Ola, homegrown cab hailing startup, has raised $ 36 million from Tekne Capital Management, a New York based hedge fund, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies.
VCCircle reported, the company allocated 171,173 fully and compulsorily convertible preference shares at Rs. 13,521 apiece. Delaware based Tekne Private Ventures III LP invested Rs. 167.15 crores for about 1.23 lakh shares while 47,548 shares worth Rs. 64.28 crores were issued to Tekne Private Ventures I Master from the Cayman Islands.
The new shares were allotted at the same price at which Ola raised $ 104.4 million from Falcon Edge Capital and Ratan Tata’s RNT Capital Advisers. According to the filings, these shares were allocated on 7 June 2017, after a board resolution was passed on May 29. Ola’s valuation could not be ascertained as it is not clear whether this investment is a part of a larger funding round or if more investors are involved. In August 2015, Ola was valued to be close to $ 4.8 billion while media reports in February this year pegged its valuation to be around $3.5 billion.
In April this year, the cab aggregator company raised $ 250 million from Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp., making SoftBank Ola’s largest investor. They also raised $50 million (Rs. 322 crores) from Tekne Capital Management LLC., and were in talks with Coatue Management LLC., for raising more funds.
Ola and US based Uber Technologies Ltd., have been locked in a fierce battle to capture India’s lucrative cab hailing market. Ola has also launched local innovations better suited for the Indian market, including a bike taxi service, Ola Bike. It was also reported, Microsoft was likely to invest $50-100 million in Ola, resulting in Ola switching to Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure from Amazon Web Services.
For the financial year 2015 – 2016, Ola’s operating revenue jumped to Rs. 438.6 crores from Rs. 57.5 crores while their consolidated net loss tripled to Rs. 2,311.7 crores. The total expenditure surged to Rs. 3,078.19 crores from Rs. 899.7 crores the year before. At present, Ola operates in 100 Indian cities while Uber has a presence in only 29 cities.
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.
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.
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.