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Athera Venture Partners Secures Major Investment from HDFC AMC

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Athera Venture Partners Secures Major Investment from HDFC AMC

Athera Venture Partners, a prominent tech-focused venture capital firm, has successfully secured a substantial investment from HDFC Asset Management Company (AMC’s) Select AIF FoF I Scheme for its upcoming Fund IV. This strategic move strengthens Athera’s position as a leading investor in India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

Key Highlights

  • Significant Investment: HDFC AMC’s investment will play a major role in Athera’s Fund IV, which is targeting a corpus of ₹900 crore (approximately $108 million). This funding will enable Athera to expand its portfolio and support emerging startups.
  • Focus on Tech-Driven Startups: Athera will continue to invest in promising startups operating in sectors such as Consumer Internet, Enterprise Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies. The firm aims to identify and nurture innovative companies that have the potential to disrupt traditional industries.
  • Strong Investment Track Record: Athera has a proven history of backing successful startups, including notable names like redBus, PolicyBazaar, and Pixxel. This track record demonstrates the firm’s ability to identify high-potential ventures and provide them with the necessary resources for growth.
  • Founder-First Approach: Athera is committed to supporting ambitious founders by providing them with the necessary resources and mentorship to scale their businesses effectively. This founder-centric philosophy is central to Athera’s investment strategy.

Athera’s Vision for the Future

With the backing of HDFC AMC, Athera is well-positioned to capitalize on India’s growing startup ecosystem. The firm aims to identify and nurture the next generation of innovative companies that can create significant value across various sectors.

By providing strategic guidance, capital, and operational expertise, Athera empowers entrepreneurs to build sustainable and scalable businesses. The firm’s long-term commitment to its portfolio companies and its strong network of industry leaders contribute to its success.

Recent Developments

Athera Venture Partners recently launched its Fund IV following a rebranding from Inventus Capital in May 2022. The firm has already backed six startups through this fund, including:

  • Clickpost: A logistics platform.
  • CynLr: A robotics startup.
  • Ati Motors: An autonomous electric vehicle manufacturer.
  • Terra: A gaming firm.
  • Hyprbots: An AI finance startup.
  • Billion Hearts: A consumer tech startup founded by Koo co-founder Mayank Bidwatka.

The fund focuses on seed and Series A deals, looking to invest between ₹5 crore to ₹25 crore in 16 to 18 companies over the next 18 to 24 months.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Athera Venture Partners and HDFC AMC underscores the growing trend of domestic capital flowing into India’s venture capital space. As more local investors recognize the potential of homegrown startups, firms like Athera are poised to play a critical role in fostering innovation and driving economic growth in India. With a strong investment strategy focused on technology-driven sectors and a commitment to supporting founders, Athera Venture Partners is well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of the Indian startup ecosystem.

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Zoho Pay Debuts as India’s New UPI Challenger, Taking on PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay

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Zoho Payment

Zoho Corporation has expanded its fintech portfolio with the launch of Zoho Pay, a UPI-based payments app built to challenge India’s top digital payment giants such as PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay. The new app supports peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, QR-based transactions, and merchant settlements in a streamlined interface. Available as both a standalone app and an integrated feature inside Zoho’s privacy-driven messenger Arattai, Zoho Pay enables users to handle chats and payments in one platform, emphasizing data privacy and Made-in-India innovation.​

Through seamless integration with Arattai, Zoho Pay allows users to send or request payments, split expenses, and conduct UPI-based transactions directly in their chat windows. Users can link bank accounts, scan dynamic QR codes, and receive audio confirmations of payments, ensuring speed and security. This design mirrors the simplicity of India’s leading UPI apps but is powered by Zoho’s non-advertising, privacy-first model. The integration aligns with Zoho’s mission to build a self-reliant digital ecosystem, where messaging and money management coexist securely.​

In the competitive digital payments market, Zoho Pay differentiates itself through its tight business software integration with apps like Zoho Books, Zoho Payroll, and Zoho Commerce, offering small businesses unified access to payments, billing, and accounting. The company is also expanding its reach with POS devices for merchants featuring UPI QR, card payments, and instant reconciliation tools. With founder Sridhar Vembu’s vision of a ‘Chat + Pay’ ecosystem, Zoho Pay reflects a bold step toward redefining India’s fintech scene with a secure, ad-free, and locally developed alternative to global payment platforms.

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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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Startup Stories

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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