daily roundup (August 2, 2021)

Unacademy raises $440M led by Temasek at $3.4B valuation (Funding)

Edtech unicorn Unacademy has raised $440 million in a new funding round led by Singapore’s Temasek alongside other existing backers such as Softbank Vision Fund, General Atlantic and Tiger Global Management.

The new round will increase the startup’s valuation to $3.44 billion, a 70 percent increase from $2 billion last December.

MS Dhoni has invested in HomeLane to support the brand

Home interior company HomeLane on Monday said it has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with ace cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an equity partner and brand ambassador. As part of the partnership, Dhoni will own equity in HomeLane and will be the brand’s first ambassador, it said in a statement.

B2B FMCG Wholesale Platform Apnaklub Raises $3.5M From Sequoia’s Surge (Funding)

Apnakluba BengaluruB2B wholesale platform for consumer goods (FMCG), has announced that it has raised 3.5 million dollars in seed round of Sequoia Capital India‘c Overvoltagebringing total funds raised to date to $5 million.

Co-founder and COO Manish Kumar said the funding will allow the startup to expand to more rural areas in India, as well as increase the range of services and products for its partners.

Fintech unicorn Pine Labs will train and recruit Olympic and Asian Games athletes every year

In a first-of-its-kind move, a fintech unicorn Pine Labs plans to annually “recruit, train and employ” at least three athletes and/or Olympians from past Asian Games.

Pine Labs plans to “safe land” athletes in their post-sports careers. This is the first time a startup will offer jobs to athletes.

PM Modi to launch digital payment solution e-RUPI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch e-RUPI, a person- and target-specific digital payment solution, on Monday through video conferencing, his office said.

e-RUPI is an e-voucher based on QR code or SMS that is delivered to the mobile phone of the beneficiaries, it said in a statement.

Tokyo Olympics: Indian women’s team reaches semi-final in hockey

A gutsy and determined Indian women’s hockey team etched its name in the history books by entering the semi-finals of the Olympics for the first time, stunning three-time champions and world No.1. 2 Australia 1-0 in an intense last-eight game here on Monday.

A day after the Indian men’s team entered the Olympic semi-finals after a gap of 49 years, world no. The 9-woman side also put in a phenomenally tough performance to force their way through to the last four.

[Funding alert] MoEngage raises $32.5 million from Multiples Alternate Asset Management, others

Moengageinsights-based customer engagement platform on Saturday said it has raised $32.5 million (Rs 241.7 crore) in a funding round led by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. Existing investors Eight Roads Ventures, F-Prime Capital and Matrix Partners also participated, while Exfinity Venture Partners made a solid exit in this round, it said in a statement.

Zomato is introducing invite-only Pro Plus membership for unlimited free deliveries

Specialty Foodtech Zomato is introducing an invite-only Zomato Pro Plus membership that will allow its members to get unlimited free deliveries without extra charges and distance fee along with all the professional benefits, CEO Deepinder Goyal announced on social media. In a tweet, he announced that Zomato has 1.8 million Zomato Pro members as of today and that Zomato is launching a “Limited Edition “Pro Plus” membership for select customers, which is “kind of like Amazon Prime.”

Ahead of the listing, Policybazaar filed a DRHP for an IPO worth Rs 6,017.50 crore

PB Fintechwhich operates an online insurance platform Polisibazar and a credit comparison portal Payzabazar, has filed preliminary filings with market regulator Sebi to raise Rs 6,017.50 crore through an initial public offering (IPO). An IPO includes a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 3,750 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of Rs 2,267.50 crore from existing shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

[Funding alert] ChefKart raises $300K from Titan Capital, Pravega Ventures and others

Gurugram-based ChefKart on Monday said it was promoted 300,000 dollars in pre-seeded round of Titan Capital, Lead Angels, Pravega Ventures, Family Office Office (Ravi Modi), Vipul Alawadi (Co-Founder, Kutumbh) and Pooja Vijayvargiya. ChefKart will use the funds to develop a product that can help users manage overall kitchen needs, upskill, train chefs, attract more customers and chefs to the platform and expand business in Noida, Delhi.

[Funding alert] B2B startup Fashinza raises $20M in Series A round co-led by Accel Partners, Elevation Capital

FashinzaB2B manufacturing marketplace that solves apparel/fashion supply chain challenges by connecting fashion brands with experienced manufacturers announced on Monday that it has raised 20 million dollars in a combination of equity and debt as part of a Series A round. The funds raised will be used by Gurugrambased startup to invest in supply chain technology and expand the company’s presence and manufacturer base globally, particularly in the US and the Middle East.