Hedge funds were all over the Indian startup scene last year. Look around now and it will be hard to spot one. They have simply fallen off the cliff in 2016. There have been only 10 deals involving hedge funds in the first three quarters of 2016, compared to 50 deals in the same period […]…
Demonetisation Effect | Hiring may shoot up as Fintech start-ups gain galore
Fintech startups are proving to be the biggest beneficiaries of the government’s demonetisation move and with the rise in business, recruitment plans of these companies are likely to see a significant uptrend in the coming months, experts say. E-wallet companies like Paytm, PayU India, Mobi…
GoZoop gears up to make acquisitions in SMEs structured
The ad agency giants are always on the lookout for fresh talent, and often end up shelling out big monies to buyout startups, that add value to their portfolios. Especially in India, over the last five years, acquisitions have been an integral part of network agencies’ growth plans. While that’s …
MSMEs, affordable housing will be our focus areas: ESAF Microfin CMD
With the final approval coming through from the RBI for small finance bank, Thrissur-based ESAF Microfinance is all set to start banking operations by the first quarter of 2017. The bank will target the MSME and affordable housing sectors. In an interview, K Paul Thomas, Chairman and Managing Dir…
A mobile app that helps small Indian businesses go cashless
Tackling digital payments may seem daunting for a shop owner who has always operated with cash, Singapore-based Shopmatic has released a product that might help. Shopmatic lets users in India, Singapore, and Hong Kong build their own online stores, complete with a payment gateway. This month, the…
Rise & fall of the Banarasi handloom sari
In 1968, 21-year-old Ashok Dhawan, on the verge of joining his family’s wholesale business of Banarasi saris in Varanasi, was asked by his father to go sight-seeing. From Agra’s Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri to other places known for Mughal monuments, Dhawan was to observe the finer points of the …
Demonetisation | Why NBFCs with strong connect will weather the crisis
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) which account for 15 percent credit share in our financial system have achieved the present state of vibrancy largely on account of the inherent capabilities they wield. Rising up to their mandate to facilitate financial inclusion for the country, NBFCs are…
Softbank’s Masayoshi Son says will surpass $10 bn investment commitment for India
New Delhi: Having made multi-million dollar bets on Indian startups like Snapdeal and Ola, SoftBank today exuded confidence in “surpassing” its stated USD 10 billion investment commitment in India as it looks for newer opportunities in the country. SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi …
Demonetisation to create jobs, reduce lending rates
Vadodara: Manufacturing and trade may have taken a hit after demonetisation but the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) feel that the move will help their sector in the long run. Members of industrial associations and chambers in Gujarat said that the small and medium sector firms that emp…
Small industry under pressure to repay loans
With businesses taking a major hit since demonetisation was announced, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are now facing a new challenge — how to repay their existing loans on time and avoid having their loans be declared as Non-performing Assets (NPAs). NCR Chamber of Commerce and In…