is the first in the country to facilitate an OTT player's integration of commerce experience and content.

“We are committed towards our efforts in accelerating the Digital India mission and empowering the adoption of ONDC across the country. Today’s digital consumer is constantly seeking newer services that makes life convenient and easy, and OTT has brought about that transformation in content viewing. With over 597 million subscribers in India in the OTT space today, the opportunity to mix entertainment and shopping has never been bigger, to boost both engagement and ecommerce experience,” said Suresh Sethi, MD and CEO, Protean eGov Technologies.

"Integrating ecommerce into an OTT platform like WAVES is a milestone for India’s digital ecosystem. With the ONDC Network already driving innovation across domains such as multi-modal mobility, this latest initiative disrupts the OTT space by creating a unified experience where entertainment meets commerce," said T. Koshy, MD and CEO, ONDC.

Zoho Finance and Operations suite grows 50% in India

Software maker Zoho said its Finance and Operations suite recorded a 50% growth in its India revenue, fueled by demand from businesses across different industries.

The company, which offers accounting software Zoho Books, inventory management software Zoho Inventory, and practice management app for accountants Zoho Practice, said Zoho Books became the first in the industry to integrate with the Invoice Management System (IMS) on the GST portal, according to a statement.

With this, businesses will have a seamless way to verify and claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) from within the Zoho Books' application. 

Unicommerce launches 'Unified Returns'

Ecommerce enablement SaaS platform Unicommerce launched “Unified Returns,” an advanced capability for efficient handling and processing of order returns. This is to help brands optimise their warehouse operations and save logistics costs, the company said.

"Unicommerce’s unified returns can automate the receiving and sorting process of orders returned at a warehouse and enable brands to identify returns as returns initiated by customers, undeliverable orders and unidentified packages using a single window," the company said.

“Tackling returns is one of the biggest challenges for brands. With this sophisticated enhancement, our advanced returns management system covers all aspects of a return cycle, from accepting returns on brand websites to quickly restocking returned inventory across warehouses and closing the loop with returns reconciliation”, said Bhupinder Garg, Chief Technology Officer at Unicommerce.

Anphonic expands in India with 25 brand partnerships

Anphonic, a growth partner to D2C brands for maximising their revenue, onboards more than 25 brands over the past two months.

Some notable brands include Nuutjob, Tiivra, Waterscience, Bhoj Masale, Nautica, ThePahadiStory, Factornotes, Kaatil, Plaay, and Alpino, the company said.

"Our platform is designed to empower brands by offering personalized shopping experiences that resonate with online shoppers, ultimately leading to increased conversions, higher AOV  and loyal customers. We understand that in today’s competitive market, brands need to connect deeply with their customers. By leveraging advanced AI-powered shopping experiences, we can create tailored interactions that not only meet but exceed shopper expectations," said Vicky Kukreja, Founder and CEO of Anphonic.

T-Hub select seven semiconductor startups for latest cohort

Startup incubator T-Hub has selected seven startups for its latest cohort under the semiconductor programme.

This latest cohort is set to accelerate innovation across critical sectors, including automotive and electric vehicles (EV), 5G communication, biomedical devices, and semiconductor design, the company said.

It added that the criteria for selection included technology readiness, scalability potential, team strength, and alignment with the program’s goals.

The select startups are set to work on creating advanced solutions including Analog IPs, power management, wireless systems, and data converters, alongside cutting-edge technologies in 5G and video analytics, the incubator said.

The selected startups include Xbattery Energy Private Limited, Edgeble AI Technologies Pvt Ltd, SenseHealth Technologies Private Limited,Spintronics AI Semiconductors Pvt Ltd, SmartKosh Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Manovega AI and Natural AI Private Limited.

AiDASH appoints Dr Vishal Jain as Head of AI

Enterprise SaaS company AiDASH appointed Dr Vishal Jain as Head of AI. In his new role, Jain is set to lead AI innovation on AiDASH’s integrated platform for grid inspection and monitoring. He will be based in Palo Alto, the company’s global headquarters.

The company provides satellite-first AI applications for remote inspection and monitoring of critical infrastructure.

“Vishal’s addition underscores AiDASH’s commitment to advancing climate resilience for the industries that need it most using the most advanced AI. His technical expertise and vision will help us deliver critical insights to adapt to the increasing challenges posed by climate change on vital infrastructure," Abhishek Singh, CEO and Co-founder of AiDASH, said.

Flipkart Supply Chain Operations Academy to upskill 16,000 candidates by 2025

The Flipkart Supply Chain Operations Academy, which has trained and certified 3,000 candidates in 2024, including 600 women, plans to upskill 16,000 candidates by 2025.

Established in 2021, ecommerce platform Flipkart’s Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA) is a pioneering initiative to train and certify ecommerce supply chain personnel.

This specific programme reaches the local catchment of youth, women, eDAB (persons with disabilities), defense personnel, and people of the transgender community to improve their employability within the ecommerce sector, the company said.

“The Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA) seeks to provide students and prospective professionals with useful skills relevant to professions in ecommerce, retail, and warehousing. The initiative is dedicated to providing India's youth with the skills required for the rapidly developing ecommerce sector,” said Hemant Badri, Senior Vice President and Head of Supply Chain, Customer Experience, and Re-Commerce.

EsportsXO partners with Abu Dhabi Gaming

Indian esports and gaming startup EsportsXO said it had entered a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Gaming. 

This collaboration comes with the aim of fostering the growth of Abu Dhabi’s local gaming ecosystem and will enable both companies to seize the emerging opportunities in this growing sector, the company said.

As a part of this agreement, XO is also set to establish its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

“We are eager to contribute to the development of the local gaming ecosystem, nurture homegrown talent, and bring world-class gaming experiences to the MENA region. This reinforces our commitment to expanding our global footprint while fostering meaningful connections with gamers and industry leaders across the region,” said Vikas Goel, Founder, XO.

(This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.)