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    "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Empower yourself and others\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Equating her ‘"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"dharma’ "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"[moral duty] to empowering people, Arundhati wants people to realise and achieve their full potential. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"“Being powerful is having the ability to empower others. The more you empower others, the more powerful you actually are,” Arundhati tells "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" explaining her interpretation of being among the most powerful business leaders in the world and being featured on multiple power lists throughout her career.\n\nArundhati’s deep passion for creating a positive impact and being a role model comes from her strong upbringing. Her growing up years have been greatly influenced by her mother and aunt who were strong, self-made women. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"“My mother used to tell me that it is very important to build an identity for yourself. She told me that you are not just somebody’s daughter, mother, wife, etc. You are yourself,” she says, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"highlighting how her mother always emphasised on never developing a victim syndrome ever. Arundhati stresses that it is important to look within and learn from failures and challenges.\n\n“My mother also ingrained in me the importance of speaking up when you are faced with an unpleasant or uncomfortable situation,” she adds.\n\nThrough her work and the position she has gained over the years, Arundhati wants to be a voice for thousands of people, especially women. She feels that women often have “divided loyalties” and worry that they aren’t fully ready for a job. “The only way to get past these moments of self doubt is to go ahead with the notion of ‘I can do it’ and ‘I will do it’,” she quips.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"A working woman’s notes\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Boasting an illustrious career spanning across 40+ years, six companies, and generations, Arundhati highlights important lessons that have helped her and should be followed by professionals and organisations at large for sustainable growth.\n\nExplaining that diversity is broader than gender, she mentions that people should become conscious about unconscious bias and avoid stereotyping people without knowing or working with them.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\u003cb>“We need to increase the empathy quotient and it’s important to align personal and organisational aspirations,” adds Arundhati, highlighting that organisations need to be well-versed with the aspects of diversity and inclusion.\u003c/b>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Expanding the importance of understanding empathy, she speaks about moving beyond oneself and thinking about humanity and global interests. “It bothers me that people have narrow interests and are very focused on just their immediate environment,” she says.\n\nIn her quest of inspiring more and more people to think beyond just their needs and goals, Arundhati also talks about people and moments that have inspired her in her journey so far. “Getting the Chairman’s position at SBI and becoming the first woman to do so is genuinely unforgettable. Another moment I truly savoured was receiving a medal from President "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Pranab Mukherjee"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" (during his tenure) for integrating the maximum number of differently-abled people into fully serving roles at SBI,” she adds.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Spearheading the digital transformation at SBI\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“I realised very early on, during my banking days, that in a country like India, only digital technology can enable you to deliver [products and services] to millions of people,” says Arundhati, recalling the time when she had to explain to her team that how digital transformation goes beyond just providing internet banking services.\n\nLearning about cutting-edge tech solutions and everyday tech-enabled jobs during the pandemic, she says, “In earlier meetings, I noticed how people used a lot of acronyms and I was left wondering about their full forms. One day, at the risk of sounding stupid, I asked a colleague and even he was unaware,” she laughs, adding that it’s exciting to learn the new languages and functions of the IT industry.\n\nDespite being a trailblazer herself, Arundhati seeks motivation from people who have battled against all odds to emerge victorious, small entrepreneurs, especially women, who have been breaking the glass ceiling. “I get inspired by people who have had humble beginnings. I remember the story of this woman who started a saree business by getting six plain sarees from a local saree shop and reselling them after painting them herself. It later became a business with a turnover of Rs 1 crore a month and today she employs more women like her,” she reminisces.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"19th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 19, 2022"},{"id":240809,"title":"Ambedkar Jayanti 2022: Here are some life lessons from Dr BR Ambedkar","slug":"br-ambedkar-jayanti-2022-life-lessons-motivational-quotes","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory brings motivational and inspirational quotes from one of the eminent personalities of India, Dr BR Ambedkar.","publishedAt":"2022-04-14T02:45:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-14T12:24:29.975Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Pooja Malik","username":"poojam-1645509924","order":0,"imageUrl":null,"path":"/author/poojam-1645509924"}],"category":{"id":1104,"name":"Inspiration","slug":"inspiration","path":"/category/inspiration"},"excerpt":"YourStory brings inspirational quotes from one of the eminent personalities of India and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/6c7d986093a511ec98ee9fbd8fa414a8/download2-1649848408007.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/6c7d986093a511ec98ee9fbd8fa414a8/download2-1649848408007.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/6c7d986093a511ec98ee9fbd8fa414a8/download2-1649848408007.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc33-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"general-news","name":"General News","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Bhimrao Ambedkar","slug":"bhimrao-ambedkar","order":0,"path":"/tag/bhimrao-ambedkar"},{"name":"Ambedkar Jayanti","slug":"ambedkar-jayanti","order":1,"path":"/tag/ambedkar-jayanti"},{"name":"inspirational quotes","slug":"inspirational-quotes","order":2,"path":"/tag/inspirational-quotes"},{"name":"Indian Constitution","slug":"indian-constitution","order":3,"path":"/tag/indian-constitution"},{"name":"life lessons","slug":"life-lessons","order":4,"path":"/tag/life-lessons"},{"name":"Babasaheb","slug":"babasaheb","order":5,"path":"/tag/babasaheb"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/br-ambedkar-jayanti-2022-life-lessons-motivational-quotes","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The history of India is incomplete without the mention of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Dr BR Ambedkar."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The architect of the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Indian Constitution"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Dr Ambedkar’s contribution to establishing an independent and democratic India is invaluable.\n\nBorn on April 14, 1891 to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Bhimabai Murbadkar Sakpal "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"and"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Ramji Maloji Sakpal"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an eminent social reformer, a jurist, and the minister of law and justice in the first cabinet of independent India.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Dr Ambedkar was born into a Dalit family, and his experiences as a school student with discrimination had a profound impact on his life. Later, he inspired the Dalit campaigns and movements against social segregation. He earned doctorates in economics from the London School of Economics and Columbia University."}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/6c7d986093a511ec98ee9fbd8fa414a8/download1-1649848433181.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Babasaheb Ambedkar,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" as he was popularly known, won many awards and recognitions posthumously, such as India’s highest civilian award, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The Bharat Ratna, in 1990"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", ‘"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the Greatest Indian’ in 2012,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" the Bodhisattva in 1956, and the First Colombian Ahead of Their Time in 2004.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"Here are some of the famous sayings by Bhimrao Ambedkar that serve as an inspiration to many."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n\n“Life should be great rather than long.”\n\n“A bitter thing cannot be made sweet. The taste of anything can be changed. But poison cannot be changed into nectar.”\n\n“Indifferentism is the worst kind of disease that can affect people.”\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“A good man cannot be a master and a master cannot be a good man.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"“Be educated, be organised and be agitated.”\n\n“If you believe in living a respectable life, you believe in self-help which is the best help.”\n\n“Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise both will wither and die.”\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“The development of intelligence should be the ultimate goal of human existence.”\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"‘Failure is an option’: 14 inspirational quotes by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/7/4c455a90a21411e98b07315772315642/ElonMusk-1597935699783.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/04/inspirational-quotes-tesla-spacex-elon-musk-motivation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"“Education is the milk of a lioness and if you drink it, roaring will come.”\n\n“Don’t live to look good, live to be good.:\n\n“Circumstances are never the problem, the problem is when we don’t know how to deal with the situation.”\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Just as a plant needs water, in the same way an idea also needs propagation or else both wither and die.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Every man must have a philosophy of life, for everyone must have a standard by which to measure his conduct. And philosophy is nothing but a standard by which to measure.”\n\n“Wise people worship books while ignorant people worship stones.”\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"14th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 14, 2022"},{"id":240659,"title":"For Infosys’ Hema Rainaa, building a strong ecosystem of allies is a key success mantra","slug":"infosys-hema-rainaa-building-strong-allies-ecosystem-key-success-mantra","type":"RICH","subtitle":"Dr Hema Prem Rainaa, VP - Insurance, Europe, Infosys highlights the challenges and influences that have steered her towards achieving her goals and building almost a two-decade long career at the IT major.","publishedAt":"2022-04-12T14:04:19.101Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-13T04:32:09.359Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Varnika Gupta","username":"varnika-gupta","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/deb63750-0c1d-11ea-a645-0d210ac0b418/profile_image_1574313301863.jpg","path":"/author/varnika-gupta"},{"name":"Geetika Sachdev","username":"geetikasachdev","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/undefined/0-1646640967486.jpg","path":"/author/geetikasachdev"}],"category":{"id":1104,"name":"Inspiration","slug":"inspiration","path":"/category/inspiration"},"excerpt":"Dr Hema Prem Rainaa, VP - Insurance, Europe, Infosys, speaks about the experiences that helped her develop a well-rounded and resilient personality, in ‘I am the future’ series.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Image3vtk-1649770462450.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Image3vtk-1649770462450.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Image3vtk-1649770462450.jpg","brandSpotlight":{"name":"Infosys","slug":"infosys","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/brandSpotlight/Untitleddesign-2022-03-08T001055-1646678469041.png"},"removeAds":true,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":true,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc36-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"inspiring-stories","name":"Inspiring stories","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Infosys","slug":"infosys","order":0,"path":"/tag/infosys"},{"name":"women empowerment","slug":"women-empowerment","order":1,"path":"/tag/women-empowerment"},{"name":"Inspiration","slug":"inspiration","order":2,"path":"/tag/inspiration"},{"name":"working women","slug":"working-women-","order":3,"path":"/tag/working-women-"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/infosys-hema-rainaa-building-strong-allies-ecosystem-key-success-mantra","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"There is perhaps no greater motivation in life than self-belief. And "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Dr Hema Prem Rainaa, Vice President - Insurance, Europe at "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"10501c60-d9ac-11eb-a0c0-e7ee16cf70a2","name":"Infosys","slug":"infosys","logo":{"height":767,"width":767,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/106713296101637647643204817752686091122400611n-1634196673259.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/106713296101637647643204817752686091122400611n-1634196673259.png"},"subtitle":"Infosys Limited is an Indian multinational information technology company that provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services.","foundingDate":"1981-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/infosys","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Salil Parekh"},{"name":"Narayana Murthy"},{"name":"Nandan Nilekani"},{"name":"Kris Gopalakrishnan"},{"name":"S.D. Shibulal"},{"name":"K. Dinesh"},{"name":"N.S. Raghavan"},{"name":"Ashok Arora"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Software","slug":"software"},{"name":"Services","slug":"services"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" swears by it. Highly influenced by her fierce and independent grandmother, Hema considers fearlessness as one of her strongest traits.\n\nHema has been motivated by several challenging situations in life and people who have questioned her capabilities. Labelling them her “silent motivators”, she highlights that such experiences have been a significant part of her formative years.\n\nShe shares her milestones, learnings, and challenges while participating in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory’s "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"‘I am the future’ series that puts the spotlight on successful women leaders at Infosys.\n"}},{"contentType":"youtube","value":{"id":"nm1USFIfeZk&feature=youtu.be"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Facing challenges head-on\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As someone who wanted to pursue computer science engineering, Hema recalls an incident when her neighbours suggested to her father that he should rather encourage her to pursue a typing course so she could easily land a job. “Those words steered my passion to challenge the status quo and pursue computer science [that a lot of girls weren’t doing all those years back],” adds Hema.\n\nSharing another incident when she was challenged by her colleagues in one of her earlier organisations, Hema reveals, “I enquired about these internal awards that were considered like Oscars within the organisation. I was told it was too difficult for me to win them and I took it up in my stride. My team and I ended up winning that award for three consecutive years.”\n\nHema had also taken the Short Service Commission for the Indian Navy as an engineering student. She got selected after several rounds of tests but faced a challenge in the final stage because of being overweight. “I was told that I have a temporary rejection, because I was overweight by 22.5 kgs. I met the president of the academy and though he gave me some relaxation, I eventually lost 6 kgs in 42 days and got selected,” she says, adding that the way she overcame a physical barrier is testament to her resilience and self-belief.\n\nHema’s long struggle with fertility issues before finally conceiving helped her become more resilient and confident of her goals and ambitions.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Connecting passion with a purpose, Infosys’ Preeti Jalla Razdan focuses on building role models and women leaders","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Imagej0bo-1648554849395.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/infosys-preeti-jalla-razdan-building-role-models-women-leaders"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Building an ecosystem of allies\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Having men as her allies is one of the highlights of Hema’s success. One of her first allies was her father who encouraged her to pursue meaningful goals. “He always told me it’s okay to fail. What matters is how someone bounces back from failure, and keeps running with their confidence intact,” she says, adding that her husband has also been a constant source of motivation.\n\nAt work too, Hema has had the opportunity to work with male leaders who have created an ecosystem that fosters leadership. In her role at Infosys, she has been provided with a platform to interact with people from all over the world, without any barriers of nationality, ethnicity, hierarchy, etc.\n\nIn her 17-year-old career at Infosys, Hema considers her workplace as her family from where she has imbibed key life lessons. Recalling her stint in London with Infosys Labs, one of her early projects, Hema shares how she went up to her superior and asked him if they could create an IP commercialisation role in the EMEA region, based out of London. She says that she could do so because the leader himself taught her to overcome the fear of people answering in the negative.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“I am very grateful for all my experiences, as they have enabled my personal growth. \u003cb>Don’t be too hard on yourself; you can always ask for help. You can be a superwoman, but it is not a sustainable model at times. So, just choose your priorities\u003c/b>,” she adds."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Leadership and success mantra \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“As a leader, when my team and I take up an assignment, we look at the outcome and the journey to the outcome using the same lens. This means all of us are truly bringing our individual best and collective strength to the table,” she explains, referring to the process of achieving a desired outcome instead of worrying about the result.\n\nFor Hema, it’s important to seek out support and role models. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"“When you are choosing to follow a role model, observe the person who you would like to follow and evaluate if your wavelengths match,” she adds. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nFor aspiring professionals, Hema urges them to gain specialisation in at least two areas/skills and not be a generalist. “You should have at least two things to your credit that nobody can beat you at. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"It is also critical to keep investing, learning, unlearning and relearning, so that you are always at the top of things"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":",” she says.\n\nIt is up to you to find a platform where you can shine and give your best, so “bring your chair close to the table. If you don’t find a platform then wear your heels and create your own platform and stand tall,” says Hema, signing off.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"12th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 12, 2022"}]},{"title":"Companies","subtitle":"Companies to check out today","dataAttribute":"company","clickCTA":"/companies","containerType":"CompaniesSection","dataAPI":"/api/v2/company/editorspick?limit=5&format=minimal","discoverPath":"/search","colSize":5,"data":[{"id":"c7614eb0-1aa2-11ec-8124-59fbd0c2c689","name":"Lujobox","slug":"lujobox","subtitle":"Lujobox is offering Luxury Beauty Subscription Box for women in India.","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/230917db3a0b-logo1-1627665064093.jpg"},"path":"/companies/lujobox"},{"id":"6e644820-1aa3-11ec-9aef-0b5cbae29276","name":"Dexler Energy","slug":"dexler-energy","subtitle":"Dexler Energy is a solar developer helping industries and businesses to adopt solar energy systems.","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/1587390685634-1613628282692.jpg"},"path":"/companies/dexler-energy"},{"id":"27584a30-5194-11ec-a2fe-edf30f077b8b","name":"CollegeTpoint","slug":"collegetpoint","subtitle":"CollegeTpoint is a technology-driven start-up which makes college selection easy for students looking to pursue undergraduate engineering degree.","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/8ff603aab676-ctp1-1636359386334.jpg"},"path":"/companies/collegetpoint"},{"id":"e5e43270-5194-11ec-a2fe-edf30f077b8b","name":"Biosense","slug":"biosense","subtitle":"Biosense is among the leading point of care testing and instrumentation companies in India.","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/PypvCTZ7400x400-1635130784646.jpg"},"path":"/companies/biosense"},{"id":"4de22620-2274-11ec-8cee-3f2aaa3c275b","name":"Unhedged","slug":"unhedged","subtitle":"Unhedged is building the next-gen robo-adviser.","logo":{"height":600,"width":600,"url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/46ea17fa9695-unhedged1logo-1624540352779.png"},"path":"/companies/unhedged"}]}]},{"type":"content","title":"Interviews","subtitle":"In depth and insightful conversations with leaders across India Inc","dataAPI":"/api/v2/category/stories?brand=yourstory&slug=ys-interview&categoryInfo=false&limit=15&offset=0&greedy=true","clickCTA":"/category/ys-interview","dataAttribute":"ys-startup","containerType":"WideCardsSection","data":[{"id":241774,"title":"We support a global network of over 9,000 technology startups: Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, South Asia, NVIDIA ","slug":"support-global-network-over-9000-technology-startups-vishal-dhupar-nvidia","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In a conversation with YourStory, Vishal talks about NVIDIA's work with startups, its innovations in the AI space and more... ","publishedAt":"2022-04-22T01:30:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-22T04:56:43.503Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sindhu Kashyaap","username":"sindhu-kashyap","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/a9efa9c0-2dd9-11e9-adc5-2d913c55075e/profile_image_1549874849548.jpg","path":"/author/sindhu-kashyap"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In a conversation with YourStory, Vishal talks about NVIDIA's work with startups, its innovations in the AI space and more... ","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Vishal-1650535922117.jpeg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Vishal-1650535922117.jpeg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Vishal-1650535922117.jpeg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":8,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"featured interview","slug":"featured-interview","order":0,"path":"/tag/featured-interview"},{"name":"NVIDIA","slug":"nvidia","order":1,"path":"/tag/nvidia"},{"name":"ArtificiaI Intelligence","slug":"artificiai-intelligence","order":2,"path":"/tag/artificiai-intelligence"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/support-global-network-over-9000-technology-startups-vishal-dhupar-nvidia","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"A company known for introducing the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"graphics processing unit"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"(GPU)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" way back in 1999, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"NVIDIA"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has gone on to become the world leader in AI Computing now. The GPU is universally acknowledged as the most important for PC Gaming, and today, NVIDIA innovates at the intersection of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Graphics"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"High Performance Computing (HPC)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AI"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nJoining "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" for a conversation on AI and startups is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Vishal Dhupar,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Managing Director"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"NVIDIA"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" for "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"South Asia"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". The son of an Army officer and a schoolteacher, Vishal’s childhood years were spent moving frequently, allowing him to do his schooling across the country. This also helped him learn about change and adaptability from a very early age. \n\nThose early experiences helped Vishal find order in chaos and taught him to learn quickly. He says when he relates this to the pace at which technology is changing, adapting to newer technologies comes easy. \n\nVishal has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, and has earlier been the  Managing Director – SAARC at Symantec; Managing Director – Autodesk; and Director – Sales at Sun Microsystems India. He has received several awards, including the 2007 IT-People Young Achiever Award, for his excellence and contribution to the IT industry in India.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/721b1c100eb911eb936a1114ea00a5c0/nvidia-1650547155904.jpg","caption":"\u003cp>Vishal Dhupar\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Edited excerpts from the conversation - \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YourStory (YS): What are the core changes and developments NVIDIA has made towards the startup ecosystem? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Vishal Dhupar (VD): "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"NVIDIA is committed towards empowering startups across the world with cutting-edge technology. NVIDIA Inception is a free program for startups, to help them evolve faster with access to cutting-edge technology and NVIDIA experts, connections with venture capitalists, and co-marketing support to heighten their visibility. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We support a global network of over 9,000 technology startups and work closely with them to provide the best technology solutions and resources."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"One of our significant collaborations has been with NVIDIA Inception member - Deepset. This startup bridges the gap between NLP research and industry with their core product – Haystack. \n\nThis is an open-source framework that enables developers to utilise the latest NLP models for semantic search and question answering at scale, this is done in collaboration with AWS. \n\nWe also partnered with DarwinAI, and developed a new AI model to detect COVID-19 in CT scans with 96 percent accuracy across a wide and diverse number of scenarios. The model, COVID-Net CT-2, was built using several large and diverse datasets created over several months with the University of Waterloo and is publicly available on GitHub. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How does it help the larger ecosystem and how has the NVIDIA technology grown and evolved with time? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"VD:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We continue to push the boundaries of AI research and development to create new breakthroughs. These capabilities are converging and unfold an exciting future for interactive AI applications that will change lives. \n\nWe are continuously reinventing ourselves over more than two decades. As a learning machine constantly evolving, we are adapting to new opportunities that are hard to solve. \n\nNVIDIA has always championed the need to create the next-generation graphics. A strong AI component is what differentiates us from competition. We believe AI is the future of computing and NVIDIA will enable this transition and evolve into a company where AI-enhanced everything would be the next platform.\n\nOne factor that pushes NVIDIA ahead in the race is the fact that we are not just helping store or access large amount of data but devising effective ways for companies to use this data via AI and machine learning. As we continue to develop more applications, our partner base will only expand, reaching some of the world’s largest industries. \n\nNVIDIA is united by a unique culture, which we consider as the operating system of our company. We believe that speed is the key to our success, and craftsmanship a passion. We work in an environment that allows people to do their life’s work.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: Tell us about your work journey and your learnings from each of the different places? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"VD:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" I firmly believe that ‘people make the organisation. It is essential to set the right culture of transparency, fairness, and ethical behaviour in the workplace. The ability to follow processes, to maintain a discipline, the desire to adapt, to evolve, and investing in the right talent have shaped my journey. \n\nThe ability to handle pressure is something that I picked up quite early in my career. As applicable, I constantly seek solutions to complex challenges and look for out-of-the-box solutions. The satisfaction of solving problems gives you the confidence to move ahead, which has kept me motivated in my journey.\n\nWhat I have learnt over the years can be summarised as follows:\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"The technology landscape is changing at a rapid pace. It is crucial to understand this evolving digital world and display good team dynamics for any business to run smoothly. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Taking customer feedback and acting on it is essential for any successful business. Being close to the market and the customer is vital to achieving success. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Additionally, I have also had an understanding of the business fundamentals, the ability to work across industries and domains, with multiple partners for future growth and development."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What got you to NVIDIA and why did you believe it would help create an impact?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"VD: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"While the initial perspective of the company in India was mostly around engineering talent, we needed to create a recall in the marketplace. We do this by infusing excellence in every aspect - be it technology, people, best practices, or culture. These are some of the qualities that drew me towards NVIDIA. \n\nNVIDIA innovates at the intersection of Graphics, HPC and AI, and fosters critical partnerships and creates giant ecosystem to support business. We believe that India has the unique opportunity to create a modern and world-class infrastructure and be the AI garage for the world. In this regard, we encourage alliances to grow the adoption of Accelerated Computing and elevate our nation’s tech journey, which is transformational and future ready. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"How a dinner table conversation with former cricketer Zaheer Khan led to establishing StepSetGo","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/ZaheerKhan-1650434323271.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/04/how-a-dinner-table-conversation-with-former-cricketer-stepsetgo-fitness-startup"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What was your vision for NVIDIA when you joined, and how has that further translated on ground? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"VD: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Our invention of the GPU in 1999 sparked the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined modern computer graphics, and revolutionised parallel computing. More recently, GPU computing ignited the era of AI. NVIDIA is a \"Learning Machine\" that constantly evolves by adapting to new opportunities that are hard to solve, that we can tackle, and that matter to the world.\n\nAs a platform company building on ONE architecture so that a large installed base would form over time, our platform is more valuable for more customers. \n\nWe cover a wide range - from chips to computing platforms; from acceleration stacks for each domain and applications, to deep engagement with the market and ecosystem.\n\nOur developers make applications on top of our unique computing platforms, and our solutions serve diverse markets from gaming to scientific computing, to automotive, and healthcare.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How is NVIDIA helping leading companies identify, build, and scale the AI initiatives that align to and transform their business value?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"VD: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As companies are increasingly shifting their focus towards being data-driven, the demand for AI technology has grown. From speech recognition and recommender systems to medical imaging and improved supply chain management, AI technology is providing enterprises the compute power, tools, and algorithms their teams need to do their life’s work. \n\nNVIDIA has built end-to-end AI and data science solutions, and frameworks that enable every enterprise to realise their AI-fueled ambitions.\n\nAccelerated Computing and AI are supercharging the next generation of healthcare. This technology impacts many aspects of healthcare and life sciences ecosystem with software-defined instruments, federated learning, and bio-revolution. \n\nWith one platform for imaging, genomics, patient monitoring, and drug discovery—deployed anywhere, from embedded to edge to data centre whether on-premise, cloud or hybrid—NVIDIA Clara™ is enabling the healthcare industry to innovate and accelerate the journey to precision medicine.\n\nAs a part of redefining modern luxury and infusing intelligence into the customer experience, we recently partnered with Jaguar Land Rover to develop its upcoming vehicles on the full-stack NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion 8 platform, with DRIVE Orin delivering a wide spectrum of active safety, automated driving, and parking systems, as well as driver assistance systems built on DRIVE AV software. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What are your future plans?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"VD: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We have witnessed an accelerated journey of digital transformation in our country in the last 18 months, more than what we ever observed in the past 10 years. India has a large developer base, and it is important to skill and upskill these developers with our expertise. We believe that the Indian developer community plays a major role in AI revolution and there will be huge business opportunities in the Indian IT ecosystem at large. \n\nWith #AIforAll, India has taken a leap in making AI accessible to everyone and is on the path of becoming the AI garage of the world. Our upcoming global virtual conference "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nvidia.com%2Fgtc%2F%3Fncid%3DGTC-NVVDHUPAR&data=04%7C01%7Cjuhi.chauhan%402020msl.com%7C9840d769a529480bef4208d9f80f7a0c%7Cd52c9ea17c2147b182a333a74b1f74b8%7C1%7C0%7C637813567630608284%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0&sdata=NXixtsI%2Bt1g8rAFlpBjwVVYiH5cGuOYw95cM%2BTC8dAU%3D&reserved=0"},"data":"GTC 2022"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is a great resource for Indian developers to leverage the leanings and offerings provided by NVIDIA experts. 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He didn’t want his siblings to go through the same toil and troubles he saw adults in the family suffer when they immigrated to Sweden.\n\nAnd so, when he set out to build "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"f820b3d0-88ab-11eb-8bdd-17126d2dd53d","name":"Truecaller","slug":"truecaller","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/s3ZA-Eq400x400-1616155774798.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/s3ZA-Eq400x400-1616155774798.jpg"},"subtitle":"Truecaller is a Swedish company founded in 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden by Nami Zarringhalam and Alan Mamedi.","foundingDate":"2009-06-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/truecaller","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Kari Krishnamurthy"},{"name":"Nami Zarringhalam"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Software","slug":"software"},{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Nami Zarringhalam"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" — someone who shared the same values as he did — it wasn’t hard to say NO to a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$10 million"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" offer a year after the duo launched the platform, even though friends and family fretted, much to Alan and Nami’s amusement, over how they could turn that kind of money down.\n\nTo Alan’s credit, that philosophy of not chasing excessive riches or money beyond what is necessary had held steadfast even when it comes to sharing with the Truecaller team the fruits of everyone’s labour, in the form of shareholding in the company.\n"}},{"contentType":"youtube","value":{"id":"VeTO2gTlRns&t=1105s"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Perhaps it was his humble beginnings when his mother and his siblings subsisted on whatever little they had — Alan told "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" the only thing his mother brought with them when they migrated to Sweden were the clothes on her back and a little money — that led the founder to think of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"inclusive growth"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" not as \"culture-setting\" in the organisation when he was building it, but as a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"function"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" essential to the very fabric of Truecaller.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"What I’m most proud of is that we were always very generous with most of our employees…always gave them stocks. We’re a highly valued company today, and I don’t feel ashamed of being a highly-valued company,\" he tells \u003cem>YourStory\u003c/em> in an interview, adding he had to fight a lot to be able to ensure everyone had a stake in the company they were helping build."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"For reference, Truecaller’s employees, excluding Alan and Nami, own nearly "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"20 percent"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" of the company, collectively.\n\n\"If you’re motivated by greed and money and fame, I think you’ll fail,\" he goes on to say.\n\nThat kind of thinking comes naturally to Alan, he admits, largely because he grew up in a very non-capitalistic household. Creativity, an innovative mindset, and passion for work need to be deeply embedded in the DNA of people who work at Truecaller, Alan says, and rewards are sure to follow.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"On having conviction\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"After Alan and Nami rejected the $10 million buyout offer, which came a year into building Truecaller, the duo ran into disagreements with an early backer. They decided to buy the investor’s shareholding out, but with no cash in hand, had to resort to a bank loan.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f49f80307d7911eaa66f3b309d9a28f5/Screenshot2022-04-20at7-1650463073523.png","caption":"\u003cp>Truecaller founders \u003cstrong style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(32, 33, 36);\">Nami Zarringhalam \u003c/strong>\u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(32, 33, 36);\">(left)\u003c/span>\u003cstrong style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(32, 33, 36);\"> \u003c/strong>\u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(32, 33, 36);\">and\u003c/span>\u003cstrong style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(32, 33, 36);\"> Alan Mamedi \u003c/strong>\u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(32, 33, 36);\">(right)\u003c/span> \u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Early morning bus rides to college taught this CA an important lesson about rural India. Here’s how he’s using it to rejuvenate rural commerce","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f49f80307d7911eaa66f3b309d9a28f5/Featureimages-newdeck4-1646903388120.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/rural-commerce-startup-vilcart-modernising-rural-kirana-stores"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Even then, having landed themselves in considerable debt, the two founders knew instinctively that what they were working on holding a lot of value — they were convinced they were building something useful and scalable, something that had a lot of future potential.\n\nTruecaller was set up in 2009, at the height of the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"subprime loan crisis"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" and the financial depression that followed. \n\nAlan recalls he and Nami had just bought separate apartments for their families and had a big, interest rate-heavy mortgage already. In the midst of all that, they took on another loan to buy one of their investors out. But even though it all turned out okay in the end, Alan says he wouldn’t recommend others follow in his footsteps.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“We were already in big trouble because of the financial crisis. And we were like ‘the worst thing has already happened, what’s the worst that could happen’ ...We didn’t really think [about the financial crisis and our debt troubles], we just went with the flow,” he quips."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"I don’t think we were smart enough to figure out the possible outcome [of the risk we’d undertaken]. We just did it…we figured we have a computer science degree, there were jobs everywhere…if this failed, we’d just go work at McDonald’s or something. We were too optimistic,\" he chuckles.\n\nBut such a decision — or rather such hard decisions — come easily to founders with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"conviction"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" in their idea and what they’re building, Alan says.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f49f80307d7911eaa66f3b309d9a28f5/Screenshot2022-04-20at7-1650464379441.png"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Blood, sweat, and tears: what it takes to build a bootstrapped startup","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f49f80307d7911eaa66f3b309d9a28f5/Bootstrapped-02-1648370741651.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/what-it-takes-to-build-a-bootstrapped-startup-in-india"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Those efforts obviously paid off. Truecaller, which counts India as its biggest market, marked a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"stellar"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" debut when it listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm, commanding a valuation of"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" $2.5 billion."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nAfter "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"f786adf0-49ad-11ea-9d16-1d5670264b7a","data":"WhatsApp","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"c16431f0-15e3-11ea-bd7e-3b20fc5fb3cd","data":"Facebook","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Truecaller claims to be the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"third-largest "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"communication platform in India where nearly 77 percent of its "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"215 million-plus"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" active users are located. Alan says the company is currently profitable, and remained profitable even during the pandemic.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In fact, the company made the decision to keep giving out annual bonuses and increments during the pandemic, essentially adopting “business as usual” as its\u003cem> modus operandi\u003c/em>. It also hired across roles at a time its peers and other tech businesses were culling jobs and cutting or deferring salaries."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The founders’ decision to focus on profitability even more than they had already been came after a tragic change of circumstances and macros forced them to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"lay off"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" a majority of their staff.\n\nBack in 2015, investor sentiment had turned a little sour after private equity players and VCs started demanding strong bottom lines, especially from tech businesses. When funding in the market dried up, layoffs followed, across the board.\n\n\"That was the hardest thing I’d had to do and that sort of made us say we want to focus on profit so we can stand on our own two legs going forward,\" Alan recalls.\n\nA conversation Alan and Nami had with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" further cemented the duo’s resolve to bolster their bottom lines.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f49f80307d7911eaa66f3b309d9a28f5/Screenshot2022-04-20at7-1650464439579.png"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Indian Railways joins hands with Truecaller to build\ntrust in communication for passengers","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/2016/10/indian-railways.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2021/10/indian-railways-truecaller-safer-communication"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Spotify’s CEO told me that in Europe or outside of the US, we tend to believe that the only way to build a successful company is when we sell to Google or a Facebook. And he wondered why we couldn’t stand on our own and operate as an independent company. That conversation convinced me that we needed to be focused on strengthening our business and becoming sustainable without external funding,” Alan says."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Truecaller finally hit profitability in 2019, a year before COVID-19.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"On letting go\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The hardest ask from a founder sometimes is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"letting go"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" of their day-to-day responsibilities in lieu of the bigger picture. It’s akin to the relationship parents have with their children, who grow up one day and seek more freedom — it’s hard to let go because they still feel like little toddlers who need support and guidance. \n\nEntrepreneurship is a lot like parenthood in that sense — and so it was with Alan and Nami, who had built Truecaller’s backend from the ground up in the first few years of its founding.\n\nThe third employee at Truecaller after Nami and Alan was their chief technology officer, an out and out engineer.\n\n“Our CTO was like ‘guys, I’m a backend engineer, can I please take over?’ and we said NO, no, we’ll continue the work on this…"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"In hindsight, we should have let go years before we actually did."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" It is a tough decision to let go of your baby and let other engineers work on it,\" Alan admits.\n\nAs a founder, one wears multiple hats all the time, especially in the beginning. But when the company becomes big enough to start hiring people, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"it’s good to step back and let experts take over,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Alan suggests.\n\n\"Getting to that point where you learn from other people is pretty cool and even addictive, actually.\"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f49f80307d7911eaa66f3b309d9a28f5/Screenshot2022-04-20at7-1650464508166.png","caption":"\u003cp>YourStory's Shradha Sharma with True Caller's Alan Mamedi\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Co-founding Truecaller as an immigrant, Nami Zarringhalam’s journey of building a multi-million dollar company","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3fb20ae02dc911e9af58c17e6cc3d915/FI-01-1599911396066.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2020/09/immigrant-truecaller-founder-nami-zarringhalam"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"When your last name is also your favourite fruit\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Even though Truecaller is a Sweden-registered company, its "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"largest office is actually in India"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" where most of its engineers come from.\n\nBuilding in and for India has been a rather pleasant and unique experience, Alan says, noting how the culture in the country is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"similar"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" to the one in his household, which made it easier for him to relate with users and preferences here.\n\nIn India, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"users actually take the time to send long emails and post feedback for apps they use,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" compared with Western counterparts who don’t bother and move on to the next app if one doesn’t work for them. That feedback from Indian users really helped refine processes and focus areas at Truecaller, Alan remarks.\n\n\"We got addicted to working with our users in India because of their feedback and suggestions,\" he says.\n\nThere is also a personal quotient that Alan says has inspired him to strengthen Truecaller’s foothold as well as work alongside the people of India — and that is \"being accepted as one of our own\".\n\nBeing an immigrant in Sweden who did not have blonde hair or looked typically Swedish, Alan says has had to contend with not fitting in, but being “accepted” or “tolerated”. In contrast, India has accepted him so much, so quickly that Alan says he has often been mistaken as someone hailing from North India.\n\n“In one of the Indian languages, Mamadi [Alan’s surname] means ‘mango’, and that is my favourite fruit, so that’s good,” laughs Alan, adding Hindi and Kurdish languages are very similar sounding. All these happy coincidences make it even more exciting and rewarding for "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Truecaller to build in India, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"the techpreneur adds.\n\nAs for what the future holds — Alan says he’s currently focused on setting up an "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Apple ecosystem team "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"to develop new and refine existing products for the OS platforms (iOS and MacOS). Truecaller wants to continue strengthening its core products in India, while also expanding on the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"B2B side "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"by partnering with delivery service companies such as Swiggy, for instance, to give people the option to rate their delivery agents, among other things.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"21st Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 21, 2022"},{"id":241401,"title":"There is no way to scale a business without marketing, says Jessie Paul, author, ‘Marketing without Money’","slug":"marketing-jessie-paul-business","type":"RICH","subtitle":"India has lots of innovation, and effective marketing can unlock monetary potential. Here are some expert insights and tips from marketing guru Jessie Paul.","publishedAt":"2022-04-19T03:40:43.729Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-19T06:17:14.139Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Madanmohan Rao","username":"madanmohan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/32655.jpg","path":"/author/madanmohan"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"India has lots of innovation, and effective marketing can unlock monetary potential. Here are some expert insights and tips from marketing guru Jessie Paul.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/JP2-1650338164142.