Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (February 5, 2025)

Featured stories

Primebook is bridging India’s digital divide with affordable laptops for students

Primebook, an Android-based learning ecosystem, was co-founded in 2018 by Aman Verma and Chitranshu Mahan after they saw firsthand how the lack of digital access was hindering students' education. 

While smartphones were common, Mahant explains that they didn’t meet the specific needs of students for research, assignments, and accessing digital learning platforms. "The problem wasn’t just affordability—it was the lack of a product tailored to the unique requirements of students in India,” he adds.

Primebook’s flagship laptop runs on PrimeOS, an Android-based operating system optimised for multitasking and compatible with over 200,000 educational apps. It offers two models: the Primebook Wi-Fi model, priced at Rs 12,990, and the Primebook 4G model, priced at Rs 14,990.

Read more here.

Meet the woman weaving hope in Odisha’s forgotten villages

In 2018, a simple Google search led Bindu Vinodhan to Chuliaposhi, a village in Mayurbhanj, northern Odisha, right at the bottom of India’s BPL (Below Poverty Line) index. The village had no schools, healthcare, water, roads, or electricity.

When Vinodhan first visited the village, she noticed that it was eerily quiet. There were few young people there–they had either migrated for work, become alcoholics, or died by suicide under the burden of debt,” she says. The women left behind worked as bonded labourers in the fields of dominant-caste landlords. Children weren’t sent to school, and many were trafficked into cities.

After a successful 22-year corporate career, Vinodhan founded the Mauna Dhwani Foundation to empower marginalised women in Chuliaposhi. She discovered a dormant weaving tradition among the local women, and revitalised this craft, providing training and resources that enabled these women to produce handloom textiles.

Today, Mauna Dhwani has transformed the lives of over 800 women.

Read more here.

Latest News

Ola Electric begins pre-orders for Roadster X series

Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola Electric on Wednesday said that it has started accepting pre-orders for its first line of electric motorcycles, Roadster X. The deliveries of these vehicles are expected to begin from mid-March onwards.

Roadster X+ 9.1kWh, the premium vehicle offering from the line, will be equipped with the in-house assembled 4680 Bharat Cell. “Motorcycles are at the heart of India’s mobility landscape. With our electric motorcycles, we’re driving the EV revolution deeper into the core of Indian mobility. After transforming the scooter market and making EVs mainstream, our futuristic Roadster series of motorcycles is here to accelerate the EV adoption further and make electric the first choice for every rider in India,” said Aggarwal, Chairman & Managing Director of Ola Electric.

Snap Inc. onboards Ajit Mohan as Chief Business Officer

Snapchat parent Snap Inc. has appointed Ajit Mohan as its Chief Business Officer, effective February 4, to oversee its expanding advertising business globally. Mohan, who joined Snap Inc. in January 2023 as the President of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, will now lead revenue products and business operations to streamline ad partner support, the company said in its Q4 2024 investor letter.

“We are pleased to announce that Ajit Mohan will be our new Chief Business Officer. Ajit joined Snap over two years ago as President of APAC, where he rapidly grew our business and presence across the region. As Chief Business Officer, Ajit will be responsible for growing our advertising business across all regions, and will lead our revenue product and business operations organisations to help bring greater alignment across our teams responsible for serving our advertising partners,” read the investor letter.

Zomato hires 18 for Chief of Staff role from over 18,000 applicants

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal shared on X that out of 18,000+ applications for the Chief of Staff role, 30 people have received offers, and 18 have already joined Zomato (and other group companies like Blinkit) in high-impact roles.

"They’re being handsomely compensated for the value they bring, and nobody paid anything to work with us," Goyal stated. He also mentioned that four out of the 18 people have already joined the company, and will be working directly with Goyal, and two of them are in Chief of Staff roles.

In November last year, Goyal’s Chief of Staff job listing sparked debate over its unconventional requirement. "Candidates must contribute Rs 20 lakh, which will be donated to Zomato’s non-profit, Feeding India. This move underscores the connection between personal branding and hiring, as a leader’s public persona can shape company reputation and influence talent attraction based on authenticity and alignment with company values," it stated.

Zomato says GST authorities have withdrawn Rs 5.9 Cr tax demand

Food delivery and quick commerce giant Zomato on Tuesday said that tax authorities have dropped a demand for Rs 5.9 crore unpaid GST from the company.

In an exchange filing made with the NSE and BSE, Zomato said it received a favourable order from the Additional Commissioner, Central Goods and Services Tax, Gurugram, for the period July 2017 to March 2021, to forgo a GST amount of Rs 5.90 crore. The demand was raised in April 2024. In December 2024, Zomato received an order from the government for non-payment of GST on delivery charges.

The demand was raised in April 2024. In December 2024, Zomato received an order from the government for non-payment of GST on delivery charges.

