Author: Himanshu Sindhi

Spalba, a SaaS-enabled B2B venue marketplace, is charting an ambitious growth path with a target of Rs 100 crore in turnover by FY26. This comes after closing FY25 with Rs 60 crore in consolidated revenue, marking an astounding 3000% year-on-year growth for the bootstrapped and profitable Gurugram-based startup. Key Business Milestones: What Does Spalba Do? Spalba operates at the intersection of digital hospitality infrastructure and event planning, offering a tech-first venue discovery and booking platform tailored for India’s Rs 200 billion events industry. Check out Spalba’s platform: www.spalba.com Pan-Asia Expansion Strategy: Platform Expansion Goals by FY26: Tech-Led Differentiation: Major Clients:…

Estailo, a Korean-inspired D2C fashion accessories startup, has raised Rs 75 lakh in seed funding from venture studio Wolfpack Labs. This investment marks a significant step for the brand as it expands both its digital and offline presence while catering to young, fashion-forward Indian consumers. Key Highlights: Estailo’s Growth Trajectory: Strategic Backing by Wolfpack Labs: Women-Driven Creativity: Founder Sangeeta Dudeja attributes Estailo’s success to its predominantly women-led team, which she says brings deeper consumer empathy and creative innovation to the brand. “Our journey began with a firm belief that Indian women deserve access to fashion-forward accessories that do not compromise…

KhiladiPro, a Bengaluru-based sportstech startup, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round aimed at transforming the way India identifies, assesses, and nurtures its young sporting talent. Key Highlights: Purpose of Funding What Makes KhiladiPro Unique? KhiladiPro is among the first Indian startups to combine mobile-based visual AI with globally recognized athlete development frameworks to provide expert-level sports assessment. Key Products and Initiatives With over 56 proprietary AI models, KhiladiPro claims it is building a digitally-empowered, Olympic-aligned pipeline for India’s youth athletes. Strategic Partnerships These partnerships are helping KhiladiPro make inroads into schools, grassroots centers, and coaching hubs, offering…

Snitch, the fast-rising Bengaluru-based menswear brand, has secured ₹340 crore (approx. $40 million) in a Series B funding round, catapulting its valuation beyond ₹2,500 crore. This fresh capital comes as a major milestone in the startup’s journey to scale operations and build a deeper omnichannel presence. Key Highlights: Growth Strategy and Vision What Makes Snitch Unique? Snitch operates on a “trend-first, fast fashion” model, offering weekly product drops. It is heavily favored by Gen Z and millennial men who are fashion-conscious and prefer high-frequency style updates. “Built on belief, speed and an obsession with our customer, Snitch has been a…

The Supreme Court of India has put a temporary halt on the proceedings related to a massive ₹5,712 crore GST Show Cause Notice (SCN) issued to First Games Technology Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of One97 Communications Ltd (Paytm). The interim relief was granted on May 23, with Paytm officially disclosing the development in a regulatory filing on May 24, 2025. Key Highlights: Supreme Court’s Interim Order The apex court, while responding to a petition filed by First Games, stated: “Further proceedings of all the impugned show cause notices shall remain stayed till the final disposal of the main matter along…

Zepto Cafe, the quick-service food vertical of hyperlocal delivery startup Zepto, has temporarily closed operations in several smaller cities across North India, including Agra, Chandigarh, Meerut, Mohali, and Amritsar. According to ET Now, approximately 44 cafes have been put on hold, impacting over 400 employees, including staff from recently launched outlets. Key Points: What Triggered the Closures? Reports from Moneycontrol indicate that Zepto was burning ₹250–300 crore per month late last year. This aggressive spending has now been significantly reduced: A key step in cost-cutting includes reducing store manpower—from nine employees per café to seven or eight—in an effort to…

In a significant milestone for India’s pet care industry, Drools Pet Food Private Limited has announced that it has become India’s first pet food unicorn. The development follows a minority investment by global food giant Nestlé S.A., the parent company of Nestlé India. Though the deal size remains undisclosed, Drools confirmed it will continue to operate independently after the investment. Key Highlights: About Drools: Founded in 2010 by Fahim Sultan, Drools is now one of India’s leading pet food brands, offering a variety of products under names like: Market Presence: Financial Performance: Despite the net loss, Drools’ significant growth in…

In a bold step toward reshaping the on-demand fashion landscape, Bengaluru-based startup Slikk has raised $10 million in its Series A funding round led by Nexus Venture Partners, with continued participation from existing investor Lightspeed. This marks the startup’s second round of funding in just two months, following a $3.2 million seed round in March 2025. Quick Highlights: How Slikk Works: Slikk has pioneered a 60-minute fashion delivery model with a Try & Buy option, allowing customers to order, try on, and return items with minimal friction. This rapid fashion experience has gained traction among urban consumers, college students, and…

Gurugram-based value fashion retailer Citykart has secured ₹538 crore ($63 million) in its Series B funding round, marking one of the largest investments in India’s budget fashion retail space to date. The round was co-led by TPG NewQuest—a secondary private equity platform within TPG—and A91 Partners, a domestic growth-stage investment firm. This significant capital infusion is expected to turbocharge the brand’s retail expansion and product innovation. Deal Structure & Investor Update Expansion & Strategic Vision According to a company press release, the primary funds will be used to expand store footprint and diversify product assortment across underserved markets. Founder &…

Gurugram-based logistics SaaS startup Fleetx has raised ₹113 crore ($13.2 million) in a Series C funding round, led by existing investors IndiaMART Intermesh and BEENEXT’s Accelerate Fund. The round consists of a mix of primary and secondary transactions, according to a report first published by Entrackr. This latest round comes more than two years after Fleetx raised $19.4 million in its Series B round in February 2022. With the fresh capital, Fleetx aims to enhance its product stack and scale operations in the mid-market and enterprise segments across India. Key Highlights Strategic Roadmap and Product Vision Fleetx operates at the…