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/JP2-1650338164142.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/JP2-1650338164142.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":7,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc38-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"learn-from-the-best","name":"Learn From The Best ","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"interview","slug":"interview","order":0,"path":"/tag/interview"},{"name":"marketing advice","slug":"marketing-advice","order":1,"path":"/tag/marketing-advice"},{"name":"jessie paul","slug":"jessie-paul","order":2,"path":"/tag/jessie-paul"},{"name":"Brand","slug":"brand","order":3,"path":"/tag/brand"},{"name":"business tips","slug":"business-tips","order":4,"path":"/tag/business-tips"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/marketing-jessie-paul-business","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Jessie Paul"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is author of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Marketing without Money"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"(see my book review "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/marketing-branding-jessie-paul"},"data":"here"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"),"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" a guidebook packed with frameworks, tables, and case studies of marketing in action.\n\nJessie has 25 years of experience in marketing. She was the Global Brand Manager of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Infosys, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Marketing Head of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"iGATE"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" (now a part of Capgemini) and Chief Marketing Officer of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Wipro Technologies."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" In 2010, she founded Paul Writer, a marketing advisory firm. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"See also \u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/tag/bookreview\">Book Review\u003c/a> section with takeaways from over 330 titles on creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation, social enterprise, and digital transformation. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this insightful interview, Jessie shares tips on marketing frameworks, case studies, and trends in the metaverse.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Marketing-c-1650338299675.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts from the interview:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: In the time since your book was published, what are some notable new examples of effective marketing that you have come across?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Jessie Paul [JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" I find Paris Hilton’s association with the metaverse very intriguing. She has reinvented herself as a brand ambassador for NFTs and is monetising that. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Pussy Riot’s"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" efforts to raise crypto funds for Ukraine was very effective. Ukraine's President "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Mr Zelensky"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is doing a great job of communicating and garnering support for his cause despite the odds. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Earth Hour "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"continues to be a great way to spotlight climate change. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Sebamed’s "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"PH based campaign was a great clutter buster in the B2C space. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"More recently, I heard about Godawan, Diageo’s new craft whisky from India first as a quiz question! The entire narrative has been beautifully done to build authenticity. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In the B2B tech world, currently there is a huge struggle to attract and retain talent. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Kissflow’s"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" move to hand out BMW 5 series cars to five of their team members generated a lot of attention. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How was your book received? What were some of the unusual responses and reactions you got?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" I think the strongest impact has been for those who are currently grappling with a marketing problem. \n\nFor example, one reader mentioned that the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ABCD model"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" (Advantages, Benefits, Constraints, Disadvantages) was an immediate application to their product consulting engagement. Another mentioned the country branding chapter as being an eye opener. \n\nSo I think the take-away for me is that it is a modular book with different sections appealing to readers at different points in their journey. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/JessiePaul-Image1-1650338444151.jpeg","caption":"\u003cp>Jessie Paul\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: Are there plans to add an online companion for the book, or a resource of online tools and charts? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" I already publish a weekly blog on my "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"http://www.paulwriter.com/"},"data":"website"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", on the topic of marketing.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What is your current field of research in marketing? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"My specialisation continues to be cost-effective B2B marketing. Newer developments in this space are the use of metaverse for commerce and rethinking products as a customer experience.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How would NGOs and civil society organisations make use of your frameworks? Any good examples you can cite?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The principles of marketing remain the same, whatever be the desired outcome. WWF’s Earth Hour is an event that builds a sense of purpose and brings together individuals for a common cause. \n\nWhen I did a pro-bono engagement for a"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" social entrepreneurship firm,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" the biggest takeaway for them was to target their outreach efforts to focus only on their named potential donors. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The biggest win comes when you change something from being a “push” to a “pull”."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The Cubbon Dog Park champions have made adopting a “streetie,” “Indie” or rescue dog much cooler than buying a pedigreed dog. That’s a huge mindset change. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"[Year in Review 2021] Top ten changemakers of the year","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/5/79900dd0d91311e8a16045a90309d734/collage1-1639488579193.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2021/12/socialstory-year-review-2021-top-ten-changemakers"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What are the typical challenges entrepreneurs face as they scale up their company? How can the importance of marketing be baked into their strategy right from early stages?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" There is no way to scale a business without marketing. Many businesses focus on building awareness without answering the crucial question of differentiation and credibility. \n\nI always advise clients to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"“own a superlative”. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"You have to be able to say that your offering is the first/only/largest/cheapest – any superlative that is relevant to your target audience. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How should marketers strike that delicate balance between ‘Stick to your vision’ and ‘Adapt to a changed world’?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" A good vision is broad enough to grow with you. In my book, the section on vision is one of the longest because it’s so important to get that right – and so many ways to get it wrong. \n\nFor example, I defined my vision in 2009 to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"‘raise the bar for marketers in India’. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Over the past decade I’ve done this through awards, speaking, training, consulting and board positions. The execution has evolved, but the vision stays true. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Similarly, Google’s vision is to organise the data in the world. That can be done through search or maps or email. Ogilvy wanted to be respected by those who respect brands. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Again, how they do that has changed with the rise of digital and will change again with the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"metaverse, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"but the vision remains the same. It’s ok to change your vision but make sure it is actually something broad and lofty, not something like “be a unicorn”. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1650338535633.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How should marketers deal with situations where a product, launch or campaign has failed? How can they learn from failure, regroup and reposition?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Research and a postmortem. The ABCD framework is super handy to assess a product. Then understanding the 10 marketing channels and which one did not deliver. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Most often, the reasons for failure are:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n1. The chosen superlative is not sufficiently relevant to the target audience. For example, you may be offering the best airplane food, but the customer may just want the cheapest flight. \n2. Lack of awareness – your target audience has just not heard of you\n3. Lack of credibility – the target audience does not believe your claims\n4. Lack of availability – the target audience is unable to get hold of your product when they want it.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How are new technology advancements impacting marketing, eg. metaverse, IoT?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" These are channels which marketers can use to execute their plans. But the core fundamentals of strategy will not change. \n\nFor example, awareness can be built in the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"metaverse "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"rather than through ads in newspapers. But awareness continues to be important, as are credibility and availability. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Failure3-1650338559934.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How should marketers help companies in assessing how they should position themselves during a crisis like the Ukraine war?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Companies do not have morals, people do. So companies will do what their customers and employees want them to do, as long as it is legal. \n\nThe role of marketers is to be the best judge of what"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" public opinion"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" expects from the organisation, and then weigh that against the company’s previously stated values. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"[Year in Review 2021] How women entrepreneurs pivoted during the pandemic and saw tangible results\n\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/8e7cc4102d6c11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Cover-05-1639653048479.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2021/12/women-entrepreneurs-pivoted-pandemic"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What's it like to be a marketing consultant? What are some of the challenges and opportunities you face? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Being a consultant is actually intellectually very enjoyable. I get to bring in my expertise from a diverse range of clients and solve problems. \n\nThe ‘a-ha” moment when you realise how to address a particular client’s business challenge is very exciting. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Challenges"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" are that marketing, branding and strategy require long-term sustained focus, but business owners want immediate results. \n\nBusinesses often confuse communication with marketing, and many do not have a written brand blueprint or go to market strategy. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Innovation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is plentiful in India, but in order to monetise the true value, we also need a good marketing strategy. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What is your next book going to be about?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Marketing! \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What is your parting message to the startups and aspiring entrepreneurs in our audience?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[JP]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" India has lots of innovation and some fabulous products. Good marketing can unlock the monetary potential. \n\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"19th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 19, 2022"},{"id":240730,"title":"The metaverse of tomorrow will be an internet we’re inside of, says Abhijit Bose, Head of India, WhatsApp","slug":"cii-metaverse-abhijit-bose-whatsapp-platform","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In this sixth article on CII’s Global Knowledge Summit, we share more expert insights on metaverse ecosystems and communication platforms.","publishedAt":"2022-04-13T06:08:25.409Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-13T06:27:29.725Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Madanmohan Rao","username":"madanmohan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/32655.jpg","path":"/author/madanmohan"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In this sixth article on CII’s Global Knowledge Summit, we share more expert insights on metaverse ecosystems and communication platforms.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta4-1649828250473.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta4-1649828250473.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta4-1649828250473.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":8,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"CII","slug":"CII-","order":0,"path":"/tag/CII-"},{"name":"metaverse","slug":"metaverse","order":1,"path":"/tag/metaverse"},{"name":"Abhijit Bose","slug":"abhijit-bose","order":2,"path":"/tag/abhijit-bose"},{"name":"WhatsApp India","slug":"whatsapp-india","order":3,"path":"/tag/whatsapp-india"},{"name":"Platform","slug":"platform","order":4,"path":"/tag/platform"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/cii-metaverse-abhijit-bose-whatsapp-platform","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Abhijit Bose, Head of India, WhatsApp,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is a speaker at CII’s annual Global Knowledge Summit. The 17th edition of the summit is being held in a hybrid format in Bengaluru and online on April 12-13, with the theme of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://ciiknowledgesummit.in/","italic":true},"data":"Knowledge Management and the Metaverse."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As a media partner for the Global Knowledge Summit, see \u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> preview article of the 2022 edition \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/cii-knowledge-management-metaverse-derick-jose/\">here,\u003c/a> and coverage of the editions from \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2021/04/remote-learning-knowledge-cii\">2021,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2020/07/cii-knowledge-skills-relevant-disruption\">2020\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2019/02/digital-transformation-cii-knowledge-summit\">2019.\u003c/a> "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this chat with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Abhijit talks about the immersive and engaging features of the metaverse, evolution of messaging platforms, and opportunities for India.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/CII-1-1649828398449.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Edited excerpts from the interview:\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YourStory [YS]: Immersive media and blockchain have been around for a while – what is new about the metaverse concept? How would you demystify the hype and misconceptions around it?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Abhijit Bose [AB]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We believe social experiences will be at the heart of the Metaverse. And when we talk about the metaverse, we are talking about a future where people are at the center of technology. \n\nNothing beats being together. But when we can’t be together in person, the metaverse gets us even closer to feeling that "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"in-person connection"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" because it is immersive and engaging.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"If the internet of today is something we look at, the metaverse of tomorrow will be an internet we’re inside of. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This makes our focus on building for the metaverse a natural evolution for Meta — bringing us closer to achieving our mission to connect people in ways never before possible. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: In the context of learning and knowledge, what contributions does the metaverse make?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The metaverse will disrupt businesses as we know today and enable brands to provide "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"connected experiences"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" for their customers. It will reimagine entertainment experiences, the way we learn and help unlock economic opportunities and new careers. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/AbhijitBosephoto-1649828511570.JPG","caption":"\u003cp>Abhijit Bose\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How is WhatsApp leveraging the metaverse?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Our vision for the metaverse is a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ten-year vision "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"but the possibilities are limitless. We want WhatsApp to be the easiest and most private way for you to call or talk to the people you care about wherever they are or to communicate with the businesses of your choice. \n\nToday, it’s easy to connect with people on their phone. In the future, it will be easy to connect with people whether they’re on their phone or if they’re in the Metaverse. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What are the risks and challenges involved in the metaverse, from a consumer rights/privacy perspective and corporate strategy?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" New innovations bring new challenges and we have to be responsible in our approach. Building the metaverse will be more like how the internet came about. There has to be collaboration from the start and Meta will be collaborating at every stage — with other companies, developers, experts and policymakers.\n\nThat’s why Meta has announced the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"XR Programs and Research Fund,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" a two-year $50 million investment in programs and external research to help us in this effort. Through this fund, we’ll work with industry partners, civil rights groups, governments, nonprofits and academic institutions to determine how to build technologies responsibly. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Key highlights from YourStory's The Metaverse Summit - India's first Web3 conference","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/121/98e25df018b511e988ceff9061f4e5e7/Generic-image-21-1648279309457.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/yourstory-metaverse-summit-highlights-web3-conference"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: How can large firms and startups collaborate for mutual benefit in the metaverse opportunity?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We are at the very start of this. A lot of the technology and infrastructure still needs to be built. It will take at least the next five to ten years for this vision of the metaverse to come to life.\n\nThis pace is going to be dictated less by business interests and more by technological realities and building for the metaverse will require "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"collaboration"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" — with developers and creators at the center.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1649828625959.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What are India’s unique opportunities, strengths and challenges in the metaverse space?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" India will play a very important role as we build for the metaverse. We have a fundamental advantage in the scale and size of the young population in our country. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"India is on track to have the largest app developer base in the world by 2024 and is also home to a flourishing startup and tech ecosystem. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"These startups are creating India specific tech enabled solutions at scale across sectors such as education, commerce, financial services, and others. There's a lot of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"innovation "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"that happens here, and Meta will work closely with this community to build out experiences for the metaverse\n\nBuilding for the metaverse will provide "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"economic opportunities"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and help grow significant sectors in India. It will benefit a huge number of creators, developers, and the vibrant startup ecosystem in the country.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"The metaverse can make learning more experiential, vivid, and impactful, says Shankar Maruwada, EkStep Foundation","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta5-1649216195919.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/04/metaverse-cii-knowledge-summit-shankar-maruwada"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: As metaverse becomes a reality, what are your plans for WhatsApp in the next two to three years? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We are at a major transformational moment in India and WhatsApp hopes to be India’s digital ally. \n\nAs a simple, reliable, private, and secure messaging app, WhatsApp takes away the hesitancy towards tech for a"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" ‘new-to-digital’ user. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Therefore, it has become the first digital gateway for over 400 million people across India. \n\nThis gives us unique opportunities to create long-term impact in areas that truly matter. I see WhatsApp making an impact in mainly three areas: \n\n1. Helping "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"small businesses "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"grow, including empowering women entrepreneurs across segments\n2. Opening access to the digital economy and promoting"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" financial inclusion "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"through digital payments\n3. Scaling"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" social impact"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and delivering solutions for education, healthcare and skill development, among others.  \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/India29-1649828671012.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Q. What can we expect next in the way WhatsApp is being deployed by large and small enterprises to serve their customers?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Fifteen million small businesses in India rely on "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"WhatsApp’s Business App, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"which is free-to-use, to connect with their customers better and that reliance is growing. Its features make it simpler for small businesses to keep track of order inquiries, manage requests from customers, and close sales. We can help a local kirana shop or women entrepreneurs in rural India build a digital storefront and serve customers at scale. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The WhatsApp Business Platform "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"on the other hand provides large enterprises a more modern, secure and convenient solution that allows them to take complete control of their messaging experience and offer experiences their customers will love. \n\nOur partnership with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Uber"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" to enable ride booking in Lucknow through WhatsApp, a global first for Uber, is a great example of how WhatsApp can help brands drive adoption by reaching out to a new category of customers. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"[Year in Review 2021] Amid COVID-19, these 10 non-profits created social impact this year","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/5/79900dd0d91311e8a16045a90309d734/collage-1640102486726.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2021/12/year-in-review-2021-covid-19-non-profits-social-good"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: WhatsApp partnered with many government authorities during the pandemic. Do you see this trend continuing?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" WhatsApp has been working with governments to make communication with citizens quick and deliver services that ease their lives in a scalable, safe and secure manner.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"MyGov Corona Helpdesk "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"on WhatsApp was a successful chatbot launched during the pandemic to help people find Covid resources and authentic Covid-related information. Over a period of time, the chatbot has evolved to become a one-stop solution for all vaccination related information. \n\nThe chatbot now lets you find nearest COVID-19 vaccination centres, book a slot, and download your vaccination certificates. In February, MyGov added a new use-case, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Digilocker"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" services. \n\nWe also launched the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s dedicated WhatsApp chatbot called "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"MyBMC Assist. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"It makes it easy for citizens, tourists and businesses in Mumbai to reach out to the administration, seek support and access a wide range of resources in English and Marathi.\n\nMyBMC Assist is India’s first comprehensive city administration chatbot equipped with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"80+ city services"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" such as ward information, grievance redressal, application payments, and more.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Cov5-1649828715181.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: What does the roadmap for payments in India look like?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Our vision with Payments on WhatsApp is to deliver a simple, reliable and secure experience for WhatsApp users that we hope will accelerate adoption of UPI for the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"“next 500 million” Indians. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nImagine a resident in a small town paying through WhatsApp for their daily groceries, or a farmer buying crop insurance through WhatsApp on his phone. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Digital payments"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" through a platform such as WhatsApp will help drive equality in India’s financial services sector and eventually help more people gain financial independence. \n\nWe believe that ‘payments on WhatsApp’ can be a key partner to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"NPCI and RBI "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"as we all aim to scale adoption of UPI and financial inclusion to those most in need. Our goal for the future is to invest in awareness and adoption for ‘new-to-digital’ users. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Opening markets and mindsets: What to expect from India’s femtech sector in 2022 and beyond\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/f02aced0d86311e98e0865c1f0fe59a2/femtech-1623045913847.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2021/12/femtech-trends-2022-herstory-niramai"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"[YS]: Any other parting remarks about the Metaverse for our audience?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[AB]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The past two years have shown us just how important technology is in keeping us connected when we can’t be together physically – this is why we are focusing our efforts into building the metaverse. \n\nThe metaverse will enhance the time we spend together and create the feeling that we are "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"together in a shared space. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Imagine friends around the world attending the same concert, some attending physically and some from their living rooms. You can spend time with family members that live on the other side of the world over a Sunday meal feeling like they’re right there with you. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We’re years away from some of these technologies being realised, but we should think of metaverse possibilities as limitless."}}],"timeLapsed":"13th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 13, 2022"},{"id":240480,"title":"Corporate-startup collaboration – Zeba Khan of Xenvis Solutions on the metaverse opportunity","slug":"cii-metaverse-zeba-khan-xenvis-solutions","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In this fifth preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we share more expert insights on metaverse ecosystems and trends.","publishedAt":"2022-04-11T10:21:10.819Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-12T05:15:31.671Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Madanmohan Rao","username":"madanmohan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/32655.jpg","path":"/author/madanmohan"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In this fifth preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we share more expert insights on metaverse ecosystems and trends.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta1-1649669963579.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta1-1649669963579.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta1-1649669963579.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"CII","slug":"CII-","order":0,"path":"/tag/CII-"},{"name":"zeba khan","slug":"zeba-khan","order":1,"path":"/tag/zeba-khan"},{"name":"xenvis solutions","slug":"xenvis-solutions","order":2,"path":"/tag/xenvis-solutions"},{"name":"metaverse","slug":"metaverse","order":3,"path":"/tag/metaverse"},{"name":"Market Trends","slug":"market-trends","order":4,"path":"/tag/market-trends"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/cii-metaverse-zeba-khan-xenvis-solutions","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Zeba Khan "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"is Founder and CEO of "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"bdab3920-b99a-11ec-8083-c1ef811c9784","name":"Xenvis","slug":"xenvis","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Xerivs1-1649683680452.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Xerivs1-1649683680452.jpg"},"subtitle":"Xenvis is a brand of the Meher Group that focuses on providing Extended Reality (AR / MR / VR) Solutions for Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare, Security and other Enterprise applications.","foundingDate":null,"companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/xenvis","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Zeba Khan"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Education","slug":"education"},{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"},{"name":"Manufacturing","slug":"manufacturing"},{"name":"Retail","slug":"retail"},{"name":"Security","slug":"security"},{"name":"Services","slug":"services"},{"name":"HealthTech / MedTech / Healthcare","slug":"healthtech-medtech-healthcare"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Solutions, a startup offering visualisation solutions across automotive, energy, education and healthcare sectors. This includes "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AR and VR "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"for use cases such as remote assistance, digital workflows, training, and upskilling. She was earlier Technical Director at Meher Advanced Materials, and is a graduate of PES University.\n\nZeba is also speaking at CII’s upcoming annual "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Global Knowledge Summit."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The 17th edition of the summit will be held in a hybrid format in Bengaluru and online on April 12-13, with the theme of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://ciiknowledgesummit.in/","italic":true},"data":"Knowledge Management and the Metaverse."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As media partner for the Global Knowledge Summit, see \u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> preview article of the 2022 edition \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/cii-knowledge-management-metaverse-derick-jose/\">here,\u003c/a> and coverage of the editions from \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2021/04/remote-learning-knowledge-cii\">2021,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2020/07/cii-knowledge-skills-relevant-disruption\">2020\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2019/02/digital-transformation-cii-knowledge-summit\">2019.\u003c/a> "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this chat with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Zeba talks about immersive media, metaverse trends, and the India opportunity.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/CII-1-1649670117689.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts of the interview:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Immersive media and blockchain have been around for a while – what is new about the metaverse concept? How would you demystify the hype and misconceptions around it?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Zeba Khan [ZK]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Immersive media allows viewers to experience digital content more interactively, and as the name suggests – in a more “immersive” way. For example, instead of just viewing a video, immersive media provides an "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"environment "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"which viewers can step into and interact with the content.\n\nA "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"blockchain"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is a decentralised public immutable ledger of transactions across a network. Simply put, it is a system of recording information in a way that makes it almost impossible to alter or delete.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The metaverse is a more comprehensive and complex concept."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" It can be imagined as a simulated digital world that uses multiple technologies such as Extended Reality (XR), AI and blockchain, along with immersive media, social media, remote collaboration, and gaming concepts. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Together, they create virtual experiences where users can interact and transact with each other in real-time as they would in the physical world. It is a shared persistent digital world and interoperable with the real physical world."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The Metaverse is still an evolving concept. Organisations have their own vision of what it can be and how it will be used. What is clear is that it will be a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"new internet experience "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"where we can create our digital avatars, remotely meet people, visit other locations, socialise, attend events, collaborate, learn, and share knowledge like never before.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/IMG2137-1649678221040.jpg","caption":"\u003cp>Zeba Khan, Xenvis Solutions\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"In the context of organisational learning and knowledge assets, what contributions does the metaverse make?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[ZK]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Knowledge assets will become more diverse and accessible in the Metaverse. Knowledge creation, management and transfer will be more organised, transparent and secure. \n\nAssets that are limited to text, images and videos typically viewed in 2D formats will become more "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"visually representative,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" real-time and three dimensional in the Metaverse. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Key highlights from YourStory's The Metaverse Summit - India's first Web3 conference","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/121/98e25df018b511e988ceff9061f4e5e7/Generic-image-21-1648279309457.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/yourstory-metaverse-summit-highlights-web3-conference"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are the most innovative applications you have seen in the metaverse?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[ZK]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Here are some of the most innovative Metaverse applications I’ve come across.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"1. Metaverse concerts. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Artists can perform from any location and the audience can be part of the experience from any other location in the world. Metaverse concert-goers can create their digital avatars and enjoy the concert as an immersive experience, interact with other people and purchase digital merchandise. Concerts in the Metaverse will be more immersive and creative since there are no physical limitations. The same concept can be extended to live sports events and re-imagining of iconic moments in history.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"2. Enterprise training in the metaverse."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Manufacturers can leverage the remote collaboration and immersive simulation advantages of the Metaverse to train employees on new equipment and procedures, preventing errors, accidents or equipment damage. An engaging virtual environment can be provided to employees to learn, acquire and safely practice new skills in collaboration with other peers.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta4-1649670225185.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"How is Xenvis leveraging the metaverse – for itself, and for its clients?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[ZK]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"At Xenvis, we are focusing on metaverse use-cases for enterprises. We are building solutions for use-cases that have immense utility value. \n\nThis includes solving real world issues, making businesses more efficient, reducing costs and connecting people in a way that hasn’t been done before.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"‘Metaverse is storytelling and content first’ – in conversation with Namrata Singh, Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1648749186111.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/metaverse-storytelling-namrata-singh-cii-summit"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"How can large firms and startups collaborate for mutual benefit in the metaverse opportunity?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[ZK]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"There will be space for everyone in the Metaverse. \n\nLarge firms will drive the development of"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" platforms and delivery mediums "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"(hardware). Startups will play a major role in the disruptive core technologies and in content creation. This will present unique collaboration opportunities to build digital assets in the metaverse.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are three key emerging trends in the metaverse frontier?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[ZK]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Three key emerging trends in the metaverse are: mainstreaming real-time interaction in 3D virtual spaces, Web3, and brain-computer interfaces.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta2-1649670292600.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are India’s unique opportunities, strengths and challenges in the metaverse space?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[ZK]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" India has the advantage of having people with sharp technical skills who also have a creative mindset. \n\nIndian companies will play an important role in building and shaping the Metaverse. India will also be "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"one of the largest markets"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" with a significant number of metaverse consumers for a variety of use-cases including entertainment, media, tourism, remote collaboration, and more.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The challenge will be to deal with evolving regulations on topics such as cryptocurrency, NFTs, decentralisation, and digital assets."}}],"timeLapsed":"11th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 11, 2022"},{"id":240381,"title":"‘Diversity and inclusion should be key foundations of any Metaverse application,’ says Hina Dixit, Metaverse investor, SamsungNext","slug":"cii-diversity-inclusion-metaverse-hina-dixit","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In this fourth preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we present more expert insights on metaverse contributions to gaming and education.","publishedAt":"2022-04-10T07:08:41.333Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-10T08:52:45.729Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Madanmohan Rao","username":"madanmohan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/32655.jpg","path":"/author/madanmohan"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In this fourth preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we present more expert insights on metaverse contributions to gaming and education.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta2-1649570792576.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta2-1649570792576.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta2-1649570792576.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":7,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"CII","slug":"CII-","order":0,"path":"/tag/CII-"},{"name":"metaverse","slug":"metaverse","order":1,"path":"/tag/metaverse"},{"name":"hina dixit","slug":"hina-dixit","order":2,"path":"/tag/hina-dixit"},{"name":"samsungnext","slug":"samsungnext","order":3,"path":"/tag/samsungnext"},{"name":"Diversity and Inclusion","slug":"diversity-and-inclusion","order":4,"path":"/tag/diversity-and-inclusion"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/cii-diversity-inclusion-metaverse-hina-dixit","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Hina Dixit "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"currently drives all investments in the field of AI and Metaverse at SamsungNext. She earlier led a team at "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Apple"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" for eight years in projects for security, cloud, AI, and data integrity. She holds multiple patents through her work at Apple.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"She is also an angel investor in EventTow, an AI/AR-based app to book event management services, and Aryahi Inc, focusing on no-code solutions."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Hina will speak at CII’s (Confederation of Indian Industry) upcoming annual Global Knowledge Summit. The 17th edition of the summit will be held in a hybrid format in Bengaluru and online on April 12-13, with the theme of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://ciiknowledgesummit.in/","italic":true},"data":"Knowledge Management and the Metaverse."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As media partner for the Global Knowledge Summit, see \u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> preview article of the 2022 edition \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/cii-knowledge-management-metaverse-derick-jose/\">here,\u003c/a> and coverage of the editions from \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2021/04/remote-learning-knowledge-cii\">2021,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2020/07/cii-knowledge-skills-relevant-disruption\">2020\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2019/02/digital-transformation-cii-knowledge-summit\">2019.\u003c/a> "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this chat with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Hina talks about trends in the metaverse ecosystem, innovative startups, and opportunities for India.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Hina3-1649571845956.png","caption":"\u003cp>Hina Dixit\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts of the interview:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"YourStory [YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Immersive media and blockchain have been around for a while – what is new about the metaverse concept? How would you demystify the hype and misconceptions around it?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Hina Dixit [HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" During the pandemic, people ended up spending much more time in front of screens. We started to miss the real-life experience, which created a problem space for tech giants to solve. \n\nThe consumer mind also shifted and was more eager to try out new virtual experiences to find some semblance to their pre-COVID-19 life. This accelerated the efforts to achieve the ultimate vision of Metaverse, which was originally coined in 1992 by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Neal Stephenson "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"in his novel "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Snow Crash"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":". \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"I tend to pursue Metaverse from Jon Radoff’s wider view that a metaverse is an environment in which the real-world limitations ascribed to physical space, objects, and time are dematerialisd. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This perceptions keeps our approach to Metaverse more holistic and grounded and helps us demystify the hype.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Key highlights from YourStory's The Metaverse Summit - India's first Web3 conference","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/121/98e25df018b511e988ceff9061f4e5e7/Generic-image-21-1648279309457.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/yourstory-metaverse-summit-highlights-web3-conference"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"In the context of organisational learning and knowledge assets, what contributions does the metaverse make? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Learning should be active and not passive, which implies the approach to educate should be more creative and engaging. Metaverse can provide creative tools for teachers and students. \n\nFor example, a very dull class in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"history "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"can be revitalised by a virtual visit to museums and historic sites. When teaching laws of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"physics,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" a simulation in virtual reality can let students experiment safely while they are in the class. \n\nLearning occurs best when the playful activity has a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"well-articulated learning goal, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"be it in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), literacy, or “learning to learn” skills like memory, attention, and flexible thinking. \n\nMetaverse can take learning and creativity to the next level as distractions can be avoided in a simulated environment.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are three most innovative applications you have seen in the metaverse?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" I will name some of the key infrastructure pieces which are the key to build the metaverse from our portfolio companies. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Alchemy"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" makes blockchain/Web3 development easy with one magic line of code. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The Sandbox"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is virtual world where players can build, own, and monetise their gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain using the utility token $SAND. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Proof of Learn, Inc (POL) "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"is a Web3 education platform with a mission to unlock accessible, high-quality education across the world through blockchain and a learn-to-earn protocol.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1649571166278.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"What are the risks and challenges involved in the metaverse, from a consumer rights perspective?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Some of the risks can be privacy of user data. \n\nAs the metaverse is being designed and implemented, there must be an intentional effort to involve people from marginalised communities in significant leadership and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"decision-making"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" roles to ensure that all users feel safe and valued as they participate in these environments.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Diversity and inclusion should be key foundations of any Metaverse application. As the Metaverse expands, privacy laws and lawmakers will need to push for user safety and privacy. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With the power of companies providing federated learning like DynamoFL, companies can train AI models without sharing the data with anyone. My tip to early developers in Metaverse is to design their applications with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"user privacy"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" in mind and have a compliance strategy to implement consumer data rights, including the biometric privacy laws. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"India can lead in industrial metaverse applications – in conversation with Derick Jose of Flutura Decision Sciences & Analytics","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/CII-1-1648653601232.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/cii-knowledge-management-metaverse-derick-jose"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"How can large firms and startups collaborate for mutual benefit in the metaverse opportunity?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Various companies in different verticals can come together to create new experiences for their consumers. \n\nFor example, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Lego"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Epic Games"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" recently announced a joint partnership to create a children-focused metaverse. Similarly, new markets can be explored by these joint ventures to provide new experiences and add value to consumers’ day to day life.