News Roundup: 8 Startup Stories That You Don’t Want To Miss This Week [3 October – 8 October]

The festive season saw an upswing in traction for all the ecommerce players this week.

Flipkart claimed to sell 15.5 Mn units during its five Big Billion days, with sales on October 3 crossing $210 Mn (INR 1,400 Cr). Amazon India, on the other hand, boasted of clocking an average of 38 orders per second with Amazon Prime during its five-day Great Indian Festive Sale. Also, Snapdeal said it hopes to clock 11 Mn units and register gross sales of $255 Mn – $270 Mn (INR 1,700 Cr – INR 1,800 Cr).

In other news, the Environmental Ministry has issued a show cause notice to ecommerce websites for selling refurbished phones from overseas countries, in India. Ecommerce biggies like Amazon, Snapdeal, Olx, eBay, and a dozen other sites have been served the notice.

Important Developments Of The Week

Ola Launches Offline Booking

Cab-hailing app Ola has launched ‘Ola Offline’ across key metros in India. The feature will enable users to book a cab without Internet on their smartphones. Starting with four metro cities, Ola plans to roll out the feature in rest of the cities, over the coming weeks. The company also launched its auto-rickshaw services  in Thane. Along with Thane, Ola’s Auto service is now available in six cities in Maharashtra, and 72 cities across the country.

NITI Aayog Forms A Panel To Frame Guidelines To Foster Digital Economy

Government’s policy think tank, NITI Aayog has established a committee to propose methods to promote digital payments. It has also invited comments and proposals from all the stakeholders in the Aayog by October 10, 2016.

91springboard Launches New Coworking Space In Mumbai

New Delhi-based coworking space 91springboard has launched a new hub in Mumbai, located at Akruti Trade Center, MIDC, Andheri (East). The launch aims at making it a centre of entrepreneurial activity in the city.

MobiKwik Enters Consumer Loan Segment

Gurugram-based mobile wallet company MobiKwik has forayed into the short-term consumer loan segment. Users can now avail short-term credit loans from its platform. They can also register themselves for EMIs.

Mumbai Toll Plazas Go Cashless

Noida-based mcommerce and mobile wallet platform Paytm has enabled real-time cashless toll collection across the Bandra-Worli Sealink and five other major toll plazas in Mumbai. Using Paytm, commuters can now pay toll charges instantly with their mwallet.

Witworks Launches Wrist Wearable Device Blink

Bengaluru-based consumer IoT startup Witworks has launched a smart wearable device, Blink. Apart from native features, Blink also has the capability to run other key third-party services such as payments, commuting, navigation, local discovery.

Microsoft And Girnar Software Opt For Out Of Court Settlement

The dispute between Microsoft and Girnar Software over the alleged use of unlicensed software products is being amicably resolved. Both the companies have agreed to settle the matter out of court.

Other Developments

GoPigeon Launches ICA

Bengaluru-based technology enabled end-to-end logistics management company GoPigeon has launched a new product feature, ICA – Intelligent Courier Allocation, to effectively optimise its network of logistics partners. The goal is to ensure faster delivery speed, quick claim settlement and increased RTO (Return to Origin) SLA. ICA is an artificial intelligence system that automates and controls the allocation of logistics partners for a particular pin code or location.

Odisha Government To Organise Startup Conclave

Odisha Government will  organise a startup conclave in Bhubaneswar in November this year. The move aims to further strengthen the startup ecosystem of the country. The event will be held on November 28-29, 2016. The conclave will be organised in collaboration with the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, TiE Bhubaneswar, and TiE Silicon Valley.

Intex Technologies Forays Into Ecommerce

Intex Technologies has launched an ecommerce marketplace called Wishnbuy.com. It will be run as a separate entity and will showcase products from diverse manufacturers and even competitors like Samsung, Micromax, Lava and others. Also, it has partnered Tata Teleservices’ mobile wallet mRUPEE to launch Intex MyWallet. The mobile wallet will be integrated with the mobile phones it sells.

Bengaluru’s Trinity Metro Station To Get Incubator

A startup incubation centre will open in Bengaluru’s Trinity Metro Station in a month. The initiative is in line with the government’s efforts to list Bengaluru in top startup ecosystems of the world. An agreement has been signed between Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) and city-based Candor Management Services Private Limited, a talent solutions company, for the same.

