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Amazon To Deliver Liquor Online In West Bengal

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Amazon To Deliver Liquor Online In West Bengal

In what could be considered as a game changing move, e-commerce giant Amazon secured clearance to deliver liquor in the Eastern state of West Bengal.  The news comes according to a notice put out by the West Bengal State Beverages Corp, the state’s authorized agency to carry out online retail of liquor, on Friday.  The notice also said Amazon was one of the companies found to be eligible for registration with the authorities.

This move is significant as Indians consume a huge amount of alcohol but online deliveries have been prohibited, until now.  West Bengal is India’s fourth populous state and has a population of more than 90 million people.  Amazon was invited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the West Bengal state.  According to the estimates by IWSR Drinks Market analysis, the market Amazon is looking to make inroads into, is worth $27.2 billion dollars.

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached India, the Government declared a complete lockdown and sale of alcohol was completely prohibited.  When the lockdown rules were relaxed and the alcohol shops were allowed to happen, India witnessed a rush to the liquor stores like never before.  Following the reopening of wine stores, some States have allowed Swiggy and Zomato to deliver alcohol and the food delivery giants cashed in on the heavy demand.  

Each state sets its own alcohol sales policy.  West Bengal last month invited companies to express interest in “handling electronic ordering, purchase, sale and home delivery of alcoholic liquors from licensed retail outlets” to eligible legal-age consumers in the state.  Grocery delivery major, Big Basket also won approval to deliver alcohol in West Bengal state.

Let us know if you think India will allow online alcohol delivery in the future.

 

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Tesla Secures Mumbai Facility as Key Step in India Market Entry

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Tesla has ramped up its India expansion by leasing a 24,565 sq ft warehouse at Lodha Logistics Park in Mumbai’s Kurla West. The five-year lease, registered on May 16, 2025, involves a total rent of over ₹24 crore, starting at ₹37.53 lakh per month with a 5% annual escalation. The facility includes two ground-floor units and 20 parking spots, with rent payments commencing June 1, 2025.

This warehouse will function as a key service center and garage for Tesla’s India operations, excluding bodywork and spray painting. The move supports Tesla’s preparations for its official market debut, expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

Tesla’s India rollout includes offices in Pune, flagship showrooms in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Delhi-NCR, and co-working spaces in Mumbai. The new warehouse lease highlights Tesla’s commitment to building a robust infrastructure for sales, service, and delivery of electric vehicles and energy products across India.

While manufacturing plans are not yet confirmed, Tesla is reportedly exploring sites in Maharashtra for a potential assembly unit. The Mumbai warehouse lease marks a significant step in Tesla’s strategy to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.

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Razorpay Partners with MeitY Startup Hub to Accelerate Deeptech Innovation in Tier II and III Cities

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Razorpay

MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has partnered with fintech leader Razorpay to support the growth of deeptech and emerging tech startups across India, with a special focus on those in Tier II and III cities. Through this collaboration, early-stage startups will gain access to Razorpay’s fintech infrastructure, mentorship, and resources via the Razorpay Rize program.

Startups in areas like AI, blockchain, robotics, and IoT will benefit from streamlined company incorporation support, expert mentorship, product credits, and guidance for applying to global accelerators such as Y Combinator. Selected founders will also join the exclusive Rize Community, connecting with peer networks and attending masterclasses.

MSH CEO Panneerselvam Madanagopal emphasized that this partnership will help founders scale faster by providing vital support in mentorship, capital access, and digital infrastructure. As India’s startup ecosystem surpasses 159,000 DPIIT-recognised startups, this initiative aims to give deeptech entrepreneurs the tools and networks needed to innovate for India and expand globally.

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PixelSky Capital Unveils INR 400 Crore Secondaries Fund

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Bengaluru-based investment bank IndigoEdge, in partnership with entrepreneur Hitesh Ahuja, has launched PixelSky Capital, a secondaries fund targeting INR 400 crore. The fund will invest in eight late-stage tech and consumer companies expected to go public within three to four years, with cheque sizes of INR 40–50 crore each. PixelSky has already invested in beauty retailer Purplle and aims to close a second deal by June 2025.

 

The fund focuses on secondary transactions, allowing existing shareholders to sell stakes to new investors, providing liquidity ahead of IPOs. Founders have committed INR 10–15 crore, with additional capital coming from domestic family offices and startup founders. Final close is expected by March 2026.

 

Led by Hitesh Ahuja, who sold his foodtech startup Yumlane in 2023, and IndigoEdge cofounder Zerin Rahiman, PixelSky marks IndigoEdge’s expansion from advisory and proprietary investments into fund management. The firm has facilitated over 150 transactions worth around $3 billion and invested INR 25–30 crore as a limited partner in multiple VC funds. PixelSky is currently evaluating about 20 companies before finalizing its portfolio

 

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