Paytm hit with second GST demand, total liability reaches Rs 8.66 Cr

Adding to its mounting regulatory challenges, One 97 Communications Limited on Wednesday said it received a second tax demand from the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Department on February 4, 2025.

The latest demand imposes a GST liability of Rs 7.47 crore, including tax and penalty, for allegedly availing wrongful input tax credit for FY 2017-18, the parent company of Paytm informed the Indian stock exchanges.

The development comes hours after the CGST Department issued a demand order to Paytm on February 3, Monday, for Rs 1.19 crore, relating to alleged non-compliance with tax invoice regulations for financial years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.

Funding news

Apex Kidney Care bags $9M funding from Blue Earth Capital AG

Dialysis service provider Apex Kidney Care (AKC) secured a $9 million investment in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Blue Earth Capital AG for an undisclosed equity stake. The Tata Capital Healthcare Fund (TCHF) portfolio company aims to enhance accessible, high-quality kidney care in India with the raised capital, it said in a statement.

“Together with TCHF and BlueEarth, we will continue our mission to expand and strengthen our comprehensive ecosystem for kidney disease patients… We remain committed to driving growth by enhancing accessibility, with a strong focus on automation and quality,” said Dr Shrirang Bichu, Co-founder of AKC.

“We will achieve this by collaborating with like-minded clinicians and hospitals, as well as partnering with government through PPP programmes,” he added. 

Presage Insights raises Rs 5.6 Cr in seed round led by YourNest Venture Capital

Presage Insights, a provider of IoT- and AI-based predictive maintenance, has raised Rs 5.6 crore in a seed funding round led by YourNest Venture Capital. This funding will accelerate Presage’s mission towards smart, connected and data-driven factories, and enable the company to expand its market presence, scale operations and accelerate innovation.

Powered by AI-driven diagnostics, Presage Insights delivers actionable insights to predict and prevent equipment failures. These solutions help manufacturers save up to $6,000 per machine annually, extend equipment lifespan, and bridge the skills gap in the industrial workforce.

Its predictive maintenance solutions are deployed across industries including FMCG, steel, cement, automotive and process manufacturing, serving leading customers such as Adani, Abbott Healthcare, BPCL and Kansai Nerolac.

Mealawe secures $1M funding to accelerate daily food delivery across India

Mealawe, a foodtech company, has raised $1 million in funding from a mix of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), a network of Shark Tank founders, and angel investors associated with companies such as Goldman Sachs and Oracle.

This funding will drive the company’s expansion into 14 cities over the next 10-12 months, with a target of delivering 1 million meals per month.

Since its launch in October 2022 under Climbing Seeds Pvt Ltd, Mealawe has grown rapidly, delivering over 30,000 meals monthly. The new capital will be used to scale operations by expanding women-led kitchens, strengthening corporate cafeteria solutions, and deepening partnerships for organic ingredient sourcing.

The company’s growth trajectory and expansion plans will be underscored with a focus on scaling operations and market expansion.

D2C brand HairOriginals raises $5M in Series A funding

HairOriginals, a hair extensions brand, has successfully raised $5 million in a Series A funding round bringing its total funding to $7.2 million to date. The funding round was co-led by 12 Flags Consumer Holdings and Anicut Growth Fund along with participation from Peyush Bansal.

HairOriginals has partnered with 1,400+ salons, featuring on Shark Tank India, and setting up experience centers in India and North America. As part of its expansion, it has opened stores at Hyderabad and Coimbatore airports in collaboration with salon chain Naturals. To grow its global presence, it has also partnered with Kurves salon chain in North America to establish experience centres.

The company previously raised $1.5 million in seed funding from Anicut Capital and other investors. Fresh funds raised will be utilised to expand try-at-home services by bringing on-demand hair extension home service to 40 cities, establish 25-30 company-owned experience centres in the next 12 months and bolster R&D Capabilities by creating innovative products for a global audience.

Quicklend secures funding for secured lending, launches 'Loan Against Mutual Funds'

Quicklend has launched its Loan Against Mutual Funds (LAMF) product in collaboration with Bajaj and a consortium of prominent NBFCs. Alongside this announcement, Quicklend disclosed securing Rs 6.75 Cr in a pre-seed funding round led by Inuka Capital, Eximius Ventures, Upsparks Capital, GrowX, and a group of strategic angel investors.

The newly raised capital will enable Quicklend to scale its operations, enhance its technological capabilities, and introduce innovative features that redefine the lending experience. The company is set to allocate significant resources towards research and development.

“We remain dedicated to leveraging this capital to bridge the gap between financial institutions and credit-seekers, furthering our commitment to financial inclusion across the nation,” said Raghuram Trikutam, CEO of Quicklend.

Origamis AI raises $500,000

Origamis AI, a Bengaluru-based GenAI startup, has raised $500,000 in seed funding from Vikas Gautam, former CEO and Head of International Business at Aditya Birla Sunlife AMC LTD Dubai, and Naveen Agarwal, CFO for Merrill Wealth Management at Bank of America in New York.