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"What are your tips for the audience on how to progress along the maturity curve of metaverse deployment?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" My advice to the audience would be to keep an eye on the tech and plan for interactions, not just transactions. \n\nEven if your company has in-house developers and 3D modelers, there is no doubt that"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" creating a metaverse is a huge challenge that could take years. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This is true especially if your developers and designers have no previous VR experience and have not built any application ecosystems similar in scale. \n\nWith this in mind, you can choose to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"work with partners"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" for this type of need. This way, the work gets done faster and your internal staff is free to work on other pursuits. Not to mention that development partners often have much stronger experience and technical abilities than anyone you host.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/CII-1-1649571205718.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"At a societal level, will the metaverse trigger off a new kind of digital divide? How can this be overcome?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" I think from an access point of view. If we completely foresee metaverse as a virtual experience, it could worsen digital inequality by creating an even bigger barrier for people who might already be digitally excluded. \n\nA lot of people don’t have "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"access to the internet"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" or sufficient internet literacy. This divide can be overcome, by building better infrastructure in network connectivity, creating seamless and easy-to-use hardware and by also adding some of the computer science pre-requisites in the classrooms. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"What are India’s unique opportunities, strengths and challenges in the metaverse space?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" India’s ‘Make In India’ has opened doors for investors and foreign companies to build hardware and software for Metaverse in India. \n\nThe global Metaverse market size is predicted to attain $678.8 billion by 2030. Furthermore, consumption of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"video streaming and gaming in India"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has been increasing at a scorching rate, with reports suggesting the Indian gaming market will more than triple to $7 billion by 2026. \n\nMetaverse could offer a rare opportunity worth billions of dollars for the Indian economy, especially for the revival of India's "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"movie and gaming industry"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", as users become familiar with cryptocurrency, augmented/virtual reality, and blockchain.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"The metaverse can make learning more experiential, vivid, and impactful, says Shankar Maruwada, EkStep Foundation","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta5-1649216195919.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/04/metaverse-cii-knowledge-summit-shankar-maruwada"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are some next steps in your metaverse journey at SamsungNext? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" My focus is to find more startups that are focusing on a seamless immersive user experience, boosting innovations in XR and gaming. I am also focused on the problem space where Metaverse meets AI and Web3. \n\nThis also includes business or technical "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"innovation "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"that intelligently adds the promises of Web3 (decentralisation, ownership, agency, identity) into gaming, XR or the creator economy including automation in content creation. \n\nI am constantly looking for new startups focused on solving such pain points.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta6-1649571274533.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"What are some emerging trends in the metaverse frontier?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" There are a lot of cool startups working on building the infrastructure of the Metaverse using Web3. Also, there has been a recent boost in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"creator"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" tools and creator economy. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Any other parting remarks for our audience?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[HD]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" If you are a startup founder and raising funds in the space of Metaverse or AI, please feel free to reach out to me on "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/hinadixit/"},"data":"LinkedIn"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"! I am also open to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"advisor roles "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"and serving as board member.\n\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"10th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 10, 2022"},{"id":240123,"title":"Better products can build better businesses, says Anand Chandrasekaran, Partner, General Catalyst \r\n","slug":"better-products-better-businesses-anand-chandrasekaran-general-catalyst","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In a conversation with YourStory, Anand Chandrasekaran talks about his journey from being a product manager to an investor, and how he views startups. \r\n","publishedAt":"2022-04-08T01:05:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-11T13:39:25.168Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sindhu Kashyaap","username":"sindhu-kashyap","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/a9efa9c0-2dd9-11e9-adc5-2d913c55075e/profile_image_1549874849548.jpg","path":"/author/sindhu-kashyap"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In a conversation with YourStory, Anand Chandrasekharan talks about his journey from being a product manager to an investor, and how he views startups. \n","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Anand-1649335108197.jpeg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Anand-1649335108197.jpeg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Anand-1649335108197.jpeg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":7,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Anand Chandrasekaran","slug":"anand-chandrasekaran","order":0,"path":"/tag/anand-chandrasekaran"},{"name":"General Catalyst","slug":"general-catalyst","order":1,"path":"/tag/general-catalyst"},{"name":"new VC funds","slug":"new-vc-funds","order":2,"path":"/tag/new-vc-funds"},{"name":"Investor","slug":"investor","order":3,"path":"/tag/investor"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/better-products-better-businesses-anand-chandrasekaran-general-catalyst","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Anand Chandrasekaran"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", partner at "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"General Catalyst"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", is one of the top global product leaders. Previously, he was the CPO at Facebook, now Meta; Five9; Snapdeal; and Bharati Airtel. \n\nOver the years, Anand has built five global products that have grown to reach over 10 million users each. He also co-founded Aeroprise Inc and was the EVP of products at Five9, which added $10 billion in value since 2019. \n\nAnand has also been an investor in over 80 startups, including "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","name":"Aisle","slug":"aisle","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/7i3ogbna400x400-1591005759253.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/7i3ogbna400x400-1591005759253.jpg"},"subtitle":"Aisle is a platform that builds high-intent dating apps exclusively for Indians. ","foundingDate":"2014-01-10","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/aisle","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sarath Nair"},{"name":"Bivin Benny"},{"name":"Able Joseph"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Community","slug":"community"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"bca10d80-b9d7-11ea-bb2b-bb87b804f2a0","name":"DealShare","slug":"dealshare","logo":{"height":960,"width":960,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/819049545784472662696108536620952501354496o-1593414682133.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/819049545784472662696108536620952501354496o-1593414682133.jpg"},"subtitle":"Dealshare is a social e-commerce startup, an online buying platform for multi-category consumer products","foundingDate":"2018-09-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/dealshare","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Vineet Rao"},{"name":"Sourjyendu Medda"},{"name":"Rajat Shikhar"}],"sectors":[{"name":"E-Commerce","slug":"e-commerce"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"c1006150-a0af-11ea-b4c1-a3b74df797c3","name":"Fynd","slug":"fynd","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/h9bQVri5400x400-1590648855490.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/h9bQVri5400x400-1590648855490.jpg"},"subtitle":"Fynd is an online shopping site delivering fresh fashion straight from brand stores which includes a variety of footwear, clothing, accessories, beauty, and lifestyle.","foundingDate":"2012-09-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/fynd","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":" Harsh Shah "},{"name":"Sreeraman Mohan Girija"},{"name":"Farooq Adam"}],"sectors":[{"name":"E-Commerce","slug":"e-commerce"},{"name":"Clothing & Apparel","slug":"clothing-apparel"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"e3864490-8a22-11ea-8b1f-c3d5488aefec","name":"Netmeds","slug":"netmeds","logo":{"height":1668,"width":1668,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Netmeds-1588169336630.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Netmeds-1588169336630.jpg"},"subtitle":"Netmeds is an Indian healthcare e-commerce startup founded by Pradeep Dadha in 2010.","foundingDate":"2010-06-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/netmeds","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Pradeep Dadha"}],"sectors":[{"name":"E-Commerce","slug":"e-commerce"},{"name":"HealthTech / MedTech / Healthcare","slug":"healthtech-medtech-healthcare"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"e6899df0-53c6-11ea-bbaf-172657d75966","data":"CREO","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"87377860-31e6-11ea-946c-d5015f46d872","name":"Innov8","slug":"innov8","logo":{"height":1667,"width":1667,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Innov8-1588687654065.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Innov8-1588687654065.png"},"subtitle":"Innov8 is a co-working startup which has been acquired by Oyo. It was founded by doctor turned entrepreneur Ritesh Malik.","foundingDate":"2015-10-29","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/innov8","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Ritesh Malik"},{"name":"Sumit Ranka"},{"name":"Shailesh Gupta"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Community","slug":"community"},{"name":"Real Estate","slug":"real-estate"},{"name":"Collaboration","slug":"collaboration"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", in India and the US. \n\nAn MS in electrical engineering from "}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Stanford University"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Anand has been named as a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nIn a conversation with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Anand talks about his journey from being a product manager to an investor, the importance of having a product-centric approach, and his views on startups. \n\nEdited excerpts from the interview:\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YourStory (YS): You have always been building products. From then to now, how is the shift like on the VC side? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Anand Chandrasekaran (AC):"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" I normally have a very product centric approach to thinking and looking at businesses. When I moved to India in 2014, I was often asked what does a CPO do? And genuinely, there wasn’t much awareness and understanding of the function. I was building products and it was important to have a narrative to understand why better products can lead to better businesses. \n\nWe worked on Airtel Money and Wynk Music, and that is when people started seeing first hand how better products can actually create a business impact. Startups too were facing the same problem, where while they knew that product was important, there wasn’t a larger narrative around it. \n\nThat is how the founders brought in value on the cap table. These people had other expertise, and they felt that it would be great to raise money from someone who builds products. This helped with feedback and hiring people in product engineering. They would increasingly start solving business problems with product, for example, they would say - the costs in my supply chain are high and how do I solve it as a product problem. \n\nThus, we were able to solve some major business problems by converting them into engineering problems. This was an insight for me. \n"}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"I was an early investor in Rupeek, NoBroker, DealShare, MoEngage, and others, and soon the narrative started to take root that you need to genuinely have a product-centric approach. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This was the insight that got me into investing.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/2016/03/Anand-Chandrasekaran-Chief-Product-Officer-241x300.jpg","caption":"\u003cp>Anand Chandrasekaran\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What is it like being an investor today? Why did you choose General Catalyst? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AC: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"For me, the shift was actually quite natural and organic. There are a few things that resonated with me. \n\nOne is that General Catalyst (GC) has been around for over a decade, and they approach investing with a makers’ mentality. And this was exactly how I approached angel investing. It is about thinking like a builder. \n\nOne of the things we do is build companies within GC and we incubate companies inside GC. One of the parts of the fund is a creation fund that is dedicated to new companies that are hatched within GC. \n\nThe other part that compelled me was "}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"radical collaboration"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":". We believe in partnering with the founders, and within the firm we try to create and build the company. We do this in a cross functional way. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We have done close to seven deals in India in the past four months, and more than just understanding the founder and the business, it is about everything the firm does. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The last part is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"responsible innovation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". There is a belief that societal good and profits have to be mutually exclusive and both can’t be done together. \n\nIncreasingly, it is being seen that most businesses become successful because the founders align with a larger focus on responsible innovation and are focussed on both profit and societal good. They compound over a long time because they are good for the society as well. We believe this has to be part of the company building process. \n\nThus, when we talk to a company, we look at different aspects of the organisation that can have unintended consequences of societal growth, and how the founder views the business in terms of societal good. \n"}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"[Product Roadmap] With over 50,000 connected assets and 200M daily data points, how Zenatix is leveraging tech to bring energy efficiency ","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Zenatix-1649165517184.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/04/product-roadmap-zenatix-energy-tech-startup-iot-stack-efficiency"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How do you view your investments different from other investors? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AC:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" There are two things here -- you need to have a significantly deep partnership with the founder. This was happening in the valley from 2010, where everything had become founder centric. And we saw that more in India. Founders had started looking closely at the kind of investors they wanted to partner with as they were building along a 10 year cycle. \n\nIt was about the partnerships. It is important that both parties be in the partnership for a long term. Another important fact was that early startups that broke out in India were addressing a different market, but today it is changing. More people are online and have access to information. This is opening opportunities across commerce, edtech, B2B marketplaces, and everything that is meaningful for the next 500 million. \n\nToday, I believe there are a bunch of companies that are going to be built for the next 500 million. \n"}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How has the investment landscape changed? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AC: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Today, there is significantly "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"more capital available in India"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", which means that founders have a choice of partners. This in turn changes the dynamics, which is a good development for the ecosystem. \n\nBack in 2014, being a founder wasn’t a cool thing, and there wasn’t much social acceptance. But today there is not just social acceptance, but also a pressure to start up. This in turn is making a lot of young people to view starting up as a way to making India better. \n\nAs wealth gets created for companies, investors, and employees, it gets back into the ecosystem in the form of angel investments. \n"}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\u003cb>Today, we see a vibrant ecosystem, which I am lucky to be a part of, and this is phenomenal for founders as they get help from the right people. Also, remote working has democratised access in ways like never before for talent acquisition and even starting up. \u003c/b>"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"[Techie Tuesday] How Radha Ramaswami Basu built HP in India, grew vertical into $1.2B operation ","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a09f22505c6411ea9c48a10bad99c62f/Imagerdhh-1649079902912.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/04/techie-tuesday-radha-ramaswami-basu-hp-hewlett-packard-imerit"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How has the role of a CPO changed and how has product thinking changed? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AC:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" It has changed significantly. People have realised that at the end of the day, they have to solve for business problems and consumer problems. Product and engineering is a strong lever, and while it may not solve every problem, it is a great tool. People are looking at how they can address a problem using an engineering solution or product experience. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In the B2B space, Indian founders are building some of the best product experience. Today, Indian SaaS companies are becoming the gold standard in terms of experiences. These are strong developments, and has further pushed people to think product wise. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How have products evolved over time? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AC:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Globally, there is a shift towards responsible innovation. Founders are now looking to bring in stronger mindset into systems and algorithms are built from day one, because as the business grows, the way these systems work also grows. \n\nEthical consumption is a big shift. Founders are looking at businesses more from a long term perspective, and are very particular about how they build the product. \n"}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What advice do you give founders today? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AC:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" As an angel investor, it was believed that I was providing a lot of knowledge, but the reverse is true, the knowledge and insights you get from the founders is great. \n\nWhat investors can do is be trusted partners with the founders as they mostly have the answers. They may just need people to help them look at alternatives. The partnerships are becoming longer and longer so it is important that trust is built between the founders and the investors from day one. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"companyConnect","value":{"id":"fdf72d40-a3ee-11ea-8929-c54a7014c0ac","slug":"aisle","name":"Aisle"}}],"timeLapsed":"8th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 08, 2022","editorsPickTitle":"Better products can build better businesses, says Anand Chandrasekaran ","editorsPickSubtitle":"In a conversation with YourStory, Anand Chandrasekaran talks about his journey from being a product manager to an investor, and how he views startups. \n","editorsPickStartTime":"2022-04-08T00:30:00.000Z","editorsPickEndTime":"2022-04-08T03:30:00.000Z"},{"id":239829,"title":"The metaverse can make learning more experiential, vivid, and impactful, says Shankar Maruwada, EkStep Foundation","slug":"metaverse-cii-knowledge-summit-shankar-maruwada","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In this third preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we share expert insights on metaverse contributions to education.","publishedAt":"2022-04-06T04:13:23.400Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-06T06:39:44.946Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Madanmohan Rao","username":"madanmohan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/32655.jpg","path":"/author/madanmohan"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In this third preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we share expert insights on metaverse contributions to education.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta5-1649216195919.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta5-1649216195919.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta5-1649216195919.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":4,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"metaverse","slug":"metaverse","order":0,"path":"/tag/metaverse"},{"name":"CII","slug":"CII-","order":1,"path":"/tag/CII-"},{"name":"educational technologies","slug":"educational-technologies","order":2,"path":"/tag/educational-technologies"},{"name":"shankar maruwada","slug":"shankar-maruwada","order":3,"path":"/tag/shankar-maruwada"},{"name":"Conference","slug":"conference","order":4,"path":"/tag/conference"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/04/metaverse-cii-knowledge-summit-shankar-maruwada","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Shankar Maruwada "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"is Co-founder and CEO of "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"6a79c2e0-f414-11eb-b142-75f98cb8b058","name":"EkStep","slug":"ekstep","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/15198779024451-1627966258975.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/15198779024451-1627966258975.jpg"},"subtitle":"EkStep Foundation wants to bring Access to learning opportunities to every child.","foundingDate":"2015-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/ekstep","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Shankar Maruwada "}],"sectors":[{"name":"NGO/Non-profit/Social Impact","slug":"ngo-non-profit-social-impact"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Foundation, which is building a learning platform to improve applied literacy and numeracy for millions of children in India.\n\nThe foundation has developed an open-source digital infrastructure for learning called "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Sunbird, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"with a set of modular building blocks for learning at scale. The developed code is open source and available on Github.\n\nShanar was earlier the Co-founder and CEO of FourthLion Technologies; Head - Demand Generation and Marketing at Unique Identification Authority of India "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"(UIDAI); "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"and Co-founder, and Chief Marketing Officer, Marketics. Shankar is an almunus of IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Kharagpur.\n\nHe is also speaking at CII’s upcoming annual "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Global Knowledge Summit."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The 17th edition of the summit is being held in a hybrid format in Bengaluru and online on April 12-13, with the theme of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://ciiknowledgesummit.in/","italic":true},"data":"Knowledge Management and the Metaverse."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\u003cb>As media partner for the Global Knowledge Summit, see \u003c/b>\u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> preview article of the 2022 edition \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/cii-knowledge-management-metaverse-derick-jose/\">here,\u003c/a> and coverage of the editions from \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2021/04/remote-learning-knowledge-cii\">2021,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2020/07/cii-knowledge-skills-relevant-disruption\">2020\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2019/02/digital-transformation-cii-knowledge-summit\">2019.\u003c/a> "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this chat with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Shankar talks about education in the metaverse, trends in the ecosystem, and opportunities for India.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Shankar-1649216524729.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts of the interview:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" [YS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" Immersive media and blockchain have been around for a while – what is new about the metaverse concept? How would you demystify the hype and misconceptions around it?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Shankar Maruwada [SM]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We can think of the metaverse as being part of the evolutionary process of the web: from reading to being social to now being experiential. And also towards more decentralisation, more co-creation, and so forth. \n\nSo now with the metaverse, you can "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"“create experiences”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" – magical, imaginary or mirrors of the real world or a certain version of that reality. As the technology becomes more mainstream, hardware costs drop, computing power increases, and there are more adopters, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"there will be more and more use cases"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" – from small groups of people with unique needs to more widespread usage in diverse areas.   \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Key highlights from YourStory's The Metaverse Summit - India's first Web3 conference","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/121/98e25df018b511e988ceff9061f4e5e7/Generic-image-21-1648279309457.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/yourstory-metaverse-summit-highlights-web3-conference"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" In the context of learning and knowledge assets, what contributions does the metaverse make?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[SM]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" The metaverse allows us to recreate experiences. Imagine a classroom full of students being able to interact with a virtual human heart. They can ‘teleport’ inside the heart to see the interior of the heart’s chambers and vessels, and watch the circulation of blood throughout the heart. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"They can rotate, open and examine its twelve primary parts. Or, let’s say in a cricket training camp, a young girl can stand next to Virat Kohli and study how he places a shot. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Learning happens with both seeing and doing. They say that an ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory. So, when we see something, we internalise it by adding meaning to it. But the final "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"test of learning"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" happens when we make choices based on that learning. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Stories work because they simulate - they transport you to another world. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The metaverse takes this to the next level, allowing one to experience the simulation. So the metaverse has the potential to make learning more experiential, more vivid, and therefore more impactful. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/CII-1-1649216584255.png"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"‘Metaverse is storytelling and content first’ – in conversation with Namrata Singh, Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1648749186111.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/metaverse-storytelling-namrata-singh-cii-summit"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" How is EkStep leveraging the metaverse? What are the results so far?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[SM]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" At EkStep Foundation, we believe in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"+1 thinking"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" - which is innovations that are mind-opening, yet strangely familiar, so that they work for the scale, diversity and different contexts of India. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Energised textbooks, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"of which there are more than 600 million distributed with a total of more than 12 billion QR codes, were an addition to regular textbooks. They have made trusted, relevant and quality content available to 200 million children and more than 7 million teachers. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We believe that as virtual technologies become more mainstream, we can move from democratisation of content to democratisation of context. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The metaverse is but a context — an immersive one — that can in principle bring the best of digital technologies to bear on education if and only if"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" it is done right, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"with the science of learning and real children in mind.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta1-1649216615082.jpg"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Opening markets and mindsets: What to expect from India’s femtech sector in 2022 and beyond\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/f02aced0d86311e98e0865c1f0fe59a2/femtech-1623045913847.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2021/12/femtech-trends-2022-herstory-niramai"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" What are India’s unique opportunities, strengths, and challenges in the metaverse space?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[SM]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" Given the diversity of user needs and contexts, India is a great place to experiment as the metaverse gets built. We have large pools of technologists, a very vibrant ecosystem of private actors, and in government, a willingness to explore new technologies. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This is a good starting point to look at building things at scale. Metaverse has the potential to allow India to leapfrog in education. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Whether it is mobile telephony, the setting up of digital identity, digital payments, or digital healthcare, India has demonstrated that not only can it innovate but it can "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"adapt innovation to population context and scale. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"6th Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 06, 2022"},{"id":239199,"title":"‘Metaverse is storytelling and content first’ – in conversation with Namrata Singh, Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India","slug":"metaverse-storytelling-namrata-singh-cii-summit","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In this second preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we share expert insights on metaverse entertainment and the India opportunity.","publishedAt":"2022-04-01T03:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-04-06T03:39:18.963Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Madanmohan Rao","username":"madanmohan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/32655.jpg","path":"/author/madanmohan"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In this second preview article on CII’s upcoming Global Knowledge Summit, we share expert insights on metaverse entertainment and the India opportunity.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1648749186111.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1648749186111.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta3-1648749186111.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":6,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"CII","slug":"CII-","order":0,"path":"/tag/CII-"},{"name":"metaverse","slug":"metaverse","order":1,"path":"/tag/metaverse"},{"name":"namrata singh","slug":"namrata","order":2,"path":"/tag/namrata"},{"name":"Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India","slug":"sony-entertainment-talent-ventures-india","order":3,"path":"/tag/sony-entertainment-talent-ventures-india"},{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment","order":4,"path":"/tag/entertainment"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/03/metaverse-storytelling-namrata-singh-cii-summit","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Namrata Singh "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"is Head, Metaverse and Digital, at Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India. She was earlier Founder and CEO of The First Principle, Brand Consultant at Friday Filmworks, and Co-founder and Director of Everymedia Technologies. She is a graduate of Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies.\n\nNamrata is also speaking at CII’s upcoming annual Global Knowledge Summit. The 17th edition of the summit is being held in a hybrid format in Bengaluru, and online on April 12-13, with the theme of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://ciiknowledgesummit.in/","italic":true},"data":"Knowledge Management and the Metaverse."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As the media partner for the Global Knowledge Summit, see \u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> preview article of the 2022 edition \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/cii-knowledge-management-metaverse-derick-jose/\">here,\u003c/a> and coverage of the editions from \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2021/04/remote-learning-knowledge-cii\">2021,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2020/07/cii-knowledge-skills-relevant-disruption\">2020\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://yourstory.com/2019/02/digital-transformation-cii-knowledge-summit\">2019.\u003c/a> "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this chat with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Namrata talks about storytelling in the metaverse, trends in the ecosystem, and opportunities for India.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts of the interview:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Namrata2-1648749367610.jpeg","caption":"\u003cp>Namrata Singh\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" [YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Immersive media and blockchain have been around for a while – what is new about the metaverse concept? How would you demystify the hype and misconceptions around it?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Namrata Singh [NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" As someone with Sony Playstation – part of the group along with Epic Games being a Sony Innovations Fund Investment – of course, immersive media has been around! Gaming is also the origin point of Metaverse as we are experiencing it now.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The hype is that it will take over other things and other mediums, and the misconception is that it is an easy shift from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"But it's a marked shift and just like every other digital change, it will take a few years for "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"mass and consumer adoption. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"On the enterprise and brand level, a lot of innovations will take place.\n\nIt may be decentralised and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"creator-first "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"but there are a lot of challenges before it is part of daily life.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Key highlights from YourStory's The Metaverse Summit - India's first Web3 conference","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/121/98e25df018b511e988ceff9061f4e5e7/Generic-image-21-1648279309457.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/yourstory-metaverse-summit-highlights-web3-conference"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"In the context of organisational learning and knowledge assets, what contributions does the metaverse make?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Learning becoming immersive is a given. Immersiveness lends itself to all kinds of learning styles. \n\nAlso, when you are experiencing something in an"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" embodied form, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"especially a harder topic like physics, science, or maths, you would end up retaining more.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are some of the most innovative applications you have seen in the metaverse?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" It is innovating every day! But I love the whole Play 2 Earn Games space, with Axie Infinity being a great example of the same.\n\nIn India, we are also experimenting with world and experience creation on gaming engines like Unreal.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"As an entrepreneur and investor, what are the key metaverse opportunities for you?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We are actively looking at Web3 apps, platforms and tooling companies. Metaverse experience creation is a mix of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"tech, design and creativity,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and we are looking at teams that bring the combination of these three to the table.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta5-1648749426440.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are some innovative startups you have come across in this metaverse space?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" There are so many! Epic is of course a front runner but then there is ‘Question What's Real’ in India.\n\nThere is also Anzu in metaverse advertising and many of the group companies of Animoca brands. Sony Innovations Fund (SIF) is doing interesting work in the space as well.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"How can large firms and startups collaborate for mutual benefit in the metaverse opportunity?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Large companies will bring the platform support. A media conglomerate like us will bring in the celebs, influencers, IPs, characters and so on to make Metaverse a fun and inhabited place and not a ghost town. Large companies will bring in scale.\n\nStartups will bring in the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"decentralised mindset,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Web 3 tech stack, skillsets and creativity to the table. They will reimagine the internet as we know it today.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"India has a huge role to play in shaping the future of the internet, the metaverse: Ajit Mohan, VP and MD, Meta India\r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/0e302530227f11ec9e19b7c38d296967/800x400-IntotheMetaverse-ADeepDiveintoVirtualSharedWorlds-1648130116638.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/yourstory-metaverse-summit-ajit-mohan-meta-india"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are your tips for the audience on how to progress along the maturity curve of metaverse deployment?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" One step at a time and community and audience first! Just as with anything else, you have to keep the needs of the audience you are building for in the fray.\n\nAlso, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Metaverse is storytelling and content first. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"So telling trans-media stories is a critical skillset of the future.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"At a societal level, will the metaverse trigger off a new kind of digital divide? How can this be overcome?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Yes, the digital divide has always existed because of the lack of infrastructure and access even today. \n\nBut since we are mostly building for mobile-first and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"India has 150+ percent mobile penetration, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"we should have some level of awareness. But a massive effort is needed as a public-private partnership in this area.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/CII-1-1648749960879.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are India’s unique opportunities, strengths, and challenges in the metaverse space?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We are not the back office of the world anymore. We are not selling our wares at cheaper rates. We are skilling ourselves to compete on the world stage and finally be creators.\n\nOur weakness is a lack of experience in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"creating global IPs"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and telling stories that resonate outside of diaspora and Indian sensibilities.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"What are top VCs looking for in a Metaverse startup \r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/628912e0d7f211eb8e8307e5b6451cf7/InvestorFocus-WhatVCslookforinaMetaversestartup--1648191069039.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/the-decrypting-story/top-vcs-antler-elevation-capital-investors-advice-metaverse-startups-founders"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are some next steps in your metaverse journey?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We have just started! It's been a year of massive growth.\n\nWe are talent-first and are looking at celeb-led storytelling and platform creation for metaverse and Web3. We are recasting the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"talent business"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" post-COVID-19 using tech, metaverse, and a shift in agency mindset.\n\nWe are truly aiming to be advisors and partners to our talent base and take them global. We also enable them to meet "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"investors"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and bring them to the cap table – and not just faces and endorsers for the thriving startup investment ecosystem.\n\nOur CEO, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Vijay Singh, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"says: “The talent business is changed as we know it forever, and IP ownership will look very different for the next ten years. We hope to craft that story with the best talent in the country.”\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/28b451402d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Meta2-1648749520658.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"What are three key emerging trends in the metaverse frontier?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Play2 Earn Games, Experiential Events, and Web3 platforms and DAOs.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[YS]: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Any other parting remarks for our audience?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"[NS]:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Whether it is games, movies, OTT or metaverse, all we are doing is using stories to connect better. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"We are still very human in our virtual avatars. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The essence of the internet being a connector stays, the format has changed and will evolve constantly. Let's not make it bigger than that.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"1st Apr 2022","publishedDate":"April 01, 2022"},{"id":238157,"title":"Women should think of job as a career, not just a job, says Aditi Kothari Desai of DSP Investment Managers","slug":"women-jobs-aditi-kothari-desai-dsp-investment-managers","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In a conversation with HerStory, Aditi Kothari Desai, Vice Chairperson of DSP Investment Managers, speaks about her journey, learnings, and her advice to women interested in investment management. \r\n","publishedAt":"2022-03-25T01:25:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-28T02:25:48.866Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sindhu Kashyaap","username":"sindhu-kashyap","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/a9efa9c0-2dd9-11e9-adc5-2d913c55075e/profile_image_1549874849548.jpg","path":"/author/sindhu-kashyap"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In a conversation with HerStory, Aditi Kothari Desai, Vice Chairperson of DSP Investment Managers, speaks about her journey, learnings, and her advice to women interested in investment management. \n","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Aditifinal-1648129759205.jpeg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Aditifinal-1648129759205.jpeg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Aditifinal-1648129759205.jpeg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":11,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Women leaders","slug":"women-leaders","order":0,"path":"/tag/women-leaders"},{"name":"women leaders India","slug":"women-leaders-india","order":1,"path":"/tag/women-leaders-india"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/03/women-jobs-aditi-kothari-desai-dsp-investment-managers","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Aditi Kothari Desai "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"is the Vice Chairperson of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"DSP Investment Managers"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Pvt. Ltd. (DSPIM). She also heads Sales and Marketing, and serves as a member of the Executive Committee.\n\nShe leads financial wellness initiatives at DSPIM and was instrumental in launching Winvestor, a special initiative aimed at empowering women with confidence and financial knowledge to plan for their economic and long-term security.\n\nWith a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Aditi started her professional journey in 1998 with Merrill Lynch’s investment banking group in New York, where she primarily worked on M&A activities in the Financial Institutions Group. \n\nSubsequently, she worked in DSP Merrill Lynch as part of the fixed income sales team and later joined DSP Merrill Lynch Fund Managers in 2002 (now DSPIM), where she worked on various projects, including establishing an offshore fund for foreign investors.\n\nApart from being an Independent Director at Godrej Agrovet, she serves on the Board of DASRA, a leading strategic philanthropy foundation in India. \n\nA wildlife enthusiast since the age of 10, Aditi is also a trustee at the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), a non-profit-organisation that focuses on saving India’s forests and wildlife. She is also a trustee in the Hemendra Kothari Foundation and Shah PJ Kothari and Shah MVMVB School. \n\nIn an interaction with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"HerStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":","}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Aditi speaks about her journey into the world of sales, her career, learnings, her role at DSP Investment Managers, and a word of advice for women interested in investment management. \n\nEdited excerpts from the interview:\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Aditijpg3-1648129195734.jpeg","caption":"\u003cp>Aditi Kothari Desai\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"The consumer lies at the centre of all our decisions: Manish Malhotra and Sukhleen Aneja on luxury make-up brand ","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/NewManishMalhotra-1648129297211.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2022/03/manish-malholtra-beauty-make-up-sukhleen-aneja-myglamm"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HerStory (HS): Tell us about your early years, and how you got interested in sales?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Aditi Kothari Desai (AKD):"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" I was born and brought up in Mumbai. My father has always been in the financial services business and so was my family. I am the fifth generation.\n\nI was always interested in business because I saw my father doing it, but I just didn’t understand what he did.\n\nWhile in school, my friends would say that their father was an engineer, a doctor, or a lawyer, but I didn’t really know what my father did because he was a merchant banker. And people didn’t know what that was, and so, I was determined to understand that. \n\nI was lucky to get into Wharton for my under-graduation, where I majored in finance. I also enjoyed management and was more interested in business. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"And now, I am with a mutual fund, which is like a combination of B2B, B2C, business and finance. So, there was no better option to me than investment management. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: Tell us about your college life and how it shaped the decisions you made? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" I did my undergrad in the US at Wharton, and the great thing about American education is that it allows you to take all kinds of courses in different fields. \n\nFor instance, at Wharton, you can take up to half the number of courses required outside the school. I also took Russian History and political history of Russia, the USA, and China. In a way, they are all relevant to everything happening today. I also took French in addition to all the usual classes. \n\nAs I majored in finance, I took my finance classes and valuation classes as well. I liked fixed income and took classes on fixed income, accounting, risk, and corporate law. \n\nIt was interesting and something I would encourage everyone to do if they can and they want to. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"College gave me a lot of confidence. It gave me the confidence to be independent, and so, it had a huge influence on me. I also give my parents a lot of credit because they always encouraged me to be independent from the very beginning. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: Tell us the different positions you held and what were your learnings from each of these places?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" My first job was as an intern at Merrill Lynch in New York at the age of 20. I was on the debt capital market side. I think I just really learnt about the commitment that is needed for something like this. \n\nThe first lesson I learnt was to just show up. Everyone was so busy and no one was going to sit and help me. So it just made me feel resourceful and independent. \n\nOnce, I had to make some charts and I asked how do I do it? It was 1996, and internet was very new then to search and figure out. They gave me a book on Excel and said figure it out. And that is exactly the kind of training we all need. \n\nDon’t expect someone to help you in your job. Neither is it their responsibility to help you, nor should you feel entitled to get help. You must be responsible and resourceful and take initiative. