Richard Branson, owner of the Virgin Group, has quite a reputation. Since the year 1970, Branson has made a strong mark on the world positioning himself among the top ten successful entrepreneurs in the world. While there are a lot of facts known about this serial entrepreneur, there are still quite a few unknown facts. Check them out here!
1. He is dyslexic
Did you know that while most people shy away from admitting they have dyslexia, Branson credits his success to his disorder? It was because he discovered this disorder at a young age that he was able to learn how to delegate his tasks and start learning to be the leader he is today.
2. He created a submarine
While most of us just dream of one day owning a submarine, Richard Branson made his dream come true. Called the Necker Nymph submarine, Branson’s submarine is a treat for his visitors. Not only does the man have a private island, he also designed his own transport to and from his private island. How cool is that?
3. He cried when he sold his first company, Virgin Records
The first thing you create is always your baby and when you sell it, you experience a pain like never before. Branson also felt the same way when he sold, Virgin Records, the company which began his empire. Despite selling the Company for a billion dollars to keep the Virgin Group afloat, the loss of his first baby made Branson bawl like no one could imagine. Ouch.
4. He is not a part of any boards
Unlike other owners, Branson is not a part of any of the boards of the companies he owns. Despite owning more than 200 companies under the Virgin Group, Branson always stays away from being a part of the Board of Directors. Why? Because he believes he is not a businessman but a creator and visionary!
5. He has been knighted
Richard Branson is perhaps the only entrepreneur in the world to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 in the year 1999. Sir Richard Nicholas Branson received a knighthood for his relentless services for entrepreneurship. Did you know that Branson is the only entrepreneur who backed more than 18 startups? A deserved knighthood, no? Incidentally, apart from being knighted, Branson was also awarded by the United Nations (UN) for his contribution to the environment and humanitarian causes, earning him the title of The United Nations Correspondents Association Citizen of the World Award.
6. Adventure could easily be his middle name
Apart from building his very own submarine, Branson is an avid hot air balloon lover. Did you know that Branson is the first and only person in the world to cross the Atlantic in the largest hot air balloon? He loved the thrill so much, he broke his own record in the year 1991 by crossing the Pacific in a hot air balloon made by Virgin. Clearly no one else thought they could beat his record.
7. Television loves him
Television loves Branson. Apart from making special appearances on shows like FRIENDS and Baywatch, a lot of other shows like The Simpsons and Monty Can’t Buy Me Love have created entire characters based on the man behind the Virgin Group!
Richard Branson gave the world the Virgin Group and everyone lessons for a successful life. If you think we missed out on any other facts about this man, comment and let us know!
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
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service