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Flipkart To Invest In Logistics Arm eKart

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Flipkart, India’s largest ecommerce site, reportedly infused another $ 257.3 million in its logistics services arm eKart. According to filings with Registrar of Companies, Flipkart raised this sum in multiple tranches between October and November last year. eKart is operated by Instakart Services Pvt., Ltd.

VCCircle reported the ecommerce firm raised close to $ 51.56 million in October last year. The company further raised the bulk of the investment amounting to $206.6 million in November 2017, in two tranches. The filings also revealed, eKart raised this capital by allocating equity shares worth Rs. 62.51 apiece to its Singapore based group firm Klick2Shop Logistics International Pvt., Ltd. Lick2Shop Logistics controls Instakart and is considered to be a subsidiary of Flipkart Pvt., Ltd.

In October last year, reports suggested eKart had earmarked $ 460.7 million in the form of a strategic reserve pool. In the RoC filings, the company said,“Considering the future requirements of the company whereby it may have to make strategic investments in other business/acquire companies for inorganic growth, extend loans and/ or guarantee to other corporates or provide security in connection with loans availed by other corporate. It is proposed to fix the limits at Rs. 3, 000 crores.

2017 was undoubtedly a good year for the homegrown online retailer. Flipkart set records and raised $ 4 billion from Japan based venture capital firm SoftBank. Despite a failed merger deal with rival Snapdeal, the ecommerce behemoth successfully relaunched their online food delivery arm Supermart in Bengaluru. The Chief Executive Officer of the ecommerce firm Kalyan Krishnamurthy told a news daily the company would now be focusing on increasing its monthly active users. 

In December, Flipkart also successfully completed the repurchase of employee stock options (ESOPs) worth $ 100 million. Krishnamurthy further added in the year 2018, the firm will also focus on developing the frequency of transactions and the number of times the Indian customer shops online in a year. Many market analysts estimate currently top online retailers such as Flipkart and Amazon have roughly 15 to 20 million active monthly customers.

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Funding

Eat Better Secures ₹17 Crore in Pre-Series A Funding

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Eat Better Secures ₹17 Crore in Pre-Series A Funding,Startup News,Startup Stories 2025,Startup Stories India,Funding,Eat Better,Eat Better News,Eat Better Latest News,Eat Better Bags Inr 17 Cr In Pre-series A Funding,Eat Better Bags Inr 17 Cr,Eat Better Secures ₹17 Crore,Vidushi Kanoria,Mridula Kanoria,Shaurya Kanoria,Dry Fruit Ladoos,Nuts,Eat Better Co,D2C Snacking Brand Eat Better,Eat Better India,Snacks,Healthy Snacks,Prath Ventures,Spring Marketing Capital,Pre-Series A Funding,Eat Better Product,D2C snacking brand,Marketing,Startup Stories News,D2C Snacking Brand Eat Better Bags INR 17 Cr From Prath Ventures,News,D2C,Investment,Startup Latest News,Retail,Growth,India,Startup Story,Startup By Doc

Eat Better, a Jaipur-based D2C snacking brand, has raised ₹17 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round co-led by Prath Ventures and Spring Marketing Capital. Founded by Vidushi Kanoria, Mridula Kanoria, and Shaurya Kanoria in 2020, Eat Better specializes in healthy snacks like dry fruit ladoos and nuts.

Key Highlights:

  • Investment Use: Funds will expand Eat Better’s product line and enhance its presence on quick commerce platforms.
  • Market Position: Competes with brands like Happilo and Yoga Bar in the healthy snacking space.
  • Operational Milestones: Fulfills over 2 lakh orders monthly.
  • Financial Performance: Revenue grew nearly threefold to ₹14.47 crore in FY24, with a reduced net loss.

Market Opportunity:

The Indian food and beverages market is projected to reach $68 billion by 2030, positioning Eat Better favorably to capitalize on the demand for healthy snacks. With this funding, Eat Better aims to strengthen its market presence and product offerings.

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Outzidr Raises ₹30 Crore to Transform Gen Z Fashion

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Bengaluru-based D2C fashion startup Outzidr, co-founded by Nirmal Jain, Mani Kant Mani, and Justin Mario, has secured ₹30 crore in seed funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from angel investors like Ramakant Sharma (Livspace) and Ghazal Alagh (Mamaearth).

Launched in February 2025, Outzidr targets Gen Z women aged 17–27 with affordable occasion-specific apparel such as partywear and travel outfits. The brand introduces over 2,000 new designs monthly and uses a “test-and-react” model to scale popular styles based on early sales data. With an agile inventory cycle of less than three weeks, it plans to shift 90% of manufacturing to India within two years for sustainability.

The funds will bolster supply chain efficiency, technology development, team expansion, and brand-building. Outzidr aims to achieve ₹100 crore annualized revenue within 6–8 months through its D2C platform and marketplaces like Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, and AJIO.

Led by industry veterans with expertise in fashion and logistics, Outzidr is poised to capitalize on India’s growing D2C market fueled by Gen Z’s demand for trendy and affordable fashion.

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Greenikk’s Closure: A Cautionary Tale in the Agritech Sector!

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Agritech startup Greenikk has announced its closure, attributing the decision to funding challenges and adverse market conditions. Founded in 2020 by Fariq Naushad and Previn Jacob Varghese, Greenikk aimed to create a digital ecosystem for banana cultivation, addressing issues throughout the value chain from farmers to bulk buyers. Despite raising around $1 million from investors, including 100Unicorns and IIM A Ventures, the company struggled to secure additional funding, particularly for a planned $5 million Series A round.

Reasons for Shutdown

Several factors contributed to Greenikk’s decision to wind down operations:

  • Funding Challenges: Initially thriving during a period of low-interest capital availability in 2022, the startup faced difficulties as market dynamics shifted. Naushad admitted that the company pursued “the wrong metrics” for growth during its early success, ultimately leading to unsustainable practices.
  • Loan Defaults: Greenikk extended loans totaling ₹6 crore but encountered significant defaults from borrowers. Naushad reported spending six months attempting to recover about 80% of these receivables, highlighting ongoing challenges within the agritech sector regarding loan recoveries.
  • Lack of Product-Market Fit: Cofounder Jacob Varghese noted that despite developing a comprehensive app and ecosystem, Greenikk struggled to establish itself beyond being seen as a vendor for working capital. This failure to find a sustainable product-market fit hindered its scalability and revenue generation.

Investor Impact

In light of its closure, Greenikk plans to return 50% of the capital to investors. The funds recovered from liquidation will primarily be used to repay its lead investor, 100Unicorns. The founders have also committed to using their own resources to pay back angel investors, reflecting an effort to maintain transparency amid the shutdown.

Employee Welfare

Greenikk has pledged support for its employees during this transition by providing two months’ severance pay and job placement assistance for nearly 25 affected staff members. At its peak, the company employed around 30 individuals but had been reducing its workforce in response to ongoing financial difficulties.

Broader Agritech Landscape

The challenges faced by Greenikk are indicative of broader trends within the agritech sector, which has seen a significant decline in venture capital interest. In 2024 alone, agritech startups raised only about $150 million across more than 30 deals—a stark contrast to the $772 million raised in 2022. This downturn underscores the increasing difficulties startups face in securing funding as market conditions evolve.

As Naushad and Varghese look toward their next entrepreneurial ventures, Greenikk’s story serves as a cautionary tale for other startups navigating the complexities of agritech investment and operational sustainability.

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