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Later, I worked in equity capital markets, and then I did investment banking for two years. It was tough because sometimes I didn’t go home for two days. I think that is inhumane and I would never do that, and I wouldn’t expect that from my employees. I also realised that I could work hard and produce amazing work. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"There was a lot of attention given to detail and there was no room for mistakes or to say no. You just had to do it. So, anything I did after that was a breeze. \n\nI also learnt what I should expect from employees and what I should not. So those were some great lessons and a superb foundation. \n\nLater, I was at DSP doing fixed income and we were still DSP Merrill Lynch. Here, I learnt a lot of basics about Indian fixed income market and how things work. Again, it was quite an ambiguous role. No one was going to define anything for me. So, I had to make it on my own. Frankly, I was thrown into the deep end and I had to learn how to swim. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"How Deepika Nagasamy of the Rs 200-cr Dindigul Thalappakatti Biriyani brand was able to empower women leaders\r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/800x400DeepikaNagasamy-03-1647858466487.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2022/03/herstory-woman-on-a-mission-deepika-nagasamy-of-the-rs-200-cr-dindigul-thalappakatti-biriyani"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: What was your experience and learnings from your previous organisations? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"After DSP, I moved to the Asset Management Company in 2002. I always wanted to do something in B2C – just doing one transaction via an M&A deal or an IPO or the like never really excited me. It wasn’t as fulfilling as something more long term and something more connected to the end audience. And so I think the asset management space made sense to what I like - business, finance, and B2C. \n\nIn that connection, I started a couple of international funds. I think in the first year we had raised almost $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion between two funds. No one thought we’d ever raise so much money. One was listed in Luxembourg and the other was listed in Japan. I thought of the idea and actually enabled its structure and everything from scratch. \n\nThen I went to business school, where I spent two years. I was in Boston at Harvard Business School. I came back and I tried to implement certain things that I had learnt. I tried to create competitions in sales. I created groups in sales because I thought younger people should also be given leadership opportunities. Even though I wasn’t in sales back then, these were all my suggestions which then happened. When the marketing head left in 2011, I got a role to head marketing, which I love. \n\nIn 2012 I realised that marketing and digital go hand-in-hand. So, we thought of digital marketing way before a lot of our peers. We realised that we needed an online sales area and hired people, and we had everything in-house, which is completely different from other people. \n\nWe didn’t want to outsource anything because I felt that we need to be in control of the actual source code because it minimises bugs in the long run. That was an instinct I had, and I think we were correct. \n\nWe are the only AMC that recruits developers at this scale and have them in house to produce because we realised how important a USP that is. So, I learnt a lot from all the different areas I’ve done. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Meet Oxyzo Co-founder and CEO Ruchi Kalra — one of the rare women unicorn founders \r\n\r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/RuchiKalra-1648046497056.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2022/03/oxyzo-ceo-ruchi-kalra-women-entrepreneur-unicorn-startup"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"I then became head of sales and marketing and e-business. Overall, I have grown up the ranks and learnt a lot. I have also learnt how important MIS and numbers are and the accuracy of it, paying attention to, taking your cues from and really working from it. \n\nI also learnt a lot about different cultures. How you speak to people in the US and how you speak to people in India is completely different because they interpret it in different ways -- the words you use and the choice of words. \n\nI realised that as a leader, you have to get to the middle ground. I learnt a lot from all this, and also being able to talk more to the international audience. So, all my experiences have really helped me, and I continue to learn more. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: Why did you join DSP Investment Managers and what compelled you to do so?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" For me, firstly it was a family-run company, so me being the oldest child always felt the sense of responsibility. Another thing that compelled me was that I like the B2C business. I didn’t really feel like I could work for a very transactional based company or a transactional based industry. I preferred the B2C element, which is what the mutual fund or the asset management division had to offer. So I was happy to be there. I joined DSP Investment Managers in November 2020. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"BabyChakra acquires TinyStep, earmarks Rs 100 cr to build India's largest mom-baby content platform in 3 years \r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/BabyChakra-1648010317334.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2022/03/babychakra-acquires-tinystep-earmarks-rs100-cr-mom-baby-content-good-glamm"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: What is your role at DSP Investment managers?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": My core role at DSP Investment Managers is managing all sales functions. There are three important pillars in any asset management company. One is the investment function, the other is the back office - operations, financials, and the accounting of the net asset value, which is the price of every unit or every fund that we sell. We have to record that every day and do it precisely. \n\nThe third pillar is the actual business, selling these units, and selling mutual funds. I head the entire sales area, both offline and online, and all the marketing that goes with it. I am now going to be working much more on the strategy front. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: What are your plans ahead?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" My vision is to make DSP the most trusted mutual fund house. Eventually, it will become much larger than what it is today because people trust us. \n\nOur main focus should be the investors, their returns, and doing the right thing, selling the right product, at the right time, to the right person, for the right reason. If we can get that right, then everything else flows from it. \n\nSo my vision is to make DSP an even more trusted brand, and it is as digitalised as possible. \n\nWe do cut down a lot of mundane tasks and we make it easy for investors to access us through their distributors or directly. The focus would be on making it easy for both our partners and our end clients to be able to engage with DSP in as digital a manner as possible.  \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"HS: What advice would you give young women interested in the field, and how do you think we can encourage more women in the segment?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ADK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" I would tell them firstly that any job you take must be taken seriously. If you think of it as a job that is going to give you money till your marriage or you have kids, then you know you will never invest fully into it and then people who invest in you will be disappointed. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"So, make it very clear from the beginning that this is going to be a career and not just a job. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"A good thing is that we are having a lot of women interested in the field, but they are more interested in sales and marketing. We don’t see enough women invested in the investment management areas. \n\nMaybe women prefer not to be on that side because of the biases they may have. But one needs to break the biases. And if you are a commerce student and a finance student, or if you are doing your CA, get deeper into understanding the valuation of companies and how the markets work. \n\nJust get interested in the principles of investing. Because not only are you going to be helping thousands or lakhs of investors, but you are going to be helping yourself to manage your own money better. \n"}}],"timeLapsed":"25th Mar 2022","publishedDate":"March 25, 2022"},{"id":236377,"title":"Women have an intuitive relationship with money; they just need to reclaim it: Salt co-founders","slug":"fintech-salt-women-intuitive-relationship-money","type":"RICH","subtitle":"Shinjini Kumar, Chaitra Chidanand, and Aditi Sholapurkar, Co-founders of women-focused financial planning and investment app Salt, join YourStory’s Shradha Sharma in a candid and revealing chat.","publishedAt":"2022-03-17T10:30:00.078Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-19T04:50:22.967Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Ekta Desai","username":"ekta-desai","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/776f4330-4c39-11ec-9610-4b744b1f5764/profile_image_1637657024460.png","path":"/author/ekta-desai"},{"name":"Anju Narayanan","username":"anju-narayanan-61","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/721b1c10-0eb9-11eb-936a-1114ea00a5c0/profile_image_1602747521389.png","path":"/author/anju-narayanan-61"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"Shinjini Kumar, Chaitra Chidanand, and Aditi Sholapurkar, Co-founders of women-focused financial planning and investment app Salt, join YourStory’s Shradha Sharma in a candid and revealing chat.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3834ef70ca8011eba0afddaa6974ca30/SALT800x400copy-1647502683690.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3834ef70ca8011eba0afddaa6974ca30/SALT800x400copy-1647502683690.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3834ef70ca8011eba0afddaa6974ca30/SALT800x400copy-1647502683690.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":7,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc33-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"general-news","name":"General News","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"fintech","slug":"fintech","order":0,"path":"/tag/fintech"},{"name":"women-led startups","slug":"women-led-startups","order":1,"path":"/tag/women-led-startups"},{"name":"Women-centric fintech","slug":"women-centric-fintech","order":2,"path":"/tag/women-centric-fintech"},{"name":"SALT","slug":"salt","order":3,"path":"/tag/salt"},{"name":"Shinjini Kumar","slug":"shinjini-kumar","order":4,"path":"/tag/shinjini-kumar"},{"name":"Chaitra Chidanand","slug":"chaitra-chidanand","order":5,"path":"/tag/chaitra-chidanand"},{"name":"Aditi Sholapurkar","slug":"aditi-sholapurkar","order":6,"path":"/tag/aditi-sholapurkar"},{"name":"financial planning","slug":"financial-planning","order":7,"path":"/tag/financial-planning"},{"name":"investment app","slug":"investment-app","order":8,"path":"/tag/investment-app"},{"name":"BNPL","slug":"bnpl","order":9,"path":"/tag/bnpl"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/03/fintech-salt-women-intuitive-relationship-money","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Financial planning and investment app Salt has been "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"on a mission to get women to reclaim what they’ve always had - an inherent acumen for money"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". More women making more financial decisions - it’s as simple as that, but how does one get there?"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Shinjini Kumar, Chaitra Chidanand, and Aditi Sholapurkar"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", who have all had successful and rewarding stints in financial institutions, came together in early 2021 with a mission to help women make better money and investment choices, and in the process, really listen to the customer and tap into their money psyche."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"And their first step was to build a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"money personality quiz"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"youtube","value":{"id":"tZJQ6cCTJMw"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In an exclusive and fun conversation with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory’s "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Founder and CEO, Shradha Sharma"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the trio talk about "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"what spurred the decision to leave cushy jobs and embark on an adventure together"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", their plans for Salt and of course, the concept behind the moniker."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to Shinjini, that "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"women have an intuitive relationship with money"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is well-known."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“But that doesn’t get recognised in the formal financial system, because in the formal system, what gets recognised is balance sheets, assets ownerships, and paperwork,” Shinjini says."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Chaitra points out that in the earlier days, the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"‘"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"tijori ki chaabi"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"’"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", or keys to the locker, was always with the woman of the household, but "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"with time, assets have moved from physical forms of grain, gold or cash in the house to banks and more abstract forms"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“The movement of the assets out of the household has really led to the distance between women and money,” says Chaitra."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"That is why, the three founders believe "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"it’s more about reclaiming as opposed to “empowering” women"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and adapting to the new world of how money decisions are made today.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"What’s in a name? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The way "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"women’s relationship with money is intuitive, essential, and also invisible"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", made complete sense, so "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the name ‘Salt’ just presented itself"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", says Shinjini. \n\n“It was almost like we were discussing these concepts and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"salt represents all these three things"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":",” informs Shinjini.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Tapping the money psyche \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Elaborating on Salt’s flagship money personality test, the founders’ say "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the idea was always to listen"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Before you can even reach the point of money actions, you need to tap into a person's money psyche, their money feelings, their money habits and then you can possibly influence actions,” Aditi says."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Chaitra recalls how those early conversations with many women across the spectrum to understand their financial constraints and needs were meant to shape their first product. Interestingly, these "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"sessions turned out to be an eye opener of sorts"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" when the women in turn, thanked them for their professional time and expertise. \n\n“We discovered the reason they were thanking us was because this was the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"first time they were actually thinking and talking about money"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":",” says Chaitra.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"What are the learnings so far?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"For Chaitra, who had earlier co-founded Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) fintech startup "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"f8fd5290-7a38-11ea-8492-451845b0e390","name":"Simpl","slug":"simpl","logo":{"url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logo-1586419566293.jpg","width":699,"height":522,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logo-1586419566293.jpg"},"subtitle":"Simpl empowers any merchant, large and small, to build a trusted relationship with their consumer one transaction at a time via 1-click checkout, POS credit, and targeted loyalty rewards, all packed into a cohesive consumer experience at checkout.","foundingDate":"2015-02-02","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/simpl","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Nityanand Sharma"}],"sectors":[{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"in 2014, one of the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"biggest insights as a second-time entrepreneur was that armchair innovation is not enough"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":". \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“You need to listen and build, and when you listen and build, you actually end up creating magic, and virality starts happening, adoption starts going crazy,” Chaitra says."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"So, one needs to invest that care and thoughtfulness to build what is needed, and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"not a copy-paste of something that worked for someone"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", or something that worked in a certain geography so one should not comfortably create the same thing for other geographies, she affirms.\n\nBefore setting up Salt, the co-founders conducted several "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Proof of Concepts (POCs)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" with small groups of women, and have continued to do iterations thereafter. Even now, there are strict guidelines around what Salt employees can and cannot do while collecting feedback.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Meet the women scripting history at HerStory’s Women on a Mission 2022 \r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/4/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/WOAM-03-1641974281596.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/herstory/2022/03/herstory-women-on-a-mission-summit-leaders-entrepreneurs"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Design thinking science"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is really what we are applying here, and we think that will help enable us to create a product that will sell itself in the end,” says Chaitra.\n\nAditi, who has worked with Bank of America, Citi, Paytm Payments Bank and Goldman Sachs adds, “We started in the reverse order, and our "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"number one employee was a data scientist"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".” She is alluding to the fact that a lot of times "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"entrepreneurs tend to build a product first, and then look at data as an afterthought"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"How to make partnerships work?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"When asked about the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"dynamics between the three women founders"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and making that partnership work, the easy retort and laughter that follows gives away the energy between the trio.\n\nAccording to Chaitra, this beautiful partnership is a huge "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"function of who they are as individuals and their value systems"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Because you end up spending so much time together, the value system resonance is very critical,” says Chaitra."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"She also underlines the need for "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"developing the habit of having difficult and uncomfortable conversations"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" with each other. \n\n“If you don't "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"do that on day zero or minus one"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", it never happens,” she says. “I have seen so many entrepreneurs defer that part to later, and it only gets worse, it creates a dynamic that's not sustainable, and then you're leaving it to chance.”\n\nDespite knowing each other so well, the three co-founders consciously spent three full months of 2020 just talking to each other. “While we were exploring the problem space, we were "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"also exploring the partnership space"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":",” says Chaitra.\n\nThey also took a diligent approach to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"writing things down"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“We didn't leave it to just conversations that we are having because when you're forced to write things down, you’re forced to think a lot more deeply and clearly about it,” Chaitra adds."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"While Shinjini appreciated those long conversations, she says she also had a lot to learn from Chaitra's earlier experiences. “Because she was the entrepreneur among us, and Aditi and I were from professional backgrounds where things get resolved in a very different way,” says Shinjini. “We do have a way to be "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"able to say things"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" to each other "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"without messing it up"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" for each other.”\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Their relationship with money\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With three women founders on board a financial platform, it is inevitable that we ask them about "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"their own relationship with money"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":". And the answers were revealing.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“The way I thought about money turned it into a toxic relationship, to a point where it was the last thing I wanted to think about. That’s why I had absolutely no relationship with my own money,” says Aditi."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Shinjini, who has had an 18-year-long stint with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), believes there is no such thing as competence involved in managing your money; it's about understanding your life, your priorities, your systems, and just going ahead and making the right money decisions. \n\n“For me"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" time, money, and relations are all wealth"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", so I must always have all these three things in my mind before I take any decision. I always feel the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"best things in life are free"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", so you have to learn how to enjoy your life with that,” says Shinjini.\n\nGiven her engineering background, Chaitra says she was always comfortable with technical theory, but studying and nearly failing in accounting during her business studies at Stanford saw her develop a deep phobia for industrial finance. “That "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"phobia was so deep"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" that I did not make a single conscious investment till 2013.” \n\nChaitra's single conscious investment was $2,000 in Tesla, which she sold for a ‘fantastic return’ six years later in 2019.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"17th Mar 2022","publishedDate":"March 17, 2022"},{"id":237057,"title":"[YS Exclusive] Karnataka to be world's 'most important state' in digital economy: KDEM's Sanjeev Gupta","slug":"exclusive-kdem-ceo-1-trillion-digital-economy-driven-emerging-cities","type":"RICH","subtitle":"Karnataka Digital Economy Mission's Sanjeev Gupta talked about the goals of the body, partnerships with the industry, and talent development initiatives.","publishedAt":"2022-03-17T08:30:00.584Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-22T07:05:16.619Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Tarutr Malhotra","username":"tarutr-malhotra-60","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/8e635710-8f0b-11ec-a118-ed9f6bf52d88/profile_image_1645004034051.png","path":"/author/tarutr-malhotra-60"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"Karnataka Digital Economy Mission's Sanjeev Gupta talked about the goals of the body, partnerships with the industry, and talent development initiatives","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/KDEM-1647498930348.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/KDEM-1647498930348.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/KDEM-1647498930348.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Just In","slug":"news","order":0,"path":"/tag/news"},{"name":"Karnataka Digital Economy Mission","slug":"karnataka-digital-economy-mission","order":1,"path":"/tag/karnataka-digital-economy-mission"},{"name":"KDEM","slug":"kdem","order":2,"path":"/tag/kdem"},{"name":"Startup 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as a knowledge bridge between the state government and industry","foundingDate":"2021-06-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/karnataka-digital-economy-missionkdem","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sanjeev Kumar Gupta"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Government & Military","slug":"government-military"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" is tasked with an ambitious target to help develop the state's startup ecosystem beyond Bengaluru to help the national "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$1 trillion digital economy target set for 2025"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Acting CEO Sanjay Gupta is 100 percent"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" confident his team can help achieve this target. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"He says, \"I firmly believe that this [target] can only be realised if Karnataka stands up.\" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Gupta sat down with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" to discuss the strategy that KDEM has been building for the last few months, and how it plans to execute it going forward.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"\"The Spoke Shore\" strategy\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Gupta was very clear that if Karnataka and the rest of India want going to reach the trillion-dollar target, it has to look beyond the metro cities. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"The $1 trillion economy cannot come from Bengaluru, from Delhi, or from Kolkata,\" he says, \"It will be driven by the emerging cities.\""}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"To help empower growth in the emerging cities, or 'clusters' as Gupta emphasises, KDEM has designed what he calls \"the Spoke Shore strategy\".\n\nThis entails building a startup ecosystem in three major state regions — the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Mysuru "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"cluster, the"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Mangaluru cluster"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Hubli-Dharwad"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" cluster.\n\nKDEM believes that since a lot of Bengaluru's engineering talent comes from these emerging cities, and people are used to working remotely today, there is no reason why the Indian startup ecosystem can't create a hub-and-spoke model for its operations.\n\nEven if companies create headquarters in larger cities, there are significant advantages to building out \"spokes\" for operations in these urban clusters. \n\nKDEM believes its mission is to convince the industry to take a bet on these three clusters specifically.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Nasscom-image-1-1643118467074.png"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Karnataka government strengthens its Global Innovation Alliance programme ahead of Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Imageii0c-1636975218232.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2021/11/bengaluru-tech-summit-2021-government-strengthens-global-innovation-alliance-programme"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"\"Mapping the emerging cities\"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"According to Gupta, the biggest disadvantage regions outside Bengaluru have is a lack of consolidated information on their cities. \n\nFrom liveability indexes such as the local education or health infrastructure to real estate prices to plug-and-play options for startups, to documentation on the available policies startups can avail themselves of, KDEM has taken it upon itself to compile this information and get it in front of the right people.\n\nThe team has reached the granular level of trying to foster a local ecosystem by introducing local startups to each other.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As Gupta puts it, \"To make these startups come together, they should know what other startups are doing.\""}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Additionally, KDEM has also worked on bringing VCs to the startups in these emerging clusters to encourage founders to continue building in their towns. \n\nFinally, Gupta says KDEM also has the buy-in of multiple industry leaders in each cluster, creating an engaged semi-official local board for each region.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Creating \"face value\" for the clusters\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"In addition to selling local talent and larger industry members on the value of the emerging clusters, KDEM is also looking at developing a \"face value\" for each region.\n\nAccording to Gupta, if the global startup ecosystem can recognise the three regions for particular expertise, it will be easier to attract talent, founders and investors.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"In Mysuru, we're trying to put together a cybersecurity innovation hub of the world. In Mangaluru we're putting together a fintech hub for the world, and Hubli-Dharwad we're putting an AI innovation hub,\" said Gupta."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Mangaluru's strong history of banking services, Mysuru's qualitative strength in engineering and relationship with Israel, and the great AI work fostered by the Deshpande Foundation Incubation Centre in Hubli were regions for selecting these particular industries.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Short-term initiatives\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"While KDEM is planning a lot of these strategies looking 3-5 years into the future, it is also working on building short-term impact.\n\nIt is already interacting with large tech companies like Accenture and IBM, and the latter has even set up a client solutions centre in Mysuru.\n\nAI firm iMerit opened up an engineering centre in Hubli, aiming to hire 50 people to start with. In under a year, it hired 200, and Gupta expects them to hire another 1,000 in the next year or so.\n\nAdditionally, KDEM has also built a programme to help deliver a holistic educational experience for college students to improve their ability to land jobs. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to Gupta, \"There are jobs available by employers, and [we are] reaching out to students in Karnataka in Tier II and III cities, and training them over six months.\""}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"This training is working, as multiple students have been able to land jobs at large corporations, including some who have even been able to get annual starting salaries of up to Rs 7 lakh.\n\nAccording to 2021 graduate Deepti B.S. of Mangaluru, the KDEM training was invaluable to help translate her college education into a job. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"When applying for jobs post graduation, Deepti said, \"The initial [KDEM] training gave me the confidence to clear the job assessment, and I got placed in the company.\""}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to Gupta, KDEM's work so far has largely been to develop a strategy and test it out. Today, it is focused on executing the strategy.\n\n\"The strategy is in place, and it is an accepted strategy. We just need to scale this strategy,\" he adds.\n\nGoing forward, while KDEM is currently focussed on the 2025 $1 trillion digital economy target, Gupta is convinced that the goalposts will shift by then — with a $5 trillion economy target in 2030, and maybe even a metaverse target soon after.\n\nHowever, Gupta is sure of one aspect. With the work KDEM is doing, he says, \"Karnataka is going to be the most important state in the digital economy in India, and the world.\"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"17th Mar 2022","publishedDate":"March 17, 2022","editorsPickTitle":"Karnataka to be world's 'most important state' in digital economy","editorsPickSubtitle":"Karnataka Digital Economy Mission's Sanjeev Gupta talked about the goals of the body, partnerships with the industry, and talent development initiatives.","editorsPickStartTime":"2022-03-17T06:30:00.000Z","editorsPickEndTime":"2022-03-17T09:30:00.000Z"},{"id":235769,"title":"India story is driven by its people and its businesses: Manoj Ladwa, Chairman of India Inc","slug":"india-story-people-businesses-global-forum-startups-investor","type":"RICH","subtitle":"The two-day summit in Bengaluru by India Global Forum will showcase strides made by the startup ecosystem and deliberate on the way forward. In a conversation with YourStory, Professor Manoj Ladwa, Chairman of India Inc, spoke about the forums' plans.","publishedAt":"2022-03-06T13:48:33.244Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-06T15:45:03.857Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sindhu Kashyaap","username":"sindhu-kashyap","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/a9efa9c0-2dd9-11e9-adc5-2d913c55075e/profile_image_1549874849548.jpg","path":"/author/sindhu-kashyap"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"The two-day summit in Bengaluru by India Global Forum will showcase strides made by the startup ecosystem and deliberate on the way forward. ","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Manoj-1646571582766.jpeg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Manoj-1646571582766.jpeg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Manoj-1646571582766.jpeg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":4,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"India Global Forum 2022","slug":"india-global-forum-2022","order":0,"path":"/tag/india-global-forum-2022"},{"name":"Bangalore Startups","slug":"bangalore-startups","order":1,"path":"/tag/bangalore-startups"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/03/india-story-people-businesses-global-forum-startups-investor","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"A two-day annual summit by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"India Global Forum with the theme “The New India Inc” "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"aims to bring together policymakers, union cabinet ministers, and founders of unicorns and startups to discuss the goals to be set, as well as the road ahead for the ecosystem.\n\nThe summit will be held in Bengaluru on "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"March 7 and 8"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":","}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"during which key leaders will engage and deliberate upon the global narrative for India Inc where startups have emerged as the key constituency. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", India’s leading digital media platform, is the ecosystem partner for this event. \n\nIn a conversation with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Professor Manoj Ladwa, Chairman and Chief Executive of the India Inc. Group,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" spoke about the aims of the event and what one can expect from the India Global Forum. Manoj is a visiting professor in Media and Communications at Birmingham City University. \n\nManoj founded India Inc, a London-headquartered media and strategic communications organisation. He is also is a practising corporate lawyer, running his own firm with offices in Westminster and Mumbai. In 2017, he authored a landmark study on UK-India Relations Beyond Brexit. \n\nManoj is a non-executive director of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"India Infrastructure Finance Company (UK)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and chairs its Risk Committee, and serves on the advisory board of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and the Nehru Centre. In 2003, he established the London office of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce. He has served on committees of the UK and Indian governments. \n\nHe is also the founder of the UK India Women in Leadership Forum, the UK India Defence & Security Forum, and the IGB Climate Finance Boardroom amongst other ongoing initiatives. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"The New India Inc summit in Bengaluru brings together policymakers and startup founders\r\n\r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/startup1-1646378682439.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/03/new-india-inc-summit-bengaluru-brings-policymakers-startup-founders"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts of the interaction:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YourStory (YS): What is the thesis behind India Global Forum? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Prof. Manoj Ladwa (ML): "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"There are two major globalisation stories. There's the China story and the India story. The China story is predominantly driven by its State. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Whereas the India story is driven by its people and its businesses and I felt that that story needs to be told through the eyes and ears of the business people, professionals, and techies. The idea is to give a voice to people of Indian origin around the world as they engage and so that's the genesis of this platform to tell a story about India. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"There was a need for a platform that talked about business policy, politics, strategic covers, outside of India. We focussed on the UK-India Corridor. The UK is India's largest cumulative investor. India is now the second-largest investor, both in terms of pounds and pennies, but also in terms of new projects as well. It is a partnership between two equals. \n\nWe saw interest around other countries, so it evolved into more of a global gathering. And, so we rebranded about two years ago to India Global Forum. We're lucky enough that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India Global Forum.\n\nWe have had interesting people from Tony Blair and Michael Bloomberg to innovators and disruptors that come and speak on our platform. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: While it may seem obvious, why Bengaluru? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ML: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We gave a lot of thought to this. A lot of our stakeholders asked us to do it in Mumbai or Delhi, and we really wanted to project the new India Inc. \n\nBangalore is, I think, in many ways, the birthplace of Digital India. Bengaluru has a massive role to play in all tech disruptions around the world. It is a cosmopolitan city, an international city. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How does it to have a hybrid event after two hard years of the pandemic? What do you think will be interesting and different? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"ML: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"It is has been a hard and terrible two years on a global scale. We've actually had to convince a lot of people that this isn't a virtual event. This is a physical event. We will have "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"at the event in person, and 30 unicorns in person. \n\nIn each session, we're trying to bring out, in effect three things from our speakers. \n\nWhere have they come from? What are they currently doing? And where are they going? Whether it's ministers, or whether it's young startups. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"It is to get a pulse so that people are looking to invest people that are looking for people looking to go global, they're really going to have a great understanding of not only the business but the people behind the business."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Our tagline is, \"Where India meets the world and the world meets India.\" We really encourage a conversation whether it's a new startup or a unicorn or an established company. We're looking at where and how can we be an enabler for their access into markets that they wouldn't have otherwise. \n"}}],"timeLapsed":"6th Mar 2022","publishedDate":"March 06, 2022"},{"id":235218,"title":"Market value of Accel's India portfolio up by 2.5X, breaches $100 billion in 2 years","slug":"market-cap-accel-india-portfolio-breach-early-stage-investments","type":"RICH","subtitle":"Accel's latest fund of $650 million is its largest one for early-stage ventures in India and Southeast Asia. In an interview with Accel's partners, YourStory deep dives to understand the evolving India thesis.","publishedAt":"2022-03-04T01:20:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-04T14:13:58.206Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Kunal Talgeri","username":"kunal-talgeri","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/f86c0900-87cc-11eb-a777-b34f5b721f5e/profile_image_1616059997860.png","path":"/author/kunal-talgeri"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In a conversation with Accel's partners, YourStory deep dives to understand the venture capital firm's evolving India thesis.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/AccelIndia-04-1646314834392.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/AccelIndia-04-1646314834392.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/AccelIndia-04-1646314834392.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":9,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Accel India","slug":"accel-india","order":0,"path":"/tag/accel-india"},{"name":"startups","slug":"startups--","order":1,"path":"/tag/startups--"},{"name":"Freshworks","slug":"freshworks","order":2,"path":"/tag/freshworks"},{"name":"Flipkart","slug":"flipkart","order":3,"path":"/tag/flipkart"},{"name":"urban company","slug":"urban-company","order":4,"path":"/tag/urban-company"},{"name":"Swiggy","slug":"swiggy","order":5,"path":"/tag/swiggy"},{"name":"Eruditus","slug":"eruditus","order":6,"path":"/tag/eruditus"},{"name":"Accel Atoms","slug":"accel-atoms-","order":7,"path":"/tag/accel-atoms-"},{"name":"UPI","slug":"upi","order":8,"path":"/tag/upi"},{"name":"FASTag","slug":"fastag","order":9,"path":"/tag/fastag"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/03/market-cap-accel-india-portfolio-breach-early-stage-investments","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"On Tuesday, venture capital firm "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"a61aba30-8c3b-11ea-a76a-b7c1db0f66b0","data":"Accel","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" announced its seventh fund for India. At $650 million, Accel's latest fund is its "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"single-largest one yet for early-stage tech ventures"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" in India and Southeast Asia.\n\nApart from this, Accel has a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$1.7-billion Growth Fund,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$2.3-billion Leaders Fund"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", a vehicle that has backed late-stage companies from India like "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"0db13da0-eb72-11ea-863b-796f0fefcd2c","name":"Eruditus","slug":"eruditus","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Eruditus-Executive-Education300x300-1598942456005.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Eruditus-Executive-Education300x300-1598942456005.png"},"subtitle":"Eruditus Executive Education collaborate with top universities to make world-class executive education accessible globally.","foundingDate":"2010-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/eruditus","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Ashwin Damera"},{"name":"Chaitanya Kalipatnapu"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Services","slug":"services"},{"name":"EdTech/Education","slug":"edtech-education"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"fec042c0-0b55-11ea-9329-87ad92ab1302","name":"Swiggy","slug":"swiggy","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC141575978425306png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC141575978425306png"},"subtitle":"Bengaluru headquartered Swiggy is a food ordering and delivery platform.","foundingDate":"2014-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/swiggy","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sriharsha Majety"},{"name":"Nandan Reddy"},{"name":"Rahul Jaimini"},{"name":"Rahul Bothra"},{"name":"Vivek Sunder"}],"sectors":[{"name":"FoodTech","slug":"foodtech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"dda19d60-8aed-11ea-93c8-0f14d867449c","name":"BrowserStack","slug":"browserstack","logo":{"height":1667,"width":1667,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/browsestack-1588256511916.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/browsestack-1588256511916.png"},"subtitle":"BrowserStack is a cloud based web and mobile application testing platform founded in 2011.","foundingDate":"2011-09-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/browserstack","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Nakul Aggarwal"},{"name":"Ritesh Arora"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nInterestingly, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the market value of Accel's portfolio of companies from India crossed the $100-billion mark"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" when it launched its seventh fund in February 2022. This is a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"2.5 times growth over the market value of its companies "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"when it closed its last fund in 2019.\n"}},{"contentType":"iframe","value":{"url":"https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/8849489/embed"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Accel announces Atoms, a pre-seed funding programme for early-stage startups","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/AccelPartners-50-1630300623146.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2021/08/accel-partners-atoms-pre-seed-funding-uncapped-convertible-startups"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In this interview with"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":" YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Accel's Shekhar Kirani, Anand Daniel, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"and"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Barath Shankar Subramanian"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" throw light on how it built the seventh fund amidst the pandemic, the bright spots in India's digital economy — and what has remained constant in Accel's India journey.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YourStory (YS): Was this the most efficiently-raised Accel fund for India, considering that the previous one was closed before the COVID-19 pandemic?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Shekhar Kirani (SK):"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We have a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"select group of LPs (limited partners) in the high double-digits"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" that we work with. They have been with us for a long time — from when Accel's India funds were small and when they were not exposed to India.\n\nAs our fund size is becoming bigger, and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"our Fund 2 and Fund 3 started to do well"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", we are able to expose that to a bigger audience within our Accel LP pool.\n\nUsually, we met people face to face — one week in the East Coast, and one week in the West Coast. But "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"this time, we did everything over video calls"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and were able to close it.\n\nIf this is the way it happens, it makes it a lot easier for future fund-raises. But at the end of the day, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"these are long-term relationships"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We still want to meet them face to face, and there’s a lot of exchange of knowledge. \u003cb>A lot of LPs give us insights and learnings about what is happening in other funds in India and Southeast Asia\u003c/b>, as well as globally, and what's happening in China, where the interests are moving, their questions and concerns."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Some of these discussions are much harder to get through Zoom calls. So, from a fund-raise perspective, it was very efficient. But in terms of extending the relationship and making it broader and sweeter, we have to meet them the next time we go to the US.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What are the kind of returns the previous funds have fetched?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"SK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We have done amazingly well with Fund 2, which is now more than 10 years old — our 'Flipkart' fund. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"That was a small fund and Flipkart was a massive exit."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We still own some equity in "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"2570f8e0-0f81-11ea-94fd-1510289f738d","name":"Flipkart","slug":"flipkart","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Flipkart1574685793858.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Flipkart1574685793858.png"},"subtitle":"Bengaluru based e-commerce company founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal in 2007. US based Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart in 2018.","foundingDate":"2007-10-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/flipkart","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Binny Bansal"},{"name":"Sachin Bansal"},{"name":"Kalyan Krishnamurthy"}],"sectors":[{"name":"E-Commerce","slug":"e-commerce"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". But many other companies in that fund are also doing well. From an IRR perspective, it is a massive return.\n\nAnd in Fund 3, which is close to 10 years, we have "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"dd594c30-0b69-11ea-b7d4-11bb4a87a24e","name":"Freshworks","slug":"freshworks","logo":{"height":417,"width":418,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC191575978236169png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC191575978236169png"},"subtitle":"Freshworks is a SaaS startup, disrupting traditional CRM, ITSM, Customer Support, and Marketing Automation with its complete customer engagement suite, Freshworks360.","foundingDate":"2010-10-13","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/freshworks","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Girish Mathrubootham"},{"name":"Shan Krishnasamy"},{"name":"Vijay Shankar"},{"name":"Prakash Ramamurthy"},{"name":"Sidharth Malik"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"},{"name":"SaaS","slug":"saas"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"3e980270-a58e-11ea-b959-e728c00bb8e1","name":"Chargebee","slug":"chargebee","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Csubs-1591184951284.PNG","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Csubs-1591184951284.PNG"},"subtitle":"Chargebee is the subscription billing and revenue management platform that automates revenue operations of over 3000 high-growth subscription-based businesses from startups to enterprises. ","foundingDate":"2011-06-15","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/chargebee","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Krish Subramanian"},{"name":"Rajaraman Santhanam"},{"name":"Saravanan KP"},{"name":"Thiyagarajan T"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"},{"name":"SaaS","slug":"saas"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"e2c980f0-8ba6-11ea-866b-8df9f6a04f68","name":"MindTickle","slug":"mindtickle","logo":{"height":300,"width":300,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/26844177574455818254675085527179281386959154n-1645591514862.