GoDaddy Launches Social Networking App

Cloud-based internet domain name enterprise GoDaddy has launched a community-based app called Flare that aims to materialise business ideas into reality. Flare offers a platform for its users to share ideas with entrepreneurs with an immediate feedback.

Trupay partners with PayPal

Trupay has  partnered with global payment processor PayPal Pte. Ltd, to allow its customers pay internationally. The deal also enables PayPal to use Trupay for its inward payments in India.

Urban Ladder Partners With GoZefo

Online furniture retailer Urban Ladder has partnered with GoZefo, which deals in refurbished household goods to power its exchange programmes. According to a company statement, a lot of customers want to buy new furniture but they indefinitely push the purchase because they don’t know what to do with their existing furniture. This partnership aims to fill that pain point.

Uttar Pradesh Polls To Be Monitored By Mobile App

The Election Commission of India has released a mobile app to track any additions or deletions made to the voter lists. The app has been developed by the UP state unit of the National Informatics Centre. It aims to ensure accuracy, and a grievance redressal information system is next in the pipeline.

FindMyStay Introduces ‘Book Now, Pay At Hotel’

Reverse-bidding hotel booking platform FindMyStay has introduced a new feature called ‘Book now, Pay at Hotel’ allowing guests to make the payment directly at the hotel while checking in. The platform’s value proposition ‘Pay what you want’ has now been expanded to ‘Pay what you want, when you want’. The move aims to get its customers complete control over their hotel booking experience

Zebronics Enters Wearable Market With ZEB – Fit100

A leading supplier of IT peripherals, audio/video products and surveillance products, Zebronics India Pvt. Ltd has entered the wearable segment, with the launch of ‘ZEB –Fit100’. This is a smart fitness band, to adopt a more intuitive way of life, that will help a user achieve his health goals while elevating his fitness style quotient.

Uber And redBus Partner With ixigo

Uber and redBus have partnered with ixigo to make booking cabs and buses easy while using ixigo’s train app. When a confirmed train PNR appears on the user’s phone, the app contextually reminds users to book an Uber just before departure from their original city and upon arrival at their destination city. If a user’s desired train ticket is waitlisted or unavailable, they are also reminded about the prices and availability of buses for that route via redBus.

Shopmatic Partners Up With GATES APAC

Singapore-based ecommerce company Shopmatic, has announced a strategic partnership with GATES APAC, Singapore. The partnership will facilitate Shopmatic’s business expansion in the rapidly growing Indian ICT market.

Zopper Unveils New Logo

Hyperlocal marketplace Zopper has unveiled its new brand positioning and new logo. The redesign is meant to emphasise what the brand fundamentally stands for – combining the best of online and local shopping. The team also recently launched two new pillars of business – Zopper Assure extended warranty, and EasyPOS software platform. As mentioned by the company, the icon in the new logo is a union between an awning, symbolising the trust of local stores and a location pin. Together, they form the unique core of Zopper, which is make shopping free of compromises.

Argentum Technologies Launches CurrencyKart

Delhi-based fintech startup Argentum Technologies Pvt. Ltd has announced the launch of CurrencyKart, to revolutionise the forex business in India. The move aims to provide unparalleled convenience to the money changers and travellers for the best deals on foreign exchange. The company has also introduced a mobile application for both iOS and Android devices so that users can deal with currencies from anywhere using their smartphones. Currently, CurrencyKart has its direct presence in 20 cities across the nation and growing its dealer network with every passing day.

ShopClues Witnesses Increase In Mobile App Downloads

Shopclues has claimed to witness 3.5X times organic growth for Android app installs and 4X times organic growth in iOS installs. Tier III cities like Salem, Cuttack, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Thrissur, Jammu, Aligarh, Jamshedpur, Durgapur etc., have witnessed an increase in app download by 153%, whereas Tier II cities like Lucknow, Patna, Bhopal, Indore, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Surat, Kanpur, Visakhapatnam experienced 138% rise. In Tier I cities, ShopClues witnessed only 117% growth in app traffic for Diwali sales.

Wydr Offers Easy Access To Working Capital Loans

Wydr has entered into a strategic partnership for preferential rates with multiple online lending companies such as Lendingkart, CapitalFloat, Indifi, and Flexiloans. The move is aimed at offering easy and collateral-free working capital loan to the retailers with minimum documentation.