The startup aims to advance its mission of providing accessible, reliable, and transformative GenAI solutions. The funds will be used to accelerate the development of the orchestration platform and to take the platform and agents to the global market.

With GenAI at an inflection point, Origamis AI addresses the growing enterprise need for secure, compliant, and cost-effective AI. Combining robust data protection, risk mitigation, and fairness frameworks, it helps businesses confidently deploy AI while minimising risks. “We anticipate rapid enterprise adoption of GenAI in 2025,” said CEO Manas Agrawal. “Our platform allows organisations to build scalable AI solutions that unlock new possibilities, while upholding safety, security, and responsibility.”

Dreamfly Innovations secures $1.4M in seed funding led by Avaana Capital

Dreamfly Innovations, an innovator of high-power density battery technology for drones, aviation, and aerospace, has raised $1.4 million (Rs 12 crore) in its seed funding round led by Avaana Capital, with participation from Sunicon Ventures among other existing investors.

Dreamfly Innovations’ current customers include Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL); Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), General Aeronautics, and Neosky India Ltd.

The current round of investment will accelerate Dreamfly’s efforts to scale production capabilities, team expansion and accelerate research and development of its sustainable, and fire-resistant battery solutions.

Other news

Sudhanshu Asthana joins EElectrum Portfolio Managers as CBO

Electrum Portfolio Managers, a boutique asset management firm specialising in portfolio management and equity advisory, has appointed Sudhanshu Asthana as its Chief Business Officer (CBO). With extensive expertise in investment strategy, business development, and financial markets, Asthana’s leadership will play a crucial role in strengthening Electrum Portfolio Managers growth trajectory while maintaining its boutique approach.

Asthana brings over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, having held leadership roles at Quantum Asset Management, SBI Asset Management, Barclays Wealth Management, Axis Asset Management, and UTI Mutual Fund as Fund Manager and Senior Fund manager.

As Chief Business Officer, he will drive business expansion, client engagement, and strategic partnerships, strengthening Electrum Portfolio Managers' commitment to tailored investment solutions.

Himanshu Vaish appointed as Global Service Delivery Officer, Sattrix Information Security

Sattrix Information Security, a leading provider of IT and cybersecurity solutions, has appointed Himanshu Vaish as the company’s new global service delivery officer. Vaish served as a consultant to the Prime Minister’s Cyber Security Task Force, where he played a pivotal role in advising on national cybersecurity strategies.

Throughout his career, Vaish has held senior leadership roles at organisations such as Credit Suisse, Bank of America, Genpact, and GE Capital. His expertise spans areas like cybersecurity governance, vulnerability management, business continuity planning, and regulatory compliance. As a certified Cyber Resiliency professional, he has also trained senior law enforcement officials in cybersecurity and IT forensics, solidifying his reputation as a trusted leader in the industry.

In his new role at Sattrix, Vaish will oversee global operations, including the Security Operations Center (SOC), Network Operations Center (NOC), and Professional Services. His primary focus will be on driving operational excellence through enhanced service delivery, process automation, and the development of innovative solutions to strengthen the company’s cybersecurity services.

Rainmatter invests in women's sports community Sisters in Sweat

Zerodha-backed Rainmatter has invested in Sisters in Sweat, a sports and wellness community for women in India. Founded in 2017 by fitness coach Swetha Subbiah and the first Indian-origin woman to play for English football clubs Tottenham and Fulham ladies, Tanvie Hans to empower women through sport, the community today has over 10,000 members, across Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR.

With support from Nitin Kamath’s Rainmatter, which invests in health, climate, and finance-related initiatives, SIS aims to extend its footprint to 10 cities by the end of 2026—creating opportunities for women to engage in physical activity within a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

“At Zerodha, we believe access to fitness is essential for women’s well-being and growth—whether through gym workouts, sports, or casual games. That’s why we’ve partnered with Sisters in Sweat to host fitness classes for our female employees in Bengaluru,” said Seema Patil, Director at Zerodha.

Great Learning introduces two AI products

Great Learning, the edtech startup focused on professional learning and upskilling has introduced two AI-driven products—AI Mentor and AI Teacher. These two products are aimed at making their educational courses more cost-effective and accessible to a wider group of people.

The AI Mentor product will provide key four functions—doubt resolution, coding assistance, project guidance, and mock interviews. 

Great Learning Founder and CEO Mohan Lakhamraju said, “We are leveraging AI to bring that same magic of great teachers to everyone. As AI advances further, we will continue to push boundaries, making high-quality education accessible, affordable and impactful for learners everywhere.”

According to the startup, AI Mentor has over 400,000 coding hints generated, 130,000 learner queries resolved and conducted more than 300 mock interviews. The AI Teacher which is going to be launched soon is aimed at providing personalised and interactive learning experiences.

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