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/26844177574455818254675085527179281386959154n-1645591514862.jpg"},"subtitle":"MindTickle provides a comprehensive, data-driven sales readiness and enablement platform for onboarding, micro-learning, skills development and coaching.","foundingDate":"2012-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/mindtickle","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Krishna Gopal Depura"},{"name":"Deepak Diwakar"},{"name":"Nishant Mungali"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"},{"name":"SaaS","slug":"saas"},{"name":"Software","slug":"software"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"6436f940-31fe-11ea-ab66-9d9e9758a807","data":"TaxiForSure.com","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" (now "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"23d368b0-0b53-11ea-9354-b30477deb98c","name":"Ola","slug":"ola","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2311575978444688png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2311575978444688png"},"subtitle":"One of the biggest cab aggregators in India, Ola is the second most-valued unicorn","foundingDate":"2010-12-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/ola","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Bhavish Aggarwal"},{"name":"Arun Srinivas"},{"name":"Harish Abhichandani"},{"name":"Ankit Bhati"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Mobility / Transportation","slug":"mobility-transportation"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"),"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" we have several high-quality companies, of which Freshworks has gone public. So, these two funds are starting to return money back to our investors.\n\nFunds 4, 5, and 6 are still early. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"We are in Swiggy, "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"d413c9e0-0cfc-11ea-9b44-2ffae52caa1f","name":"Urban Company","slug":"urban-company","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2301575977155314png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2301575977155314png"},"subtitle":"Founded in Nov 2014 by Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan and Raghav Chandra, Urban Company (formerly UrbanClap) is India and the UAE’s largest home services company.","foundingDate":"2014-09-29","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/urban-company","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Abhiraj Singh Bhal"},{"name":"Raghav Chandra"},{"name":"Varun Khaitan"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Consumer","slug":"consumer"},{"name":"Hyperlocal","slug":"hyperlocal"},{"name":"Services","slug":"services"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"981b7500-8dfd-11ea-947f-0fc449aca70b","name":"Zenoti","slug":"zenoti","logo":{"height":1667,"width":1667,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Zenoti-1588596270073.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Zenoti-1588596270073.png"},"subtitle":"Founded in 2010 Zenoti is a cloud based, all-in-one software solution for spas and salons.","foundingDate":"2010-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/zenoti","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sudheer Koneru"},{"name":"Saritha Katikaneni"},{"name":"Dheeraj Koneru"},{"name":"Anand Arvind"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"},{"name":"SaaS","slug":"saas"},{"name":"Software","slug":"software"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":","}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and several unicorns that are scaling. Overall, we are very happy with how each fund has been constructed.\n\nWe are always oversubscribed. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"It’s more about how much to allocate to each investor,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and make sure we keep our promises in return.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Barath and Radhika of Accel talk about investments in healthcare sector","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/2018/12/BharathRadhika.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2018/12/barath-radhika-accel-talk-investments-healthcare"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: Both Flipkart and Freshworks took 11-12 years to show returns with their respective exits. How do LPs look at tech ventures from India with that kind of timeframe?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"SK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Even in the US, the median time for companies to go public or do an IPO (initial public offering) is 10+ years. It will take time when founders want to build a high-quality company with a phenomenal team, great market, great user- and customer-base with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"durable unit economics"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" that can last and continue to hold.\n\nThis would have taken 15 or 16 years in India. But thanks to the revolution in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"digital infrastructure"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", as well as mobile and 4G proliferation, that time frame is shrinking to 10+ years. What we represent to our investors is: It’s not a five-year but a decade-plus journey.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Anand Daniel (AD):"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Companies are scaling faster. If you look at how the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"2015-vintage companies like Swiggy and Urban Company"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" have scaled in seven years, it is much faster than the previous batch of consumer-tech startups.\n\nThat is a good indicator of the market evolving. Hopefully, that will expedite some of the exits. But that is yet to be seen.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: What has changed since Accel raised its last fund for India?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Barath Shankar Subramanian (BSS):"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We have seen significant movement in the portfolio in the past two years.\n\nWhen we raised our last fund in 2019, the market value of our portfolio companies was $40 billion. Today, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"it is north of $100 billion"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nBoth — Flipkart’s exit to "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"342a0e80-27a5-11ea-afb6-475ee8017106","name":"Walmart","slug":"walmart","logo":{"height":200,"width":200,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/1111-1577340108200.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/1111-1577340108200.jpg"},"subtitle":"Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores.","foundingDate":"1962-01-02","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/walmart","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sam Walton"},{"name":"Greg Penner"},{"name":"Doug McMillon"}],"sectors":[{"name":"E-Commerce","slug":"e-commerce"},{"name":"Retail","slug":"retail"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and Freshworks listing on the NASDAQ — were"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" iconic events "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"in India's tech ecosystem because we showed that money can go back to the investors. Many of our companies are pathbreaking in the sectors they operate in.\n\nOur focus is the same: get in early, roll up our sleeves, and work with these companies and founders in building impactful outcomes. With the new fund, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"we will continue to do more of this "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"on the back of a large domestic digital economy.\n\nThe past couple of years has been an inflexion point in terms of what is happening here. Around "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$100 billion of India's GDP"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has been digitally influenced in 2019, which has gone up to $250 billion in 2021. In five or seven years, that will further go up by 3X to touch $800 billion.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"India is going to have massive companies emerge out of India"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". So, what we think is large is probably the starting point. Some of the large companies are going to get larger. \n\nThis is on the back of a lot of investments that have happened in solving "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"basic digital infrastructure"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". When Flipkart started, they had to build an ecommerce business, solve for payments and logistics.\n\nToday, a lot of that has been solved through massive investments by the government and adoption by people across the country—UPI, Fastag, GST, CoWIN. We are seeing that these platforms can be built at scale. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"On the back of that, founders can potentially build large businesses"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This is translating to a lot of the sub-sectors — ecommerce, which is proxy for what is at the top of the consumer funnel of 200 million transacting users. We are seeing that flow into wealth-tech, edtech, health-tech and many other sectors."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"We are seeing that play out in terms of how companies are scaling. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The 200-million base of transacting users will go to 600 million in the next five or seven years"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", which is why we are super-excited about the potential. We are seeing a lot of this also happen in parallel regions, like Southeast Asia.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/Photo-TeamAccelIndia-1646315714116.png"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"VC firm Accel launches SeedtoScale, an open knowledge platform for founders","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b3bfb136ab5e11e88691f70342131e20/Image2ys4-1598423057744.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2020/08/vc-firm-accel-partners-seedtoscale-platform-startups"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: Given that funding has accelerated the growth of startups in India, do investors have to encourage board governance relatively earlier than before?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"SK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Board governance and founder check are extremely important for Accel. If (we are) in doubt that the founder is not aligned to the way Accel thinks — people who are down to earth, humble, friendly, thinking about the long-term rather than about making a quick buck and run — "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"it’s less likely we will invest even if it is the greatest idea and if there is the greatest demand for the company"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nInternally, there are enough examples where "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"we have walked away from companies"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" because we are not sure about the founder.\n\nYes, in a portfolio of more than 200 companies, some bad apples may show up. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"But we are very careful."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" We highly reference them. We look at who introduced them. We get into details of them, and so on.\n\nBoard governance is important. But "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"fundamentally, it is more important if the founder is a good person or a bad person."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" That is the starting point.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"If the founder is a bad person but plays with the style of a good person, and then brings in massive governance, it will fail. Board governance is for people who are good, want to do good, and take the help from the board on how to make it good."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"So, what we look for are the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"right mindset and right behaviours"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: Has the process of finding tech ventures become more intense since the COVID-19 pandemic started?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"SK:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Not much has changed from an Accel perspective. But yes, India has reached a point now where "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the quality of founders is amazing and the quality of teams is amazing"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". And, there is going to be a lot of fight.\n\nWe need to find the right category, entry point, and the best potential way to build these companies out. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Earlier, we used to give a $2.5-million or $3-million early cheque to founders."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Now, we have got Atoms to find the best founders and startups even earlier.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"With Atoms, we are going further down."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" [Atoms is an Accel initiative for entrepreneurs to raise $250K in non-dilutive capital, and get 1:1 mentoring from successful entrepreneurs.]\n\nMore than 3,000 people applied for Accel Atoms. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"We selected 15 people."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Many of them are starting to raise the next round.\n\nOther than that, we are very careful about the categories we want to invest in, careful about the founders and culture fit because "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"this is a 10-year journey with us"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". \n\nWe want to make sure that it is meaningful work between us and the founders to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"build iconic and durable companies that will outlast them"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", as well as potentially go IPO — less "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"naatak"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", more real.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"4th Mar 2022","publishedDate":"March 04, 2022","editorsPickTitle":"Market cap of Accel's India portfolio up by 2.5X, breaches $100B in 2 years","editorsPickSubtitle":"In a conversation with Accel's partners, YourStory deep dives to understand the venture capital firm's evolving India thesis.\n\n","editorsPickStartTime":"2022-03-04T00:30:00.000Z","editorsPickEndTime":"2022-03-04T03:30:00.000Z"},{"id":235109,"title":"SaaS unicorn Retool aims to ease development woes for Indian fintech startups \r\n","slug":"saas-unicorn-retool-ease-payments-woes-fintech-startups-india","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In a conversation with YourStory, David Hsu, Founder and CEO, Retool, talks about the unicorn’s journey and its India plans.\r\n","publishedAt":"2022-03-02T00:15:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-04T17:23:25.618Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sindhu Kashyaap","username":"sindhu-kashyap","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/a9efa9c0-2dd9-11e9-adc5-2d913c55075e/profile_image_1549874849548.jpg","path":"/author/sindhu-kashyap"}],"category":{"id":359,"name":"Interview","slug":"ys-interview","path":"/category/ys-interview"},"excerpt":"In a conversation with YourStory, David Hsu, Founder and CEO, Retool, talks about the unicorn’s journey and its India plans.\n","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/David2-1646105537184.jpeg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/David2-1646105537184.jpeg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/David2-1646105537184.jpeg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":6,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"B2B SaaS startups","slug":"b2b-saas-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/b2b-saas-startups"},{"name":"fintech startups","slug":"fintech-startups","order":1,"path":"/tag/fintech-startups"},{"name":"Unicorns","slug":"unicorns","order":2,"path":"/tag/unicorns"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/03/saas-unicorn-retool-ease-payments-woes-fintech-startups-india","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In 2017, David Hsu and Anthony Guo, members of Silicon Valley startup accelerator Y Combinator, founded Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"aca18210-9889-11ec-b6b5-8357f6cccf1a","name":"Retool","slug":"retool","logo":{"height":800,"width":800,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Retool-1646050582143.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Retool-1646050582143.png"},"subtitle":"Retool is a low-code platform that makes it fast and easy to build internal tools.","foundingDate":"2017-06-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/retool","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"David Hsu"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Software","slug":"software"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The startup, according to the founders, is entirely a software product built using technologies like React and Node.js. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n\nRetool’s customers leverage its low-code software solutions to make internal tools specific to their unique needs, prototype applications, or experiment with building things that would otherwise be impossible to build due to lack of resources. \n\nCustomers can use its cloud-hosted offering or host Retool on-premise inside of their own infrastructure - AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and more.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The startup’s last round was a $20 million round at a $1.75 billion valuation. Its investors include Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator and a list of angels including entrepreneur Elad Gil; Patrick Collison ,Stripe CEO;  John Collison, Stripe President; Nat Friedman, Former GitHub CEO and Jay Simons, Former President of Atlassian. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In a conversation with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", David talks about the startup’s journey and India plans. \n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"[Techie Tuesday] From a village in Kochi to building a genomics lab, here’s Tony Jose’s 15-year journey\r\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/TechieTuesday-1646061803531.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/02/techie-tuesday-kochi-genomics-lab-tony-jose-startup-genetics"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"Edited excerpts:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"(YS): How did you come up with the idea for Retool? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"David Hsu (DH):"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" A few weeks before Y Combinator Demo Day for the Winter 2017 class, I was burning around $1,000 a day while trying to build a UK-based Venmo competitor.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Fintech was a challenging business. We were processing payments for other people and losing money for every payment processed. It was a pretty dire situation. With less than 60 days of runway left, we decided to pivot."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Scouring for ideas hidden in our prior work, we uncovered a hefty list of custom software–tools for fraud, KYC and AML regulation–that we had built trying to keep our fintech startup running.\n\nWhen you build enough internal tools as an engineer, you realise that all internal tools basically look the same. It’s just a bunch of tables, buttons, drop downs and forms that you have to build from scratch. \n\nWe thought, “What if there was a drag and drop way of building this faster?” Within a few days, we had a functional prototype. A few weeks later, we presented at Demo Day 2017 and announced we had already signed an enterprise customer pilot worth $1.5 million \n\nOur customers have built around a quarter-million Retool apps to date, saving developers over 13 million engineering hours.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Why a BITS Pilani grad and corporate lawyer teamed up to launch a legal tech startup","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/Legistifyfeaturedimage-1645938211517.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/02/bits-pilani-grad-corporate-lawyer-legal-tech-startup-legistify"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: How does Retool solve COVID-19-related fintech challenges? \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"DH:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Retool sees itself as a way to change how software is built and our core offering caters to internal tools, an area that has seen tremendous growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"As companies have moved all their processes to a digital world, the way a company operates has become critical for businesses to function. Retool helps these teams adopt a modern internal tool stack which caters to their custom needs by giving the power to engineers and builders to shape their internal product. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nWith Retool, even small companies can benefit from sophisticated internal tools, which were once exclusively available to large enterprises with massive resources.\n\nRetool has seen growing traction across all kinds of businesses, including many of the industries most accelerated by COVID-19 such as virtual events (e.g. Hopin) and COVID testing (e.g. Curative). Many of these companies handle sensitive user data and need to host most of their own software as a result. \n\nRetool has always offered self-hosting for enterprise customers, but we recently introduced a free self-serve plan to help growing startups build internal apps securely behind their own VPN.\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"This New York-based cleantech startup aims to create premium drinking water for all ","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/a9efa9c02dd911e9adc52d913c55075e/KaraWater-1645769008416.jpeg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/02/new-york-cleantech-startup-kara-water-pure-premium-drinking-water-india"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"YS: Tell us about the solutions offered by Retool.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"DH: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Retool is the fastest way to build critical internal software. 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Sid Puri, who leads growth in India, was Retool’s first international hire, in January 2021.\n\nOur main competitors are internal tools built in-house. We see Retool competing primarily with technologies like React and Angular (common JS frameworks used to build tools in-house from scratch). As far as low-code competitors, we aren’t often placed head to head with other platforms. \n\nMuch of this is due to our differentiated focus on the developer persona. 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For more than 14 years, The platform says that for the past 14 years, it has empowered creative entrepreneurs to pursue their professional goals, enabling them to share their passions and ideas with a wide audience."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Speaking about YouTube’s economic contributions, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Ajay Vidyasagar, Regional Director, APAC, YouTube Partnerships "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"said, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“It is heartening to see the real impact and influence YouTube's creative economy has unlocked in India. The creator economy in the country has the potential to emerge as a soft-power impacting economic growth, job creation, and even cultural influence. As our creators and artists build the next generation of media companies that are connecting with a global audience, their impact on the economy’s overall success will only continue to accelerate. We remain laser-focussed on our goal of delivering an open, inclusive and responsible platform for hundreds of millions of Indians who turn to YouTube to develop new skills, discover their passions, hone their talents, and grow their businesses.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Adrian Cooper, CEO of Oxford Economics, said, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"This report is the first of its kind to unpack and quantify the economic, societal and cultural impacts of the YouTube ecosystem in India. Our research shows that YouTube fosters significant positive impacts for Indian creators in terms of helping them achieve their professional goals and grow their businesses.\""}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"The rise of a new economy\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In India, over 80 percent of creative entrepreneurs said that the platform has had a positive impact on their professional goals. With "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://blog.google/intl/en-in/products/platforms/youtube-shorts-fund-and-7-other-ways-earn-money-and-build-your-business-youtube/"},"data":"eight different ways to monetise content on the platform"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the number of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"YouTube channels"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" making six figures or more in revenue is up more than 60 percent year on year."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The report also states that YouTube has become a significant tool for "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"small and medium sized businesses (SMBs)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". 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","publishedAt":"2022-02-25T09:34:54.143Z","updatedAt":"2022-02-25T09:34:56.199Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Debolina Biswas","username":"debolina-biswas-1","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/3fb20ae0-2dc9-11e9-af58-c17e6cc3d915/profile_image_1644999099601.jpg","path":"/author/debolina-biswas-1"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"Hurun India researcher noted that some of the most favoured brands of Indian millionaires do not have a physical presence in India.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/2611-1606377471104.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/2611-1606377471104.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/2611-1606377471104.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":2,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc33-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"general-news","name":"General News","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Hurun Research","slug":"hurun-research","order":0,"path":"/tag/hurun-research"},{"name":"Taj","slug":"taj","order":1,"path":"/tag/taj"},{"name":"tanishq","slug":"tanishq","order":2,"path":"/tag/tanishq"},{"name":"Rolex","slug":"rolex","order":3,"path":"/tag/rolex"},{"name":"Mercedes Benz","slug":"mercedes-benz","order":4,"path":"/tag/mercedes-benz"},{"name":"Boeing","slug":"boeing","order":5,"path":"/tag/boeing"},{"name":"range rover","slug":"range-rover","order":6,"path":"/tag/range-rover"},{"name":"Just In","slug":"news","order":7,"path":"/tag/news"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2022/02/hurun-luxury-consumer-brand-taj-tanishq-rolex","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The recently released "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Hurun Indian Luxury Consumer Survey 2021 "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"offered insights on the brand preferences, consumption habits and lifestyle trends of Indian millionaires. The report surveyed "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"350 Indian millionaires "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"(individuals with personal wealth of at least $1 million or Rs 7 crore). \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/11718bd02d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/funding-1645511711142.jpg"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"18% jump in UPI & e-wallet use among Indian HNIs in 2021: Hurun Report ","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b87effd0-6a66-11e9-ad33-3f8a4777438f/Wealth-Management1564375960105.png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2022/02/hurun-india-wealth-report-upi-ewallet-millionaire-households"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Here are some of the key highlights from the report: \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"About 70 percent of the respondents prefer to send their children abroad for higher education. The most preferred education destination of millionaires in India includes the US (29 percent), the UK (19 percent), New Zealand (12 percent), and Germany (11 percent). "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Collecting watches is the preferred hobby of most, with 63 percent of the respondents owning at least four watches. The preferred luxury watch brand of Indian millionaires is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Rolex"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", followed by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Cartier"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Audemars Piguet"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"One-fourth of the respondents buy a new car every three years. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Preferred luxury brands include "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Range Rover"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", in that particular order. The preferred luxury sports car brand is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Lamborghini"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Indian millionaires prefer the hospitality brand "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Taj"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", followed by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Oberoi"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Leela"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"The most preferred Indian jewellery retail brand is "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Tanishq"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"When it comes to luxury lifestyle, Indian millionaires prefer "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Louis Vuitton"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", followed by Gucci and Burberry. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Indian millionaires prefer to travel on a Gulfstream jet, followed by Boeing and Airbus. 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It is interesting to note that \u003cb>some of the most favoured brands of the survey respondents do not have a physical presence in India\u003c/b>.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Read about the Hurun India Wealth Report 2021, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2022/02/hurun-india-wealth-report-upi-ewallet-millionaire-households/amp"},"data":"here"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". \n"}}],"timeLapsed":"25th Feb 2022","publishedDate":"February 25, 2022"},{"id":225552,"title":"Tiger Global, Sequoia, and SoftBank emerge as India’s top unicorn backers: YourStory Research","slug":"unicorns-india-tiger-global-sequoia-softbank-top-backers","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory’s research property ‘Unicorns of India’ tracks real-time data and business insights of India’s most valuable 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decade.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/WhatsAppImage2021-12-17at2-1639730807473.jpeg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/WhatsAppImage2021-12-17at2-1639730807473.jpeg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f86c090087cc11eba777b34f5b721f5e/WhatsAppImage2021-12-17at2-1639730807473.jpeg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"startups","slug":"startups--","order":0,"path":"/tag/startups--"},{"name":"investors","slug":"investors","order":1,"path":"/tag/investors"},{"name":"Tiger Global","slug":"tiger-global","order":2,"path":"/tag/tiger-global"},{"name":"Sequoia","slug":"sequoia","order":3,"path":"/tag/sequoia"},{"name":"Softbank","slug":"softbank","order":4,"path":"/tag/softbank"},{"name":"Accel","slug":"accel","order":5,"path":"/tag/accel"},{"name":"Steadview Capital","slug":"steadview-capital","order":6,"path":"/tag/steadview-capital"},{"name":"Unicorns","slug":"unicorns","order":7,"path":"/tag/unicorns"},{"name":"unicorns of india","slug":"unicorns-of-india","order":8,"path":"/tag/unicorns-of-india"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/12/unicorns-india-tiger-global-sequoia-softbank-top-backers","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Total active unicorns more than doubled to 75 (as of December 2021), compared to 33 between 2011 and 2020."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"75 active unicorns in India hold a cumulative valuation of over $196 billion."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"35 investors have invested in 5, or more unicorns."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Bengaluru grabs the tag of the country’s tech capital housing 30 unicorns, followed by Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has launched India's first 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"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" – India's biggest and definitive platform to know more about startups, entrepreneurs, and investors.\n\nIn the backdrop of the meteoric rise of startups with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"billion-dollar-plus valuations"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":", Unicorns of India would bridge the information gap around unicorns, which is mostly limited to their names, their founders, and key investors.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“With the Indian startup ecosystem growing leaps and bounds, the yardstick of its growth is also moving beyond the summation of deal values and deal counts to a more holistic lens,\" says Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of \u003cem>YourStory\u003c/em>, commenting on the launch. \"As India's largest platform for startups, we are proud to take the narrative forward.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This sentiment is mirrored in the numbers too. In 2021, until December 8, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the total number of active unicorns more than doubled to 75"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", compared to 33, at the end of 2020.\n\nThe "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"cumulative valuation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" of these 75 startups is pegged at more than $196 billion.\n\nUnicorns of India reveals that "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the top 35 investors participated across 764 funding rounds"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":", wherein Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, SoftBank, Accel, and Falcon Edge make the top 5 investors with investments in 38, 28, 21, 20, and 13 unicorns.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“These top 5 investors have participated in 314 funding rounds, or 41.1 percent of the total 764 funding rounds,” says Rajiv Bhuva, Executive Editor, YourStory."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Flipping the narrative and commenting from a startup's point of view, Rajiv analysed that 3"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"0 unicorns have been backed by more than five of the top 35 investors"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nOf these, "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"fec042c0-0b55-11ea-9329-87ad92ab1302","name":"Swiggy","slug":"swiggy","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC141575978425306png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC141575978425306png"},"subtitle":"Bengaluru headquartered Swiggy is a food ordering and delivery platform.","foundingDate":"2014-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/swiggy","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sriharsha Majety"},{"name":"Nandan Reddy"},{"name":"Rahul Jaimini"},{"name":"Rahul Bothra"},{"name":"Vivek Sunder"}],"sectors":[{"name":"FoodTech","slug":"foodtech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"86430340-0af7-11ea-834d-e134d9b4724f","name":"BYJU'S","slug":"byjus","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2061575978016162png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2061575978016162png"},"subtitle":"BJYU’s is an ed-tech company and the creator of a K12 learning app which offers learning programmes for students in classes 4-12 (K-12) and competitive exams like JEE, NEET, CAT, IAS, GRE and GMAT.","foundingDate":"2011-11-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/byjus","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Byju Raveendran"},{"name":"Divya Gokulnath"},{"name":"Ranjit Radhakrishnan"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Services","slug":"services"},{"name":"EdTech/Education","slug":"edtech-education"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" have 12 — the highest number of investors,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"2570f8e0-0f81-11ea-94fd-1510289f738d","name":"Flipkart","slug":"flipkart","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Flipkart1574685793858.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Flipkart1574685793858.png"},"subtitle":"Bengaluru based e-commerce company founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal in 2007. US based Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart in 2018.","foundingDate":"2007-10-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/flipkart","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Binny Bansal"},{"name":"Sachin Bansal"},{"name":"Kalyan Krishnamurthy"}],"sectors":[{"name":"E-Commerce","slug":"e-commerce"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has 11, while "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"b8a38f60-892a-11ea-9011-e9d21aea03e0","name":"BharatPe","slug":"bharatpe","logo":{"height":1667,"width":1667,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/baratpe-1588062716639.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/baratpe-1588062716639.png"},"subtitle":"BharatPe is India's leading financial services platform for merchants.","foundingDate":"2018-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/bharatpe","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Bhavik Koladiya"},{"name":"Ashneer Grover"},{"name":"Shashvat Nakrani"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial Services","slug":"financial-services"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has 10 each of the top 35 investors, followed by "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"c919ab50-0ac1-11ea-b9b0-7b3f0fc9524f","name":"CRED","slug":"cred","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2031575978376942png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2031575978376942png"},"subtitle":"Cred offers rewards for paying credit card bills on time.","foundingDate":"2018-04-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/cred","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Kunal shah"},{"name":"Rahul Harkisanka"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial Services","slug":"financial-services"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"23d368b0-0b53-11ea-9354-b30477deb98c","name":"Ola","slug":"ola","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2311575978444688png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2311575978444688png"},"subtitle":"One of the biggest cab aggregators in India, Ola is the second most-valued unicorn","foundingDate":"2010-12-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/ola","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Bhavish Aggarwal"},{"name":"Arun Srinivas"},{"name":"Harish Abhichandani"},{"name":"Ankit Bhati"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Mobility / Transportation","slug":"mobility-transportation"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"d413c9e0-0cfc-11ea-9b44-2ffae52caa1f","name":"Urban Company","slug":"urban-company","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2301575977155314png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2301575977155314png"},"subtitle":"Founded in Nov 2014 by Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan and Raghav Chandra, Urban Company (formerly UrbanClap) is India and the UAE’s largest home services company.","foundingDate":"2014-09-29","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/urban-company","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Abhiraj Singh Bhal"},{"name":"Raghav Chandra"},{"name":"Varun Khaitan"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Consumer","slug":"consumer"},{"name":"Hyperlocal","slug":"hyperlocal"},{"name":"Services","slug":"services"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", with 9 of the top 35 investors.\n\nUnicorns of India also highlights how "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the time taken by each company to earn the decorated tag is decreasing"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and captures the detailed business model of the companies along with a sectoral analysis.\n\n“While there are 46 business-to-consumer (B2C) unicorns in India at present, the mix has evolved with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"29 business-to-business (B2B) unicorns"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":",” Rajiv says.\n\nWhile the 75 unicorns represent 27 unique sectors, it is noteworthy that fintech has 15 while enterprisetech has 11 unicorns representatives. And, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"2021 alone saw the addition of 9 fintech and 4 enterprisetech startups"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" among the record addition of 42 unicorns.\n\nWhen it comes to the headquarters of these coveted startups, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Bengaluru grabs the tag of the country’s unicorn capital being home to 30 of the 74 unicorns"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", followed by Delhi-NCR, which houses 20 unicorns, and Mumbai, at number three, is home to 15 unicorns.\n\nJaipur is the only "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"non-metro city"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", which houses one of the latest unicorns: "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"df39def0-0b5c-11ea-803a-db519ef3c267","name":"CarDekho","slug":"cardekho","logo":{"height":418,"width":418,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2481575977792883png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2481575977792883png"},"subtitle":"CarDekho Group is India's leading Auto-tech company that helps users buy cars that are right for them. CarDekho has successfully digitized Indian auto ecosystem and is aggressively pursuing its vision to become the largest personal mobility player.","foundingDate":"2008-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/cardekho","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Amit Jain"},{"name":"Anurag Jain"},{"name":"Umesh Hora"},{"name":"Umang Kumar"},{"name":"Manish Wadhwa"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Automotive","slug":"automotive"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nThis is only the start of India’s pivotal technology journey. “The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the fact that "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"frugality of startups is capable of helping even larger enterprises solve problems "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"across the board,\" Shradha says.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"linkButton","value":{"name":"Click here to explore YourStory's Unicorns of India","url":"https://www.unicornsofindia.com/"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"17th Dec 2021","publishedDate":"December 17, 2021"},{"id":227068,"title":"Mobile commerce, in-app shopping to hit an all-time high: Adjust report ","slug":"mobile-commerce-app-shopping-hit-adjust-report","type":"RICH","subtitle":"Adjust’s latest report detects the reason behind the success of e-commerce apps in 2020, with insights from the Sensor Tower. ","publishedAt":"2021-12-16T09:18:10.913Z","updatedAt":"2021-12-16T09:23:14.587Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Team YS","username":"webmaster","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/static/default-ys-image.jpg","path":"/author/webmaster"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"Seemingly within an arm’s reach, our smartphones dictate our daily habits. It is no wonder then that mobile commerce trends ","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Imagey22w-1639642520965.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Imagey22w-1639642520965.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/2d86ed30b28211e8b2e7114aea10c711/Imagey22w-1639642520965.jpg","brandSpotlight":{"name":"Adjust","slug":"adjust","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/brandSpotlight/Untitleddesign14-1631179253666.png"},"removeAds":true,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":true,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ea521-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"discover-new-startups","name":"Discover New Startups","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Adjust","slug":"adjust-","order":0,"path":"/tag/adjust-"},{"name":"Mobile e-commerce","slug":"mobile-e-commerce","order":1,"path":"/tag/mobile-e-commerce"},{"name":"sensor tower","slug":"sensor-tower","order":2,"path":"/tag/sensor-tower"},{"name":" E-commerce App Report 2021","slug":"e-commerce-app-report-2021","order":3,"path":"/tag/e-commerce-app-report-2021"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/12/mobile-commerce-app-shopping-hit-adjust-report","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Seemingly within an arm’s reach, our smartphones dictate our daily habits. It is no wonder then that mobile commerce trends are evolving with changing consumer buying behaviour. The "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://www.adjust.com/resources/ebooks/ecommerce-app-report-2021?utm_source=YourStory&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaign=ST_IN_EN_ecommerce-app-report-2021"},"data":"latest report by Adjust, complete with insights from Sensor Tower"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", zeroes in on the metrics behind the vertical’s continued success, equipping advertisers with essential data required to make smart decisions about campaign spend and budget allocation, as more markets recover from the pandemic.\n\nBy the end of 2021, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://thecircularboard.com/mobile-commerce-statistics/"},"data":"54 percent of total e-commerce sales "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"are predicted to come from mobile, leading to a rise of the global mobile e-commerce sales to hit $3.56 trillion, much higher than 22 percent from 2020, as stated by the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://www.adjust.com/resources/ebooks/ecommerce-app-report-2021?utm_source=YourStory&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaign=ST_IN_EN_ecommerce-app-report-2021"},"data":"E-commerce App Report, 2021"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\nWhile a major part of the shift to m-commerce can be attributed to demand and pandemic-related necessities, developers have continuously improved, diversified, and expanded the reach and potential of their apps.\n\nSince 2020, lockdowns have drastically shifted the way consumers interact with mobile while accelerating the move towards mobile commerce. In 2021, as restrictions have started to progressively ease in many markets – allowing ‘brick and mortar’ brands to resume trading – mobile e-commerce has instead gone from strength to strength.\n\n“The e-commerce vertical has experienced immense growth since the start of the pandemic. It hasn’t just been about new users turning to mobile to shop and make purchases, but the kind of services people require from mobile has also changed,” added Paul H Müller, Co-founder, and CEO, Adjust. “What’s most impressive is that even as shops slowly open up globally, e-commerce apps have managed to hang onto the users acquired while continuing to grow and acquire even more new customers. It’s a testament to the longevity and robust nature of the business models, and how successful they are in providing customers with convenient and user-optimised experiences,” he added.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Key findings\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Adjust’s"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://www.adjust.com/resources/ebooks/ecommerce-app-report-2021?utm_source=YourStory&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaign=ST_IN_EN_ecommerce-app-report-2021"},"data":" E-commerce App Report 2021"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" has successfully accumulated data from almost 2631 e-commerce apps and provides an in-depth overview of the vertical’s performance, its trajectory throughout 2021, and insights into how m-commerce has successfully built upon its 2020 growth. The top three takeaways from the report are:\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"1. "},"data":"Installs in the e-commerce vertical have grown 10 percent so far in 2021, as and when compared to 2020, and sessions have jumped by 12 percent."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"2. "},"data":"Session lengths have steadily increased from 10.07 minutes in 2019 to 10.42 minutes in 2020 to 10.56 \t\tminutes in 2021 so far. EMEA had the highest session lengths in 2021, with 10.97 minutes per session."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"3. "},"data":"In-app revenue has increased significantly in 2021, with May outperforming Q4 of 2020, and is set to reach an all-time high considering the holiday season."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nAlex Malafeev, Co-founder, Sensor Tower, said, “While we're still fully coming to terms with the lasting impact of COVID and social distancing on the way we live our daily lives, it's clear that we're entering a new phase of digital and especially mobile commerce. Major brands are leveraging all the channels at their disposal to engage with consumers and build loyalty, from online to in-app to in-store, and that follow-through is creating a brand new context for shopping. All signs point to a new era where multi-touchpoint commerce can grow and thrive.”\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"The future growth \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Social commerce has established itself as a major player in the e-commerce and m-commerce industries where potential customers can reach your app or products via social media app integrations or direct-to-purchase links, or by developing strategies including gamification and conversational AI. The report also outlines new ways on how developers can entice users to open their app more often and ensure a rewarding experience.\n\nWhen it comes to navigating this highly competitive space, there’s an increasing need to focus on creating convenient and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://www.linnworks.com/the-effortless-economy"},"data":"seamless cross-device experiences"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and on successfully incentivising and retaining users. The global mobile coupon industry, for example, is expected to grow at a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://techjury.net/blog/mcommerce-statistics/"},"data":"CAGR of 56.5"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" percent by 2025.\n\nWith mobile e-commerce growth projected to continue, advertisers and marketers should seek opportunities to acquire new users from rising channels such as Connected TV (CTV), but also prioritise the enhancement of their experiences and user journeys to push for engagement, participation, and conversion, to ultimately drive user loyalty.\n\nLou Hong, Vice President of Marketing, Sensor Tower, added, “It is remarkable that e-commerce apps have achieved such rapid growth while also greatly enhancing the user experience. As more and more consumers make purchases on their mobile devices, retailers have reduced friction in mobile shopping, resulting in quick transactions that fit in our busy lives and lead to frequent repeat engagement.”\n\nBranching out to new channels and platforms to find and engage with users is essential for sustained growth. From social commerce where potential customers can reach your app or products via social media app integrations, or direct-to-purchase links, to new advertising opportunities on CTV, brands must continue to adapt, measure, and analyse to retain their edge.