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Alibaba To Invest In Logistics Startup XpressBees

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Alibaba Group Holdings, China’s online commerce giant, is looking to pick up a significant minority stake in logistics company XpressBees. The company will be investing close to $ 100 million in the Pune based logistics firm, according to three sources.

A source close to the development told The Economic Times, “The deal is likely to close in the next two three weeks.” Both the companies, according to the news daily, have been in talks for a potential investment for the past 18 months. However, the percentage of the minority stake Alibaba will be picking up in XpressBees was not disclosed.

In 2017, the Chinese conglomerate invested in multiple Indian startups including online payments platform Paytm and online grocery delivery services BigBasket. In July last year, reports suggested Alibaba was looking to invest in Gurgaon based logistics startup Delhivery along with XpressBees. Alibaba’s aim with these investments was to build the ‘iron triangle’ of businesses in ecommerce (Paytm Mall, Bigbasket), payments (Paytm) and now logistics to establish an Amazon like network in India. 

XpressBees, founded by Amitava Saha and Supam Maheshwari in 2015, spun out of baby products retailer FirstCry. The ecommerce logistics company, owned by Busybees Logistics Solutions, aims to fulfill comprehensive supply demand needs of India’s online industry. XpressBees offers services including last mile delivery, cross border services, reverse logistics, drop shipping, vendor management, payment collection, fulfillment services and tailored software solutions. The company claims their team delivers 6000+ shipments every day. The company also managed to raise close to $ 12.5 million in a Series A funding round from existing investors SAIF Partners, IDG Ventures, Vertex Ventures and Valiant Capital in 2016. 

Another source further added, “Alibaba wants to make XpressBees the Cainiao of India and over time logistics operations for all companies like Paytm Mall and Bigbasket may get consolidated under it giving it a larger captive customer base.” Post these investments in BigBasket and XpressBees, Alibaba’s total investment in India through its payments affiliate Ant Financial will be close to Rs. 11,000 crores.

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Funding

Agritech Startup Gramik Raises INR 17 Crore to Expand Rural Commerce in India

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StartupStories
  • Gramik, a Lucknow-based agritech startup, has secured INR 17 crore in a bridge funding round ahead of its upcoming INR 56 crore Series A raise.
  • The funding round included investments via Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCDs) and Compulsorily Convertible Debentures (CCDs).
  • Key investors include Sammaan Global Ventures, Money Creeper Investment, and prominent angels such as Balram Yadav (MD & CEO, Godrej Agrovet), Gev Aryaton, Irfan Alam, Nikhil Bhagat, and Salvia Siddiqui.

Gramik’s Unique Peer Commerce Model

  • Founded in 2021 by Raj Yadav, Gramik empowers over 120 million small and marginal farmers in India through a technology-driven rural commerce platform.
  • The startup operates a dual-channel distribution network using Village-Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and rural retailers to deliver high-quality agri-inputs to remote areas.
  • Gramik’s full-stack platform offers demand aggregation, logistics, embedded credit, and agronomy services, ensuring last-mile delivery and support for farmers.

Expansion Plans and Future Growth

  • Gramik currently operates in 12 districts, with 1,200+ active VLEs and 250+ rural retail partners, and plans to expand to 3,000 VLEs and reach 1 million+ farmers across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu.
  • The new funds will be used to expand Gramik’s private-label products, enhance agronomy-led farmer engagement, and scale operations in key states.
  • With a strong focus on supply chain efficiency, technology, and farmer advisory services, Gramik aims to become a leader in India’s $50 billion agri-input and rural commerce market.
  • Backed by previous seed funding of over INR 25 crore, Gramik is set to drive innovation and inclusive growth for rural communities.

 

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Reliance Jio Platforms Puts $100 Billion IPO on Hold to Focus on Growth

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Reliance Jio Platforms, the digital and telecom powerhouse led by Mukesh Ambani, has decided to postpone its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO), shelving plans for a 2025 listing. The IPO, which analysts valued at over $100 billion and expected to be India’s largest-ever stock market debut, will not take place this year. The company has yet to appoint bankers for the process, signaling that preparations for the public offering have not started in earnest.

According to sources close to the matter, Jio Platforms wants to give its business more time to grow before going public. The company is focusing on boosting revenues, expanding its telecom subscriber base, and scaling up its digital services—including apps, connected devices, and AI solutions—so it can achieve a higher valuation when the IPO eventually happens. Nearly 80% of Jio Platforms’ $17.6 billion annual revenue currently comes from its telecom business, Reliance Jio Infocomm, but the company is investing heavily in new digital ventures and partnerships, such as its collaboration with Nvidia on AI infrastructure.

The news of the delay impacted the market, with shares of parent company Reliance Industries falling by up to 1.8% following the announcement. Despite a strong IPO environment in India, Jio’s move is seen as a strategic decision to ensure stronger business fundamentals and a higher valuation before entering the public markets. Major investors, including Google and Meta, are said to support the decision, viewing it as a step toward long-term value creation.

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Flick TV Secures $2.3M to Revolutionize India’s Micro-Drama Streaming Scene

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Flick TV StartupStories

Flick TV, India’s first mobile-focused OTT platform dedicated to micro-dramas, has secured $2.3 million in seed funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from Gemba Capital and Titan Capital. Founded in early 2025 by Kushal Singhal, Pratik Anand, and Sanidhya Mittal, the platform aims to address the growing demand for high-quality, short-form storytelling tailored for mobile consumption. Unlike traditional user-generated short video platforms, Flick TV produces professionally shot, under-five-minute dramas across genres such as romance, thrillers, and slice-of-life—each crafted for vertical viewing to suit India’s rapidly expanding mobile internet audience.

The newly raised capital will be used to scale up content production, with plans to launch over 100 original titles, enhance the platform’s streaming technology, and expand offerings into four regional languages. Flick TV is also investing in generative AI and advanced workflows to streamline scripting and production, aiming to combine creative excellence with operational efficiency. The founders bring deep expertise from previous roles at ShareChat, EloElo, Meesho, and Pocket FM, positioning the company to bridge the gap between creator agility and cinematic storytelling in India’s nascent micro-drama ecosystem.

Industry observers see Flick TV as a frontrunner in India’s next entertainment wave, which is expected to be mobile-native, emotionally engaging, and built for short attention spans. With the micro-drama market projected to reach $5 billion in India over the next five years—mirroring the $7 billion success in China—Flick TV is poised to set new standards for premium, binge-worthy short-form content and redefine streaming for the modern Indian viewer.

 

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