
StartupGuy is a personal endeavor to stay abreast of the latest developments in the Indian startup and Venture Capital (VC) ecosystem. I am indebted to some really meaningful content encompassing Indian startups and VCs across the internet – Inc42, YourStory, Indian Startup News, Entrackr, to name a few, that help shape the blogs. A part of the blogs do reflect my own thoughts about the topics being blogged.
This blog is dedicated to Kiran Bapna, who was embraced by Mother Nature for the kind, caring, loving, helpful, and large-hearted person she was, during her journey through the Tirthan Valley trails in Himachal Pradesh in 2023. Kiran handheld and mentored me, and taught me everything about the Indian startup and VC ecosystem while she was my manager at Google. She was one of the rare professionals who did not have an agenda and let everyone around her grow. Professionally (and personally to a certain extent), whatever I am today, I owe it to Kiran – and her selfless love and support for one and all. She taught me how to work with the best in the business and become a better version of myself with each passing day.
I strive to pass forward the values and goodness I inculcated from Kiran to the teams I manage. Kiran was the motivation behind this blog when I decided to start writing, as I had already moved on from the startup and VC ecosystem (but not from the love for it) to something else. When I started off, I thought of writing for a year and then surprising her with the blogs – she would have been thrilled. I am sure she is, as I await her return!
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From Early- to Growth-Stage: Shifting Investment Trends in Indian Startups
VC Insights | Issue# 8 [December 16, 2024] Shift in Funding Activity? Investment activity in the Indian startup ecosystem has been undergoing an interesting shift in 2024. VCs and other investors have shifted their focus to growth- and late-stage bets, moving away from the early-stage investments that were favored before the funding winter of the…
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Zomato’s “Food Rescue” Aims to Curb Food Wastage
Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 8 [November 19, 2024] What? Zomato has introduced Food Rescue to reduce waste from cancelled orders. Over 400,000 meals are wasted monthly due to cancellations. This feature allows users within 3 km of a cancelled order to purchase it at a discount. These meals are delivered in original,…
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Can Blinkit Win the Quick Commerce Race?
Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 7 [November 18, 2024] What? The Quick Commerce (QC) battle is intensifying in India, with Blinkit, Swiggy’s Instamart, and Zepto competing fiercely, while heavyweights like Amazon (plans to launch instant delivery in Q4 FY25), Flipkart (with Flipkart Minutes), Tata’s BigBasket, and Reliance’s JioMart are gearing up to go…