Author: StartupGuy

VC Insights | Issue# 13 [May 7, 2025] What? The first quarter of 2025 showed promising signs for India’s late-stage startup ecosystem with a significant uptick in funding for Series F and above. However, shifting global economic conditions are forcing both investors and IPO-bound startups to adjust their strategies in what experts describe as increasingly […]

VC Insights | Issue# 12 [May 6, 2025] What? After separating from Sequoia Capital two years ago, Peak XV Partners is making a significant move in the Indian and Southeast Asian venture capital landscape. The firm is gearing up to launch its first independent investment vehicle since the split, targeting a substantial fundraise to back […]

VC Insights | Issue# 11 [March 11, 2025] What? Prime Venture Partners, a prominent early-stage venture capital firm in India, has successfully raised $100 Mn for its fifth investment fund. The firm plans to deploy this capital strategically, offering initial investments ranging from $2-4 Mn with potential scaling up to $12 Mn per company. Their […]

Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 12 [February 16, 2025] Last updated on May 29, 2025 The DeepSeek Revolution Recently, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek disrupted the AI landscape with its open-source Large Language Model (LLM) DeepSeek-R1, proving that AI startups can build competitive models without relying on vast amounts of high-end GPUs. This efficiency […]

Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 11 [February 12, 2025] What? The past year established Quick Commerce (QC) as one of the fastest growing market segments 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, […]

VC Insights | Issue# 10 [January 16, 2025] Rising Investor Interest in AI Startups In 2024, Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Generative AI (GenAI), saw widespread adoption across industries. Alongside AI-focused Indian startups, investors too showed strong interest in AI-driven startups, resulting in noteworthy funding rounds, such as Sentient Labs’ $85 Mn and Nurix AI’s $27.5 […]

VC Insights | Issue# 9 [January 14, 2025] What? 2024 saw a rise in the quantum of VC investments that poured into the Indian startup ecosystem. Precisely, the number rose 20% from $10 Bn in 2023 to $12 Bn in 2024. Interesting changes underlined this shift – from a rise in the number of IPOs, […]

Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 10 [December 20, 2024] What? Zomato-owned Blinkit has expanded its services with the launch of Bistro, a new quick food delivery app. Currently in the pilot phase, Bistro operates in select areas of Gurugram and other areas of Delhi-NCR, delivering meals, snacks, and beverages in under 15 minutes, […]

Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 9 [December 17, 2024] What? Swiggy has introduced a new feature, Swiggy Scenes, as part of its Dineout offering. The feature allows users to book events (including curated dining options), parties, and live music at partner restaurants in Delhi and Bengaluru. Currently, over 50 events are available in […]

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 […]