Radio Mirchi Partners With Gaana

Online music broadcasting app Gaana has added Mirchi Murga and Hansi ke Phuwarey, two of Radio Mirchi’s most popular humor shows. These two programmes are now live on Gaana, and Radio Mirchi and Gaana intend to add more original content soon. These offerings will also be promoted across Radio Mirchi’s 44 radio stations in India. Also, Gaana has been expanding its original content library, with over 10 new series. With specials such as “Sit Down Comedy with Rajneesh Kapoor”, or “The Asha Verdict with Asha Bhosle,” Gaana’s specials add a new dimension to the product.

Indus OS Partners With Karbonn Mobiles

Indus OS has announced its partnership with Jaina Group, the brand owners of Karbonn Mobiles. This partnership will be an add-on to the existing partnership with Micromax, and two homegrown brands – Celkon and Swipe. As claimed in an official statement, the partnership will play a pivotal role in simplifying the web experience for regional language-speaking users, further driving adoption.

Book OYO Through Niki.Ai Bot

OYO has entered into a partnership with niki.ai, enabling users to book an OYO room using niki.ai’s bot – a personal assistant application powered by artificial intelligence. This partnership enables OYO and niki.ai’s users to accomplish the task of searching and booking hotels seamlessly through a chat-enabled interface.

Jugnoo Offers B2B Logistics Service In Major Metropoles

Jugnoo Delivery, which was launched in mid-2016, is now operational in 13 cities, including major metropoles like Delhi and Bengaluru. It has further plans to launch in Chennai and Hyderabad within a month. Expanding its recently launched ‘Web Booking’ feature, Jugnoo also added its B2B logistics unit Jugnoo Delivery to the same. Furthermore, as a part of its business consolidation and expansion process, the service that was previously known as Dodo Deliveries has now been rebranded as Jugnoo Delivery.

Droom Accelerates To $15 Mn Monthly GMV In 19 Months

Online automobile marketplace Droom has left behind the $150 Mn (INR 1,000 Cr) annualised GMV milestone to register a 700% Y-O-Y growth. It has clocked a GMV of $15.5 Mn (INR 104 Cr) in 19 months.  Droom has already registered over $179.7 Mn (INR 1,200 Cr) in annualised GMV, with plans to achieve $449 Mn (INR 3,000 Cr) by March 2017 and estimating a colossal growth to the tune of $749 Mn (INR 5,000 Cr) by December 2017.

The company has also allocated $1.5 Mn (INR 10 Cr) as its marketing budget. The move is aimed at driving 30-35% growth for Droom during the festive season and coincides with the launch of its Auto Festival, which showcases the latest cars, bikes, scooters, super bikes and premium cars at unbelievably affordable prices. The platform currently has  78K+ B2C sellers, 25K+ products, 113K+ listings, and $867.88 Mn (INR 5,780 Cr) in listed GMV

ESOP Online Launches Advanced Version Of  Signature ESOP Guardian Software

ESOP Online has announced the launch of a new version of its signature ESOP Guardian software, a web-based comprehensive system for managing ESOPs. The new version of the software comes with world-class features for the advancement of ESOP management: be it Advisory, Preparation or Implementation of ESOPs for small and mid-sized to large-sized companies. ESOP Online is a venture of corporate professionals and claims to be the only platform for 360-degree ESOP needs including legal, taxation, regulatory and management support.

Aasaanjobs Launches Hiring Cost Tool

Online recruitment marketplace Aasaanjobs has announced the launch of its industry-first recruitment tool, named Hiring Cost Tool. This first-of-its-kind human resource planning tool helps employers to estimate how much money they are spending for each new hire and how to lower the hiring costs. The company also announced recently that it has reached 5 Lakh registered candidates in less than two years of existence.

Facebook Joins Mobile10X

Facebook has joined the Mobile10X programme in India, an initiative by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) to boost the app ecosystem. The programme aims to make India a Global App Superpower over the next five years through positively intervening at every stage of the app development lifecycle. The goal is to increase the pool of high-quality app developers in India from 50K to 500K in five years.

AppAlert Marks its Global Foray Via Africa

US-based AppAlert Inc’s Indian subsidiary, AppAlert Online Services has announced its global expansion plans with an entry in Africa as its first stop. AppAlert is the first to launch a mobile-only platform in the cloud, that helps parents as well as the school management know the precise location of children when they are on the school bus.

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