Ratan Tata, Chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Vijay Kelkar, former Finance Secretary and Chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, and Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder of Infosys Ltd and the architect of Aadhaar, are joining hands to start a microfinance institution (MFI). Named A…
Start Up India
US-based online home-design startup Houzz sets up India ops
Online home-design startup Houzz has become the latest US-based internet major to set up India operations by appointing Sanjay Nadkarni as country head. Nadkarni, whose online babycare ecommerce startup Babyoye was acquired by diversified conglomerate Mahindra Group, joined Houzz few days ago. Ho…
Startups help ailing farmers
One may think the new-age startups have no relevance to the society, just serving as a mobile app for the tech-savvy people. However, recent news about these startups has a different story to tell. They address the problems of the most rejected segment of the society- farmers. While production of…
RBI highlights steps for growth of entrepreneurship & reduce start-up mortality
In a bid to make work environment more start-up friendly and ease regulations, the Reserve Bank of India has said that it will soon consult with the Centre and implement the recently announced proposals on start-ups. This includes permitting start-ups to access rupee loans under the External Comm…
Paytm to start scholarship programme for engineers enrolled on startup village
Come January, mobile payments and commerce platform Paytm will offer a #StartInCollege scholarship programme to engineering students who have enrolled on digital incubator startup village or SV.CO’s website. The #StartInCollege programme will select students as teams from engineering colleg…
With Israel trade talks, startups to make a debut in India’s FTAs
Startups may be set to debut in India’s free trade agreements. In trade pact talks with Israel, India has expressed interest in the transfer of knowhow from that country’s defence and security startups. “Israel is very keen to have a trading arrangement with us,” said a Co…
SBricks pays $1 million for HomeCues
Facility management and home services startup SBricks has acquired home services aggregator HomeCues for more than $1million. While HomeCues will be a subsidiary company of SBricks, it will continue to operate under its original name and the two companies will split their focus into business-to-c…
Startups add astrology, palmistry services as demands pour in from youngsters
When home service startup UrbanClap added astrologers to their list of service providers, the idea was to give a wholesome experience to those seeking wedding-related services. However, contrary to the expectation that the service would mostly be sought by an elderly audience, requests have been …
For tax-break, 20 start-ups must prove cutting edge
Six months after its launch, the Modi government’s Start-Up India programme is rumbling into action. Some 20 fresh applications from start-ups will be considered for tax-break by the inter-ministerial board, when it meets this week. Till now, only three start-ups have been selected for tax breaks…
Tightening fund flow affecting employment under startups
At a time when investors are gradually tightening their purse strings on venture capital-backed e-commerce firms and tech startups — from $2.91 billion in September quarter of 2015 to $1.52 billion in December quarter to $1.40 billion in March quarter of 2016 and to $583 million in June quarter o…