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Anand Chandrasekaran Joins Celesta Capital as Managing Partner!

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Anand Chandrasekaran Joins Celesta Capital as Managing Partner!

Celesta Capital, a leading deep tech investment firm, has announced the appointment of Anand Chandrasekaran as a Managing Partner. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Chandrasekaran brings a wealth of experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and investment that will enhance Celesta’s strategic direction.

Career Highlights

Prior to joining Celesta, Chandrasekaran served as a Partner at General Catalyst, where he played a pivotal role in identifying and scaling transformative startups. His tenure at General Catalyst was marked by significant contributions to early-stage investments, particularly in the Indian and American markets. He has also held leadership positions at prominent companies such as Meta, Five9, Bharti Airtel, and Snapdeal.

  • Meta: As Director of the Messenger Platform, he was instrumental in developing features that enhanced user engagement.
  • Five9: As Executive Vice President of Products, he contributed to the company’s growth, which added $10 billion in market value since 2019.
  • Bharti Airtel: As Chief Product Officer, he helped shape the mobile operator’s product strategy for its 300 million subscribers.
  • Snapdeal: He served as Chief Product Officer at one of India’s leading e-commerce platforms.

Chandrasekaran is also known for his entrepreneurial spirit; he co-founded Aeroprise Inc., which was acquired by BMC Software. His extensive experience includes building five products that collectively grew to over 10 million users, with one product surpassing 1 billion users.

Vision for Celesta Capital

“I’m thrilled to join the talented team at Celesta Capital,” said Chandrasekaran. “Their passion for backing deep tech innovation aligns perfectly with my own. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s mission and fostering the growth of groundbreaking startups.” His addition to Celesta Capital’s team further strengthens the firm’s position as a leading investor in deep tech.

Impact on Celesta Capital

Chandrasekaran’s extensive network and insights into the tech landscape will be invaluable in identifying and nurturing promising startups. His background in both product development and venture capital positions him uniquely to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and market realities.

Founded in 2013, Celesta Capital has a strong track record of investing in early-stage deep tech companies across various sectors, including hardware, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI). The firm aims to accelerate its growth and expand its investment portfolio under Chandrasekaran’s leadership.

Educational Background

Anand holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Communications Engineering from PSG College of Technology in India. His accomplishments have been recognized globally; he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2010 and featured in Fortune’s ‘40 under 40’ list in 2017.

Conclusion

Anand Chandrasekaran’s appointment as Managing Partner at Celesta Capital marks a significant milestone for both him and the firm. With his wealth of experience and commitment to fostering innovation, he is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of deep tech investments. As Celesta Capital continues to support transformative startups, Chandrasekaran’s leadership is expected to drive impactful changes within the industry.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. droversointeru

    December 30, 2024 at 7:24 am

    I haven’t checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

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Blissclub Raises INR 33 Crore in Fresh Funding Months After Layoffs

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Blissclub, the women-centric D2C apparel brand, has raised INR 33 crore in a Pre-Series B funding round led by Elevation Capital, with Eight Roads Ventures also participating. This funding comes just three months after the company laid off 18% of its workforce-about 21 employees from creative, sales, marketing, growth, and product teams-due to high cash burn and challenges in securing new capital.

The latest investment was made through the allotment of 16,076 compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) at a premium of INR 20,428 each. Elevation Capital invested INR 19 crore, securing a 24.5% stake, while Eight Roads Ventures contributed INR 14 crore, raising its stake to 15.79%. The capital will be used for working capital, capital expenditure, and general corporate purposes.

Founded in 2020 by Minu Margeret, Blissclub started as an online activewear brand for women and has since diversified its product range and established offline stores. Despite recent restructuring, the company’s revenue grew 27% to INR 86.9 crore in FY24 from INR 68.3 crore in FY23, though net losses also increased to INR 43.9 crore.

Blissclub’s successful fundraising, despite recent layoffs, underscores both the ongoing challenges and the resilience of India’s D2C startup sector in a difficult funding environment.

 

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Apple to Shift Entire US iPhone Assembly to India by 2026

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Apple is set to relocate all assembly of iPhones destined for the US market from China to India by the end of 2026, marking its biggest manufacturing shift in decades. The move is driven by escalating US-China trade tensions and steep tariffs—up to 145% on Chinese imports—making Chinese assembly increasingly costly for Apple. Although some smartphone imports are temporarily exempt, a 20% duty still applies to Chinese-made iPhones entering the US.

 

India, in contrast, offers a more favorable trade environment, with a paused 26% reciprocal tariff and ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade deal with the US that could shield Indian exports from future levies. Apple plans to more than double its current iPhone output in India, aiming to assemble over 60 million units annually for the US market. The company already produces about 25% of its global iPhones in India, working with partners like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron.

 

This shift is part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China amid geopolitical risks. However, the transition’s success will depend on how quickly India can scale up its manufacturing capabilities and the outcome of ongoing trade negotiations.


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PhonePe’s PINCODE Launches 10-Minute Medicine Delivery in Cities

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PhonePe’s PINCODE app has launched a 24×7 online medicine delivery service in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Pune, promising delivery of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines within 10 minutes from nearby local medical shops. Unlike conventional e-pharmacies that use dark stores, PINCODE partners exclusively with neighborhood pharmacies, enabling faster deliveries and supporting local businesses in the digital economy.

Customers without prescriptions can select a “no prescription” option when ordering; a qualified doctor then provides a free teleconsultation and issues a digital prescription compliant with telemedicine guidelines, ensuring seamless access to medicines. The app offers competitive pricing by passing discounts from local pharmacies directly to customers and charges no delivery fees.

PINCODE’s hyperlocal model enhances healthcare accessibility and convenience while empowering local pharmacies, helping them remain integral to their communities and stimulating local economic growth. Launched in 2023, the app focuses on quick commerce with an emphasis on speed, reliability, and supporting local sellers.

In summary, PhonePe’s PINCODE app is transforming medicine delivery in major Indian cities by combining ultra-fast 10-minute delivery, free doctor consultations, and a hyperlocal sourcing model that benefits both consumers and neighborhood pharmacies.

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