The government is considering a proposal to raise the tax holiday for start-ups from the current three years, aimed at further boosting an eco-system for budding entrepreneurs and job seekers, which could be announced in the coming Budget. Although the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotio…
Tag: Amazon
How India’s top start-ups are expected to perform in 2017
2016 was a year of rationalisation for Indian startup sector as most big investors spent cautiously unlike in 2014 and 2015 when it saw a new high in terms of irrational investments. In 2016, companies in sectors such as food-tech and hyperlocal logistics who were sustaining operations on externa…
Why start-up nationalism in India makes sense in the age of Trump
Why did the US-led Allies win the Second World War against the Nazis? Sir Ian Jacob, an aide of the war-winning British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, famously replied, “Because our German scientists were better than their German scientists.” In India’s new startup war involving global wan…
Accel creates programme to help portfolio firms in India get Valley talent
S T S Prasad had moved to the US in 1986 for a master’s degree in computer science, and then had several stints, including at Sybase, Junglee, Amazon, and WalmartLabs, the last of which he had helped launch. At some point during his WalmartLabs days, he felt the desire to stay closer to his paren…
Do Indian start-ups need protection from foreign competition?
I use an Ola cab almost everyday. It is reliable, reasonably cost effective and in the wake of the government’s recent demonetisation drive, a lifesaver because of an efficient e-wallet built into its mobile app. I also like the fact that this online cab hailing service is made available to me by…
Telemedicine start-ups give gateway to rural women for providing medical help
When Pooja Rathore, 23, was brought to Karma Health care’s clinic in Jaisamand in Rajasthan, she was in a critical condition. The doctors ordered a blood test, found that her haemoglobin level was as low as 2.1 and ordered an immediate transfusion to save her life. All within minutes and fr…
Home utility brand Bonita raises funding from El Capital, others
Home utility products startup Bonita India has closed its first round of funding from El Capital, an offshore boutique debt structuring firm, and a clutch of individual investors. “The money raised in this round will be spent on brand-building exercises, investment in new product development and …
Currency Switch Impact | Who gains, who loses
It has been a little under two weeks since Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will no longer be legal tender. Although it is still early days, the impact of the move to squeeze 86% of India’s currency in circulation is beginning to take effect. While the sudden m…
Paytm, Freecharge launch ‘Wallet on Delivery’ to counter COD
In a move that may end the era of cash on delivery (CoD) forever, mobile wallets Paytm and Freecharge today launched ‘Wallet on Delivery’ (WoD), which will allow users to pay on delivery by using their e-wallet. Paytm in an official tweet said: “Goodbye, COD. We’re working with our co…
Currency Ban Impact | Start-ups encouraging online transactions, gaining new customers
Even if temporary, markets wore a deserted look today across India as high value cash in hand became just a paper overnight for Indian citizens. Modi’s surgical strike on black money has had an impact on traders and parallel economy who used to deal only in cash, especially in India’s…