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.adjust.com/resources/ebooks/ecommerce-app-report-2021/?utm_source=YourStory&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaign=ST_IN_EN_ecommerce-app-report-2021"},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the full report from Adjust and Sensor Tower for in-depth insights into the continued success of mobile e-commerce."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"16th Dec 2021","publishedDate":"December 16, 2021"},{"id":220647,"title":"Indian startups go ballistic in Q3 2021, raise highest ever Y-o-Y funding in past 7 years","slug":"indian-startups-funding-q3-2021-unicorns","type":"RICH","subtitle":"The Indian startup ecosystem raised approximately $23 billion in the nine-month period between January and September this year, with more than 55 percent of the funding raised in Q3 2021 alone.\n","publishedAt":"2021-12-14T15:59:11.038Z","updatedAt":"2021-12-14T16:04:24.463Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Shreya Ganguly","username":"shreya-1585037328","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/b094ec50-6da6-11ea-b285-b7ee8106293d/profile_image_1585037434896.jpg","path":"/author/shreya-1585037328"},{"name":"Meha Agarwal","username":"meha-agarwal-37","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/profile_image_1596528418402.png","path":"/author/meha-agarwal-37"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"The Indian startup ecosystem raised approximately $23 billion in the nine-month period between January and September this year, with more than 55 percent of the funding raised in Q3 2021 alone.\n","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-2021-funding-1634372631165.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-2021-funding-1634372631165.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-2021-funding-1634372631165.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":1,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"},{"name":"Unicorns","slug":"unicorns","order":2,"path":"/tag/unicorns"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/10/indian-startups-funding-q3-2021-unicorns","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The Indian startup ecosystem entered the tenth month of the year 2021 with a bang. There may be still a while to go for Diwali, but stakeholders have already seen a lot of fire crackers bursting and have been celebrating throughout the year.\n\nAfter "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"raising $23 billion across 1,000+ funding deals in 9 months, and 33 new entrants in the coveted unicorn club"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", with $1 billion-plus valuation, India is now standing close to its global incumbents like the US and China.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/11718bd02d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/unicorns2021-011-1634117695288.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"latest additions to the unicorn club"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" were IPO-bound fintech firm "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"f0749060-0b58-11ea-abc4-4d55087ad27a","name":"MobiKwik","slug":"mobikwik","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/mobikwik1574228720354.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/mobikwik1574228720354.png"},"subtitle":"MobiKwik is India's largest issuer-independent digital financial services platform, leveraging a sophisticated product and merchant acquisition capabilities.","foundingDate":"2009-04-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/mobikwik","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Bipin Preet Singh"},{"name":"Upasana Taku"},{"name":"Chandan Joshi"},{"name":"Saurabh Jain"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial Services","slug":"financial-services"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and automobile classifieds platform "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"df39def0-0b5c-11ea-803a-db519ef3c267","name":"CarDekho","slug":"cardekho","logo":{"height":418,"width":418,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2481575977792883png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2481575977792883png"},"subtitle":"CarDekho Group is India's leading Auto-tech company that helps users buy cars that are right for them. CarDekho has successfully digitized Indian auto ecosystem and is aggressively pursuing its vision to become the largest personal mobility player.","foundingDate":"2008-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/cardekho","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Amit Jain"},{"name":"Anurag Jain"},{"name":"Umesh Hora"},{"name":"Umang Kumar"},{"name":"Manish Wadhwa"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Automotive","slug":"automotive"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". Prior to that, cloud kitchen startup "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"e663ebf0-785a-11eb-9bbd-95e14a312e35","name":"Rebel Foods","slug":"rebel-foods","logo":{"height":800,"width":800,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/15501442223582-1614361737192.jpg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/15501442223582-1614361737192.jpg"},"subtitle":"Rebel Foods, formerly known as Faasos, is the world's largest chain of Online Restaurants. ","foundingDate":"2011-06-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/rebel-foods","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Jaydeep Barman"},{"name":"Ankush Grover"},{"name":"Sagar Kochhar"},{"name":"Soumyadeep Barman"},{"name":"Raghav Joshi"},{"name":"Ankur Sharma"},{"name":" Kallol Banerjee"},{"name":"Piyush Kakkad"}],"sectors":[{"name":"FoodTech","slug":"foodtech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" entered the coveted club after raising $175 million in a Series F funding round led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with participation from existing investors, Coatue and Evolvence, at a valuation of $1.4 billion.\n\nWhile 2021 has been about constant anointing of unicorns in the Indian startup ecosystem, initial public offerings (IPOs) also grabbed headlines quite often. \n\nAfter the successful "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"IPO of foodtech unicorn "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"c0541e60-0b57-11ea-9605-8f27a1346df0","name":"Zomato","slug":"zomato","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC011575978390368png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC011575978390368png"},"subtitle":"Zomato is an Indian food aggregator founded by Deepinder Goyal in 2008. ","foundingDate":"2008-07-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/zomato","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Deepinder Goyal"},{"name":"Mohit Gupta"},{"name":"Gunjan Patidar"},{"name":"Daminee Sawhney"},{"name":"Akshant Goyal"},{"name":"Pankaj Chaddah"}],"sectors":[{"name":"FoodTech","slug":"foodtech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" earlier this year, other tech startups including "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"f6bc3050-0b57-11ea-8047-cd23867bebee","name":"Nykaa","slug":"nykaa","logo":{"height":640,"width":640,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/nykaalogo1576149520160png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/nykaalogo1576149520160png"},"subtitle":"India’s one-and-only beauty soonicorn","foundingDate":"2012-04-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/nykaa","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Adwaita Nayar"},{"name":"Falguni Nayar"},{"name":"Nihir Parikh"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Direct-To-Consumer 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Bansal"},{"name":"Tarun Mathur"},{"name":"Rahul Agarwal"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial Services","slug":"financial-services"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"f0749060-0b58-11ea-abc4-4d55087ad27a","name":"MobiKwik","slug":"mobikwik","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/mobikwik1574228720354.png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/mobikwik1574228720354.png"},"subtitle":"MobiKwik is India's largest issuer-independent digital financial services platform, leveraging a sophisticated product and merchant acquisition capabilities.","foundingDate":"2009-04-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/mobikwik","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Bipin Preet Singh"},{"name":"Upasana Taku"},{"name":"Chandan Joshi"},{"name":"Saurabh Jain"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial 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"}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"5dae87c0-0a97-11ea-a656-afefeaba5fd9","name":"Delhivery","slug":"delhivery","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/delivery011575977748746png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/delivery011575977748746png"},"subtitle":"Gurugram based Delhivery is a third-party logistics service provider that offers last-mile delivery, third-party and transit warehousing, reverse logistics, payment collection, vendor-to-warehouse and vendor-to-customer shipping and more.","foundingDate":"2011-05-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/delhivery","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Sahil Barua"},{"name":"Suraj Saharan"},{"name":"Kapil Bharati"},{"name":"Bhavesh Manglani"},{"name":"Mohit Tandon"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Logistics","slug":"logistics"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"d3726090-a177-11ea-9ffa-87ebec2bd45c","name":"Cartrade","slug":"cartrade","logo":{"height":400,"width":400,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/Jip9sVd400x400-1590734660805.jpeg","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/Jip9sVd400x400-1590734660805.jpeg"},"subtitle":"Cartrade is a leading automotive platform for buyers and sellers of new and used vehicles.","foundingDate":"2010-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/cartrade","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Vinay Sanghi"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Automotive","slug":"automotive"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"fb3ae530-0b58-11ea-a15b-3d2418d0e352","name":"Paytm","slug":"paytm","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2071575978461755png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2071575978461755png"},"subtitle":"Creating an internet ecosystem in India","foundingDate":"2010-01-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/paytm","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Vijay Shekhar Sharma"},{"name":"Amit Veer"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial Services","slug":"financial-services"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" are also in the queue. Meanwhile, SaaS giant "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"dd594c30-0b69-11ea-b7d4-11bb4a87a24e","name":"Freshworks","slug":"freshworks","logo":{"height":417,"width":418,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC191575978236169png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC191575978236169png"},"subtitle":"Freshworks is a SaaS startup, disrupting traditional CRM, ITSM, Customer Support, and Marketing Automation with its complete customer engagement suite, Freshworks360.","foundingDate":"2010-10-13","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/freshworks","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Girish Mathrubootham"},{"name":"Shan Krishnasamy"},{"name":"Vijay Shankar"},{"name":"Prakash Ramamurthy"},{"name":"Sidharth Malik"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Enterprise Tech","slug":"enterprise-tech"},{"name":"SaaS","slug":"saas"},{"name":"Marketplace","slug":"marketplace"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" recently listed itself in the US, towards September-end.\n\nNevertheless,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Q3 2021 startup funding trends"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" are phenomenal. Here are some key trends that YourStory Research has observed in the past three action-packed months.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Highest Y-o-Y funding\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"While the funding momentum seen across Q1 and Q2 continued,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" during Q3, startups raised a total of $12.82 billion"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", which is more than 55 percent of the total $23 billion funding raised through the 9 months of 2021.\n\nThe funding was raised across 461 deals in Q3, which is the highest compared to Q1 (256) and Q2 (287). \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3--graph1-1634374901019.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\nThis indicates that despite the risks of a volatile market, changing consumer behaviours, and increasing market competition, investors are not afraid of increasing the cheque sizes this year, and are expecting Indian startups to go ‘all-in’ in the coming years.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As one of the investors shared with \u003cem>YourStory\u003c/em> in an earlier conversation, “The actual fun will begin once this party [fund inflow] is over.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"When compared on a Y-o-Y basis, Q3 2021 funding stands highest among all the comparable quarters since 2015.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-graph-2-1634373051386.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"September: The funding month of 2021\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The Indian startup ecosystem saw "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"increased funding deals and larger cheque sizes in September this year"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", as compared to the other months of 2021. Indian startups raised a total of $3.01 billion across 161 deals in this month alone.\n\nMeanwhile, July saw the second highest number of deals at 159 but clocked in the highest sum of funding of $6.39 billion. August saw the third highest number of deals at 141 raising a total of $3.42 billion in the entire month.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-graph-3-1634373121732.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Highest number of outlier deals \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Outlier deals - funding deals of more than $100 million - saw a sharp increase in Q3 2021, with the highest number of such deals in India since 2015.\n\nIn Q3 2021, India saw a total of 23 outlier deals, totalling in excess of $7.9 billion. This is significantly higher than five deals in Q3 2020 amounting to $1.11 billion and seven deals in Q3 2019 amounting to a total of $1.18 billion.\n\nAlso, Q3 2021 witnessed four deals of more than $500 million, amounting to total funding of $3.16 billion.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-graph-4-1634373222676.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Early-stage capital infusion booms\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In Q3 2021, early stage startups raised "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$1.2 billion across 342 deals"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". This is the highest growth observed across similar quarters since 2015.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-graph-5-1634373806477.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Similar upswing is observed at the growth stage ($2.25 billion across 66 deals), as well as late stage ($8.28 billion across 36 deals).\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-graph-6-1634373870738.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/Q3-graph-7-1634373913593.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>\u003cspan class=\"ql-cursor\">\u003c/span>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Bengaluru continues to lead\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Startup funding in India’s Silicon Valley claimed the leading position, with Bengaluru raising over $6.3 billion across 179 deals. This is followed by Delhi-NCR ($4.2 billion, 133 deals) and Mumbai ($1.9 billion across 79 deals).\n\nHere’s the funding distribution across eight key Tier 1 cities.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/pie-graph-11-1634374266459.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/pie-graph-21-1634374328412.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"The top investors\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Sequoia became the top investor, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"with a total of 35 deals followed by Kunal Shah, Founder, and CEO of fintech startup "}},{"contentType":"companyWidget","value":{"id":"c919ab50-0ac1-11ea-b9b0-7b3f0fc9524f","name":"CRED","slug":"cred","logo":{"height":417,"width":417,"imageKey":"cs/images/companies/logosC2031575978376942png","url":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/images/companies/logosC2031575978376942png"},"subtitle":"Cred offers rewards for paying credit card bills on time.","foundingDate":"2018-04-01","companyURL":"https://yourstory.com/companies/cred","companyCoreTeam":[{"name":"Kunal shah"},{"name":"Rahul Harkisanka"}],"sectors":[{"name":"Financial Services","slug":"financial-services"},{"name":"FinTech","slug":"fintech"}]}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", with 29 deals. \n\nTitan Capital, Lets Venture, and Indian Angel Network Fund claim position among the top five investors list, in Q3 2021, with 18, 17, and 16 deals respectively.\n\n Here’s the list of top 10 investors for Q3 2021.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/infographic4-1634622302655.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(25, 26, 27);\">Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":""}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Fintech at the forefront\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In Q3 2021, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"fintech and financial service startups raised $2.24 billion across 70 deals"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". This is followed by edtech ($1.40 billion, 50 deals) and healthtech ($974 million, 49 deals). \n\nHere’s a look at the top 10 sectors.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/pie-graph-3-1634374694950.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/b094ec506da611eab285b7ee8106293d/pie-graph-4-1634375082656.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Image Credit: YS Design\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As we are less than three months away from bidding adieu to 2021, it is noteworthy that over the last 18 months humanity experienced one of the world's greatest healthcare crises, the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we can say that 2020 and much of 2021 have been the equivalent of late-2016 of sorts - when it comes to funding.\n\nWhile demonetisation played a crucial role in the evolution of the way we transacted since early November 2016, the pandemic has brought a revolution in the ways we transacted, and also the general way digitisation took charge as the survival mantra for many businesses. \n\nFor startups, there could and would possibly never be another catalysing phase that has been unfolding since the onslaught of the pandemic.\n\nWe are expecting to draw the curtains on 2021 as a record-breaking year, setting up India on the path towards becoming the largest startup ecosystem in the years ahead.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"14th Dec 2021","publishedDate":"December 14, 2021","editorsPickTitle":"Q3 2021: Indian startups raise highest ever Y-o-Y funding in past 7 years","editorsPickSubtitle":"The Indian startup ecosystem raised approximately $23 billion in the nine-month period between January and September this year.","editorsPickStartTime":"2021-10-18T00:30:00.000Z","editorsPickEndTime":"2021-10-18T03:30:00.000Z"},{"id":213796,"title":"[Startup Bharat] How India’s Tier II cities are emerging as new startup hubs buzzing with funding activity","slug":"startup-bharat-how-indias-tier-ii-cities-are-emerging-as-startup-hubs","type":"RICH","subtitle":"We bring you a data led article on Tier II funding activity between 2015-2021, highlighting investor views on factors making these cities a preferred choice for entrepreneurs. Also, read which key cities made a mark, and have attracted investor attention recently.","publishedAt":"2021-08-14T23:45:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2021-09-09T16:51:49.490Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Meha Agarwal","username":"meha-agarwal-37","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/profile_image_1596528418402.png","path":"/author/meha-agarwal-37"},{"name":"Rajiv Bhuva","username":"rajiv","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/3834ef70-ca80-11eb-a0af-ddaa6974ca30/profile_image_1623393761506.png","path":"/author/rajiv"},{"name":"Naga Nagaraju","username":"nagraj","order":2,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/cd3aa5c0-2b58-11e9-b16b-975ec2f7e603/profile_image_1549599755151.jpg","path":"/author/nagraj"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"We bring you a data led article on Tier II funding activity between 2015-2021, highlighting investor views on factors making these cities a preferred choice for entrepreneurs. Also, read which key cities made a mark, and have attracted investor attention recently.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartups-08-1628873260718.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartups-08-1628873260718.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartups-08-1628873260718.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":8,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc35-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"industry-outlook-and-reports","name":"Industry Outlook and Reports","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Tier 2","slug":"tier-2","order":0,"path":"/tag/tier-2"},{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":1,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Startup Bharat","slug":"startup-bharat","order":2,"path":"/tag/startup-bharat"},{"name":"jaipur startups","slug":"jaipur-startups","order":3,"path":"/tag/jaipur-startups"},{"name":"Chennai Startups","slug":"chennai-startups","order":4,"path":"/tag/chennai-startups"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/08/startup-bharat-how-indias-tier-ii-cities-are-emerging-as-startup-hubs","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Entrepreneurship is fast becoming the most pursued choice of career amongst youngsters today. And there are humongous opportunities to innovate for a large and diverse customer base in every sector. \n\nLately, we have seen that the geographical spread for startup funding has expanded from the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Big 3 "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"--Bengaluru, Delhi/NCR, Mumbai -- to the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Big 8"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", including Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. \n\nSome early signs that emerge are – Chennai transforming into a software/deeptech hub, Jaipur leading as a fast growing Tier II startup hub while Pune enjoying its share of unicorns already (Firstcry, Druva, Icertis, MindTickle). \n\nOverall, this augurs well for India as we need more than three cities to handle urbanisation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"employment generation, and gender-income equality. And Tier II cities certainly offer a largely untapped opportunity here.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of Indian Angel Network and Founding Partner, IAN Fund"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", emphasises that Tier II & III cities are fertile grounds for innovative solutions to emerge. \n\n“The growing internet penetration has made it easier for building propositions and scaling ventures. With the pandemic and lockdown, remote working helped to access customers and talent from these cities, and create many more innovative startups - building from Tier II cities, for the Tier II city problems/needs,” she adds.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Gopal Jain, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Gaja Capital, echoes these views."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“\u003cu>De-agglomeration\u003c/u> could well be one of the legacy trends from COVID-19. And this trend is mainly driven by the digital economy where fresh growth is coming from Tier II cities.”"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Tier II’s preferred headquarters\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to YourStory Research, Jaipur is turning out to be the most preferred headquarters among Tier II cities for startup founders as well as investors. More than 40 funded startups have their headquarters in Jaipur currently. Other popular hubs where startups are headquartered are Chandigarh (14), Goa (12), Indore (20), Kochi (18), and Vadodara (11).\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsKeytier-IIcitieswithmoststartupheadquarters1-1628872234336.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Tier II Y-o-Y funding activity\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to YourStory Research, between Jan 2015 - July 2021, Tier-II city startups in India raised approximately $1.12 billion in funding, across 305 deals. The graph below elucidates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the amount raised fell over 48.4 percent in 2020 as compared to the previous year. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsYearwisetier2fundingactivity-1628872360980.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Strikingly though, the total number of deals is almost the same. This indicates that investors have been continuously betting and exploring the Tier II potential in the country. Furthermore, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"in the first seven months of 2021, Tier II startups have already raised $80 million across 39 deals. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"At this pace, the funding activity in Tier II cities could very well double in 2021, as compared to 2020."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Tier II’s top funded startups\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"The total funding raised by Tier II city startups between Jan 2015 - July 2021 is just 1.5 percent of the total $76.7 billion funding raised by the Indian startups during this period. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Yet, over this period, we have seen Indian investors reach out to more than 60 Tier II cities."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Faster adoption of technology and rising number of smartphone users are some of the reasons why startups are seeing exponential growth in these regions. That's perhaps because, small businesses need local solutions to survive, and startups originating from Tier II cities may be better equipped to offer these solutions in these geographies. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"So, while national-level players address bigger issues, Tier II cities’ startups stand out for their concentrated efforts in building local solutions. And some of these solutions go on to work globally. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This pattern has increasingly encouraged the ecosystem to survive, scale and even build some of the most notable startups from some really small towns and cities in India.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"A classic example here is Jaipur-based CarDekho."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Founded in 2008, CarDekho operates in India and South East Asia. It has at least five auto portals and more than 70 CarDekho Gaadi stores, for buying and selling cars. It has raised approximately $327.5 million in funding with backing from investors such as Ratan Tata, Times Internet, Sequoia India, and Trifecta Capital, among others.  \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Here are some key Tier II startups that have raised a high amount of capital in the recent past."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsTopTierIIstartupsJan2015-July2021-byamountraisedinmillion--1628872482760.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Top 10 Tier II cities and booming startup hubs\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Interestingly, when it comes to funding, the dynamics differ. A look at the top 10 cities by funding activity between the period of Jan 2015 and July 2021 shows this - \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Top 10 Tier II cities by funding [in $ million]\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsTop10TierIIcitiesbyfunding-inmillion-1628872700672.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Top 10 Tier II cities [by number of deals]\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsTop10TierIIcities-bynumberofdeals-1628872618255.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"What’s interesting here is the fluctuation between the number of deals and the impact they have created in top rankings with their larger ticket sizes. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nFor instance, Amaravati, the legislative capital of Andhra Pradesh, happens to be the second-highest funding raker. However, this statistic is purely on the grounds of funding raised by two startups -- Pi Datacenters and Picxy. These startups raised a total of $113 million with only 3 deals between the period of 2016 and 2018. Post that, there has been no funding activity in this city.\n\nOn the contrary, we saw small ticket investments pouring into Jaipur, Indore, Chandigarh, Kochi, Goa, Vadodara, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Patna and Surat through the years and even during the pandemic times. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"As seen in the graph below, although the number of deals are low, they are spread across the years, which positions these cities as attractive investment hubs rather than one-off large ticket size activity zones. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsChart-1628872959103.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Top Tier II investors\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Mumbai Angels is one the most active investors. Here is a glimpse of the top 10 investors in Tier II region.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Tier2citystartupsTopTierIIinvestors-MumbaiAngelsisonethemostactiveinvestors-1628873044820.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Tier II deal flow in pandemic times\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Predictably, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the dynamics for a lot of sectors. In a stark revelation of the extent of digitisation in the country, the number of active Internet users in India is"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/india-to-have-900-million-active-internet-users-by-2025-says-report/articleshow/83200683.cms?from=mdr"},"data":" expected to increase"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" by 45 percent in the next five years, and touch 900 million by 2025 from around 622 million in 2020, according to the IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE 2020 report.\n\nThis increase will be driven by higher adoption in rural India and Tier II and Tier III cities, which has clocked a 13 percent growth to 299 million internet users over the past year, or 31 percent of India’s rural population.\n\nAlso, sectors like fintech, enterprisetech, retail/ consumer brands, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, agritech, edtech and foodtech among others, saw tailwinds post the pandemic outbreak, and saw scale at an aggravated rate. \n\nPerhaps this is the reason we saw some Tier II city startups raising larger ticket size rounds even amid the pandemic period of 2020-2021. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Some of the notable startups here are Finova Capital ($55 million), LEAP India ($23 million), Milk Mantra ($10 million), Pushp Spices ($16.3 million), Zaara Biotech ($10 million), CareStack ($22.5 million)."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"The Way Ahead\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Rohini Prakash, Founder, Tomorrow Capital,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" mentions in an earlier interview with YourStory, the growing IT infrastructure and low cost of living are other factors which are increasingly making Tier II cities an attractive set up for entrepreneurs.\n\nAlso, one of the primary reasons for the growth of Tier IIcities is the increased availability of talent and the popularity of work-from-home. Most importantly, there has been a shift in mindset about big-city living. \n\nAccording to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Karthik Prabhakar, Executive Director at Chiratae Ventures"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":", through the past 15+ months of working from remote locations, many founders and their teams have worked from Tier II cities. The mental fears of infrastructural challenges have all but vanished – robust internet and infrastructural connectivity has paved the way to consider other factors beyond proximity. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Of course, there will be some course correction as companies scale but headquarters address may not matter in the medium to long term in a global world with remote operations,” he adds."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"Further, given the decentralised nature of work post lockdown, there’s been a huge talent redistribution from a geographical standpoint. We now find amazing engineers and entrepreneurs working out of their home towns, and angel investing into their hometowns more frequently and more successfully. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“We think this will start creating a phenomenal cycle that will lead to more and more startup activities in areas that were previously remote from an Indian startup ecosystem point of view. This coupled with the fact that most VCs are now very comfortable making investments over Zoom, leads us to believe that the startup ecosystem in Tier II cities in India is set to grow highly exponentially in the next few years,” concludes Anurag Ramdasan, Principal – Investments, 3one4 Capital."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"[Design: Manash Pratim]"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory’s flagship startup-tech and leadership conference will return virtually for its 13th edition on October 25-30, 2021. Sign up for updates on TechSparks or to express your interest in partnerships and speaker opportunities "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkRMzoAcVgMCt1cUL_0j89lX-4XLGadazlLUz7wZLBuBNE4g/viewform","italic":true},"data":"here"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"For more on TechSparks 2021, click "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://techsparks.yourstory.com/","italic":true},"data":"here"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":".\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Applications are now open for Tech30 2021, a list of 30 most promising tech startups from India. Apply or nominate an early-stage startup to become a Tech30 2021 startup "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15B_bEZtCZuiOWn9JTpSain-lj0yZUb4OcdoF8RoGfhk/viewform?ts=60f995ce&edit_requested=true","italic":true},"data":"here"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"15th Aug 2021","publishedDate":"August 15, 2021","editorsPickTitle":"How India’s Tier II cities are emerging as new startup hubs","editorsPickSubtitle":"We bring you a data led article on Tier II funding activity between 2015-2021. Also, read which key cities made a mark, and have attracted investor attention r","editorsPickStartTime":"2021-08-15T03:30:00.000Z","editorsPickEndTime":"2021-08-15T06:30:00.000Z"},{"id":199131,"title":"Startup funding: Indian startups raise $3.76B in Q1 2021; early and late-stage firms shine","slug":"indian-startup-funding-q1-2021-early-late-stage-firms-shine","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In Q1’21, the Indian startup ecosystem saw a year-on-year increase of over 17 percent in funding deals. Read YourStory Research’s detailed report to find out more about the investment trends, patterns, top sectors, and more.","publishedAt":"2021-04-18T23:40:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2021-04-23T11:58:37.926Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Meha Agarwal","username":"meha-agarwal-37","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/profile_image_1596528418402.png","path":"/author/meha-agarwal-37"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"In Q1’21, the Indian startup ecosystem saw a year-on-year increase of over 17 percent in funding deals. Read YourStory Research’s detailed report to find out more about the investment trends, patterns, top sectors, and more.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/LeadImage-02-1618749975541.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/LeadImage-02-1618749975541.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/LeadImage-02-1618749975541.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc35-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"industry-outlook-and-reports","name":"Industry Outlook and Reports","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":1,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/04/indian-startup-funding-q1-2021-early-late-stage-firms-shine","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Overall funding activity in the Indian startup ecosystem was positive in the first three months of 2021, with startups raising $3.76 billion in funding across 257 deals, publicly available data analysed by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"showed. \n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/pic-1-1618749905680.PNG"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"In the first quarter, the total deal value rose 5 percent to $3.76 billion from $3.5 billion a year earlier, a period that can largely be considered pre-pandemic. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The number of deals in Q1 rose to 257, up about 18 percent from 218 deals in Q1 2020 and up 70 percent on a sequential basis from Q4 2020 levels. "}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/pic2-1618749860400.PNG"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the amount of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":" https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/q121-startup-funding-report.html"},"data":"funding raised"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and the number of deals seen in Q1 2021 was the highest across the past five consecutive quarters. \n\nData also shows that early and late-stage deals recorded robust activity, even as the number of growth-stage deals in Q1 fell 10 percent compared to a year ago. \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Here’s a look at the five key trends observed in Q1’21\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Rise in number of deals of more than $100 million"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": In Q1’21, there were 10 deals valued at more than $100 million and amounting to $2.12 billion. In Q1’20, this number was 8. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Thrissur becomes the newest Tier-II entrant into top 10 charts"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": In Q1’21, healthtech startup Zaara Biotech, with only one deal of $10 million, secured a place for this Tier-II city in the top 10 cities (by funding value) in Q1’21. Overall, the Tier-I trio — Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru — continued to lead the charts in terms of the amount raised and number of deals."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Gaming re-entered top charts:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" With Dream11’s $400-million funding, Nazara Technologies IPO listing, and MPL expected to enter the unicorn club this year, the gaming segment garnered investor attention, raising $544.52 million across 10 deals."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"The IPO gold rush"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": In Q1’21, Nazara Technologies made a strong debut on the Indian public markets. It was subscribed four times on the first day as retail investors latched on to India’s first gaming IPO. Several of India’s category-defining unicorns and soonicorns — Flipkart, Zomato, Ola, Delhivery, Policybazaar, Freshworks, Nykaa — are also looking to go public in 2021."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Edtech sector’s consolidation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": In Q1’21, India’s largest edtech startup BYJU’S completed the acquisition of coaching centre chain Aakash Educational Services reportedly for $1 billion. Also, Vedantu acquired Instasolv while Unacademy acquired Tapchief and Handa Ka Funda."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Unicorn count rising at a fast pace"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": Three startups entered the unicorn club between January and March 2021. This included Digit Insurance, Innovaccer, and Five Star Finance. Also, moving towards Q2’21, the total has already reached 10, taking the total unicorn count to nearly 50."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/q121-startup-funding-report.html","italic":true,"underline":true},"data":"Download YourStory Research's report on funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in Q1 2021"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"19th Apr 2021","publishedDate":"April 19, 2021","editorsPickTitle":"Startup funding: Indian startups raise $3.76B in Q1 2021","editorsPickSubtitle":"In Q1’21, the Indian startup ecosystem saw a y-o-y increase of over 17 percent in funding deals. Read YourStory Research’s detailed report to find out more. ","editorsPickStartTime":"2021-04-19T00:30:00.000Z","editorsPickEndTime":"2021-04-19T03:30:00.000Z"},{"id":192596,"title":"YourStory's 2020 Annual Funding Report: State of the Indian Startup Ecosystem","slug":"2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem-2","type":"RICH","subtitle":"An in-depth view of the state of the Indian startup ecosystem in Jan-Dec 2020, comparison of trends with the 2015-2020 period, and outlook 2021.","publishedAt":"2021-03-01T02:50:50.661Z","updatedAt":"2021-04-08T09:09:20.445Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Team YS","username":"webmaster","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/static/default-ys-image.jpg","path":"/author/webmaster"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"An in-depth view of the state of the Indian startup ecosystem and key trends in funding activity","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-31-1614502568501.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-31-1614502568501.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-31-1614502568501.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":22,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc35-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"industry-outlook-and-reports","name":"Industry Outlook and Reports","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Indian startup ecosystem","slug":"indian-startup-ecosystem","order":1,"path":"/tag/indian-startup-ecosystem"},{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":2,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem-2","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502716554.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Foreword by Shradha Sharma\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The start of 2020 was unprecedented, with the uncertainty around enough to stir trepidation across the nation. But as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way. As the Indian startup ecosystem battled the pandemic, what shone through was its desire to survive. Resilience and empathy were undoubtedly the two tenets of 2020.\n\nFrom achieving greater maturity and better business models, Indian startups also streamlined revenues and innovations. Even as they deal with challenges, Indian startups are playing the role of a catalyst in reviving the country’s economy.\n\nIndia’s growth story and its potential remain a strong bet, with a thriving innovation-led entrepreneurial ecosystem poised to contribute significantly to the move to an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, or self-reliant India. This was also reflected in the world of startups that still saw investments flowing in amid a cautious business environment.\n\nIn the Union Budget 2021 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, the government’s thrust on boosting small and medium-scale startups, as well as encouraging the investor ecosystem, was clear. Initiatives such as revising the definition of small-scale startups, allocating more than Rs 15,700 crore for the uplift of MSMEs, as well as the introduction of an investor charter indicate the role this sector can play in achieving India’s mission to achieve $5 trillion in GDP by 2025.\n\nThe 2020 Annual Funding Report by YOURSTORY RESEARCH aims to highlight the growth of the Indian startup ecosystem through three phases: evolution (2015-2017), innovation (2018-2019), and democratisation (2020). The report offers an in-depth view of the state of funding activity and key trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in January-December 2020, comparison 2015-2020, and outlook 2021.\n\nMoving towards 2021, there is a stronger focus on underlying business economics, both from founders and investors; and a thrust on monetisation, which earlier got pushed to the latter years of a startup's life. Companies that have purpose-built into their bottom line are most likely to remain viable.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502716796.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Key takeaways\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Pivot rather than shutdown was the sentiment for 2020\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The years 2015 and 2016 are seen as the era of market correction in the history of the Indian startup ecosystem. These years together saw more than 360 startups shutting down. However, in 2020, we saw more startups adopting the pivot and rebranding route than shutdown. Exact data is not available for the number of pivots and rebrands. The analysis is made on the basis of public disclosures by startups on different media platforms.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Unique startup count for funding stays stable \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"It is observed that the count for unique startups receiving funding in 2019 (743) and 2020 (746) remained similar. Also, except 2016, when the unique startup count for funding grew by 17.5 percent, the subsequent years have shown a steady fall and rise in the number of unique startups that were funded.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Fall in funding but overall positive sentiment\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In 2017, the Indian startup ecosystem received the maximum funding of $13.5 billion across 829 deals. Since then, there has been a continuous funding decline of 5.7 percent (2018), 6.37 percent (2019) and 17.07 percent (2020). Even from the deals perspective, 2018 (+4.22 percent), 2019 (+3.47 percent), 2020 (-1.45 percent) did not offer any extraordinary trend, thus indicating an overall positive momentum across the ecosystem.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Investors focus on exploring new territories\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"It is observed that over the years, the number of deals with more than $100 million funding amount has reduced in the ecosystem. This only indicates how cautious the investor ecosystem has become, aiming for a diversified pool of investments as well as increased willingness to test the waters in uncharted territories. In 2020, investors maintained a diversified approach while testing waters in unchartered territories and even kept the sentiment high with seed-stage and follow-on funding rounds.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Expansion of sectoral landscape\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The rise in technology adoption led to investor hopes riding high on sectors integrating new-age technologies such as deep tech, adtech, insurtech, media and entertainment tech, space tech, defence tech, and drone tech. Investors were also observed to show interest in a few offbeat areas such as celebrity commerce, gig services, sports tech, and security solutions providers.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Inclination towards Tier-II/III startups\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"During the period 2015-2020, investments in Tier-I and Tier-III startups increased at an average of 5 percent. After 2018, and even during the pandemic, a steady growth of near 6 percent in investments has been observed in Tier-II and Tier-III startups.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Inclination towards IPO route of exit\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"More internet and technology companies went public in 2020. There was a time when companies took 20 years to file for an IPO; that has now narrowed to just three-five years. Also, a number of tech IPOs are lined up for 2021. This is a significant shift from the earlier M&A route adopted by Indian tech companies.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502716845.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Infographic3a-02-1614522692260.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"11 startup trends that defined 2020\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"The upswing in telemedicine\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Last year brought about the biggest health crisis known to humanity. The pace and scale of the COVID-19 outbreak led to a breakdown of traditional healthcare systems and brought about unstinted growth in telemedicine or online delivery of health services. Patients switched to video and audio doctor consultations, and began using fitness and wellness applications to track their health and pre-screen themselves. Online pharmacies also gained ground as the lockdown compelled people to stay indoors. This segment, in fact, saw some consolidation with the entry of large players like Reliance.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502717949.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Penetration of tech and AI in healthcare\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"A sharper focus on the overall healthcare ecosystem helped expose its glaring inadequacies. In India, the heavily skewed patient-caregiver ratio is giving rise to the use of AI, ML, and other automation technologies in healthcare so as to reduce the need for human intervention. COVID-19 also led to a growth in ‘digital therapeutics’ or the use of smart healthcare devices, including mobile-based glucometers, oximeters, heart-rate trackers, and so on. The digitisation of personal medical records also got expedited.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718034.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Rise and rise of online learning\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With offline education facing a crisis of continuity following the pandemic- induced lockdowns, edtech startups and e-learning platforms stepped in to help schools, coaching centres, private tutors, and higher educational institutions go online. They launched free live classes and ramped up their offerings to absorb the massive overnight demand for online learning post the lockdown.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718104.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"The live coding boom\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The Indian government’s National Education Policy 2020 mandated schools to initiate coding classes for students from Class VI onwards to help build analytical skills from a young age. The rollout of the new reforms in August and the event of BYJU’S acquiring WhiteHat Jr spawned an all-new wave of live coding startups. Coding became one of the buzzwords of the year and this segment of edtech is expected to be among the most sought-after by VCs in 2021.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718175.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"SaaS and the remote-work routine\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In 2020, SaaS platforms assumed critical importance in the ‘new normal’ of remote work. An increasing chunk of SaaS workers globally are now keen on continuing with remote work or ‘work-from-anywhere’ and staying close to their hometowns. As a result, the adoption of enterprise software is only going to grow in the future. The year also saw the increased penetration of vertical SaaS companies across sectors such as healthcare, B2B retail, ecommerce, and videoconferencing. SaaS startups that build plug-and-play API solutions for global customers also grew rapidly.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718283.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Grocery ecommerce gaining ground\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Until 2020, the biggest verticals of India’s ecommerce sector were electronics and apparel. But the pandemic-induced urgency shifted the focus to essential categories like food and grocery. While incumbents in the segment ramped up their presence in the aftermath of the lockdown, the year also saw the entry of new, deep-pocketed grocery commerce platforms. The festive quarter was the cherry on the cake, with other categories also showing swift recovery and surpassing 2019 in terms of gross merchandise volumes.