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Alibaba Seeks Government Approval To Invest In BigBasket

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Alibaba.com, the China based ecommerce website, has sought for approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI,) to buy stake in the online grocery startup, BigBasket. Alibaba.com Singapore ECommerce Pvt., Ltd., is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

VCCircle reported, Alibaba.com will infuse the funds in Supermarket Grocery Supplies Pvt., Ltd., which owns BigBasket. However, the eretail firm is run by Innovative Retail Concepts Pvt., Ltd. Recently, multiple media reports suggested, Alibaba and digital wallet startup, Paytm, might invest close to $200 million in BigBasket. However, sources clarified Paytm may not invest in BigBasket as earlier speculated. Nevertheless, Alibaba’s investment in the company will give Paytm an indirect toehold in India’s online grocery industry.

The Indian Internet food retail industry is on track to hit $1 billion in 2017 and may even be valued at $ 1.2 trillion by 2020, according to a report by the research firm RedSeer. The online grocery market currently accounts for 48% of India’s total retail consumption. Last week, homegrown ecommerce giant Flipkart, also launched its grocery delivery service, Supermart, in Bengaluru to capture a share of the lucrative market. Backed by SoftBank, Flipkart has the added advantage of a $ 4 billion investment and strong tech capabilities.

Along with Flipkart, BigBasket faces strong competition from Groffers and Amazon. This investment by Alibaba will also affect Amazon’s growing presence in the Indian ecommerce market. While Amazon’s talks for a potential investment in BigBasket fizzled out, the global ecommerce giant received the government’s approval for a $ 500 million foreign direct investment. In August this year, it was also reported Amazon might investment in Grofers, but, they were termed as “rumor and speculation” by a spokesperson.

Founded by V.S. Sudhakar, Hari Menon, V.S. Ramesh, Vipul Parekh and Abhinay Choudhari, BigBasket raised about $ 305.8 million in investments in six funding rounds since 2011. The eretail firm also claims to have over 5 million registered customers and has a presence in over 30 cities in India. At present, BigBasket offers over 20,000 products from 1000 brands and claims to receive over 50,000 orders each day. For the financial year 2017, the company reported a revenue of Rs. 1,400 crores.

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Meta Expands AI-Powered Reels Translation to Hindi and Portuguese, Enhancing Global Creator Reach

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Meta has expanded its AI-powered translation feature for Reels to include Hindi and Portuguese, joining English and Spanish in empowering creators to reach a broader global audience on Instagram and Facebook. Originally launched in August 2025 with support for English and Spanish, this update now allows creators to seamlessly translate and dub their short videos, breaking language barriers across some of the largest Reels markets worldwide. The AI technology mimics the creator’s voice tone and even offers lip-syncing to ensure the translated videos feel natural and engaging for viewers.​

This enhancement is especially significant for India, the largest market for Facebook and Instagram, where over 600 million people speak Hindi. Content creators who are not fluent in Hindi can now easily access this vast audience, increasing their reach and engagement across diverse linguistic groups. To maintain transparency, all translated Reels are clearly labeled with “Translated with Meta AI,” and viewers can choose to switch translations on or off based on their preference.​

In addition to voice dubbing, Meta is developing features to translate captions and text stickers on Reels, making content more accessible even without sound. These AI translation tools are available free for eligible public Instagram accounts and Facebook creator profiles with over 1,000 followers. This innovation reinforces Meta’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural content sharing and enhancing creators’ ability to connect with audiences around the world through short-form videos.

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Dunzo’s Collapse: Reliance’s ₹1,645 Crore Loss Signals Challenges in India’s Hyperlocal Delivery Market

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Reliance Industries has officially written off its $200 million investment in Dunzo, a once promising quick-commerce startup in India. Despite high-profile backing and the potential to disrupt the hyperlocal delivery sector, Dunzo faced insurmountable challenges including high operational costs, unsustainable cash burn, and stiff competition from larger players like Zepto and Blinkit. Reliance’s decision follows Dunzo’s operational suspension, leadership exits, and failed attempts at securing additional funding or acquisition partners, ultimately resulting in the company’s digital platforms going offline in early 2025.​

The downfall of Dunzo was accelerated by its inability to maintain a healthy balance between rapid expansion and revenue growth, with losses in FY23 reaching an alarming ₹1,800 crore. With monthly expenses crossing ₹100 crore and mounting pressure to scale, Dunzo resorted to layoffs and delayed payments before shutting down most services outside Bengaluru. Reliance’s significant stake, initially seen as a strategic advantage, ended up limiting the startup’s flexibility in making independent decisions during its final months.​

Reliance’s write-off sends a strong message to India’s startup ecosystem about the risks inherent in quick-commerce and hyperlocal delivery models. Investors are increasingly focused on sustainable growth, disciplined scaling, and profitability. For Reliance, lessons from Dunzo’s collapse are shaping future e-commerce strategies, driving greater emphasis on operational efficiency and prudent financial planning in an intensely competitive market.

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Zoho Arattai vs WhatsApp: 5 Reasons India’s Homegrown Messenger Is Winning in 2025

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Zoho Arattai messenger has rapidly gained popularity in India by offering features tailored specifically for Indian users, setting itself apart from global competitors like WhatsApp. Arattai delivers exceptional regional language support, intuitive low-bandwidth messaging, and a lightweight interface, making it especially accessible to rural communities and users on lower-end smartphones. This focus on localization and inclusivity gives Arattai a significant edge in the Indian market, ensuring seamless communication even in remote areas.

Beyond usability, Arattai places a strong emphasis on user privacy and data sovereignty. The app stores all user data within India and follows a strict no-ads, no data-selling policy, which guarantees that personal information remains secure and uncompromised. While WhatsApp does provide robust end-to-end encryption, its global servers and Meta-owned data monetization model have raised concerns among privacy-conscious users. Arattai’s transparent approach makes it a trusted and attractive alternative for those who value privacy and wish to avoid intrusive advertisements or AI profiling.

Unique features such as integrated meetings, TV compatibility, and advanced mentions functionality further establish Arattai’s position as a well-rounded and future-ready messaging app. These India-first innovations, combined with Arattai’s ad-free philosophy, clean interface, and powerful optimizations for local contexts, make it the preferred messaging solution for those seeking a modern, secure, and regionally relevant alternative to WhatsApp.

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