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718347.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Growth of B2B farmer marketplaces and e-mandis\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With the pandemic causing disruptions across the agri-supply chain, leading to shutdown of physical markets, restricting travel from farm to mandis, and halting other on-ground operations, farmers were left with unsold produce and staring at huge losses. B2B agritech startups, which operate e-mandis and aggregator marketplaces to enable direct transactions between farmers, traders, and buyers, stepped in to fix this. Additionally, the procurement needs of food retailers and agribusinesses led to a sharp rise in demand for B2B farmer-focused agritech platforms.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718485.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Increased adoption of farm-to-consumer (F2C) brands\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The pandemic-induced health uncertainty led to a rise in the demand for safe, hygienic, and farm-fresh food. From fresh fruits and vegetables to meat and dairy, online direct-to-consumer (D2C) platforms gained a significant edge over traditional food and grocery retail. The shift in business models and distribution channels and contactless doorstep deliveries of products also adhered to stringent social distancing norms. F2C startups recorded a 10X reduction in their customer acquisition costs and 3X growth in volumes during COVID-19, as per investor estimates.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718585.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Sensational growth of online brokerages\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With more hours at their disposal and increasing uncertainty about long- term wealth prospects, millennial first-time retail investors (also known as Robinhood traders) flocked to online brokerages by the hordes. Besides existing discount trading apps, a bunch of generalist fintech players launched stock trading options on their platforms to leverage the trend. A SEBI report noted that 4.9 million new demat accounts were opened in 2020 — highest in at least a decade — with more participation from small towns.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718656.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"UPI continued to be fintech’s crown jewel\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Until 2020, small-ticket cash transactions that drive most of the cash in circulation, were the main deterrents to UPI’s growth in India. But with 2020, the urgent need for cashless/contactless payments turned out to be a watershed moment for UPI-led platforms. UPI transactions reached new highs every month, even surpassing card transactions at one point, with the adoption of digital payments cutting across demographic segments. As per NPCI, 2.23 billion UPI transactions worth Rs 4.16 lakh crore were recorded in December 2020, registering a 70 percent growth over 2019.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718757.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Online gaming’s meteoric rise\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With all avenues of outdoor entertainment and recreation coming to a grinding halt, online gaming became the go-to option for an anxious population. Gaming startups witnessed good uptick in new users and hit record app engagements during the lockdown. Gaming gained not only because it became a safe ‘stay-at-home’ option across age groups, but also because it enabled human interaction and bonding in times of social distancing. From being a historically under-financed sector, gaming startups became the darling of local and global investors in 2020.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502718845.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502719118.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502719267.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Infographic4-01-1614837436635.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502719483.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Infographic4-03-1614838069005.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Infographic7-013-1614837748685.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502719910.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502719998.png"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502720065.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Inside the ecosystem (2015-2020)\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In the wake of COVID-19, India’s current population, demographics, and economic situation might have put the country in a disadvantageous position compared to other Southeast Asian countries. However, due to the resilience and agility of Indian entrepreneurs, the investor ecosystem has not shied away from them in these tough times.\n\nFor instance, edtech led to a completely irreversible mindset shift for the Indian consumer, who had earlier never considered online education more than a value addition to the traditional institutional education system. In the last one year, not only has online learning become a mainstream sector, but also at the operational level, the digitisation has improved.\n\nNext is ecommerce, where investors are now willing to test waters in different niches like reselling, social commerce, celebrity commerce, live video shopping, ecommerce SaaS, and more. Technology is reshaping Indian retail at an altogether different level, with local kiranas getting modernised layer by layer.\n\nThese are just a few examples from many other transformations that different sectors are undergoing. This democratisation has kept the overall investor sentiment positive, in theory willing to pour in enough funds to keep the mast of India’s startup ecosystem steady in these tough times.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502722359.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"According to YOURSTORY RESEARCH, the ecosystem raked in a total of $9.9 billion funding across 881 deals. In comparison to the previous year, the funding amount reduced by almost 17 percent, while the number of deals received a setback of around two percent.\n\nThis indicates that although investors adopted a cautious approach, they continue to diversify their portfolio and support the existing portfolio companies with small ticket-size funding and follow-on rounds.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502722401.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502722445.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502722495.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502722539.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"(Other includes crowdfunding, bridge round, grants, post IPO equity, etc.)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"11 key insights from data analysis\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502722581.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"The Indian startup ecosystem came full circle in 2020, with the funding raised and number of deals reaching a similar state as in 2015, a year considered the tipping point for initiating the growth of startups in India."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"If we compare the data across the period 2015- 2020, it was only in 2017 that the total funding raised by the top three startups exceeded 50 percent. For the other years, the total funding raised by the top three startups has been 23.26 percent of the total funding on an average."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"After the top three Tier-I startup hubs — Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai — Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Chennai are now on the investor radar. In 2021, these three cities are expected to gain much higher investor attention for startups spanning SaaS, deep tech, space tech, retail/consumer brands, fintech, and enterprise tech."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"In the Tier-II landscape, while in 2020, Indore even surpassed Jaipur in terms of number of funding deals, Jaipur still gets the highest ticket size among all Tier-II cities in India. Other promising destinations in the near future are Goa, Chandigarh, Kochi, Bhopal, and Vadodara."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"The B2C business model has again built up trust among investors. Although the number of deals in 2020 fell by 5.4 percent, the amount of funding increased by 3.19 percent as compared to 2019."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"With only 28 deals, foodtech took its position among the top three startup sectors with the highest funding, in comparison to fintech’s 136 deals and edtech’s 99 deals. This indicates that the sector was able to attract more late-stage and high ticket-size funding in 2020."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"In 2020, edtech startup BYJU’S secured the highest funding of $1.2 billion. This is the first time in the period 2015-2020 that any edtech startup has raised the highest funding, leaving behind other hot sectors such as logistics, ecommerce, and foodtech."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"B2B startups faced a 37 percent fall in funding amount as compared to 2019, while the number of deals increased by 7.28 percent. On a positive note, this may be taken as an indication of an increase in the level of maturity attained by B2B startups of the country. It is believed that these startups are finally being able to focus on strengthening their revenue streams and are not willing to burn investor money only for scale."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"Despite getting the third highest number of deals, the amount of funding raised by the healthtech sector was $316 million. This is less than several other sectors, which secured much higher funding with fewer deals, such as foodtech (28), travel and tourism (8), and cleantech (10)."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"For the first time in 2020, edtech made its way to the top three sectors in the period 2015-2020. As expected, a key role was played by the massive adoption of online education due to the lockdown, which boosted investors’ interest in the sector by several folds."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"bullet"},"data":"After making it to the top three from 2015 to 2019, the funding secured by the ecommerce sector fell drastically in 2020 and it was not able to make it to even the top 10 sectors for the year."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502723514.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502723622.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Startup landscape\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Top 3 startups\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In 2020, edtech startup BYJU’S secured the highest funding of $1.2 billion, followed by OYO Rooms ($807 million) and Zomato ($660 million). This is the first time any edtech startup has raised the highest funding leaving behind other hot sectors such as logistics, ecommerce, and foodtech.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/report-7-1614837804643.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Drop observed in total funding raised by top 3 startups\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502723730.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Tier-I landscape\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In the Tier-I geography, Bengaluru continued to top the charts in 2020, with $4.4 billion in funding across 307 deals. It was followed by Delhi-NCR ($3.5 billion across 247 deals) and Mumbai ($1.2 billion across 170 deals). The other Tier-1 cities, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad, however, saw a significant fall in funding amount as compared to previous years.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502723785.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Surprisingly, Ahmedabad saw a rise in funding amount in 2020 despite the pandemic. Although the percentage of growth was quite less, this will surely make the city worth keeping an eye on in the near future.\n\nIn the period 2015-2020, Bengaluru has continued to top the charts in terms of the number of deals since 2018. The number of funding deals in Bengaluru increased by 4.4 percent as compared to 2019 and 18 percent as compared to 2018 despite the pandemic impact. Among the other Tier-I cities, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad are growing fast in comparison to previous years, while Kolkata still has a long way to go. However, in 2020, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad did show signs of a promising future with an increase in the number of deals even as corresponding figures dipped in top cities.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502723898.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Tier-II landscape\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Comparing the funding distribution for the top three cities by funding amount and number of deals, it is observed that investors are returning to old markets while adding some new territories to test waters.\n\nFor instance, if we look at data for top five Tier-II cities each year, then it is observed that after a slow start in 2015, the three cities, Coimbatore, Indore, and Bhubaneswar were again on investors’ radar in 2020. While in 2020, Indore even surpassed Jaipur in terms of the number of funding deals, Jaipur still gets the highest ticket size amid all Tier-II cities in India. Other promising Tier-II areas in the near future are Goa, Chandigarh, Kochi, Bhopal, and Vadodara.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502725607.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502725685.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502725728.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Business model-wise distribution\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The B2C business model has again built up its trust among investors. Although the number of deals in 2020 fell by 5.4 percent, the amount of funding increased by 3.19 percent as compared to 2019. This is more significant when compared to the previous years, wherein the funding amount in this segment suffered quite a setback, with 2017 being the year of exception: 2016 (-62 percent), 2017 (+321 percent), 2018 (-23 percent), 2019 (-19 percent)\n\nB2B startups, however, faced a 37 percent fall in funding amount as compared to 2019, while the number of deals increased by 7.28 percent. On a positive note, this may be taken as an indication of an increase in the level of maturity attained by the B2B startups of the country. It is believed that these startups are finally able to focus on strengthening their revenue streams and are not willing to burn investor money only for scale.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502725810.png"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502725855.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502725971.png"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726054.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"Not included Flipkart (acquired)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726202.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Sectoral landscape\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"As observed with respect to distribution of funding deals, in 2020, fintech scored the top position with 136 deals, followed by edtech (99) and healthtech (91). However, with respect to funding amount, edtech took the flag with $2 billion funding, followed by fintech ($1.6 billion) and foodtech ($888 million).\n\nInterestingly, with only 28 deals, foodtech took its position among top three startup sectors gaining maximum funding, in comparison to fintech’s 136 deals and edtech’s 99 deals. This indicates that the sector was able to attract more late-stage and high ticket-size funding in 2020.\n\nFurther, despite receiving the third highest number of deals, the amount of funding raised by the healthtech sector was $316 million. This is very less in comparison to many sectors, which secured much higher funding with fewer deals, such as foodtech (28), travel and tourism (8), and cleantech (10).\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726370.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726440.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726551.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726623.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726685.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Edtech: The sector which ruled investors’ hearts in 2020\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This is the first time edtech has made its way to the top three sectors in the period 2015-2020. As expected, a key role here is played by the massive adoption of online education due to lockdown, which boosted investors’ interest in the sector by several folds.\n\nThe sector even saw BYJU’S becoming the third most valued unicorn in 2020, reaching a valuation of $8 billion. The company raised $1.2 billion, which is 60 percent of the total $2 billion funding raised by edtech startups in 2020. The company’s acquisition of code learning startup WhiteHat Jr. and Aakash Educational Services has raised the bar much higher for peers in the segment such as Vedantu and Toppr.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Edtech startup ecosystem: Top players"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726768.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502726905.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Ecommerce: Are investors sceptical about it now?\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"After making it to the top three from 2015 to 2019, the funding secured by the ecommerce sector fell drastically in 2020, and it was not able to make it to even the top 10 sectors for the year. Although the number of deals remained high, overall, a continuous decline can be observed comparing the period between 2015 and 2020. This clearly indicates the fall in ticket size from the investors’ end. Despite being a mainstream sector gaining attention from global investors, the startups, particularly in the B2C segment, are still struggling with creating continuous revenue streams, which suggests the investors’ sceptical nature at the moment.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502727020.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502727082.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Other key sectors on investors’ radar\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Apart from the traditional sectors such as ecommerce, fintech, tourism, transport, and logistics, there were several other sectors that gained investors’ attention in 2020. In the last few years, most investors were only testing the waters in many of these sectors. However, in 2020, these sectors emerged as future-looking for many.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502727228.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"2020 - A year of unicorns and valuation correction\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The year 2020 saw 11 new entries to the unicorn club without any billion-dollar ticket size investment unlike the trend observed when companies like Flipkart, Paytm entered the unicorn club.\n\nFor instance, compared to Bigbasket that raised a hefty $656 million to become a unicorn in 2019, startups that joined the club in 2020 did so by raising much lower amounts. They include Nykaa ($104 million), Postman ($208 million), and Razorpay ($212 million).\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502727266.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502727357.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Overvalued companies, particularly unicorns and decacorns, incurring huge losses drew a lot of criticism for years. This led to a key development over the last decade: founders diluting their shareholding that put them at risk of losing control of their startups.\n\nAmid the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, metrics such as unit economics, profitability, expansion, scaling, and sustainability became the benchmarks for potential investments.\n\nThe year 2020 observed more than 24 funding deals with ticket size equal to or more than $100 million even amid the pandemic. This indicates the maturity the Indian startup ecosystem has achieved.\n\nHowever, overall, the number of such deals has been on the decline in the period 2015-2020.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502727462.jpeg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"India is expected to have 100 unicorns by 2025, despite the huge impact of COVID-19. Indian startups are gradually looking for investment models other than equity funding. This includes crowdfunding, revenue- based financing, venture debt, and bank loans. With bootstrapped startups Zerodha and Freshworks turning unicorns, the new generation of startups is expected to focus on building revenues from the inception stage itself and not depend on venture capital for survival.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502728119.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Outlook 2021\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"More funding deals but smaller ticket size\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Startups can expect to see higher funding this year, with investors’ risk appetite improving significantly since 2020. More early-stage companies are expected to attract investments in small to medium-sized deals than large ones because even though investors are ready to take risks, the overarching sentiment is that they’d rather put lesser money at risk in more companies, than more money in fewer companies.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"More IPOs\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Several startups are expected to go for a capital market listing via an initial public offering this year, including Zomato, Delhivery, Freshworks, PolicyBazaar, Nykaa, Flipkart, and Ola. With benchmark indexes hitting record highs in India of late, and a spate of oversubscriptions last year, startups are hopeful of a strong debut.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"More unicorns despite strong M&A/IPO pipeline\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Industry experts have predicted that India will have 100 unicorns by 2025. And given the rate at which new unicorns are being added, the Indian startup ecosystem seems to be well on track to achieve that. Some startups waiting in the wings to hit the coveted $1-billion mark are CRED, Vedantu, Practo, BlackBuck, Urban Company, among others. Additionally, even as the M&A and IPO pipeline accelerates, India is on track to count more than 50 companies in the unicorn club in 2021, according to a Nasscom-Zinnov report.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Deep tech, B2B, SaaS startups will grow\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With remote work becoming part of the future of work, and businesses looking for better ways to increase their efficiency, startups that provide innovative software-as-a-service solutions are expected to see strong growth. According to our estimates, investments in deep tech startups will likely return to 2019 levels, if not exceed them. Deep tech has helped transform key pandemic-related industries such as healthcare and transportation. In 2021, expect to see more innovation and collaboration between deep tech companies and startups looking to leverage tech.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"Focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat will birth more regional startups\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With the government taking its goal to empower and bring more regional startups to the forefront more seriously than ever in an attempt to boost the economy, ventures from beyond metros will gain more traction in 2021. Regional startups are likely to appeal to investors’ sensibilities because they tend to understand their demographic better and have a better understanding of issues they can help solve. Startups in metros and urban cities have also started building more inclusively, offering services in vernacular and Indic languages. The next wave of online users is\n\nexpected to come from smaller cities and towns — and companies are actively looking to capitalise on and cater to those users.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/1614502728417.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":1},"data":"Acknowledgements\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory Media, is the definitive source for data-led insights and analysis of trends impacting the Indian entrepreneurial and tech ecosystem.\n\nYourStory Research focuses on market research, market intelligence, startup discovery, and consulting in the startup ecosystem in India.\n\nYourStory Media Private Limited is India’s leading digital platform for positive, inspirational stories of change makers and entrepreneurs across India.\n\n©YourStory Media Private Ltd. Produced by YourStory Research\n\nLead Analyst(s): Meha Agarwal, Naga Nagaraju\nContributor(s): Sohini Mitter, Aparajita Saxena \nEdited by: Lena Saha, Saheli Sen Gupta, Tenzin Pema \nDesign: Aditya Ranade, Karuna N\nProduction: YourStory Editorial and Design \nWebsite: research.yourstory.com\nEmail: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"mailto:research@yourstory.com"},"data":"research@yourstory.com"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"1st Mar 2021","publishedDate":"March 01, 2021","paywallType":"login"},{"id":192550,"title":"Funding in 2020 and outlook 2021: Indian startups show resilience amid pandemic and the way forward","slug":"funding-2020-outlook-2021-indian-startups-report","type":"RICH","subtitle":"In 2020, despite the many challenges due to the pandemic, Indian startups continued to battle hard, raising $9.4 billion across 881 deals, and adding 11 companies to the unicorn club. In this in-depth report, YourStory Research highlights key trends across the year and what 2021 has in store for us.","publishedAt":"2021-03-01T00:15:00.047Z","updatedAt":"2021-05-20T04:31:36.399Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Meha Agarwal","username":"meha-agarwal-37","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/77e43870-d629-11ea-a8e9-879653a67226/profile_image_1596528418402.png","path":"/author/meha-agarwal-37"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"In 2020, Indian startups raised $9.4 billion in funding across 881 deals, and added 11 companies to the unicorn club. In this in-depth report, YourStory Research highlights key trends.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-3-1614351407492.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-3-1614351407492.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-3-1614351407492.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ecc30-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"ecosystem-insights","name":"Ecosystem Insights","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Funding Report","slug":"funding-report","order":1,"path":"/tag/funding-report"},{"name":"Indian Investors","slug":"indian-investors","order":2,"path":"/tag/indian-investors"},{"name":"Outlook 2021","slug":"outlook-2021","order":3,"path":"/tag/outlook-2021"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/02/funding-2020-outlook-2021-indian-startups-report","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Two months into 2021, the Indian startup ecosystem has already "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"grabbed 125 deals raising $1.5 billion in funding"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". As we move forward in these turbulent times and into the ‘new normal’, it is evident that startups need to take in the lessons from the past to mark our way forward.\n\nDespite the pandemic, Indian startups continued to battle hard with resilience and empathy. According to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"79668ce0-48f6-11ea-bc33-4ba9067c8f12","data":"YourStory Media","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Research, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem"},"data":"the Indian startup ecosystem came full circle in 2020, as the total funding and number of deals"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" reaching a similar state as in 2015, a year considered the tipping point for initiating the growth of startups in India.\n"}},{"contentType":"imageLink","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/YS-FI-3-1614351407492.png","link":"https://yourstory.com/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/2020-startup-funding-report.html"},"data":"Download YourStory Research's report on 2020 funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nIndian startups raised "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"$9.4 billion across 881 deals"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" from around 1,476 active investors in the ecosystem. While the funding amount reduced by almost 17 percent in comparison to 2019, the number of deals received a setback of around two percent.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This indicates that although investors adopted a cautious approach, they continue to diversify their portfolio and support existing portfolio companies with small ticket-size funding and follow-on rounds. "}},{"contentType":"imageLink","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/Infographic3-01-1614351733773.png","link":"https://yourstory.com/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"linkButton","value":{"name":"Download YourStory Research's report on 2020 funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem","url":"https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/2020-startup-funding-report.html"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem"},"data":"The report"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" shares more interesting insights. For instance, despite getting the third-highest number of deals, the amount of funding raised by the healthtech sector was $316 million. This is less than several other sectors, which secured much higher funding with fewer deals, such as foodtech (28), travel and tourism (8), and cleantech (10).\n\nAlso, for the first time in 2020, edtech made its way to the top three sectors in the period 2015-2020. As expected, a key role was played by the massive adoption of online education due to the lockdown, which boosted investors’ interest in the sector by several folds.\n\nIt is further observed that over the years, the number of deals with more than $100 million funding amount has reduced in the ecosystem. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"This only indicates how cautious the investor ecosystem has become, aiming for a diversified pool of investments as well as increased willingness to test the waters in uncharted territories."}},{"contentType":"imageLink","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/77e43870d62911eaa8e9879653a67226/fundingreportgraphs-12-1614351952587.png","link":"https://yourstory.com/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"At the same time, post the COVID-19 battle, the rise in technology adoption led to investor hopes riding high on sectors integrating new-age technologies such as deep tech, adtech, insurtech, media and entertainment tech, space tech, defence tech, and drone tech. Investors were also observed to show interest in a few offbeat areas such as celebrity commerce, gig services, sports tech, and security solutions providers. \n\nThe "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/2020-startup-funding-report.html"},"data":"2020 Annual Funding Report by YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" aims to highlight the growth of the Indian startup ecosystem through three phases: evolution (2015-2017), innovation (2018-2019), and democratisation (2020). While “pivot and persist” was seen as the survival strategy for many, the addition of 11 unicorns, rise in the number of tech IPOs, as well as continued momentum in the M&A landscape, was encouraging. \n\nThe report also highlights 11 key trends that defined the year 2020 for the Indian startup ecosystem. A few of these include:\n \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"The upswing in telemedicine: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Patients switched to video and audio doctor consultations, and began using fitness and wellness applications to track their health and pre-screen themselves. Online pharmacies also gained ground as the lockdown compelled people to stay indoors. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"The live coding boom"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":": The Indian government’s National Education Policy 2020 mandated schools to initiate coding classes for students from Class 6VI onwards to help build analytical skills from a young age. The rollout of the new reforms in August and the event of BYJU’S acquiring WhiteHat Jr. spawned an all-new wave of live coding startups. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Increased adoption of farm-to-consumer (F2C) brands: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"From fresh fruits and vegetables to meat and dairy, online direct-to-consumer (D2C) platforms gained a significant edge over traditional food and grocery retail. The shift in business models and distribution channels and contactless doorstep deliveries of products also adhered to stringent social distancing norms. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Online gaming’s meteoric rise: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Gaming startups witnessed a good uptick in new users and hit record app engagements during the lockdown. From being a historically under-financed sector, gaming startups became the darling of local and global investors in 2020. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"Grocery ecommerce gaining ground: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"While incumbents in the segment ramped up their presence in the aftermath of the lockdown, the year also saw the entry of new, deep-pocketed grocery commerce platforms. The festive quarter was the cherry on the cake, with other categories also showing swift recovery and surpassing 2019 in terms of gross merchandise volumes. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The report offers an in-depth view of the state of funding activity and key trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in January-December 2020, a comparison across 2015-2020, and an outlook of what 2021 has in store for us. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"It also depicts the current landscape of active investors in India, Tier-I to Tier-II and III inclination, sectoral landscape, business model-wise distribution, sectoral landscape, and more.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2021/02/2020-annual-funding-report-indian-startup-ecosystem"},"data":"You can read YourStory Research's in-depth report on 2020 funding trends here."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"OR \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Download YourStory Research's report on funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in 2020 here.\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"1st Mar 2021","publishedDate":"March 01, 2021"},{"id":189521,"title":"Decoding Flipkart’s Big Billion Days 2020 playbook","slug":"flipkart-big-billion-days-playbook-online-sale","type":"RICH","subtitle":"As Indian ecommerce giant Flipkart executed its biggest ever Big Billion Days in October 2020, we took a look behind the scenes to understand how the team succeeded during what was a very tough year.","publishedAt":"2021-02-05T09:09:53.797Z","updatedAt":"2021-02-25T11:25:38.375Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Ryan Frantz","username":"ryanfrantz","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/userphoto/37634.png","path":"/author/ryanfrantz"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"As Flipkart executed its biggest ever Big Billion Days in 2020, here's how it succeeded during what was a very tough year.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/9456dfb02d6c11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imageu5sb-1612502958709.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/9456dfb02d6c11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imageu5sb-1612502958709.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/9456dfb02d6c11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imageu5sb-1612502958709.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":4,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"991ea520-663e-11eb-b571-b76e0f3e580d","slug":"business-and-tech-news","name":"Business and Tech News","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Flipkart","slug":"flipkart","order":0,"path":"/tag/flipkart"},{"name":"Big Billion Day Sale","slug":"big-billion-day-sale","order":1,"path":"/tag/big-billion-day-sale"},{"name":"ecommerce","slug":"ecommerce-","order":2,"path":"/tag/ecommerce-"},{"name":"sales","slug":"sales","order":3,"path":"/tag/sales"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2021/02/flipkart-big-billion-days-playbook-online-sale","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The seventh edition of "}},{},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"’s Big Billion Days (BBD), held in October 2020, was "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the biggest BBD ever executed by the Indian ecommerce giant"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" — a feat achieved with teams operating virtually for the first time ever. Bearing in mind the importance of social distancing, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"BBD was being executed in an almost entirely virtual manner for the first time ever"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", with technology playing a vital role in ensuring smooth collaboration.\n\nGoing by the numbers alone, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the scale of BBD 2020 was unprecedented"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". At the 2020 Big Billion Days, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Flipkart sold over $2.5 billion worth of goods, almost double of that of Amazon India"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":", according to data compiled by research firm RedSeer Consulting.\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Flipkart recorded over \u003cb>750 million visits on its website and app\u003c/b> — over 52 percent of which were from Tier-III cities and beyond, and \u003cb>7.5 million regional language visitors. \u003c/b>The event also generated over 10 million voice search queries, and saw 110 orders placed per second."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Other significant numbers include the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"50 million overall BBD deliveries made, 50,000 kiranas onboarded for last-mile deliveries,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" 1.7 million sq. ft of warehouse space added through brand partners, and over 3,000 last-mile hubs added for last-mile reach and strengthening presence in Tier-III cities and beyond.\n\nMore notably, it was the first time that "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"a 10,000+ employee team planned and executed this mega online shopping event almost virtually"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", given the safety precautions taken in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the engagement of employees, sellers, partners, and customers in making it a success was as high as in earlier years.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Flipkart plans to raise $10 billion through IPO, says report","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/220356402d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Flipkart-1582211499554.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2020/12/flipkart-ipo-walmart-ecommerce-goldman-sachs-kalyan-krishnamurthy"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\nPreparing for the BBD required evangelising teams and enabling remote collaboration at scale. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“During this recently concluded event, employees collaborated via dedicated online chat rooms and virtual whiteboards. The ‘war rooms’ that are usually used during BBD for manning the various system parameters were all virtual this year. We also created a ‘SWAT’ team — a virtual room manned in turns by pre-assigned people, who addressed any tech issue that employees approach them with.\" said Krishna Raghavan, Chief People Officer, Flipkart."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"How did Flipkart achieve this in a year when businesses and workforces got upended? By making value and collaboration its clarion call.\n\nWith a core focus on people, customers, sellers, and employees, the primary objective was to leverage the power of ecosystem partnerships to create value for all stakeholders.\n\nUsing technological prowess and the reach of ecommerce, Flipkart also endeavoured to put hard-hit sellers and MSMEs back on their feet.\n\n\"Over the years, as the scale of operations has increased and as millions of new users choose Flipkart for their shopping needs, we have built industry-best and robust tech infrastructure. The speed and agility have to be the same or has to get better despite the phenomenal increase in volumes.\"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"As we worked remotely, we put robust SOPs in place, defined critical resources, to build resilience and a proper backup in case of exigencies. All feature roll outs happened prior to the BBD month, with rigorous system and stress testing that happened along with bug fixing on new constructs, so that the focus remains on high touch customer experience during the BBD,\" he added."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"BBD also brought into focus the largely underserved Tier-III India that is a bit online. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Of the more than 750 million visits recorded on the Flipkart site and app, over 52 percent were from Tier-III cities and beyond. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Hyperlocal also got a boost with over 3.5 million deliveries carried out by kirana partners in the first five days of BBD.\n\n“I have been delivering in the hills of Gangtok for a year now, apart from managing my store. This region is not motorable, so I deliver on foot. With the Big Billion Days, an increasing number of consumers ordered online, which gave me more income and I was able to support my family better. Orders zoomed and I made 40-50 deliveries every day,” says Doma Tamang, a Flipkart kirana partner at Ranipool Store in Sikkim.\n\nFor long, Flipkart has been the poster child of the Indian startup ecosystem, and as the highly coveted ecommerce arena expands in volume and diversity, its BBD strategy needs to be understood, applauded and emulated.\n\nWe hope this playbook helps entrepreneurs and enthusiasts decode and learn from the strategy behind India’s most successful ecommerce engagement.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"linkButton","value":{"name":"Download a copy of the Flipkart's Big Billion Days Playbook here.","url":"https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/flipkart-big-billion-days-playbook.html"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"5th Feb 2021","publishedDate":"February 05, 2021"},{"id":168884,"title":"AppNirbhar Bharat: A YourStory report with an 11-point recommendation for creating a robust app ecosystem","slug":"appnirbhar-bharat-yourstory-report-indian-app-ecosystem","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory's AppNirbhar Bharat report celebrates Made in India apps and provides an 11-point recommendation for creating a robust app ecosystem, including developing a Bharat App Store, a homegrown phone software ecosystem, and an equity-based regulated crowdfunding infrastructure in India.","publishedAt":"2020-10-01T05:15:11.411Z","updatedAt":"2021-04-08T10:04:57.822Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Shradha Sharma","username":"shradha-sharma","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/8fbc5510-a519-11e8-a3c3-719cf227b0ae/google/profile_image_1545121537705.jpg","path":"/author/shradha-sharma"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"YourStory's Appnirbhar Bharat report celebrates Made in India apps and provides an 11-point recommendation for a robust app ecosystem.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Image51vj-1601527756247.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Image51vj-1601527756247.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Image51vj-1601527756247.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":true,"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":4,"articleTopics":null,"richArticleTopics":null,"tags":[{"name":"Aatmanirbhar Bharat","slug":"aatmanirbhar-bharat","order":0,"path":"/tag/aatmanirbhar-bharat"},{"name":"AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge","slug":"aatmanirbhar-bharat-app-innovation-challenge","order":1,"path":"/tag/aatmanirbhar-bharat-app-innovation-challenge"},{"name":"Independence Day 2020","slug":"independence-day-2020","order":2,"path":"/tag/independence-day-2020"},{"name":"Made in India","slug":"made-in-india","order":3,"path":"/tag/made-in-india"},{"name":"Indian apps","slug":"indian-apps","order":4,"path":"/tag/indian-apps"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2020/08/appnirbhar-bharat-yourstory-report-indian-app-ecosystem","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Over the past few years, India has undergone a rapid transformation into a digitally empowered society. With a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"digital population of over 600 million"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", India is today ranked the world’s second-largest online market. \n\nThe country’s startup ecosystem has also grown to become the third-largest globally, with its entrepreneurs and tech innovators building lasting solutions to solve for not only India, but also for the world. \n\nIndia is also the top country in the world in terms of the number of apps installed and used per month. India’s app ecosystem has, in fact, never been in a greater position of strength, thanks to the renewed enthusiasm and vigour among Indian techies, innovators, and entrepreneurs to build from India, for India and the world. \n\nWhen Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently raised the clarion call for India to become ‘"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"vocal for local"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"’ and Aatmanirbhar, or self-reliant, he also put the spotlight on the need for an ‘Aatmanirbhar App Ecosystem’ when he launched the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge. \n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Today, when the entire nation is working towards creating an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it is a good opportunity to give direction to their efforts, momentum to their hard work, and mentorship to their talent to evolve Apps which can satisfy our market as well as compete with the world,” PM Modi said. "}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/AtmanirbharReportRecommendation-1601528931084.jpg"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Indeed, India has shown the world that it is second to none when it comes to building tech solutions, at scale, which can compete with global rivals and find use cases in different markets. It’s encouraging to note that all these world-class solutions have been developed with a unique model of partnership between government, industry, and academia. \n\nThat’s why I believe that PM Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge is yet another bold step in that direction, and a momentous opportunity for Indian tech developers, entrepreneurs, and companies to build for India at a scale and get a pie of the multi-billion-dollar global app market.\n\nMost importantly, I believe these apps will give rise to an Aatmanirbhar App Ecosystem, as envisioned by PM Modi, and go on to inspire many other app developers to solve for India and build world-class apps for the world. \n\nTo honour this historic step in the move towards a more Aatmanirbhar App Ecosystem, or what we at YourStory are calling an AppNirbhar Bharat, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"we present "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://yourstory.sendx.io/lp/appnirbhar-bharat-a-yourstory-research-report-on-the-rise-of-made-in-india-apps.html"},"data":"YourStory Research’s AppNirbhar Bharat report"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":"YourStory Research’s AppNirbhar Bharat Report aims to: \n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"1. "},"data":"Celebrate the innovations and efforts by India’s very own app developers — with a particular focus on the 24 winners of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"2. "},"data":"Showcase many of the other more established Made in India apps and some notable new and upcoming apps, many of whom participated in YourStory Research’s month-long AppNirbhar Bharat survey "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"3. "},"data":"Highlight emerging trends in India’s mobile app development space based on YourStory’s app survey "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"list":"ordered","numberedPrefix":"4. "},"data":"Most importantly, provide "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"an 11-point recommendation"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" for enabling a robust Indian app ecosystem, which includes creating a "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Bharat AppStore"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", homegrown mobile phone software ecosystem, and an equity-based, regulated crowdfunding infrastructure in India, among others."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe report also features a message from "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Ravi Shankar Prasad"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications & Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, who writes, \"I congratulate the entire team of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", led by Shradha Sharma, for this pioneering research report on Indian app ecosystem...I am happy to note that some concrete suggestions have been shared by YourStory in this report for creating a vibrant mobile app ecosystem in India. Let's work on these suggestions.\"\n\nMore personally, this report highlights "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory’s"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" continued commitment to championing the stories and achievements of Indian innovators and changemakers — so that, together, we can write the future of a nation that can be truly Aatmanirbhar. \n\nHere’s to an "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AppNirbhar Bharat."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Join us at "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://techsparks.yourstory.com/"},"data":"TechSparks 2020"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" for a detailed discussion on the recommendations and how we can shape the future of an Indian app ecosystem."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://techsparks.yourstory.com/"},"data":"Click here to register now."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":2},"data":""}}],"timeLapsed":"1st Oct 2020","publishedDate":"October 01, 2020"},{"id":165933,"title":"[RESEARCH] Funding 2020: More deals, less money - an in-depth look at H1 investment trends in the Indian startup ecosystem","slug":"yourstory-research-h1-2020-india-startup-funding-report","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory Media, presents its in-depth H1 funding report for 2020, focusing on top trends, investments, sectors, and investors in the startup ecosystem.","publishedAt":"2020-07-22T10:21:32.906Z","updatedAt":"2021-12-14T16:03:12.297Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Aparajita Saxena","username":"aparajita","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/f49f8030-7d79-11ea-a66f-3b309d9a28f5/twitter/profile_image_1595274382507.jpg","path":"/author/aparajita"},{"name":"Tenzin Pema","username":"tenzin-pema","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/fd6b2ee0-c6f4-11e8-af1c-974e95f3b2db/profile_image_1539758811130.jpg","path":"/author/tenzin-pema"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"YourStory Research presents its in-depth H1 funding report for 2020, focusing on top trends, investments, sectors, and investors in the startup ecosystem.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imagelyr6-1595412755542.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imagelyr6-1595412755542.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imagelyr6-1595412755542.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":5,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"dba80449-a8d8-41e8-9f0d-c269d6e06bfc","slug":"others","name":"Others","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Funding","slug":"funding","order":0,"path":"/tag/funding"},{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":1,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"},{"name":"YourStory Research","slug":"yourstory-research","order":2,"path":"/tag/yourstory-research"},{"name":"research report","slug":"research-report","order":3,"path":"/tag/research-report"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2020/07/yourstory-research-h1-2020-india-startup-funding-report","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Startup funding started out strong this year, but investors grew"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" risk-averse"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" April onwards as the coronavirus increased its stranglehold in India, funding trends in the first six months of 2020 show. Even though more startups got funded in the first half of 2020 (H1), the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"deal sizes shrank,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" pointing to the fact that investors put in"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" less money in more startups to spread their risks."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Imagelyr6-1595412755542.jpg"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/h1-funding-report"},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/h1-funding-report","italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research's"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" report on funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in H1 2020\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nOverall funding in the first six months of 2020 fell "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"14.7 percent to $4.16 billion "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"from a year ago, while deal volume rose "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"3.2 percent to 392. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The average ticket size of those deals, across sectors, fell "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"17.2 percent to $10.6 million."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nWhile the pandemic hit the MSME sector the hardest, startups were not spared. With no sight on revenue, layoffs and pay cuts have become commonplace, as have sending employees on furlough and deferring salaries. \n\nMany have tried to deal with those "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"austere measures in a more humane way"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", such as helping employees look for jobs elsewhere, extending insurance cover for a year for the employees and their families, asking people to take voluntary pay cuts, and even granting employee stock ownership plans to affected workers.\n\nInvestors and economists predict the effects of the virus "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"could well extend into 2022"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" if the government does not step in to stimulate the economy by cutting taxes, making healthcare cheaper, and, more importantly, containing the spread of the virus.\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"H1 2020 STARTUP FUNDING ACTIVITY: DEBT & EQUITY\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/H1funding-1595416266576.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>H1 2020 STARTUP FUNDING ACTIVITY: DEBT AND EQUITY\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Not surprisingly, the pandemic has \u003cb>accelerated India’s technological age by years \u003c/b>as people scrambled for ways to stay connected with not just colleagues, friends and family, but also with their workplace and job function, as well as the education system."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Edtech"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", as the report reveals, is a sector that will come out of the pandemic guns blazing. Schools and colleges have had to adapt and get used to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"online teaching platforms "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"to continue with their coursework, while students have had to unlearn age-old methods of learning by rote and through reading text, and start learning using visualisation tools.\n\nEducation in India is a vastly different landscape now than it was six months ago. For edtech startups, it has meant a windfall of investor interest and funding. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"BYJU’S joined the decacorn club with a valuation of $10.5 billion, while Unacademy recorded the highest number of deals in H1."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nCity-wise, India’s Silicon Valley Bengaluru ceded the crown to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Delhi-NCR "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"in the number of deals, as well as funding raised by startups. Gurugram is increasingly becoming a new favourite destination for startups owing to the infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, robust ecosystem, and government network there.\n\nWhile equity funding has been the preferred method of raising capital for startups, the"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" number of debt deals in H1 jumped 50 percent"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" as companies accepted funding from venture debt funds, via loans, debentures, and other financial instruments.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/h1-funding-report"},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/h1-funding-report","italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research's"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" report on funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in H1 2020\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"H1 2020 STAGE-WISE FUNDING ACTIVITY\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Stage-wise-1595416377374.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>H1 2020 STAGE-WISE FUNDING ACTIVITY\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"All these trends, and more, captured in \u003cem>YourStory’s\u003c/em> H1 funding report point to the fact that there is private equity and investor interest in the startup sector, but there’s more emphasis than ever on crisis-era solutions that also fit into a post-COVID-19 world."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nVideo conferencing tools, business continuity software for people working from home, work from home clothing, fintech tools that make it easier to manage finances without stepping outside, tiny portable machines to sanitise items such as cell phones and masks, telemedicine apps, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"nutraceuticals customised to fit a person’s DNA structure, home health monitoring devices, and platforms that let people travel the world virtually are some of the “new normals” we have to adapt to"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" — but they are also valuable opportunities for companies.\n\n“COVID-19 has been hard for everyone, and we have to take it one step at a time. Still, the spate of innovations from the startup ecosystem, the way founders and investors have come together as a community to help each other, and the resilience of entrepreneurs in the face of a formidable enemy has been inspiring, and it is what, I’m sure, will help us weather the pandemic,” Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"79668ce0-48f6-11ea-bc33-4ba9067c8f12","data":"YourStory Media","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":" said."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n“We’ve fought long and hard, and there is still a long way to go. Our report aims to touch and educate as many people as possible about the achievements of the ecosystem. With this in mind, this year, we will be making our annual paid report free of cost to all,” she added.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory’s"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" extensive H1 funding report, powered by our research arm, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", presents a snapshot of the state of startup funding in India over the last six months, encapsulating the emerging trends across various industries.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/h1-funding-report"},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/h1-funding-report","italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research's"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":" report on funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in H1 2020\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"22nd Jul 2020","publishedDate":"July 22, 2020"},{"id":158384,"title":"COVID-19 Indian Innovators: Meet the 30 startups under C-CAMP battling the pandemic the #Aatmanirbhar way","slug":"covid-19-indian-innovators-startups-c-camp-aatmanirbhar","type":"RICH","subtitle":"To showcase the #Aatmanirbhar heroes of India, YourStory, in association with C-CAMP, launches a comprehensive report on the 30 C-CIDA startups fighting COVID-19.","publishedAt":"2020-05-25T15:59:34.954Z","updatedAt":"2021-04-05T05:57:01.525Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Team YS","username":"webmaster","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/static/default-ys-image.jpg","path":"/author/webmaster"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"To showcase the #Aatmanirbhar heroes of India, YourStory, in association with C-CAMP, launches a comprehensive report on C-CIDA startups fighting COVID-19.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Featured-image-01-1590421736740.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Featured-image-01-1590421736740.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Featured-image-01-1590421736740.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"sponsoredStory":null,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":null,"richArticleTopics":null,"tags":[{"name":"product startups","slug":"product-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/product-startups"},{"name":"reports","slug":"reports","order":1,"path":"/tag/reports"},{"name":"c-camp","slug":"c-camp","order":2,"path":"/tag/c-camp"},{"name":"coronavirus","slug":"coronavirus","order":3,"path":"/tag/coronavirus"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2020/05/covid-19-indian-innovators-startups-c-camp-aatmanirbhar","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"With over"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" five million cases,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"346,000 casualties across the globe"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the coronavirus pandemic is leaving a trail of destruction of lives, livelihoods, and economies in its wake.\n\nEven as experts across the globe race to come up with a cure or vaccine, our best bet currently is to explore solutions designed for quick on-ground implementation. \n\nHowever, this is not the time to sit around and wait for others to build these solutions for us. After all, India’s story is one of resilience.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/604090802d6d11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Featured-image-01-1590421736740.png"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Download the COVID-19 Indian Startup Innovators report here.\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nWhen"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an “"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"Aatmanirbhar Bharat"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"”,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" he directed young Indian innovators and entrepreneurs to build solutions that embody the Indian spirit without depending upon international companies for ventilators, PPE kits, and more.\n\nOver the last decade, Indian entrepreneurs have shown their resilience and deeper understanding of India’s on-ground problems that can be best understood through the lens of our own cultural perspective.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"And when it comes to COVID-19, the situation is no different. With this in mind, the Centre for Cellular And Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) launched a COVID-19 Innovations Deployment Accelerator or C-CIDA in late March 2020, to identify and fast-track innovations that can be immediately deployed across India to support hospitals and governments in their fight against coronavirus."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe aim was to help near deployment-ready innovations with unmet needs so that they can overcome last-mile gaps and launch as quickly as possible. C-CAMP was soon joined in this endeavour by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Social Alpha"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"United Nations Health Innovation Exchange"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" or "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"UNHIE"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"MedTechConnect"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Xynteo India2022"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"AIC-CCMB"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"CCMB"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"India Health Fund"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"PATH"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Action Covid-19 Team (ACT)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"91Springboard"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". \n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Download the COVID-19 Indian Startup Innovators report here.\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nWithin a month, C-CIDA received over "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"1,100 applications, out of which 30 innovations"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" in critical categories across diagnostic kits, ventilators, remote monitoring, preventive technologies, etc., were selected. \n\nThe 30 startups or"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" “Stars For Impact” have a common goal – build low-cost, portable, simple yet innovative, and accessible solutions for India, and by India"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". 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"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Surprisingly, 47 percent"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" of surveyed employees stated that they will find an alternative method to complete the task without using data at all. \n\nFurther, 74 percent report that data-overload has contributed to workplace stress, leading to 64 percent of the local workforce taking at least one day of sick leave due to stress-related to information, data, and technology issues.   \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Sanjeev Vohra, Group Technology Officer "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"and"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Global Lead "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"for"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Accenture’s data business group "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"said"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":","}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\"No one questions the value of data – but many companies need to re-invent their approach to data governance, analysis, and decision-making. This means ensuring that their workforce has the tools and training necessary to deliver on the new opportunities that data presents.\" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe human impact of data literacy report is based on research conducted among "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"9,000 global full-time employees"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"organisations of 50+ employees"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" in the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"UK, USA, Germany, France, Singapore, Sweden, Japan, Australia, and India."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" About "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"1,000 employees in India were also part of the survey."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nTo calculate the average time lost for organisations through data-related procrastination and sickness leave per year, the companies calculated the total of the average hours wasted from procrastination per week, measured against the average working week in India at "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"36 weeks, and the average days lost through data-related sickness leave each year. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"The time lost per employee was calculated at 69 hours 38 minutes per year."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"(Edited by Suman Singh)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"2nd Mar 2020","publishedDate":"March 02, 2020"},{"id":141391,"title":"Startups weather a stormy year to raise investments: YourStory’s Funding Report 2019\n\n","slug":"funding-report-2019-startups-investments-economic-slowdown","type":"RICH","subtitle":"When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This was evident in 2019 when startup founders not only displayed business acumen but a lot of tenacity too, especially in raising funds despite a plethora of challenges. \n\n","publishedAt":"2020-01-21T03:55:18.220Z","updatedAt":"2021-05-27T11:25:03.448Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sameer Ranjan","username":"sameer-ranjan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/google/profile_image_1559647446131.png","path":"/author/sameer-ranjan"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This was evident in 2019 when startup founders not only displayed business acumen but a lot of tenacity too, especially in raising funds despite a plethora of challenges. \n\n","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/eab8e5802d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Funding-report-2019-YourStory-1579514755854.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/eab8e5802d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Funding-report-2019-YourStory-1579514755854.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/eab8e5802d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Funding-report-2019-YourStory-1579514755854.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"curatedCategories":[],"sponsoredStory":null,"isRegistrationRequired":false,"timeToRead":2,"articleTopics":[],"richArticleTopics":[{"id":"dba80449-a8d8-41e8-9f0d-c269d6e06bfc","slug":"others","name":"Others","type":"RICH-ARTICLE-TOPIC","order":0}],"tags":[{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":0,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"},{"name":"Funding Report","slug":"funding-report","order":1,"path":"/tag/funding-report"},{"name":"startup funding report","slug":"startup-funding-report","order":2,"path":"/tag/startup-funding-report"},{"name":"funding 2019","slug":"funding-2019","order":3,"path":"/tag/funding-2019"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2020/01/funding-report-2019-startups-investments-economic-slowdown","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/eab8e5802d6a11e9aa979329348d4c3e/Funding-report-2019-YourStory-1579514755854.png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Year 2019 had it all: the national election, economic slowdown, regulatory challenges, unfavourable taxation system, global uncertainty arising from the US-China trade war, and domestic bumps like even the anti-CAA protests across the country. But the Indian startup ecosystem weathered all these challenges and managed to raise funding through the year, working behind the scenes to strike deals with investors.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"These nascent firms raised both early and growth-stage fund, which saw an increase by 60 percent from 2018."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nIf there is something common between the Sensex and the Indian startup ecosystem, it has to be this bullishness on the investment front despite macro challenges, much to the bewilderment of analysts. This was in a period that was punctuated by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"two successive quarters of declining GDP growth, equalling the longest slowdown in the past 23 years."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\nAccording to YourStory Research, the research arm of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"id":"79668ce0-48f6-11ea-bc33-4ba9067c8f12","data":"YourStory Media","format":{}}},{"contentType":"text","value":{}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":", startup funding trends in 2019 showed healthy investor interest in Indian startups. Homegrown Indian startups raised $11.1 billion in 2019, a fall of just 2.4 percent when compared to the corresponding period in 2018 (data used is as of December 27, 2019). The total funding raised by Indian startup ecosystem in 2018 calendar year was $11.38 billion."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe data-driven funding report for year 2019 by YourStory Research provides an in-depth overview of the emerging trends in investment activity in the Indian startup ecosystem.\n\nThe report also highlights the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"sectors favoured by investors"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"most active VC firms"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", and all the big and small deals that dotted the period, keeping the ecosystem thriving at a time when traditional industries became conservative with their spending.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"YourStory Research's annual funding report 2019"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"reveals the diversity of sectors that raised maximum funds, the sunrise sectors, new startup hubs, and challenges plaguing the ecosystem."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" It also throws light on startups that have attained ‘unicorn’ status and those waiting in the wings as ‘soonicorns’.\n\nAnd, finally, the report gives an overview of how the third-largest startup hub in the world held its ground despite a slowdown that has pushed India two spots behind in global GDP ranking. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/indian-startup-funding-report-2019 ","italic":true},"data":"Download YourStory Research's report on funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem in 2019"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"(Edited by Evelyn Ratnakumar)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Startup funding in the time of economic slowdown: YourStory’s funding report for Jan-Sep 2019\n\n","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20d5e911e899be731e1ddbc52d/9monthsFundingreport800x4001571745609120png?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2019/10/startup-funding-yourstory-research-nine-month-2019-report"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"21st Jan 2020","publishedDate":"January 21, 2020"},{"id":130321,"title":"Startup funding in the time of economic slowdown: YourStory’s funding report for Jan-Sep 2019\n\n","slug":"startup-funding-yourstory-research-nine-month-2019-report","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory Media, presents the startup funding report for January to September 2019. The report delves into investment trends in the Indian startup ecosystem during a period fraught with several economic challenges, and political events. ","publishedAt":"2019-10-31T13:32:45.480Z","updatedAt":"2019-11-04T13:04:54.141Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sameer Ranjan","username":"sameer-ranjan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/google/profile_image_1559647446131.png","path":"/author/sameer-ranjan"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"YourStory Research presents the startup funding report for Jan to Sep, 2019. The report delves into investment trends in the Indian startup ecosystem during a period fraught with several economic challenges and political events. \n","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20d5e911e899be731e1ddbc52d/9monthsFundingreport800x4001571745609120png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20d5e911e899be731e1ddbc52d/9monthsFundingreport800x4001571745609120png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20d5e911e899be731e1ddbc52d/9monthsFundingreport800x4001571745609120png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"sponsoredStory":null,"timeToRead":2,"articleTopics":null,"richArticleTopics":null,"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Delhivery","slug":"delhivery","order":1,"path":"/tag/delhivery"},{"name":"Olacabs","slug":"olacabs","order":2,"path":"/tag/olacabs"},{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":3,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"},{"name":"Funding Report","slug":"funding-report","order":4,"path":"/tag/funding-report"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2019/10/startup-funding-yourstory-research-nine-month-2019-report","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Whether it's election season or an economic slowdown or the regulatory impediments that act as roadblocks for growth, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"startups in India "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"have had their share of issues to deal with this year. What they haven’t had to deal with, however, is a drying up of funding. India's growing crop of disruptive startups has continued to attract investor interest, even amid obvious signs of an economic slowdown. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"According to "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"the research arm of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Media"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"startup funding trends in the first nine months of 2019 show healthy investor interest in Indian startups. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"During a period that saw India’s General Elections, evidence of an economic slowdown, and even some regulatory and taxation issues, Indian startup funding trends managed to buck the trends seen in the overall macro economy.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/funding-report-jan-sep-2019","italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research's "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/funding-report-jan-sep-2019"},"data":"report on nine-month 2019 funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20d5e911e899be731e1ddbc52d/9monthsFundingreport800x4001571745609120png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cbr>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/funding-report-jan-sep-2019","italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research's "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/funding-report-jan-sep-2019"},"data":"report on nine-month 2019 funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Homegrown Indian startups raised $7.67 billion in the nine-months ended September 30, 2019, down slightly by around four percent from $8 billion in the comparable period in 2018. As far as the number of deals go, startup funding deals were just three deals short of the total 606 deals seen in the comparable period last year."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe data-driven funding report for the period of January to September 2019 by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the research arm of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Media"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", provides an in-depth overview of the emerging trends in investment activity in the Indian startup ecosystem. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/fd6b2ee0c6f411e8af1c974e95f3b2db/2019103111572528518591png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Source: YourStory Research\u003c/em>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The report also highlights the sectors favoured by investors, the most active VC firms, and all the big and small deals that dotted the period, keeping the ecosystem thriving at a time when traditional industries became conservative with their spending.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\u003cem>\u003cb>YourStory Research's \u003c/b>\u003c/em>nine-month startup funding report also reveals the diversity of sectors that raised maximum funds, sunrise sectors, new startup hubs, and challenges. It also throws light on startups that have attained ‘unicorn’ status and those waiting in the wings as ‘soonicorns’. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"And finally, the report gives an overview of how the third-largest startup hub in the world held its ground despite a slowdown that has pushed India two spots behind in global GDP ranking.\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/fd6b2ee0c6f411e8af1c974e95f3b2db/201910311572528434655png"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Download "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/funding-report-jan-sep-2019","italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research's "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/funding-report-jan-sep-2019"},"data":"report on nine-month 2019 funding trends in the Indian startup ecosystem"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"31st Oct 2019","publishedDate":"October 31, 2019"},{"id":120905,"title":"The next internet users will come from Tier II and III cities of India: Anil Kumar, RedSeer","slug":"vernacular-languages-internet-users-redseer-report","type":"RICH","subtitle":"RedSeer report ‘Vernacular in NOW, not the future’ suggests that given the growth of vernacular platforms like Dailyhunt and Tik Tok, a fundamental shift in the digital ad spend will take place.","publishedAt":"2019-08-06T13:48:59.752Z","updatedAt":"2019-09-05T07:33:06.769Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Debolina Biswas","username":"debolina-biswas-1","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/3fb20ae0-2dc9-11e9-af58-c17e6cc3d915/profile_image_1644999099601.jpg","path":"/author/debolina-biswas-1"},{"name":"Apurva P","username":"apurva-1540553829","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/79900dd0-d913-11e8-a160-45a90309d734/profile_image_1550068590568.jpg","path":"/author/apurva-1540553829"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"RedSeer report ‘Vernacular in NOW, not the future’ suggests that given the growth of vernacular platforms like Dailyhunt and Tik Tok, a fundamental shift in the digital ad spend will take place. ","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3fb20ae0-2dc9-11e9-af58-c17e6cc3d915/Imagef7b51565094080182.jpg","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3fb20ae0-2dc9-11e9-af58-c17e6cc3d915/Imagef7b51565094080182.jpg","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3fb20ae0-2dc9-11e9-af58-c17e6cc3d915/Imagef7b51565094080182.jpg","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"sponsoredStory":null,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":null,"richArticleTopics":null,"tags":[{"name":"Just In","slug":"news","order":0,"path":"/tag/news"},{"name":"Blume Ventures","slug":"blume-ventures","order":1,"path":"/tag/blume-ventures"},{"name":"vernacular content","slug":"vernacular-content","order":2,"path":"/tag/vernacular-content"},{"name":"Tier II and Tier III cities","slug":"tier-ii-and-tier-iii-cities","order":3,"path":"/tag/tier-ii-and-tier-iii-cities"},{"name":"RedSeer","slug":"redseer","order":4,"path":"/tag/redseer"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2019/08/vernacular-languages-internet-users-redseer-report","featured":false,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Management Consulting company RedSeer on Tuesday released a report titled, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"‘Vernacular is NOW, not the future.’"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The report, released by "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Anil Kumar,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" Founder and CEO, talks about the vernacular market and its effect on how the internet is consumed in Tier II and III cities of India and the perspective of vernacular advertising opportunities. Industry leaders, including "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Sajith Pai "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"– Director, Blume Ventures; "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Vanda Ferraro"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" – Head of Marketing, Licious; "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Umesh Krishna"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" – General Manager (Brand Marketing), Swiggy; "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Kshitij Shah"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" – VC at 3one4 Capital and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Neha Gandhi "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"– Director, Stovekraft were also present at the event. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/3fb20ae0-2dc9-11e9-af58-c17e6cc3d915/Imagef7b51565094080182.jpg","caption":"\u003cp>At the release of the RedSeer report\t\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cbr>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Vernacular content: the new mantra for success in digital marketing","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/2018/12/Social-media.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2018/12/vernacular-content-new-mantra-success-digital-marketing"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nRedSeer conducted "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"3,000 surveys "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"in "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"121 cities and towns"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":" across India and the report is a accumulation of three month’s findings. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Some of the findings of the study were eye-opening and we believe that it will help us in understanding the Indian internet user. Through this report, RedSeer has tried to break some longstanding myths as well as create a greater understanding of the opportunity that the vernacular user base presents for the advertisers,” said Anil. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nAccording to the report, India’s internet adoption reached "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"530 million"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" at a run rate of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"65 million users "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"per year in the last two years. Out of this,"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" 57 percent "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"of the population were active internet users and the rest had intermittent access. \n\nWith the barriers being lowered, internet penetration is expected to grow. Furthermore, with telecom players like"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" Jio "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"subsidising internet prices, an addition of around "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"320 million users are likely to adopt internet by 2023"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":". And these users will come from the Tier II and III cities of India.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Anil said, “Through this study and research, we found that India has added internet users at 8x speed in the last 10 years, driven not by large cities but by small towns and villages where users are entering the digital ecosystem due to access, affordability, and aspirations.” "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":"\nAs vernacular users continue to grow, RedSeer’s report predicts that up to 30 percent of advertising spend is expected to come from vernacular ads.  \n\nFurthermore, Anil mentioned that the top 50 cities today account for less than 20 percent of internet user base, and will continue to decrease as a percentage of overall internet user base in the next five years. \n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“Facebook and Google currently account for upto 80 percent of Indian digital ad spend. Given the growth of vernacular platforms like Dailyhunt and Tik Tok, both in terms of user base and time spent, we expect a fundamental shift in the digital ad spend where these platforms take a larger share of the pie,” said Ujjwal Chaudhry, Director of RedSeer Consulting."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe report also suggests that watching short format videos account for up to 40 percent of the spend on these platforms. The video ads are expected to grow from the current 20 percent of digital ad spend to 40 percent. \n\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"(Edited by Evelyn Ratnakumar)"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"alsoRead","value":{"title":"Vernacular content platform Manch raises seed funding from Stellaris Venture Partners","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/wordpress/2017/02/indian_languages.jpg?fm=png&auto=format&h=100&w=100&crop=entropy&fit=crop","publishedUrl":"https://yourstory.com/2019/01/vernacular-content-manch-seed-funding-stellaris-venture"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                \n\n \n \n"}}],"timeLapsed":"6th Aug 2019","publishedDate":"August 06, 2019"},{"id":119072,"title":"[RESEARCH] Indian startup funding in H1 2019: YourStory Research unveils two in-depth reports on emerging trends, investments","slug":"yourstory-research-reports-indian-startup-funding-women-entrepreneurs-h12019","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory Media, launches two in-depth data-driven reports on Indian startup funding activity in H1 2019, focusing on top trends, investments, sectors, and investors in the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem. ","publishedAt":"2019-07-24T12:24:12.120Z","updatedAt":"2021-04-08T09:00:03.439Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Sameer Ranjan","username":"sameer-ranjan","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/google/profile_image_1559647446131.png","path":"/author/sameer-ranjan"},{"name":"Tenzin Pema","username":"tenzin-pema","order":1,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/fd6b2ee0-c6f4-11e8-af1c-974e95f3b2db/profile_image_1539758811130.jpg","path":"/author/tenzin-pema"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory Media, launches two in-depth data-driven reports on Indian startup funding activity in H1 2019, focusing on top trends, investments, sectors, and investors in the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem. ","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/Combined_Featured_image-011563964649261.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/Combined_Featured_image-011563964649261.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/Combined_Featured_image-011563964649261.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"sponsoredStory":null,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":null,"richArticleTopics":null,"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Sequoia","slug":"sequoia","order":1,"path":"/tag/sequoia"},{"name":"Women entrepreneurs","slug":"women-entrepreneurs","order":2,"path":"/tag/women-entrepreneurs"},{"name":"YourStory Research","slug":"yourstory-research","order":3,"path":"/tag/yourstory-research"},{"name":"Startup Funding","slug":"startup-funding","order":4,"path":"/tag/startup-funding"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2019/07/yourstory-research-reports-indian-startup-funding-women-entrepreneurs-h12019","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/Combined_Featured_image-011563964649261.png","caption":"\u003cp>\u003cem>YourStory Research brings you two in-depth reports on H1 2019 startup funding activity in the Indian startup ecosystem and in women-led/co-founded startups. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cbr>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.instamojo.com/yourstory/h1-2019-indian-startup-funding-reports/"},"data":"[DOWNLOAD YOURSTORY RESEARCH'S H1 FUNDING REPORTS ON INDIAN STARTUPS]"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Indian startup funding trends in the first six months of 2019 show healthy investor interest in Indian startups. Deals and investment activity generally take a backseat during an election season, but the first half of 2019 -- which saw the world await the outcome of India’s general elections with bated breath -- proved to be a rare exception. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Homegrown Indian startups raised $4.88 billion in the first half (H1) of 2019, up 8.7 percent from H1 2018. The number of deals declined 3 percent in the period, reflecting the increase in average deal sizes as investor interest and confidence in Indian startups saw a visible increase."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"In fact, amidst the height of India’s long-drawn out election process -- a time when global and domestic investors tend to prefer to wait on the sidelines -- funding activity in the Indian startup ecosystem continued unabated. "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nIn an attempt to analyse the state of funding in the Indian startup ecosystem, with a particular focus on women-led/co-founded startups, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":", "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"the research arm of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"YourStory Media"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", is launching two data-driven half-yearly funding reports that exclusively focus on home-grown startups. \n\nThe first is an overall funding report of the startup ecosystem in India; the second one showcases funding raised by startups led/co-founded by women.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/H1-19-report-featured-image1563968852571.png","caption":"\u003cp>H1 2019 Indian Startup Ecosystem Funding Report: An in-depth view of the state of funding activity and key trends in the overall Indian startup ecosystem. \u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.instamojo.com/yourstory/h1-2019-indian-startup-funding-reports/"},"data":"[GET YOURSTORY RESEARCH'S H1 FUNDING REPORTS ON INDIAN STARTUPS. BUY HERE.]"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/f0816300-2d6c-11e9-aa97-9329348d4c3e/WOMEN_FUNDING_REPORT_featured_image-011563968676623.png","caption":"\u003cp>H1 2019 Indian Women Startup Funding Report: \u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\">An in-depth view of the state of funding activity and key trends in women-led/co-founded startups. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe two research reports, produced by YourStory Research, provide an in-depth look at the funding trends in the startup ecosystem in H1 2019:\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"H1 2019 Funding Report: Indian Startup Ecosystem:"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" The report provides an in-depth overview of the emerging trends in investment activity in the Indian startup ecosystem. Some of these have attained unicorn status -- valued at $1 billion or more -- while others are waiting in the wings as soonicorns -- or soon-to-be unicorns who have a valuation of over $600 million. The report reveals the diversity of sectors, and includes prominent voices of the industry and their views."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"list":"bullet"},"data":"H1 2019 Indian Women Startup Funding Report: "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The report puts the spotlight on funding activity in startups led/co-founded by women, who raised $487 million in H1 2019, up 77 percent YoY from 68 deals in H1 2019. Despite the increase in funding activity in women-led/co-founded startups, the total amount raised by these startups accounted for just 10 percent of the total amount raised in the Indian startup ecosystem, signalling there's still a long way to go before women-founded startups command the same level of interest."}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nBoth reports reveal sectors that raised maximum funds, active VCs, new trends, sunrise sectors, new startup hubs, and challenges – as seen during the first half of 2019. The reports detail out the multifarious aspects of funding that act as a barometer - and even mirror the development and maturity of India's new economy.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/fd6b2ee0-c6f4-11e8-af1c-974e95f3b2db/PREVIEW1563970324312.png","caption":"\u003cp>A look at some of the key facts and figures of Indian startup funding activity in H1 2019.\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"The two reports also delve into diverse topics, including how startups fared in the face of a slowdown in the general macro economy amidst a generally lean period (general elections) for investment activity. \n\nIf anything, Indian startup funding activity in H1 2019 points to yet another year of growing investor interest, one that may well see the year being remembered as the year of the Indian unicorns, or more accurately, as the year of Indian B2B unicorns.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.instamojo.com/yourstory/h1-2019-indian-startup-funding-reports/"},"data":"[GET YOURSTORY RESEARCH'S H1 FUNDING REPORTS ON INDIAN STARTUPS. BUY HERE.]"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}}],"timeLapsed":"24th Jul 2019","publishedDate":"July 24, 2019"},{"id":111998,"title":"[RESEARCH] YourStory and Kalaari unveil report on the road ahead for India under Modi 2.0","slug":"yourstory-research-kalaari-report-narendra-modi-india-inc-startups","type":"RICH","subtitle":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory, and Kalaari Capital unveil an in-depth report titled ‘India Calling: Modi 2.0 promises stability, growth, returns,’ and analyses the road ahead for India Inc and startups under Narendra Modi’s second term as Prime Minister.","publishedAt":"2019-05-31T00:30:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2019-09-05T07:32:07.335Z","brand":{"name":"YourStory","slug":"yourstory","locale":"en_GB","path":"/"},"metadata":{"authors":[{"name":"Anya George","username":"anyageorge","order":0,"imageUrl":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/users/930f35b0-6b3f-11e9-83be-416c2e530972/profile_image_1556625640809.png","path":"/author/anyageorge"}],"category":{"id":1189,"name":"Reports and Research","slug":"reports-and-research","path":"/category/reports-and-research"},"excerpt":"YourStory Research, the research arm of YourStory, and Kalaari Capital unveil an in-depth report titled, ‘India Calling: Modi 2.0 promises stability, growth, returns,’ and analyses the road ahead for India Inc and startups under Narendra Modi’s second term as Prime Minister.","media":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20-d5e9-11e8-99be-731e1ddbc52d/India-Calling_Feature-Red-image1559300477263.png","thumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20-d5e9-11e8-99be-731e1ddbc52d/India-Calling_Feature-Red-image1559300477263.png","defaultThumbnail":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20-d5e9-11e8-99be-731e1ddbc52d/India-Calling_Feature-Red-image1559300477263.png","brandSpotlight":null,"removeAds":null,"sponsoredStory":null,"timeToRead":3,"articleTopics":null,"richArticleTopics":null,"tags":[{"name":"Indian Startups","slug":"indian-startups","order":0,"path":"/tag/indian-startups"},{"name":"Kalaari Capital","slug":"kalaari-capital","order":1,"path":"/tag/kalaari-capital"},{"name":"Narendra Modi","slug":"narendra-modi","order":2,"path":"/tag/narendra-modi"},{"name":"economy","slug":"economy","order":3,"path":"/tag/economy"},{"name":"Modi government","slug":"modi-government","order":4,"path":"/tag/modi-government"}]},"snippets":null,"trailers":null,"path":"/2019/05/yourstory-research-kalaari-report-narendra-modi-india-inc-startups","featured":true,"mobilePostJson":[{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/01f48b20-d5e9-11e8-99be-731e1ddbc52d/India-Calling_Feature-Red-image1559300477263.png","caption":"\u003cp>Download the report \u003ca href=\"https://mailchi.mp/yourstory/india-calling-modi-promises-stability-growth-returns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nIn the wake of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Prime Minister Narendra Modi"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"’s historic reelection, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"link":"https://yourstory.com/category/reports-and-research/"},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", the research wing of "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"YourStory"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Media"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", along with "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Kalaari Capital"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", is releasing an in-depth report titled, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"‘"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true,"italic":true},"data":"India Calling: Modi 2.0 promises stability, growth, returns.’"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nOver 67 percent of the country’s 900 million eligible voters cast their vote in the elections, marking the highest-ever turnout in India’s parliamentary elections. The people have spoken, and Modi 2.0 will chart India’s path for the next five years.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"header":3},"data":"Download YourStory Research and Kalaari Capital's report titled India Calling: Modi 2.0 promises stability, growth, returns\n"}},{"contentType":"divider","value":{}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nThe BJP-led National Democratic Alliance "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2019/05/india-general-elections-2019-yourstory-coverage"},"data":"swept India’s 2019 general elections on May 23"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":", propelling "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2019/01/yourstory-shradha-sharma-exclusive-interview-narendra-modi"},"data":"Narendra Modi to his second term as Prime Minister"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":". By winning 303 of the 542 seats in India’s Lower House of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, the BJP even increased its lead from the 2014 elections.\n \nTo analyse how far the government has come in terms of reforms, development, and growth, and how much further it can still go, "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"YourStory Research"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"Kalaari Capital’s "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"latest"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":" "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"report looks at the achievement of the Modi government so far. In the report, we also look at the path to growth for companies and the startup ecosystem during his second term.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"image","value":{"src":"https://images.yourstory.com/cs/2/6b393640-140e-11e9-87e2-f7248b252f46/modi1558598602450.png","caption":"\u003cp>The YourStory Research and Kalaari Capital report goes in-depth into some of Narendra Modi's ambitious initiatives to boost the startup ecosystem in India.\u003c/p>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"Modi has cultivated a business-friendly image among India’s "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2019/05/elections-2019-young-india-voters"},"data":"young voters "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"and foreign investors, and has promised to continue the reforms his government initiated during his first term. The government has improved India’s standing among global companies, by cutting red tape and "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"link":"https://yourstory.com/2019/05/pm-modi-elections-2019-booster-shot-startup-india"},"data":"making it easier to start and conduct business"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"data":". However, the government has much to do in addressing farmers woes and improving employment opportunities for the youth of the country.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"blockquote","value":{"formats":{},"data":"“\u003cb>India currently represents 1/10th of humanity as a whole and the sheer scale and execution prowess involved in our democratic process serves as an inspiration to the entire world,” says Vani Kola, Managing Director at Kalaari Capital, in the report.\u003c/b>"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":"\nIndia is a country of many different ethnicities and cultures, and the recent election results showed definitively that it was united in its support for growth and development. Modi’s ambitious plans for Startup India, Digital India, and Make in India augur more innovation for the country. The report goes in-depth into some of these initiatives, and distills them into "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"five emerging trends"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" that investors, entrepreneurs, and startups can expect to benefit from, including the B2B boom, soonicorns, and mobility solutions.\n \nThe report also forecasts "}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"bold":true},"data":"six milestones"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{},"data":" that investors need to watch out from the new government, including a higher number of IPOs, more Indian companies going international, and higher funding for startups.\n\n"}},{"contentType":"text","value":{"formats":{"italic":true},"data":"(Research production, design, and content inputs from Harish Vadde, Dipti Nair, Sutrishna Ghosh, Thimmaya Poojary, and Tenzin 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